Memory Jar

First of all: Happy New Year! Wishing you all that’s good, lots of love and awesome times! 🙂

One of the things I like most about the start of a new year is opening up my memory jar and reading back all the good memories I made that year.

I started this a couple of years ago because I discovered that it was harder to remember all the little good things that happen in a year when there are also difficult times to fight through.

It’s easy and fun to have a happy moment & memories jar! You just take a jar, pieces of paper and a pen. Throughout the year, you write down happy moments (big or small) and put them in the jar.

At the end of the year (or at the beginning of a new one) you can read back all the memories and you shall see that, even in a year that doesn’t feel all that great, there are lots and lots of great memories to hold on to!

I write them all down in a notebook because I like to read them back every once in a while.

Your “happy moments” can be big (like a new house, the publication of a book, losing or gaining weight) or smaller (like a nice evening with friends or family, a compliment or something that made you smile)

The size doesn’t matter, it matters when it makes you happy, even if it’s just for a moment. Focus on the good things!

It’s easy to see the things that make us sad, angry or depressed, but it’s harder to remember all the little things that make life worth it!

And that’s when a memory jar comes in handy, a year never has only bad moments, it’s just hard to see the light sometimes. 

It’s nice to see your happy moment jar filling up through the year, so give it a try sometime! 🙂

As for me, I had a lovely New Years Eve with people I love, so that’s already one happy memory for in the jar! 🙂

Lots of love,

Just Patty ❤

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NaNoWriMo 2018: The Finish

I did it! 🙂

Patty van Delft - English

NaNoWriMo is over and I have succeeded! 🙂

It was not easy to gather enough time to write this month. As you could read in the previous blog-entries, I had a lot of appointments and enough distraction to keep me away from the computer. But perseverance is something that I have (partly due to the fact that I am incredibly stubborn) and I am quite proud that I succeeded after all.

I am quite competitive, when it comes to a race against myself, and especially when something makes it extra difficult. That may sound strange, but it’s just the way I am. I do not give up and when I encounter obstacles, I am only inclined to fight harder.

Of course, many of these ” obstacles” were completely my own choice. Birthdays, a weekend away, spending time with people you love, are things that you clearly choose. And are also things…

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NaNoWriMo 2018 week 4: Final steps!

Almost there!

Patty van Delft - English

The last week… NaNoWriMo 2018 will end this Friday!

Luckily I have more time to write this week and I got off to a good start.

Although I really enjoy NaNo every time and it definitely gives my manuscript a boost, I always seem to forget how tired you can get. Of course I write a lot in daily life, but 50.000 words just are a lot in thirty days. Especially when it’s a month where you already have a lot of appointments.

Of course, it’s partly my own fault, although some things you can’t escape. Like I said; I do not intend to set aside everything to be able to write. Not even if I have a deadline.

Besides writing, I also spent an afternoon at the Coornhert Gymnasium in Gouda. This school has the “Fantasy Experience” every year where writers are invited to give workshops and have a meet…

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NaNoWriMo 2018 week 3: Busy and chaotic

Time flies! The third week of NaNoWriMo 🙂

Patty van Delft - English

The third week of NaNo is almost over!

I have been away for a weekend and enjoyed it very much! 🙂 But of course that means I had less time to write. When I returned home the week started well and I managed to catch up a bit. The story, the world and the characters are getting more and more shape.

But right now, it’s pretty much a disaster. I have a lot to do and therefore I am chaotic. With two book events and a birthday this week, I really want to spend the rest of the time sitting on the couch with a cup of tea and Netflix.

These days happen when you write, sometimes you are just not feeling it or you don’t want to write. And that’s okay! As long as you don’t let it drag for too long, you can easily take a day or…

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NaNoWriMo 2018 week 2: Distractions

Week 2 of NaNoWriMo is almost over!

Patty van Delft - English

The second week of NaNo is already over.

I have not been able to write as much as I would have liked and that also shows in my word-count. I’m going to fall behind! But no reason to panic, I still have two weeks.

This week was filled with distractions and that is no good if you want to write. Last time I said that I prefer working at home because it is nice and quiet and that is the case most of the time. However, I have two kittycats walking around who occasionally require extra attention. I can tell you: it’s not great for your concentration.

Besides, the Book Festival is here in the neighborhood tomorrow and of course I can’t resist going there for a while. After all, you never have enough books … 😉

Of course, I also have many other things to do that have to…

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NaNoWriMo 2018 week 1: We have started!

Check out how the first week of NaNoWriMo went for me!

Patty van Delft - English

We have started! At least, I have. 🙂

The beginning of the first week of NaNo 2018 went nicely. I had the notes ready for my manuscript so I could start right away. Not everything is immediately useful in the story, but that’s not really necessary. After all, we have just started and I already know that my manuscript will count more than 50,000 words anyway.

I see NaNo more as a nice kick-start than an attempt to complete a first-draft. That I worked hard also shows in the chart. (Oh, how I like that chart!)

Especially because I never have a lot of time to write in the weekend and I was sick for a couple of days so I wasn’t able to write as much as I wanted.

Because of illness I often have to take a step back and I don’t like that one bit. Most of…

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NaNoWriMo 2018!

Almost time for NaNoWriMo!

Patty van Delft - English

November is the time for NaNoWriMo en I am participating!

What is NaNoWriMo?

It stands for National Novel Writing Month. NaNo is an annual, Internet-based creative writing project that takes place during the month of November. Participants attempt to write a 50,000 word manuscript between November 1 and November 30.
NaNoWriMo focuses on the length of a work rather than the quality, encouraging writers to finish the first draft of their manuscript.

Who are participating in NaNoWriMo?

Writers (published and unpublished) from all over the world are participating in NaNoWriMo. It doesn’t matter if you are a proffessional writer or just love to write as a hobby.
The only rules are:

• Writing starts at 12:00: a.m. on November 1 and ends 11:59:59 p.m. on November 30, local time.
• No one is allowed to start early and finish 30 days from that start point.
• Novels must reach a…

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