Sonya 1

London, London, UNITED KINGDOM

Joined September 30th 2007

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Writing it is the only way of getting it written

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What I learnt from NaNoWriMo 2011

December 15th 2011 12:30

Here's the biggest insight I gained during this year's NaNoWriMo: My writing process has changed.

I used to be happy with writing a story with nothing planned but the bare bones. The fleshing out was part of the actual writing.

Not anymore. This year, I found that the winging it approach doesn't quite work the way it used to work for me any longer. What I wrote this year wasn't so much the first draft of a novel as a 50,000-word long brainstorming session. In order to make it a story, I have to start again - editing and revising aren't going to turn this baby into a novel.

On the plus side: Now I know what the story is.

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The NaNoWriMo Newbie Guide

October 19th 2011 20:20

I wrote a series of blog posts in the run-up to November last year, titled the Newbie Guide to NaNoWriMo.

Since it's only 13 days until NaNo, the most important things to think about now are characters and plot.

Come November, don't worry about the amount of planning you did or didn't put in. Just give yourself permission to write badly and have fun.

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NaBloPoMo October Theme: Between

October 1st 2011 19:43

Between the lines
In between days
Between a rock and a hard place
In between jobs

Those are just a few things that come to mind when I think of this month's NaBloPoMo theme. It's a good theme (but aren't they always good?) and I'm tempted to join in the blogging madness again.

But since it's only a month until NaNoWriMo and classes start again on Monday, I think I'll pass this month.

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Writing Prompt Wednesday: In and Ideal World

September 14th 2011 20:27

In an ideal world, what kind of story would you write?

Be as specific as possible, include genre, length, the type of reactions the story will provoke in your readers as well as as many details of the story itself you can think of. Don't hold back, this is a fantasy and you can have anything you want.

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Wunderlist

August 22nd 2011 22:35

Wunderlist is a great task management app. You can access it online and there are apps for Mac, PC and mobile devices.

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NaBloPoMo August Theme: Fiction

August 1st 2011 14:23

The theme for daily blogging this month is FICTION.

And if writing a blog post every day for a month isn't enough, you can enter the blogging contest for a chance to win $50.

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NaBloPoMo July Theme: Swim

July 1st 2011 12:16

The theme for this month's daily blogging challenge is SWIM.

If you take part this month, check out the NaBloPoMo Writing Contest. You can submit one post which you've written in response to the daily blogging prompts by the 20th of July. The prize: promotion of your post on BlogHer and $50.

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Good Writing is Worth More than 0.04c per Word

June 24th 2011 07:53

So, I've started looking for writing gigs again. And it strikes me that the amount of decent paying jobs has declined considerably. On the other hand, I could apply for an endless amount of extremely low paying projects.

40$ for 1000 words? Really? Sometimes I wonder if I should just stick with my less than ideal yet well-paid office job.

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All Hail 750words.com

June 15th 2011 13:13

I've just finished my 750words.com entry for today. I've written every day in June so far and I'm on an 19-day writing streak. Online morning pages, that's 750words.com in a nutshell.

The term morning pages was coined by Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way. The idea is that you get the clutter out of your head by writing three pages in longhand first thing in the morning, and then you can create the things that matter. 750words.com is for those of us who'd rather type their morning pages

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My Biggest Writing Challenge

June 10th 2011 22:13

My biggest challenge with writing at the moment is six months (and a bit) old and has recently taken to decorating the kitchen floor with soggy rice cakes. I thought maternity leave would be fab and I'd have lots of time for writing. Now don't get me wrong, maternity leave is fab but there's not much time for writing. Not much at all. And, to be honest, I'm a bit rubbish at using the little time I have at the moment. I write when I have to (and I have to a lot this month), but I dread to think about what will happen come July. Three long, deadline-free months, and before I know it it's October and I've not written a thing. Not an ideal scenario. I must not let that happen.

That's where the Urban Writers' Retreat Writing Bootcamp comes in. It's designed to get people writing (again), and it's just what I need to make the transition from having to write for uni to writing for the sake of it. Who knows, I might find the time to post here once a week again

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Good Writing is Worth More than 0.04c per Word

July 1st 2011 14:50

Freelance Tips
Writing Words

Thanks for your comment, I'm glad it's not just me. It is ridiculous, I agree!

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Permission to Write Badly

November 2nd 2010 20:57

Freelance Tips
Writing Words

Thanks Chris

- glad to hear it.

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Comment by Sonya 1
on The NaNo No-Nos

October 17th 2010 12:50

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Well, what the NaNo site says about memoirs is, "Memoir is a sticky one; as long as it is fictionalized, it is okay, too."

So you can't just write your life story without turning it into a piece of fiction. I personally think: Memoirs are a no-no.

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Don't stress out over NaNo

September 27th 2010 20:02

Freelance Tips
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That's great! Have lots of fun and let me know if you have any questions.

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Word Association Thursday

September 2nd 2010 18:25

Freelance Tips
Writing Words

1. Patches- holes

2. Milk- tea

3. Minute- time

4. Cool- cucumber

5. Capture- prisoner

6. Marriage- love

7. Message- bottle

8. Silver- ring

9. Illuminate- enlighten

10. Blog- writing

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Insult

August 31st 2010 19:43

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Happy birthday Dianna - both to you and Fictional Worlds!

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Ask Yourself Why

August 30th 2010 18:47

Freelance Tips
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Thank you, Margaret! I am glad you find my blog posts useful and really appreciate your comment. It's always good to get some feedback.

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Do you soul search?

August 29th 2010 10:19

Freelance Tips
Writing Words

Thanks for your comment on my recent post about writing success and failures.

I like your post and I agree with you, it's important to review your life every few months to get an honest picture of your development. If we don't know where we are going, how can we change direction or accelerate the journey?

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Writing Success, Failures and Regrets

August 29th 2010 10:17

Freelance Tips
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Margaret,

Thanks for your comment and your kind words.

Sailors make passage plans before the journey and then review their actual progress and make necessary corrections. You can never accurately plan for wind direction, strength of tide etc. I try to apply the same process to life: I plan things I want to achieve. A few months later I look back on what I accomplished or didn't accomplish and, more importantly, why or why not so I can adjust the plan to get where I want to be.

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Comment by Sonya 1
on Word Association Thursday

August 26th 2010 18:02

Freelance Tips
Writing Words

1. Yes- indeed

2. Basketball- rebound

3. Desire- want

4. Heartbreak- painful

5. Apple- Mac

6. Home- London

7. Fate- stars

8. Pimple- teenager

9. Brother- Tuck

10. Seventeen- sweet

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