Sunday, November 28, 2010

50,000

Photobucket

I did it. I hit 50,000 words tonight and am on schedule to finish this novel tomorrow. Now, if only I could think of a title for this beast.

 PS I recently started watching Parenthood and am so disappointed that Lauren Graham and Peter Krause are siblings. I'm still holding onto the hope that they will hook up.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Updates

1. My hands are freezing.

2. I'm super behind on my novel.

3. I hate reviewing books.

4. I'm taking a blogging break until December at the earliest.

5. I finished The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan. My least favorite book of hers, but I just started rereading The Hundred Secret Senses my favorite Amy Tan.

PS I just realized that midnight has come and gone and it's now Thanksgiving. I was going to make a list of everything I'm thankful for, but I decided that everything on the list was kind of generic. Although, I do want to say I'm so thankful for my parents. They're the best.

So here's a little video from one of the HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother) Thanksgiving episodes. 

Sunday, November 21, 2010



This show is keeping me sane. Not watching it? Start right now.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

There are no ski lifts in the world of creativity. You gotta haul your own ass up the slope every time you want to come back down it. It’s not so bad, the more you climb up, the stronger you get, and the higher you can go, which makes for better runs.
-Fred Gallagher


Monday, November 15, 2010

Meme Monday (NaNoWriMo edition)

Meme from here.

When and how did you find out about NaNoWriMo? From people's 101 in 1001 lists.

How many times have you done NaNoWriMo? Counting this one, one.

How many times have you won? If you haven’t won, what was your best result? n/a and n/a

How did you do last year (or your last participation)? n/a

Where do you write and with what do you write? I write in bed usually, or on the floor. I like to write lying down with my computer. I have however written parts of my novel in my car in a notebook with a pen.

How do you find time to write? I write in the morning. I usually make myself write for an hour straight. The first four days of writing I hit my word quota in that one hour of writing. If you divide it up evenly, writing 50,000 words in 30 days means you only have to write 1667 words a day. It's not that bad.(But I'm currently behind by ~5000 words... argh!)

Are your partners, friends and family allies or enemies? I've only told one other person I'm doing this. She's been great.

What are your strengths and what do you use to help you get to the end? I'm a fast typer. I don't have any issues with writing down everything that comes into my head for a particular scene. I think that's only because I'm not treating this like a real work. I know it's rough, I know a lot of it's crap.

What are you weaknesses, obstacles and challenges that hinder you from finishing? One of my weaknesses in writing is descriptive passages, but I'm trying to turn that into a strength by describing everything I can in my novel. It also adds to the word count, so bonus there. My biggest challenge is making myself write in the time I have. Sometimes it's hard to get started. Once I do though, I'm usually OK for the day.

Do you plot/outline/plan or do you write by the seat of your pants? How much do you plot or how unprepared are you? I plotted a little before the month started and I try to have a rough idea of what scene I'm going to write next when I stop each day. That way I can jump right into the writing the next morning. But I am currently learning a lot about my characters and the story as it goes along. I have no idea how it's going to end.

Do you participate in the real life community, go to write ins and meet ups in your area?
I don't have time. They all meet when I'm busy.

What are your writing aids? Special snacks, music, totems, rewards or punishments? I rewarded myself with a prize when I hit 10,000 words. I have another prize for when I hit 25,000 words. I try not to listen to music or do anything else while I'm writing. That way I really concentrate on what I'm doing.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

How to use an apostrophe.

A nice reminder for everyone. 

I'm currently several thousand words behind on my NaNoWriMo novel, so apostrophes are the least of my worries. However, I'm sure there are some people out there who are ahead in the word count, or not doing NaNoWriMo at all who will find this useful. 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

It just occurred to me that even though I started this blog so I'd have a place to update my progress throughout the read-a-thon it doesn't have to be a blog strictly about books.

Sure, I love books and I love reading, but I also love other things. Like knitting, TV and movies, playing handbells, good food, my new Filofax, Sporcling. And I'm also doing other things. Like trying to figure out my life and being a babysitting machine.

So these things might start cropping up here.