Is Silence Golden?

As I posted a last week, I have started doing Hal Elrod's Miracle Morning. I haven't been waking up early because sleep has been very strange and not restful lately. (Thanks weird pregnancy dreams!)

The first life saver is Silence, and it is something that I have been struggling to do for long periods of time. Granted, mainly it is because I've been sleeping till Rory wakes up and doing a quick 1 minute of silence before I go get him. However, I have realized something that even just 1 minute of silence has given me.

First: Silence has given me time to pray. That is one thing that I haven't realized I had really been needing to add into my life. It has really helped open my mind and heart to the blessings that I have been given as I thank my Heavenly Father for the blessings I've been given each day. It helps to focus on gratitude at the start and end of each day. Truly you are blessed with more than you think you are!!!

Second: Silence has given me...silence! As many moms of toddlers can tell you, silence is VERY hard to come by. It usually means something bad is in the process of happening, or your kid(s) are sleeping. Silence is truly something that everyone needs, even if it is just for one minute. It helps center your mind on you, your worries, your hopes, your dreams. It truly is something that has helped me so much with my depression and anxiety the past week! I have been able to focus my mind on one or two things that I want to accomplish that day and take a few deep breaths(the kind of breathing techniques my therapist told me to use before bed. In through nose for 6 seconds, hold for 6 seconds, and breath out through mouth for 6 seconds.) This breathing has caused me to instantly relax and begin my day with a low stress attitude.

And last: Silence has given me more confidence. It may seem strange to think that silence lead to confidence, but it's true! After brushing my teeth and drinking some water, silence is the first thing I focus on. It truly has given me a huge sense of accomplishment that I have done this for a week. Each day I complete I feel more and more proud of myself and completing things that I set my mind do! Silence has also, like I said before, caused me to think of just 2 things that day that I need to complete...and I've completed them all everyday! Instead of being upset at myself for not doing much all day, I feel amazing as I check of my very small to do list and know I have done something that day.

So, is silence golden? I would say yes! Silence has been an invaluable addition to my mornings and I honestly can't picture my days without just 1 minute of it. Here is a challenge for you: At the start of each day spend 1 minute in purposeful silence. Then let me know how it has changed your life!

Stay nerdy, my friends! 

Dragon Scale Prophecies Update!

Hello my nerdy friends!!! I am finally far enough along in the process of my book that I feel I can do an update!  The end is in sight...and that's Rory pointing to it....way in the distance...but it's there!!!

First: My amazing friend just gave me her edited version of DSP! 

Second: I am a little over half way done with my own edit on paper. 

Third: This is my plan.... I plan to have the second draft completed and off to an editor in June! Once they are finished, hopefully it will only take a week or so! I will work on the third, and final draft! 

Fourth: I hope to have it published and ready for purchase on Amazon by January 2019 at the latest. It all honestly depends on how cooperative my new baby--and current toddler--will be! If I can get a ton of work done faster than I anticipated it will be published sooner! 

Last: I am so excited to have character art to share in the coming months! It is going to be amazing!!! 

As always, 

Stay nerdy, my friends! 

My Miracle Morning

OK! Today marks a significant change in my life. No....the baby is not here yet. However, this week I have been thinking about my mindset and how I was one year ago.

Last year I was up at 6 everyday, even though I didn't have anywhere to go. I was doing T25 and going on a walk/run everyday with my dog and son. I wrote all the time.

This year...I sleep as long as I can, and don't do much outside of the house. I let Rory watch more television than he probably should just so I could mindlessly scroll through facebook. I told myself it was so I could get things done...but I never did anything.

So....what changed today??? Why is today so important?

I'll tell you!

I went ahead and started reading personal development books the past week or so....listening to them while I walked with Rory and Toph once or twice a week. They were the same books I read last year.

The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins and The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.

Both of these books have combined with personal revelation, a topic I won't delve into right now, and made me realize I needed to start my days off with more purpose. I love combining the two ideas/concepts in these books.

First: 5 second rule is all about waking up in the morning and making 5 second decisions. 5 4 3 2 1 get out of bed. 5 4 3 2 1 pick up that trash that is sitting on the couch etc. A simple but profound concept that has gotten me off the couch these past two weeks!

Second: The Miracle Morning is all about starting your day with purpose and with the Life SAVERS.
Silence: Pray. Meditate. Think on your day...just do it quietly!
Affirmation: Say all those cheesy things out loud...over and over.
Visualization: Look at your vision board/goals. Visualize what it will be like to finish them.
Exercise: Endorphins make you happy....and happy people just don't kill their husbands....or children. 
Reading: Read a good book you've wanted to pick up but haven't. Read the scriptures. Read whatever!
Scribing: Write down your thoughts in a journal...I am choosing to blog.

All of this should take about an hour. This is how I spent my morning today.
I woke up and brushed my teeth. THEN--Hal says this is VERY important--I drank a cup of water. I washed my face too for good measure! I sat on my bed and said the most heartfelt prayer I have said in a long time. It felt GREAT! Then I put on some yoga pants and t-shirt and put on a beginner's yoga video....yes mom! YOGA! I was pleasantly surprised that I could actually attempt most poses really well and that the only one I could not do was because I would be laying on my stomach being 21 weeks pregnant! I took a fast shower to get rid of sweat....for the life of me I don't know how standing and sitting around and not moving makes you sweat! but it does!!!! My reading is focused on my religion. I plan on listening to and reading talks from General Conference (the general authorities of the LDS church, The Prophet and Apostles--as well as others, speak to us twice a year) or reading The Book of Mormon.

Right now it is 8:00 and I feel amazing! Rory is just starting to wiggle around and start his morning routine of not wanting to get out of bed. --He stays in bed till we come and get him...no idea why!--

As always,

Stay Nerdy my friends!!!

Following your Dreams

 You may be wondering if you can even handle the crazy rollercoaster we call life.

You may be wondering if you are smart/brave/good enough to do that one thing that terrifies you.

You may be wondering if you have what it takes to follow your dreams to fruition.

You may be wondering why I am saying all of theses repetitive sentences....

Well, it's because I'm a self-diagnosed crazy person. I am crazy because my dream that I have wanted for nearly my entire life does not scare me as much as it once did. It still does terrify me that I am not good enough, or that no one will like what I have to offer, but I don't let that fear control the outcome of my dream.

I am crazy because my two year old is running my life, for the most part. I am crazy because I am thinking of actually putting an alarm on my phone when I have nowhere to be...except the front room watching Super Why or the backyard on our trampoline. 

Now that I've finished talking about crazy/amazing self, let's talk about you for a moment. 

What is your Dream? We all have one, and yes that D is capitalized for a reason. There is one thing in your life that you always have thought would be amazing if it would actually happen. For me, it was publishing a novel. For you, it could be anything from having a huge family of rugrats, to saving a person's life, to owning your own business. The possibilities are endless and always up to you, and may change in different stages of your life. 

Each Dream is unique, even if many other people aspire to be a published author, their Dream is different than mine because our stories are our own. 

Following your Dream is both terrifying and exhilarating. Your Dream may take a lifetime to complete, or you could realize it early on and find a new dream. The most important part of following your Dream is never losing sight of it. No matter what, because it is when you loose sight of it that you loose sight of yourself. 

An easy way to make sure you never loose sight of your Dream is to make sure you know WHY you are doing it. Most things I do, I do for my family, and I love that. THIS Dream, however, I am doing for me. I have always wanted to publish a book to see if I actually could. To tell myself that I AM a writer. To tell myself that I AM good enough and smart enough and crazy enough to put my imagination out there for the world to see and critique and judge.

Life is crazy. BUT So are you! Go and live your Dream out to it's full potential! I know you can do it!



Stay Nerdy, my friends!!!

Keeping up the Craft #1

I found an amazing website that has some great "writespiration" I am going to use Sacha Black's writing prompts to keep my creative juices flowing and to get back into the craft I love without getting burnt out on DSP(Dragon Scale Prophecies). The website is http://sachablack.co.uk/writing-tips/writespiration/ for those of you who want to know about it! I am so excited to start using these prompts and see what awesome stuff I can come up with for you all to read. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading them as much as I will enjoy writing them!

I am going to give myself 30 minutes to write whatever comes to my mind, even if I don't finish it. If you want me to finish the story, let me know in the comments!!!

Stay nerdy, my friends!
~Kelsey Norton~

     I looked up at my English teacher with blank eyes as she gave us our next big term project. The entire class groaned. A multi-media presentation with a paper? Was Mrs. Shroudinger daft? She knows we have way more important thing to do as seniors. I raised my hand. "Mrs. Shroudinger, what do you mean we have to find a geological ancestor? How is this supposed to prepare us for college?"
     "Yeah!" Timmy yelled from next to me. "I mean what do dead people have to do with me being in the NFL?"
     "For your information, Miss. Gardner, I mean I want you to research and find information on a member of your family tree who is not living. Preferably someone that lived in a completely different time period. After all, your great-great-great grandfather, Timmy, could very well have had a hand in creating the game of football in some obscure way. Which is why you're such a key player on our team. I want you all to go home tonight and ask your parents if they know anything about your genealogy and then, there is a website you can go to in class tomorrow, to do your own research--which will prepare you for writing college essays."
    The bell rang, just in the nick of time. I whip out my phone and text Sasha saying, "Why didn't you tell me about this HUGE assignment? Mrs. S is crazy if she things we have time to research dead people."
"Sorry Liz. I thought it was NBD this morning. It's just researching someone. My mom loves this stuff. We can work on it together."
"I'll text my mom saying I'm going to your house then. Hopefully there's food."
"Meet you at Big Bertha."
I scroll over to text my mom, at work again. "Going of to Sasha's to study."
"I'll be home late. Crazy busy here. Luv ya."
I get to my locker and grab all the books I'd need for homework and dropped off the ones I didn't need. Luke stood by, chatting loudly with his best friend, looking stunning as always. His eyes wandered over to me and he smiled. "Oh no!" I thought. "He caught me staring...again. Liz you are so stupid."
I quickly smiled back and closed my locker with a louder than intended slam. I cringed. Tucking my loose hair from my ponytail behind my ear, I went off to the parking lot to find Big Bertha and Sasha.
It wasn't hard to find Bertha, my large blue '99 suburban, at least it wasn't hard for anyone else. I tend to forget where I park, no matter if it's in the same spot everyday. Luckily, Sasha loved to climb on top and sit, waiting for me. She waved her arms as I spotted her above the sea of vehicles.
She hopped down as I approached, saying, "What would you do without me Liz?"
"Be lost forever in this horrible place." I said with a laugh, unlocking the door with the keys. As I tossed my backpack in, I casually said, "I saw Luke today."
"You see Luke everyday, his locker is conveniently right next to yours. What's so different this time? Did you actually speak to him?"
"Well, no...but he did smile at me."
"You better shake off that daze I see or I won't let you behind the wheel! Come on, let's go. It is going to take a long time to stop my mom from getting off her 'genealogy is amazing' soap box." 

What's in a Name?

I am starting this blog for the purpose of telling the interwebs about my writing process, and to also do sneak peaks of my work in progress (WIP). I may also do creative writing prompts just to keep my writing skills sharp as a No.2 pencil!

First off, I want to talk about changing the name of my WIP. So, this book has taken a decade to write fully. It has been a long road and something I have worked so hard to accomplish. I finished the first draft of my WIP November 30, 2017. While working on it, I have called it Mystics--which is the name of the magical people in my world. However, upon looking on Amazon for Mystics book, I discovered that there is already a series with that name! This lead to a lot of soul searching.

What was the name of my novel going to be? How could I change something that's been the same for ten years? Naming my novel is akin to naming my child. I thought, and I thought, but nothing was standing out to me.

Then, while trying to take a nap today, inspiration struck! In my world, The Delles, Mystics are able to store power into dragon scales, allowing them to use their powers without draining all of their energy at once. This lead me to think of a very different title, and one that has made me, already, consider some fairly large changes to the second draft. That being said, I really think that it is something that needed to happen to make my novel an even more amazing version of itself.

That being said, I'd like to formally announce the name of my book series.

*clears throat for dramatic effect*

Dragon Scale Prophecies
Book 1: Truth
Book 2: Courage
Book 3: Hope 

As you can see, my plan for this book is to make it into a series. Not for the sake of earning bucket loads of money, but for the sake of my story. Dragon Scale Prophecies needs to be a series. It won't work in any other way.

That is it for today, but I hope to post something new each week.

Stay nerdy, my friends!
~Kelsey Norton~