its that time of the year again// feat. NaNoWriMo, my OCS and writing memes

so I looked at my calendar and just realized November 1st is six days away.

*screeches*

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Welcome back to my itsy-bitsy corner of the web! So today I have another post about Nanowrimo. (Yes, I am aware that my last post was also about Nano, Sorry I am trying to get back to posting more unique content 🙂 please don’t hate me)

I am really excited for NaNo because I actually came up with a somewhat kind of plot. Usually, I just come up with a title and a book cover and have no idea what the book is going to be about. And then on November 1st I open up a blank Word document and start to panic.

This year I am trying to not only avoid my pAnIc, But I really want to publish a book soon. and I feel like I’m wasting my good characters and somewhat story ideas. So I am trying to take NaNo a little more seriously so I can actually write something I’m proud of, instead of typing a bunch of gibberish just so I can reach my goal.

But, enough of my rambling! Let’s continue the post!

So I guess the big elephant in the room is my nOvEl. What exactly am I writing?

Well, lucky for you I have another rambled sentence that explains my process in coming up with my novel and storyline.

So at first, I was actually going to write a contemporary YA novel about a girl who was homeschooled and some of her ‘struggles’ Because I felt like there were NO YA novels where the main character is just homeschooled. I feel like they are either new to homeschooling or they’re a homeschooler that goes to public school for the first time. And its a bit annoying because sometimes I just want to read a book about a normal homeschooled girl that isn’t a genius and just wants to understand who she is. Because every teenager kind of wants to understand where they belong.

And, I tried to like to come up with a plot but honestly, I wasn’t truly feeling it. If you know what I mean, It’s like something I wanted to write but It wasn’t really something that I loved like. I didn’t feel like I loved the plot or the characters, I just felt as if I was trying to force myself to write something.

But, then one night I had this story idea about a princess and a pirate and a gardener’s son. And I woke up in the middle of the night and I was like YES I AM WRITING THIS FOR NANOWRIMO. I felt really happy, and I developed a bunch of possible storylines and I was just sooooooooo excited.

And, what I have kind of learned these past few years from doing NaNo is that you have to LOVE your story. NaNo is already incredibly challenging so when you write a novel you really don’t like it will be really hard to write that book. And since I’m forcing myself to write a lot of words in 30 days I don’t want to write something I am not truly passionate or interested in.

But enough of that here’s a little more about my nOVELLLLLL *jazz hands*

Introducing:

Swords and Other Secrets

Princess Flora and her brother Fitz have been fascinated by pirates ever since they were young. They spent years, reading books about them and reenacting their battles. But when Fitz disappears, Flora’s world shatters and she is forced to take the place of her brother and become queen on her eighteenth birthday. But, Flora doesn’t want to become Queen, she wants to become a writer. So on the night before her birthday, Flora ventures off on a journey with newfound friends, and some old to find her brother, and to find herself.

I literally just typed that out just now. I’m still working on a synopsis but I’m honestly really excited about my story!

So, unfortunately, I havent made a cover yet because I’ve been having. hard time finding the picture that I want for the cover. But! I made some aesthetics for the main characters!

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So this is the mood board/ aesthetic that I made for Flora. She’s the main character and the story is mostly about her. She is a princess who dreams to become a pirate and write stories about her adventures.

jules moodboard

Jules is the royal gardener’s son who is Flora’s childhood friend. Jules dropped his dreams of becoming a botanist, so he could be able to train and become a knight to protect Flora.

leo moodboard

Leo the son of a pirate king, was abandoned and left shipwrecked as a young child. Now, he has fixed his ship and travels to different islands and collects birds and rescues children that were abandoned once like him.

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Iris is Flora’s pet cat and best friend. Soon Flora discovers that her cat can talk and knows a little more about her kingdom than she ever thought.

So, those are the main characters that I have at the moment. I have some more characters that I am developing but they probably will just be background characters.

so random interruption but I am really excited because Sunday is my birthday so yay this is my last post as a 13-year-old!!! 

Also, I’m excited because next Friday I will be posting a Q&A but OC addition!!

So if you are interested in asking any of my main characters of this story a question, comment it down below!! It will be featured, and answered in next Friday’s post!!

so ask away!!

The last thing I have for today’s post is writing memes!

I love memes because they are relatable and funny! So I especially love writing memes because writing can often be challenging and hearing jokes about writing takes away the stress. Sooo let’s get started!!

*claps sadly because I relate too much to these memes*

*overthinks about how I should end this post*

recapp

Thanks for taking the time to read this (overly long) post! I am so excited about NaNo and I can’t wait for it to start. (I probably will regret saying that once it starts)

lets chat!

are you doing NaNo this year? Ask one of my main characters a question!! Share something about one of your main characters! Let your Main Character ask one of my Mains a question!!

keep smiling,

ava!!

hello October!! ft. recent reads, latest obsessions, and goals!

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!

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Welcome to my itsy-bitsy corner of the web! Today’s post is all about what I did in September and my goals for October! Let’s get started!!

✰recent reads!!

I was able to read quite a few books last month that I had wanted to read for a while!! Here are some of my favorites!!

Caraval by Stephanie Garber Caraval: this book is so STUNNING!! I had it on my TBR list for a long time and once I got it I kind of procrastinated reading it, but then I opened it and just read it. I fell in love with the characters and the world-building and I couldn’t put the book down! I really recommend this for anyone looking for a fresh and exciting read!

Pumpkinheads Pumpkin Heads: This book is so so adorable!! the art is so gorgeous and the plot is ridiculously cute!! It really got me into the fall mood. I love the POC rec and the cute characters and everything! I really recommend this! like just read it while sipping apple cider!

#famous #Famous: I loved this book! The plot was cutely unique and the characters were really funny! I recommend this for anyone whos looking for a sweet romance!!

How We Roll How We Roll: This book was really cute and tackled a lesser-known illness in an amazing way! I really enjoyed this book.

Verify by Joelle CharbonneauVerify: This book was an awesome retelling of 1984 and Fahrenheit 451! It was page-turning and hard to put down and I really enjoyed it!!

some other books I read that I enjoyed were: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the universe, Vow of Thieves and The tea dragon festival!!

✰latest obsessions!!

warning: these are mostly going to be musicals because im obsessed with them.

           Related imageImage result for hadestown gifhadestown:

Hadestown is an amazing retelling of the Greek Myths of Persephone and Hades and the Myth of Orpheus and Euridice. Its set in Americas 1920s/30s and has great songs and awesome costumes! I love it so much!!

Image result for six the musical gifsRelated imagesix the musical:

Six is a fun and unique musical about Henry the 8ths wives! The songs are catchy and the whole musical is really cute and screams girl power! I love it so much!!

Image result for anastasia the musical gifsImage result for anastasia the musical gifsanastasia:

Anastasia is based on an animated movie about a historical Russian princess. Anastasia has always been one of my favorite movies, so I adore the musical version of it, the songs bring back so much nostalgia and its playing at my local theatre and I really hope I can see it!!

Image result for endgame gifsImage result for endgame gifsmarvel:

I recently have gotten a little obsessed with marvel (thanks to tom holland) There movies are pretty cool and their characters have complex personalities and cool powers.

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playing the ukelele:

I’ve had a ukelele for a while but a few months ago I finally learned how to actually play it. Now I have been writing my own songs and using it to do worship with my Youth Group. After I fully master it, I hope to learn how to play guitar!

✰october goals!!

✰ blog more consistently

✰ practice singing

✰prep for NaNoWriMo

✰ stay positive

✰ exercise more

✰ volunteer at the library

✰ go apple picking

✰ read in a forest

✰read more nonfiction

✰recap!!

September was a great season! I hope October is even better, I can’t wait for my birthday which is on the twenty-seventh!

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What did you read/ do in September? Do you like musicals? What is something you like to do to get ready for fall?

✰ keep smiling, ava!!

 

 

hello autumn! feat. where i’ve been, what i’ve been up to and goals for autumn!

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Welcome back to my itsy-bitsy corner of the web! I hope you all are having a lovely day! Before we start today’s post, I just want to say sorry for not consistently posting! I really miss blogging and I hope I can get more consistent. 🙂

But enough of my rambling! Happy first day of fall!

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If you hadn’t noticed, fall is my favorite season! Not only is it my birthday season, but it’s filled with beautiful colors, lovely smells, and delicious treats. I love wearing sweaters and boots and scarves and crunching on leaves everywhere I walk!

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So I haven’t blogged since early August, which is kind of a long time ago! A lot of stuff happened since then and one of my favorite things I did in August was my trip to Florida! My parents surprised my siblings and me with a trip to Flordia. We went to Discovery Cove and got to swim with dolphins and go snorkeling. We also went to Sea World and got to see Orcas and other sea creatures, And I went on a few thrilling rides with my Dad and one of my brothers.

Oh, and I met my childhood superheroes, at there Seasame Street themed play park section. Yes. I, Ava who is terrified of most costumed mascots, was not afraid to hug a bunch of furry monsters. And they even had a Theatre with musical parodies!

That was one of my favorite things I did that summer!

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🍂goals for fall🍂

🍂 blog more consistently

🍂 save up for a new camera

🍂 finally start my youtube channel

🍂 draw more

🍂 stop critiquing myself

🍂 staying positive and less judgmental

🍂 participate in NaNoWriMo

🍂 write more poetry

🍂 finally, host a giveaway

🍂 develop a better singing voice

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Thanks for reading todays post! I’m excited to get back into the blogging world!!

 

 

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What’s your favorite thing about fall? What did you do this summer? Favorite fall treat?

keep smiling, ava (1)

 

July recap// books, goals and me wondering how its already almost the end of summer

Copy of why hello there!

So I just realized that it’s August 6th and I am kind of freaking out.

I feel like summer just started and now its already about to end. And guys, This is the last summer of the 2010s next summer will be a roaring 20s summer. Isn’t that crazy?

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Anyways, it’s a new month and you know what that means! A monthly recap!

lets get started to

 

Books I read last month

If your one of my regular readers then you may be aware that I am obsessed with books! I read quite a lot of great books this month! Here they are!!

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn . To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Hruby Powell I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka  Mya's Strategy to Save the World by Tanya Lloyd Kyi Braced by Alyson Gerber Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh Comics Will Break Your Heart by Faith Erin Hicks The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh

My favorite books I read out of all of these is probably I love you so Mochi. Its a cute and unique book and I loved it! Totally would reread if I didn’t have so many books on my TBR list!

Speaking of TBR list, here are some books I hope I have the time to read this month:

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, #1)  Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2) The Boy Who Steals Houses The Downstairs Girl  I Wanna Be Where You Are 

 goals

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i love these so much omg!

study french

☆read ten books (i need to stop reading so many books in one month)

☆ get more consistent with blogging

☆create a new insta feed

☆go back to book club (i miss ittt)

☆prepare for more school work ( in the summer we do less school work)

☆see a musical 

☆stop obsessing over tom holland ( partially done)

☆work on finishing my book

recent obsessions

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☆ Kermit memes 

☆ marvel

☆ hadestown the musical ( ITS REALLY GOOD OMG)

☆ vans ( I ACTUALLY JUST GOT SOME)

☆ books

☆ denim jackets

☆ saying the word yeet

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July was an awesome month, I can’t wait to see all the great things I can accomplish this month! What are your goals for august? What things are you looking forward to?
Thanks for reading today’s post and have a great day!
keep smiling, ava (1)

 

 

 

 

 

5 easy ways to boost productivity! + free to-do list printable

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Welcome back to my itsy bitsy corner of the web! Or if your new here, thanks for checking out my blog. You can find more about me here!

Today’s post is all about how to boost productivity and get more done in less time.

lets get started to

1. Set a Timer

Estimate the time you need to tackle different tasks and set a timer for each of your tasks. When it comes to the time limit, move on to another task.

2. Eliminate All Distractions

I recommend putting your phone on airplane mode or turning off your notifications. If you’re using a computer to work on a project close out all the other applications. Try to go to a quiet place or alert the people around you to not bother you.

3. Listen to Music

Distractions should be avoided, but sometimes a bit of music in the background can help you focus.

Of course, it doesn’t need to be the Hamilton cast recording on full blast, but a bit of Beethoven may do you some good. If you’re not a fan of classical music, there are plenty of relaxing, lofi study playlists on youtube. The songs are really nice and it does help you focus.

4. Take a break from technology

The Internet has become one of the number one distraction. To increase your productivity, try to do as much of your work offline as possible.

I find it easier to brainstorm with pen and paper than on a notes app, because not only is it relaxing, it’s easier to stay focused on.

5. Just Start

Often times, starting is the hardest part. People often wait for the perfect time to start a project, but usually, there is no perfect time, and they are really just procrastinating and they never start.

Once you get started, you will quickly get into a rhythm that could last for hours!

The last thing I have for you guys is a little printable to-do list/ planner. This is great for jotting down things to do and planning your day out.

Get it done girl!click here to download!

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Thanks for reading this post, I hope the tips helped! What are some ways you stay productive? What projects are you working on? How do you manage your time?

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