Christmas cookies and happy hearts, this is how the holiday starts!
Jen and I teamed up to create an awesome, candy cane infused, blog fest because we think all of you are fantastic and want to spread the holiday cheer.
We bring to you:
Be Jolly By Golly
We want to know how you celebrate.
Before you get your tinsel in a tangle, here are the rules:
1. Post your blog sometime on December 20th.
2. We want pictures of your decorations, holiday lights and Christmas tree.
3. Share your favorite holiday treat (Feel free to share the recipe so we can all share in the yummy).
4. Share your favorite holiday drink (Either alcoholic or non, share your recipe if you please - you're all going to want to drink mine so I'd like some options to steal too).5. Don't forget to visit everyone else, share in the holiday spirit and spread the cheer.
Basically, this blogfest is Christmas dinner with your blogger family, you don't want to miss out on the fun. Also, our badge is AWESOME. You should join just so you can nab it.
Please note: If you don't celebrate Christmas, we want you anyways. Share your holiday traditions with us, whatever they may be.To segue into an entirely different topic without any warning, I have another announcement to make.
Two years ago, mid November I started writing my book. I wrote like crazy and was two chapters away from finishing when my computer crashed. I lost everything.
After a while, I started writing again. I got about halfway through when I decided I was writing in the wrong tense. I started again. I got halfway through (again) before one of my characters decided he didn't like the way the plot/storyline was working out for him and he dramatically changed the sequence of events in the first book. (It's a trilogy.)
I started over.
I had a third of it done by the end of summer but school started and excuses piled up. As you know, my goal with NaNo was to finish my book. I gave NaNo 122% (according to how many words I wrote) and finished my first draft yesterday at noon.
I am so overwhelmed and happy (especially because I have crazy amazing family members like Cousin K and Little Sister who changed their Facebook statuses to celebrate with me).
How's your writing? Any accomplishments lately? Are you stoked on this blog fest or what??
Oh yes, I remember Candy Kane - a sweet dancer from the 30s, wasn't she?
ReplyDeleteYAY!!!! FABULOUS! I'M SO HAPPY YOU FINISHED!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in the blogfest with me! It's going to be so amazing!! :)
That's awesome you got through it this time! Can't believe you wrote it so fast.
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo! Congrats on finishing the draft. There is nothing like that feeling. I salute you!
ReplyDeleteYA! I am doing it, girl!
ReplyDeleteSounds fun! Will totally get in on the holiday jolly!
ReplyDeleteI think my heart stopped when I read you lost it all! OMG. MORTIFIED! But that is a credit to you as a writer that you kept going and didn't just say "screw it" you know? So BIG congratulations on your success finishing up! I think it's amazing how many times you did it and kept going!
Hooray on getting so much done! this sounds like a fun blogfest but I confess our decorations are, ahem, pretty lame.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a journey to get this book done. You should celebrate in style. Whatever it is you love to do the most, go do it!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about the Blogfest :)
Congrats on finishing. How exciting!!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea for the blogfest. I'm in.
It's a little early to plan Christmas, isn't it? :P Actually, Harry Potter movies always make me feel like it's time for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS on finishing your novel! I'm writing a bit every day, so that's kind of awesome. I'm still very, very behind though. Eck. But I'm not giving up (yet)!
I signed on--this sounds like too much fun. I love Christmas! :o) <3
ReplyDeleteCongrats. I'll have to remember to do this on the 20th. Congrats on finishing your first draft. I think I'm opting out, will have to see over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteMelissa - congrats on finishing your novel! that is very, very exciting! I'm so happy for you. =D Also joining in on the festivities. =D
ReplyDeleteThank for sharing...I lost one of my mss also and I think I was in a sad fog for a month. After that, I got an external hard-drive and started emailing myself my mss. Whew what a journey, but I'm so impressed with your perseverance.
ReplyDeleteVery cool blogfest! Congratulations on finishing your novel!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Throw confetti!)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a lot of FUN!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Melissa,
ReplyDeleteHow's it goin' eh?
What a great idea for a 'Jolly by Golly Blogfest'. Wish you much success with this and thanks for the reminder that 'Boxing Day Eve', will soon be here.
Happy writing and all the best.
Kind wishes, Gary.
SO happy you finished! With so much time to spare! I loved seeing your word count jump on NaNo :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun holiday blogfest- I'm in! (you might have to do some reminding for those of us with less than par memories)
WOOHOO I'm so in!!! I love Christmas! This is such a fantastic idea! Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your first draft, Melissa!!!
Your computer crashed? Seriously? That's just so awful. But congrats on the first draft!!! You're such an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSounds fun! I have to get through Thanksgiving first though. Congrats on finishing the first draft!
ReplyDeleteLet's see who makes the best post EVER suckahs!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea for a blog!
ReplyDeletehttp://jennythegoldengirl.blogspot.com/
Congrats on Nano. On the writing front, I'm playing the waiting game right now – refreshing my email every two seconds and not sleeping. Fun!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on Nano. And thanks for the great blogfest!
ReplyDeleteI'm in!
ReplyDeleteOh, and my heart kind of broke into a million pieces when I saw you lost your first draft. I would die. Seriously. I can't even believe you were able to recover from the horrror!
Congrats on finishing though - I bet it's awesome!
Congrats on finishing your book! And the blogfest sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a FUN idea!!! I'm in!
ReplyDeleteHI again Melissa,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your the info. I just set up the linky so the next time you stop by you can sign up. Yah!
I decided to do a HP post everyday starting tomorrow to the countdown on Friday for the movie. I hope you get a chance to drop in, I'd love to see you there.
You live in Vancouver! Lucky you. I understand it's breathtaking. Definitely on my places to go list. If you ever make to Chicago, you'd love it. It's really fun to come in the summer ... lots going on!
Thanks again for your help,
Michael
Congrats on finishing the first draft!
ReplyDeleteThe blogfest sounds like a lot of fun.
Super congrats on your book! That totally blows about your computer crashing the first time. However, you now have a story to prove how ultra dedicated you are to your literary art... I was just telling my husband how I love having all my blog friends because we all understand how our characters are autonomous beings that do whatever the hell they want and we can all talk about it without sounding crazy.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I signed up for the Christmas Blogfest!
You LOST ALMOST AN ENITRE BOOK??! That is heartbreaking... But super, super well done for not giving up and for getting to the end of your second one. It must have taken real determination to start again :-)
ReplyDeleteYah!! I'm excited this time of the year. So looking forward to Christmas. ;)
ReplyDeleteWell done on getting your first draft done!!
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ReplyDeletegggrrrr! sorry...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the first draft and I'm sorry it was such a process for you.
I'm all signed up for the jolly fest, what a great idea!
Christmas is now filled with awesomeness! Great idea, Mel and Jen!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your first draft! And I'm along for the holiday blog ride!
ReplyDelete♥ Mary Mary
Yahoo! CONGRATULATIONS on finishing!
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope you celebrated!
Congrats on finishing your story!! I have to give you mad props for your determination. There are a lot of others who would have given up after those levels of setbacks. You rock!!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the X'mas atmosphere but don't celebrate it, so I'll just sit back and read everyone's entries on this one! Have added the blogfest to my Blogfests page as well! :)
ReplyDeleteHey there! I've had your button up on my blog for ages but just came back to see again what I had to do and couldn't find my name on the list! OMG! Am so looking fwd to this one as obviously are a lot of other people!
ReplyDeleteYour mss story nearly broke my heart! Oh please don't let anything else go wrong for you!
We had a major wind/rainstorm in our area. I've been chasing down my poor holiday decorations all day. Ugg, what a blinky tangled mess. I think I will be taking pics of the inside decoration only. Still trying to figure out what recipe I want to post....
ReplyDeleteI have you advertised on my sidebar. Great blogfest.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a successful rewarding draft of your MS, what a journey! I try to remember to back up my writing on memory sticks now for the same reason. :O)
Now THAT is perseverance! Congratulations on finishing. That took guts and patience.
ReplyDeleteHi. Belatedly I have scheduled mine to post on 25th December. HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS :O)
ReplyDelete