Anna Aden Writes

It's been a busy and tiring week so nothing much has happened. I've just being going to work and coming home. Literally that. I've even cut down my walking because I've been so tired after work.  It's more or less the one of the busy seasons of my job.  August Writing Report There is nothing writerly about the image but I thought it was nice. It was taken on Parliament Hill about a week ago, and it shows a misty view of the London skyline. Let's talk writing... I seem to be treading water and my book still isn't coming together so I'm thinking of a 2020 release date. It's a hard one to say why because the big picture works well, and I even took Holly Lisle's How To Edit Your Novel course but it didn't do what I thought it would. I've also tried using my old editing notes and 'how to write' books but I've got overwhelmed with the different approaches to the same thing. Also as I said, funny enough it all works ...

There is a bit of crisis because I'm not sure where this is going and the last week was slightly tedious. The course is very good but I feel it's too risky to do wait until the 21 week for do some writing. Also I was getting bored. Last week was about world-building and the lesson and worksheet were excellent but it wasn't for me because I don't think that way. But I am going to revise it at a later point. And I'll be using it for other genre writing. Next lesson - week eight! Can you believe I've been editing for eight weeks now! Can you? So lesson eight is below. Themes.... FINALLY, IN LESSON EIGHT: You’ll discover your story and theme. While you were writing, you may have considered Story and Theme. You may not have. Most writers, after all, give them only cursory attention. But Story and Theme are what pull everything else together. They refine your target, illuminate the priorities in your promises, and spotlight every Scene, Plot, Conflict, Chara...

Bad Cold, stayed in bed My second cold in two weeks. I took time off last week because I was trying to shrug off a cold, only to feel worse for wear. Yesterday, I finally got to the work but came back home. Now, I'm self medicating with lemsips,  pastilles and home-made remedy. Two people suggested hot toddies but I'm not sure whisky is a good idea. Anyway, I'm drinking lemon, honey and hot water. Then the pastilles and lemsip. Not a good time to be ill since I'm rounding up at work, but I've been run down for various reasons - yes writing a blog and my novel is escapism.  Editing my urban lit African American romance - Leyton and Angelica Nothing as yet. Still doing the course but I reckon an hour everyday with a bit on weekends will help. The great thing about the assignments is that with my hour slot, I can time how much I can do then then estimate how long it will take me. For example reading my manuscript with the tasks outlined in Holl...

Nothing to report today. I probably need to carry a copy of my goals around with me so I'm reminded what I need to do. It's so easy for forget them in the day-to-day activities especially at work. The weight -watching on is the worse. I forget and then tuck into a nice warm hearty meal. It's probably because it's winter and it's cold outside. So I've written another synopsis though the book will be in 3rd person.  No real progress since I'm dealing with some important situations that take precedence over my writing. Time for  Synopsis time LEYTON THOMAS is one beautiful, fine-looking man. Simply irresistible but comes with warnings. I've had a one night stand with a parole thug, now I'm sleeping with a billionaire CEO. I'm falling for him fast.  But I have secrets in my past that can destroyed this if it gets serious. Will destroy this. Maybe I should just stay in my own lane and leave the past alone. But it will mean losing Leyton...

So rather than bang on about how I'm not writing or suffering from writer's block I shall be reviewing my goals. SHORT 2018 REVIEW I published two novellas on Amazon I lost 6kg which is about 13 pounds I organised decluttered my clothes and books, and organised my wardrobe and bookshelves I went on a weekend break with  Momma G I had a stressful holiday in Spain - normally I'm recovering from over-work.  2019 GOALS Get a new role - this is urgent and top priority  Publish Leyton and Angelica's story Do at least three CPD - for career development - I was a bit lax last year because my employer supplied them. romance? Maybe. We'll see. I had one in 2017 - not so good. But maybe again. Lose another 5-6kg so about 13-15lb. I'm currently 79kg which is roughly about 174 pounds. So I'm looking at becoming about 160 pounds. Revise all my creative writing courses exercises & grammar If I'm good, maybe treat myself with another writing cou...

So I'm going back to craft practice and only spending 15 minutes a day on the blog. I might do less. Right now I've clocked in about 1.45 minutes. So let's roll. Description  Yes, this is one of my craft weaknesses and has given me grief while editing. That and a host of others However I've done a sample. Practice one. Danny slapped the creaky front door shut and crossed the busy road. It was freezing donkey balls. Ancient Mr Pink was outside with his old banger car, polishing the yellow bodywork, rubbing in the shine so it shone like fool's gold. Two doors down, troublemaking Mrs Green was fighting with her no-good baby father, cursing him out, calling him a useless mama's boy, no change there. At the bottom of the road, Danny turned a sharp left and hurried down a row of expensive townhouses. All neatly kept with immaculate front porches and luxury cars parked outs - Jaguars, Bentleys, Maybach and the odd Porsche. All except one townhouse. It was tumb...

Not much going. Well, it's Christmas! I went shopping yesterday after work to get some presents. I still have plenty more. House of Fraser is a good place to go. I feel it misses a lot of traffic because it's in between John Lewis and Debenhams.  I'm talking about departmental stores on Oxford Street, London. Okay let's talk about writing. Or maybe not. It's the festive season. In John Lewis , they also had the Elton John Experience. That was nice. I feel compelled to show some pictures but that means downloading all the pictures in my phone. I'll get more organised about this as I go along. Then again this is just a journal of my writing. So writing, well I said I'd skip that but I did manage to write another synopsis. What do you think? Synopsis Angelica Washington is a strong woman takes family responsibility seriously, but things aren't always as perfect as they seem .  A bad family ordeal and an impulsive urge leads her to the arms of a h...

So this is my second post today, for some reason the blogger had problem so it got deleted. Charming. Oh well, so I've saved a screen shot of the synopsis from the preview. I didn't even know the previews were pictures and not text. I was going to copy and past but realised I couldn't. So writing has stalled yet again. I'm not doing very well on this 1000 word count again. I think I may need a different approach. I'm also trying to apply a few techniques I learnt at my writing course but that isn't going too well either. So what is going well you ask? Don't know. I'm just going to have to alter my approach. Maybe go back to my old way of writing and see how I can slowly introduce this new way. Who knows.. -----------------------------------------------------------  Check out Bigga Day's books on Smashwords.com https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/bigga Apple iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bigga-day/id595585425?mt=11 B...

So the scene in my urban love story isn't not working. It really isn't. I just can't seem to get it right. It seems dull. I'm supposed to be writing 1000 words. Then I got distracted thinking about key words. So African American romance, people of colour romance, urban lit love story but no street characters per se. Yes, I'm also fiddling around with my layout... new #3 synopsis for my urban love story or African American romance.  ANGELICA WASHINGTON'S rare partying on a cold winter's night turns into a steamy intimate encounter with a dark blue-eyed stranger. Letting go of her normal cautious nature, ANGELICA submits her impulses thinking she'll never meet the handsome sexy stranger again. Circumstances bring them together and they continue their hot passionate affair. One rule. Sex only. But the handsome blue-eyed stranger,  LEYTON THOMAS finds out he wants more, and his lust is slowly turning to love. The prospect of things turning serious i...

I didn't manage any new word count yesterday. Bo! This morning I work up ready to write but found myself on Facebook writing comments, and then on Scribophile answering another post. PROCRASTINATE AT IT'S WORSE. I'm in a fix. My character is upset but I don't know where to locate the scene. In the park?  A cafe? Her friend's beauty shop? Where? Where? On this is where inspiration leaves me. I need to know....Should I just guess? Oh where is my inspiration? Okay let's roll with synopsis #2 Cautious  ANGELICA WASHINGTON  was her family’s go-to strong woman, had a successful career and played mother to her brother’s children– until drama struck a family therapy session. From that moment everything went wrong. A night at the club, leads  ANGELICA  to overcome her cautious ways and spend a night of intimacy with a dark blue-eyed stranger. It was supposed to be for one night only but circumstances lead them back to each other, and many passionate nigh...

The Novel Editing Plan I have blocked all my social media links so I can focus on this project - well at least for 24 hours at a time - twitter, facebook and others. I need an outlet so I shall record most days something here.  I plan to edit and rewrite my entire novel by March 19. I have about 80,000 words planned. Or less. I've just rewritten the first 860 words and decided the beginning must GO! It was nice but didn't have anything to do with the romance. Yes, I'm writing a romance. So now I'm planning to rewrite chapter two. Synopsis Practice of the Day. LEYTON and ANGELICA  are from opposite sides of town. He is a control freak CEO and she is an executive assistant and office manager with a side hustle at the local's farmer market, selling food.  One night of intimacy turns into a rollercoaster search for love... How does it sound? Good? Back to writing. -----------------------------------------------------------  Check out Bigga Day's ...