“Storytime with My” Page 2 w/ finished response

Before I share my response to the prompt from last Friday’s Storytime, here’s the prompt again:
January 16, 2015 at 6 pm EST- Sentence Prompt

Write a short story or scene inspired by the written prompt

You have the power to save humanity with a cure. The problem is you’re immune to the cure and won’t be saved. What do you do? What is this mysterious disease that’s taken over the world and what are you going to do to save the world. If you decide to save them, that is.

And the live stream…

And now for my response…

They told me that I needed to save them. They said I should feel honored to save humanity.

Why should I?

What have they done for me?! Huh? HUH? I know you must think I’m selfish and I probably am, but you’ve gotta understand, I didn’t ask for this. No one in their right mind would ask for this. They told me that my blood can save millions. I alone am immune to the disease that is killing so many people and my blood can be used to create a vaccine. Millions will be saved and I’ll be a hero except that they conveniently forgot to tell me that the process of taking my blood could kill me. There was a big chance that I would not survive this.

“1 for many,” they told me. “Think of the greater good.”

Forget the greater good! I want to live! I want to breathe. I want to taste the sunshine. I don’t want to save the world. I know if I don’t save them, everyone will die and I’ll be alone, but if I do save them…does anyone care what I’m giving up? My family. My friends. They want me to trade them for a life of nothingness and honor. 

“You’ll get to help your friends,” they said. “People you love will be alive because of you.”And millions of others will be alive, too. Millions of people I do not know and who could care less what happens to me will be cured because of me. I am sure none of them would lift a finger to do the same for me if the circumstances were different. But they don’t matter. The only thing that matters is what I choose. Will I or won’t I? Let them live or die. Or instead hold onto that small shred of hope that someone will fly in and save me taking me away from all of this. I have to…I will hold onto that hope! It’s all I have left. 

From the #1 Rule-breaker,
My

P.S. The next “Storytime” will be on January 23rd at 5 pm. (I have to reschedule earlier because of scheduling conflicts.) The prompt and live stream can be found by clicking the “Storytime with My” tab in the menu above.

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Cyber Monday Sale: Last Look Back e-book for $0.99

All day beginning at 12:01 am, the e-book for my book Last Look Back will be only $0.99. You can find the e-book here. Who knows when I will have another sale, so get it today before the price goes back up and you’ll even get a great book to read in the process. Can you find a better deal? Probably not.

From the #1 Rule-breaker,

My

P.S. Just because I want to make sure you all can take advantage of this great deal, here’s the link again: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Look-Back-Lara-Sean-ebook/dp/B00OQUX8I6

P.P.S. Slight Change of Plans: It would seem that the internet does not like me and neither does Amazon.com. Because of a (eensy-weensy) error on my part, the $0.99 price will not go into effect until later today. Hopefully, it will be available around noon. To make up for it, I’m extending the Cyber Monday sale until Tuesday night at midnight so be sure to snatch up the e-book while you still can.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!! *or* Nanowrimo’s finally over!

Last night, at approximately 5:06 pm I typed my 50,000th word and won Nanowrimo. *cue applause* Thank you. Thank you. It was an interesting journey and I was determined to do it since I didn’t quite make it last year. I was so proud of myself when I was directed to the winner page that I thought I would cry. It feels great to have this accomplishment under my belt and I’m looking forward to revisiting the project again sometime in January.

I hope this gives some sort of explanation as to where I’ve been. Nanowrimo is an arduous marathon and it took all of my brain power to accomplish it. It was just like a marathon. In the beginning, I did my best to speed through, but still paced myself. I was ahead of the schedule for most of the month and only took two days off. Towards the end, I really had to pace myself and then on the final day (yesterday) I sped towards the finish line and came out victorious.

Now that Nanowrimo is over, it is time for me to get a much-needed rest. I plan to watch a lot of movies and just laze around. Consider it the calm before the storm because next year is going to be big for me and you all as well, my fellow rule-breakers. Can you say book tour? Can you say online writing class? Can you say Cyber Monday Ebook Sale? Oh! I’ve said too much already (lol). I have a lot of plans for this blog and since you all are faithful in sticking around, I feel it is only best to give you great things when you get here. As always you all will get more details as we get closer. There will probably only be a few more posts before the end of the year. Be sure to keep your eyes glued to screen, so you  don’t miss the updates for next year’s awesomeness.

From the #1 Rule-breaker,

My

Thank you!!!

My virtual release party was a success. Thank you to everyone that watched. I greatly appreciate your support. If you missed it, feel free to watch the whole thing here:

The show was two hours of everything Last Look Back, so make sure you’re comfy. I hope you enjoy.

The release party is over and Last Look Back is officially available:

The Last Look Back paperback  is available on lulu.com for $9.99. Click here to purchase.

The e-book is available on amazon.com for $2.99. Click here to purchase.

Thank you in advance for your support. Seriously, thank you all for sticking with me and believing in my dream. I write for all of you and I hope that you enjoy the story that I have shared. Thank you so much. I love you all!!!!

From the #1 Rule-breaker,

My

My outfit from the release party. It was a great experience and I’m glad I got to share it will all of you 

Book Release Countdown: 5 days and counting

Wow, these last few weeks have gone by quickly. As we wrap up the final days until my book release party, I think it’s a good idea to give you all tips for writing books, so one day you all can be in the same place I am today.

First, I’ll start with the best advice I’ve received from favorite writer blogger, Kristen Lamb.

• Omit needless words
• Resist the Urge to explain
• Value the reader’s time
• [On receiving criticism/ haters]: Haters: We will darken the skies with our criticism. Real Writers: Then we will WRITE in the SHADE.

For more of her valuable advice, visit her blog here: http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/

On the elusive muse:

• Realize that the muse will not randomly appear and you cannot wait idly for inspiration. You must go searching for it with an aluminum bat.
  • I like using quotes for inspiration.
  • Pinterest is also good, but be careful, you might get trapped in the pinterest vortex.
  • Find pictures of people that resemble how you imagined your character. It helps to have a visual representation of your character that you can see and that’s not fully in your head. You can pick and choose features and determine what you like the best.
  • Go for a walk, journal in hand, and go looking for what inspires you. Maybe it’s a flower, a commercial, whatever it is write it down and stow it away for later.

On starting a novel:

• Stop talking about it and just write.
• Don’t wait for the perfect moment and just put the words on the paper.
• If you can’t figure out how to begin, start wherever you’re most inspired. Start in the middle, maybe the ending. Wherever, just start writing.

For easier navigation: (This tip only helps if you type in a word document.)

Utilize the headings function in the upper right hand corner. Usually your words are highlighted as normal. Highlight your chapters as Headings instead. Using the find function of Navigation which is to the right of the Headings, you’ll be able to find your specific sections more easily instead of scrolling and searching aimlessly through the entire text.

This is especially helpful when you’re working on a long project like Nanowrimo and you want to start from where you stopped off, but you don’t want to have to scroll forever. It’s like having a virtual bookmark when you write. I can explain all of this in detail in a later post if need be.

On editing:

• Understand that in most cases the last draft is often times not going to look anything like the first.
• Don’t worry about it and just let the words flow.
• The normal reader is not going to notice the little mistakes, so you don’t have to stress about every little mistake when you edit.
• Read carefully.
• Read more than once.
• Then re-read again.
• Read aloud.
• Then have someone else read it.
• And then read it one more time.

Your story may not seem perfect to you, but it is because it’s your story. Embrace it and share it with the world.

From the #1 Rule-breaker,

My

 

Book Release Countdown: 1 Week Left

There’s one week left. I’m not freaking out. I’m calm.

Really, I’m calm.

Yeah, I’m bringing this back.

I spent the entire day working on the surprises for the launch party and they’re all coming together nicely. This party is going to be amazing.  In case you didn’t know (seriously how you could not know by now, but) I’m throwing a virtual party to celebrate the launch of my book. The party’s next week Friday and will be hosted on Google hangouts on Air. Here’s the link: https://plus.google.com/events/ceeoejnagr8o3pf36i8dicqtcc4.

The party is going to be the best!!! And I’m not just saying. I’m looking forward to see you all there.

From the #1 Rule-breaker,

My

Book Release Countdown: 9 Days Left

It’s getting real!!! Today, my friend instagrammed and texted me telling me that she received her copy of my book. I will take a moment to say how proud I am of the United States Postal Services. That was quick. It took only two days to get to its destination. I will also take this moment to say OMG!!! I am so excited!! Someone in the world has my book. OMG! OMG! OMG! OK, My, breathe.

I also received the license that allows me to collect sales tax on my book. Taxes, Ughh I know, but it makes me feel so official. Like this isn’t just a dream coming true, this is a real business.

It’s Nano2014 and I have at this exact second, 8,939 words. I’m writing a lot differently than I have in the past. The story I am writing is in third person and has a lot more description which is something that I have been trying to get better at. I’m having a blast writing and I think I’ll actually meet the 50,000 word goal (here’s hoping I didn’t just jinx myself.)

I think I’ve got the release  party all planned. I just need to do a little fine-tuning and I need to come up with a big surprise for a finale. Fingers crossed everything comes together.

Another day finished and another day closer to the best book you may ever read this year.

From the #1 Rule-breaker,

My

P.S. Click here to order the paperback from lulu.com. If you hurry, you might get it by the 14th.

And here’s the link to the ebook here on amazon.com, you can pre-order it now, but it won’t be available until the 14th.