Free Ebooks

#NaNoWrimo2014 Made it to 50k! #AmWriting

So, while I'm still not finished with Ivy's story- there is still a LOT of her story to tell (I'm assuming her story will finish around 100k just like Hillary's did)... I have "won" NaNoWriMo- since the goal is to hit the 50K mark.    For the moment I will enjoy my tiny celebration, knowing that I have at least completed a portion of the goal.  :)

 

by Willow

Ivy's Story

It is so strange how characters seem to take the rug out from under you sometimes.  I had so many plans for Ivy... I had an OUTLINE.  An OUTLINE people!  I'm a panster, Im not a planner.  But because this was a "sequel," and I wanted to make sure that I had a plan for getting this story out in a certain amount of time so that I could have it edited and ready to publish by my set self imposed deadline I thought it woudl be a smart thing to follow an outline.  I had plt points, and character motivations, and complete map of how I wanted this story to go.  Then I sat down, and Ivy threw her head back and laughed at me.  She laughed and laughed, and took this story ina direction that I had never in a million years intended it to go.
Now, as it sits at just over 40,000 words, I'm concerned that this story might be bigger than the box I'm trying to put her story in.  As it unfolds, I find myself both thrilled by where Ivy is taking me, and concerned as to how this is going to turn out.
Its the part of writing that I both love and loathe.  This magic that happens, when you turn off your brain and allow the story to just evolve, but it is also hard to give up that control when you had a PLAN, and a path you had intended this story to follow.  I guess if I truly want to fly, I juyst need to close my eyes and give myself over to the process.

by Willow

Reaching the end and reaching THE END

My NaNo novel - also known as Ivy's story, sits at about 35,000 words.  That means in 15,000 words I will "Win" nano.  However, I know how verbose I am, heck if you read Dirty Little Secret, than you know how verbose I am too (it was about 100K words).  There's no doubt I'll reach "the end" come the end of Nano, in so much as I know I'll make the NaNo goal... but I wonder if I will make "THE END" of the story by that time.  Ivy keeps fighting me and I can't figure out what the heck is going n with her story.  I wish I could sit her down in a flower circle and we could sing Kumbaya, but at the moment she's all "whatever, I don't have time for you"   I long for that point in writing where your thoughts move faster than your fingers can type, and you just let go and fly.  And I can't seem to reach that point with her yet.  I hope it comes soon... its starting to concern me.  :(

by Willow

The Eye of the Tiger

So... it's almost the middle of November.  I have 33,202 words of Ivy's story actually written out.  About twenty five million more to write.  No, its actually not that many, probably about seventy thousand or so if I can judge the level of my verbosity (is that a word? meh, whatever) based on Hillary's story.
I'm kind of surprised at where Ivy's story has taken me.  I always knew that she had some depth to her, I mean everyone has good and bad to them, even characters, even supplementary characters,  so when she knocked on my brain and wanted her story written I figured what the heck.  Now though, as I write, and as this book takes turns that have honestly surprised me, I can only hope that the handful of readers who aren't related to me, friends of mine, or know me in any way, will appreciate Ivy's journey, even if its an unexpected one.

by Willow

Thanks to Writer in Progress for the review!

It always tickles me when someone takes the time to read my book & review.  As an indie author, word of mouth is your strongest tool to get your book out there, so when someone says "hey, I'm going to tell you what I thought of your book." For me, there is nothing I am more grateful for.
If you want to read the full review, visit  Writer In Progress  
Here is an excerpt:
Dirty Little Secret had me hooked from the first few pages. Hillary is such a believable character that you immediately start thinking "I know someone just like her!". This is a great read for lounging by the pool or now that winter is here, lounging by the fireplace and pretending you are by the pool. I loved Willow Sanders' writing style and I look forward to seeing more from her.
Thank you again to Ella at Writer in Progress, I'm glad you enjoyed my story!

 

by Willow

Copyright Willow Sanders 2025

Nifty Web Design logo

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy Preferences