Nice to be back

It's nice to go away and come back to find that someone missed you. One of my blog friends, Akoss noticed I was away for a while. It was so sweet of him to check up on me. I was faraway...in Africa (My home country, Namibia) for a couple of weeks celebrating my traditional wedding. It was all amazing (A fairytale village wedding) but I was a bit sad that I neglected my blog. I'm back, though and I have missed not only novel-moments, but also my followers.

While I was away, Akoss popped by to give me an award, the one award I had been waiting so patiently for. The One Lovely Blog Award. I love how sweet and "rosey" that award looks. It reminds of all things nice.
Thank you so much Akoss, this was a very touching welcome back gift. I appreciate it.
Those of you who don't know Akoss, please drop by to say hello. She's one of my most cherished blog friends.

Now I would like to pass this award to five of my blog friends that I think deserve it(Some of my friends already have one):
Carrie from: carriekeepstyping
Stacy from: A Writer's point of view
Zella Kate from: Zella Kate
Elena from: You're Write. Except when you're Rong
Aine Tierney from: Aine Tierney

Motivation links part 2

Hi everyone. I hope you're all doing very well. I am. It's really cold over here, but I'll get through it.
Even though I haven't posted anything on my blog for a while, Chocolate Aftertaste is progressing rather well.
 As promised, here's a bit of motivation for you. I hope it would get you writing that bestseller.

Great tips here:
http://writetodone.com/2010/03/12/motivation-tips-that-actually-work-6-sure-fire-ways-to-get-writing-and-keep-writing/

Goals, motivation, rewards...I love the last tip:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/pages/cstudents/dean/break-writing/break-12.html

Well, that's all for now. Time for me to follow some of those tips.

Some news from my world. I finally subscribed to the writer. I couldn't wait for my first issue to arrive in the mail. I received it yesterday. I feel great.magazine

When life gets in the way

Life has really been getting in the way and I've been struggling lately with finding the time to write since I started my new job. I do manage to squeeze one or two hours out of my days  but I feel that I can squeeze out even more. At the moment my routine is messed up and I need to make some changes.
In order to keep on keeping on and hopefully motivate my followers who are in the same boat, my next posts will concentrate on motivation and time management tips for writers. I'll search the web for sites that are helpful in this area and post them on here.
Here are the first:
Great tips to keep you and me going. I love the second and fourth tip.

http://www.essortment.com/all/inspirationwrit_rsmw.htm

A time log to help you keep track of your time and help you see why 24 hours just doesn't seem enough. I should use this.
http://www.businessballs.com/timemanagementtimelog.pdf

Creating a routine.
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Create-a-Writing-Routine-Like-a-Professional-Writer&id=3058007

Making the time:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4546264_make-time-writing.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask

More about Liz

As you can see, I received another award--The Fair Dinkum (good buddy) Award. Thanks so much Carol for nominating me and for seeing me as your blog buddy.
The rules state that I have to write some new things about myself and then pass on the award.

Now, something new about me that you didn't know:

1. In school, I used to be very sporty and won a lot of medals and awards--running (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m), netball, long jump, high jump (my favorite). Today, I'm allergic to any type of sport or exercise. I should change that--one day.
2. In our living room, I always sit on the same spot on the couch--when I don't, it doesn't feel right.
3. I eat too much salt--I should change that too...maybe tomorrow, maybe next year.
4. I have too many reminders on my phone. It's a pain having to get through them--finger on the snooze button--every time I want to make a call.
5. Before I traveled and had a chance to see the world, my life started in a refugee camp in Angola.I lived in the camp until the age of eight. Although my life wasn't a bed of roses in the beginning, if I had a chance to change something, I wouldn't. My experiences made me the person I am today. Starting at a low point, doesn't have to be a bad thing.

Enough about me. Here are my nominees:
1. Mysti Parker from Unwritten
2. Elena Solodow from You're Write. Except when you're Rong.
3. Zella Kate from Zella Kate
4. Stacy Post from A Writer's Point of View
5. Caroline Starr Rose from Caroline by line



Congrats blog buddies. Over to you.

Mindy and Body

I just got back from work and am exhausted. I can hardly sit up straight. Until yesterday, I used to have a very flexible job, where I could sleep in--I love my sleep. Now I have a 9 to 5 (or later).
My body is still adjusting to the new hours. I wanted to get at least, at least 500 words done tonight before I go to bed, but I don't know if I can.
"You can," says the mind.
"I can't," says the body.
"You can," says the mind.
"I'll show you who's boss if you don't leave me alone."
"Come on girl, where's the spirit? Just a few tiny words."
"Easy for you to say, all you do is sit around. I do all the manual labor around here."
"Without me you can do nothing," the mind said. "If I wanted to, I could force your hands on that keyboard."
"You can try," says Body.
"I can, but I won't. If we want Chocolate Aftertaste to be the best it can be, we have to work together as a team. Come on, friends?"
"Friends--hey, wait a minute," says body, laughing, "if I can write this right now, I can manage 500 words. You were right Mind-y."
"I'm always right Body."
"Fine, I'm off then. I have some words to suck out of my thumb."

 This was just silly me trying to get to get myself motivated to write. It worked.

Awards awards...I'd like to thank my followers for making this possible...

 I would like to thank M.J.A. Ware for making my day by nominating me for my first award! In order for me to accept the award, I have to:

1. Thanks the person who gave you the award and link to them
2. Add the award to your blog
3. Nominate 15 other people to give the award to.
4. Let your nominees know you have awarded them. 

Here are 7 facts about myself:

1. I'm married for six months now to a wonderful man who understands the crazy, beautiful mind of a writer.
2. I'm a Namibian citizen, born in Angola, lived four years in South Africa, seven years in Germany, have been living in Austria for four years now.
3. My favorite fruit has always been the cherry, until I went on honeymoon to Greece and met the best tasting watermelons. Needless to say, I'm sold. Now I have two kinds of favorite fruits.
4. I hold a bachelors degree in International Business Consultancy
5. I have around 5 to 6 unedited manuscripts lying around because I hate hate hate editing and would rather start a new novel than do it.
6. I started this blog because my editor told me it would be a good idea to promote my writing. I didn't know it would contribute so much to my personal growth too,and  that I would meet such a great community of writers (A big thanks goes to my followers)
7. I speak Oshiwambo (mother tongue--it's okay, you don't have to try and pronounce it), English, German, and some Spanish. Before the next ten years are up, I want to learn sign language and Chinese.

Well, that's me in a nutshell.

And here are my 15 nominees for the Versatile blogger award. Please pass by and say hello:

1. Alexia from: The life and literary pursuits
2. Natalie Murphy from: The sound of rain 
3. A. J. Larrieu from: Two coasts
4. Bel from: Itsy Bitsy Monkey
5. J.L. Campbell from: The Character Depot
6. Mina Ademovic: Emina's Ramblings 
7.Ryan Sullivan: The Dark Corner of the Mind
8. MJ from: Creatively Spilt Ink
9. Liana Brooks from: Liana Brooks
10. Anna Claire from: A Novel Idea
11. Deb Markanton from: Diving into a writer's life
12. Peggy Bechko from: Peggy Bechko
13. Julia Hones from: My writing life
14. Cristina from: Once upon a time
15. Bethany from: Owl review a book 

Okay, so I arrived at my blog today and found I have won yet another award. The Stylish blogger award is so lovely, I love the bling. Thanks Carrie for nominating me.

As I did for the Versatile blogger award, I have to nominate this time 10 of my newly discovered blogs.

The rules are:

• Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award

• Share 7 things about yourself

• Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers

• Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

AND THE AWARD GOES TO:


1. Akoss from: FantasyPen
2. Aimee L Salter from: Seeking the write life.
3. June Bourgo from: Aspirations of a novelist
4. June from: Podding along nicely
5. Chandara from: Chandara Writes

6. Tabitha Olson: Tabitha Olson
7. The ladies from: The YA Lit Six
8. Amanda Kurka from: Truth, justice, & other stuff
9. LadyJai from: Snippets from my mind
10. Penny Rader from: Perfectly Penny

To the nominees: Congratulations and keep doing the good job of keeping us entertained.
To my visitors: Thank you for checking up on Novel Moments. I look forward to  your next visit.

Liz
 

Illegal digital downloads: It could happen to you

 I just thought I'd share this article that Aimee L Salter posted on her blog:Seeking the Write Life. It's a sad reality. One of those things we hope won't happen to us and then they...do, could, might.
Here's the link, I hope it doesn't happen to you.

Seeking the Write Life: Enemy #1 to a Successful Publishing Career