I am determined to finish Nano this year.
This year I’m enjoying the novel I’m writing and I have it all worked out in my head, it’s just a little slow moving from my head to the keyboard.
You would think, being unemployed, I’d be making all kinds of progress on my Nano. Alas, such is not the case.
Yesterday saw me with a 100 word shortfall, which, considering I started the day 400 words ahead of the day is not a good thing. I think the saddest part is, it was my own damn fault. I piddled around and procrastinated, and then just as I’d get going I’d let myself be distracted by silly things (like the little old lady who goes for a walk around the crescent every day and bears a frightening resemblance to my Aunt Florence who’s been dead for years).
So then I ended up staying up until 3 a.m. working on my nano novel because earlier in the evening I started reading the archives of one of the blogs I’ve started frequenting. I probably could have pushed and done the extra 100 words, but, my God! It was 3 a.m.! What am I still doing up?
I’m not unreasonable. I’m going to give myself until the end of the week and if I have not reached or exceeded my daily word count then after checking my email and blog list in the morning I’m going to start unplugging the router so I can’t get an internet connection on my lap top. The idea will be that it stays unplugged until I reach my daily goal.
Great idea. If I can make myself do it.
Nov 6, 2008
Nov 5, 2008
Under Pressure
Never underestimate the power of peer pressure. Last night I participated in not one, but two half hour word wars on AW and I not only caught up to my word count, I exceeded it.
I have also discovered that my optimum writing time appears to be after dark. These last couple of nights I’ve been using the lap top in front of the television, and I’ve actually made better progress than I do during the day.
This is a good thing, really. Eventually I’ll be going back to school, and if not then I’ll be going back to work, which means I’ll be busy during the day and will only be able to write during the evenings. Might as well get into the habit now.
Only five days into Nano and I’m already worrying about running out of story before I run out of words. Oh, well. As I said to a friend this morning if that happens I can always just start adding sex scenes and turn my space/adventure/romance into an erotic/space/adventure/romance. ;-)
I have also discovered that my optimum writing time appears to be after dark. These last couple of nights I’ve been using the lap top in front of the television, and I’ve actually made better progress than I do during the day.
This is a good thing, really. Eventually I’ll be going back to school, and if not then I’ll be going back to work, which means I’ll be busy during the day and will only be able to write during the evenings. Might as well get into the habit now.
Only five days into Nano and I’m already worrying about running out of story before I run out of words. Oh, well. As I said to a friend this morning if that happens I can always just start adding sex scenes and turn my space/adventure/romance into an erotic/space/adventure/romance. ;-)
Nov 4, 2008
Track Time
It appears I’m well on the way to getting back on track writing-wise.
Yes, I suffered a minor set-back when my sister came to visit yesterday, but I got back to it last night and made some decent progress. I even managed to update my word count on the NaNo site, although I still can’t access the forums.
In between fits and starts of writing I’ve been sneaking over to the AW site to hang out a bit on the NaNo thread over there (no problem logging in here!) just to see how everyone else is doing so far. Some good, some bad, some you really have to wonder if they’re cheating when they show word counts of 10 or 15 thousand words after only 3 days. I know it’s possible, but still!
The hard part about Nano is to write and not look back. And if you do look back, not to fix what you see.
I was talking to the friend that I talked into joining Nano the first year I joined. I ran out of story at 33,000 words that year, but she completed hers. This year I’ve been making slow, but steady progress and she’s just figured out her plot. I’d let myself enjoy the fact that I’ve got the jump on her, but she’s probably going to end up kicking my ass again.
The point is, it takes all kinds to Nano, and it ain’t over until November 30 when the word counts are in.
Yes, I suffered a minor set-back when my sister came to visit yesterday, but I got back to it last night and made some decent progress. I even managed to update my word count on the NaNo site, although I still can’t access the forums.
In between fits and starts of writing I’ve been sneaking over to the AW site to hang out a bit on the NaNo thread over there (no problem logging in here!) just to see how everyone else is doing so far. Some good, some bad, some you really have to wonder if they’re cheating when they show word counts of 10 or 15 thousand words after only 3 days. I know it’s possible, but still!
The hard part about Nano is to write and not look back. And if you do look back, not to fix what you see.
I was talking to the friend that I talked into joining Nano the first year I joined. I ran out of story at 33,000 words that year, but she completed hers. This year I’ve been making slow, but steady progress and she’s just figured out her plot. I’d let myself enjoy the fact that I’ve got the jump on her, but she’s probably going to end up kicking my ass again.
The point is, it takes all kinds to Nano, and it ain’t over until November 30 when the word counts are in.
Nov 3, 2008
Interpretation of Waffle Post
Did anyone actually get the fact that I signed up for NaNo from that run-on, back and forth post I made last time?
I almost didn’t, not because I kept changing my mind, but because it was so hard logging into the NaNoWriMo site. I don’t remember the last time I participated, but I forgot my password. Because the site is so busy the first few days it took me three hours to get my password reset.
However, my password is reset, and I wrote it down in my notebook of Important Logins and Passwords, and now I’m good to go.
By the end of day one I only had about 700 words, but that’s still 700 more than I managed in the last week or two. Yesterday I did much better and I even managed to update my word count on the NaNo site.
One of the nice things about NaNo is that it gives me permission to focus on one thing and one thing only. I don’t have to feel guilty about ignoring my other works in progress because this is NaNo! That’s not to say I can’t work on them if I want, but their word counts don’t matter in the larger scheme of things.
I think what surprises me most is, rather than feeling restricted by NaNo, as I’d feared, I’m feeling liberated.
Viva la NaNo!
I almost didn’t, not because I kept changing my mind, but because it was so hard logging into the NaNoWriMo site. I don’t remember the last time I participated, but I forgot my password. Because the site is so busy the first few days it took me three hours to get my password reset.
However, my password is reset, and I wrote it down in my notebook of Important Logins and Passwords, and now I’m good to go.
By the end of day one I only had about 700 words, but that’s still 700 more than I managed in the last week or two. Yesterday I did much better and I even managed to update my word count on the NaNo site.
One of the nice things about NaNo is that it gives me permission to focus on one thing and one thing only. I don’t have to feel guilty about ignoring my other works in progress because this is NaNo! That’s not to say I can’t work on them if I want, but their word counts don’t matter in the larger scheme of things.
I think what surprises me most is, rather than feeling restricted by NaNo, as I’d feared, I’m feeling liberated.
Viva la NaNo!
Nov 1, 2008
Happy All Souls Day
If you’d like to read my Hallowe’en post on vampires, go HERE .
I have spent the last week, week and a half, writing a novel . . . in my head. This novel is complete from start to finish. I know the characters, I know the motivations, I know how it begins and how it ends, I even know what goes on in the middle. However, every time I go to write it down, my fingers lock up. It’s like I’m under some kind of magic spell that only allows me to think about writing it.
To date I have written down the name of the female main character (it came to me in a burst of inspiration), the title, and exactly one line of text. Right now the male main character’s name eludes me - in my head I keep referring to him as “Ape” because that’s what the crazy old woman who’s holding him prisoner calls him. The crazy old woman is not named either, and probably won’t get a name.
The sad part is, this is a good story. I just need to get it written down.
I’ve been waffling these last few weeks over whether to NaNo or not. I still am. Part of me says: “This novel is a sign. The reason you weren’t able to write it on paper is that it’s saving itself for NaNo” while another part of me wonders if I really need the pressure.
On the other hand, I read some of the replies to a post about whether NaNo is a good idea over on AW and one of the old timers brought up a very good point. Writers often have to write under pressure to meet targets or deadlines. NaNo can be a good test for anyone with the desire to write for a living.
Fifty thousand words in one month. That’s about two thousand words a day. Looking back in my posts I see that I was able to manage that kind of progress in the month of September . . . I have to wonder though, what happened to October?
On the other hand, this year is perfect for me. I'm not working, and other than getting the ball rolling so I can go back to school, I really don't have much on the go this month. I have the time, but do I have the inclination?
See what I mean? Waffling.
Sigh. I guess I’ll never know if I don’t take the plunge.
I have spent the last week, week and a half, writing a novel . . . in my head. This novel is complete from start to finish. I know the characters, I know the motivations, I know how it begins and how it ends, I even know what goes on in the middle. However, every time I go to write it down, my fingers lock up. It’s like I’m under some kind of magic spell that only allows me to think about writing it.
To date I have written down the name of the female main character (it came to me in a burst of inspiration), the title, and exactly one line of text. Right now the male main character’s name eludes me - in my head I keep referring to him as “Ape” because that’s what the crazy old woman who’s holding him prisoner calls him. The crazy old woman is not named either, and probably won’t get a name.
The sad part is, this is a good story. I just need to get it written down.
I’ve been waffling these last few weeks over whether to NaNo or not. I still am. Part of me says: “This novel is a sign. The reason you weren’t able to write it on paper is that it’s saving itself for NaNo” while another part of me wonders if I really need the pressure.
On the other hand, I read some of the replies to a post about whether NaNo is a good idea over on AW and one of the old timers brought up a very good point. Writers often have to write under pressure to meet targets or deadlines. NaNo can be a good test for anyone with the desire to write for a living.
Fifty thousand words in one month. That’s about two thousand words a day. Looking back in my posts I see that I was able to manage that kind of progress in the month of September . . . I have to wonder though, what happened to October?
On the other hand, this year is perfect for me. I'm not working, and other than getting the ball rolling so I can go back to school, I really don't have much on the go this month. I have the time, but do I have the inclination?
See what I mean? Waffling.
Sigh. I guess I’ll never know if I don’t take the plunge.
Oct 27, 2008
Cheese Anyone?
The weather (and my mood) have not greatly improved, but I’m working on it (my mood, not the weather).
The cheese I am offering is to go with all the whining from people who don’t know where to get ideas for stories. I’m sorry, but if you haven’t figured it out by now, then maybe writing is not for you.
“You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we’’re doing it.”
~Neil Gaiman
Here’s what happens to me. My mind wanders. It meets someone. All of a sudden, that someone starts having an adventure, maybe even meets some more someones. Before I know what’s happened I have a full-blown idea roaming around in my head and it wants out onto some paper (or onto the computer screen). And it will continue to wander in my head, going in circles, refining itself, until I finally cave and at the very least write an outline for it.
Now this may sound all well and good, but it isn’t. Trust me on this. These ideas are persistent, and pushy. They are not willing to wait while I finish the piece I’m working on, they’re like spoiled children. They want attention NOW! And if they don’t get it they start intruding on my other writing; a word here or a phrase there, popping up where it’s least expected.
Even when I’m not writing, there’s always an adventure going on inside my head.
So listen, all you whiners out there. It could be worse. Instead of searching for ideas you could have so many they start leaking out of your fingers.
Now wouldn’t that make a good idea for a story?
The cheese I am offering is to go with all the whining from people who don’t know where to get ideas for stories. I’m sorry, but if you haven’t figured it out by now, then maybe writing is not for you.
“You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we’’re doing it.”
~Neil Gaiman
Here’s what happens to me. My mind wanders. It meets someone. All of a sudden, that someone starts having an adventure, maybe even meets some more someones. Before I know what’s happened I have a full-blown idea roaming around in my head and it wants out onto some paper (or onto the computer screen). And it will continue to wander in my head, going in circles, refining itself, until I finally cave and at the very least write an outline for it.
Now this may sound all well and good, but it isn’t. Trust me on this. These ideas are persistent, and pushy. They are not willing to wait while I finish the piece I’m working on, they’re like spoiled children. They want attention NOW! And if they don’t get it they start intruding on my other writing; a word here or a phrase there, popping up where it’s least expected.
Even when I’m not writing, there’s always an adventure going on inside my head.
So listen, all you whiners out there. It could be worse. Instead of searching for ideas you could have so many they start leaking out of your fingers.
Now wouldn’t that make a good idea for a story?
Oct 23, 2008
R*E*S*P*E*C*T
I have the greatest respect for people who post on their blogs every day. Or maybe it’s a case of blogger envy. My life is just not that exciting. Take this week for instance. What have I done so far?
I sorted through and organized some piles of stuff from my office - not just back into new piles, but into storage bins that have been put away. My desk area looks so nice now! We'll just see how long it lasts.
Set up and cleaned up my desk top computer. Watched the snow. Watched the Africam. Went to talk to my career counselor about going back to school.
Very little reading, very little writing. And even though the weather’s been grey and miserable, I’m not going to use that as an excuse. It’s just the kind of mood I’m in.
I sorted through and organized some piles of stuff from my office - not just back into new piles, but into storage bins that have been put away. My desk area looks so nice now! We'll just see how long it lasts.
Set up and cleaned up my desk top computer. Watched the snow. Watched the Africam. Went to talk to my career counselor about going back to school.
Very little reading, very little writing. And even though the weather’s been grey and miserable, I’m not going to use that as an excuse. It’s just the kind of mood I’m in.
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