Current wordcount: 120,624
Today's wordcount: 17,210
Time spent writing: All friggin' day.
Time spent on NaNo Boards: On and off, all day.
Today's soundtrack: Tori Amos, Barons of Suburbia.
Today's mood: Delirium.
*sigh*
The novel is done. I have typed 'The End,' gotten my final numbers.
Yes, today was a 17K day! I felt I needed to go out with a bang.
I was able to get to the end of the story, and I have an enormous sense of closure. Actually, no. I don't have an enormous sense of anything, except for the fact that I've been in the same position since five o'clock this morning.
I'm really proud of the writing I did on those last three chapters, specifically how I was able to say, in many varied and different ways, that the guy was in pain.
There's a *lot* of pain in those last chapters.
And I put the last minute twist in that I wanted to, and I think it reads just fine.
The computer light is beginning to shine a little too bright in my eyes. You know that feeling, when you have to squint to see?
I'm not stopping the blog, no siree. But I am going to modify it a bit - going to start my 101 in 1001 in the next couple of days. I'm also going to join NaNoPubYe, and see if I can get some help on editing this sucker.
I have to thank some people for getting me this far:
For those who offered their help - Shadawyn, AshWalker and MrsDBoone
Big V for all the medical/hospital help
AshWalker and Rosymamacita for the competition
Erin, Clarice and Alexis for organizing the meetups and dinners
The ThirtySomethings
The NaNoWriMo Singles Lounge
Guitarfolk for the Music
My friend Kate and sister Becky for the support
Eleven for the medical advice.
The AIM chatters for all the invaluable word wars
Quills and Quirks (Chris)
Thanks to NaNo for the Neo. It's *boss*.
I'm closing out of Word now, and I'm going to go troll around on the boards, and give NaNo some money for kicking my boo-tay this month.
I hope your NaNo journey was all you wanted it to be.
jules
Thursday, November 30, 2006
NaNo - Day 30. Seven Twenty Pee Em.
*sigh*
Breathe In, Breathe Out.
There are four more sections to go, folks. In two chapters. 4200 more words.
I've been on a break since 6pm, and I think my eyes are learning to focus again. My belly is full of turkey burgers, and I'm ready to gear up again.
These last sections are kinda fun. In a tragic sort of way. They're mostly dream, hallucination, inner monologue. My main character falls down a six flight stairwell, and then has to climb back up again. To the top. His heart and breathing are already going nuts, his ribs are probably broken. He's hungry and thirsty, and he's just figured out why he is where he is.
And at the end, *then* you get to learn that Angel is no saint himself.
Heh, heh.
I am looking forward to being done, so I can run around the boards like it's the last day of school, hugging and thanking everyone and writing K.I.T. in everyone's yearbooks.
I'm also looking forward to adding up my final word count and sailing to the top of the New York City region list. And sharing with you how many words I've written today.
(My competitive edge has really reared itself these last couple of days. I'm a little embarrassed about it, but, whatever.)
back soon,
jules
Breathe In, Breathe Out.
There are four more sections to go, folks. In two chapters. 4200 more words.
I've been on a break since 6pm, and I think my eyes are learning to focus again. My belly is full of turkey burgers, and I'm ready to gear up again.
These last sections are kinda fun. In a tragic sort of way. They're mostly dream, hallucination, inner monologue. My main character falls down a six flight stairwell, and then has to climb back up again. To the top. His heart and breathing are already going nuts, his ribs are probably broken. He's hungry and thirsty, and he's just figured out why he is where he is.
And at the end, *then* you get to learn that Angel is no saint himself.
Heh, heh.
I am looking forward to being done, so I can run around the boards like it's the last day of school, hugging and thanking everyone and writing K.I.T. in everyone's yearbooks.
I'm also looking forward to adding up my final word count and sailing to the top of the New York City region list. And sharing with you how many words I've written today.
(My competitive edge has really reared itself these last couple of days. I'm a little embarrassed about it, but, whatever.)
back soon,
jules
NaNo - Day 30. When In Doubt, Degenerate Into Smut.
It's nearly three.
There's a word war on in five minutes, but I feel like it's the eleventh hour play by play, so here's a little update.
I did Chapter 11, Chapter 11 is *done*. A staggering amount of words for one chapter. I'm about to delve into the home run slide. The last three chapters have more violence and abuse than you can shake a stick at. But, the end is finally near.
It is decided: I'm finishing this thing today if I have to take the whole friggin' block down with me.
More soon, there's a word war on in five minutes, and I have to get some notes together.
Isn't it a beautiful day outside?
hugs,
jules
(The above title was generated in an AIM chat room. It's pretty good advice, sometimes. As far as fiction is concerned, at least.)
There's a word war on in five minutes, but I feel like it's the eleventh hour play by play, so here's a little update.
I did Chapter 11, Chapter 11 is *done*. A staggering amount of words for one chapter. I'm about to delve into the home run slide. The last three chapters have more violence and abuse than you can shake a stick at. But, the end is finally near.
It is decided: I'm finishing this thing today if I have to take the whole friggin' block down with me.
More soon, there's a word war on in five minutes, and I have to get some notes together.
Isn't it a beautiful day outside?
hugs,
jules
(The above title was generated in an AIM chat room. It's pretty good advice, sometimes. As far as fiction is concerned, at least.)
NaNo - Day 30. Five-Oh-Three-A-Em.
It's morning.
I'm up early to get started.
I'm happy that nearly every regular poster in the Singles Lounge has made it, and a high percentage of people in the ThirtySomethings have as well. Yesterday we heard from NoodleNoggin, who had twin girls on the 6th, and STILL crossed over the 50000 line yesterday.
People are amazing.
I can't really write with background noise going, so I'll be staying away from my beloved BBC7, which how I usually like to spend the day. Ack! Well, maybe I'll take some breaks.
Okay. Time to get coffee, and then rock and roll.
jules
I'm up early to get started.
I'm happy that nearly every regular poster in the Singles Lounge has made it, and a high percentage of people in the ThirtySomethings have as well. Yesterday we heard from NoodleNoggin, who had twin girls on the 6th, and STILL crossed over the 50000 line yesterday.
People are amazing.
I can't really write with background noise going, so I'll be staying away from my beloved BBC7, which how I usually like to spend the day. Ack! Well, maybe I'll take some breaks.
Okay. Time to get coffee, and then rock and roll.
jules
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
NaNo - Day 29. Validated.
So, I did another 3000+ this morning, finished off my chapter 9.
I just got my purple bar.
But it's not over yet. Heh, heh.
I got a fantastic CD in the mail today from Burt, who sent me some gritty, city music. He made a fantastic cover for it as well, which I will scan in and show you as soon as I'm at work on Saturday.
I'm feeling quite tired. It was a long day. I had a meeting with producer #2. He didn't quite react as I'd hoped he would to the new songs. He's a strong willed one, producer #2. But, I'm equally strong willed. It will be interesting, to say the least, tangling with him.
I then went to a rehearsal for a backup singing gig that I'm doing on Friday. That was fun.
Typed all the way home.
I may hit the hay early tonight. There's lots to do tomorrow.
Cheers. Best of luck to all you home stretchers.
jules
I just got my purple bar.
But it's not over yet. Heh, heh.
I got a fantastic CD in the mail today from Burt, who sent me some gritty, city music. He made a fantastic cover for it as well, which I will scan in and show you as soon as I'm at work on Saturday.
I'm feeling quite tired. It was a long day. I had a meeting with producer #2. He didn't quite react as I'd hoped he would to the new songs. He's a strong willed one, producer #2. But, I'm equally strong willed. It will be interesting, to say the least, tangling with him.
I then went to a rehearsal for a backup singing gig that I'm doing on Friday. That was fun.
Typed all the way home.
I may hit the hay early tonight. There's lots to do tomorrow.
Cheers. Best of luck to all you home stretchers.
jules
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
NaNo - Day 28. Come Close. I Want To Tell You Something *Special*.
With only a few minutes in the day, I'm proud to announce:
Current wordcount: 100,349
Today's wordcount: 4,525
Time spent writing: 2.5 hours
Time spent on NaNo Boards: Almost none.
Today's soundtrack: Rolling Stones. The Kinks. Whatever loud music they were playing at the Tea Lounge.
Today's mood: Friggin Awesome. With a headache.
Today, I netted a little over 100K.
I went to the Brooklyn Tea Lounge write in tonight. I set a goal for myself, pass 100K or die trying. I didn't even get through chapter 9 yet. And I did acquire a serious headache. But, I did kick 100K's ass. Right now, I'm flying.
It was difficult writing in all the noisy surrounds of the Tea Lounge, but it was really great to meet some new faces. And, a woman was there from the New York Times! Hopefully there will be a story in the paper this week about us.
And things are going well on the music front: I recorded demos for three new songs today that all stand a chance of making the album. Woopee! I play them for producer #2 tomorrow, and hope they pass muster. (It's *very* difficult to pass muster with producer #2.)
I'm flying. I might even stay up and finish off Chapter 9 in the quiet comfort of my bedroom.
It feels *great* to be alive.
jules
Current wordcount: 100,349
Today's wordcount: 4,525
Time spent writing: 2.5 hours
Time spent on NaNo Boards: Almost none.
Today's soundtrack: Rolling Stones. The Kinks. Whatever loud music they were playing at the Tea Lounge.
Today's mood: Friggin Awesome. With a headache.
Today, I netted a little over 100K.
I went to the Brooklyn Tea Lounge write in tonight. I set a goal for myself, pass 100K or die trying. I didn't even get through chapter 9 yet. And I did acquire a serious headache. But, I did kick 100K's ass. Right now, I'm flying.
It was difficult writing in all the noisy surrounds of the Tea Lounge, but it was really great to meet some new faces. And, a woman was there from the New York Times! Hopefully there will be a story in the paper this week about us.
And things are going well on the music front: I recorded demos for three new songs today that all stand a chance of making the album. Woopee! I play them for producer #2 tomorrow, and hope they pass muster. (It's *very* difficult to pass muster with producer #2.)
I'm flying. I might even stay up and finish off Chapter 9 in the quiet comfort of my bedroom.
It feels *great* to be alive.
jules
Monday, November 27, 2006
NaNo - Day 27. Exhausted.
Added another 5,320 today, in two chapters.
Chapter 9 is a whopper. I may get to 100K on the strength of Chapter 9 alone. Poor Angel, all drugged up and hallucinating and trapped in the abandoned wing of the hospital, finds out some nasty stuff about the hospital's past. And he gets locked in a room in a psych ward. Poor guy.
My attention was spread over a few things today; hope I was able to complete some of them to satisfaction.
I can't remember how to make sentences. Going to bed.
Nighty night,
jules
Chapter 9 is a whopper. I may get to 100K on the strength of Chapter 9 alone. Poor Angel, all drugged up and hallucinating and trapped in the abandoned wing of the hospital, finds out some nasty stuff about the hospital's past. And he gets locked in a room in a psych ward. Poor guy.
My attention was spread over a few things today; hope I was able to complete some of them to satisfaction.
I can't remember how to make sentences. Going to bed.
Nighty night,
jules
NaNo - Day 27. AshWalker Said:
Keep smiling, keep it up, embrace the fear, love the fear, slap the fear around and make it your bitch.
When NaNo first started, I requested AshWalker's mentoring help. He sent me the awesome quote above, and then I haven't heard from him since. He's been off doing all manner of things, and is holding his own with a kick ass 93K words. He's got a really cool plot as well.
Yesterday, Rosymamacita from Brooklyn made me aware of the New York City region rankings. I was number #1, AshWalker was #2, and she was #3. I had no prior knowledge of this list, but since I've found out, I'm keen to keep my standing.
I spent a ton of time on music today, so they both are currently ahead.
BUT.
I'm cooking up some turkey burgers and getting ready for a furious write tonight.
(Rosy, the current #2, only *thinks* she has more words than I do. I did the whole of Chapter 7 this morning (a cool three thousand) and haven't claimed it yet.)
Nothing like a little competition, eh?
The days are busy for the next couple, lots of meetings during the day. But I'm going to try to go to the last Brooklyn write in tomorrow at the Tea Lounge. I'll succumb to the lure of the purple winner's bar on Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday, I might have to go out with a bang. A furious, dangerous word explosion. We'll see.
Trash talkin',
jules
Sunday, November 26, 2006
NaNo - Day 26. Blue Bars Shooting Off Into Oblivion.
Current wordcount: 90,504
Today's wordcount: 4,845
Time spent writing: 2 hours
Time spent on NaNo Boards: All day, on and off
Today's soundtrack: Spooky building noises (I'm alone in the office).
Today's mood: Pretty good.
I'm going to consider 100,000 a goal, even though I'd need 103K+ to officially have 50K on Novel #2. I'm trying to pick up the pace a little. The outline does need quite a bit of reshuffling.
How many pages are in a standard chapter? Okay, well, how many words then?
I have the whole thing sectioned into thirteen chapters and I've just finished six. No work tomorrow, but I have to get four songs that, ahem, aren't really *written* yet in shape to play them into a tape recorder on Tuesday. Ack.
I just found out that I'm number 1 on the NYC list, wherever that is. And another Brooklyn NaNoer is *racing* *me*!
It's on!
jules
Today's wordcount: 4,845
Time spent writing: 2 hours
Time spent on NaNo Boards: All day, on and off
Today's soundtrack: Spooky building noises (I'm alone in the office).
Today's mood: Pretty good.
I'm going to consider 100,000 a goal, even though I'd need 103K+ to officially have 50K on Novel #2. I'm trying to pick up the pace a little. The outline does need quite a bit of reshuffling.
How many pages are in a standard chapter? Okay, well, how many words then?
I have the whole thing sectioned into thirteen chapters and I've just finished six. No work tomorrow, but I have to get four songs that, ahem, aren't really *written* yet in shape to play them into a tape recorder on Tuesday. Ack.
I just found out that I'm number 1 on the NYC list, wherever that is. And another Brooklyn NaNoer is *racing* *me*!
It's on!
jules
NaNo - Day 26. A Light At The End Of The Tunnel.
Or rather, there's only light. Because there is no tunnel.
I've been taking all of this too seriously. This whole business of not finishing my Novel #2 was making me sad and ill, but since yesterday I've pulled back a little and gotten some perspective, courtesy of Stephen King.
Yesterday, upon Robbie's suggestion, I wandered into Borders books and picked up Stephen King's On Writing. This is a brilliant book. I started reading last night upon leaving work, around 9pm, and I'm about 160 pages in. It's only part memoir, chronicalling key events from King's early days as a writer, the crap jobs he's held, the triumph of the sale of his first novel, Carrie. He doesn't go too deep into his cocaine/drink addiction, but the reader is left in no doubt about its effect on his life. I'm only part of the way into the "technique" section, but I think I'll put the rest aside to devour after November is over.
There are some amazing quotes in this book, my current favorite is:
Reading about Stephen King's journey has been tremendously inspiring to me.
He reminded me that a writer's life is not started and ended in a month. A writer's life is made of days and months and years and hours and minutes and seconds, put into the work. I don't read nearly enough and certainly haven't written nearly enough to be the kind of writer I'd like to be, but I am thankful for this book as a reminder: There is a tremendous amount of work to be done, but it *can* be done.
I'm a couple of days late for Thanksgiving, but I'd thought I'd take a moment to acknowledge the things NaNo has made thankful for, even if I don't write another word this month:
***I do love story.
I wrote stories before I wrote songs, as a young child and pre-teen. After a near two-decade lapse, NaNo reminded me why.
***There are stories that are mine to tell.
I'm sure I have found at least one story that will sustain a 90,000+ word telling. My job is to work on it. Not just until November 30th at 11:59pm, but until the story is *told*. In the best manner it can be told.
***I can sling words like the pros at my local deli can sling hash.
Stephen King writes 2000 words a day. Which made me perk up a little - I've had two 10,000 word days (so far, looks like there may be another one coming).
I am, in no way, comparing myself or my writing to Stephen King or his writing. Whether my words make an interesting, well-told story is another matter entirely. But it's nice to think I can at least fashion the marble from which a decent work of art *might* be chiseled.
***It's fun to convene with people doing the same thing as me.
The NaNo board and the blogs and the AIM chats and the meet ups have been great.
***It's fun to share this work with people I know and love.
And get them thinking about the stories *they* have to tell, as well.
So, I'm going to relax a little about not having completed a masterpiece in November. I do, however, want to get to 100,000 words by November's end. I have about 14,600 more words to write before I achieve that. That's doable. More than doable.
And nothing to sneeze at.
jules
I've been taking all of this too seriously. This whole business of not finishing my Novel #2 was making me sad and ill, but since yesterday I've pulled back a little and gotten some perspective, courtesy of Stephen King.
Yesterday, upon Robbie's suggestion, I wandered into Borders books and picked up Stephen King's On Writing. This is a brilliant book. I started reading last night upon leaving work, around 9pm, and I'm about 160 pages in. It's only part memoir, chronicalling key events from King's early days as a writer, the crap jobs he's held, the triumph of the sale of his first novel, Carrie. He doesn't go too deep into his cocaine/drink addiction, but the reader is left in no doubt about its effect on his life. I'm only part of the way into the "technique" section, but I think I'll put the rest aside to devour after November is over.
There are some amazing quotes in this book, my current favorite is:
What you know makes you unique in some...way. Be brave. Map the enemy's positions, come back, tell us all you know.
Reading about Stephen King's journey has been tremendously inspiring to me.
He reminded me that a writer's life is not started and ended in a month. A writer's life is made of days and months and years and hours and minutes and seconds, put into the work. I don't read nearly enough and certainly haven't written nearly enough to be the kind of writer I'd like to be, but I am thankful for this book as a reminder: There is a tremendous amount of work to be done, but it *can* be done.
I'm a couple of days late for Thanksgiving, but I'd thought I'd take a moment to acknowledge the things NaNo has made thankful for, even if I don't write another word this month:
***I do love story.
I wrote stories before I wrote songs, as a young child and pre-teen. After a near two-decade lapse, NaNo reminded me why.
***There are stories that are mine to tell.
I'm sure I have found at least one story that will sustain a 90,000+ word telling. My job is to work on it. Not just until November 30th at 11:59pm, but until the story is *told*. In the best manner it can be told.
***I can sling words like the pros at my local deli can sling hash.
Stephen King writes 2000 words a day. Which made me perk up a little - I've had two 10,000 word days (so far, looks like there may be another one coming).
I am, in no way, comparing myself or my writing to Stephen King or his writing. Whether my words make an interesting, well-told story is another matter entirely. But it's nice to think I can at least fashion the marble from which a decent work of art *might* be chiseled.
***It's fun to convene with people doing the same thing as me.
The NaNo board and the blogs and the AIM chats and the meet ups have been great.
***It's fun to share this work with people I know and love.
And get them thinking about the stories *they* have to tell, as well.
So, I'm going to relax a little about not having completed a masterpiece in November. I do, however, want to get to 100,000 words by November's end. I have about 14,600 more words to write before I achieve that. That's doable. More than doable.
And nothing to sneeze at.
jules
Saturday, November 25, 2006
NaNo - Day 25. Depression.
Ack. I'm feeling a low today.
I realized that it's likely that I won't actually finish Novel #2, even if I do get to 50,000 words.
*sigh*
This is making me sad - wasn't the whole point of NaNo to finish a story? It will probably be hard to maintain this kind of momentum after the end of November.
*sigh*
Anyhow, I'm trying to regroup. Only just finished today's output, 3600 words, or thereabouts. There are a little over 30 scenes left. I'm going to try to bring the required word count for each scene way down, and then typing like a maniac. I hate to feel like I'm rushing, but I'm so under-researched that it probably won't matter too too much, to skip to the main points of the action.
God, I hate to feel like I'm rushing...ERGH!
I don't feel right giving myself the purple winners bar until story #2 is something like being closed to finished.
jules
I realized that it's likely that I won't actually finish Novel #2, even if I do get to 50,000 words.
*sigh*
This is making me sad - wasn't the whole point of NaNo to finish a story? It will probably be hard to maintain this kind of momentum after the end of November.
*sigh*
Anyhow, I'm trying to regroup. Only just finished today's output, 3600 words, or thereabouts. There are a little over 30 scenes left. I'm going to try to bring the required word count for each scene way down, and then typing like a maniac. I hate to feel like I'm rushing, but I'm so under-researched that it probably won't matter too too much, to skip to the main points of the action.
God, I hate to feel like I'm rushing...ERGH!
I don't feel right giving myself the purple winners bar until story #2 is something like being closed to finished.
jules
Friday, November 24, 2006
NaNo - Day 24. Back From The Holidays.
Current wordcount: 81,954
Today's wordcount: 10,117
Time spent writing: 6 hours
Time spent on NaNo Boards: 0.5 hours
Today's soundtrack: An Amtrak train, sliding against the rails.
Today's mood: *sigh*
Missed a couple of days' check in there.
Went back to my hometown for a couple of days to eat lots of food with my family. It was a lovely gathering, filled with lots of Phase 10 - I managed to win a couple of games. We all made dinner - mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, turkey with stuffing, greens, apple pie...yum. I ate. A lot. Got to see my adorable five year old nephew.
Wrote 1.7K on Wednesday on the long trip down, nothing on Thursday. Today, though, I took the 10K Challenge, and came in at 10,117.
I'm a little disheartened. I'm at 28K with Novel #2, a little more than halfway to the 50K goal, but I'm not even off page 1 of the 2.5 page outline. At 50K I will be nowhere near the end.
That makes me a little sad.
It's a crazy busy week this week. But I will press on.
jules
Today's wordcount: 10,117
Time spent writing: 6 hours
Time spent on NaNo Boards: 0.5 hours
Today's soundtrack: An Amtrak train, sliding against the rails.
Today's mood: *sigh*
Missed a couple of days' check in there.
Went back to my hometown for a couple of days to eat lots of food with my family. It was a lovely gathering, filled with lots of Phase 10 - I managed to win a couple of games. We all made dinner - mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, turkey with stuffing, greens, apple pie...yum. I ate. A lot. Got to see my adorable five year old nephew.
Wrote 1.7K on Wednesday on the long trip down, nothing on Thursday. Today, though, I took the 10K Challenge, and came in at 10,117.
I'm a little disheartened. I'm at 28K with Novel #2, a little more than halfway to the 50K goal, but I'm not even off page 1 of the 2.5 page outline. At 50K I will be nowhere near the end.
That makes me a little sad.
It's a crazy busy week this week. But I will press on.
jules
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
NaNo - Day 21. In The 70K Club.
It's fun to check my profile and see the blue bars shoot up, up past where the graph ends, even. And I'm on page 5 of the author's list, by descending word count.
At least it's not page 8.
Only did 1,672 today in one scene, in about an hour and forty five minutes.
Have been out all day. And I'm suddenly busy cleaning to prepare to leave for the train station after midnight (Does anyone else out there feel the need to clean their whole house before they go away?). I can't really call it "packing", because it's just throwing a change of clothes in a bag. I'm going to see if I can get this digital camera working.
Trying to develop a realistic plan for finishing this thing. Next week is quite busy. If I do 5,000 on my train ride home and then another 5,000 on Thanksgiving day, with the additional 10K on Friday I should be at a good 2600+ for each day thereafter. That's doable.
But then, there's the matter of finishing the story.
I've been trying to keep my word count on each scene high (1500+), and at this rate, even when I hit 50,000 I'll be nowhere near finishing the story. Maybe I should work a little for speed, as well.
jules
At least it's not page 8.
Only did 1,672 today in one scene, in about an hour and forty five minutes.
Have been out all day. And I'm suddenly busy cleaning to prepare to leave for the train station after midnight (Does anyone else out there feel the need to clean their whole house before they go away?). I can't really call it "packing", because it's just throwing a change of clothes in a bag. I'm going to see if I can get this digital camera working.
Trying to develop a realistic plan for finishing this thing. Next week is quite busy. If I do 5,000 on my train ride home and then another 5,000 on Thanksgiving day, with the additional 10K on Friday I should be at a good 2600+ for each day thereafter. That's doable.
But then, there's the matter of finishing the story.
I've been trying to keep my word count on each scene high (1500+), and at this rate, even when I hit 50,000 I'll be nowhere near finishing the story. Maybe I should work a little for speed, as well.
jules
NaNo - Day 21. I Hate Circuit City.
Or any of those places like it.
It sucks that there are times I *cannot* *avoid* these consumer electronics vortexes. I always feel like I'm entering a black hole.
I went in tonight to buy a digital camera, a gift to myself for completing the first novel. Thought it might be handy to have before going back to Virginia for Thanksgiving. I found a decent model fairly quickly. At least, I think it's decent.
With the warranty, memory card, rechargeable batteries, and camera bag, I ended up spending *twice* what the camera cost. Which makes me feel like a bit of a sucker.
The sky was bright and sunny when I went in. But it was dark, brooding and cold when I walked out. That just made me feel even more like I wasted a significant portion of my life.
*sigh*
Had a nice short meeting with Producer #2. Who baffles me. He told me today that he doesn't like the Sam Phillips record I gave him a copy of. What!? How could he *not* *like* *Sam* *Phillips*!? He also didn't like the latest TV on the Radio album, which I think is a friggin' masterpiece.
It's amazing that this guy likes my stuff at all.
But he does, he really does dig what I'm doing. And I think I'm giving him a better idea of what I want this next record to be with every passing day. There's a demo session next week (for songs I haven't even written yet!), and then we'll finalize our song choice.
And then it will be time to really get our hands dirty. Heh, heh.
I haven't written any words on Novel #2 yet today; kinda blew a fuse yesterday and needed some recovery time.
In the meantime, there is Thanksgiving, and there is a train to catch very, very early in the morning. I'm deciding that I don't want to trek back out into the cold and do laundry tonight. So maybe there is time to scribble a bit, go for the two thousand that it will take to push me into the 70K club, and figure out this digital camera I just bought.
jules
It sucks that there are times I *cannot* *avoid* these consumer electronics vortexes. I always feel like I'm entering a black hole.
I went in tonight to buy a digital camera, a gift to myself for completing the first novel. Thought it might be handy to have before going back to Virginia for Thanksgiving. I found a decent model fairly quickly. At least, I think it's decent.
With the warranty, memory card, rechargeable batteries, and camera bag, I ended up spending *twice* what the camera cost. Which makes me feel like a bit of a sucker.
The sky was bright and sunny when I went in. But it was dark, brooding and cold when I walked out. That just made me feel even more like I wasted a significant portion of my life.
*sigh*
Had a nice short meeting with Producer #2. Who baffles me. He told me today that he doesn't like the Sam Phillips record I gave him a copy of. What!? How could he *not* *like* *Sam* *Phillips*!? He also didn't like the latest TV on the Radio album, which I think is a friggin' masterpiece.
It's amazing that this guy likes my stuff at all.
But he does, he really does dig what I'm doing. And I think I'm giving him a better idea of what I want this next record to be with every passing day. There's a demo session next week (for songs I haven't even written yet!), and then we'll finalize our song choice.
And then it will be time to really get our hands dirty. Heh, heh.
I haven't written any words on Novel #2 yet today; kinda blew a fuse yesterday and needed some recovery time.
In the meantime, there is Thanksgiving, and there is a train to catch very, very early in the morning. I'm deciding that I don't want to trek back out into the cold and do laundry tonight. So maybe there is time to scribble a bit, go for the two thousand that it will take to push me into the 70K club, and figure out this digital camera I just bought.
jules
Monday, November 20, 2006
NaNo - Day 20. 10K.
Current wordcount: 68,454
Today's wordcount: 10,233
Time spent writing: 4-5 hours
Time spent on NaNo Boards: 0.75 hours
Today's soundtrack: My frantically moving fingers against the keys of the Neo, typing into oblivion
Today's mood: Awesome about the word count, melancholy about other things
At 11:08pm, I completed a 10 minute word war that put my word count for the day at...
...wait for it...
...10,233.
*sigh*
There was no pain involved in getting this many words down, just a determination to make every minute on public transportation count. I took the local trains to and from my several destinations today, so I'd have more time for word smithing. The Neo held the majority of my words, over 6,000 of them. After a break I finished up with some good ole word wars.
I tried to check out the word wars in the NaNo forums; they don't have the same immediacy that the AIM chat rooms have. It's nice to have a visual representation of the room full of people that you're racing against.
There were some hard scenes to be written today. My main character's father died in a car crash when the MC was very young, and things fall apart for his mother soon after. Their standard of living comes way, way down, and his mother, being a proud woman, loses her mind in the strain.
The thing that really did a number on my head were all the scenes where my main character remembers primary and elementary school. At those ages, I did some things and were some things that I am not proud of. I remembered them all today; it was difficult.
I send a silent prayer up to the universe that I may one day be forgiven.
For all you potential 10Kers: There's a 10K Day Challenge this Friday. That will be good. I have an eight hour train ride back to the city. I have my Neo. It will be done.
yay,
jules
Today's wordcount: 10,233
Time spent writing: 4-5 hours
Time spent on NaNo Boards: 0.75 hours
Today's soundtrack: My frantically moving fingers against the keys of the Neo, typing into oblivion
Today's mood: Awesome about the word count, melancholy about other things
At 11:08pm, I completed a 10 minute word war that put my word count for the day at...
...wait for it...
*sigh*
There was no pain involved in getting this many words down, just a determination to make every minute on public transportation count. I took the local trains to and from my several destinations today, so I'd have more time for word smithing. The Neo held the majority of my words, over 6,000 of them. After a break I finished up with some good ole word wars.
I tried to check out the word wars in the NaNo forums; they don't have the same immediacy that the AIM chat rooms have. It's nice to have a visual representation of the room full of people that you're racing against.
There were some hard scenes to be written today. My main character's father died in a car crash when the MC was very young, and things fall apart for his mother soon after. Their standard of living comes way, way down, and his mother, being a proud woman, loses her mind in the strain.
The thing that really did a number on my head were all the scenes where my main character remembers primary and elementary school. At those ages, I did some things and were some things that I am not proud of. I remembered them all today; it was difficult.
I send a silent prayer up to the universe that I may one day be forgiven.
For all you potential 10Kers: There's a 10K Day Challenge this Friday. That will be good. I have an eight hour train ride back to the city. I have my Neo. It will be done.
yay,
jules
NaNo - Day 20. 10K or Bust.
It's 10am and I have to run, but I wanted to let the world know that my goal today is a hefty 10k.
I've made a start, a 1260+ scene I got through this morning. I have a couple of appointments but I should be home around 3pm or so. At that point I will word war until my fingers fall off. Or until I reach 10K.
I'm also taking the Neo out, *really* going to work it for all it's worth today.
A 10K output today will also mean that I'm caught up with my count, a little over, even.
Wish me luck.
jules
I've made a start, a 1260+ scene I got through this morning. I have a couple of appointments but I should be home around 3pm or so. At that point I will word war until my fingers fall off. Or until I reach 10K.
I'm also taking the Neo out, *really* going to work it for all it's worth today.
A 10K output today will also mean that I'm caught up with my count, a little over, even.
Wish me luck.
jules
Sunday, November 19, 2006
NaNo - Day 19. A Start. A Decent Start.
Current wordcount: 58,221
Today's wordcount: 5,031
Time spent writing: 1.5 hours, maybe more
Time spent on NaNo Boards: 30 minutes
Today's soundtrack: needy consultants
Today's mood: Frazzled. But good.
Work was *crazy* today.
The guy I usually work with on weekends was out, and there was *tons* to do, didn't get a lunch break, for heaven's sake.
My AIM word war pals have saved me, though. I was able to log a little over 5000 words today on the first scenes of my novel. It's nice to have this mock outline, and to be following it so closely. I'm three scenes into my second novel! Yay!
I do feel a little overwhelmed by the prospect of this second novel. There's a *lot* to write about, and I'm not sure I'll do it all justice. I'd like to, though.
I love the little above status gauge that I stole from Anita Havel's blogspot. Anita also turned me on to 101 things in 1001 days, a perfect enterprise for my list making obsessions.
More word wars tonight? I'm debating.
Oh, what the hell...
jules
Today's wordcount: 5,031
Time spent writing: 1.5 hours, maybe more
Time spent on NaNo Boards: 30 minutes
Today's soundtrack: needy consultants
Today's mood: Frazzled. But good.
Work was *crazy* today.
The guy I usually work with on weekends was out, and there was *tons* to do, didn't get a lunch break, for heaven's sake.
My AIM word war pals have saved me, though. I was able to log a little over 5000 words today on the first scenes of my novel. It's nice to have this mock outline, and to be following it so closely. I'm three scenes into my second novel! Yay!
I do feel a little overwhelmed by the prospect of this second novel. There's a *lot* to write about, and I'm not sure I'll do it all justice. I'd like to, though.
I love the little above status gauge that I stole from Anita Havel's blogspot. Anita also turned me on to 101 things in 1001 days, a perfect enterprise for my list making obsessions.
More word wars tonight? I'm debating.
Oh, what the hell...
jules
NaNo - Day 19. Morning. Starting Again.
Okay, folks. It's on.
Pulled out my Neo this morning and jumped into the first scene. Logged about 1900 words before getting to work this morning, wrote several versions for the opening. I want it to be really scary. I also understand I can't get bogged down in this, there are nearly 48,000 words to go.
My outline in its current state has about 53 scenes. If I get 1000-1500 for each I should be okay with the word count. It would be awesome, though, to finish the story by November 30th.
Unfortunately, it's busy at work today. I'm the only one here, and there's a team with a proposal looming. Ack.
I may stay at work late tonight, get latched into some word wars and crank out at least two more scenes before going home. That will be a nice, healthy start.
Cheers,
julia
Pulled out my Neo this morning and jumped into the first scene. Logged about 1900 words before getting to work this morning, wrote several versions for the opening. I want it to be really scary. I also understand I can't get bogged down in this, there are nearly 48,000 words to go.
My outline in its current state has about 53 scenes. If I get 1000-1500 for each I should be okay with the word count. It would be awesome, though, to finish the story by November 30th.
Unfortunately, it's busy at work today. I'm the only one here, and there's a team with a proposal looming. Ack.
I may stay at work late tonight, get latched into some word wars and crank out at least two more scenes before going home. That will be a nice, healthy start.
Cheers,
julia
Saturday, November 18, 2006
NaNo - Day 18. Gearing Up.
It's nearly 9:30pm, and I'm getting through a first draft of my outline for the second novel. It was quite an undertaking, this story is a curious mix of present happenings, past happenings, flashback and hallucinations.
I don't have some really important details sorted out yet, but I will start writing tomorrow.
I'm getting some *amazing* help from Big V on the message boards, who has 20+ years of medicine/hospital experience.
Go, Big V!
There's *plenty* of conflict in this one, folks. You will not hear me whine about lack of plot again, at least until the end of this month.
I'm getting major motivation in the form of my sig widget on the board. I'm going to be almost 10K words behind when I start writing tomorrow.
Let's see how quickly I can catch up.
jules
I don't have some really important details sorted out yet, but I will start writing tomorrow.
I'm getting some *amazing* help from Big V on the message boards, who has 20+ years of medicine/hospital experience.
Go, Big V!
There's *plenty* of conflict in this one, folks. You will not hear me whine about lack of plot again, at least until the end of this month.
I'm getting major motivation in the form of my sig widget on the board. I'm going to be almost 10K words behind when I start writing tomorrow.
Let's see how quickly I can catch up.
jules
Friday, November 17, 2006
NaNo - Day 17. What Holly Said.
The author Holly Lisle has some nuggets of wisdom on her site that were too good for me to not share with you here:
In writing, as in life, nothing you do is ever wasted.
Hell hath no fury like a writer on a roll.
Do what you have to do, and do it the best you can, and learn to live with the heat; the heat comes with the kitchen.
There is no failure in fighting and losing if you get up and fight again. There is only failure in quitting - in walking away and leaving your dreams to die. Fight, and plan to win. You can do it. You're tougher than you think.
I've never read any of her books, but she knows what she's talking about, that Holly.
I probably won't start writing until Sunday.
I am plotting and character sketching up a storm, though. One thing I like about Novel #2 is that there are definite, big, even life-threating conflicts that my Main Character has - internal, with others, and with the world. Just have to make sure I'm keeping track of it all, and milking it for all it's worth.
Cursed with dialup at home, I won't be able to fully absorb my newfound internet treasures about abandoned hospitals until I get to my T1 line at work, i.e., tomorrow. I'm not going to spend too much time in research, I just want to have a head full of things swirling around so it will be extra easy to whip the writing cyclone up. The pictures on the web are *great*. And scary. Which is just what I need.
Now, off to the NaNo board to see if I can find someone who works in a hospital to GRILL!!! Heh, heh.
big love,
jules
In writing, as in life, nothing you do is ever wasted.
Hell hath no fury like a writer on a roll.
Do what you have to do, and do it the best you can, and learn to live with the heat; the heat comes with the kitchen.
There is no failure in fighting and losing if you get up and fight again. There is only failure in quitting - in walking away and leaving your dreams to die. Fight, and plan to win. You can do it. You're tougher than you think.
I've never read any of her books, but she knows what she's talking about, that Holly.
I probably won't start writing until Sunday.
I am plotting and character sketching up a storm, though. One thing I like about Novel #2 is that there are definite, big, even life-threating conflicts that my Main Character has - internal, with others, and with the world. Just have to make sure I'm keeping track of it all, and milking it for all it's worth.
Cursed with dialup at home, I won't be able to fully absorb my newfound internet treasures about abandoned hospitals until I get to my T1 line at work, i.e., tomorrow. I'm not going to spend too much time in research, I just want to have a head full of things swirling around so it will be extra easy to whip the writing cyclone up. The pictures on the web are *great*. And scary. Which is just what I need.
Now, off to the NaNo board to see if I can find someone who works in a hospital to GRILL!!! Heh, heh.
big love,
jules
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Ask And You Shall Receive.
No sooner did I lament the lack of time to do research on abandoned hospital wings than I googled "abandoned hospital wing" and found: Infiltration.org.
There are accounts there of explorations through at least three abandoned hospital wings, and there's even a page recommending movies that have scenes in abandoned wings of hospitals.
Oo, and what's this? Pictures taken in abandoned hospital wings on Flickr?
Holy cow.
I love the internet.
woot,
jules
There are accounts there of explorations through at least three abandoned hospital wings, and there's even a page recommending movies that have scenes in abandoned wings of hospitals.
Oo, and what's this? Pictures taken in abandoned hospital wings on Flickr?
Holy cow.
I love the internet.
woot,
jules
NaNo - Day 16. The Changeover.
Today is the first day I haven't written this month.
That is, today is the first day I haven't written to increase my word count. But I am working hard on a coherent outline to propel me into the second novel, a novel with more plot and complications than I can even get my head around right now. Much of it takes place in a hospital. More of it takes place in an abandoned wing of a hospital. I know zilch about hospitals and even less about abandoned wings of hospitals - do they keep the electricity running? God, I'll be making *so* much of this up. There's barely even time to google.
Today I updated my widget on the NaNoWriMo.org site to reflect my new desired word count - I'm shooting for an additional 50,000 words on Novel #2.
I feel like I'm diving off a cliff.
I changed my goal to 100,000, so the blue bar sank down from the end to about the halfway point, and I'm now at the pace of 3300+ words per day. I'm not even sure I'll start writing tomorrow - meeting with my producer and the meetup dinner afterwards.
It's okay, I kinda like the idea of being way behind and coming back. I have a lot of time coming up - I'm off Monday through Fridays now, just working weekends now until the end of the year. And I've got a couple of *long* train journeys ahead - traveling down to Virginia to see the family for Thanksgiving. If my outline is tight, there's no doubt I can rock the word count.
I've been reading through some essays I printed out from the Holly Lisle site. They're extremely inspiring. Go there if your technique needs some tweak.
rock on,
jules
That is, today is the first day I haven't written to increase my word count. But I am working hard on a coherent outline to propel me into the second novel, a novel with more plot and complications than I can even get my head around right now. Much of it takes place in a hospital. More of it takes place in an abandoned wing of a hospital. I know zilch about hospitals and even less about abandoned wings of hospitals - do they keep the electricity running? God, I'll be making *so* much of this up. There's barely even time to google.
Today I updated my widget on the NaNoWriMo.org site to reflect my new desired word count - I'm shooting for an additional 50,000 words on Novel #2.
I feel like I'm diving off a cliff.
I changed my goal to 100,000, so the blue bar sank down from the end to about the halfway point, and I'm now at the pace of 3300+ words per day. I'm not even sure I'll start writing tomorrow - meeting with my producer and the meetup dinner afterwards.
It's okay, I kinda like the idea of being way behind and coming back. I have a lot of time coming up - I'm off Monday through Fridays now, just working weekends now until the end of the year. And I've got a couple of *long* train journeys ahead - traveling down to Virginia to see the family for Thanksgiving. If my outline is tight, there's no doubt I can rock the word count.
I've been reading through some essays I printed out from the Holly Lisle site. They're extremely inspiring. Go there if your technique needs some tweak.
rock on,
jules
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
NaNo - Day 15. The Decision Point.
Well.
Today I thought of another couple of scenes to add to Novel #1. Did some word wars, which yielded me about 2000 words in an hour.
And, since I'm calling it Novel #1, I guess there has to be a Novel #2.
Yes, I'm going to go ahead with the second one. What else am I going to do with the rest of my time this month?
That is, besides make my album. I got to talk music all day with one of my producers, a guy who is has been making music for long time and has a lot of great history. That was delicious.
But this second plot is calling to me, big time. And so, I must try to give it life.
Novel #2 is *huge*. Well, not huge, just involved. I'm staying up tonight, with my index cards and three different colored markers, see if I can fashion a coherent plot line.
I like being busy. We're going to see how busy I can make myself this month.
cheers,
jules
(PS - today I got wind of NaNoWriYe.com. That's pretty frickin' awesome.)
Today I thought of another couple of scenes to add to Novel #1. Did some word wars, which yielded me about 2000 words in an hour.
And, since I'm calling it Novel #1, I guess there has to be a Novel #2.
Yes, I'm going to go ahead with the second one. What else am I going to do with the rest of my time this month?
That is, besides make my album. I got to talk music all day with one of my producers, a guy who is has been making music for long time and has a lot of great history. That was delicious.
But this second plot is calling to me, big time. And so, I must try to give it life.
Novel #2 is *huge*. Well, not huge, just involved. I'm staying up tonight, with my index cards and three different colored markers, see if I can fashion a coherent plot line.
I like being busy. We're going to see how busy I can make myself this month.
cheers,
jules
(PS - today I got wind of NaNoWriYe.com. That's pretty frickin' awesome.)
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
NaNo - Day 14. Um...
I'm done.
Finished this morning on the train to work.
My guy finally snapped after walking around all night in the rain. I should have ended on a less intense scene, I'm still a little shaken from leaving him that way.
Hung with my producers last night. We're about to dive head first into this album, and *nobody's* coming up for air until it's finished.
In the midst of all this, I'm contemplating writing a second novel. Or at least, making it a definitely goal to accumulate 100,000 words this month. Here's a bit of the debate going on in my head:
The angel says:
You did it! You did your 50,000 words, now you can relax! Take it easy. Work on your album. The second story plot is very exciting, but you need to make an extensive outline and draw maps and do medical research and all kinds of stuff there's no time for. Get it all ready for next year and go have a fruity drink with an umbrella in it.
The devil says:
That's it? You call that a challenge? The month's only half over, for god's sake. You were only half invested in the first place, you and your mini plot and psychological exposition. Now you've got a real plot, and a real conflict and a real crazy psycho stuck in a locked room, and you're going to *sit* on this until *next* *year*?
And, if you stop now, you'll be stuck *forever* on page 8 of the the descending word count lists. For god's sake, get off page 8!
Ergh...
jules
Finished this morning on the train to work.
My guy finally snapped after walking around all night in the rain. I should have ended on a less intense scene, I'm still a little shaken from leaving him that way.
Hung with my producers last night. We're about to dive head first into this album, and *nobody's* coming up for air until it's finished.
In the midst of all this, I'm contemplating writing a second novel. Or at least, making it a definitely goal to accumulate 100,000 words this month. Here's a bit of the debate going on in my head:
The angel says:
You did it! You did your 50,000 words, now you can relax! Take it easy. Work on your album. The second story plot is very exciting, but you need to make an extensive outline and draw maps and do medical research and all kinds of stuff there's no time for. Get it all ready for next year and go have a fruity drink with an umbrella in it.
The devil says:
That's it? You call that a challenge? The month's only half over, for god's sake. You were only half invested in the first place, you and your mini plot and psychological exposition. Now you've got a real plot, and a real conflict and a real crazy psycho stuck in a locked room, and you're going to *sit* on this until *next* *year*?
And, if you stop now, you'll be stuck *forever* on page 8 of the the descending word count lists. For god's sake, get off page 8!
Ergh...
jules
Monday, November 13, 2006
NaNo - Day 13. Noon.
The Neo is brilliant. It's too small not to just whip out on the mode of public transportation of my choice, or in my bed, and just type type type type.
I've been breaking each scene down into chunks and giving each chunk a word count. Each chunk gets a file on the Neo, so I can keep good track of my word count for each. In most cases I far exceed the word count I wanted for each scene. Which has the added bonus of making me feel great.
I did a chunk on the way home from work last night.
I did a couple of chunks when I woke up this morning.
I did a big chunk on the subway headed to work this morning (1,000 words, right there).
Two more scenes, folks. Another three thousand words. and then this first draft, as wobbly as it is, will be finished.
Oo, Work be *damned*. This is *too* irresistible not to try and finish today.
jules
I've been breaking each scene down into chunks and giving each chunk a word count. Each chunk gets a file on the Neo, so I can keep good track of my word count for each. In most cases I far exceed the word count I wanted for each scene. Which has the added bonus of making me feel great.
I did a chunk on the way home from work last night.
I did a couple of chunks when I woke up this morning.
I did a big chunk on the subway headed to work this morning (1,000 words, right there).
Two more scenes, folks. Another three thousand words. and then this first draft, as wobbly as it is, will be finished.
Oo, Work be *damned*. This is *too* irresistible not to try and finish today.
jules
Sunday, November 12, 2006
NaNo - Day 12. Woah.
I'm feeling a second wind. With the novel. With music. And with life in general, actually.
And hot diggity, I'm 9000 words away from winning this race!
Because I had to spread ten scenes out over 20,000 words or so, the last few scenes I've written have been super detailed, compared to the first few I did. Some of those first scenes will get another visit, at some point. Every day I become a little more convinced that I might be able to make the story work as is.
But I've started to talk about my Second Story plot with people, and it seems to be resonating. The new work borders on thriller, almost. Hope I can muster up the skills to pull it off. I haven't sat down to outline it yet, but really need to over the next few days. With the month almost half over and much of my time going to music, I'm going to need to be super organized to pull off a second 50,000 words before November 30th.
It seems the real challenge starts now.
Robbie's won already! But we knew he would, didn't we? Congrats, Robbie.
I'm at work today and there is work to do, so I'm not sure if I'll get more time today to up my word count. But I've been doing really good with early morning sessions lately, so I'll get a few in this week.
Damien Rice's new album is out. Stream it here.
cheers,
jules
And hot diggity, I'm 9000 words away from winning this race!
Because I had to spread ten scenes out over 20,000 words or so, the last few scenes I've written have been super detailed, compared to the first few I did. Some of those first scenes will get another visit, at some point. Every day I become a little more convinced that I might be able to make the story work as is.
But I've started to talk about my Second Story plot with people, and it seems to be resonating. The new work borders on thriller, almost. Hope I can muster up the skills to pull it off. I haven't sat down to outline it yet, but really need to over the next few days. With the month almost half over and much of my time going to music, I'm going to need to be super organized to pull off a second 50,000 words before November 30th.
It seems the real challenge starts now.
Robbie's won already! But we knew he would, didn't we? Congrats, Robbie.
I'm at work today and there is work to do, so I'm not sure if I'll get more time today to up my word count. But I've been doing really good with early morning sessions lately, so I'll get a few in this week.
Damien Rice's new album is out. Stream it here.
cheers,
jules
Saturday, November 11, 2006
NaNo - Day 11. No News.
Between work and the internet, I'm *beat*.
I'm slinking home with my tail between my legs, not having increased my word count by much from this morning.
Taking the Neo home with me, though. I may come in tomorrow with good news.
jules
I'm slinking home with my tail between my legs, not having increased my word count by much from this morning.
Taking the Neo home with me, though. I may come in tomorrow with good news.
jules
NaNo - Day 11. 11:11 on 11/11.
God, I was *stroppy* yesterday, wasn't I?
Feeling much better today. I read the "Week 2" chapter in No Plot, No Problem and it seems my tantrum was right on time.
It seems the officials on the board have no problem with whatever I write over and above 50000 words in one story. So I'm going to shoot for finishing a second 50,000 word story by the end of November. *gulp* That will really be a challenge.
I need to get on finishing that outline.
Yesterday, however, belonged to music.
I wrote songs and played a *lot* yesterday, even spent some time at the piano (guitar is my main instrument). I tried to tell myself that I was suddenly spending so much time on music because things had gotten rocky with the novel, but I couldn't even guilt myself into stopping.
It was quite nice, actually.
Had a fabulous meeting with the two producers on my album project. The guy we met up with yesterday is a pretty heavy hitter who likes what I do. It's nice to see someone show true appreciation for your work.
Went to see Naomi Shelton at the Fat Cat yesterday. Naomi Shelton is a 70 year old gospel singer. She's got a trio of backup singers, a drummer and keyboardist. They sing this incredible gospel music in the middle of this college bar, with ping pong and foosball tables all around and people climbing through to get to the bathroom. It's surreal. It's New York. Naomi was *brilliant*, in her gold spangled vest and silver shoes.
But we're not here to talk about music, are we?
I felt the novel pull me out of bed this morning at 7:45am. It said, "Aw, Jul, you won't be able to do much, having to go to work and all, but just work on me. Just a little."
So, I did.
I was able to write 1400 words with no coffee in my system at all. On top of it that, I *found* 450+ words in my little Neo that I had forgotten to download! Took the Neo onto the subway on the ride to work, and clocked another 700 or so words.
2500+ words, and it's not even noon yet.
40000 is so close I can taste it. Cross your fingers for a quiet workday so I can break that sucker. Was supposed to hang with an old friend of mine tonight, but I'm seriously reconsidering so I can...work on the novel.
Ha!
jules
Feeling much better today. I read the "Week 2" chapter in No Plot, No Problem and it seems my tantrum was right on time.
It seems the officials on the board have no problem with whatever I write over and above 50000 words in one story. So I'm going to shoot for finishing a second 50,000 word story by the end of November. *gulp* That will really be a challenge.
I need to get on finishing that outline.
Yesterday, however, belonged to music.
I wrote songs and played a *lot* yesterday, even spent some time at the piano (guitar is my main instrument). I tried to tell myself that I was suddenly spending so much time on music because things had gotten rocky with the novel, but I couldn't even guilt myself into stopping.
It was quite nice, actually.
Had a fabulous meeting with the two producers on my album project. The guy we met up with yesterday is a pretty heavy hitter who likes what I do. It's nice to see someone show true appreciation for your work.
Went to see Naomi Shelton at the Fat Cat yesterday. Naomi Shelton is a 70 year old gospel singer. She's got a trio of backup singers, a drummer and keyboardist. They sing this incredible gospel music in the middle of this college bar, with ping pong and foosball tables all around and people climbing through to get to the bathroom. It's surreal. It's New York. Naomi was *brilliant*, in her gold spangled vest and silver shoes.
But we're not here to talk about music, are we?
I felt the novel pull me out of bed this morning at 7:45am. It said, "Aw, Jul, you won't be able to do much, having to go to work and all, but just work on me. Just a little."
So, I did.
I was able to write 1400 words with no coffee in my system at all. On top of it that, I *found* 450+ words in my little Neo that I had forgotten to download! Took the Neo onto the subway on the ride to work, and clocked another 700 or so words.
2500+ words, and it's not even noon yet.
40000 is so close I can taste it. Cross your fingers for a quiet workday so I can break that sucker. Was supposed to hang with an old friend of mine tonight, but I'm seriously reconsidering so I can...work on the novel.
Ha!
jules
Friday, November 10, 2006
NaNo - Day 10. I'm *tired* of being fucking invisible.
Your life is your art. And your art is your life, isn't it?
I believe that.
I think this is true no matter how deeply you create. Even if you try not to create deeply, even if you try to lie about yourself with your art, your art *still* exposes the heart of you: a person who needs to lie is telling a lie to the world, and therefore being what he is.
It's weird what's on my mind right now, because it's silly. It's silly and completely random and completely unintentional, but this latest thing is the last in the series of events like it that have ripped through my heart and put a damper on my days. It speaks to the core of all the blocks I've ever felt as a creator. And the thing is this:
Sometimes, I feel like I'm invisible.
Have you ever had that feeling, when you're saying hello, being friendly, asking for help, and getting hardly anything back in response?
It's painful.
It's painful when you scream, scream and shout to the world, or you try to say something to a group of people, or you try to ask for help, and they ignore you (all the while being friendly enough with each other).
It makes you wonder what your words are worth. It makes you wonder why you make the effort.
That's what's going on with my main character as well. He's ignored, marginalized, set to the side. And, this poor boy, he finds his only power in the world by doing something heinous. I have no plans to do anything that heinous, but I understand where the need comes from. And I have to tell this poor boy's story because no one else is listening.
So I say to the world, though it may not be listening: I'm *tired* of being fucking invisible.
Therapy session over.
I've only done a measly 564 words on my novel today. I've been in meetings all day and will be out most of the night. The Workweek begins tomorrow.
But...
I met with my producers (and they are now, officially, my producers) on my record today and it's happening, folks. It's happening. I've asked the officials on the NaNoBoard if it's legal to write a second story loosely based on the first (if each is 50,000 words).
We'll see what they say.
jules
I believe that.
I think this is true no matter how deeply you create. Even if you try not to create deeply, even if you try to lie about yourself with your art, your art *still* exposes the heart of you: a person who needs to lie is telling a lie to the world, and therefore being what he is.
It's weird what's on my mind right now, because it's silly. It's silly and completely random and completely unintentional, but this latest thing is the last in the series of events like it that have ripped through my heart and put a damper on my days. It speaks to the core of all the blocks I've ever felt as a creator. And the thing is this:
Sometimes, I feel like I'm invisible.
Have you ever had that feeling, when you're saying hello, being friendly, asking for help, and getting hardly anything back in response?
It's painful.
It's painful when you scream, scream and shout to the world, or you try to say something to a group of people, or you try to ask for help, and they ignore you (all the while being friendly enough with each other).
It makes you wonder what your words are worth. It makes you wonder why you make the effort.
That's what's going on with my main character as well. He's ignored, marginalized, set to the side. And, this poor boy, he finds his only power in the world by doing something heinous. I have no plans to do anything that heinous, but I understand where the need comes from. And I have to tell this poor boy's story because no one else is listening.
So I say to the world, though it may not be listening: I'm *tired* of being fucking invisible.
Therapy session over.
I've only done a measly 564 words on my novel today. I've been in meetings all day and will be out most of the night. The Workweek begins tomorrow.
But...
I met with my producers (and they are now, officially, my producers) on my record today and it's happening, folks. It's happening. I've asked the officials on the NaNoBoard if it's legal to write a second story loosely based on the first (if each is 50,000 words).
We'll see what they say.
jules
Thursday, November 09, 2006
NaNo - Day 9. Over.
My body is rebelling against this novel.
My enthusiasm for finishing my last few scenes is dragging on the ground. And today, out of nowhere, I suddenly started *writing* *songs* with a vengeance. Writing songs is what I do, but I haven't had a wave of ideas this significant for a while.
Just when I need most to boost up my word count.
At this point, I will pretty much be done with a (rough, rough) first draft of this thing at 50,000 words. This new novel I want to start on might be considered a second draft of the first story (which significant changes in setting, character, etc.). Which I'm not sure is legal. But that's okay. I can break the law.
I am not sure the original idea is "novel"-length, really. I'll be able to wring 50,000 words out of it, but, edited and shined up, it'll probably be novella length (I'm doing a *lot* of padding).
Getting my 3208 words today was squeezing blood from a small, ornery, recalcitrant stone. Maybe Day 13 will not be realistic for finishing this thing. And perhaps I need to focus hard on this first story, not give up on it so easily, and try to add something in to bolster it. Hm. Dunno.
Decisions, decisions.
jules
My enthusiasm for finishing my last few scenes is dragging on the ground. And today, out of nowhere, I suddenly started *writing* *songs* with a vengeance. Writing songs is what I do, but I haven't had a wave of ideas this significant for a while.
Just when I need most to boost up my word count.
At this point, I will pretty much be done with a (rough, rough) first draft of this thing at 50,000 words. This new novel I want to start on might be considered a second draft of the first story (which significant changes in setting, character, etc.). Which I'm not sure is legal. But that's okay. I can break the law.
I am not sure the original idea is "novel"-length, really. I'll be able to wring 50,000 words out of it, but, edited and shined up, it'll probably be novella length (I'm doing a *lot* of padding).
Getting my 3208 words today was squeezing blood from a small, ornery, recalcitrant stone. Maybe Day 13 will not be realistic for finishing this thing. And perhaps I need to focus hard on this first story, not give up on it so easily, and try to add something in to bolster it. Hm. Dunno.
Decisions, decisions.
jules
NaNo - Day 9. Early Afternoon.
Hello. It's 11:20am. My day two of my three days off. Haven't done any writing yet today, but I'm in an infinitely better frame of mind than I was yesterday.
And, I turned on the radio today to find that 1. Dems will probably take over the House and the Senate and 2. Donald Rumsfeld has resigned!
"Is it my birthday?" I wondered briefly.
I'm not even *that* into politics. Seriously, it's been like watching a football game. Not that I'm even into sports, at all.
I'm dragging my feet novel-wise. But I'm going to muster up some enthusiasm, and finish the current incarnation of this story by...Day 13. That means 3,754 words per day, at least.
I think I can,
jules
And, I turned on the radio today to find that 1. Dems will probably take over the House and the Senate and 2. Donald Rumsfeld has resigned!
"Is it my birthday?" I wondered briefly.
I'm not even *that* into politics. Seriously, it's been like watching a football game. Not that I'm even into sports, at all.
I'm dragging my feet novel-wise. But I'm going to muster up some enthusiasm, and finish the current incarnation of this story by...Day 13. That means 3,754 words per day, at least.
I think I can,
jules
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
NaNo - Day 8. Weird Day. Blue Funk.
It's nearly 5pm.
I've done *no* writing today yet.
Something's taken over. It's very gloomy outside, and I'm feeling very gloomy today. Haven't felt much like writing.
Not sure what this funk is related to. I'm just in the basement right now, riding it.
I'll try to get at least to 30K today; not long to go for that.
jules
I've done *no* writing today yet.
Something's taken over. It's very gloomy outside, and I'm feeling very gloomy today. Haven't felt much like writing.
Not sure what this funk is related to. I'm just in the basement right now, riding it.
I'll try to get at least to 30K today; not long to go for that.
jules
You *go*, America.
It's a quarter after 3 in the morning, and I'm up cruising election results.
This *never* happens.
I'm refreshing my yahoo news every couple of minutes...this is thrilling.
jules
This *never* happens.
I'm refreshing my yahoo news every couple of minutes...this is thrilling.
jules
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
NaNo - Day 7. Election Day.
Happy Election Day!
Got up early and walked down the street to vote this morning. Took all of fifteen minutes. Civic duty: check.
In the I Can't Believe It File: Wow. I reached and surpassed the halfway point today. Another 21,666 words, and I can stick a fork in this sucker. Word count quota: check.
Even though I have some new ideas for this novel that would completely change everything I've done up till now, I've decided to finish the story I've got going. That is, I'll use the remaining word count to write through the eight or nine remaining scenes I've crudely mapped out for this tale.
Whether it stands on its own as a narrative is another question entirely, which I'm less prepared to answer right now. Much of this writing is disjointed and rambling; I'm not even writing the sections in order. Thank god I had the presence of mind to create (something like) an outline, or I'd be totally lost by now. I'll tell you a secret: I haven't re-read anything. Not one word.
Most of my output came today through surreptitious word wars on company time. It's been really slow today. There's another hour before I'm supposed to leave work, even. I may continue the harrowing scene I stopped in the middle of.
It's amazing what your brain and your fingers come up with, completely off the cuff. I had something completely unintended, but particularly damaging happen to my little Angel today. It's sad, but it makes a good setup for the last few turn of events.
Poor kid.
Joy: Going to see my friend Kate Evans play a few songs at The Living Room tonight. Looking forward to that!
Hope your Election Day
was/is/will be
a good one,
jules
Got up early and walked down the street to vote this morning. Took all of fifteen minutes. Civic duty: check.
In the I Can't Believe It File: Wow. I reached and surpassed the halfway point today. Another 21,666 words, and I can stick a fork in this sucker. Word count quota: check.
Even though I have some new ideas for this novel that would completely change everything I've done up till now, I've decided to finish the story I've got going. That is, I'll use the remaining word count to write through the eight or nine remaining scenes I've crudely mapped out for this tale.
Whether it stands on its own as a narrative is another question entirely, which I'm less prepared to answer right now. Much of this writing is disjointed and rambling; I'm not even writing the sections in order. Thank god I had the presence of mind to create (something like) an outline, or I'd be totally lost by now. I'll tell you a secret: I haven't re-read anything. Not one word.
Most of my output came today through surreptitious word wars on company time. It's been really slow today. There's another hour before I'm supposed to leave work, even. I may continue the harrowing scene I stopped in the middle of.
It's amazing what your brain and your fingers come up with, completely off the cuff. I had something completely unintended, but particularly damaging happen to my little Angel today. It's sad, but it makes a good setup for the last few turn of events.
Poor kid.
Joy: Going to see my friend Kate Evans play a few songs at The Living Room tonight. Looking forward to that!
Hope your Election Day
was/is/will be
a good one,
jules
Monday, November 06, 2006
NaNo - Day 6. Evening.
It's time to leave work.
My attention span has decreased, from that of a fly, to that of a gnat. Yes, it's time to leave work for the evening.
Somehow I managed to type 3101 words today. Even with all the work I had to do. The Word War AIMers keep me on my toes, they really do.
My fears around doing NaNo were all about achieving the word count. The word count is easy. Plot is the hard thing. Writing a coherent narrative is the hard thing.
Hm.
Today I got an inkling, though. I thought of a few shifts of my main character's personality and setting that might make him a little smarter. A little edgier. Not so sad sack. And infinitely more interesting.
This might work. I need to think on it. Next week, I'll introduce you to him.
I'm headed for 30,000 words by this Thursday.
I think I can,
I think I can,
jules
My attention span has decreased, from that of a fly, to that of a gnat. Yes, it's time to leave work for the evening.
Somehow I managed to type 3101 words today. Even with all the work I had to do. The Word War AIMers keep me on my toes, they really do.
My fears around doing NaNo were all about achieving the word count. The word count is easy. Plot is the hard thing. Writing a coherent narrative is the hard thing.
Hm.
Today I got an inkling, though. I thought of a few shifts of my main character's personality and setting that might make him a little smarter. A little edgier. Not so sad sack. And infinitely more interesting.
This might work. I need to think on it. Next week, I'll introduce you to him.
I'm headed for 30,000 words by this Thursday.
I think I can,
I think I can,
jules
NaNo - Day 6. Miscellaneous.
I'm *digging* this little Neo. I've been typing on the subway on this little slice of word processing heaven - I can get 600 words down in the ride to work, if I'm uninterrupted.
Just called my local Board of Elections, found out where to go tomorrow.
Writing this novel has had me thinking a lot about emotional honesty. And, in the interest of emotional honesty, I don't mind saying that I'm scared.
I'm scared of who these people are who are running our country.
I'm talking about the zombied souls in the smiling, glad-handing guise of public servants. They've taken what should be the most honest and fair of all systems, and perverted it. They've perverted it, they've rigged it, they've done everything they could to maintain their stranglehold on this country's money and resources, for their own ends.
We are, for the most part, law abiding nation. We go to work and pay our taxes. We don't storm Congress with AK-47s and stick guns in these people's faces and demand they do their jobs properly. We don't do that stuff, because we assume that our public servants are, at heart, decent people who want the best for this country and its citizens.
But I wonder. I look at what they've done, and what they continue to do, and I wonder. To be able to siphon so much money (and so many lives) away from decent, hardworking Americans and somehow manage to sleep at night surely denotes some kind of disconnection from humanity. How do you remind someone of their humanity once they've forgotten it? I'm reminded of Ayn Rand's drooling beast that's had its brain eaten out, impervious to logic and reason.
It's hard not to lose hope these days. With this election staring us all in the face, it's also hard not to be reminded that hope still exists.
I will vote tomorrow. And I hope you will, too.
Cheers,
jules
Just called my local Board of Elections, found out where to go tomorrow.
Writing this novel has had me thinking a lot about emotional honesty. And, in the interest of emotional honesty, I don't mind saying that I'm scared.
I'm scared of who these people are who are running our country.
I'm talking about the zombied souls in the smiling, glad-handing guise of public servants. They've taken what should be the most honest and fair of all systems, and perverted it. They've perverted it, they've rigged it, they've done everything they could to maintain their stranglehold on this country's money and resources, for their own ends.
We are, for the most part, law abiding nation. We go to work and pay our taxes. We don't storm Congress with AK-47s and stick guns in these people's faces and demand they do their jobs properly. We don't do that stuff, because we assume that our public servants are, at heart, decent people who want the best for this country and its citizens.
But I wonder. I look at what they've done, and what they continue to do, and I wonder. To be able to siphon so much money (and so many lives) away from decent, hardworking Americans and somehow manage to sleep at night surely denotes some kind of disconnection from humanity. How do you remind someone of their humanity once they've forgotten it? I'm reminded of Ayn Rand's drooling beast that's had its brain eaten out, impervious to logic and reason.
It's hard not to lose hope these days. With this election staring us all in the face, it's also hard not to be reminded that hope still exists.
I will vote tomorrow. And I hope you will, too.
Cheers,
jules
Sunday, November 05, 2006
NaNo - Day 5. Ripping Up the Roots.
Hello.
It's the end of day 5.
I have somewhere to be, about half an hour ago. I'm staggeringly late, still cleaning up here at work, but I wanted to put some thoughts down about the writing.
Still trying to reach rock bottom with the plot/lack-of-plot.
Today, I got the idea to ask my character who it is and what he wants to do.
He told me some *very* disturbing things.
See, there might be no way to have my character do what he's done, and be a nice, sympathetic individual at the same time. Maybe he's done this bad thing more than once. I don't know. He started saying very disturbing things, about human beings and religion and all that. He scared me a little.
Then again, I'm not a very experienced medium. Could be that I was getting the waves of someone else, some malevolent man-mental, not my guy. My guy is not really good at speaking up.
I'll spend time listening some more.
I can't say that it's any easier to know what to write about. But, having clocked an unbelievable 4,519 words today, I can say that at least it's easy to write.
Hm.
Hanging in there,
jules
It's the end of day 5.
I have somewhere to be, about half an hour ago. I'm staggeringly late, still cleaning up here at work, but I wanted to put some thoughts down about the writing.
Still trying to reach rock bottom with the plot/lack-of-plot.
Today, I got the idea to ask my character who it is and what he wants to do.
He told me some *very* disturbing things.
See, there might be no way to have my character do what he's done, and be a nice, sympathetic individual at the same time. Maybe he's done this bad thing more than once. I don't know. He started saying very disturbing things, about human beings and religion and all that. He scared me a little.
Then again, I'm not a very experienced medium. Could be that I was getting the waves of someone else, some malevolent man-mental, not my guy. My guy is not really good at speaking up.
I'll spend time listening some more.
I can't say that it's any easier to know what to write about. But, having clocked an unbelievable 4,519 words today, I can say that at least it's easy to write.
Hm.
Hanging in there,
jules
Saturday, November 04, 2006
NaNo - Day 4. BizarroWorld.
I managed to clock another 3000 words today, the stream of conscious is heating up and turning into steam.
Here's my new strategy: I just keep writing the same scene.
Note: I *didn't* say rewriting. There's no editing going on. I take the main idea of what I want to express, and I write it, and I write it a different way, and then I write it a different way.
This is helping me *so* *much* to know the characters, to really think about where they are and what they are seeing. It's like the scene deepens with every reset, and I'm able to capture something I didn't before.
What's rich - I have another 2900 words to go before I'm in the 20K club. I may do that after getting home tonight.
Today I watched a bad, bad movie (Mariah Carey's Glitter; strictly for the comedic value) and thoroughly avoided doing almost all my work.
How are you all doing out there in NaNoLand. Give me a shout!
Here's my new strategy: I just keep writing the same scene.
Note: I *didn't* say rewriting. There's no editing going on. I take the main idea of what I want to express, and I write it, and I write it a different way, and then I write it a different way.
This is helping me *so* *much* to know the characters, to really think about where they are and what they are seeing. It's like the scene deepens with every reset, and I'm able to capture something I didn't before.
What's rich - I have another 2900 words to go before I'm in the 20K club. I may do that after getting home tonight.
Today I watched a bad, bad movie (Mariah Carey's Glitter; strictly for the comedic value) and thoroughly avoided doing almost all my work.
How are you all doing out there in NaNoLand. Give me a shout!
Friday, November 03, 2006
NaNo - Day 3. The last few minutes.
Was out and about today for most of the day. I managed to get in nearly a thousand words at 7:45am, did some writing into a notebook on the way home tonight, and participated in a word war that probably netted me an extra seven or eight hundred words. At the end of the day, I landed just over 14,000.
Was in the studio for most of the day, then went to the NaNo meetup at Veselka in the city. Got there late, in time enough for some coffee and eggs and cheese. Nice people there.
My below mentioned lack of plot has been on my mind all day.
It's not necessarily bad that my book lacks Archplot; Robert McKee let me know ages ago that my book is probably Miniplot instead. But there's got to be something that joins one scene to another, some yearning in my main character that stays with him from the beginning to the end.
Dunno. I'll have to write my way through this one, folks.
Work tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how much gets done.
g'night,
jules
Was in the studio for most of the day, then went to the NaNo meetup at Veselka in the city. Got there late, in time enough for some coffee and eggs and cheese. Nice people there.
My below mentioned lack of plot has been on my mind all day.
It's not necessarily bad that my book lacks Archplot; Robert McKee let me know ages ago that my book is probably Miniplot instead. But there's got to be something that joins one scene to another, some yearning in my main character that stays with him from the beginning to the end.
Dunno. I'll have to write my way through this one, folks.
Work tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how much gets done.
g'night,
jules
NaNo - Day 3. Story helps.
I don't have a plot.
I feel like I'm in a twelve step meeting, admitting to something awful, but it has to be said.
I have a plot *twist*, but no plot. Which is technically just a *twist*. Which I could put down in one sentence, and shrug at it. It's kind-of a cool twist. But without a plot to weave it into...well...
There's no motivation guiding my protagonist's actions right now. And it's begun to bother me. I'm writing scene after scene, and I'm thinking, "gee, can't wait to get to the good part." Ergh.
I'm not going to stop writing. But I need to do some *serious* rethinking.
*sigh*
Any comments, advice, or virtual vodkas welcome at this point.
jules
I feel like I'm in a twelve step meeting, admitting to something awful, but it has to be said.
I have a plot *twist*, but no plot. Which is technically just a *twist*. Which I could put down in one sentence, and shrug at it. It's kind-of a cool twist. But without a plot to weave it into...well...
There's no motivation guiding my protagonist's actions right now. And it's begun to bother me. I'm writing scene after scene, and I'm thinking, "gee, can't wait to get to the good part." Ergh.
I'm not going to stop writing. But I need to do some *serious* rethinking.
*sigh*
Any comments, advice, or virtual vodkas welcome at this point.
jules
Thursday, November 02, 2006
NaNo - Day 2. Evening.
It's a little after 9pm. Today *flew*.
Wrote from 11am to 3pm today. The last hour of that time was spent in heavy duty WORD WARS. The scene flew right out of my fingers, so much easier than I'd ever thought.
WORD WARS are my new best friend. The people in the NaNoWar chat room on AIM *know* how to party. They'll get your wordcount *sorted*.
I took a break at 3pm to get some lunch and putz around. Made a bad egg white omelette (which I ate anyway). Started at it again at around 6:30pm, WORD WARRED my little heart out.
I added 6,800+ words today (in three scenes), to bring my total to 11,315!
Unbelievable.
Tomorrow: The test. I'm headed out for an 11am chiropractor appointment, and then I'm in the studio all day. I'll probably head over to Veselka to the New York dinner meetup after. Hitting the bed early so I can get up early enough to at least get through a scene. My word count won't be anything like it has been the past couple of days, I'm sure.
Tomorrow, I test drive the Neo. If I can type on the train, then...
WATCH OUT!!!
We are getting *baked* by Boston. That's not right.
Cheers,
jules
Wrote from 11am to 3pm today. The last hour of that time was spent in heavy duty WORD WARS. The scene flew right out of my fingers, so much easier than I'd ever thought.
WORD WARS are my new best friend. The people in the NaNoWar chat room on AIM *know* how to party. They'll get your wordcount *sorted*.
I took a break at 3pm to get some lunch and putz around. Made a bad egg white omelette (which I ate anyway). Started at it again at around 6:30pm, WORD WARRED my little heart out.
I added 6,800+ words today (in three scenes), to bring my total to 11,315!
Unbelievable.
Tomorrow: The test. I'm headed out for an 11am chiropractor appointment, and then I'm in the studio all day. I'll probably head over to Veselka to the New York dinner meetup after. Hitting the bed early so I can get up early enough to at least get through a scene. My word count won't be anything like it has been the past couple of days, I'm sure.
Tomorrow, I test drive the Neo. If I can type on the train, then...
WATCH OUT!!!
We are getting *baked* by Boston. That's not right.
Cheers,
jules
NaNo - Day 2. 1pm.
Howdy.
I've just done a good bit of work, and I'm here to tell you about it!
A new spin on a scene I was working on yesterday came to me this morning, as I was focusing all my energy on getting rid of a monster headache. 1,736 words later, my headache's gone and the scene has been widened and deepened. Now it looks a little more like what it's supposed to look like. And I am *jazzed*.
A small moment in a writer's life (damn, it feels *bold* to say that), but I'm enjoying the heck out of it.
Can I get two more (at least) 1,500 word chapters done today?
I'm going to try, ladies and gentlemen.
Think I'll go join the NaNoChat on AIM. A good 10 minute word war will be a good blast into the next scene.
Cool News: NaNoWriMo sent me a Neo. And, I've finally figured out how to load the work from the Neo onto the main computer I'm working on. Joy! This means I can take this baby to the STREET! New Yorkers, if you see a chick typing on a weird, fisher-price-looking thing on the subway, it's probably me.
Might go to the meetup tomorrow, after all.
cheers,
j.
I've just done a good bit of work, and I'm here to tell you about it!
A new spin on a scene I was working on yesterday came to me this morning, as I was focusing all my energy on getting rid of a monster headache. 1,736 words later, my headache's gone and the scene has been widened and deepened. Now it looks a little more like what it's supposed to look like. And I am *jazzed*.
A small moment in a writer's life (damn, it feels *bold* to say that), but I'm enjoying the heck out of it.
Can I get two more (at least) 1,500 word chapters done today?
I'm going to try, ladies and gentlemen.
Think I'll go join the NaNoChat on AIM. A good 10 minute word war will be a good blast into the next scene.
Cool News: NaNoWriMo sent me a Neo. And, I've finally figured out how to load the work from the Neo onto the main computer I'm working on. Joy! This means I can take this baby to the STREET! New Yorkers, if you see a chick typing on a weird, fisher-price-looking thing on the subway, it's probably me.
Might go to the meetup tomorrow, after all.
cheers,
j.
NaNo - Day 2. Morning.
It's 8:30am.
My head is pounding, and I feel hung over and sick.
I'm not sure why this is, except that I was up until way too late in the morning, until 3:30am, or so, watching Wire in the Blood. A friend taped the new series from BBC America and I watched the first three episodes. I'm a little miffed about the direction the show has taken since the departure of Hermione Norris. Simone Lahbib is trying. But it seems like all the other characters have degenerated to cardboard cutouts now that Hermione's gone. DI Alex Fielding's pretty flat (I love the way she dashes into a crime scene, tells everyone else to do the work, then leaves). I'm also not sure if DI Fielding is good at her job. Hermione's Carol Jordan was much more of a match for Tony Hill, intellectually *and* chemistry-wise. In the past series, there was also a lot more going on with the secondary characters, unexpected storylines that made them interesting to watch as well (like the rivalry between Don Merrick and Kevin Geoffries). Wire in the Blood Series 4 could also be called "The Robson Green Show."
I heard that something similar is happening to my lovely House, as well. I haven't been able to watch any of the new series (my TV is *fried*). I also have officially given up on the SAW franchise - SAW III was *awful*.
*sigh*
It's coming up on 9am. I will get some breakfast, feed the kitties, see if I can kill this headache, then start writing at 10am. And I won't stop until I've typed at least 4000 words.
NO SLEEP TIL 4000!
People racked up some *amazing* word counts yesterday. I may take some time to go hunting around on the NaNo forum today, see if I can meet some new folks and network. Still haven't decided on whether to go to the meet up tomorrow - I'm in the studio tomorrow during the day and might need time to write tomorrow night.
Burt says he's getting himself an ipod upon completion of his 50,000 words. I hadn't thought about a reward gift, that's a good idea.
I'll think on that.
It's all good,
jules
My head is pounding, and I feel hung over and sick.
I'm not sure why this is, except that I was up until way too late in the morning, until 3:30am, or so, watching Wire in the Blood. A friend taped the new series from BBC America and I watched the first three episodes. I'm a little miffed about the direction the show has taken since the departure of Hermione Norris. Simone Lahbib is trying. But it seems like all the other characters have degenerated to cardboard cutouts now that Hermione's gone. DI Alex Fielding's pretty flat (I love the way she dashes into a crime scene, tells everyone else to do the work, then leaves). I'm also not sure if DI Fielding is good at her job. Hermione's Carol Jordan was much more of a match for Tony Hill, intellectually *and* chemistry-wise. In the past series, there was also a lot more going on with the secondary characters, unexpected storylines that made them interesting to watch as well (like the rivalry between Don Merrick and Kevin Geoffries). Wire in the Blood Series 4 could also be called "The Robson Green Show."
I heard that something similar is happening to my lovely House, as well. I haven't been able to watch any of the new series (my TV is *fried*). I also have officially given up on the SAW franchise - SAW III was *awful*.
*sigh*
It's coming up on 9am. I will get some breakfast, feed the kitties, see if I can kill this headache, then start writing at 10am. And I won't stop until I've typed at least 4000 words.
NO SLEEP TIL 4000!
People racked up some *amazing* word counts yesterday. I may take some time to go hunting around on the NaNo forum today, see if I can meet some new folks and network. Still haven't decided on whether to go to the meet up tomorrow - I'm in the studio tomorrow during the day and might need time to write tomorrow night.
Burt says he's getting himself an ipod upon completion of his 50,000 words. I hadn't thought about a reward gift, that's a good idea.
I'll think on that.
It's all good,
jules
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
NaNo – Day 1. Evening.
(or, for God’s sake, will someone please stop me from checking my word count every 30 seconds???)
It’s nearly 9pm. I’m completely spent.
I came up with a title that I think is going to stick (A Deep, Wide Blue).
Started typing at about 7:30am this morning. Stopped at closed to 9am, to go to my chiropractic appointment in the city. Scribbled a bit more for that first scene on the subway, before coming home and working on and off from 3pm to 8pm. There was a nap in there somewhere.
All in all I didn’t do too badly – 4,511 words today in three scenes (1,702 in scene 1, 1,777 in scene 2, and 1,032 in scene 3). I’m not working again tomorrow, so I’ll go for at least another 4,000 words. If I've hit 10,000 words by the weekend I'll feel like I've made a reasonable dent.
Initial impressions?
Already, mine is not quite the amazing, prize winning novel I’d hoped. My lack of external plot (and, indeed, of general fiction writing skills) is rearing its ugly head. I’ve gotten a glut of great information on the craft of plot from this book I’m reading (Robert McKee’s Story), but haven’t had enough time to integrate it into my current storyline.
I’m competitive by nature, but there is *no* *way* I can keep up with the novelling speeds of some people on this board. Boggles the mind.
I’d like to take a moment to recognize:
Robbie – from the NaNo Board. He’s a writing *machine*. You should go to his blog site, if only to check out his amazing NaNo word counter. The plot for his novel sounds great as well.
The NaNoChat group on AIM.
My SupaBad NaNo mentors, friends and writing buddies. You guys rock.
Smoked Gouda Cheese. Smoked Gouda Cheese is generally awesome. And, it’s my reward for completing the day’s word count goal.
I’ll rest from the novel, for the evening. Back at it tomorrow.
I came up with a title that I think is going to stick (A Deep, Wide Blue).
Started typing at about 7:30am this morning. Stopped at closed to 9am, to go to my chiropractic appointment in the city. Scribbled a bit more for that first scene on the subway, before coming home and working on and off from 3pm to 8pm. There was a nap in there somewhere.
All in all I didn’t do too badly – 4,511 words today in three scenes (1,702 in scene 1, 1,777 in scene 2, and 1,032 in scene 3). I’m not working again tomorrow, so I’ll go for at least another 4,000 words. If I've hit 10,000 words by the weekend I'll feel like I've made a reasonable dent.
Initial impressions?
Already, mine is not quite the amazing, prize winning novel I’d hoped. My lack of external plot (and, indeed, of general fiction writing skills) is rearing its ugly head. I’ve gotten a glut of great information on the craft of plot from this book I’m reading (Robert McKee’s Story), but haven’t had enough time to integrate it into my current storyline.
I’m competitive by nature, but there is *no* *way* I can keep up with the novelling speeds of some people on this board. Boggles the mind.
I’d like to take a moment to recognize:
Robbie – from the NaNo Board. He’s a writing *machine*. You should go to his blog site, if only to check out his amazing NaNo word counter. The plot for his novel sounds great as well.
The NaNoChat group on AIM.
My SupaBad NaNo mentors, friends and writing buddies. You guys rock.
Smoked Gouda Cheese. Smoked Gouda Cheese is generally awesome. And, it’s my reward for completing the day’s word count goal.
I’ll rest from the novel, for the evening. Back at it tomorrow.
Off to get
some smoked gouda
cheese,
jules
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