writing Archives • Life With Leila

Manuscript Update: Project Sunflower #WriteUpMyAlley

February 25, 2020 No Comments

If you’ve come across my past writing updates or followed along when I participated in Camp Nanowrimo, you may be aware of Project Sunflower. Of course that is just a filler name for my manuscript. I began it in July 2019 and finished it in August 2019. However, I didn’t get through my first read through and light edit until recently. Thus, for a while there wasn’t much to update you all on. But now that I’m finally making progress, I wanted to share what stage I’m currently at with Project Sunflower. So keep reading if you’re interested in my manuscript update.

reading, writeupmyalley, writing

2020 Writing and Reading Goals

January 28, 2020 No Comments

I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. I’m starting to sound like a broken record. Truth be told, I find the whole “new year, new me” or “I have to wait until January 1st to start making changes in my life” uninspiring and cheesy. However, I do like to plan for the future and it’s easy to frame your goals as to where you’d like to be in the next 12 months. I have plenty of reading and writing goals I hope to achieve.

If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you’d know that I love writing and reading. I’ve down several reading wrap-ups as well as writing updates. This time I’m listing out the areas in my writing and reading I want to improve or change. So, if you’re interesting in knowing about my 2020 writing and reading goals, keep reading.

writeupmyalley, writing

First Nanowrimo Experience: What I Learned

November 26, 2019 No Comments

2018 was my first Nanowrimo experience. I never heard of Nanowrimo until that year when I started delving into the online writing community more. I was already outlining a novel and found out about Nanowrimo just days before it was set to start. And I needed a push to start writing. Well, I successfully finished Nanowrimo that year by completing over 50,000 words in November.

My first Nanowrimo was so successful that I decided to participate in Camp Nanowrimo in July 2019, which I also won. With all this in mind, I was fully prepared to participate in Nanowrimo again for 2019. Yet… I’m not. I took a lot away after my first Nanowrimo. If you’re interested in my main takeaways as well as why I’m not doing it this year, keep reading.

writing

Is “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” Any Good?

November 5, 2019 No Comments

If you’re in the writing world online you likely heard of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. There are many different types of writers. Some people don’t enjoy planning their novels and are referred to as “pantsers.” Did you also cringe? Other writers love planning their novels are are referred to as plotters. Then there are some in the middle. Personally, I enjoy plotting but I’m still unsure of what my exact process is.

I don’t plot every single detail but I also can’t go into writing without knowing anything. As I’m trying to improve my craft, I decided to finally purchase Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. The tagline claims it’s “the last book on novel writing you’ll ever need.”

Some people love it, others not so much. Want to hear my opinion on Save the Cat! Writes a Novel? Keep on reading.

writeupmyalley, writing

Writing Update (Sep. 2019) #WriteUpMyAlley

September 10, 2019 No Comments

The past year I began getting back into one of my first passions: writing. It started in 2018 when I decided to jump the gun and participate in Nanowrimo. I fell off a bit after winning and then proceeded with writing again during the summer. Particularly, I participated in Camp Nanowrimo and also succeeded in this. Now, after a lot of reading, outlining, researching, I’m beginning to take this more seriously. Writing is fun, but I’d also like it to be my job.

If you’d like to know about where I am with my writing, keep reading this writing update.

writeupmyalley, writing

Camp Nanowrimo: July 2019

August 6, 2019 No Comments

Last winter I participated in Nanowrimo for the first time. Surprisingly, I won Nanowrimo early. Now, I didn’t finish the project until months later. But I did enjoy having a challenge to hold me accountable. There’s also a mini-version of this challenge called Camp Nanowrimo. So in July, I decided I wanted something else to hold me accountable with my new writing project. Camp Nanowrimo was different from the November challenge in a couple ways, but ultimately with the same goal: get writers to write.

If you are curious to know more about my Camp Nanowrimo experience, continue reading.

writeupmyalley, writing

Youtubers for Writers: 5 Channels for Aspiring Authors #WriteUpMyAlley

June 25, 2019 No Comments

Youtube can be a great resource for aspiring writers and book lovers. Not only is the information free, but it’s typically very helpful. There is information available for all levels. Whether you’re planning your first novel or you are working on your tenth. There are plenty of helpful Youtubers for writers to utilize during their journey.

Have you read any of my posts from 2018’s Nanowrimo? It was my first time participating in Nanowrimo and it was a success. If you don’t know what Nanowrimo is, check out one of those posts for more information. But basically it’s a challenge for writers. I love writing and I recently made more of a commitment to fine-tune my writing and learn more about the business.

If you’d like to know what Youtubers this writer is using, keep reading.