50k or Bust: #NaNoWriMo2017 #AmWriting @LDBlakeley

It's that time of year again!

Do you NaNo? I have a few times, but have only managed to do it successfully once. I've decided to give it a whirl again this year since my writing schedule somehow magically aligned with NaNoWriMo. There was no scurrying around trying to come up with a story idea. And because I'm writing the third book in a series, banging out character sketches and plotting storyline didn't make me want to pull out my hair. Much.

I'm so organized I could cry.

Actually, I'm pretty sure I just jinxed myself by putting all that out into the universe. That's how that works, right?

In any event, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, for the unindoctrinated) kicks off today. And while 50,000 words in one month may sound somewhat daunting, it's not so bad if you break it down into daily chunks. 50,000 words in 30 days? Yikes. But 1,667 words in one day? A bit less nail bitey.

I know a lot of full-time writers can hit this word count goal in their sleep. But for someone like me (quite possibly the slowest writer in all of Canada; most definitely the slowest one in the Greater Toronto Area) I can drag 50,000 words into months and months of writing, no matter how inspired I'm feeling. So for me, NaNoWriMo is the perfect virtual cheerleader.

I like dropping by Twitter or Instagram (provided, of course, I don't get sucked into a day-long scroll) for a bit of a check-in with other participants. Knowing so many others are in the same boat can sometimes give me that extra bit of oomph I need to push past a scene or chapter.

If you'd like to join in the fun, head on over to NaNoWriMo.org and sign up. And if you'd like to add me as a writing buddy – you can find me HERE. I'd love the company!

With that said, I have a word count to meet. See you in 30 days!

Happy writing,

November - A Month of Challenges

Hi everyone! I hope your November is going well. I'm busy with two big challenges going on, on top of everything else in my life. If you're a writer, you've probably heard about NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, in which authors strive to write a minimum of 50,000 words in 30 days. So far, I've finished one story that I'd already started before the beginning of the month, and I've started another. There were a couple of days where members of my family needed medical attention. I got behind, but I've been able to catch up.

Another challenge I'm involved in is a fitness challenge. I've been going to a small fitness center for a year and a half. It's helped, in that I've built up a lot of muscle, and stopped gaining wait. But, I wasn't losing much. My fitness instructor introduced a new challenge where the end result was a fitness photo shoot. I decided to give it a try. Since September, I've been clean eating, and taking in A LOT of protein. Plus, I've been going to class, or exercising at home at least five out of seven days of the week. So far, I've lost twenty pounds. The challenge ends December 4th, the day of the shoot.

So, until then, I'm challenging my self everyday to write words, eat five high protein meals, and avoid the temptation to take a day off.

How are you challenging yourself this month?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you could not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk with her giant, hairy dog her family adopted from the local animal shelter.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.