As some of you may already know (if you're a member of Raine's Rangers or follow me on Twitter), I crossed the NaNoWriMo finish line yesterday afternoon with a total of 51,289 words. This was immediately followed by a weak "woot" and the realization of an incoming nap. It was the kind of nap where you lose consciousness and wake up three hours later nose-to-snout with a 70-lb. greyhound, and not sure whether the drool on the pillow is yours or his.
Now THAT'S a good nap.
Consciousness was quickly followed by an intense craving for pancakes -- lots and lots of pancakes. And milk -- lots and lots of milk.
I crashed for the rest of the evening (and consumed a huge bowl of buttered popcorn). My muse was really hungry; I've found she likes junk food. The crashing signaled the calm before the storm. Yes, I reached my 50K word goal, but I'm only halfway there. Now I get to do the same thing through December with the goal of having a complete first draft (or as complete as a first draft can be) of Con & Conjure by New Year's Eve.
Coming up tomorrow: The contents of the Con & Conjure file on my netbook -- "Congratulations, ma'am. It's a Blob."
A quick Saturday update. Uh. . . it is Saturday, right? (checks computer clock/date). Yep, it's Saturday. 7:50 AM, I've been up since 6:30. That's early for most people, normal for me. Yep, I'm one of those early risers regardless of the day.
NaNo update -- I have approx. 3600 words to go to reach the 50,000 NaNo goal. I figure I'll do 1800 today and 1800 tomorrow. That will give me time to do it in a sane and orderly fashion -- and also have time to dust the house, clean the toilets, and get the Christmas decoration boxes back upstairs. I took some time out after meeting my word goal of yesterday with decorating the Christmas tree. I decorated it while watching a documentary on extreme caving (I couldn't find the Christmas music channel -- danged complicated TV remote!) Derek says it's easy; you just push this, then this, then these two buttons together, which takes you to this menu . . . Oh yeah, easy.
Anyhoo, once I make word count each day this weekend and knock off my chores (Derek gets to vacuum and get the leaves out of the gutters), I can READ. Glorious, lovely, READING. Words that someone else wrote.
For those of you who are close to making your NaNo goal -- write like the wind, people. You can do it! For those of you who know you're not quite gonna get there -- I'm so proud of you for making the effort and continuing to make the effort! I'm also so proud of those of you who had a hellacious November, life got in the way, and you had to stop NaNo. You didn't want to stop, but life gave you no choice, but you're determined to keep going even though NaNo will be over on Monday. You're a writing machine and nothing will stand in your way of finishing this project.
Kudos to every last one of you!! Writing books ain't easy. The process never goes as well as you think it will. You'll always hit snags that screw up your schedule and your word goals. But the difference between people who talk about being a writer, and people who become a writer is persistence, determination, and discipline. If you've got those three, you're most of the way there.
From the time I decided I wanted to become a published author to the time I actually signed my first book contract was 20 years. I kept at it, and I made it. And if I can do it, you can, too.
First of all, for those of you having NaNo problems, scroll down to yesterday's "Quagmire" blog post, go to the Comments and read Tori's comment -- and my response. We're ALL having the same problems -- me included. But we can DO THIS, folks! (The reason why I'm not posting it all here is that I can Copy it, but Blogger won't let me Paste. Grrrr.)
Okay, back to my regularly scheduled post written last night. . .
Tuesday NaNo word count = I dunno. I'm doing the pen & notepad thing right now. Will type it all into my computer once my muse and I duke out our plot disagreements. Total NaNo word count = Officially still at 40, 996 (see above re pen & notepad). Words to go to 50K = 9004.
I've been working late at my day job, working through lunch most days, which leaves me about 2-3 hours in the evenings to make my daily word count. Let's just say getting blood from a rock would be easier. But writing a book in six months isn't about easy -- it's about being freakin' crazy.
And loving what I do.
Even though sometimes it dang near drives me crazy . . . and to insomnia, and to the point of exhaustion, and to waking up at three AM. But it all goes back to . . .
I LOVE what I do -- and you do too, otherwise you wouldn't be doing it.
So come hell or high water (or pulling some all-nighters) I WILL make my 50K word count by midnight on Monday, November 30.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the U.S., and I'm going to take the day off from writing (though I'll be hitting it on Thanksgiving night). And since I'm behind, my blogging will be sporatic (perhaps non-existent) until the end of NaNo. I dunno. I can't predict it one way or the other. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, well . . . love ya, mean it and I'm here cheering you on even though you can't see or hear me, or possibly not read about me doing it. I'm here for you, folks.
But Friday through Sunday, my nose will be to the grindstone -- or as some of my writing buddies say "balls to the wall" or "tits to the tile" (depending on your anatomical construction) -- until I cross the 50K finish line.
Monday NaNo word count = 1330 Total NaNo word count = 40,996
Life (actually day-job work) got in the way yesterday. So I didn't get to write anything until 7:00 last night. But between then and 9:00 I wrote 1330, not bad.
What is bad, though is that I'm on Chapter 9 and am smack dab in the middle of a quagmire. I'm following the plot synopsis that I wrote, but the storylines are starting to blur. And my brain has been going non-stop (literally 24 hours a day) tormenting me until I work out the solution. My sub-conscious must seriously be on something it hasn't told me about (and let me enjoy) because I've also been dreaming non-stop -- funky, bizarre, wacky, and usually not fun kind of dreams. To the point, dreams that are not in the least bit helpful to writing myself out of the mess I'm in.
But, when I'm writing at my old speed (aka a chapter a week. Man, that seems SO SLOW now), the same thing happens. So regardless of how much I LOVE my little Netbook, it's not coming out of its case until I figure this thing out. Yep, it's Mr. Notepad to the rescue. It takes the pressure off to write on a notepad. If any of what I write today is decent -- and I'm determined that it will be -- I'll count it toward my word count. If not, it's just musings on paper.
So to get myself out of this, I'm going to print out two things I've written over the past two weeks: a list of characters that I have to include in this book and my proposed scenes/storylines for them (and I HAVE TO work these characters in, I said so in Bewitched & Betrayed), and I'll also print my short 2-sentence synop of each chapter that I've written so far. These two things will show me where I've been and where I need to go. They've been really useful tools for me in writing past books, and I highly recommend doing them if you tend to lose your way while writing.
Hopefully between the printout and Mr. Notepad, I'll get back on course again.
What problems are you having? Share if you have time; other readers may be having the same problem and will be encouraged that someone else is in the muck with them.
Weekend NaNo word count = 3292 Total NaNo word count = 39,666
Whew! What a weekend. In addition to my writing, I did the grocery shopping, and raked leaves in the back yard while Derek finished hauling in and spreading the mulch. When I'd finished I had 12 bags of leaves sitting out by the curb -- I just bagged and compacted 'em, Derek hauled them out to the street while I went inside and started writing. I only got about 100 words done on Saturday (there was a 3-hour nap with my name on it). On Sunday I did 3192.
The leaf bagging was a great writing tool. There is nothing like a good, mindless activity to give your brain time to unravel plot knots. My brain was going wide open working on different possibilities for the chapters I wrote this weekend, debating different options, and discarding the ones that wouldn't work. So I got the leaves raked and the plotting done for two chapters. Now that's multi-tasking.
It was a frustrating weekend, because I like knowing things ahead of time. It's like Raine says in Con & Conjure: "I don't have a problem with spontaneity, I just want to know about it first."
I double checked my plot synopsis for Con & Conjure and I'm following it just fine. But it's like all those writing articles that compare writing the middle of a book as being able to only see as far as a car headlights at night. Being a control freak, I not only want ultra-bright headlights, I want a well-lit interstate, not a backroad on a moonless night. I don't think there's anything wrong with what I've written other than the fact that's it's rough and unpolished, but that's why they call it a rough draft.
I like to see the whole picture, the entire story.
Rough drafts aren't my favorite, as I've said before. I like the second pass much better. I have the entire story to work and play with, to build on. But that won't come for me until January. While the NaNo'ers will be editing in December what they wrote in November, I'll be pushing on to write another 50K and finish my first draft of approx. 100K by the end of December. On January 1, I'll start my editing process with the goal of having a complete, finished and polished book in another four months (May 1).
That'll have me completing a book from start to finish in six months rather than my usual nine. And when I do that, it means I'm closer to my goal of writing two books (in two series) a year. : )
Friday NaNo word count = 1768 Total NaNo word count = 36,374
I'm feeling better today. Thank you all for your "get well" wishes -- you guys are the best fans a writer could ever want! I don't think it was a cold; I think it was an allergy thing. When I moved offices at my day-job on Tuesday, I kicked up a lot of dust. I'm not allergic to dust, but a mold spore or two will get me every time.
This weekend I'm going to kick word count butt. I think I'm back on track, plot wise, though I know I still have a few things to figures out. But I'm not stressing over it. I never get the entire solution to a problem all at once. It comes in bits and peeks. All will be revealed eventually. It always is.
I have to do the grocery shoppping this morning, then I'm going to help Derek in the yard for a while. He's been spreading (and hauling) mulch into the "wild area" in the back yard. The only place for the mulch to be delivered was our driveway. So until all of it is hauled out of the driveway, we can't get our cars into the garage. A real pain in the patootie last week when the remnaints of Ida came through and dumped about 7 inches of rain. Trust me, even with an umbrella, there is NO WAY to get in and out of a Jeep Wrangler without getting soaked.
COMING SOON: I sent chapters 1-3 of Bewitched & Betrayed to Webmaster Todd yesterday for programming. It'll probably go up the second week in December as my Christmas present to you all. I'll be sure to let you all know exactly when.
Have yourselves a great (and productive, for you NaNo'ers) weekend! Lisa
Thursday word count = 1131 Total NaNo word count = 34606
Well, I had to leave work yesterday around lunchtime: tired, headachey, felt like crap, stuffy, sneezing . . . it was all I could do to keep my forehead off my desk. So I came home had some good ol' Cream of Wheat for lunch, went to bed (with three dogs, aka "helpful sleeping buddies") and slept until Derek came home at 5:00. Needless to say, I didn't make my full word count last night. Heck, I'm amazed that I did as well as I did. But I'll do the same thing I do every Friday.
Tell you all that I'll make it up this weekend.
I'm slogging my way through brainstorming how to fit in some necessary characters/plotlines. It's going good, at least as good as expected. I know how my brain works and I know it's not going to give me everything at once. It never does, never has, never will. One idea will lead to another, which will lead to an "ah-ha" moment, which will eventually get to the Grand Revelation that my muse is knocking things over in my brain looking for. Unless my subconscious gives her what she wants, she's threatened to trash the place, so I think it's in my brain's best interest to cooperate. I've seen my muse get pissed; it ain't pretty.
It's Friday, we made it. NaNo'ers -- start your weekend writing engines. Normal people -- go out this weekend and have fun for all us crazy writers.
Wednesday NaNo word count = 1707 Total NaNo word count = 33,475
6:15 (way too early Thursday morning): By my estimation, I'm about 1/3 of the way through the first draft of Con & Conjure. I've encountered a problem that I'm going to brainstorm my way through today. More story to fit in that I haven't even alluded to in what I've written so far. This is pretty normal for me. However, I'm usually writing at a more "thoughtful" pace, meaning my brain has time to ponder how I'm going to work these elements in.
This is a problem that most of you probably aren't having with your NaNo projects. I've "set up" these plot elements in Bewitched & Betrayed (which my editor told me yesterday that I'd have the copy edits -- grammar, spelling, plot consistency & flow around 11/30). So I have no choice but to include these elements in Con & Conjure. So basically I'll have to write transitions to open up the plot between the chapters I've already written and fill in the space with the missing plot elements. Sound challenging? Yep, it's gonna be.
After I'd finished writing for the night last night, I was sitting on the couch, eating a bowl of cereal, and staring at the wall. I don't think I was growling, but I must have been. Derek came over with his own bowl of cereal, sat down next to me, and asked "What's wrong?" It was in the appropriately sympathetic tone of voice and everything. Though he knew very well what was wrong; the same thing that's always wrong when I'm pissy after coming downstairs from my office.
I have book problems.
Derek reminded me -- in the same sincere, understanding, yet encouraging tone of voice (does this guy know how to deal with an irate author, or what?) -- that this is the stuff I do best, this is the part that I LIKE (taking a book apart, adding sections and putting it back together).
Yep, I love my man.
So, that's what I'm going to do today, and possibly for the next couple of days -- work in plot elements. It will be notes and stream-of-consciousness thinking to myself, but since the results will be a major part of the book, I'll be counting it toward my NaNo word count. Anything that necessary to the book is most definitely not cheating.
This morning I'm actually writing this blog in the morning, 7:24 to be exact. As to my NaNo count. . . well it's the same as it was yesterday. Some days making progress on a book is just . . . well, not gonna happen.
Sure I have plenty of good excuses, but the important thing is that I didn't beat myself up about not making progress. Sometimes that's okay, even a good thing perhaps. Like I told Derek, it's not like I'm slack or anything.
BTW -- the excuses were moving my day job office yesterday. I only moved two offices down, but I had to take apart the desk and reassemble it in my new office, move all my "flair" including my Godzilla and dragon collection, book posters, cover art, bookshelves, plants, etc. As a result, I kicked up a lot of dust, which in turn gave me a roaring headache.
So when I got home, I was exhausted (because I had to get my work done while trying to hook my computer back up to the network -- and untangle all the wires -- it was worse than danged Christmas tree lights) AND I had a boom-boom-boom sinus headache as a result. So I took the night off, relaxed, watched two episodes of Bones in a row, and knew I'd make the word count back up in the next few days.
Guilt averted. Headache now gone.
So if you're behind on your NaNo word count, and all of your writing buddies are leaving you in the dust, THAT'S OKAY. Just keep plugging away at it. That's how books are written, one word in front of the other. The important thing is that you "Never give up, never surrender!"
Monday NaNo word count = 2,484 Total NaNo word count = 31,768
Today marks two weeks that I've had my Netbook. And I have to say that I have a deep, abiding and obsessive love for the little writing dynamo. I've already used it twice while waiting in the dentist office, and once while waiting to get my hair cut. I can write ANYWHERE!
Well, almost. But not many people (at least not normal people) want to write in those "other places."
I started on Chapter 8 of Con & Conjure today and would like to finish it tomorrow. One thing I've noticed is that when I'm working this fast at such an intense level (for me, at least. Some authors knock out 3K a day as easy as sneezing) is that my writing is going off in directions that it needed to go, but I didn't plan on it going. And it's doing it FAST. I knew what I needed to have happen, but as usual, I didn't know how I was going to get there. But rather than sitting and pondering, I just turn my fingers loose on the keyboard and watch the magic happen. Character start talking, scheming, plotting -- and yes, blowing things up -- and it's my job to type fast enough to keep up.
To edit these conversations as they're taking place would be the same as walking up and interrupting two people talking to each other. It pisses them off, and gets you nothing but animosity. Belive me, you don't want your characters stalking off in a snit. If you just stand by quietly and listen to (and write down) what they're saying, you will learn all kinds of things that you didn't know, cool things that will take your plot in unexpected (and wonderful) directions.
So don't let your stodgy internal editor interrupt your characters. Put a muzzle on him, watch the magic unfold, and type as fast as you can.
Well, we're about at the half-way point in NaNo, and it's going good for me. Really good. This weekend I logged 3,633 words, for a total word count of 29,284. I'm typing this on Sunday night. I'm pooped, I still have some housework to do and lunches to pack for tomorrow. Then I'm going to go sit in the bathtub and stare at the wall until I turn into a prune. Oh, the bliss.
Since my brain is mush right now (I just wrote a very intense scene and figured out a major plot knot), I'll post a fantasy cover print that I just ordered. It's by Michael Komarck, and it's the cover for Shadow's Return. I started my collection with two Chris McGrath prints, and have now added this one. I've promised myself that I'll only buy prints that I go ga-ga and hubba-hubba over. This guy definitely qualifies. I don't know what you guys think, but I think he looks amazingly like Phaelan. Can't pass up that piece of elf studmuffin. Click on the photo to increase the size of your studmuffin enjoyment.
Today I have the usual grocery shopping to do, plus Derek & I are having breakfast with a friend who we haven't seen in about ten years. Then for dinner, we're hitting what's supposed to be the best BBQ place in the area with our good friends Ken & Robin. So today's word totals may not make the daily quota, but I'm gonna try.
Knowing all this, I busted my NaNo butt yesterday and came up with 2346 words. My grand total is now 25,657. Which is about 1/4 of the way to a complete book for me (usually 100K words). So I'm right on schedule for having a first draft of Con & Conjure done by January 1st. Woot!
Yes, you read that right -- Christmas tree. It's Thursday night at 7:15, I'm sitting on the bed, typing this, surrounded by dogs, while Derek puts up our new pre-lit Christmas tree. And yes, it is WAY early to be doing that, but there's a method to our madness, or at least an excuse.
We're putting the tree up in our bedroom. One, the room is big enough. Two, we can get a lot more enjoyment out of it. Three, we can close the door to keep the dogs out during the day. Which leads me to the main reason why we're putting up the tree this early.
Nimble Andy the Greyhound.
Andy came to us right off the race track in Melbourne, Florida. They were closing that track about two years ago, and Andy was one of the many racers needing a new home. As you know, we adopted Andy. Partly because of Andy -- but mainly because I didn't have time to put up a tree last year -- we didn't have a Christmas tree. I decided that we WOULD have a tree this year.
But we have the problem of a retired racing greyhound who has never seen a Christmas tree before. And a boy greyhound who views any tree as a potential bathroom. I normally put up a tree on the day after Thanksgiving. Derek suggested that we put up the tree now, and decorate it on the day after Thanksgiving. Until then, we can make sure Andy understands that that we haven't installed the convenience of a potty within ten feet of his bed.
So Derek's putting up the tree. Andy is very surprisingly ignoring the tree. I'm typing this, and as soon as I'm finished, I'll be switching over to Word to make my NaNo count for the night.
Merry (early) Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
BTW: NaNo word count for Thursday = 1211 (didn't quite make my count for the day) Total NaNo word count = 23,311
I'm sure most of you have already guessed what my news is, but now that cyber-handshakes have taken place and it's been announced on Deal Lunch, I can announce it here. . .
I have another two-book contract with Ace Books for Raine's 5th and 6th adventures! I can't tell you how excited I am to able to share more of Raine's stories with you, and work with the wonderful Anne Sowards at Ace Books, and my agent-without-compare, Kristin Nelson. Thank you, ladies, for all of your hard work!
NaNo daily word count = 5719 Total NaNo word count = 22,100
Yep, my word count took a flying leap yesterday. I added an entire chapter -- without typing a single word. I had a chapter that takes place at the goblin embassy in Bewitched & Betrayed, and it was part of a subplot that I ended up cutting out. Well, guess what? That subplot fits perfectly in Con & Conjure (at least it will when I get through with it).
So my advice for today is if you have some chapters/scenes that you've written for another book or story, but it doesn't quite fit there, see if it'll work for your NaNo book. You can add a cool scene to your book, and up your word count at the same time.
And you can buy yourself something nice with it -- a day off. I think I'll be using mine to take Thanksgiving Day off. I want to take time to be with my family and I want a whole day to reflect on how grateful I am for them and everything else God has blessed me with. For those of you in the U.S., push a little harder on your word count and try to take Thanksgiving Day off, too. You deserve it -- and so does your family.
My day job was incredibly busy today (though I gotta love that job security). I didn't get to take much of a lunch break, and by the time I got to write last night, it was 7:00 and my NaNo count was a whopping "0" At 9:15 (when I stopped from sheer exhaustion), I had a blistering "939." Though all things considered, I think I did a fine job, even though I didn't make my word count for the day. I'll just do what I did last weekend -- catch up.
I think NaNo is agreeing with me. And it's funny how writing 1700 words a day was such a huge goal until you do it for a week. Heck, last weekend, going over 2000 wasn't a problem. Though one thing I've found is my appetite has shifted into "Hummingbird on Speed" mode. I can actually burn calories sitting on my butt in my office chair. I'm eating like a horse, and actually dropping a few pounds. I wanted to go out for Mexican food for dinner last night, and I got my fav: Chimichangas (two with beef, fried) with beans, cheese sauce, and lots of sour cream. This thing comes on a massive platter. (Jeez, I'm getting hungry again just typing about it.) And of course there was the basket of chips and salsa, and of course I had to have a sopapilla with ice cream for dessert. All with super-sweet iced tea.
And I had to MAKE myself stop eating. (I'm taking the rest of it for lunch today.)
I told Derek that I'm eating for two right now -- me and my muse.
Do any of you get like that? Suddenly eating like a maniac while writing? Let me hear from you.
Oh BTW -- NaNo daily word count = 939 Total NaNo word count = 16,381
AND I just received word that I can tell you my big news tomorrow. Tune in to find out.
Monday NaNo word count= 1711 (I've given up trying to keep track with what day of NaNo it is)
Total NaNo word count = 15,442 (I'm on Chapter 6 of Con & Conjure, and I'm still averaging a finished chapter every other day. Yep, I'm stunned, too.
As promised here are the postcards and bookmarks for Bewitched & Betrayed.The front and back of the bookmark, followed by the front and back of the postcard. I hope to be having them printed in the next week or so -- as soon as I can grab a break from NaNo production. Click on the images to make them bigger for better reading/viewing.
Coming up tomorrow -- how bribery works wonders for my NaNo word count. ; )
NaNo -- The First Weekend: Write in your happy place
NaNo word count for this weekend = 5858 NaNo word count total = 13,731
It's been an incredibly productive NaNo weekend. I caught up on my word count, and now back on schedule. I wasn't as productive as a lot of NaNo'ers, but considering the errands, housework, and bill paying that's a part of my weekends every weekend, I happy with what I managed to pound out. Phaelan's older brother, Mago Benares -- banking executive and con-man extraordinaire -- is a hoot to write. The words flow like water. Ya'll are gonna love him.
It's late Sunday afternoon as I'm writing this post, and I'm pleased with how it's going. Those of you who follow me on Twitter have probably been noticing that I'm on there a little less than normal, and those of you emailing me may notice a lag of a few more hours of getting my responses--but I still answer same day. ; )
Truth is, it's a pain in the butt to check Twitter and email on this Netbook -- and that's a VERY GOOD thing for my writing productivity. About the only time I check Twitter, email, Raine's Rangers, etc. on the weekend now is first thing in the morning, and last thing at night when I'm entering my final NaNo count on the NaNo site, and backing up the writing I've done for that day.
I do all that on my laptop in my office upstairs. So the Netbook has become a writing tool only. And as a result, I'm making my word counts each day -- for the most part. I've determined that life is going to get in the way, and that's all there is to it.
My piece of advice for today for NaNo'ers and all of you writers. If you work on a laptop, Netbook, and with a notebook & pen -- when starting a new work, it's working for me to write in a new place. At the moment I'm working at the dining room table on the Netbook, but I got an amazing amount done this weekend sitting up in bed surrounded by sleeping dogs, or sitting on the den couch. All new places for me to work, because they're typically places I go to relax. And by it being a place that my mind equates with relaxation, the words flow more freely there. There's not the pressure of being "in the office."
My next door neighbor, Jennifer, who's also a writer (she's about to start sending out query letters), has spent the day on their back deck, working from her laptop while her husband works in the back yard, building a landscape wall. Gorgeous day here in central NC for doing that. She said that she's getting a lot done, and it's probably for the same reason that I'm productive -- we're writing where we also feel relaxed.
There's nothing like an uptight muse to plug up your brain's word factory.
So my writing advice for today is to find your happy place and go write there.
I hope to be able to post the new postcards and bookmarks for Bewitched & Betrayed tomorrow. And I hope to be able to tell you my big news this week.
NaNo Day 5: Another 1700 words, another trip to the dentist
Day 5 word count = 1727 Total NaNo word count = 7873
I didn't make my word count yesterday, and I'm determined to make it up this weekend.
A couple of news tidbits: For those of you who subscribe to The Writer magazine, the December issue is out, and my bi-monthly column "Dueling With Words" is on page 10. This month's column is entitled "Writing a book one sentence at a time." Also today, Jackie finished the designs for the postcards and bookmarks for Bewitched & Betrayed. They look wonderful. I'll get the files from her and post them here next week for you all to see.
And I have some REALLY big news, but I can't make the official announcement quite yet. As soon as I can, I'll share -- in big red letters.
Now for the dental part of my blog. For those of you who've been reading my blog at least for the past year, you know that this has been the "Dental Year From Hell" for me. One root canal, one cracked tooth, and two crowns. Cha-ching. Well, I had to get an emergency appointment with the dentist today. BTW -- I made good use of my new Netbook and wrote while I waited in the waiting room. Got nearly two pages done. Woot!
I thought I had an impacted wisdom tooth or something. Well, you know you have something funky going on when the dental assistant takes one look in your mouth and says "Wow!" in an impressed, yet confused tone.
**For those of you who gross out easily, stop reading now.**
I noticed this morning what appeared to be a tooth coming out sideways through my gum beneath one of my back molars. Not good. I discovered at the dentist that I have "leftover" bone fragments floating around that are coming to the surface. Left over from making me, I guess. Apparently it's not that uncommon. My dentist plucked one of them out (the one that'd broken through), and told me to come back in two weeks and she'll see what the other one decided to do -- come out or go back where it came from -- wherever that is. I swear, the older you get, the stranger you find out your body is.
That's pretty much it. Since I'll be playing Word Count Catch-Up this weekend, I won't be posting tomorrow, but will post as per usual on Monday morning.
Have a great weekend! And NaNo'ers -- have a productive weekend! I'll be in the writing trenches with you.
Day 4 word count = 426 (Yep, that number's pathetic, but I'm at peace with that.) NaNo total word count = 6146
BTW -- I write my blogs the night before I post them. About all I can do around 6 AM is acutally post a blog. Requiring my brain to put one word in front of the other prior to 7 AM ain't gonna be pretty for anyone.
Wednesday (aka NaNo Day 4) was one fire after another at work, then Derek & I had an after-work meeting to go to, and we didn't get home until after 6:30. I was completely pooped, not to mention, suspiciously sniffly. I refuse to come down with a cold. I chalked up Wed. to one of those days where the only thing I could do is write as much as possible, knowing that I wouldn't get anywhere near my daily required word count.
You know? Some days are gonna be like that, and that's okay. I'll try to catch up this weekend. To my fellow NaNo'ers: You can only work as hard as you can, and if you don't reach your daily goal, don't beat yourself up over it. The important thing is that you've made the committment and you're doing the best you can. Bravo to you!
And now, as a break for your NaNo besotted brains -- a teenage elk frolics in the woods. This video carries a Cuteness Warning of +10.
Word count for Day 3 = 1721 (daily quota 1700) Total NaNo word count = 5720
It was hard to get going yesterday. I've always written a chapter a week (or so), and I don't move on to the next chapter until the previous one was as good as I could make it. Old habits die hard. That's the perfectionist and professional editor talking. Problem is, I can't allow the perfectionist and editor to talk, and I sure as heck can't listen to them.
To combat the urge to give in and listen, I've given myself permission to make some stream-of-consciousness brainstorming a part of my NaNo daily word count. I figure that since the insights gained from brainstorming enhances the story, that I can count those words as part of the story. Right? Or wrong? I asked my husband this question (and I told him when I started this to help keep me honest with NaNo) and he gave me "The Look." Didn't say a word, just continued to give me The Look. Hmmm, me thinks my hubby thinks I'm cheating.
Dang it, that probably is cheating.
So I'm asking those of you who NaNo every year -- Is this cheating? It's not like I write pages of notes to myself, more like a small paragraph or two to steer myself in the right direction.
Insights and opinions are welcome, as are ways to hog-tie or duct-tape a muse and throw her in the closet.
BTW -- I've averaging a chapter every two days. With my books averaging 25 chapters, I could be finished in 50 days, which would be Christmas week. Oh man, would that be a great Christmas present to myself! : )
It's 7:30 Monday night, and I'm typing this on the cutest thing ever -- my early Christmas present and an uber-cool NaNo tool -- my new Asus Eee PC Netbook! This thing is incredibly tiny and will fit in my purse, so I can write virtually anywhere at anytime. Never again will I have to read bizarre magazines in a doctor or dentist's office.
Have Netbook, will work.
The screen is small; I can only see about 10 lines per page, which is perfect for making me go forward, and not scroll backward to edit. Since I have long, skinny fingers, the keyboard works just fine for me. And the battery is good for 8.5 hours until I'd need to recharge. I'll have to have Derek post a pic of it. It's metallic burgundy -- the exact same color as my Jeep (well . . at least when it's clean).
I'm about 500 words from my goal today of 1700. And I have about an hour to get it done. On Monday night's I treat myself to an hour of TV (about all I get to watch all week). I like Two and a Half Men, but I love The Big Bang Theory. My week's not complete without a dose of Sheldon.
Okay, I'm back to Raine, Mychael, Tam, Phaelan--and the trouble they're in already by the beginning of Chapter 3.
BTW -- Melanie Buck is the 3rd Place Winner of The Trouble With Demons swag contest! Melanie wins the signed keychain, plus I'll be sending her three fridge magnets with each of the books' covers on them. Congratulations, Melanie!
Lisa
Day 2 word count = 1750 Total NaNo word count = 3999
NaNoWriMo -- Day 1 "It's a helluva day at sea, sir!"
Daily NaNo goal = 1700. Words written today = 2249.
I not only survived the first day of my first year doing NaNoWriMo -- I exceeded my word goal, AND kept up with my household chores.
I wrote 2249 words, did 3 loads of laundry, fed 3 dogs, 1 cat, and 1 husband. My day is best described by my favorite quote from the movie Overboard: "It's a helluva day at sea, sir!"
I figure making my 50K word goal by the end of November is going to be a bit like starting an exercise program. I gotta build stamina, and after about the Week 2 mark, it'll start to feel good and almost be fun. Actually, I did have fun today. I got a lot done, and am proud of myself. Now comes the work week -- and the challenge of finding enough hours in the day while working a full-time job, to write at least 1700 words per day.
And while checking in on the NaNo official site this afternoon, I remembered something about myself: I'm competitive as hell. ; ) I saw how much my NaNo buddies were writing, and I was determined to go above and beyond. Keep pushing me, Writing Buddies!
BTW -- Tina was the 1st Place Winner and she chose the TTWD poster. Aleksandra is the 2nd Place Winner. Aleksandra, you have your choice of a TTWD t-shirt or a signed keychain. I've emailed you. Just email me back and let me know which prize you want, and then I'll announce the 3rd Place Winner.
