I missed posting Wednesday because I was down with a flu. I also have a blog hop to post soon. Beginning to feel better! So more posting will come soon.
Until then!
Until then!
Friday, December 7, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
News!
So I am not finishing Nano but I have a good reason! I got work. Yes, I did. This past week I've been working not just one job, but two! See that? That is accomplishment!
I was looking back on my posts and thinking "damn, I got kinda depressing in there!" Didn't mean to. It's a problem with being honest. I am a little too straightforward, sometimes. All the time. I guess it's my dysfunction. We all have a little, right?
However! I worked two 8 hour days, on my feet, outside in the rain and came home and wrote. Both nights.
Oh, man that felt good.
I don't even care that I didn't reach 50k words. I worked--minimum wage? --who cares? I worked. And it felt good. It *feels* good, to know that I am bringing in a little moolah.
Makes me feel more in control of...everything.
So I'm working on the Dezzy story. Yes, that's shifting gears from the Nano project. The two actually have very different styles of writing (why the hell???) Sometimes, they just come out that way.
Or, other possibility, it's all in my head.
I will finish the Nano novel! But... not being rushed, I might just write and write and write. It might be longer than 50k words.
Yeah... that's my problem... epics. I write epics. Sometimes short novels seem out of reach. Novels turn into epics. Short stories turn into novellas. It's my life. Or my writing, take your pick--it's true in either.
I'm gushing. Life feels good. Returning to writing fiction now--
I was looking back on my posts and thinking "damn, I got kinda depressing in there!" Didn't mean to. It's a problem with being honest. I am a little too straightforward, sometimes. All the time. I guess it's my dysfunction. We all have a little, right?
However! I worked two 8 hour days, on my feet, outside in the rain and came home and wrote. Both nights.
Oh, man that felt good.
I don't even care that I didn't reach 50k words. I worked--minimum wage? --who cares? I worked. And it felt good. It *feels* good, to know that I am bringing in a little moolah.
Makes me feel more in control of...everything.
So I'm working on the Dezzy story. Yes, that's shifting gears from the Nano project. The two actually have very different styles of writing (why the hell???) Sometimes, they just come out that way.
Or, other possibility, it's all in my head.
I will finish the Nano novel! But... not being rushed, I might just write and write and write. It might be longer than 50k words.
Yeah... that's my problem... epics. I write epics. Sometimes short novels seem out of reach. Novels turn into epics. Short stories turn into novellas. It's my life. Or my writing, take your pick--it's true in either.
I'm gushing. Life feels good. Returning to writing fiction now--
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
IWSG Post
My life is much the same, I am still applying for work, and that on-going effort has continued to make me very insecure and feed my self doubt. But I decided to participate in Nanowrimo, and this project has given me a healthy obsession.
I have surpassed 16000 words on my Nano-novel and it feels great!
Focusing on this project has made me feel that I can achieve things, again. The outpouring of support and likes I have received on Facebook has kept me motivated and dedicated to reaching my goals. I know I need more positive affirmation sometimes than a person should rightfully expect from their friends and family, especially when so much of my life feels like a train wreck.
I used to use my writing to cope. But the guilt I can come to associate with doing something I "want" to do over "need," to do gets in the way of me achieving anything in my writing.
So Nano has been the perfect excuse to lay the demons to rest.
I even handled an interview with a far more level headed approach than the previous ones -- about a year ago. Still didn't get the position, but I haven't let that devastate me, either.
I am killing off characters in this draft, which is new for me. Destroying fictional people is a fine alternative to wallowing.
No wallowing.
Just another 3k words today and a few applications off in the mail....
Yes, that is positive achievement.
In other notes: I've been working on getting my blog into some shape that I *like* and the last few templates have been buggy. As you can see, this one si not perfect either. I've already started piling through the codes and trying to translate bits of it... Though I would also be open to assistance/advice as to how to get the day/post title to *Not* overlap.
Please inform me if you spot any other issues (and good tutorials as to how to fix issues are also welcome).
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Less Buggy Template? + Nano
I loved the colors in the other one, but this template is hopefully less buggy. As I launched into Nano I realized that I would not have much time to work on the web coding.
I see this still has a few things that need fixing. I'll get on that :)
In other news, Nanowrimo is going well. I've successfully managed about 3k words a day. One day I did more, as I was unable to get *any* writing done on the 2nd, as I had an interview! (Yay!) Though no job offer :(
Still, at least I'm getting a good amount of writing done.
Wrapping up chapter 3 and plunging into 4, I'm hoping to reach 16000 words today.
I see this still has a few things that need fixing. I'll get on that :)
In other news, Nanowrimo is going well. I've successfully managed about 3k words a day. One day I did more, as I was unable to get *any* writing done on the 2nd, as I had an interview! (Yay!) Though no job offer :(
Still, at least I'm getting a good amount of writing done.
Wrapping up chapter 3 and plunging into 4, I'm hoping to reach 16000 words today.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
New Template: In Progress
I love this new template...but it'll take a little bit of work. So it will look a little awkward and messy while I work out the html changes. I apologize!
This makeover should help me have a workable set up to post some fiction on other pages, and have everything presented in a pretty workable manner. That's what I'm going for at least!
On Writing Progress:
Making final changes to a few short stories I hope to soon offer for sale. I have an artist helping with covers, and have a few other ideas trickling out.
Nonowrimo prep continue, as the countdown begins for reals ... And I'll post my progress starting Nov. 1.
This makeover should help me have a workable set up to post some fiction on other pages, and have everything presented in a pretty workable manner. That's what I'm going for at least!
On Writing Progress:
Making final changes to a few short stories I hope to soon offer for sale. I have an artist helping with covers, and have a few other ideas trickling out.
Nonowrimo prep continue, as the countdown begins for reals ... And I'll post my progress starting Nov. 1.
Monday, October 15, 2012
90's Blogfest
Sorry all, posting late in the day due to some technical difficulties...like a completely dead laptop.
This is my entry for the 90's Blogfest hosted by Dave Wrote This , a wonderful idea.
The 90's spanned, for me, from 1st grade to 11th grade. The film and literature certainly left a major impression on me.
1990 -- Home Alone. The 1st one, as a total kid fantasy, I loved it.
1991 --Beauty and Beast, by Disney, was one of my favorite movies that year. I loved that Belle walked and read at the beginning, which was something my childhood friend and I had done, repeatedly, across the elementary school playground at recess, months before the movie's release. Also, I was enrolled in ballet and tap dance class that year, and the popularity of this movie made it our recital -- copyright questions aside, I didn't actually understand what learning to tap the can can and dance in the Saloon scene meant--but I'm sure it was suitably funny and adorable for my parents.
1992 --Batman Returns and Aladdin were my highlights of the year, even as Tim Burton's Batman got odder, I liked DeVito's Penguin and Pfeiffer's cat woman as a 4th grader. This year I read Jurassic Park, which my mother had loved and was preparing for the movie.
1993 --Jurassic Park. It was seriously fun watching my little brother hide his head at his first grown-up movie. It was my first experience watching a movie I'd read the book for, though I must confess some of it had certainly gone over my head, in book form. Knowing about what was going to happen on the big screen and remembering it from the novel was very exciting for my young self. It had also catapulted my reading level well beyond my expected age-level for literature.
1994--Forrest Gump -- Loved this movie. A year after it came out, I had the opportunity to take a drama class through a summer program located at the local University, and they made a big point (likely due to his success in this movie) to state that Tom Hanks had performed in that very theater--a tiny theater that Sacramento State has since revamped and looked nothing like it's former self when I attended the University a little more than a decade later.
1995--Toy Story. Loved the concept, and loved a movie about imaginative kids the same year I faced the horrors of middle school and all that brought. Not my best years, but one of my favorite movies.
1996--Dragonheart, not because it was the best movie of the year, though I did love it, but because it was my first date ever. So...that was something.
1997--Men in Black, it made my 13-year-old self laugh. And Will Smith was the only celeb I ever crushed on. Hey, I was 13...
1998 -- There's Something About Mary -- because among my Freshman class, it was the must-see-movie.
1999 -- The Matrix and The Mummy. The Matrix was, well, the Matrix and it shaped High-School Geek Consciousness. The Mummy I liked because I was already developing an interest in archaeology and ancient history, alongside a healthy love of fantasy.
My taste was not terribly sophisticated, but I guess it does grant some insight into my experience of the decade :)
This is my entry for the 90's Blogfest hosted by Dave Wrote This , a wonderful idea.
The 90's spanned, for me, from 1st grade to 11th grade. The film and literature certainly left a major impression on me.
1990 -- Home Alone. The 1st one, as a total kid fantasy, I loved it.
1991 --Beauty and Beast, by Disney, was one of my favorite movies that year. I loved that Belle walked and read at the beginning, which was something my childhood friend and I had done, repeatedly, across the elementary school playground at recess, months before the movie's release. Also, I was enrolled in ballet and tap dance class that year, and the popularity of this movie made it our recital -- copyright questions aside, I didn't actually understand what learning to tap the can can and dance in the Saloon scene meant--but I'm sure it was suitably funny and adorable for my parents.
1992 --Batman Returns and Aladdin were my highlights of the year, even as Tim Burton's Batman got odder, I liked DeVito's Penguin and Pfeiffer's cat woman as a 4th grader. This year I read Jurassic Park, which my mother had loved and was preparing for the movie.
1993 --Jurassic Park. It was seriously fun watching my little brother hide his head at his first grown-up movie. It was my first experience watching a movie I'd read the book for, though I must confess some of it had certainly gone over my head, in book form. Knowing about what was going to happen on the big screen and remembering it from the novel was very exciting for my young self. It had also catapulted my reading level well beyond my expected age-level for literature.
1994--Forrest Gump -- Loved this movie. A year after it came out, I had the opportunity to take a drama class through a summer program located at the local University, and they made a big point (likely due to his success in this movie) to state that Tom Hanks had performed in that very theater--a tiny theater that Sacramento State has since revamped and looked nothing like it's former self when I attended the University a little more than a decade later.
1995--Toy Story. Loved the concept, and loved a movie about imaginative kids the same year I faced the horrors of middle school and all that brought. Not my best years, but one of my favorite movies.
1996--Dragonheart, not because it was the best movie of the year, though I did love it, but because it was my first date ever. So...that was something.
1997--Men in Black, it made my 13-year-old self laugh. And Will Smith was the only celeb I ever crushed on. Hey, I was 13...
1998 -- There's Something About Mary -- because among my Freshman class, it was the must-see-movie.
1999 -- The Matrix and The Mummy. The Matrix was, well, the Matrix and it shaped High-School Geek Consciousness. The Mummy I liked because I was already developing an interest in archaeology and ancient history, alongside a healthy love of fantasy.
My taste was not terribly sophisticated, but I guess it does grant some insight into my experience of the decade :)
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
IWSG & Nano
This past month I moved. Again. Most of my insecurities have revolved around not having the most stable life, but ironically in the spurts of writing I've managed I've noticed a lot of growth in my storytelling and style.
We are temporarily staying with a friend, just until we can get our feet under us.
This past month we--my guy and I-- hauled our belongings to our friend's house in car loads, one truck load, and so many boxes. I have been putting things together piece by piece and marking the majority of my/our belongings for sale. We held one yard sale at the old place, on our the last day there. This weekend, we'll be holding another, here.
It is freeing to unload so many belongings. I feel that I am letting go of an earlier life, and in the emptiness I can recreate myself, my life, and my goals. Books are the hardest thing to part with, and I fear I am not going to lighten that load by much.
The move is helping me to parcel out what is truly important. It's been an ongoing effort, that has whittled away much of the less important aspects of my life. Which should work very well for my writing.
While I haven't had nearly the time to write I wanted this past month, I have chosen to participate in Nanowrimo, next month. I have been been brainstorming and it is going well so far. I am choosing to tackle a time period and location combination on my established world that I have not explored very thoroughly. The prospect of more insight, new characters, and a vastly different plot-style have me very excited.
I have completed some character outlines, rough sketches and next will be addressing summarizing and outlining. In all, I think I'm on track to complete this project in a month. However, it is also a period of time that will help develop certain nuances in the main WIP, so if I don't complete it, the effort will still improve my current project.
Choosing that option feels smart to me, because there is no way I *won't* get something out of this challenge. That feels like the right attitude to carry into the challenge. Meanwhile, it's been a stress reliever to play with the ideas, and build the story in my head, while moving.
I am looking forward to having more achievements next month! While the circumstances of this move have been miserable, I think this was exactly what I need to find my center again.
We are temporarily staying with a friend, just until we can get our feet under us.
This past month we--my guy and I-- hauled our belongings to our friend's house in car loads, one truck load, and so many boxes. I have been putting things together piece by piece and marking the majority of my/our belongings for sale. We held one yard sale at the old place, on our the last day there. This weekend, we'll be holding another, here.
It is freeing to unload so many belongings. I feel that I am letting go of an earlier life, and in the emptiness I can recreate myself, my life, and my goals. Books are the hardest thing to part with, and I fear I am not going to lighten that load by much.
The move is helping me to parcel out what is truly important. It's been an ongoing effort, that has whittled away much of the less important aspects of my life. Which should work very well for my writing.
While I haven't had nearly the time to write I wanted this past month, I have chosen to participate in Nanowrimo, next month. I have been been brainstorming and it is going well so far. I am choosing to tackle a time period and location combination on my established world that I have not explored very thoroughly. The prospect of more insight, new characters, and a vastly different plot-style have me very excited.
I have completed some character outlines, rough sketches and next will be addressing summarizing and outlining. In all, I think I'm on track to complete this project in a month. However, it is also a period of time that will help develop certain nuances in the main WIP, so if I don't complete it, the effort will still improve my current project.
Choosing that option feels smart to me, because there is no way I *won't* get something out of this challenge. That feels like the right attitude to carry into the challenge. Meanwhile, it's been a stress reliever to play with the ideas, and build the story in my head, while moving.
I am looking forward to having more achievements next month! While the circumstances of this move have been miserable, I think this was exactly what I need to find my center again.
