Manda Writes A Novel Part 1

I decided to get ahead of the game a bit and write up my synopsis and make the cover art for my novel. Check it out. :)

Sara Henderson has always had her future planned out. She does everything by a schedule and lives her life by her day planner. It takes the most important speech of her life and a sea of familiar faces for her to realize that something is missing. The day of her high school graduation takes her on a whirlwind, unplanned start to the rest of her life and she is writing it all down.










Comments and Criticism appreciated!  Writing starts tomorrow night at midnight! Woo.

Hello there, November...

I see you peeking at me from around the corner. You're only four days away??? OH MY!

Not only is November my wedding anniversary and Thanksgiving it's also NaNoWriMo! Now I know I talked about NaNoWriMo last year, but for those of you new kids and others who just didn't pay attention I'll explain again.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It's basically a ton of people getting together and challenging themselves to write a novel during the month of November. 50,000 words in 30 days. Insane, I know.

I talked myself out of it actually. As of about fifteen minutes ago, I was NOT going to be participating again this year. I just didn't feel like I had the energy or the time to write 50,000 words. Then today I got to thinking, and also was persuaded by some of my favorite Youtubers, why not? Why in the world can I not do this? I don't have a job, I make bows and tutus whenever an order comes in, but I have a lot of free time. I spend most of this free time starring at Facebook and watching ridiculous tv shows. It's about time I dedicate myself to something and start taking steps toward my future. I am big on giving up on things and not even starting things that might challenge me. It's time for a change.

So, here's to many sleepless nights, angry mental monologues and pissing off my hubby. I'm in this 100%. Whose with me? My NaNo name is Manderiffic, if you want to join in.

Ok, so I guess I should tell YOU, my readers, what to expect from me this next month.  I'll update you periodically on my progress, I'll share the rare gems I write with you (most of my writing will probably be crap) and I'll whine. I'll probably whine A LOT. Starting at Midnight, November 1st, writing will be my life. I will be a hardcore writing, crying machine. Oops, forget that crying part.

Tomorrow I start this whole adventure with a plot idea and an outline. I might even come with a title of some sort to get me started. I've always found that my best writing starts with an epic title, that I change 50 million times.

Well I think I've rambled enough for one day, if you have any questions, my e-mail is cold and lonely. Also comments might keep me sane, so send lots my way! Love you forever and always.

Tired Panda

<<< This is exactly how I feel right now.

I have had a very long week and I am completely and utterly exhausted.

I decided in my frustrated and exhausted state that I should write a blog post. It's been a REALLY long time since I've written on here, and I know a lot of you miss me greatly. I'm sorry that I'm such a loser and a basically gave up on my daily blogging and totally failed at making it for a whole year.  I can't say that I'm entirely surprised that I quit my 365 project. I tend to give up on things in my life. I never follow through with anything, and when I get bored with something I just quit. Kind of like what I did with school.  Heh, kind of sad really. I suck.

Well anywho, back to why I started writing this tonight. My life is kind of bleh right now.  I just spent the last week being a back up mom to my brother's kids and neglecting my house and my husband. Tonight, at church, I got this super sick feeling and knew it was God telling me it was time for me to stand up for my morals and get my life back. I am now home and feeling much more at ease. I am sad to see my cable TV and food go, but I'll make it through.  I can't live someone else's life for them, and I can't take on their responsibilities. It's not fair to me and it's not fair to my husband. I need to start doing things for ME and not letting people take advantage of how nice I am.

In conjunction with the reason I started this blog, I am reading again! I stopped for a while and really couldn't get into anything. I had a hard time even PICKING up a book for a while there. This isn't anything new, you know, me and my phases. So yeah, where was I? Ok, so one of my best friends is in Japan, and had this great idea of starting an online book of the month club, so we could all bond over stuff and have a GREAT way to keep in touch.  The book for this October is The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I haven't read any of his books in the past, but I've seen the movie for this one and also for Dear John and LOVED them both. My BFFINM, Sara, told me that his books are WAY better than the movies, so I was excited to get this one for the book club.  After much searching at all my local book stores, I finally found it at Bookman's, hardcover for 8 bucks! WOOHOO! I'm already on chapter 14 and so far I'm really loving it! Also, now that I am home again, I should have it finished in no time at all. I also picked up The Notebook for a dollar at Half-Price Books, so I'll be reading that one next! Yay books! Oh how I've missed your used book smell...erm and reading you too. :)

Anywho, so that's what's been going on with me for the most part.  We're also in the process of asking God where he wants us to go as far as churches. We've asked him to lead us, and we're willing to follow wherever that may be. I won't get into the gory details with that just yet, but be watching for a post in the next couple of weeks.

I'm off to bed in a bit (as soon as Lord of the Rings Online finishes downloading) and I have to watch Alex in the morning.  I'll talk to you later blog-o-sphere. Don't be expecting me back on my daily writing routine, but you should be hearing from me more often.

Oh and if you haven't already, check out my Etsy , do it now!!! I can make all kinds of pretty things for you or your little princess! It's not too late to make some custom Halloween or Thanksgiving orders!!! Christmas is coming up too! WINK WINK!

Until we meet again, blessings and good wishes.  I love you and yours. ;)