Takhayyal writing prompt 101: Beautiful Autumn

Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's MONTHLY picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal aka Imagine.

Can you believe it's prompt no. 101?!

November happens to be in Autumn and it's quite different depending on where you are in the world. If you're in Egypt, like me, it's still hot during the day but nice and breezy at night, if you're in Australia, you're heading into summer, if you're in the US some people are already getting snow! And if you're in some parts of Europe, you may be enjoying a cold breeze with some beautiful autumn colors in nature ;)

When I saw my friend author Nadja Losbohm post this image, I told her this needs to be a writing prompt. No photo editing was done. The picture was taken in Tierpark Berlin (The Berlin zoo in former East Berlin)

So without further ado, here's the writing prompt.

Image taken by Nadja Losbohm at the Tierpark Berlin (Photocredit: Nadja Losbohm)

And since November coincides with National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo, feel free to use the image to inspire your characters or add setting to your novel.

Any form of writing is writing, so whether you write poetry, short stories, flashfiction, thoughts, one-liners, this writing prompt series known as Takhayyal/Imagine is where you want to be.

Check the full list of Takhayyal Writing Prompts here.

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity and explore new genres.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction, an imaginary situation, an artistic thought; you name it and write it.

Feel free to connect with author Nadja Losbohm via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·  Use the image for inspiration and write your piece in the comments below or publish it on your blog and leave the link to it in the comments

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·     It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets or tag me @NadanessSobhi and I'll retweet you :)

Let's IMAGINE!

NaNoWriMo 2018, Mission: Completed

It gives me great pleasure to announce that I've completed NaNoWriMo 2018 AHEAD of schedule!

Yes, I finished those 50,000 words two days before the deadline!

I'm

Super

Excited!

This means I've done and finished NaNoWriMo two years in a row AND each time I've upped the game and learnt things.

November started out with a cold for me and there were several days I couldn't write. But there were several others when I wrote 2,000, 3,000 and even 5,000 words!

Writing is like running a marathon. Your mind feels like it's been whipped around, after trying to beat a car on a race track. But when you write, even 500 words, you feel like you've accomplished something.

When you finish NaNoWriMo, you feel like you've accomplished A LOT.

There were many months in 2018 when I couldn't write. But when November started, I knew that there were sacrificed to be made and I made at least 25 nights of the 30-day month count.

Sleep is one of the things you have to sacrifice often during NaNoWriMo. But trust me, it's worth it!

Not only did I pass 51,000 words, my story isn't complete. I have about three or four chapters to go (may be more depending on the characters' actions) that I will continue working on in December.

Here's my NaNoWriMo Success Certificate!

Where's yours? Leave it in the comments below or send me Twitter or Facebook link with your winning post. I'd love to share the joy and support you.

NaNoWriMo 2018 progress and updates, part 1

It's week 3 in November or as writers know it, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

I had intended to do a weekly progress post with my writing – didn't happen obviously. The mid-way post, this one, is coming in a little late BUT the good news is I'm on track if not a few hundred words ahead, which is great because several unexpected things have popped up along the way.

I had a rocky start to the month because I had a severe cold that rendered me asleep for almost two days. After that I was behind for a bit later was able to get some 4000 words in a day and then another 4000 words in week 2.

For the first week, 1 to 7 November, I wrote 12239 words out of 11669! So despite the cold and a few things, I was able to make up for 2 days of no writing!

For the second week, 8 – 14 November, I wrote 26287 words out of 23338! Again ahead of schedule.

The thing is I need to finish by the 28 of November. So wish me luck to make it to 50,000 words by then!

This blog post is written after midnight on 18 November, so I haven't included the word count for that day, since I haven't written anything. I'm also on track, not ahead just barely there

If you're interested in keeping up with my NaNoWriMo updates, follow me on Twitter, where I post regularly about NaNoWriMo, with occasional screenshots from my work in progress.

Speaking of my work in progress? I don't have a title yet BUT I can tell you it has a feisty kick-ass woman, several handsome ancient Egyptian gods, magic, and what I hope its lots of humour and action. 

I successfully won NaNoWriMo 2017 and wrote about the experience.

Apart from NaNoWriMo, I had been planning to post a book review every Friday. That also did not happen. I have finished reading TWOSPELLS by Mark Morrison but have not had the opportunity to sit down and write the review. When I do, it'll be on the blog before you can blink ;)

Since I'm unable to post reviews, I'm running a poll on my personal Facebook page and my Nadaness In Motion page on what poem to post next Friday. Get your votes in. Ode to Inspiration OR Daughter of Water? You decide.

2017 Achievements and 2018 Resolutions

It is important to highlight one's accomplishments, no matter how small. They could be small or minor for one person but significant for another, especially when they're unplanned; it was not a target you set, so you've made a bigger accomplishment by achieving an unset, unscheduled goal.

For 2018, I've decided to set resolutions or what I hope will be achievable goals for me.

I didn't do any resolutions for 2017 but just figured they would be an extension of my uncompleted 2016 goals.

This time, I'm planning something different. In 2018, I'm planning to focus on something – or rather someone – I've neglected for too long. Me.

Some might think it's selfish, but if you don't work on developing yourself, enhancing your skills, and doing what you want and love, who will?

The answer: No one.

While I hadn't set "solid goals" for 2017, I was able to achieve new things. Things that came out of the blue for me.

Here are my achievements:

1)  I'm very proud of my first vlog entry and interview. I attended a local startup-focused event called the RiseUp Summit and there I interviewed the co-founder of book recommendation startup SipOf.Ink (that's how they write it).
You can read the full post here.

2)   I also conducted several other interviews during the event and published them as exclusive stories. From UAE-based online fashion boutique The Luxury Closet to the Middle East's number 1 children's edutainment app Lamsa.
The experience was great and I look forward to repeating my reporting, writing, and networking experience.

3)    I did NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I wrote 53,000 words in less than 30 days! Find out how I did it when I had failed with smaller targets before. (Hint: You must really want it!)

4)    I completed my Goodreads reading challenge.

5)    I started Darya's story. This particular tale has been in my head for a year. In 2017, I began putting the words on paper. I don't know how far I am, but I've been able to write down several chapters. I've gone from Zero words to around 30,000 words!

6)    I've started writing about different topics. My most recent article, although based on personal experience, is an example:
What is the most "demotivational" quote ever? And how do you overcomeit?

Enough with the achievements – which I'm very proud of no matter how small – and off to the goals for 2018.

·        Focusing on my writing
Over the past years, I've been focusing on reading. Now, it's time to focus on me and my writing. Which brings me to my sub-points here:

o   Finishing Darya's story (draft 1)

o   Writing DeeDee's story (book 2 – draft 1)

o   Editing DeeDee's mystery/story (book 1 – draft 2)

·        Reading one self-help book per month

This could be self-help in writing, marketing, personal development, or any field. I am currently reading The Writer's Lexicon by Kathy Steinmann, whose review I'm planning for January. (I'll be posting reviews for each of those books I read.) I already bought several writing-help books but there are 12 months to go.

·        Personal development

I've already started working on this in late 2017 by downloading some courses via Udemy. Some are work-related, some are about things that have piqued my interest. But all mean that I will have at least one new piece of information added. Something that I can use. And that is the essence of self-development.

·        Finding a balance between writing and working out

One of the hardest things I've encountered in 2017 was striking a balance between my story-writing and the gym. The day is 24 hours long. So, if I work for say 9 hours, plus 2 hours of commuting, that's 11 hours, leaving me 13 hours in the day. If I sleep for 8, and work out for 2, then I will have 3 more hours to eat and drink and read or write or both. The theory stands but the application fails. Every. Single. Time!

So in 2018, I'll be trying out different tactics to find a balance where I can write and work out. Separate days, better planning. I'll keep testing and let you know how it pans out and whether or not I succeed in achieving my abovementioned writing goals.

·        Reducing my reading challenge

Every year I've tried to increase the number of books I read. This year, I'm shrinking that number to make room of Me, my reading and writing needs, and other courses.
For the past 2 or 3 years, I've set a goal for 36 books that's 3 books per month. This year my goal is 20 to 24 books, that's around 2 books per month.

·        Reducing the number of review requests I accept.
My apologies to authors, but I believe many will understand the need to develop one's writing and personal skills. I will still be doing author features and more on the blog, which brings me to my next point.

·        Launching StoryTeller Tours
I've been slacking significantly in launching a personal book-tour organising service. No more of that. I'm taking serious steps to launch this. Why? Because there are many authors who need to get out there. AND because the services need to be affordable.

·        Editing Services
I launched my page offering affordable book and article editing services (both grammar and developmental editing). As a book reviewer, I have been able to pick up on certain things that can help authors enhance their writing.

·        Writing new articles for the blog and guest blogging

One of the things I want to work on in 2018 is diversifying my writing fields. What does that mean? My main work is translation and editing of economic and stock market-related texts from Arabic into English. Sometimes, writing from scratch. I also wrote a bit in real estate but I want to enhance both my freelance writing and the fields I can write about. 

When I went to RiseUp, I was keen on writing about and interviewing officials from various startups so I can research them and write about them. 

I plan to do more of that in 2018 BUT I'm also looking for article suggestions of what people would like to see on my blog.

I have a few writing help articles I'm working on that I plan to publish here or see if I can guest post on other writing-related blogs. In addition, I'm open to suggestion of what readers would like to see me write about. Please leave your suggestions in the comments section before or get in touch with me via email. If you'd like me to guest post for you, please email me.

·        Repeating NaNoWriMo in November 2018
Not sure what book I'll be writing then but that's 11 months away, so we'll see.

What are you resolutions/goals for 2018? Let's help each other achieve our goals!

Who’s a NaNoWriMo Winner? ME!

In November 2017, I challenged myself to write 50,000 words over 30 days.

What is this crazy-number challenge? It’s NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Nove Writing Month. Every November, authors from across the globe challenge themselves to completing a draft or book by writing 50,000 words over a 30-day period. This means around 1,667 words per day, which is not an easy task.

Last time I took part in NaNoWriMo was in 2013 and I only wrote around 3,500 words (give or take a few). Since then, Novembers came and passed and I didn’t take part in the challenge.

But in 2017, I decided I’d take the challenge and had an idea for a story that had been playing in my head for some time. What I call DeeDee’s story.

A mug and its matching coaster I bought in November. I loved drinking from it
while I was working on my NaNoWriMo novel 

On the first day, I passed the required daily count by 100 words. I was thrilled. The second day, let’s just say life got in the way, then the third. On the fourth, I made slow progress. A few days into the second week, I was over 10,000 words behind schedule!

I thought I’d settle for 30,000 words instead of 50,000 but then decided I would do my best to reach the original target. I had another 14 days to prove myself to ME!

Then, I took one day off work, glued my butt to the chair and started writing.

That day, I ended up with a little over 6,000 words! Can you believe that? 6,000 words in a single day! That was equivalent to what I had been doing for the past three months, the full months! I wanted to jump up and down in my room (but didn't in case any family members came in and thought I'd completely lost it!)

Also bought this in November.
Perfect for mystery writers, right?

Still, despite my leap in progress I was not on track - yet. So the hard work had to go on.

When I started the month, I just had some vague idea about certain parts of the novel along with some characters. So, I started writing, but as I progressed I realised that unlike my other writing project this one required an outline.

So, I sat down, picked out the full cast of my characters, and made an initial outline of at least the first three or four chapters along with some main events that I needed to cover. As the novel and I progressed, the events were allocated certain chapters, while other events just popped out in the middle, like romance knocking on DeeDee’s door and other characters looking to appear a second time and so on.

After much hard work, most – if not all – my gym workouts sacrificed and another day taken off from work. I was done. I closed the case and the mystery on the 28th. On the 29th of November, I made some more tweaking, added an actual concluding chapter and was done with 53,166 words!

That's 3,000 words over the target and one day ahead of schedule!

I couldn't believe it!

To corroborate my success, NaNoWriMo lets you put the full text – for confirmation – on their website. That done. I was given a CONGRATULATIONS! WINNER! And this lovely badge!

I have learnt a lot of things by doing NaNoWriMo this year. I know a few of things below are a bit obvious but sometimes you just need to prove to yourself that you can.

So what did NaNoWriMo 2017 teach me?

1)    That I can do it.

2)    That I had not been 100% serious the previous months when I had a 10,000-word target but barely managed 6,000 and once 8,000.

3)    I need to organise my time better.

4)    (A continuation of no. 3) I need to be able to work out, read, and write all in a month.

Throughout November, I was unable to continue reading the books I had started, or pick up new ones. I thought I'd be able to read or finish at least one book.

But I must say, it was all worth it. The sleepless time, the outlines and crossing-outs done (yes, I typed the novel but the outlines and basic ideas were handwritten), the abandoned workouts. DeeDee's story has been born.

The characters speaking in my head at all times of the day was probably the hardest part but it was a great experience.

And you know what?

I'M A NANOWRIMO 2017 WINNER!

Learn more about the differences between a tradition mystery and cozy mystery in this exclusive guest post by author Kirsten Weiss. It was a great reference for me both in learning and while writing.

Check out Nadaness In Motion's cozy mystery book reviews to learn more about the genre and meet some amazing books and authors.

There are a few authors who have unknowingly and indirectly helped me but don't know it. Here are two of them: Devorah Fox and Kirsten Weiss. Every cozy mystery author I've read has helped me one way or another. 

Special thanks to Marc Remus for his help with my second main character, Alexander, the painter.

And of course several close friends, who know who they are.

Oh! Have you seen my shiny certificate? 

(I don't have a novel title yet so DeeDee's paranormal cozy mystery will just have to do!)

Mid-NaNoWriMo? Progress Is Progress - Blog post

Is it truly 15 November? Whoever invented the term/idea that "time flies" wasn't joking!

We're mid-month, mid-NaNoWriMo and I'm way behind on my word count!

I must admit, I wish I weren't working full time to I could at least catch up.

There were days when I didn't write at all, when I just desperately needed to sleep! There were a couple of others when I sat in front of the laptop screen not sure how to continue from the point I had reached.

But here we are the 15th that's two weeks in with 17,500 words out of 25,005 words!

But do you what's the best thing about this?

In these 15 days, I've almost accomplished what I had accomplished in my other writing project in the past three months!

Between August and October, I wrote around 18,500 words in Darya's story. In my NaNoWriMo project I've jotted down almost as much with my 17,500 words. Can you believe that? Or better can I believe that?

It means I can do it! And I will do it!

It also means I can raise my target, build on my accomplishments and enjoy writing and seeing my projects grow.

I'll be doing another post on 1 December with my overall NaNoWriMo word count accomplishment(s) and provide more updates in the novel I'm currently working on. All I can say now is that it's a paranormal cozy mystery.

If you don't know what a cozy mystery, it's a sub-genre of mystery that's lighter and where the protagonist, or main character, is usually not a detective but an amateur sleuth looking to solve a murder.

Find out more about the cozy mystery genre in Kirsten Weiss' joint article titled "What is a Cozy Mystery? How have Arab readers been introduced to the genre?"

Feel free to check out my book reviews of other cozy mystery books I've read.

If you're taking part in NaNoWriMo, feel free to share your progress updates below so we can support each other.

For those who are unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, it stands for National Novel Writing Month, and takes place every November. It is a time when authors huddle behind their computers, ditch the housework, and work on writing 50,000 words in a month. 

No an easy feat, I assure you!