5 Ways to Manage NaNoWriMo Stress

Well, NaNoWriMo2017 is well underway and I have been extra busy, hence why this is my first post this month. This is my second attempt at the 50,000 word goal in 30 days. My first attempt in 2015 ended with 22,877 words and a feeling of disappointment on December 1st. But this year I vowed to try it again and this time I was determined to surpass my first word count and complete the 50,000 word mark. So far, so good. I have surpassed my 2015 word count (current count: 27,714). But my momentum is shrinking with the holidays approaching and family obligations weighing down on me. There are a few things I have been doing to counteract the mounting stress:

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1) I have read books that are in a different genre than what I am writing. Enjoying a good book can spark ideas for your story line.

2) I write in my journal. I have found this to be extremely helpful. By writing about what is going on in my daily life, goals that I have and tasks that I want to accomplish has freed up some of my mental clutter and whole scenes for my characters have come about, increasing my word count.

3) I attended a poetry reading to get away. Once you start to feel stuck in your writing it is good to be able to get away and focus on something else, enjoy other’s creativity.

4) Soak in a hot bubble bath. Sometimes this can be a cure-all for everything stress related. The hot water relaxes your body while the scent of the bubbles relaxes your mind, allowing you to relax and then the words will come to you.

5) Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. A tired mind cannot write all the words and the goal of NaNoWriMo is to write all of the words in 30 days or less. Get rest even if you have to sneak in a couple of 15 minute cat naps during the day. Get your sleep on so your mind can recharge and process the words you have already written.

NaNoWriMo is fun and we all have to remember this is not life or death but a month-long word sprint. I have discovered new writers whose work I love because they participated in NaNoWriMo. I am discovering that this draft doesn’t have to be perfect – that in fact i can guarantee it won’t be perfect because it is a draft. Meant to be reread and corrected. In the event I discover that maybe novel-writing is not for me that doesn’t mean I can’t write. It means I may be more suited to shorter, more concise stories. I still love the written word and using those words to express myself. Remember why you signed up for this challenge and use that to help guide you in your story.My life, My Words, My Way(1)

On Why Yet’s Watch with Victoria Catherine

On Why Yets Watch bannerThursday nights are energetic for me. Why you ask? Because every Thursday night I get to interview someone new. This week I have the pleasure (pun intended) of interviewing erotica authoress, Victoria Catherine. Chicago native who relocated to Fort Wayne, IN, Victoria has been writing since she was a “pure, innocent, and virginal pre-teen”. Most of her early stories were based off of the Red Shoe Diaries on Showtime. Fascinated with the psychology of what made people lust after each other she began writing what she coins as “bathtub lit”. Her debut novel, One: Sex & Lies, is available on amazon.com.

ONE by Victoria Catherine

Victoria Catherine is the name of the alter ego created from the love of secrets, anonymity and all naughty things we hide away, but in real life she is a wife and mother with many pets. She is a foodie who has a day job and loves classic movie musicals. Victoria Catherine’s writing goal is to write at her own pace and have fun doing it. If you like secrets and finding out all naughty things we hide away then this is a not to miss interview for you. Join me, Why Yet, as I step into the world of bathtub lit with Victoria Catherine on blog talk radio. The call in number is 773-897-6297. Or you can check it out here. I broadcast live Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 9 pm EST.

Excerpt from Ego Trippin’

public-domain-images-free-stock-photos-apple-iphone-iphone-6-1000x667A few days later Nathan met up with Mark at the Red Roof Inn on Roosevelt Boulevard. Mark was sitting in his Black Acura MDX listening to All Eyez on Me by Tupac when Nathan tapped three times on the tinted window. “Aye man what‘s good,” Nathan smirked.
“Come on man, let’s go relax. My girl Diamond is in there and she brought out all of her best girls.”
“Is Ruff Ryder in there?”
“You know it. I told you, Diamond brought all of her best girls. You need to relax after what you‘ve been through. We‘re in room 313.”
“Then let’s go.” Nathan stepped back from the car so Mark could get out and they began walking towards the hotel.

Mark called Diamond after he left Nathan’s house three days ago. He was positive that Nathan was the cause of all of Lydia’s ‘accidents’ and miscarriages. Just like with Georgia. Nathan didn’t know that Mark bought the plane ticket for Georgia and her son to leave and gave her money to start her life over in California. He knew Nathan was insecure about getting older but not to the point of targeting young girls so he can manipulate and viciously abuse them. After explaining what he saw at Nathan’s house with Lydia, and telling about Nathan’s treatment of Georgia, Diamond was all too eager to get even.

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Nathan walked into room 313 and smiled when he saw the variety of women waiting. In the far corner of the room on a chaise lounge, sat a slender Thai woman dressed in a pale pink, sheer baby doll trimmed in fur. Her tight nipples were visible from where he stood at the door. She smiled at him and gave him a thai bow. Sitting next to her was a curvy Puerto Rican mami, with fiery red hair and a Caribbean blue thong on with matching bra and boots. A set of twins, Russian, were teasing each other on the floor wearing matching white leather one pieces. Sitting on the floor in front of a desk near the window was an olive colored Italian beauty. Large, almond shaped eyes and dark hair accented full breasts cloaked in an emerald green velvet gown. A black velvet choker with a chain attached drew the attention from her eyes to her full breasts. The chain led up to a leather handle held by a deep chocolate woman with curves like Nikki Minaj and Kim Kardashian who sat on top of the desk dressed in a black leather cat suit and boots, watching everything.

“That bitch must be Diamond. Sitting there like she run shit. Hmph. She better watch her step. I’m no body’s punk bitch,” Nathan thought as he eyed her up and down.
“You must be Nathan.” Diamond extended her hand as she rose up from the desk and stepped towards him. Nathan looked her in the eye, “Yeah.” Pulling her hand back she smiled and waved her hand at her ladies, “These are my ’diamonds’. I have cultivated each of them to be skilled in pleasure, be it their own or someone else’s. I understand you are a fan of Ruff Ryder. She is unable to be with us today but I am sure the rest of my ladies can thoroughly entertain you in her absence.” Nathan began smiling, “This bitch think she slick. She fucking with the right one. She mess around and I’ll have her bent the fuck over, fucking her in the ass to let her know I’ll fuck her up.”

Diamond recognized an egotistical, bitch-ass man when she saw one. It had only been fifteen years since she got up the courage to dispose of her own after living in a tortured hell for ten years. Her elite ‘diamonds’ were very skilled at entertaining customers such as Nathan…

Can’t Love What I Don’t Trust by Khara Campbell

Can’t Love What I Don’t Trust is a new urban romance novel by author Khara Campbell that was released by Mahogany Red Books. I am a lover of romance stories even when a part of me wants to run from them screaming (only because I have yet to discover my happily ever after).

But, I digress. Tonight on my radio show, On Why Yet’s Watch with Khara Campbell, I get to sit down with Khara Campbell and find out what makes her characters tick. I have been interviewing authors and artists for a couple of months now and I am discovering that I love it. The stereotype is that artists and published authors are unapproachable and I am finding them to be regular people, just like you and me. They have real life problems just like we do. We’re all human. Even the fictional characters in these novels.

That is what caught my attention with this novel. How can you love someone you don’t trust? You can’t, plain and simple. So many people want to convince others of how loving they are and fling accusations about like paint on a toddler easel. You may have guessed I have a bit of experience with this here.

A former significant other of mine constantly accused me of cheating on him. All the while professing how much he ‘loved’ me. Needless to say that gets tiring quickly, and before I change who I am to satisfy his accusations I will leave. Well, his accusations (unjustified I might add) continued and I said ‘sayonara!’.

cantlovewhatidonttrustThat is what Cassandra is dealing with in the story. Undependable and not-yet-ready-for-committment type guys that we have seen or dealt with ourselves at one time or another. Here’s a brief synopsis from the author herself:

Cassandra had been in love before and if you asked her, love was pain; every day she was reminded of that with the hand she was currently dealt. She struggles to provide for the kids, working a dead-end job while going to school. Stuck in a meaningless relationship, which only involved midnight creeps into her bed, she ends things with Darius in hopes for something better in life. 
Just when Cassandra isn’t looking for anything or anyone, that’s when Marco comes along; he’s handsome, a great father to his son, and a business owner. Marco’s had his share of women and often juggled relationships, but upon meeting Cassandra, his desire is kindled and he has to fight against wanting anything more than just a casual thing. With each day, they both fight the obvious; they want each other. A night of forbidden passion leads them into bed together; they soon wind up going back and forth, as Cassandra begins to date Damian to distract her from the one she really wants–Marco.

To hear more about Cassandra, Darius, Damian and Marco you’ll have to tune in to On Why Yet’s Watch tonight at 9:00 pm EST by calling in to 646-716-5330.  We always have fun. Listen to Why Yet? Why not?!