Category Archives: Personal

05.20.20
by

Getting Personal #209: Camp NaNoWriMo April 2020 Recap

Image Credit: NaNoWriMo

This was my fifth Camp NaNoWriMo session!

This Camp session was different. After getting valuable feedback from my two main readers of my first draft of “Experiences From Camp,” I knew it was time to start the first round of editing.

Original word count: 51,960 words (161 pages)

On April 1, I printed out my first draft for the first time ever! I made the 161 pages double-sided, hole-punched them, and put it in a binder.

Almost every night for the first week, I sat down with a blue pen and pink Post-It notes, and read through the draft.

I added page numbers, designated chapters, page breaks, questions about the plot, sentence structure, and recommendations from my two readers.

I was very pleased with my efforts. I faltered a bit after the initial read-through, but I read through nearly 52,000 words!

Because I was editing this time, and not really writing, this Camp session was very different. However, I met my goal!

Final Thoughts

I have a lot of work to do now that I’ve completed the first round of editing. I also started using one of the beautiful journals that I received for my birthday last year to ask additional questions about the work and jot down other notes and thoughts.

My main goal is to send the second draft of the novel to my two readers, Amanda and Mike, by the end of June.

Before I do that, though, I need to translate my handwritten edits and other thoughts from my journal into the Draft 2 document on my computer. For some reason, and I think it’s mainly fear, I’ve been resisting doing this for the entire month of May. However, I do have a couple of days off of work coming my way, so I’m hoping to finally sit down (Well, stand up at my desk, LOL) and knock these edits and additions out!

Have you done NaNoWriMo in November before?

Have you done Camp NaNoWriMo before?

Let me know what you think!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.14.20
by

Getting Personal #208: “3 Story Treehouse, Scotland” (Reblogged)

I wanted a treehouse so badly as a kid. We had so many trees in our backyard, but I never got my wish. So, I wrote about them, daydreamed about them, and got overly excited when I saw them on TV or in movies. I certainly climbed trees and enjoyed every tire swing, rope swing, and hammock that I came upon, but nothing really compares to a treehouse.

This image caught my eye immediately. Did you know that you can stay overnight in treehouses in certain areas? I would love to do that someday.

But, for now, I’m staring at this photo and daydreaming.

If you could build a massive treehouse, what would you put in it or do with it?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.05.20
by

Getting Personal #207: Hope in Disaster Writing Contest

Image Credit: Charis Rae

I adore Charis Rae!

Here’s the link to her post, and how to enter the contest: Enter the Hope in Disaster Writing Contest.

Submissions are open now, through May 23.

Please note the age range. Charis Rae’s contest is open to ages 13-25.

If you’re outside that age range, like me, you can enter Bella Putt’s contest. Check out her post and guidelines here: I’m Co-Hosting A Short Story Contest. The submission deadline is the same – May 23.

Good luck to all who enter!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.02.20
by

Getting Personal #206: May Goals

Image Credit: Centre for Collaborative Health

Welcome back!

Here are my goals for the month of May:

  1. Re-organize the filing system.
  2. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  3. Start a new writing prompt series.
  4. Spring clean my closet.
  5. Publish at least one Book Review.
  6. De-clutter the dining room buffet.
  7. Spend at least one hour on American Girl items inventory.
  8. Start re-organizing the garage.

What about you? Do you have any goals for the month of May?

Let me know in the comments!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.01.20
by

Getting Personal #205: April Goals Recap

Image Credit: quoteslike.com

Welcome back!

Here’s the link to my April Goals post: Getting Personal #202: April Goals

Here are my goals for the month of April:

  1. Celebrate Dad’s birthday. — Accomplished!
  2. Complete Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020. — Accomplished!
  3. Hang photos in my office. — Did not accomplish.
  4. Re-organize the filing system. — Did not accomplish.
  5. Clean out the cabinet above the oven. — Did not accomplish.
  6. Spring clean my closet, top to bottom. — Did not accomplish.
  7. Drop off thrift store donations. — Accomplished!
  8. Purchase new glasses. — Accomplished!
  9. Finish the book I’m reading, and publish the review. — Accomplished!
  10. Start a new writing prompt series. — Did not accomplish.
  11. Commit to less screen time, especially in the evenings. — Semi-Achieved.

I accomplished quite a few things this month. I’m very pleased.

We celebrated my dad’s birthday virtually. We called and sang to him. We can’t wait to celebrate in person once the virus risk lessens.

I think Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020 was a big success, especially with the recent circumstances around COVID-19. Look for a recap post soon!

I’m so happy with the progress I’ve made with my home office. I gathered up several square feet of donations, and Al helped me drop it off at Goodwill. I can sit on the couch for the first time since we moved in our house! Al also helped me hang up some of my sorority memorabilia.

After working from home on a card table for the first two weeks, I was over it. Al found an amazing sit-stand desk on sale through Office Depot, and I took the plunge and bought it. Look for a new installment in my home improvement series, coming soon!

I bought two new pairs of glasses through Zenni Optical. They were shipped this week, so I’m excited to finally have a proper set of glasses with the correct prescription. The glasses I currently have are at least 6-7 years old.

I finished reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and published the Book Review. I started reading two new books, and I’m excited to finish those soon. Reading before bed nearly every night is something I’m committed to. I’m sleeping better, and also feeling better in the mornings.

I’m still working on less screen time in the evenings. I noticed recently that my body is giving me signs, in a way. I find myself naturally putting down my phone and/or iPad about an hour or so before we go to bed. So that’s good! I’ve also noticed a big difference as soon as I was able to set up my laptop in my office. It’s a dedicated space. No more laptop on the couch!

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of April?

Come back tomorrow to see my goals for May!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.28.20
by

Getting Personal #204: 10-Year Blogging Anniversary

This was a happy sight to see today!

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!

You registered on WordPress.com 10 years ago.

Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.

It’s kind of wild to think about – I started with WordPress to continue the passion that was kindled during a college assignment. In my Computer-Mediated Communication class in 2009, we were assigned to start a blog, on any topic we chose, that we maintained for the entire semester. That original blog, on a different platform, was about movies that I found in the college library that I figured my classmates had never heard of. It wasn’t much at the time, but it planted a seed.

Ten years ago, Hot Shot Headlines didn’t exist. I started, and then deleted, at least two other blogs. I lost my way, and my passion, for a while.

But, I stuck with it. I never really stopped writing, even when I wasn’t blogging. And it’s been an incredible journey.

Thank you, everyone, for your contributions! I truly appreciate all of my readers and followers. Every comment you write is significant to me. I try my very best to respond to all of them!

Best of all, I have made some amazing friends through the WordPress community. So, here’s to you, Kristian, Jenna, Tony, Simon, Ariel, Vinnie, Antonio, Lori, Sara, Didi, Tiana, Destiny, Greg, and others. Thank you for the words you write, the stories you share, and your friendship!

Cheers to 10 more years!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.21.20
by

Getting Personal #203: Fourteenth TBR Recap

Image Credit: hippoquotes.com

Welcome back!

Here’s what I’ve read since my last TBR update:

  1. Polacco, Patricia, Thank You, Mr. Falker (Review coming soon)
  2. Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban *Re-Read*

Removing from Laura Beth’s TBR

  1. Brunt, Carol Rifka, Tell The Wolves I’m Home
  2. Sanchez, Alex, Rainbow High
  3. Wilkinson, Lauren, American Spy

Keep & Re-Classify – Laura Beth’s Updated TBR

  1. Betz-Hamilton, Axton, The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity
  2. Elliott, T.E., Loved by the Beast: A Historical Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
  3. Jennings, Ken, Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs
  4. Westover, Tara, Educated

Adding to the TBR

  1. Gaiman, Neil, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
  2. Gilbert, Elizabeth, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
  3. Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire *Re-Read*

So, my current TBR is 7 books.

Do you have a TBR?

What book are you looking forward to reading next?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.03.20
by

Getting Personal #202: April Goals

Image Credit: Maria Estes Photography

Welcome back!

Here are my goals for the month of April:

  1. Celebrate Dad’s birthday.
  2. Complete Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020.
  3. Hang photos in my office.
  4. Re-organize the filing system.
  5. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  6. Spring clean my closet, top to bottom.
  7. Drop off thrift store donations.
  8. Purchase new glasses.
  9. Finish the book I’m reading, and publish the review.
  10. Start a new writing prompt series.
  11. Commit to less screen time, especially in the evenings.

What about you? Do you have any goals for the month of April? Let me know in the comments!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.02.20
by

Getting Personal #201: March Goals Recap

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Welcome back!

Here were my goals for the month of March:

  1. Print out the first draft of my novel, and begin editing it by hand.
  2. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  3. Go through at least three boxes in my office. — Accomplished!
  4. Make at least one thrift store run with donations.
  5. Purchase new glasses.
  6. Help my parents get ready for Grandpa’s arrival. — Accomplished!
  7. Publish at least one Book Review.
  8. Finish out my term as P.E.O. Treasurer. — Accomplished!
  9. Prepare for Camp NaNoWriMo April 2020. — Accomplished!

I made amazing progress with my office this month. I have a temporary set-up of a card table and Al’s old office chair, and these will stand in for now until I get my stand-up desk from IKEA. I’m excited to have more space.

This weekend, I hope to get all of the donations out of the corner, hang up some pictures, and make progress with some filing.

I’m grateful that I was able to help my parents when I could, before COVID-19 took hold in Virginia. It was one Saturday – Moving the dryer back to its proper place, moving the dresser from downstairs to upstairs, disassembling the desk at our friend’s house and getting it back to the house for Grandpa – but it feels like it was a lifetime ago.

I’m grateful my dad and grandpa arrived home safely earlier this week. That took away a lot of anxiety.

Now, I’m eager to dive head-long into Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020. And get back to blogging. I’ve missed it.

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of March?

Come back tomorrow to see my goals for April!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

03.01.20
by

Getting Personal #200: March Goals

Image Credit: East Willow Grove

Here are my goals for the month of March!

  1. Print out the first draft of my novel, and begin editing it by hand.
  2. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  3. Go through at least three boxes in my office.
  4. Make at least one thrift store run with donations.
  5. Purchase new glasses.
  6. Help my parents get ready for Grandpa’s arrival.
  7. Publish at least one Book Review.
  8. Finish out my term as P.E.O. Treasurer.
  9. Prepare for Camp NaNoWriMo April 2020.

What about you?

Do you have any goals for the month of March? Let me know!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂