tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62634268669661233112024-03-12T20:31:48.441-07:00NaNoWriMo MadnessA Blog Created For those of us who are Participating in the 2008 NaNoWriMoDreaming againhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15717590226520457326noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-1309567588049976432008-11-15T07:26:00.000-08:002008-11-15T07:27:44.263-08:00How are you doing?How is everyone doing now that we are halfway into the month? I am at 20,111 and am planning *crosses fingers* to be at 25,000 by the end of today or Sunday.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348441450034813129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-12429863725389571632008-10-28T12:51:00.000-07:002008-10-28T12:58:35.812-07:00HeresyAfter a thoroughly enjoyable three (winning) years of NaNo, I won't be participating this year.<br /><br />(Pause for the shocked gasps to die down)<br /><br />But it's for an incredibly cool reason, and it's writing-related! Suffice it to say that I'm working on a PAID writing project, with a deadline of the first of the year for completion of the manuscript. I'm trying to keep it kind of under wraps for the time being, but this much I can tell you: I have an agent, so I'm on my way for "real"(tm).<br /><br />The thing I'm working on is 10 chapters long, and I've got 8 of them done. Now I'm just struggling with writer's block to finish the last freakin' 20%. Why is the ending so hard for me? (I got 50K words of my 2007 novel done by 11/30/07, but didn't get around to finishing the story until like March!)<br /><br />Needless to say, I'll be pulling for all of you. Who knows? Maybe the adrenaline in the air will help me get this mofo done.#1 Dinosaurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357845504444464397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-27699786337816945302008-10-24T11:19:00.000-07:002008-10-24T11:20:46.648-07:00So Close...8 days, guys! :) I had to dump my entire plot and start all over again with a new outline, and I still need to do that outline, but hey. That's alright. I have time.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348441450034813129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-27860204874652531662008-10-02T09:39:00.001-07:002008-10-02T09:39:30.563-07:00Plot Ideas 2008Anybody have any fabulous plot ideas for next month?Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348441450034813129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-69869664443713512862007-12-16T07:47:00.000-08:002007-12-16T07:51:14.728-08:00Still Going, but Embarrassingly SlowlyI'm up to 60,000 words and not quite done with the story. It could easily end up in the 65-70,000 range, which would make it an actual novel by something other than the NaNo definition.<br /><br />I'm pretty disappointed at how slow it's going, particularly since I just proved to myself that I can hack out 2,000 words a day for 25 days straight. Ah well. I suppose there really is something magical about November and that NaNo synergy.#1 Dinosaurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357845504444464397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-36567276103879099842007-12-01T00:02:00.000-08:002007-12-01T00:13:44.996-08:00DisappointmentI have to admit, I'm a little disappointed in myself. I realized about a week ago that my chances of finishing were a little less wonderful than I'd hoped they would be at that point. I thought I had completely steeled myself against the possibility of not winning. I didn't think it would bother me that much.<br /><br />It does bother me though, and it's not just because I don't get the nifty winner's icon. It's because looking back at my wordcounts for the month, and knowing how many words I cranked just in the last couple of days, I know that I could have won, I should have won, and, really, I sort of gave up before I even started. I think that by expecting to not finish, it became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy and that just ticks me off.<br /><br />The good news though, is that I managed to get to over 42000 words which is about 36000 more than I wrote on my first attempt at NaNo two years ago. Plus, I actually really like the way my story is developing and I plan to continue working on it until it's actually complete. And even more important than liking my own story is the fact that I've let my husband and my 16-year-old daughter read what I've got so far, and they both like it too. (and that's sayin' something since both are avid readers and both tend just a little bit toward brutal criticism when they feel it's warranted.)<br /><br />So overall I guess I'm disappointed with my effort, but still happy with my results. I guess that will have to be enough for this year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-6888480917319254622007-11-30T19:34:00.000-08:002007-11-30T19:39:39.357-08:00I did it!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hyk7Mo8WSHY/R1DWhqb-y6I/AAAAAAAAAF8/BmzvkE6IvSE/s1600-R/nano_07_winner_large.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138843048645413794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hyk7Mo8WSHY/R1DWhqb-y6I/AAAAAAAAAF8/abu6qbiNOS4/s320/nano_07_winner_large.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I'm at >50K words and still plugging. Thanks to PK for the suggestion and the encouragement along the way!</div><div> </div><div>A</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-16361350248266486132007-11-29T14:31:00.000-08:002007-11-29T14:34:42.664-08:00RearrangementsI hope no one minds, but now that there are several winners among us (with plenty more to come, I have NO DOUBT!!) I've added the Winner icon to the sidebar. As you can see, I stuck the "Participant" icon up at the top; then comes the list of our names, with the winners icon at the bottom. I thought it made for good symbolism.#1 Dinosaurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357845504444464397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-5260425465597362412007-11-29T07:09:00.000-08:002007-11-29T07:12:24.450-08:00FinishedI finished, but I don't know how I feel about my story. It needs to sit and ripen for a while, I think, before I go back to finish it off. <br /><br />I've gone through periods of thinking that it will be the best thing ever written, to the worst thing ever written, to "it's okay, I guess." That's where I've settled lately.<br /><br />It's hard to finish without the looming deadline facing me. I know this from last year. I still need to get the 2006 NaNovel out the door again to see if I can get representation for it; I've only collected one agent's rejection letter so far. I'm sure there are many more to go.Monotremehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04341257121611526784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-15609424165054593122007-11-29T03:54:00.000-08:002007-11-29T03:57:22.466-08:00Are we there yet?I've reached 46,750 with two days to go. Still plugging away though I realized my story will not be finished at 50k. It still needs an additional 20-30k at minimum to wrap everything up. So, I decided to begin my own KeGoWrimo (Keep Going Writing Month). I'm afraid if I stop I'll lose steam. Anyone with me?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-90557980303633515282007-11-29T00:56:00.000-08:002007-11-29T16:54:03.629-08:00Pk's!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80216229@N00/2074162359/" title="nano_07_winner_large by Pearls And Dreams, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2074162359_3a4d2439eb_o.jpg" width="121" height="240" alt="nano_07_winner_large" /></a>Dreaming againhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15717590226520457326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-36642190669750445942007-11-27T19:42:00.000-08:002007-11-27T19:43:29.701-08:00oh wowIf you read my stats post from Saturday ... you will find I was a bit behind, yet hopeful because I'd written 3000 words that morning ... I was at 35000 (started the day at 32000 ... <br /><br /><br />I'm now at 45k ...<br /><br />eeks ... I'm going to do this!!!!!Dreaming againhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15717590226520457326noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-72477636415987335792007-11-26T20:28:00.001-08:002007-11-26T20:28:53.173-08:00I Won, TooI won! I never thought this would happen to me. I never thought I would write 50,000 words in one month... but I did. :)Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348441450034813129noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-47567265240342219522007-11-25T18:41:00.000-08:002007-11-25T18:47:21.506-08:00I WonI did it.<br /><br />Today I was getting so close, I just pushed ahead and hit the 50,000 mark. The thing is, though, I'm only about 60% through my story. My intention now is to forge ahead and finish the darn thing. I've gotten into the habit of forcing out about 2,000 words every day. Even if I settle for less (which I feel I can, now that the pressure's off) I have every intention of finishing this story. Then I'll let it sit while I work on the one I put aside; when that's done, it'll go on "sit" while I come back to this one.<br /><br />And the best part is that -- once it's all revised and polished and proofed; a process that's going to take considerably longer than a month -- I think I even have a place to submit it.<br /><br />So come on, everyone; if I can do it, pretty much anyone can.#1 Dinosaurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357845504444464397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-69832428845493440272007-11-25T07:47:00.000-08:002007-11-25T07:48:57.566-08:00I am doing well. I am writing my new story that I am tacking on to my memoir. I'm up to about 42000 words. I feel confident that I can make 50,000. :)Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348441450034813129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-85411532353348741372007-11-24T18:07:00.000-08:002007-11-24T18:13:08.945-08:00Impressive . . .I have to say that you all are so impressive. I was going strong until I realized that I hated--<span style="font-style: italic;">absolutely friggin' hated</span>--my story. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, so I stopped writing. I need to learn the steps to writing a novel . . . <span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, I know</span>. It isn't about <span style="font-style: italic;">quality</span>; it's about <span style="font-style: italic;">quantity</span>. But I wasn't writing anything that I can use in the future . . . I need to step back a few paces and learn some things.<br /><br />I am, however, the biggest NaNoWriMo fan! <span style="font-style: italic;">Write on </span>. . .<br /><br />tk (<a href="http://catcollecting.blogspot.com">Collecting Cats</a>)Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16930331590346825192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-36531645432715248942007-11-24T11:41:00.000-08:002007-11-24T11:44:37.093-08:00Stats1000 visits to this blog!<br />this is the 79th post.<br /><br />I'm 35,000 words ...a bit more, but under 36,000, behind, but not uncatchable.<br /><br />I had an infected finger on my right pinky for a few days! EEEK ... I couldn't hit the enter or the right shift button! I could mess around and play on line, but it drastically slowed me down and typing for real just wasn't a possibility. I tried the writing, and it interfered so much I decided I'd rather work harder the last few days after it healed than to fight with the finger and try to keep up. Today I've done 3000 words, so, I think I may have done the right thing.<br /><br />We have till Midnight on Friday ... how's everyone doing?Dreaming againhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15717590226520457326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-58214669890768811142007-11-19T18:53:00.001-08:002007-11-19T18:56:17.092-08:00It's Going to WorkAt last, I'm confident not only that I'll be able to reach 50,000 words, but that my story will be long enough. I'm at about 37,000 words now, and I'm only just getting into the second part of the story. I don't think I'll be able to finish the story in November (though 50K looks good) so my next challenge is to not stop writing like a fiend once November is over and actually finish the story.#1 Dinosaurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357845504444464397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-6011358181421029362007-11-19T12:41:00.001-08:002007-11-19T12:45:19.552-08:00Pandora Radio ---> InspirationIf you don't already use this, try <a href="http://www.pandora.com/">Pandora Radio</a> while you write. I think it's good for inspiration. What you do is enter either your favorite singer or song and the program will play songs that have been judged to be similar to that one. It's free!!!<br /><br />Right now, I'm listening to songs by or similar to Johnny Cash because he's a badass and likes his drugs, good for the character I'm working on right now. <br /><br />It's a pretty good program, I've put in some somewhat obscure artists and the program was familiar with them.Nurse Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06408755992926959084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-4305126114459283702007-11-18T19:52:00.000-08:002007-11-18T20:08:54.356-08:00YEOCH!Three words: Repetitive. Stress. Injury.<br /><br />My wrists hurt like a motherf***er. <br /><br />Stupid typing. Stupid, stupid typing.Nurse Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06408755992926959084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-27097996339957144852007-11-17T23:08:00.001-08:002007-11-17T23:11:51.205-08:00DoneMy book is totally finished and it's only the... uh... guess it's the 18th now. I added as much as I possibly could to it, and did the final spelling and grammar check. I read the thing three times to make sure it was how I liked it. I published it through LuLu.com in about an hour and fifteen minutes because I was having some difficulties with the site. I may not have won NaNo (clocked in at 36,393 words), but I completed my goal of writing a memoir. I think I'll begin a new book, a fiction story, to work on, just kind of for fun.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348441450034813129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-80783422628399905962007-11-16T17:22:00.000-08:002007-11-16T17:32:09.684-08:00The power of Google: Nurse K invents a gay bar in Brooklyn, NYGoogle has been my friend throughout this little writing experience. <br /><br />For instance, one of my characters is trucking along in NYC before flying back to his hometown. Seeing as I've never been to NYC, I needed to do the briefest of all research. <br /><br />I randomly <a href="http://nymag.com/listings/bar/bar_4/">picked a bar in Brooklyn from NY Mag</a> and used their slideshow and the coinciding subway stop info to pretty much steal it for my story. See the slideshow, and read my description. The character, who is a semi-closeted gay, is fixin' to whoop some ass and got a lead that the person whose ass he needs to whoop might be at this gay bar.<br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;">The Eagle was on the corner of a 3-story brick building off Seventh Avenue, an easy walk from the F train’s <st1:place st="on">Seventh Avenue</st1:place> stop.<span style=""> </span>It had a black painted front with a black awning and a little neon sign at a right angle to the building which simply said “Eagle Bar” in red.<span style=""> </span>In the olden days, when the building was new, it could have been a neighborhood grocery, a pharmacy, or soda fountain.<span style=""> </span>It was hard to tell.<span style=""> </span>The ceiling was painted black and track lighting dimmed for ambience.<span style=""> </span>The bar was just a bar, nothing particularly notable.<span style=""> </span>There was a small stage area where, perhaps, someone playing a guitar could fit, but Ted had never seen any performers there.<span style=""> </span>Apparently, there was an “Open Mic” night on Mondays.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;">Opposite the bar was a collection of small tables and an area with old, as in antique-appearing old, couches with a coffee table in their center.<span style=""> </span>There were brightly-colored photos of famous people such as Marilyn Monroe on the walls.<span style=""> </span>In the back were the bathrooms and the exit into the small alleyway and the non-primary entrances to the apartments upstairs via fire escapes.<span style=""> </span>It was the "neighborhood" gay and lesbian bar, if you will.</p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"></p>Nurse Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06408755992926959084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-67507060342411278932007-11-16T07:44:00.000-08:002007-11-16T07:46:59.568-08:00Editing Away...I managed to add 472 words to my manuscript just by sneaking in adjectives here and there and adding a sentence every now and then. I went back and edited my novel-in-progress, that's when I added the words. I know, I know, I am not supposed to edit, that's supposed to be for December, but I can't help myself. It's in my nature to edit things. In this case, the editing actually helped me.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348441450034813129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-21935582460553173372007-11-14T21:19:00.000-08:002007-11-14T21:21:59.202-08:00Half a NovelI made it to 25K, the halfway point. That puts me slightly ahead of pace once again, but it's going to be down to the wire I can tell.<br /><br />I finally murdered the first person in my murder mystery. I swiped the storyline from Genesis 38.<br /><br />The MC and his soon-to-be love (they haven't figured out their feelings for each other yet) are escaping the scene of the crime. Now the mystery/romance half of the novel is set.Monotremehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04341257121611526784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6263426866966123311.post-56427062349976479192007-11-14T16:16:00.000-08:002007-11-14T16:18:16.741-08:00me neitherI, too, will not make it to 50,000. I sure am trying my best, but I simply do not have enough material. I'm at 30,550 and will probably be able to sneak in about 5,000 more. Oh well. Next year I'm doing fiction for sure. Then I can just write and write and take my plot in various different directions.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10348441450034813129noreply@blogger.com0