The idea behind this post might seem counterintuitive to talk about as an author. You know...one who would love it if you were to buy a book or two. *HINT HINT* You could aways check the "Books" tab if you'd like to add some robosex or tiny house lovin' to your TBR pile.  

But before I was a writer, I was a reader. And money has never been something that could keep up with my appetite for books. I've been a coupon queen and purveyor of the sales rack for as long as I can remember. So I thought I'd share some of my tips for reading on a budget.

1. Don't be married to a format.
I absolutely ADORE reading on my Kindle. I love the ability for it to keep my exact spot. Since I can increase the font size, jumping right back into a book is super easy, even if I have to put it down in a hurry. But what I've learned over the past few years is that by allowing myself to be fluid in the format, I can take advantage of a lot of sales. When authors are looking to jump into new avenues, they tend to price things lower. Ebook, paper, audiobook, Radish serials, alternative vendor apps on my phone, all of them are there. Because sometimes an author wants to boost visibility on a certain platform, and they'll price items accordingly. 

2. Get intimate with your library, and others nearby.
I'm incredibly lucky to be in a city with a robust library catalog. My library consists of multiple branches and will bus books between them for me to pick up at no cost to me. BUT, I have purchased a PLAC (Public Library Access Card) in the past. For my state, it's only $65 for the entire year, and allows me to drop in and get a library card for any library in the state of Indiana. This was amazing for me in regards to program access the other libraries had as well. But solely on a book level, if you're struggling to find what you want in your library, check out what other libraries are around you. You might be able to pay a small fee and gain access to a vast amount of other options. Or gain library ebook access when you might not have it available otherwise. And libraries buy the copies of their books, so by requesting books you'd like to see from your favorite authors, or supporting your local library by buying a card, you're supporting those authors too.

3. Subscription services aren't all bad.
I'm going to pre-empt this with the fact that I'm not a subscriber for anything other than Audible at this moment. I personally didn't find the value for other subscription services because I didn't use them. But check out the catalogs for online services like Kindle Unlimited, Scribd, Playster, or KOBO Plus. You might find something that works for you, and most of them have free trials. I personally liked Audible the most. Aside from the fact that the books I purchase with my credits continue to be mine even if I pause or leave the subscription, (I'm not sure if this is true of the others or not), I have access to Audible exclusive titles, and even things like guided mediations and Yoga routines. However, some subscriptions require the author to be exclusive with the platform, and for that reason, some of the bigger names I'd like to use the subscription for, won't be available. I'd say to pick your top 10 favorite authors and see what kind of titles you can consume through a platform for each author. If you can't find that many, move along to the next.

4. Newsletters and Mailing Lists are more than junk mail.
Sometimes. I have been thinning out my newsletter and mailing list influx lately, because it got to be too much, and I'm pretty sure at least one or two of the authors I subscribed to sold or swapped my list, because I got some junk mail from people I'd never heard of before. (Authors if you're reading this...don't give your email list to another author. It's a bad look.) But there are plenty of services you can sign up for, like BookBub, that will compile lists of sales. And I mention BookBub because I know authors pay to get on that list, and have an investment involved to make the book they promote be a great one. 

Newsletters by your favorite authors are also a great way to learn about new releases, special promo pricing, and maybe even enter a giveaway. So while I'd caution to keep the subscriptions to ones you'll actually want to read, if you're on a budget, they can be an excellent source of information to save you big bucks.

5. Work your present-getting occasions to your benefit.
If your Aunt Cindy gives you another candle, you'd probably have enough to open your own shop. The vast majority of items you get from fairly distant relatives, or well-meaning family aren't things you'd prefer. Let them know you want book gift cards. Talk about it at family functions, tell your significant other to spread the word, tattoo the sentiment on your forehead, just get the word out that you want gift cards to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. Let people know you'd love to get that book bling much more than a blanket this year under the tree. You don't have to tell grandma that you wouldn't wear the jean vest she made, just let her know that you already have one and would love to get a book to cozy up with instead. If they want something to wrap, tell them to grab you a great hard cover new release you don't have the cash to splurge on yourself. If you hate the book selection the uncle you've blocked on Facebook gives you, just return it for in-store credit and grab the erotic romance you've had your eye on instead. 


I purposefully left off half price book stores on this list. The reason is, I like to find ways to support the authors who are writing the books, and unless you're buying from the "New" section, resale stores don't send checks to the authors. And don't get me started on the pirates out there sharing books on torrent sites and Google Drives. I hope you all get a virus.

Those are my tips for reading when the cash is tight. What are some of your favorite ways to feed your reading addiction? I'd love to hear about them! I'm diving into my next read as soon as I get this blog done. Happy Reading!

~Roxy

I overheard an argument the other day about paper books were going away. The two women embroiled in the topic used the ever expanding toy and trinket section in Barnes & Noble as proof that people aren't going to continue buying paper books. Although if they would have thought through their argument of using B&N as the microcosm for book world, they would see that the Nook is dying in that building too. Which would mean stories as a whole are dead. And honestly, nothing is further from the truth.

But back to the conversation I overheard, I couldn't help but thing about the incredible transformation the world of book publishing has gone through in just the past ten years.

Ebooks were around long before the kindle, but for me, that little device was what opened up the world of ebooks for me. I distinctly remember watching an Oprah episode where she gave away a first generation kindle (the one with the roller wheel, y'all) to her audience. And frankly, I'd never wanted to be in an Oprah audience more.

When the Kindle came on the scene, we had the ability to download the ebooks that were already out in the world, and take them with us, just like the paper books many of us were already lugging around in our purses and backpacks. The kindle also introduced me to the world of erotic romance, but that's a whole other story.

The interesting thing for me that came from the release of the kindle device was that we now had a viable choice. The world could carry a paper book or an e-reader with basically the same amount of space and heft. But each format has some serious pro's and con's. 

E-READER PRO's and CON's

PRO's
-Carrying thousands of books instead of just one.
-The ability to buy the next book in a series IMMEDIATELY
-Reading without someone looking at the cover of your book and feeling like they can comment on it.
-TTS or Text to Speech. (This is now a defunct feature, but I kept my old kindles so I still have this feature on mine, and it's a HUGE PRO for me.)
-Buying books from damn near anywhere in the world.
-Freebies! (Or super cheap sales. Ebooks go on sale  A LOT.)
-MAKING THE FONT BIGGER! Bless this feature. When my eyes are fried, it's a lifesaver.

CON's
-Battery-powered. (I swear, the one day I need it most is the day it dies.)
-Not able to skim pages. 
-Expensive. (The price has gone down, but back in the day, it was a $400 investment to get this bad boy.)
-Ads now appear unless you pay extra. 
-Distortion of graphics and charts depending on the publisher. 
-Flipping to footnotes and indexes is a pain in the ass.


PAPERBOOK PRO's and CON's

PRO's
-The feel of the paper. When a publisher invests in paper quality, it makes me keep reading.
-No need for batteries.
-You can borrow for free from your library. Aside from the cost of getting there, you can read a paper book without paying money.
-Immediate reading. No waiting for a screen to turn on or an app to load if you read on a tablet. 
-Author autographs. There is nothing like holding in your hands something signed by your literary rockstar.
-Reference books. Ebooks don't have the easy flip through factor, and never will.

CON's
-If you buy your books instead of borrowing from the library, it's expensive to get the new releases. And with costs as they are now, you can buy a kindle for the same price as two hard covers. 
-It's only one book at a time. Unless you want to give yourself back problems and carry five at once.
-Damage. It's easy to ding up a book, break the spine, spill on it. They yellow and get gross over time. And we won't even talk about the questionable stains found on some library books. Ew.
-You have to travel or wait for delivery of your favorite books. No shopping in your pajamas with unwashed hair.
-Nosey people. I hate having to deal with whatever reaction someone might have. The joy of reading in public is avoiding human interaction.

Can you tell by my list that I'm never going to give up either type of book?

Because I'm not. And I seriously doubt anyone else is either. There are always trends coming and going. Honestly, the thing the arguing women missed out on was the beauty of having different options to read. For those who have poor eyesight, ebooks allow them to increase the font and allow them to read. For people who are completely blind, audiobooks are becoming bigger than ever. Getting people access to the stories however they want to read them is the most important, if you ask me.

For my own reading life, I tend to live by 5 major rules when buying books.

1. Always buy reference material in paper. I've tried multiple times to do reference in audio and ebook, and if the info is good, I will always buy the print later anyway.

2. Always buy self-help/motivation books in audio. I don't know if this is simply a "how I started is how I'll continue" vibe, but I vastly prefer listening to self-help tomes in audio format. It's like someone in my ear, cheering me on.

 3. Always buy genre fiction in ebook. This only has one caveat.  I will buy print versions of books if I'm at a signing. But 9 times out of 10, I won't read the paper. They are for cuddling and cooing over only.

4. Borrow from the library and request desired content frequently. I am a huge advocate of the library. (You won't catch me with a KU subscription.) So when my library doesn't have a fave author, I always put in a request for the book. Even if I'm running right out to buy it after searching in the library's website. I want the library to know that romance and erotic romance are valid forms of literature. 

​5. Buy from a bookstore, or somewhere I know the author gets a cut. Now don't get me wrong. I do scour half-price bookstores. But when I buy from a half-price bookstore, I always buy the ebook to go with it. Or I am in the store searching for out-of-print materials. Currently I'm snatching up Samhain Publishing books I loved in ebook since I'll never be able to buy them in print from the online store again. And I'm still holding out hope that one day I'll stumble across some L.J. Smith Vampire Diaries with the original 90's cover art. But if I'm buying a reference book, it's from Amazon or a bookstore. I know how hard it is to deal with pirates and scammers. I want the authors to get the money for their work. Even if it costs me a little more. And if times are hard? See rule 4. Libraries pay for their books, and the more I borrow, the more copies of the author's next release my library will stock.


What about you? Do you prefer ebooks or paper? Or are you like me and want certain types of books in different formats? Any pro's or con's you think I missed? I'd love to hear about them.

~Roxy

So here's the deal. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good book with even better sex scenes. See all those people walking around? Every damn one of them exists because two people got their Marvin Gaye on. 

Sex is natural and super fun! So when I'm reading a book involving romance, I want my characters to enjoy themselves. The problem doesn't lie with me, or with my comfort level, but it involves the fact that I'm busy, and I don't always have the ability to sit in my house and read.

Am I going to let a packed schedule stop me from reading the books I love? Fuck, no, I'm not.

When I step out and I'm elbow deep in a good book, here are five things I do to not prevent other people from interrupting the exceptionally happy times of the characters I'm reading.

1. Earbuds. Visible ones.

I'm not always listening to my books through Audible. What I am, is interested in not being disturbed. Visible earbuds let people know you can't hear them.

Don't get me wrong, I have still been approached while out in public and trying not to be. Sometimes purple hair causes a scene. But with my earbuds in, I've been known to ignore a person or two and pretend the non-existent music was blasting.

*NOTE* If you are listening to an audio book, start the book before you put your earbuds in. Nothing will get you kicked out of a Panera faster than not having your earbuds all the way in your phone and accidentally blasting a double penetration scene at full volume.

2. Lip Balm

Okay. This might be a weird phobia of mine, but I tend to bite my lips when reading a particularly enticing scene. So I make sure to pack lip balm. If I feel like I might end up looking like a wannabe LL Cool J out there, I take out the lip balm to remind myself to stop.

3. Kid-Blocking Noise

Nothing kills the romantic vibes like a child throwing a tantrum. Since I've already got my earbuds engaged, I'll pull up a white noise app, or my ambient mixer environment of choice. Sure...babies can sometimes result from the activities I'm listening too, but when the heroine has her legs wrapped around her partner's head squeezing the life out of them as she's riding the rails to O-Town, I don't want to listen to a two year old talk to their parent about what type of bodily function is currently urgent.

4. E-Reader copies

For quite a while, the vast majority of the books I loved weren't even available in paper. I was forced to adopt an e-ink lifestyle. And I regret none of it. I love reading books that are different. From vampires who can mist out of their clothes, to exceptionally naughty babysitters, to shapeshifters with more sass than I'd ever seen before, these books weren't available at my local bookstore. So when I pick up a book, my first instinct is now to grab the e-copy. And it not only lets me read with a bit less judgement in my conservative area of the country, but it also lets me carry tons of books in my purse.

5. Stop giving so many fucks to people who don't deserve them

​There got to be a point where I had to say, I don't care what you think. Even considering the intense Catholic school guilt, I hate to admit how long it took me to get where I am. But I finally realized that if people want to read over my shoulder, or judge my book choices while they crush candy on their phones, that's their fucking problem.

Don't want to be offended my my reading a book? Don't look.

I'm not going to stop reading what I love, or writing it. So sometimes I pack a little defensive armor when I venture into the great outside world. But here's the thing...most people aren't going to pay one bit of attention to what's going on between your book pages. Life's too short to read stuff that makes you yawn. So I say, find something that will make you squirm instead.

​What books do you love to read that might not be appropriate to quote in public? I'd LOVE to hear about them. And if you're in need of something a little naughty, there are a few books in the side bar that certainly fit the bill. ;)

~Roxy

I'm a week into my New Year's Resolution of doing my Miracle Morning every day, and today was a struggle. I work 12 hour shifts every Sunday, so my body was not too happy with me when the alarm went off and I had to get my butt out of bed.

But instead of wasting time on my phone until it was time to get head into work for the day, I started with my seventh day of Miracle Morning in a row. Here are some changes I'm already noticing after a week.

1. I feel my body settle quicker when I start meditating.

I'm only doing ten minutes of mediation to start out my day, but I may add an afternoon or evening practice in as well. I don't want to add onto my morning because I want to make sure what I'm doing is sustainable all year, but I'm feeling the benefits. I feel my muscles sink into the couch where I close my eyes and breathe deeply every morning. I am able to let the million and one thought bubbles pop a little easier. And I can focus on things more than I'd been able to before this week began.

Not only that, but when I sit down and close my eyes, my shoulders drop. My jaw unclenches. The pressure behind my eyes softens. I'm incredibly grateful I picked up my mediation practice again.

2. I'm able to let more shit go instead of holding onto the anger or pain.

I was feeling really sad, and any horrible thing tended to send me spiraling. All the awful things piled on and my tears or rage would spring to the surface easily. After just one week, I can feel a space forming for me between those extreme reactions. Don't get me wrong. When an asshole cuts me off or drives fifteen under the speed limit, I still test the magnitude of my cursing abilities. Road rage is real, y'all. But when I turn off my social media for the day, I'm able to let some of the awful things go. Certain things chase me down and find me anyway, but I've got some armor on. I've got the knowledge that I'm working on making things better by starting with myself.

3. I can go up and down the stairs multiple times without getting winded.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not signing up at a modeling agency or to run a marathon, but even just 3 minutes a day of movement has made a difference in how I am able to make it around my house of many stairs. I'm interested to see what happens when I make it up to 5 minutes a day.

4. My confidence is experiencing a nice boost.

There is something about journaling on a regular basis that pumps me up. I always seem to end on a little pep talk to myself, and it seriously gets me ready for the day. Don't get me wrong. A customer service job tends to knock the wind out of your sails pretty soon after, but I get that fresh start all over again the very next day. I don't enjoy my job, but I can already tell, I head into work hating it a little less.

5. I want to do more.

I'm on the lookout for personal development classes. I'm wrangling people to write with me. (And we're starting tomorrow, ladies, so get your shit ready!) I am thinking of adding in some afternoon and evening items to my week. Now, don't get me wrong. I have been a victim of the crash and burn before. So I know better than to pile on too much at once. But I think I'm going to put together a list of items I can do if I'm feeling particularly on top of things that day.


I'm even finishing up my blog before I head into the evil day job. Look at me go! Did you make any New Year's Resolutions? Now that it's the 7th day of the year, have you kept up? Or have you realized the thing you wanted to do most wasn't right for you? I'd love to hear how the first week of your 2019 is going. Tell me in the comments!

~Roxy

I am writing this post on November 30th, but sitting at 19k, I realize am not going to hit even the halfway point in NaNoWriMo this year.

It's the first year I've failed as "Roxy" after five straight wins. Even more wins if you count my now dead persona.

It's surreal and hard to swallow. Especially after I started out on November 1st with 5k.

This November kicked my real life ass. Between hubby pulling extra time a state away for his new job, the house needing work, the car needing work, and bills popping up out of nowhere, I struggled. Add in extra hours at my evil day job, and some minor health issues, and my whole month was spent in emergency management.

My morning routine flew out the window. My life revolved around cooking for the family because of no money or time to eat out, and taking vitamin C like there was no ​tomorrow, because there was no option for me to get sick. 

However, this month was not a wash or a fail by any stretch of the imagination. I did a lot of really cool things this month. And I learned a lot! Which is what I want from any NaNoWriMo adventure. 

What did I learn? Here are my Top 5.

1. I found out daily double posts are not realistic. I was able to keep up for a couple weeks, but it wasn't realistic to blog, post, and write on an every day schedule. I've done it in the past, but my home life then was very different than it is now, and I need to rework my expectations. I realized how important my mental health is. And I found that taking the time I needed to not break down, was vital.

2. I learned I really like live-streaming and being on video. I only did one live "write-in" but I enjoyed the hell out of it. I liked talking on camera, and it's something I didn't realize about myself. So I have a new direction to explore.

3. I learned that while I can plot, it's harder for me to adjust on the fly when I have a plot written down. So until I can stick to a plot as written, plotting and fast-drafting together doesn't work well for me. Whether or not this plot style I've tried will net less time in edits still remains to be seen, but I'm going to get some writing done after this post. If I finish a book in two months that requires half the editing of a fast draft written in one...well...hell, it's worth the extra time.

4. I learned how much my hubby pimps my writing when I'm not around. This was one of those weird moments that spurred me to keep working on my manuscript. Hubby's new job takes him on the road a lot and when he's home I try to make it a point to spend some time with him. Which took away from the writing, but my own HEA beats any book ending. He told me about how his work conversation with colleagues turned into him sharing my pen name and some book info. (PS, if you're here because of my hubby, I appreciate it. Hit me up if you want a signed paper copy. I have extras for sale.)

5. I learned that winning or losing NaNoWriMo doesn't define me as a writer. This should have been obvious, but it surprised me that I needed to learn this lesson the most. I am a huge proponent of NaNoWriMo, and I wouldn't change the opportunities and the friends it's afforded me. BUT, I also think it was good for me to not hit my 50k this month. Deadlines are valuable, but it's more important to me now to write a book worth putting up for sale. Could I have written 50k this month? Yes. Would it have been a work I was proud to publish? With the stress and mental fatigue I  was dealing with...not a chance in hell. 


There has been a lot of talk among people (I'm not naming names. No. Not even in DMs) who are profitable in this business. These are people who are using ghostwriters and only working hard on the first 10-20% of their books, because that's all they need to do to sell them. I don't think that could ever be me. And maybe that means I won't get to live off my book sales, but some things are more important than money to me, and integrity is one of those things.

My books might not ever hit a list, but I hope I've made people smile with my stories. I've had authors and editors I respect in this business compliment my voice and story-telling. 

Through my journey so far, I've learned I'm an author. I've been published and reviewed, and no one can take that away from me. Not even a NaNoWriMo loss. 

I'm off to write and take some of what I've learned with me. 

Did you participate in NaNoWriMo? Did you hit your purple bar? What did you learn from this process? I'd love to hear about it.

~Roxy

If you haven't noticed by my lack of blogging lately, I have been hiding out from the interwebs. Life threw me for a real loop and I'm working hard to get my feet back under me. But I am surrounded by a fantastic group of authors and friends, and because we all know by now, (I've said it enough this month, I know. I'll shut up soon.), NaNoWriMo is a time to try new things.

I had a small tripod and a mediocre cell phone, so I tried hosting an online write in, in my NaNoWriMo writers group.

Why not publicly, you ask? Um...it was a stay at home day, and I didn't want to put on makeup. The only reason you get the re-creation pic below is because of photo editing. My eye bags and lack of makeup need help this early in the morning. And frankly, I'm not putting on makeup to take one pic for this blog. I love, y'all. But not enough to attempt eyeliner before a full cup of coffee.


What did I learn from my first live video? Well...let me break it down.

1. FB live video has a delay. I loaded up the FB page to see if my video was actually showing up, and there was a good 10-15 second delay between what I was saying and what was showing up.

2. Avoid front-facing cameras if you need to show anything with words on it. So if you are going to be showing off a book or cute items with quotes, use your rear-facing camera. The FB live feed allows you to line everything up before you start broadcasting, so you have time to line up your shot. 

3. Selfie rules apply. Any selfie addict knows, you need to find your angle. Don't set up a camera below your line of sight. If you're using your laptop, prop that bitch up. The higher the camera, the fewer chins you have. #protip I might not be the most professional videographer, but I know that if you want that good look, setting your video up just off to the side to allow for 3/4 profile, and slightly above my line of sight, works well for me.

​4. You viewing yourself counts as a "watch". I legit thought there was someone in my group watching me for a good 5 minutes before I realized, the viewer was my own FB feed on there. Yep. Felt real dumb.

5. You have the option to post your video after streaming or delete it. After you end your broadcast, you can either post the video to view later or wipe that bitch away. Obviously, how the stream went would determine if you post or don't. I shared mine, mainly because no one else in my group was around, and me yammering and writing for an hour wouldn't be worthwhile if I didn't post it. But if shit goes wrong...no one but those watching live have to know.

6. Turn off notifications! I didn't think about how loud notifications would be. And my phone got a couple of them during the feed which resulted in an epicly loud ding during the video. So another #protip, turn off all notifications and the ability to receive calls before you start broadcasting if using your phone. I'll definitely do so next time. 


Yes, I did go back and watch my own video. And I don't think it was half bad. I thought I'd be awkward and stumbling, but I found the whole experience relaxing. It was like talking to friends. I did occasionally glance at the camera during my writing sprint time and smirk. And there was a bit of a "this is odd" feeling during the writing sprint times, because I felt like I should be talking. Which is also why my writing sprint end count was lower than it usually was. But in about an hour, I chatted, wrote 1400ish words, and tried something new. 

I think I'm going to do more live videos, simply because I enjoyed sitting down and chatting with a cup of coffee in hand. Before I do anything outside of closed groups, though, I'm going to set up my shot better, sit in a room that isn't lit from above, and put on some damn makeup. 

Have you watched a live video stream before? If so, what is your preferred space to watch? FB? IG? Or have you done your own livestreams or write-ins before? If so, share some tips with me. I'd love to hear them.

​~Roxy

There is nothing like the feeling of checking off every single thing on your to do list. Maybe you got your errands done early and were able to squeeze in something you'd been putting off, or maybe you had an awesome word count day (like I did yesterday), or you just ended up cleaning your house more than you thought because it REALLY needed it.

One of the things I battle with is always trying to improve on the day before. Sometimes the stars align, the muse shows up with extra coffee, and all the lights you hit are green. But that won't happen every day. The fact that I might not hit the same stride as I did the day before is one of the hardest mental blocks I have to battle in my every day life.

So here are a few things I do, the day after I've kicked ass.

1. Express Gratitude

I have a little block in my planner, where I can write down something I'm grateful for every day. This is the perfect spot to brag on myself. And when I've kicked extra ass, I break out my stash of favorite pricey stickers and give myself a Kiss Cut pat on the back. If it was a really great day, I might also talk about it in my journal. Evaluate why it was so good, remind myself of what I've accomplished and make note of anything that might have been different from your average day. But mostly, I'm just writing down why I'm so happy it happened.

2. Make a Plan Based in Reality

Not every day is going to look the same. I had yesterday off to devote to NaNo and all things writing. I kicked wordcount ass. But today, there are a lot of other things that are going to take priority. Like bill paying, and filling up the empty fridge and pantry, and getting food for the animals, and a million other little things that weren't on my "Have To" list yesterday.  So trying to write as much as I did when I didn't have to get out of my PJs until 6pm is not realistic. So it's time to break out the time block sheet and get to work. (I go over time-blocking basics in Day 2 of my #Roxys7DayChallenge)

3. Get Started Right Away

When I'm going to be busy, the only time I'm going to be sitting down is when I've scheduled in a break. (Hint: Those are important too!) So if the clock has ticked over and it is time to get started, I set a timer and move. Sometimes I have to give myself a little pep talk, bargain with my tired body, or even do a count down to convince myself to get my ass in gear, but I do it. Now. Figure out how to pull a no-nonsense attitude with your inner Procrastination Patty, and kick that bitch to the curb.

4. Adjust For Fires

You'll inevitably get stuck in traffic behind an accident, or open up that box of leftovers you were going to eat for lunch and realize you're going to have to go to the store, because food poisoning is not worth it. Something will throw a wrench in. But don't throw everything out the window. Prioritize. There is something on your schedule that isn't vital. One thing that's lower on the list than the rest. Push it off until tomorrow. Now look at your time block and move things around. Things you aren't allowed to kick off your list...food, water, and sleep. You need to take care of yourself. You're top of the list even if you don't want to be.

5. Breathe

If the overwhelm or pressure starts to build, stop what you're doing and take a deep breath. You're in a brand new day, and you're doing the absolute best you can in this exact moment. If you meditate, make sure not to miss your practice. If you don't, turn up some tunes and dance through a chore, or plug in an audio book and listen while you tackle some of your mindless tasks. Listen to something uplifting or funny. Take the moment to appreciate what you're about to get done and remind yourself why it's awesome to do so.

I hate doing laundry, but when I get backed up and overwhelmed I try to remind myself that being able to go into my closet and see the clean clothes means I can pick my cutest or most comfy clothes, and that's a gift to myself. I deserve to be pampered. Even if it's me doing it. 


Today is a brand new day, and we all can take what we've accomplished in the past as a guide, but it's never going to be quite the same feel. It's never going to be the same circumstances. It's never going to be the same day. And that's okay. We're going to tackle the challenges and get shit done. Let's head off and write the next chapter. I'm hoping mine has bacon and coffee in it.

What do you do after you've hit a productivity goal? Does it motivate you to keep pushing? Or are you easily discouraged like me? I'd love to hear about it.

~Roxy

Fair warning, I'm going to be talking a lot about NaNoWriMo. Because I'm participating, and have a fun group I'm hoping to drag across the finish line with me, there's not going to be a morning where it's not on my mind. 

This is the point where everyone is buzzing with excitement and can't wait to get started on or wrap up a current "Work in Progress" (WIP) that is ready for the best ending ever.

People have been gearing up, prepping, plotting, and promising themselves they won't eat that leftover Halloween Candy for breakfast.

​​But there are a few stages of NaNoWriMo that I know I go through, so if it is your first year participating, I am going to give you a peek at what might happen to your writer brain too.

Now, I'm not saying this to discourage you, but THIS IS HARD. Especially if you haven't done it before. But it's also a community of writers from all over the world doing the same thing, and facing the same struggles.

So here are some of the Stages of NaNoWriMo, you may encounter yourself. I know I've been through them all.

"This is Easy"

This stage usually happens in the beginning of the month. Maybe you're good at word sprints and know you can consistently knock out 500-1000 words in a short period of time. You know you can set aside an hour or two per day and think this is going to be no big deal. The thing about writing is, it's both the easiest thing to do, and the hardest thing to do consistently. And that's exactly why NaNo is a challenge. When you find yourself in the "This is Easy" stage, bank extra words. You're feeling good, so push yourself a little more and get ahead for when the rough patches show up.

"Whoa...I Still Have How Much to Write?!?!?"

This part sneaks up on you. Usually at the end of week 1 or beginning of week 2 for me. You'll be luxuriating in your green bar of accomplishment for the day, and glance down at the graph where it tells you how much you have currently written and how much you still have to write. Before you crest that halfway point, when you're tired and writing at 5am (like I am right now), you'll be flabbergasted about how much there is left. Don't let it stop you. If this is intimidating for you, avoid the graph until you hit 25k. Stay away from groups with power writers if you get discouraged, and keep your goals simple. Get your green bar for the day, every day. 

"This Sucks"

This stage could reference your daily grind for words or your general feeling of apathy about your book. If you're worried about your book, here's the thing, it might suck. I have NaNo manuscripts that will never EVER see the light of day, but those books got me writing again. You have to write crap before you can write the good stuff. It could be that you write messy first drafts and then edit them to death, and they become something beautiful. You never know until the words are on the paper and you reach "The End" of your book. So you might as well write it. You can't edit a blank page.

And if you're saying "This sucks" because you don't like writing everyday, well, then you're learning something about your writing style too. But I suggest you keep going through the month. You can't tell if something works for you unless you give it a chance. I got my first finished book because of NaNoWriMo, and even though that book was horrific, I am so damn proud I finished it. Don't give up.

"Holy Shit, I Might Pull This Off"

This is the point where you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It usually happens for me when I get down to about 15k left. One day you look up from your computer and you realize that if you write as much as your best days, you might even be able to knock this out early. Or it might be right as you crest that half-way point hill, and your graph no longer tells you you'll finish in March. 

You can totally do this. The book doesn't have to be a masterpiece. And don't let anyone read it until you edit it. A. Lot. But this book has an end, and by God, you're going to get there.

"I AM A WRITER"

This is my favorite stage. And it can hit anytime throughout the month. Maybe you feel it when you're typing away at a coffee shop and glance up and see another person doing the same thing. You'll nod at each other with bags under your eyes and toast your extra caffeinated beverages before returning to your laptops. Or maybe you'll feel it during an early morning sprint where you get your words out of the way before the day gets crazy with work. Or even late at night when you don't have to work the next day and you're ignoring the latest NetFlix binge because something about your characters is so exciting you can't stop until it's all on the page.

A writer is someone who writes. And that's what this whole shebang is about. Writing. I crave this stage of NaNoWriMo, and it's why I keep signing up.



​NaNoWriMo is my new year. It's my fresh start. It's the time where I drop whatever I'm doing and return to the part of this whole gig that I love the most...telling a story. I get distracted by real life, far too much during the year. Especially in December, but this month is all for me, and it's about getting shit done. 

So let's get shit done together. We're writers. And writers write.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? It's not too late to sign up! If you're writing, make sure to add me as a buddy (Roxy Mews on the site), and tell me what stage you're on right now. I'd love to hear about it.

~Roxy