Staycation During November

During November, I took a few days off as staycation days so I could relax at home and work on my WIP (work in progress). Book three is almost done. 

To inspire me to sit down at my home desk I decided tidy it up. Move aside anything bulky or unnecessary. Then I went around the house and gathered what I once used but have not in a while. In the first picture, this is what it looked like after. 

When Nanowrimo was something I did. They had mugs with the November theme. This is the first mug I bought myself three years ago or more. Since it's a dark blue, this is my evening writing mug. 

Do you have a favourite mug to sip out of while writing?

This little book, the Writers' Companion, which I ordered so many years ago, I almost forgot about. As I took it off my bookshelf, I gave it a gentle wash. Opened it, reading over old ideas I had in the past, ones that left me wondering if I still had those WIP somewhere in a file folder.

Do you have old writing books you bought but sadly forgot about?

In the evenings, I will light this orange candle; usually, I have a smaller blue candle sitting on this brown box. Inside this box are all my small blue candles, for when I write, I light. But I am out, so I found this orange candle that will work just as well. Also, my lovely crystal writing companions. 

Orange candle- for creativity

Orange calcite- confidence and positivity

Blue Calcite- calm, communication

Citrine- sucess and joy

Carneline- emotional balance

Rutilated Quartz- amplifying energy

This is my new writing planner! This lovely book I bought when we were in Canmore, Alberta. The idea is to write down what I am writing. The word count and what I am looking to reach. I have used it a lot and really love the layout. 

Trees have always been my favourite, no matter what it's on. So the fact that it looks magical with a tree is a bonus!

Do you have a writing planner you are using? Where did you get it? Do you like using it, or would you prefer it laid out differently?

 

November 12th, feels good!

 

For the last year, I have already had a decent amount of words. But there is something I have learnt about myself. I can write about 25k in one month, with a full-time 9- 5 job and other life tidbits that come up and go away. 

Everything I have written last year I have kept and edited. Read over and over, feeling the vibe of what I want to say in each story. I could go to the 50k with more writing time. But I am also learning my writing process, learning how much I can write in each sprint. 15min sprint I can roughtly do 300 to 400 words or a little less. Sometimes these words are thrown up through my fingertips, with a significant need to redo, reread, and/or just remove, sadly. 

Finding the small pockets of time is essential to me during this time of the year. So going to my local library is something I love to do as well. Or going to the local Tim Hortons with an interesting writing buddy who has many words under his belt as well! 

Finding a writing community is a must for me. Keeps me inspired to keep the fingers on the keys of the pencil to the paper. 

https://www.authorsquared.com/chancetomeet

https://mayerthorpelibrary.ab.ca/

Novel Writing Month Is Here!

As we all know, NaNoWriMo is the month of November, where you work on a lovely, interesting WIP (work in progress) that you started last year or find a brand new idea. 

The idea is to write 50k a day. So 1500 a day. That can be divided into 3 sprints of 300 words each. Sometimes, during the day, afternoon or evening. 

Last year, I finally finished the second book at 25k (no, it's not fully completed, just the rough draft)

This month, I have decided to devote all my writing time to a project I have been thinking about for the past year. Third book in the Heirloom series.

Heirloom Lost Orenda-Ego. So far, I'm at 21,836. My goal is 25k. Then once I hit that goal, I will set a new one, since I have already started this challenge halfway. 

So far, I have written 4000 fresh new words! I'm very proud of myself. 

How are you doing with your word count???

 

Getting Ready For Q4!!

Yes, the leaves are changing colour, and the smell of dampness of the soil we step lightly on. The sound of crunching fills the air under our heels as we walk to our destination. And of course, let's not forget a time to be grateful for the future of our harvest. 

And Back to School! Along with getting back to routine and schedules. September feels like a reset for me, both personally and in my home life.

Getting back on track with goals and tasks, and seeing the end result of all my hard work. I'm deciding which project to work on this Q4 of 2025. 

I'm sharing with you the link to the HB90 course that I have so much enjoyed! It has helped me a lot. As time goes on, I'll share what I pick as my projects, goals and tasks. I'll also start posting what I am doing and how much I actually get done!

LETS DO THIS! 

🍂Getting ready with all the post-it notes!

🌻Fun high lighters & Important mug!

💖HB90 Q4!💖

 

 

Time Away To Write- Canmore

 This is the view from the balcony of the hotel room my wonderful son had booked for our stay. I'm so grateful for my amazing children. Now that they are older, they understand the past and financial struggles. As a single mother, I took them to Jasper almost every single summer. Now, they treat me with a wonderful trip and tell me. "Don't worry about it, Mom, we got it." I love this so much. I was able to fully relax.

Ignore the Esso sign, ha. Although it still gave the viewer some time, it was a simple character. This is where I sat on the mornings or evenings after a decent hike up mountains or around Canmore. 

When I wasn't sitting here, I took my notebook with me. Practising on my sixth sense while sitting on the grass or rocky ground of the mountain terrain. This was truly wonderful; I felt like I had reached a place I hadn't been in a long time. Felt overwhelmingly free. 

Did you go off somewhere different this summer and do some writing?

Explored a new place? 

New Pen Name! Kaye Archer

Kaye Archer

No, there is nothing wrong with my real name. It's just that I have found it is being overused more than I care for! Haha. When I look up myself, I see many women who are not me. Some of them are also self-published authors.

When working on my branding and writing career. 

So why Kaye Archer? Kaye is for the K, in Katherine, that is my full name. It is a lovely name for sure, but I will use it when I write more of my personal short stories, poems or non-fiction work. As time goes on, I will have more of them done and self-published.

Archer - I am a Sagittarius, full-heartedly. Dec 1st is my birthday. When you look up the fantastic qualities of this sign, I am every single one on the list. Focusing my attention on what I want and going for it. 

Kaye Archer is who I am as a writer in so many ways. Has an excellent ring to it as well for fantasy and fictional writing. 

What do you think? Do you have a pen name you are thinking of or would like to try?

 

Walking and Writing- Reading

🌳One old book and one new book. The blue notebook is one I ordered from the NaNoWriMo website a few years ago, when I reached 50,000 words. A treat for myself. I now use this book for my planner for the second book, Heirloom Lost Evacation. In it, I add pictures of my characters, both good and bad. 

💓Walking- While I go on walks, either in town or in my home forest. This is when my imagination goes wild! So now, I try to always take a notebook with me if I'm going on a longer walk with lovely views. When I go for walks, I daydream, and also end up where I didn't really mean to. Or I walk to where I meant to get to, but got there faster than I was expecting. 

When you go walking, do you find this happens to you as well?

🌳Writing in the forest- When writing in the forest, I try to make sure I have a decent place to sit. This spot in this picture is under my favourite tree, in my little magical forest at my parents' country home, where I grew up. The feeling of writing in a forest is so energizing for me. My soul craves it, so I try to do this as often as I can.

Do you have a favourite place you like to write at outside in nature?

Reading in the forest- I bought this book while my daughter and I were in Canmore, Alberta. The Physiophysics of walking by Frederic Gros. Ever since I was a young teenager. I'd pack my small pleather backpack with water, snacks and a good book. Walking to my favourite destination. Sit and read while the sun sets. One of my very favourite pastimes.