Archives

Last Chance!

Date: November 28, 2011
Author: Ane
Ane
Categories: Blog, Fun, Uncategorized
Comments: 2 Replies

“Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.”

- Kyle Chandler

Or is it?  For many of us who signed up for NaNoWriMo we started the month with high hopes and sometimes with unrealistic expectations.  The thought of accomplishing so much in such a small amount of time holds allure for those of us who keep the day job in spite of the attempt to do what we love–write full time.

It’s true, writing often puts a crimp in the personal life of a writer and those close to them.  We stall while we search for the “perfect word”, you know the one, the one that tells you three paragraphs of description in a single sentence.  Good words doing their job, well chosen by a writer who really cares about the craft.  Searching for the phase I thought of and didn’t write down yesterday, the perfect word and stopping to record the funny thing I just noticed or remembered is the bane of my existence, and that of the husband who loves me.

But I told you when we started the month that it wasn’t about dragging to the finish line with a load of . . . forgive me, but Crap!  It was mostly about being consistent, sticking with the goals you set and finishing what you start.  Remember, 100 words?

So in spite of the time I spent with friends and family, traveling, and enjoying the holiday, I still find myself writing every day.  Do I make the 50K?  I’m not sure, probably, but nothing is a given.  Is the new habit –writing every day–established?  Definitely.

Is that good enough?  I think so, because I agree with Chandler, Opportunity will come when I’m beating down the door.

Making it count!

Date: November 14, 2011
Author: Ane
Ane
Categories: Uncategorized
Comments: 3 Replies

“A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”

- Tony Robbins

Okay folks, so we’re two weeks in and they’re dropping like flies in a flash freeze.

That’s right, on the loop today there were a few whiners, you know who you are–who just can’t keep up.  The sixteen hundred words a day maybe just too much for you, and I get that.  But people, really, you’re wasting your time whining about what you can or cannot do.

Slap those fingers on the keyboard and give ‘em permission to fly!

Let’s go now, remember what I told you.  It’s only a hundred words a day.  Today is November 14th and if you write a hundred words starting today, in ten months you’ll have 30K words more or less.  Not as many as if you write the 1,666 every day in NaNo, but it’s a decent start.  And a start is what you’re looking for, right?

So go ahead and work on that 100 words a day and maybe it’ll turn into a thousand.  You keep at it and you’ll never guess what you can accomplish once you’re on a roll.

Remember,  21 days to a new habit. 100 words to a new story.  One manuscript at a time.  Too many ideas to count!

Just keep writing!

How to Tame a Duke in Twenty Days or Your Money Back

Date: November 3, 2011
Author: summermahan
summermahan
Categories: Fun, Writing
Comments: 2 Replies

This is the working title for my current work-in-progress (WIP) for NANO.

As the title suggests I’m writing about the Beau Monde. Time is Regency and I’ll add a touch of Scotland for flavor. I can’t resist. The story needs plenty of attitude and sexual tension. After all, she is Scots and he’s an English duke. (Note to self-need really good twist on this to make exciting and different).

Sorry. Now where was I?

Oh, yes.  I have plotted…for the most part my high points for the book, but have left plenty of room to finagle. I know. Sounds crazy when I write it down and yet I have to get to know my characters better before I can nail down what they want.  What they REALLY want. My heroine doesn’t even have a name at this point. Sad, right.  ‘SHE’ must work for the time being.  

The title of my book gives me inspiration to dig deeper. To have fun. And to make people wonder about the outcome. I wonder myself and that’s good.

It’s the third day into NANO and I have written 2500 words. Okay, not great. I should have more, but yesterday was a snow day in Colorado with blizzard-like conditions. The kids, ecstatic about the school cancellation, enjoyed the day sipping hot chocolate while they gleefully beat me at UNO.  The day was good and wouldn’t change a thing.

Today, with them back at school, I will resume building my Story. I shall torture my hero soundly by giving him a goal he has no way of obtaining while I think of a way to make my heroine an offer she can’t refuse. Perhaps toss in a snow storm since it’s fresh in mind and twist the outcome of what I thought was going to happen by chapter’s end just to test my limits. Why not?  

Perhaps stick the ‘manly’ duke with a very feminine half-brother that he feels he must take care of. How the dandy of a brother will make his life miserable. Almost as miserable as the heroine. Yes, that sounds fantastic! (Frantically scribbling on sticky note). Any chance to torture the Duke <rubbing hands in glee> is a good time.  Oh, I just thought of another way. I have to go write this down before I forget.

Seems I have my day planned. What’s your day looking like? Torture? Plotting? To some they equal the same…Whatever your pleasure have fun and let me know your progress!

 Summer

The Joy of Writing Naked

Date: October 27, 2011
Author: summermahan
summermahan
Categories: Fun, Writing
Comments: 2 Replies

Naked. The word in its self is so freeing. The proper definition as an adjective is to be bare, uncovered, undisguised or exposed. When you read this title your mind probably jumped to a visualization of sitting at your computer in all your glory. Sorry all you Lady Godiva’s, but today I’m talking about the emotion expressed while writing. The joy we have all experienced one time or another. The freeness of writing with all your pent-up feelings. What you wanted, how you wanted it and when you wanted it without any censure or criticism. Sounds nasty, but I love that passion!

Honestly, when was the last time that you wrote and felt free?

I remember. I do.  But I forget a lot.

Harsh critiques, bad advice and the worry if the writing is good enough eats away at my confidence. When I first started to write I couldn’t wait to break free of the daily drudge like my job, cleaning the house and exercise to scribble a few gems here and there. Lunch breaks consisted of scarfing down a sandwich and writing for the remaining fifty-five minutes.  How much I loved firing up the laptop and typing my heart out on the page in a mad sense of exhilaration.

Now riddled down by rules, plot points, and editing the act of writing loses its glimmer more days than not. Yes, it’s become a job. How do I regain my original feelings?

That’s why I embrace NANO. A blank piece of paper that I have one month to make into a story. I have no self-doubt about why I’m writing or why. I don’t have the time. The chance to pour forth my heartfelt words and not worry about ridicule, grammar or rules is invaluable and the organization NANO is a blessing to all writers trying to find their way. So join me at NANO this November and together we can all experience the joy of writing naked.

Not really naked, but…okay you can try the ‘real thing’ if you wish, but my writing chair is leather and I’m not going there.

 Summer

Twelve Days til NANO

Date: October 20, 2011
Author: summermahan
summermahan
Categories: Uncategorized, Writing
Comments: 11 Replies

Have you created your account, joined your groups, and plotted your story? Prepared your work space and now awaiting, with your fingers twitching over the keyboard, November 1. Yes, there’s just twelve days before NaNo.

How many even know what I’m talking about…

Don’t be shy. As of last year I had no idea what NaNo was either. November 1 signals the start of National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo or NaNo. Millions of writers will begin writing their novel of 50,000 words or more with high hopes of finishing and pursuing their dream of publication in ONE month. That’s right.

One month to write a book.

When I heard this idea I freaked.  Was that even possible? NO! But then I realized it was the first draft only. Not a polished manuscript.  What NaNo forced me to do was write, not reread and procrastinate over the same chapter for weeks on end. It was a godsend.  The people I met and befriended was an added bonus.

This year, I embrace the challenge of NaNo. I have to write an average of 1666 words a day. Broken down it doesn’t seem all that bad. A workable goal and completely obtainable if I just sit down and write.  I find a schedule worked best. Allot the same time everyday and just write. Soon it feels natural and a habit is formed. Hopefully a habit continued long after November.

So I’m signed up, a little more prepared than last year, and rearing to go.

Are you?

If you haven’t already, go sign up and prepare to have a great time. http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Summer