Category: awards, nominations, challenges

awards, nominations, challenges, writing

50 Word Thursday #27: Friendship

Amanda, walkamyelinmyshoes

Oscar coughed and shifted in his recliner. Felix checked his watch then stared out the window, dying to open it and let air into the dark room. Silence the whole two hours he’d been there. He hoped that by remaining where he was, he might do some good, even there.

(50 words)

I haven’t done one of these for a while but I’ve missed them. It’s a great writing warm-up to pare down my writing before I get some words in for Camp NaNoWriMo. I failed at Camp in April because I was M.I.A.: Lost in the Garden so I’ve lowered my word count goal in the hopes of getting my writing moving again.

So far so good, but fingers crossed…

❤️ Amanda

Kristian from Tales from the Mind of Kristian is hosting this week.

The Rules:

• Find the muse within the photo or line provided and follow where it leads. It can be a story, anecdote, poem. Anything!

• The Story must be between 50 and 250 words, in 50 word increments. (so 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 words)

• Link back to this post with the tag 50WordThurs so that everyone can find it, or post your response in the comments on his site.

• HAVE FUN!

awards, nominations, challenges, life

Twittering Tales 7-2-19: Just listen!

Amanda, walkamyelinmyshoes
The mechanic wouldn’t listen. Something was wrong with Norman, but he refused to hear that it might be the battery. My university stuff was crammed in the back seat, on top of the battery. My dad drove 7 hours through the Rockies the next day, we emptied the back seat, and Norman started right up. What would I know, though? I’m just a woman!

Characters: 280

This is the first time I’ve participated in Twittering Tales and it was really fun. The picture immediately brought to mind this memory and after some tweaking, I was thrilled to get it to 280 characters exactly. Oh, and thanks, Dad! 😊

Here are the rules:

https://katmyrman.com/2019/07/02/twittering-tales-143-2-july-2019/

Instructions per Kat:

“About the challenge: Each Tuesday I will provide a photo prompt. Your mission, if you choose to accept the challenge, is to tell a story in 280 characters or less. When you write your tale, be sure to let me know in the comments with a link to your tale. This is important as I have noticed that some of the ping backs have not been working. If you would prefer to post your tale in the comments (some people have very specific blog themes but still want to participate), I am happy to post a link to your site when I post your tale in the Round Up.

A final note: if you need help tracking the number of characters in your story, there is a nifty online tool that will count for you at charactercountonline.com.

I will do a roundup each Tuesday, along with providing a new prompt. And if for some reason I missed your entry in the Roundup, as I have occasionally done, please let me know. I want to be sure to include your tale.

Finally, have fun!”

❤️ Amanda

awards, nominations, challenges, chronic illness, Health, life, MS, writing

50 Word Thursday #3: Relapse

Amanda, walkamyelinmyshoes

I’m trying something different this week, in an effort to kickstart my fiction brain. I’m joining the 50 Word Thursday challenge hosted by Tales From the Mind of Kristian and Teresa at The Haunted Wordsmith. Thanks to both of you for hosting this, it was a great simple challenge to stretch my writing muscles. If you haven’t checked out their blogs, head on over for some great stories and writing challenges.

The rules
1) Completed piece must be in multiples of 50 words – maximum of 250 words. Anything is acceptable – poetry, story, anecdote.
2) There will be a photo and a random phrase that I will take from the current book I am reading – you can use either or both
3) Please pingback and tag 50 word Thursday, so I can do a summary on the Thursday morning. You can either put your piece in the comments on this post or do a post of your own.

‘Although it was a simple thing to be doing, something strange was happening.’

– Paulo Coelho – The Valkyries

Relapse

She stepped into the dark alley for a minute, leaning against the cool shade of the building. She closed her swirling eyes and exhaled heavily, then inhaled a slow, shaky breath. Her legs sagged then collapsed under her, the high-pitched screaming making her moan and stuff her fingers in her ears. Dropping her head on her chest, she squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears as the nausea roiled in her empty stomach. The vibrations started from deep within, travelling up her spine then out into her limbs until her teeth chattered. How would she get home?

100 words

❤️ Amanda

awards, nominations, challenges, life

Sunshine Blogger Award

Amanda, walkamyelinmyshoes

I want to thank Angela at Wakening Life for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I was planning to share cheeky Halloween jokes this week but I couldn’t forgo this because I was so honoured to be nominated.

These awards are a fun and important opportunity to recognize and connect with more bloggers. I love finding new bloggers and spreading the news about blogs that inspire me. At the moment, I am super focussed on my novel project as Nanowrimo approaches, so I’ve kept my most of my answers pretty short. Go over to Angela’s post to read some really thoughtful answers to the questions she was given.

Sunshine Blogger Rules

  1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to the original post!
  2. Answer the 11 questions they’ve asked you.
  3. Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 questions.
  4. HAVE FUN!

1. Have you always wanted to write? If not, how did you start?

Like many people, I had a phobia about writing. In the summer of 2015, I had a dream two nights in a row about the title and first line of a book. After the second dream, I thought I’d see where that first line led me, and I wrote a ‘book’ of almost 300 pages in less than six weeks. During that time, I got out a journal from when I was fourteen, and the first page I opened was an entry about how much I wanted to be a writer one day.

I got my wish when my career ended because my body could no longer keep up with the demands of busy, inquisitive six year olds. Three years later, I am finally able to call myself a writer without the air quotes.

2 What has been your greatest life accomplishment?

My marriage and my children.

3. What would you like to do if money was no object?

Improve housing and programs, especially mental health services, to get homeless people off the street.

4. Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Why?

Lord of the Rings. I think I was a hobbit in a previous life. Also, I went to an open audition for the movie when we lived in Christchurch. I would have accepted but Cate Blanchett needed the work. 😉

5. There’s an idea that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in any field. What are you (closest to being) an expert in?

Too many smart ass answers come to mind, so I guess it would be – being a smart ass.

6. What is your favorite book?

I don’t really have a favourite but I first read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand in university, then several more times over the years. It illuminated so many things about society that were driving me nuts at the time. It’s been awhile, I might have to pick it up again. Who is John Galt?

7. What did you think you were going to be as a child? Is that close to what you are doing now?

I briefly thought I would be a fighter pilot, so no. I also thought I might be a teacher or a writer, so yes.

8. What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learned?

Love hard, spend wisely.

9. If you could time travel, would you rather travel to the future or the past?

I would go back to my adolescent self and give her a few slaps upside the head. And a hug. Sometimes I wonder how I survived, I was so misguided and self-destructive.

10. Would you choose to join a project, such as Mars One, that aimed to colonize another planet?

Not a chance. Claustrophobia. No way I’m stuffing myself in a tube and getting blasted to outer space.

11. What do you love most about yourself that most people wouldn’t know about? (does this make sense? I guess, what’s something about you, that no one else knows,  that you love?)

The conversations I have with myself when I’m alone. I crack myself up.

New questions

  1. What is your earliest memory?
  1. What is your most frightening memory? Not to get too intense, in honour of Halloween. 👹👺🤡👻💀🎃
  1. What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
  2. What is the luckiest thing that has happened to you?
  1. Are you usually early or late?
  1. What pets did you have while you were growing up?
  1. Who inspires you to be better?
  1. What was the best compliment you’ve received?
  2. What is something that a ton of people are obsessed with but you just don’t get the point of?
  3. What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to?
  4. What’s the best thing that happened to you last week?

Here are my nominees:

https://juantetcts.wordpress.com, https://melanintalks.wordpress.com,

https://thewoundedhealer.blog, https://hannahelizasite.wordpress.com,

https://aisasami.wordpress.com, https://amysteriouslifeblog.wordpress.com,

https://apunkwithms.wordpress.com, https://ananxiousgalblog.wordpress.com,

https://clairejewitt.com, https://fearlesslymakingsunshine.wordpress.com,

https://msgracefulnot.com

No pressure to participate obviously, but I would love to hear your answers to these questions.

Funny Halloween memesFunny Halloween memes

Have a wonderful week! Happy Halloween!

❤️ Amanda


awards, nominations, challenges, life, mental health

Pick-Me-Up Playlist – World Mental Health Day

Amanda, walkamyelinmyshoes

I normally only post on Mondays, but Muted Mouthful, included me in this tag for World Mental Health Day, and I couldn’t resist. Thanks Muted Mouthful! If you haven’t checked out her blog yet, head over there for great posts from a socially anxious introvert.

Rules:

  1. Link back to ‘Pick Me Up Playlist’ creator – Laura Spoonie – https://lauraspoonie.blog/2018/10/10/pick-me-up-playlist-tag/
  2. Tag the blogger who nominated you
  3. Mention how music helps your Mental Health
  4. List 10 songs that you would consider to be a part of your ‘Pick Me Up Playlist’ (optional: mention a little bit why each song is on your list)
  5. Tag 10 other bloggers to join in with the ‘Pick Me Up Playlist’ Challenge

How music helps my mental health

For me, music is the perfect solution for any mood. When I’m joyful, I crank some disco and boogie all over the house. When I’m mellow and reflective, classical music spurs my ideas and imagination. Most importantly, on the dark days, the hard days, the days where I would rather stay nestled in bed than face the world with this achy body, I can put on my headphones and choose any of these songs to get me up and moving. Yes, I’m a bit of a metal head and I’m totally not current with today’s music. Rock on!

1) Spirit of the West – any of their songs really, amazing Canadian folk rock band

2) My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words

3) Metallica – Welcome Home (Sanitarium) – This was my teenage anthem. Listening to it now reminds me of how far I’ve come from that confused, angry teenager.

4) Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills

5) AC/DC – For Those About to Rock

6) Billy Idol – Can’t Break Me Down

7) Oasis – Don’t Look Back in Anger

8) Dire Straits – Romeo and Juliet

9) Van Morrison – Into the Mystic

10) The Stone Roses – Ten Storey Love Song

Other bloggers I nominate

I picked mostly newer blogs that could use some love, so I hope you’ll check them out!

https://briannarosewilson.wordpress.com/2018/10/08/you-dont-get-to-mark-me/

https://eachlittlespark.wordpress.com/2018/10/08/hello-its-your-depression/

https://mssensitivebadass.wordpress.com/2018/10/03/246/

https://silentpartnersonline.wordpress.com/2018/09/29/and-i-remembered-why-i-love-you/

https://ananxiousgalblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/05/my-most-recent-anxious-blunder/

https://wakeninglife.home.blog/2018/10/06/starting-to-fall-kicking-off-autumn-mental-health-awareness-week/

https://lavenderandlevity.wordpress.com/2018/10/09/improv-11-im-mrs-bright-blogs/

https://ashleighchristine.com/2018/10/09/a-letter-to-my-13-year-old-self/

https://www.thethoughtsthatbind.com/2018/10/04/should-i-quit-therapy/

https://mylifeinlimbo.blog/2018/10/08/day-at-the-fqarm/

Thanks again to https://lauraspoonie.blog/2018/10/10/pick-me-up-playlist-tag/ for initiating the Pick-Me-Up Playlist tag. Let’s keep spreading awareness so we can break the stigma of mental illness.

Happy Wednesday!!

❤️Amanda