Happy Halloween!

>>What a strange October this has been, and I don't mean strange in the way of today's  spooky Holiday that punctuates this month, but odd. Eerily, I accidentally typed 'off' just then, and that is probably a much better description of the feeling I have felt this month. Off. Not like myself. Today, for instance, is one of my favorite holidays, just like many of you, but you know what I did't do for the first time in several years? Decorate for Halloween, NOR did I pass out candy to Trick-or-Treaters... I know?! I'm OFF. Luckily, one of the major projects that has had me in a state of dysfunction will be completed tomorrow!

Speaking of: Tomorrow is the first day of NaNoWriMo! I find it very fitting indeed that the last time I did a 'Tuesday Tidbits' it was at the start of Camp NaNoWriMo. I am going to be working on a different novel than the one I outlined during July's Camp, and I really want to keep them in their separate corners for the time being, as they are drastically different. I just need to get this one outlined and out of my brain, at least as much as these thirty days allow, and hopefully I am in the 50,000-word ballpark by the 30th! Also, by the time I type this and get it posted, it will probably BE tomorrow! Can these words count towards my 50,000? If only...

>>I need an assistant. No, that's not right. I need someone to yell into a bullhorn at me when I am wasting time; that is what I need. Or maybe someone to tell me when I've over-committed, and should stick to what is already on my plate; that is probably the truest root to my strange October: Being Overwhelmed by Lack of Time. And also being completely blindsided by how quickly time is passing; do you feel it, too? It is NOVEMBER, people! ...I wanted to remind you, again, in the case that you said 'no' to my inquiry about your perception of the speed in which time has passed us by this year. You're welcome. 

With November upon us, let's talk about upcoming items you are going to see on TheDailyAMG! Aside from NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), it is also #NonfictionNovember, where the Book Community has challenged readers to read four (or more) works of nonfiction during the month of November! If this sounds like something you may want to participate in, and if you are a Goodreads member (and if you aren't, why? Do it now!), you can join the over 500 of us in this group! November is also most notably: Thanksgiving! Which just so happens to be my absolute favorite holiday! Not only is cooking for others my ultimate love language to speak, but being surrounded by family & friends, alongside all of the delicious food, makes my heart sing!

​I can't wait to share some of my favorite recipes and traditions with YOU later in the month! 

Much Love,
AMG

>>Five years ago yesterday, women, writers, romantics, the world lost Nora Ephron. I think about Nora often, obviously I never knew the actual woman, but I know her work and I know it well. I have read and reread her written works, and watched her films more times than I care to admit aloud, but my love runs deep. I have been especially thinking about her as a writer. About her process. About her craft. Especially since in three days I will start writing a lot more than I ever have ...

This Saturday, July 1st, starts Camp NaNoWriMo, and it will be my first Camp experience, and my second time participating in a NaNoWriMo event. For those of you who are thinking "What is she even talking about!?", NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month, which is the month of November. Camp NaNoWriMo is a less-formal "writers retreat"-style virtual getaway to concentrate on your writing. They have prompts, inspiration, forums, ETC. During this month, your target goal is to hit 50,000 words in your writing project!

I haven't spoken publicly much about my writing, but with turning 31 this year, I wanted to make it a priority. I don't know what it is about thirty-one, but it has been a bit daunting, and don't get me wrong; I don't think I'm elderly or falling a part, it just hit me harder than 30 did, and that took me by surprise. So I signed up for my first-ever 5K, and signed up to write a novel in a month - BECAUSE: WHY NOT?! We aren't getting any younger, amirght? I have lived so much of my life in fear of so many things, because I couldn't get past the 'What-Ifs'. The 'What-Ifs' is a downright sickness, y'all.

So, back to Nora. Tonight I started my "Binder" for NaNo, and started putting my journals of chicken-scratched ideas onto actual Character, Narrator, Plot ... pages and into a notebook. It felt like a really huge moment for me, as I am a self-professed unorganized, fly by the seat of my pants, scatterbrained person. As I was conducting Character Charts and thinking of the Inspiration Blankets I want enveloping my being during this process, I remembered an HBO Documentary from 2015 that Nora's son Jacob Bernstein wrote and directed titled Everything is Copy: Nora Ephron Scripted & Unscripted. Which inspired this post.

But as it is late, and I haven't had a Dr. Pepper in 48 hours, my head is a little fuzzy. I am going to go and finish this wonderful Documentary and hopefully not dream of plot twists that I cannot remember in the morning: Those are the absolute WORST!

AMG

I guess a month later would be the perfect time to tell you who I am and why I even care enough to pay for a slice of internet pie to type a bunch of gobbledygook that no one may even read. That is kinda just how I roll, I do and then think, or I over-think and never do. *shrugs* 

My name is Amanda! I hate talking about myself, and I am the "spirited" wifey to my complete opposite, TJ, we have been married for ten years and while I was born and raised in Texas, we have resided the last four years in his home state of Oklahoma! I have been blessed with the greatest family known to man, and I have a wonderful group of friends all over the place that make up the best cheering section a gal could ever ask for! #YallAreMyPeople

​This year I turned 31, actually it was two weeks ago tomorrow to be exact and all, and I knew I wanted to get back into writing. I have always loved to write, and have dabbled in blogging here and there, and with the encouraging nudge of one of my favorite cheerleaders, I re-launched TheDailyAMG in May! For me, Writing is more than just singular words that build sentences, that then build paragraphs. Those words are my thoughts, those sentences are my emotions, and those paragraphs are my soul. And I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about a lot of things. #GeminiProblems 

TheDailyAMG has been a dream of mine before I even realized it was something I was missing. I am a communicator, a care-giver, and a dreamer. Thank you for your support of my soul, my vision, and especially my gobbledygook- because y'all - chasing rabbits and boring nonsense stories are bound to happen!

Welcome to my creative outlet! Buckle Up, Buttercup!

xx
AMG