Aly Lev

I have two or three more chapters before I am done converting my long outline into individual chapter cards and it took much longer than I expected. The outline was 17,000 words and I figured the chapter cards would total to be around 20,000. Nope. I'm totaling around 34,000 words and counting and its all so good. I'm really looking forward to writing this first draft, but I'm also anxious that I am going to get caught in "analysis paralysis" and try to get the first draft perfect. 
          
          Anyone have any tips on writing your first draft and keeping yourself from editing along the way?

What qualifies someone as a writer? I've always heard "a writer is someone who writes", but I never believed I could call myself a writer without my face turning bright red and casting my gaze down, flooding with embarrassment and feelings of unworthiness. Call it imposter syndrome or whatever, but I limited to myself as being 'less than'.
          Yesterday it dawned on me that I am a writer. I was born to be a writer. I should "come out" to people I know as a writer. One day I will be a published author and I'll level-up like a Pokémon. 
          Today I hit 30,000 words. 30,000. When I saw that number, my mouth hung open and I laughed. 30,000 and it is only the chapter cards. 45 chapters and I just struck act three. I'm nearly done and I'm almost ready to embark on my first draft.  I'm equal parts excited to begin the journey and reluctant as if I don't have a detailed map.
          The voice in my head still has the nerve to tell me I won't do it, that even after all of this effort its still not enough and I'll give up again like I have on the last two first drafts (I've been trying to write this book since I was 12). That I'm going to get swept up by grad school and my internship and when the going gets hard, it will become another failed attempt at a first draft. But something feels different this time. This time I feel like a writer.

I almost vented about this on my Writeblr, but I think this community would understand me more. I was reading Shadow and Bone on my kindle and it was telling me that I was about 57% through the book. That is until I suddenly reached the acknowledgements and was so disoriented. I don't know why my kindle decided to lie to me and toy with my emotions, but I was not prepared to finish a book tonight. Do you know what I mean? I was geared up for 43% more book. wtf.

Heya! I'm still converting my  unruly outline into the chapter cards I made and just realized I hit over 20,000 words which blows my mind because that was my goal, but I haven't even gotten to act 3 yet. Everything is clicking into place and I've gotten to know my main characters so much better through this process. Making this chapter template changed the game for sure. 
          
          Anyone else joining Abbie Emmon's writing live stream later today?

Hi y'all! 
          I have a question; what is your all time favorite book? 
          I finished The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue a few days ago and I absolutely loved it. I'm considering writing my first ever fanfic of it for writing practice. Let me know if you've also read it and if you would be interested in reading a lil short story about Addie and Luc. 
          Also! Please remember that March is going to be extra difficult for everyone because it is the anniversary of when our lives changed quite drastically. Just be kind and do something nice for yourself.  Some ideas are taking an extra long shower and breath in the clean scent of your soap, eating a favorite meal or snack without distractions, doing slow yoga, watching a favorite movie or show curled up in a blanket, or taking a social media break. Just do what helps you feel good :)

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Or maybe a hybrid of the two?

So the past few days I have been obsessed with a new chapter card I created and I'm working on converting all 16,500 words of my outline into this format. I took Abbie Emmons' scene card and edited it to fit what I need. I created something where I can enter in details about the who (characters and what they look like in the scene), what happens (plot), where (setting and vibe info), and the why it matters, all at a quick glance. I'm very excited about it. Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone and you are staying warm.

Sorry I have been so MIA on reading and writing this past week. I had a couple big assignments to finish up my semester. Then I painted our living room by myself which was a lot of work and took a few days. And then my boyfriend and I got a puppy! She's about 10 weeks old and we have a 70 pound dog already so we've been very busy getting them adjusted and taking the puppy our every 2 hours to potty-train her. 
          Now that the semester is over, I am looking forward to having some time to make progress on my novel outline (while the puppy is staying out of trouble and napping). I'm also excited to read some wattpad stories :)

The first chapter of "Evie's day" is amazing can't wait for the next chapters. It would mean alot if you could follow and give my book "Deeply Written" a read.

Alright besties! (Can we agree that “bestie” is the best gender neutral way to address people?)
          My first story is live. It’s a quick and easy read. I may add more to it or I might pick a different character from my book to do an exploration exercise or I might create something totally new. Let me know what you think! 
          
          I hope you are taking care of yourself and having a great Friday.