Melissa:
And, I'm late with the post once again. I'm telling you, CRAZY TIME!!
This is a crazy time of year with holiday...stuff. I'll say "stuff" as it includes everything from shopping to cooking to visiting. I started a new story idea that I had dictated into my phone and ipod for a few weeks in November. This story has a completely new aspect for me in how I've handled it. See I was doing NaNoWriMo and couldn't stop that project so I did something different...
I dictated into my phone and ipod recorders to remember what I was thinking. Then when done with NaNoWriMo I started writing out note cards of all these notes. It almost felt as I had written the story already. Well, the details of the days weren't there but the main bones of what was to happen were. It took me about a week of evenings to write up the note cards. Then I started writing the story.
It actually came easier for me this way. But then the holiday's happened. I was pulled away from anything and everything that was not Christmas. So for the month of December I clocked out with only 7,351 words in the new story.
But, now that January is here, I signed on to keep going with writing. I am part of a group of authors on Facebook where we help and support each other. RaToNoWriMo. We are doing our own goals for January and supporting each other with a group word count page. I signed on for 25k. I think with life and reading and blogging, I can do 25k in one month. That will bring me heavily into the current story as well. Heck, maybe even after I get back into writing daily I'll even surpass that count. (don't tell anyone but that's what I'm hoping for)
Jackie:
Coming into December, I had big plans to get writing done, knowing that I'd have a lengthy break from school over the holidays. I think we started out well, both Melissa and I, as she transcribed her dictations onto note cards (an idea I will totally be stealing!) and I continued to work on what I had started towards the end of my NaNo efforts.
Sadly, the holidays came up faster than expected, as they always seem to do, so while the first week or two went swimmingly, that's where it totally fizzled for me. But, I did manage to get some writing done and I do have in mind a chunk of what will come next in my story, so that had to count for something. I haven't actually made my note cards yet, so here's hoping that I'm not struck down with a case of short term memory loss (possibly caused by banging my head repeatedly on the desk as a result of writer's block) in the mean time and I get those thoughts typed out and ready to move on...which is the plan for the upcoming month, anyway :)
I have a short story due next week for my Creative Writing course, which has been my big focus, mentally anyway, over the last week or two. Funny thing about the NaNo format versus writing a short story with a set parameter for word count etc., is that it feels that much harder to accomplish, I think. My ideas seem to stretch into something that will surpass my quota, which in this case, is a bad thing. I haven't written much in the line of short stories, so this will be a good exercise for me in 1) writing in a concise, limited length, and 2) editing the work to the point that I can share it with people, like my professor and ALL of my classmates. Wish me luck!
At least both Melissa and I are working on our projects, so hopefully updates will have much better word count results moving forward into the year. As we try to make writing a daily, or routinely scheduled habit, it should help us both become more diligent workers...and better writers ;)
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Friday, December 20, 2013
Why Write During Holiday Season?
 |
| My over-sized Christmas tree. |
So, I thought I'd come up with a count down.
Top 5: Why I Write During the Holiday?
#5
It's become a habit.
Especially on the heels of NaNoWriMo with ideas sparking away. Yes, I feel I need to write on a regular basis to keep it going. I want to keep going. I will write. I feel this is rather important, for me at least. I need to keep the juices flowing. Of course there are days that I run out of time, but my goal is to write daily.I am determined to fight through the chaos and keep at it. If I stop, as life did get over complicated earlier this year and I quite a lot of things, I very well may not get back to the habit.
I WILL FIGHT THROUGH. *huh* *Muscle flex* Ouch.
#4
I have a story idea...
...that is scratching at the inside of my brain to get out. It's so. The ideas don't take holidays off, they come anytime they hit. So, I HAVE to run with it! It seems the head is ready to explode with all the words wanting to come out.
#3
It can be an inspiring time.
Seeing all these people and the crazy things they do, yes, highly inspiring to people watch. Also, the holidays bring out different feelings as we go through the month. I want to use those feelings in writing.
To keep me sane.
Yes, sounds impossible but, it's true. In all the insanity around why not go to my happy place? The stress of dealing with gift shopping, crowds, wrapping, kids, cooking, family...yeah, you name it, it's all wrapped up in a tight little package that's ready to explode... I need that happy place!
#1
I get to kill people!
Ch, ch, ch... Ch, ch, ch...
Okay, so this current work for me doesn't leave a huge opening for death, but it does leave an opening to let them ache a bit. So, you know that woman that cut me off for the parking space? That teenage kid that ran right into me and didn't even have the courtesy to say 'excuse me' or 'sorry'. Yep. They all get written into my story and fall to a terrible tragedy...or slip on the sidewalk. Bahahaha....
 |
| Found on Lisa Kovanda's Facebook page |
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Writing Update - November
Melissa:
(and I had a whole post up and ready to go, and I accidentally deleted it. So, this is my best at coming up again with all the great words I had to share. Sorry late going live.)
I made it through NaNoWriMo. But it was work this year. Each year is a new process for me, no matter what or how many years I do it.
On the fourth day of November I felt I couldn't continue with the current project. It's a sequel novella and I felt I was fighting it to much. It wasn't evolving as I wanted it too. I don't think I can, at this point in my ability, can do sequels for NaNoWriMo. I think it's too much too fast for me. So I stopped and took a day off. Then Jackie suggested a short flash to get us moving. That helped GREATLY. I then had a small idea of Dragon Gods that I picked up the rest of the month with.
I had many great inspirations to help me through this year. First, Starla Huchton helped keep my friendly competitor alive. This helped keep me going when I was ready to throw in the towel. Plus, Starla keeps reminding me to "Write All The Things", just like Skyla and several others. Thank you Starla for throwing the pompoms at me, and taking the knives out first. ;P Jackie, yes the Jackie here with me. She was weighted down with school work, but she was a wonderful help and support to keep me going when I was about done. It was her idea that got me starting to let loose again. Thank you Jackie!
Now, I'd like to talk about two authors who have no idea they helped me. None. Because it's what they shared with us all that helped me when I found them. Lilith Saintcrow and Mur Lafferty.
First and foremost, Lilith Saintcrow. I read her new release: The Quill & The Crow (Kindle edition or Print edition). I agree with much that she said in her essays. The ones that don't fit for me, I adjusted to fit me. But what this book was for me...SUPPORT. Lilith seems firm in supporting writers. Even new writers. I felt like her essays were her speaking right to me as they were about how I was feeling. The down and out, ready to throw in the white towel. Lilith's book was about getting through to the end, keep going, you can do it, and last but not least - you are not alone (even seasoned authors feel this way). I love Lilith. Thank you.
Second we have Mur Lafferty. Mur did a daily NaNoWriMo podcast for us and her. She touched on a wide variety of topics that Nano-ers face as they go through the month. Also, she came up with different prompts and things to help with the story as you race to the end. It was rather cool hearing her process and trying to use some of her tips. The best part, the podcasts were short. They were quick to listen to, but influenced and made me think. Then on to the writing I went.
The Results:
Sleeping Beauty Laying Beneath: 8,612
Short Story: 1,671
Dragon Gods: 46,120
(And I even had 836 words that I added to first story that I forgot to add into the count at NaNoWriMo.)
I closed out NaNo with their count of: 56,322
Am I done? No. Fantasy reads usually count out around 90-100k. This is just the tip of the iceberg. But, I don't think Dragon Gods will go anywhere other than where it is. It was a story to get my mind flowing again. But, now that the ends closed, I came out with two more ideas I want to expand on.
Jackie:
I want to send out a big congrats to Melissa for making her target for the 3rd year in a row. She is awesome at staying on track, no matter how much she might deny it :)
As she mentioned, I was busy this year, taking two university courses (while also dealing with full-time work, mom duties, and the rest of real life.) One of the courses I'm taking is specifically for Creative Writing, so when NaNo time came around again, I really wanted to stick with it and try to attain my own three-fer. Sadly, it didn't happen, in large part because of the exam schedule smack dab in the middle of November and the insane workload of the other course I was taking (Marketing.)
BUT...I did manage about 10k words. I had started with one story but just couldn't get the words out. So, my big idea to light the spark under both mine and Melissa's butts to get working harder was to write a short story based on an image. Sometimes the visual just adds that extra bit of detail needed to make the words flow. I think this was a game changer for both of us. I decided after it to write a second novel in what I always knew would be a series from my first attempt at NaNo in 2011. The words were coming out like crazy until I had to start really cramming for the exams, putting an end to my NaNo project for the moment.
As Melissa mentioned above, there always seems to be a shift in how the work comes out as well. I did begin with a pre-established cast of characters, at least some of them, but in writing a second-in-a-series, there is the need for it to have the ability to be read as a stand alone, so tying in hints about the first story as well as making it mostly new content was a bit of a challenge. This was in large part due to my poor memory, to the point where I couldn't remember some of the names of people, etc.
It was this issue, as well as an idea of Melissa's, that got me thinking about organizing my stories on cue cards. I'm still trying to figure out where to fit some things into my first story, and I think this might be the way to achieve it: put what I have on the cards and the new elements, then try to rearrange the whole story in a logical order. I'm hoping over the holiday break to make this a reality, but we'll see.
I guess that having done any work in November was good for me because of the other commitments that chewed up my time, but I was more than a little disappointed at not being able to do more. Even when I had the extra time, it was partly plagued by just not knowing what to write or not liking what I'd already done. I think switching things up a bit was a good method to employ and will do that again if this issues arises in the future.
As for December, I know both Melissa and I are hoping to get into a routine of working, though we're both realistic enough to understand that juggling family celebrations will make this tricky. At least we're both willing to try :)
(and I had a whole post up and ready to go, and I accidentally deleted it. So, this is my best at coming up again with all the great words I had to share. Sorry late going live.)
I made it through NaNoWriMo. But it was work this year. Each year is a new process for me, no matter what or how many years I do it.
On the fourth day of November I felt I couldn't continue with the current project. It's a sequel novella and I felt I was fighting it to much. It wasn't evolving as I wanted it too. I don't think I can, at this point in my ability, can do sequels for NaNoWriMo. I think it's too much too fast for me. So I stopped and took a day off. Then Jackie suggested a short flash to get us moving. That helped GREATLY. I then had a small idea of Dragon Gods that I picked up the rest of the month with.
I had many great inspirations to help me through this year. First, Starla Huchton helped keep my friendly competitor alive. This helped keep me going when I was ready to throw in the towel. Plus, Starla keeps reminding me to "Write All The Things", just like Skyla and several others. Thank you Starla for throwing the pompoms at me, and taking the knives out first. ;P Jackie, yes the Jackie here with me. She was weighted down with school work, but she was a wonderful help and support to keep me going when I was about done. It was her idea that got me starting to let loose again. Thank you Jackie!
Now, I'd like to talk about two authors who have no idea they helped me. None. Because it's what they shared with us all that helped me when I found them. Lilith Saintcrow and Mur Lafferty.
First and foremost, Lilith Saintcrow. I read her new release: The Quill & The Crow (Kindle edition or Print edition). I agree with much that she said in her essays. The ones that don't fit for me, I adjusted to fit me. But what this book was for me...SUPPORT. Lilith seems firm in supporting writers. Even new writers. I felt like her essays were her speaking right to me as they were about how I was feeling. The down and out, ready to throw in the white towel. Lilith's book was about getting through to the end, keep going, you can do it, and last but not least - you are not alone (even seasoned authors feel this way). I love Lilith. Thank you.
Second we have Mur Lafferty. Mur did a daily NaNoWriMo podcast for us and her. She touched on a wide variety of topics that Nano-ers face as they go through the month. Also, she came up with different prompts and things to help with the story as you race to the end. It was rather cool hearing her process and trying to use some of her tips. The best part, the podcasts were short. They were quick to listen to, but influenced and made me think. Then on to the writing I went.
The Results:
Sleeping Beauty Laying Beneath: 8,612
Short Story: 1,671
Dragon Gods: 46,120
(And I even had 836 words that I added to first story that I forgot to add into the count at NaNoWriMo.)
I closed out NaNo with their count of: 56,322
Am I done? No. Fantasy reads usually count out around 90-100k. This is just the tip of the iceberg. But, I don't think Dragon Gods will go anywhere other than where it is. It was a story to get my mind flowing again. But, now that the ends closed, I came out with two more ideas I want to expand on.
Jackie:
I want to send out a big congrats to Melissa for making her target for the 3rd year in a row. She is awesome at staying on track, no matter how much she might deny it :)
As she mentioned, I was busy this year, taking two university courses (while also dealing with full-time work, mom duties, and the rest of real life.) One of the courses I'm taking is specifically for Creative Writing, so when NaNo time came around again, I really wanted to stick with it and try to attain my own three-fer. Sadly, it didn't happen, in large part because of the exam schedule smack dab in the middle of November and the insane workload of the other course I was taking (Marketing.)
BUT...I did manage about 10k words. I had started with one story but just couldn't get the words out. So, my big idea to light the spark under both mine and Melissa's butts to get working harder was to write a short story based on an image. Sometimes the visual just adds that extra bit of detail needed to make the words flow. I think this was a game changer for both of us. I decided after it to write a second novel in what I always knew would be a series from my first attempt at NaNo in 2011. The words were coming out like crazy until I had to start really cramming for the exams, putting an end to my NaNo project for the moment.
As Melissa mentioned above, there always seems to be a shift in how the work comes out as well. I did begin with a pre-established cast of characters, at least some of them, but in writing a second-in-a-series, there is the need for it to have the ability to be read as a stand alone, so tying in hints about the first story as well as making it mostly new content was a bit of a challenge. This was in large part due to my poor memory, to the point where I couldn't remember some of the names of people, etc.
It was this issue, as well as an idea of Melissa's, that got me thinking about organizing my stories on cue cards. I'm still trying to figure out where to fit some things into my first story, and I think this might be the way to achieve it: put what I have on the cards and the new elements, then try to rearrange the whole story in a logical order. I'm hoping over the holiday break to make this a reality, but we'll see.
I guess that having done any work in November was good for me because of the other commitments that chewed up my time, but I was more than a little disappointed at not being able to do more. Even when I had the extra time, it was partly plagued by just not knowing what to write or not liking what I'd already done. I think switching things up a bit was a good method to employ and will do that again if this issues arises in the future.
As for December, I know both Melissa and I are hoping to get into a routine of working, though we're both realistic enough to understand that juggling family celebrations will make this tricky. At least we're both willing to try :)
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Writing Update - October
Melissa:
Let me share a little story... I started off getting up early to walk on the treadmill. This worked wondrously for about...four or five weeks. I had a whole routine down. I'd read while walking for 30 minutes. I was feeling great and reading. But, then, there were mornings that the kiddo was running late, or I was waking up later and there wasn't 30 minutes to be on treadmill before I had to be there to tell kiddo bye as he left for the bus. Yes, I need to do that and it won't matter what age he is. Then it got to the point that kiddo had things he just had to talk about in the morning. You know, football stuff and class stuff. And soon I wasn't making it to the treadmill at all for my 30 minutes of torturous bliss. So, I started sitting in front of the computer, checking emails. Starting October, and knowing November - NaNoWriMo month - was right around the corner, I started worrying I wasn't ready. Well, worry isn't right. Panicking. Because I WASN'T ready. So what better way to spend this time, 30 minutes, each morning? I started re-reading my April Camp NaNoWriMo project. It's a novella. It's a romance. It's something I have an idea to continue with a second novella for NaNo. So I have to get it to somewhere to go on with it. And that's what I've been doing.
Each morning, okay, most mornings I read a short section and add, delete, or adjust to it as I go. Anything that is a bigger section of redoing, I note and go back to over the weekend when I have more time to focus on it.
I've managed to add 7,402 words to the story in October. This is adding, deleting, and adjusting. Not bad. I still have a whole scene to write and the ending 2,000 words needs re-done completely. But only doing a half hour each morning, or most mornings, really made a huge difference.
Now, it's November and onward to the next story and a whole month full of words. I'm shaky this year. I know, it's normal. But I don't know if I want to write this story. I don't know if I can. I've had last minute thoughts about racing back to fantasy, although I don't know what that would be as I don't have a story idea for a fantasy book. It's tempting. But I don't know what to write if I change it. So I'll stick to this romance and see what comes to pass.
I might start with re-writing the ending completely and starting into the new story. The story is only going to be about 30k. That way when I re-write it I can bump it to 40k. I even have a second novella in mind to start when this is done. Heck, that novella could potentially turn into a full novel if I keep adding to the world. ;)
So, off to tackle November. Here's wishing all you NaNoWriMo-ers out there the best in words!
Let me share a little story... I started off getting up early to walk on the treadmill. This worked wondrously for about...four or five weeks. I had a whole routine down. I'd read while walking for 30 minutes. I was feeling great and reading. But, then, there were mornings that the kiddo was running late, or I was waking up later and there wasn't 30 minutes to be on treadmill before I had to be there to tell kiddo bye as he left for the bus. Yes, I need to do that and it won't matter what age he is. Then it got to the point that kiddo had things he just had to talk about in the morning. You know, football stuff and class stuff. And soon I wasn't making it to the treadmill at all for my 30 minutes of torturous bliss. So, I started sitting in front of the computer, checking emails. Starting October, and knowing November - NaNoWriMo month - was right around the corner, I started worrying I wasn't ready. Well, worry isn't right. Panicking. Because I WASN'T ready. So what better way to spend this time, 30 minutes, each morning? I started re-reading my April Camp NaNoWriMo project. It's a novella. It's a romance. It's something I have an idea to continue with a second novella for NaNo. So I have to get it to somewhere to go on with it. And that's what I've been doing.
Each morning, okay, most mornings I read a short section and add, delete, or adjust to it as I go. Anything that is a bigger section of redoing, I note and go back to over the weekend when I have more time to focus on it.
I've managed to add 7,402 words to the story in October. This is adding, deleting, and adjusting. Not bad. I still have a whole scene to write and the ending 2,000 words needs re-done completely. But only doing a half hour each morning, or most mornings, really made a huge difference.
Now, it's November and onward to the next story and a whole month full of words. I'm shaky this year. I know, it's normal. But I don't know if I want to write this story. I don't know if I can. I've had last minute thoughts about racing back to fantasy, although I don't know what that would be as I don't have a story idea for a fantasy book. It's tempting. But I don't know what to write if I change it. So I'll stick to this romance and see what comes to pass.
I might start with re-writing the ending completely and starting into the new story. The story is only going to be about 30k. That way when I re-write it I can bump it to 40k. I even have a second novella in mind to start when this is done. Heck, that novella could potentially turn into a full novel if I keep adding to the world. ;)
So, off to tackle November. Here's wishing all you NaNoWriMo-ers out there the best in words!
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Writing Update - September
Melissa:
First, I have to thank NaNoWriMo for mentioning my post on their dashboard with a link. Thank you. And everything in July's Update is true, and now that I have my NaNo loss under my belt, on I go. (I'm sorry, I'm late in sending thanks with all that's been going on.)
And...It's October 1st. *sigh* I've gotten no where. None. Nothing. It's bad. I have been working on getting through some projects here that will *hopefully* open up for free time in November for me to do my desire...NaNoWriMo.
Oh! I did get 300 words out in a short story I am going to submit to Start Publishing. It's going to be trimmed down to 250 words, (thanks to help Skyla Dawn Cameron who is helping me with my terrible run-on sentences).
I do have a new goal I want to work on. I'm going to start simple. If it takes three sentences to tell one thing, it takes three. I'll combine it later. But what I have a terrible time of, I like putting three happenings in one sentence. So, I want to start simple, this way I know what I'm trying to convey and can combine later.
So I guess I did get a small bit out of me. But nothing what I want. I have a long list for October. On it is re-writing my novella I started in April. I want to iron it out and add a scene. After that I can start noting ideas for the second novella I'm looking to do for NaNoWriMo.
I need to put my head down and to the grind to get it all done. It's possible, but I need to focus and keep my eye on the finish line.
First, I have to thank NaNoWriMo for mentioning my post on their dashboard with a link. Thank you. And everything in July's Update is true, and now that I have my NaNo loss under my belt, on I go. (I'm sorry, I'm late in sending thanks with all that's been going on.)
And...It's October 1st. *sigh* I've gotten no where. None. Nothing. It's bad. I have been working on getting through some projects here that will *hopefully* open up for free time in November for me to do my desire...NaNoWriMo.
Oh! I did get 300 words out in a short story I am going to submit to Start Publishing. It's going to be trimmed down to 250 words, (thanks to help Skyla Dawn Cameron who is helping me with my terrible run-on sentences).
I do have a new goal I want to work on. I'm going to start simple. If it takes three sentences to tell one thing, it takes three. I'll combine it later. But what I have a terrible time of, I like putting three happenings in one sentence. So, I want to start simple, this way I know what I'm trying to convey and can combine later.
So I guess I did get a small bit out of me. But nothing what I want. I have a long list for October. On it is re-writing my novella I started in April. I want to iron it out and add a scene. After that I can start noting ideas for the second novella I'm looking to do for NaNoWriMo.
I need to put my head down and to the grind to get it all done. It's possible, but I need to focus and keep my eye on the finish line.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
August Update
Melissa:
So I went back to last years Nano, and after being away from all works due to family stuff and Camp NaNoWriMo on another idea, I've decided to start back at the beginning of the story. I'm fine tuning some sentences, blending them together, and refreshing my memory to move forward.
I did get a few words added to NaNo from last year. A total of 2,455 words. *shake head* At this rate, I *might* get the stupid thing finished before I pass away. *sigh*
Then life took over again. *sigh* I'm really tired of life getting in the way of my fun. I did take some time off of blogging and such to try to get through some life stuff. Nothing bad, just stuff that needs to be done with my dad.
But, I did start working up a synopsis for the second book in a novella series I'm thinking about. Now I need to get back to the first novella to work it up and finish the main idea to a zero draft so I can move on. I think I can work on this new Novella and another Novella story for NaNoWriMo in November. But, you know what happens to best laid plans...so we'll see what happens between now and November.
Once again, the new month ahead of me looks promising. I think I can get a few beta things done and get into my own writing again. We'll see. But I think life *might* be getting back to a normal pattern of things, I just need to figure out what that is and get myself on schedule with it.
So I went back to last years Nano, and after being away from all works due to family stuff and Camp NaNoWriMo on another idea, I've decided to start back at the beginning of the story. I'm fine tuning some sentences, blending them together, and refreshing my memory to move forward.
I did get a few words added to NaNo from last year. A total of 2,455 words. *shake head* At this rate, I *might* get the stupid thing finished before I pass away. *sigh*
Then life took over again. *sigh* I'm really tired of life getting in the way of my fun. I did take some time off of blogging and such to try to get through some life stuff. Nothing bad, just stuff that needs to be done with my dad.
But, I did start working up a synopsis for the second book in a novella series I'm thinking about. Now I need to get back to the first novella to work it up and finish the main idea to a zero draft so I can move on. I think I can work on this new Novella and another Novella story for NaNoWriMo in November. But, you know what happens to best laid plans...so we'll see what happens between now and November.
Once again, the new month ahead of me looks promising. I think I can get a few beta things done and get into my own writing again. We'll see. But I think life *might* be getting back to a normal pattern of things, I just need to figure out what that is and get myself on schedule with it.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Writing Update - July
Melissa:
So I've been thinking about this post since the middle of July. *sigh* I started off the month with great high hopes. I was gaming and ready to roll. Then the month dropped into the real world. Being massively behind from the lack of time to do anything book wise in June along with the stress I still was feeling, I just didn't realize how tough July would be. Then things happen too. Anniversaries, family stuff that I still had to get to, and just life. So, I didn't get far with Camp NaNoWriMo, which I was hoping for.
I can say I failed. In a way, I did. I didn't hit the 10k I set as a goal. But, any number of words is better than what I had before. I clocked in at Camp NaNoWriMo at 1,570 words, but didn't verify them. I actually did better than that. See, I was trying to work on revisions for a Novella story and hoped to start the second Novella story to the series. Well, life had other plans. By my record of word counts I actually added 3,368 words at the beginning of the month.
I'm not going to let this get me down. Not at all. It's done, life sucks at times, and we move on.
I do have a few ideas that keep circulating through my mind. Percolating, if you will. The worlds are growing and I'm trying to think what the underlining plot thread is in addition to minor little threads. But those are just notes on paper for now.
What's the goal now? I have no clue. I want to get one of these two stories and actually get one completed. Not necessarily "publish" finish, but a complete thought and story to work from. I need to pull all this stuff out and see what mood I'm in. I'd like to take the next few months and work on Jayda's story. Get the first book up to a zero draft form so I can head on to book two for NaNoWriMo in November. Although, I think the current Novella story would be enjoyed by a few of my friends who kinda sound like they want to read it. Maybe I can sneak it in from time to time.
I guess I was bound for a failed NaNoWriMo at some point. My record had been going far to well. ;) Everyone has to have a bad NaNo. But now that it's out of my system, I'm totally kicking it's arse in November....if I can get through this first six-below-draft to be ready to do book two. *sigh*
Now, it's time to crack down and get serious. I've got lots to read, lots to write, and lots of help to offer others with their books. The table is heaping and I'm bound and determined to get through it all. *nod*
So I've been thinking about this post since the middle of July. *sigh* I started off the month with great high hopes. I was gaming and ready to roll. Then the month dropped into the real world. Being massively behind from the lack of time to do anything book wise in June along with the stress I still was feeling, I just didn't realize how tough July would be. Then things happen too. Anniversaries, family stuff that I still had to get to, and just life. So, I didn't get far with Camp NaNoWriMo, which I was hoping for.
I can say I failed. In a way, I did. I didn't hit the 10k I set as a goal. But, any number of words is better than what I had before. I clocked in at Camp NaNoWriMo at 1,570 words, but didn't verify them. I actually did better than that. See, I was trying to work on revisions for a Novella story and hoped to start the second Novella story to the series. Well, life had other plans. By my record of word counts I actually added 3,368 words at the beginning of the month.
I'm not going to let this get me down. Not at all. It's done, life sucks at times, and we move on.
I do have a few ideas that keep circulating through my mind. Percolating, if you will. The worlds are growing and I'm trying to think what the underlining plot thread is in addition to minor little threads. But those are just notes on paper for now.
What's the goal now? I have no clue. I want to get one of these two stories and actually get one completed. Not necessarily "publish" finish, but a complete thought and story to work from. I need to pull all this stuff out and see what mood I'm in. I'd like to take the next few months and work on Jayda's story. Get the first book up to a zero draft form so I can head on to book two for NaNoWriMo in November. Although, I think the current Novella story would be enjoyed by a few of my friends who kinda sound like they want to read it. Maybe I can sneak it in from time to time.
I guess I was bound for a failed NaNoWriMo at some point. My record had been going far to well. ;) Everyone has to have a bad NaNo. But now that it's out of my system, I'm totally kicking it's arse in November....if I can get through this first six-below-draft to be ready to do book two. *sigh*
Now, it's time to crack down and get serious. I've got lots to read, lots to write, and lots of help to offer others with their books. The table is heaping and I'm bound and determined to get through it all. *nod*
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