Hi everyone,
I'm sorry for not posting for awhile. I've been working on a project.
(Well, several projects, but one that directly affects this blog.)
I have a new blog!
If you still want to follow me and read my posts, head over to birdinabowler.wordpress.com.
It's a blog that's less about writing and more about life, but I still plan to talk about writing every now and then. If for nothing else, add it to your RSS reader for the free pop-up card templates I'm working on.
So far, I've posted about pop-up cards, writing, a halloween flash fiction post, and will soon be posting about Rwanda.
Enjoy!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
April has come
As many of you probably know by now, April is Poetry month!
I'll attempt to write a poem a day during this month, and I'll share my favorites on this blog.
Since I'm starting a little late, I have some catching up to do.
Off to see if I can find some inspiration in the refrigerator! (Lunch time) :)
Monday, March 5, 2012
6 ways to combat lies about reading
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| Reading is Like Eating Vegetables |
I talked with a friend recently who showed me her writing. When I asked her how much she read, she said that she's not really a reader and finding time to read is difficult.
I totally understand that excuse, having once been in that mindset myself. Writing is just putting words onto a computer, right? So why do I need to read? Wouldn't reading take time away from my writing?
The truth is, reading is what helps fuel the fire of inspiration. A lot of writers wait for inspiration to strike before writing. I know that if you want to make it as a professional writer, you can't wait for inspiration. But you can give yourself more inspiration by reading.
Excuses I used to have against reading:
1. It takes too much time, and I'd rather be writing.
2. There aren't any books I want to read. That's why I'm a writer: I'm writing the book that I want to read.
3. There's no way to know if a book will be worth my time or not.
4. Subconsciously: Any book I read that's good only makes me jealous.
5. Books are too expensive and/or heavy.
I made my New Year's resolution to read at least two books per month, if not more. It is now the beginning of March and I'm happy to say I have kept to that resolution. (I hope soon to increase my reading to one book per week.)
Reading more has made an incredible difference. I was lacking voice and had no idea how to teach myself that. But now after reading a few different authors and recognizing their different voices, I've begun to cultivate a voice of my own.
Voice is one of those tricky things in writing that's hard to define, nearly impossible to teach, and will make or break a book. If writing was a religion, voice would be the straight and narrow path that few find which leads to everlasting writing.
So if voice is so important and so difficult to learn, and reading teaches us about voice, why are there so many excuses against taking the time to read?
Here are some things I've found help me combat the stubborn lies about reading that keep me from enjoying fabulous books:
1. Reading a book will ALWAYS be worth my time.
2. Reading doesn't actually take all that long. Even if I only spend five minutes per day (you can find five minutes to read, can't you?), it's worth it.
3. Books don't have to be expensive or heavy. There are Libraries, eBooks which are cheaper (and more portable), and secondhand book stores. I tend to browse bookstores for ideas of what to read and of what's current, then go to the Library or secondhand stores to actually buy the books (or see if they're cheaper online).
4. If I really don't have time to read at all, then I need to get audiobooks. I can at least listen in the car on my way to and from work.
5. If I feel jealous or spiteful towards a book because it's better than my own writing, then that's actually a good thing. It means I'm expanding my horizons, making myself uncomfortable, and getting a bigger perspective on how good writing can actually be. Reading raises the bar of what I expect from my own writing.
6. If I don't read, my writing dies. And I don't want that to happen, right?
For awhile I set an alarm on my phone to go off every evening, reminding me to take at least ten minutes to read. Whatever I was in the middle of, I'd stop and take ten minutes. If after ten minutes I still wasn't in the mood to read, I would stop and continue what I had been doing. More often, though, I was able to keep reading and voila! I had just found time in my day to read a chapter or two.
The truth is, if something is important enough in my life, I will make time for it. If writing is really important to me, then I will make time for the things that support my writing lifestyle, like reading.
Monday, December 12, 2011
This past week has been a lot of firsts for me...
First flat tire
First time eating at Five Guys restaurant (most awesome burger place ever!)
First time seeing Muppets Christmas Carol
First time editing a first draft from a printed version
I've had first drafts before. I can thank five years of doing NaNoWriMo for that. But this is the draft that has gone further than all other drafts, and so I feel it's a new level of editing for me. It's also the largest first draft I've ever written, which makes the task that much more exciting and daunting.
I outlined this novel for a long time and planned out every process of how I was going to write it. And the planning worked well. But now I'm realizing I have not planned out a single bit of how I'm going to go about making it better.
After doing some research online and listening to some friends' advice, here's my battle plan:
1. Read through casually without making any editing marks, but take notes on my most common mistakes.
2. Come up with a way to remedy those mistakes and write the second draft focusing only on those.
Do any of my readers have experience with editing first drafts? Got any advice for me?
I'll let you know how it goes. Also, even though some people might argue that editing manuscripts is the same on a computer screen as it is on the printed page, if nothing else having my entire novel printed out somehow seems empowering. The words are there, unchangeable. My story is now permanent. Looking at printed pages also enables me to make notes with fancy calligraphy pens. That's something you can't do on a computer screen.
First flat tire
First time eating at Five Guys restaurant (most awesome burger place ever!)
First time seeing Muppets Christmas Carol
First time editing a first draft from a printed version
I've had first drafts before. I can thank five years of doing NaNoWriMo for that. But this is the draft that has gone further than all other drafts, and so I feel it's a new level of editing for me. It's also the largest first draft I've ever written, which makes the task that much more exciting and daunting.
I outlined this novel for a long time and planned out every process of how I was going to write it. And the planning worked well. But now I'm realizing I have not planned out a single bit of how I'm going to go about making it better.
After doing some research online and listening to some friends' advice, here's my battle plan:
1. Read through casually without making any editing marks, but take notes on my most common mistakes.
2. Come up with a way to remedy those mistakes and write the second draft focusing only on those.
Do any of my readers have experience with editing first drafts? Got any advice for me?
I'll let you know how it goes. Also, even though some people might argue that editing manuscripts is the same on a computer screen as it is on the printed page, if nothing else having my entire novel printed out somehow seems empowering. The words are there, unchangeable. My story is now permanent. Looking at printed pages also enables me to make notes with fancy calligraphy pens. That's something you can't do on a computer screen.
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| Jo's Finished Manuscript (This scene from Little Women is what I've always dreamed my manuscript would look like one day) |
Monday, December 5, 2011
I'd like the feeling in my bum back, please...
It's been five days after the end of NaNoWriMo, and I think I'm just now recovering. It sure was one exciting month.
There were really two goals I was aiming for: 80k words and finishing the actual story line. I didn't make the second one. There are still three chapters at the end of my plot line that are only outline stubs. I hope to fix that in the coming weeks.
But the first one, I definitely made that goal.
On the last day, I managed to set a new personal record for how many words I have written in a day, at 18,216. That was done at the fabulous write-in at Dunn Bros coffee house in Eden Prairie. It was a LOT of sitting still while drinking caffeine, and having word wars every half hour, and writing straight for about six hours without stopping. In the craziness of it, I didn't bother to switch scenes at all. My characters ended up in a subterranean secret labyrinth navigating their way through using an audio-guided tour that says things like "This tunnel was dug in 1872 just before the Steamclot mining company went bankrupt. Please move to the left to avoid being impaled."
I also made up a mythical creature and put it in the labyrinth, because all labyrinths should have some kind of mythical creature stalking them, right?
Though it gets wacky at times, I am so happy about my book. And proud that I pushed myself this year to go above and beyond what I thought I could do.
My final word count? 102,173!
Thank you to everyone who has cheered me on, supported me this past month while I let things like housekeeping and phone calls slip away from me. This was very important to me and you all got that. I thank you very much for the freedom to do what I love to do with complete abandon one month out of the year. It's not everyone who gets to do that, and YOU made it possible!
Congratulations to all NaNoWriMo participants and winners! Remember, if you didn't make the word count you were hoping for, at least you wrote more words because of NaNo than you otherwise would have written, and that makes you awesome. :)
There were really two goals I was aiming for: 80k words and finishing the actual story line. I didn't make the second one. There are still three chapters at the end of my plot line that are only outline stubs. I hope to fix that in the coming weeks.
But the first one, I definitely made that goal.
On the last day, I managed to set a new personal record for how many words I have written in a day, at 18,216. That was done at the fabulous write-in at Dunn Bros coffee house in Eden Prairie. It was a LOT of sitting still while drinking caffeine, and having word wars every half hour, and writing straight for about six hours without stopping. In the craziness of it, I didn't bother to switch scenes at all. My characters ended up in a subterranean secret labyrinth navigating their way through using an audio-guided tour that says things like "This tunnel was dug in 1872 just before the Steamclot mining company went bankrupt. Please move to the left to avoid being impaled."
I also made up a mythical creature and put it in the labyrinth, because all labyrinths should have some kind of mythical creature stalking them, right?
Though it gets wacky at times, I am so happy about my book. And proud that I pushed myself this year to go above and beyond what I thought I could do.
My final word count? 102,173!
Thank you to everyone who has cheered me on, supported me this past month while I let things like housekeeping and phone calls slip away from me. This was very important to me and you all got that. I thank you very much for the freedom to do what I love to do with complete abandon one month out of the year. It's not everyone who gets to do that, and YOU made it possible!
Congratulations to all NaNoWriMo participants and winners! Remember, if you didn't make the word count you were hoping for, at least you wrote more words because of NaNo than you otherwise would have written, and that makes you awesome. :)
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Only 3 days left!!!
NaNoWriMo is nearing its end. I had hoped to post more in the past week, but I decided it was much more important to focus on my writing.
As a result, I wrote 10,000 words in one day!!! That was fun. And exhausting.
Up until now, my experimental method of outlining has proved to be incredibly helpful. But I wimped out on the last part of it, and it's not as detailed as I would like it to be. As I've been used to for the entire month. I'm finding that I'm having to make new decisions after all about how certain things are going to fit into the plot, and how they're going to happen. It's really slowing me down.
I now sit at 80,000 and am hoping to reach 100,000 still before midnight on Wednesday. Meaning I will have to write 6,667 words each day. I think I can do it, but even still, wish me luck!
As a result, I wrote 10,000 words in one day!!! That was fun. And exhausting.
Up until now, my experimental method of outlining has proved to be incredibly helpful. But I wimped out on the last part of it, and it's not as detailed as I would like it to be. As I've been used to for the entire month. I'm finding that I'm having to make new decisions after all about how certain things are going to fit into the plot, and how they're going to happen. It's really slowing me down.
I now sit at 80,000 and am hoping to reach 100,000 still before midnight on Wednesday. Meaning I will have to write 6,667 words each day. I think I can do it, but even still, wish me luck!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thanksgiving-ed!!!!
Hi all,
I got Thanksgivinged into nothing but a bump on a couch this past weekend. Part of my family had Thanksgiving early, and my writing time was taken up with preparing some food to bring, the party itself, and recovering from eating so much afterwards.
I've been sluggish and slow. But now that my cat has enjoyed all the cuddles he could get falling asleep on my lap while I sat on the couch, I'm ready to get back at writing, and posting, and hopefully there's enough left in the month to get a significant number of words written.
(He's stuffed.)
I got Thanksgivinged into nothing but a bump on a couch this past weekend. Part of my family had Thanksgiving early, and my writing time was taken up with preparing some food to bring, the party itself, and recovering from eating so much afterwards.
I've been sluggish and slow. But now that my cat has enjoyed all the cuddles he could get falling asleep on my lap while I sat on the couch, I'm ready to get back at writing, and posting, and hopefully there's enough left in the month to get a significant number of words written.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Terrible Tuesday and Word-War Wednesday
Sorry for missing the post yesterday. Since I hit 50k, I was a little burnt out for writing and took a day to recover. I wrote absolutely nothing yesterday.
Time to get back at it! And what better way to do that than to have a word war?
For this week, let's see how many words we can write in ten minutes again, but with a twist.
Do five sessions of ten minute sprints, then average your word counts. This isn't just a word sprint. It's a challenge to see how well we can write over time. It seems easy enough to crank out words in ten minute intervals. But to do that consistently is another matter.
Have fun!
Time to get back at it! And what better way to do that than to have a word war?
For this week, let's see how many words we can write in ten minutes again, but with a twist.
Do five sessions of ten minute sprints, then average your word counts. This isn't just a word sprint. It's a challenge to see how well we can write over time. It seems easy enough to crank out words in ten minute intervals. But to do that consistently is another matter.
Have fun!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Method Mondays
I reached 50,000 words!!!!!!!
Thanks to a write-in hosted by my friend Inspie_Girl, I was able to write 4,609 words today, bringing me just 100 words over the top of NaNoWriMo's traditional goal.
I've never hit 50k this early, and other years it's been a struggle to barely get enough words. So why is this year different?
Outlining.
As I've mentioned before, I've been using a combination of the Snowflake method and the Phase Drafting method. I was a little scared that putting so much time into an experimental outlining method without testing it first was risky. What if November came and I started writing, only to realize that my outline wasn't helping me get what I wanted?
But it has paid off. It is SO EASY to write using these methods and here's why I think it works: It separates the decision making process from the actual writing process.
I know not everyone writes using outlines and honestly, sometimes outlining is a pain. But outlining so far in advance this year has made it wonderful.
Good luck in your continued writing adventures! I'm off to write the next 50k! (But not tonight, of course.)
(To be confirmed by the NaNoWriMo word count bots on November 25)
Thanks to a write-in hosted by my friend Inspie_Girl, I was able to write 4,609 words today, bringing me just 100 words over the top of NaNoWriMo's traditional goal.
I've never hit 50k this early, and other years it's been a struggle to barely get enough words. So why is this year different?
Outlining.
As I've mentioned before, I've been using a combination of the Snowflake method and the Phase Drafting method. I was a little scared that putting so much time into an experimental outlining method without testing it first was risky. What if November came and I started writing, only to realize that my outline wasn't helping me get what I wanted?
But it has paid off. It is SO EASY to write using these methods and here's why I think it works: It separates the decision making process from the actual writing process.
I know not everyone writes using outlines and honestly, sometimes outlining is a pain. But outlining so far in advance this year has made it wonderful.
Good luck in your continued writing adventures! I'm off to write the next 50k! (But not tonight, of course.)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Surplus Sunday
It's quarter to 8 and I've already reached my word goal for the day, and I don't feel like writing anything more.
My husband and I put up our first ever Christmas tree together yesterday and it looks soooo joyful and Christmasy that I'm getting distracted thinking about Christmas.
My husband also bought me a chocolate orange yesterday, just because. (Awwww. :)
To keep myself motivated, I'm going to eat one slice of chocolate orange for every 1,000 words I write. (Also sharing one with the husband, of course!)
I'm going to eat a starter slice first though, just to let my taste buds know what I'm missing as I write.
Ready, set, BURST!
*kitteh is curious about chocolate orange*
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Folly Friday and Something Saturday
Well, yesterday I took a break from writing. I was a little burned out. Sorry about not posting.
But today I was able to recoup my word count. Now I just have to get today's 3,333 words out of the way and I'll be good to go until tomorrow.
We'll see you then once I have more time and don't forget to post! :)
But today I was able to recoup my word count. Now I just have to get today's 3,333 words out of the way and I'll be good to go until tomorrow.
We'll see you then once I have more time and don't forget to post! :)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thicken Thursdays
Time to thicken up those plots again!
Last week I added an ottendorf cypher to mine, and I only just got around to writing about it yesterday. I'd say it added about 800 words to my novel (not to mention all the words it will create in the future) and probably %10 intrigue to my plot. I already have a labyrinth, a headless horseman, mountain goats, a dragon, an argyria-stricken cult group, and seven mystical islands. How possibly could I cram anything more in?
This time I'm going to thicken my plot by adding something not quite so fantastical. My main character is going to become one of the villains...without even knowing it. Well, she knows it, but doesn't.
She basically dresses up and passes herself off as the secondary villain character to escape impending doom. But what she doesn't realize is that she's not just playing dress up. People actually take her seriously and carry out her orders. Without meaning to, she kind of throws her fellow servants under the bus while at the same time strengthening and saving her enemies.
I like this twist because my main character has spent her entire life opposing this villain, only to become her. Not only will this thicken the plot, but I needed a way to make my main character simmer down from her revengeful and prideful ways. Becoming the villain kind of makes her start to realize that perhaps revenge is not the best way to deal with her mother's death.
Anyways, I could continue and probably end up spilling my entire plot here if I don't stop. (Before November, my outline was 50k words already so trust me, you don't want to hear the entire plot right now.)
So I challenge you today, if you're writing, to add something in to your story that you didn't plan on having there this morning. It can be a huge plot twist, or it can be a side thing that's small and out of the story again within a few paragraphs. Throwing yourself surprises is one way to keep your story fresh and new.
Last week I added an ottendorf cypher to mine, and I only just got around to writing about it yesterday. I'd say it added about 800 words to my novel (not to mention all the words it will create in the future) and probably %10 intrigue to my plot. I already have a labyrinth, a headless horseman, mountain goats, a dragon, an argyria-stricken cult group, and seven mystical islands. How possibly could I cram anything more in?
This time I'm going to thicken my plot by adding something not quite so fantastical. My main character is going to become one of the villains...without even knowing it. Well, she knows it, but doesn't.
She basically dresses up and passes herself off as the secondary villain character to escape impending doom. But what she doesn't realize is that she's not just playing dress up. People actually take her seriously and carry out her orders. Without meaning to, she kind of throws her fellow servants under the bus while at the same time strengthening and saving her enemies.
I like this twist because my main character has spent her entire life opposing this villain, only to become her. Not only will this thicken the plot, but I needed a way to make my main character simmer down from her revengeful and prideful ways. Becoming the villain kind of makes her start to realize that perhaps revenge is not the best way to deal with her mother's death.
Anyways, I could continue and probably end up spilling my entire plot here if I don't stop. (Before November, my outline was 50k words already so trust me, you don't want to hear the entire plot right now.)
So I challenge you today, if you're writing, to add something in to your story that you didn't plan on having there this morning. It can be a huge plot twist, or it can be a side thing that's small and out of the story again within a few paragraphs. Throwing yourself surprises is one way to keep your story fresh and new.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Word War Wednesdays
Ok, everyone. I'm at a coffee shop and ready to write!
Tonight, I'm going to see how many words I can write in ten minutes. If I feel up to it, I'll try it more than once and attempt to beat my own time.
Good luck, all! Go! Build your wordy worlds!
Tonight, I'm going to see how many words I can write in ten minutes. If I feel up to it, I'll try it more than once and attempt to beat my own time.
Good luck, all! Go! Build your wordy worlds!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Trip Tuesday
Sorry, guys. I wasn't able to do location writing at all today.
But I can tell you where I would like to have been writing. This place:
But I can tell you where I would like to have been writing. This place:
No idea where it is, but isn't it gorgeous?
Word count: 26,848. I'm at the 25k mark! Yay!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Method Monday - four simple words
Hi all.
I'll be quick, but wanted to post about a neat little trick I discovered for boosting word count AND keeping your plot on track.
I was writing according to my outline, when suddenly things took an unplanned turn. I began writing a completely different scene that wasn't in the outline and realized if I was going to continue with it, I would end up down a large rabbit trail that would threaten the continuity of my plot.
So I added these 4 simple words and it fixed everything:
"But that's another story."
It enabled me to keep the couple paragraphs of words I had written, therefore upping my word count, and I was able to get back to my original plans for the story. Plus, it leaves that "other story" wide open for an extra short story I can write later on the side, or incorporate some other time. It adds background to the story, gives the appearance of depth, and shows the reader that there's more to the story than is being told.
Anyways, hope that helps! Got any methods about writing or reaching 50k you'd like to share?
I'll be quick, but wanted to post about a neat little trick I discovered for boosting word count AND keeping your plot on track.
I was writing according to my outline, when suddenly things took an unplanned turn. I began writing a completely different scene that wasn't in the outline and realized if I was going to continue with it, I would end up down a large rabbit trail that would threaten the continuity of my plot.
So I added these 4 simple words and it fixed everything:
"But that's another story."
It enabled me to keep the couple paragraphs of words I had written, therefore upping my word count, and I was able to get back to my original plans for the story. Plus, it leaves that "other story" wide open for an extra short story I can write later on the side, or incorporate some other time. It adds background to the story, gives the appearance of depth, and shows the reader that there's more to the story than is being told.
Anyways, hope that helps! Got any methods about writing or reaching 50k you'd like to share?
(Edit: Word count at the end of Monday is 23,451. I'm on track for 100k!)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Surplus Sunday
It's 4:07 pm. I have until 5:40 when I have to leave for a church event.
Time to write!
My goal: write a surplus of words, as many as I can. It doesn't matter if a reach a certain goal or meet a certain deadline. I'm already way ahead on my word count so anything I write today will be surplus to tide me over in case I have (will have) lean days.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could go to a surplus store and buy people's extra words? Well, maybe you can't actually buy other people's words, but perusing a surplus store of random things could help to boost your word count by giving you extra inspiration for writing.
I went to one the other day and only had 6 minutes before they closed to pick stuff out. I found a gas mask, a bunch of random electronic parts, and some plastic gears. I didn't buy any of them, but that gas mask is still stuck in my mind. I'm always a softie for biohazard stories, and while I know I'm NOT going to include a biohazard in my story (I've already got a dragon, mind-control, and a subterranean labyrinth), it has sparked my creativity. The fear that a mass break-out of a biohazard causes is similar to the effect I was looking for.
So go out and write those surplus words! Or find them in random objects at a thrift store. Either way works.
Time to write!
My goal: write a surplus of words, as many as I can. It doesn't matter if a reach a certain goal or meet a certain deadline. I'm already way ahead on my word count so anything I write today will be surplus to tide me over in case I have (will have) lean days.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could go to a surplus store and buy people's extra words? Well, maybe you can't actually buy other people's words, but perusing a surplus store of random things could help to boost your word count by giving you extra inspiration for writing.
I went to one the other day and only had 6 minutes before they closed to pick stuff out. I found a gas mask, a bunch of random electronic parts, and some plastic gears. I didn't buy any of them, but that gas mask is still stuck in my mind. I'm always a softie for biohazard stories, and while I know I'm NOT going to include a biohazard in my story (I've already got a dragon, mind-control, and a subterranean labyrinth), it has sparked my creativity. The fear that a mass break-out of a biohazard causes is similar to the effect I was looking for.
So go out and write those surplus words! Or find them in random objects at a thrift store. Either way works.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Sanctuary Saturday
Ufda!
Yesterday was a long writing sprint for me. For some reason the 7,000 words I wrote on Nov. 2 didn't seem quite as long as the 5,000 words I wrote yesterday. I think that's because I'm getting into the part of the plot that I really care about. You know how writer's often give advice to other writers about taking the first 2 or 3 chapters they right and deleting them completely? I think I might have to do that when I start making my revisions after November. Because the story really starts to pick up in chapter five.
These past four days I've written in several different places. More than I ever have before. But not once have I sat down at my actual desk to write. I find that kind of odd. It's not that I don't like my desk. In fact, my husband went out and bought me the exact desk I had labeled as my dream desk without me even telling him about it. I've also spent months getting it set up just the way I want to.
So why haven't I written there? Probably because it's messy, but also because it's tucked away in a different room where no one else visits and I would feel very isolated there. Don't get me wrong, I love the isolation for writing. But I'm hesitant to go there because it takes commitment.
If I sequester myself in that room at my desk, it means there are no other distractions, no one else to talk to. It's just me and my book. I have to be pretty committed to only writing my novel while I'm there, and as much as I love writing, that doesn't seem appealing to me right now. I'd almost rather be in a place where I can get distracted because then I can take mini breaks.
But I know the time will come when I need complete isolation, and then I'll go to my desk.
What is your writing sanctuary? How does it work for you? Why did you choose that particular spot?
It could be a regular seat at a coffee shop, a closet you've turned into an office, or the living room couch or kitchen table. I know of one person who writes in the bathtub!
Whatever it is, enjoy it and plan to use it well as we head into week two of NaNoWriMo. Good luck everyone!
Word Count: 17,854
Yesterday was a long writing sprint for me. For some reason the 7,000 words I wrote on Nov. 2 didn't seem quite as long as the 5,000 words I wrote yesterday. I think that's because I'm getting into the part of the plot that I really care about. You know how writer's often give advice to other writers about taking the first 2 or 3 chapters they right and deleting them completely? I think I might have to do that when I start making my revisions after November. Because the story really starts to pick up in chapter five.
These past four days I've written in several different places. More than I ever have before. But not once have I sat down at my actual desk to write. I find that kind of odd. It's not that I don't like my desk. In fact, my husband went out and bought me the exact desk I had labeled as my dream desk without me even telling him about it. I've also spent months getting it set up just the way I want to.
So why haven't I written there? Probably because it's messy, but also because it's tucked away in a different room where no one else visits and I would feel very isolated there. Don't get me wrong, I love the isolation for writing. But I'm hesitant to go there because it takes commitment.
If I sequester myself in that room at my desk, it means there are no other distractions, no one else to talk to. It's just me and my book. I have to be pretty committed to only writing my novel while I'm there, and as much as I love writing, that doesn't seem appealing to me right now. I'd almost rather be in a place where I can get distracted because then I can take mini breaks.
But I know the time will come when I need complete isolation, and then I'll go to my desk.
What is your writing sanctuary? How does it work for you? Why did you choose that particular spot?
It could be a regular seat at a coffee shop, a closet you've turned into an office, or the living room couch or kitchen table. I know of one person who writes in the bathtub!
Whatever it is, enjoy it and plan to use it well as we head into week two of NaNoWriMo. Good luck everyone!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Fast Fridays
I don't work on Fridays. So I was hoping that today I'd spend the entire time writing.
After waking up late, going to work for an hour for some last minute stuff, and getting sidetracked by an estate sale on the way to my writing spot, I'm finally here at Caribou ready to write.
I also have yet to go grocery shopping, which means I only have a few hours to pound out some words. I am going to have to write really fast.
So here goes! Every Friday I'm going to attempt to write double my daily word count. My goal is to reach 100,000 words by the end of November, which means my daily goal is 3,333. By the end of today, I need to have written 6,666 words to make double.
If anyone's joining me on this, good luck!
After waking up late, going to work for an hour for some last minute stuff, and getting sidetracked by an estate sale on the way to my writing spot, I'm finally here at Caribou ready to write.
I also have yet to go grocery shopping, which means I only have a few hours to pound out some words. I am going to have to write really fast.
So here goes! Every Friday I'm going to attempt to write double my daily word count. My goal is to reach 100,000 words by the end of November, which means my daily goal is 3,333. By the end of today, I need to have written 6,666 words to make double.
If anyone's joining me on this, good luck!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Thicken Thursdays
Sometimes during NaNoWriMo, you end up with a plot that seems to go nowhere. Or you just don't know what's going to happen next.
Or sometimes your plot goes along just fine and it's not a challenge at all and you find yourself wondering what's so interesting about your story anyway.
Throwing a proverbial wrench into the mix can do a lot of things for a story.
I've been outlining my novel for eight months and have everything almost completely decided upon. But, in honor of Thicken Thursdays, I'm going to throw something completely new into my plot to thicken it up: an ottendorf cypher.
I was thinking of National Treasure today, and realized I really liked the code they used on the back of the declaration of independence.
What will you choose to thicken your plot? Or do you have ideas for other people that don't quite fit with your story, but you want to share anyways?
Happy writing!
Word Count: 9,413
Or sometimes your plot goes along just fine and it's not a challenge at all and you find yourself wondering what's so interesting about your story anyway.
Throwing a proverbial wrench into the mix can do a lot of things for a story.
I've been outlining my novel for eight months and have everything almost completely decided upon. But, in honor of Thicken Thursdays, I'm going to throw something completely new into my plot to thicken it up: an ottendorf cypher.
I was thinking of National Treasure today, and realized I really liked the code they used on the back of the declaration of independence.
What will you choose to thicken your plot? Or do you have ideas for other people that don't quite fit with your story, but you want to share anyways?
Happy writing!
Word Count: 9,413
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