2015 Reflections: My Writing

So this was supposed to be posted about a week (or 2) ago and thus this sums up how my writing went in 2015.

It was delayed multiple times. *sigh*

In my final reflection of things that transpired in 2015, I focus on my writing. I have to be honest, I really was not feeling my writing at the close of 2015. My mind and spirit was overwhelmed. I felt like I kept hitting a brick wall and nothing productive was coming out and finally the passion that I had for earlier projects JUST WASN’T THERE.

In terms of writing, here are the three major things I wrote in 2015:
1.  I worked on business writing – writing speeches, constructing social media campaigns, talking points, etc.
2.  I hit a wall in editing my finished SciFi and shelved it. I then started working on my MG. I got really gung ho during NanoWrimo but the fever only lasted up until the first day. I did some small edits throughout the month but nothing lasting. The story just stopped resonating!
3.  I blogged (minimally). My number of blog post in 2015 was 10 (and I took a blogging break between February and June). This was a major blogging slump for me.

In 2016, I want to find my passion again and I think I’m off to a good start. I exchanged chapters of both projects with my writing friend at the end of 2015 and became reignited. She has steered me back on the path of my SciFi project and we have exchanged novels. I’m actually EXCITED. Once I started reading over my work on this project again, I felt pulled back into this story and I cannot wait to give it another look and hopefully make magic happen.

Here’s to a productive 2016!

2015 Reflections: My Life

If you are still tuned into the blog – bless you! I love you for your support and for coming back on today as I reflect upon my life and more importantly lessons learned.

When looking back, I think my writer friend sums it up best: SELF CARE.

2015 literally saw me running all over the place via my main job, my side gig, and my home life. I learned that self care is not just about nails and hair (although these two are very important as my hair had some definite neglect), it’s about your overall well-being. I have narrowed down my personal highlights of 2015 into a top 3:

1. Passion Project: I reconnected to doing what I LOVE – Communications Consultant Work. I love being able to craft words and help people relay their story. Whether I do it on the political arena or for a little mom and pop that needs to build its brand, its where I feel the most alive. I really allowed myself to step outside my comfort zone in this area this year and subsequently in brought newfound swagger back to my life. I became my vocal about my abilities and more confident in my skill set.

2. Pescetarian Challenge: My health was failing from my amplified work load in 2015. I put on some pounds, was feeling tired and cranky, and just really started to feel not like myself. The end of the year, saw me rededicating myself to my health. In December I did a 21 day Pescetarian Challenge that saw me only eating veggies and seafood. I also cut back on my junk food snacking and huge desserts that were serving to comfort me in stressful time. Once a healthy stretcher and walker, I greatly decreased my activities during the fall. Thus in December, I began making a conscious effort to wake up early and meditate and stretch. HUGE RESULTS followed. January saw a 5 pound weight drop, increase in energy, and overall healthy feeling returning.

3. Feeling Pretty: Dang it,  I’m not old and decided to stop dressing like it. I changed to another department in my company that is a little more laid back and to be honest I really did not want to be here. But honey, I gave up the ghost and I wore heels like nobody’s business. I am also proud to say I have learned what clothing and shoe styles work for me. On the makeup front I tried some pink lipstick (not for me) but discovered purple tones were my thing!

Did you learn any personal lessons about yourself in 2015? What are you doing for YOURSELF in 2016? Share in the comments below.

2015 Reflections: (Harry) Potter Revisited

I contemplated a lot over things I experienced, lessons learned, and great moments from 2015. As with every recent year, I feel I have learned a lot about myself and hope to use this knowledge to make great decisions in the new year. This week, I will share some of my 2015 reflections in regards to books, my life, and my writing. Today, I will start with my 2015 book journey.

2015 saw me tackling two projects: one a SciFi revision and the other a MG fantasy. My life was also really busy but I didn’t want to shut out my writing -however, I lacked the motivation to really make anything work. Thus, I gave myself two book challenges which entailed rereading The Twilight Saga and the Harry Potter series.

Both were like snuggling in a comfortable blanket. When life was hectic, it was nice to revisit books that I had enjoyed. In the case of Potter, it was great to read what I consider a “how to” of children’s lit. Below I have given you a book by book takeaway of my renewed thoughts on this series:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: This is the epitome of a great book and the ultimate “how to” in writing a great MG book. I love the way JK Rowling builds this world. Also shout out to the great literary tool of foreshadowing which now after I have read and re-read the series (and watched the ABC Family movie marathon), I wonder how I slept on some of this foreshadowing. For example in chapter 6 some great foreshadowing is laid about Quirrell (and the centaurs predicted the book 7 war).

Another great thing I enjoyed was there was a good build-up. We didn’t make it to chapter 2 and Harry already had his ragtime group of friends and things were great. No sir! We get to experience life at The Dursley’s, shopping for school, and the celebrity status – all before our dynamic threesome is fully formed in Chapter 9.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Is this where we truly realize how awesome Hermione is? I think so. I feel like people may have been a little “iffy” on Hermione in the first book but in book 2 I really JUST LOVED Hermione. I mean, I was actually shocked Harry was able to save the day thus I want to officially request another 7 book series just based on Hermione’s point of view. #puttingitoutthere

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Was this the filler book? Loved the introduction of Lupin, hated Pettigrew. I mean that is the takeaway from here to book 7 how much I just despise Pettigrew and maybe because we all know a Pettigrew. He’s lurking in the shadows at school, work, or even the mommy group just trying to be apart of things but never truly loyal to anybody. Ugh!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Cho Chang. The dark lord came back and stuff which I was all excited about the first time I read this book but during the reread – man Cho Chang! JK Rowling did a great job really showing Harry’s emotion and just really all the kids as they experience crushes and first loves.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Um, can we trade in this whiney kid who has taken over Harry’s body. If I didn’t have my own whiney, sulky teenager – and thus understood this sudden mood change – I would have flushed this book down the toilet like Ginny trying to flush Riddle’s diary!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: I now hate Cho Chang and you have to understand that until recently I thought that JK got it wrong and Harry and Cho were truly meant to be but clearly the movies and my first time reading just masked that Cho was a little crazy! How the heck did I miss this!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Wow, so it just dawned on me that all of the authors of the marauder’s map are dead – like for real – that happened! I was not shocked about Dudley in this book. To me, Dudley was like Harry’s evil older brother and once you realize that your little brother may die or you will not see them again, the tears start and things get terrible. Younger siblings are just destined to get terrorized – sorry! rite of passage.

Revisit Potter for yourself and nab all the books via Pottermore.

What are your thoughts on Harry Potter? Have you revisited any series and had differing opinions of the characters? Comment below!