was 2019 a good year?

Was 2019 a good year?

INSIDE:
What's a Discovery Draft?
Did I win NaNoWriMo?
 My December #PitMad experience
How did 2019 go for me?
November & December Reads
Instagram/#StorySnippetSaturday  
A holiday wish to you

Writing Endeavors

How did I do during NaNoWriMo 2019?
I had a great start to NaNoWriMo. The first day I wrote over 7,000 words! But as the days went on, I started to struggle. I realized I wasn't writing the first draft, but I was actually writing a discovery or zero draft as some call it. 
 
What's the difference between a first draft and a zero/discovery draft?
A discovery draft is more when you forget about structure and just write to develop your ideas and world. It's almost like an entire document of brainstorming. 
 
Don't get me wrong, I have an outline plus the story beats all mapped out, and I did write entire chapters during Nano. However, there were certain areas that I just couldn't go into detail during Nano. Instead I wrote lengthy bullet points or notes to myself about ideas, the magic system, or world building. Plus, I put a lot of placeholders for certain names and places I haven't decided on yet. 
 
What did I work on during NaNoWriMo?
I worked on my new YA fantasy WIP (work in progress) that has seven mages who must work together to save their world. Since I do not have a title for it yet I'm calling it #ProjectMages for now.
 
So did I win NaNoWriMo this year?
Technically, no, I did not. But I am happy with the progress I did make during Nano. I wrote 41k, which is a huge accomplishment. Currently, I'm working more on my discovery draft to finish it, and hopefully, in January revise it into an actual first draft for my CP to read. :) 
 
For updates and more on #ProjectMages click the button below.

#ProjectMages

What I realized from my second #PitMad Experience of 2019
On December 5th, I participated in #PitMad for the second time this year. 
 
I didn't get likes from agents, but that doesn't mean I'm giving up. I'm still querying  my YA Contemporary Fantasy, Rhythm of the Stars (ROTS).
 
I want to thank everyone who retweeted my pitches during #PitMad. You have no idea how much your support and friendship mean to me.
 
There was a time when I thought I would never participate in #Pitmad because I would never have my manuscript finished. I thought I would never find a critique partner, beta readers, or writer friends. 
 
For so long, I felt utterly alone in my writing journey. It took me quite a while to find writing friends, but I did find them.
 
At the end of #Pitmad it hit me how far I've come.  I may not have gotten likes from agents during #Pitmad, but over the last few years I've gained so much, and I'm extremely grateful to all of you for your friendship and support. <3
 
To read a blurb, see aesthetics, and more for Rhythm of the Stars click the button below.

Rhythm of the Stars

2019 was a productive and memorable year.
 
Overall, it's been a good year personally and professionally for me. I've had ups and downs, but I refuse to give up on my dream (and neither should you).
 
This year my main goal was to start querying agents for my YA contemporary fantasy Rhythm of the Stars. I'm thrilled to say I did accomplish this goal. I began to query in September, and I'm continuing to send out queries each month. 
 
Next month I can share my goals for 2020 with you and how I mapped my goals out for the year.
 
For more info on Rhythm of the Stars or my other projects, click the button below.

More Info

Instagram Challenge - #StorySnippetSaturday

Recently, I did a poll on Instagram. The results showed that a majority of people are ready to take a break from #StorySnippetSaturday, myself included. I feel like I'm going to share my entire novel soon if I don't stop sharing story snippets. My co-hosts and I are still discussing everything, but I think we may do #StorySnippetSaturday in 2020 but not as often. I will keep you posted on what we decide for sure. 
 
Connect with me on Instagram, so you don't miss out on any of our NEW challenges in 2020.

I've never shared a snippet in my newsletter before, so I thought why not now. The snippet above I shared for the prompt #InspiredLines. A song inspired a scene where the main character, Meg, is battling the antagonist to save Landen. The song that inspired the scene is Stitches by Shawn Mendes. 

Hence the photo of him and credit for the photo goes to him. To see more of my snippets from  
#StorySnippetsChallenge go to the Members page of my website. Since you receive my newsletter, you have access to it. The password is littlestar.

Members Page

November Bookshelf 
 
In November I did read but not what I planned on reading. LOL :) I started to read Graceling, and I plan to finish it in December.
 
I read and finished The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh in November. If you like vampires and New Orleans, you may enjoy this book. Personally, I like Anne Rice and her vampires better. :)
 
Be sure to check out my recommended reads for more great books you may enjoy.

Recommendations

December Bookshelf 
 
This month I've read The Jinni Key (the second book in The Stolen Kingdom series) by Bethany Atazadeh. Her series is four books (only books 1 & 2 are published so far) of loose retellings. Book one is a retelling of Aladdin and book two is a retelling of The Little Mermaid. 
 
The world Bethany has created is wonderful. If you like fantasy or retellings I highly recommend you pick these up. 
 
Check out my Goodreads for more info on these and other books I've read.

Goodreads

 
My Holiday Wish to You
 
May you and those you love find true joy and peace this holiday season and into the new year. <3

Until next time...
Keep reading...writing... and dreaming. :) 
Always,
J.J.

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