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Thursday, November 29, 2007
Ah, the Joy of Writing--A Lot!
I had promised that I would check in concerning my novel writing adventures
and NaNoWriMo. I really had every intention of updating my faithful readers with the latest details of word counts, word dilemmas,
and just plain words. There is one good reason why I haven't--I've been writing! When you have a 1,667-word quota hanging
over your head on a daily basis, you learn not to squander your time. Or at least there is less squandering. Less time for
casual emails. Less time for cooking and cleaning. Less time for everything.
But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The end of the yearly grand
experiment will be over tomorrow. And I am ready for it. As of today (still in the a.m.) I am at 42,814 words. Now before
you go thinking that's quite an accomplishment, I need to be quite honest with you when I say, a good amount of that writing
will end up in the compost pile. The point of the exercise, at least for me, was to discipline myself to write, good or bad.
In the mood or not. Ignore the internal editor, which I can tell you I was pretty successful at doing.
While I'm not staring at a masterpiece (yet), it's been a good experience.
One I highly recommend.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a novel to finish.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Dispatches from the Edge
Some of you might be wondering how the write-a-novel-in-a-month experiment
is going. Good, rewarding, bad, frustrating, exciting--it really depends on what day you ask me.
At times the experience has been thrilling, wondering what's around the
hairpin curve in the road. Other times, particularly when I'm pounding out my word count at 12:30 a.m., trying to come up
with something to write and prying my eyelids open simulaneously, I begin to question my sanity.
And, still other times, I have the satisfaction of a "good day." A day when
the words flow and my main character is in the thick of a meaningful scene. I live for those days.
But I imagine you want to know solid facts. How far along am I? Each day's
portion of words breaks down into 1,667 words. To date, I am at 18,358. For the math savvy among us, I'm 1,647 words behind--a
little less than a day's worth. Plus I haven't tackled today's words either. (It's still early as I write this.)
As to the writing, some of it is good, and some of it is really awful. But
what I am truly pleased with is that I locked the internal editor out of the house and bolted the door. She's pounded on the
door a couple of times, wanting back in the house, but I'm not budging. It's a rough business writing a rough draft.
So I'll keep plodding and plotting along. I'll keep you posted.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
All Aboard!
Greetings Writers!
Today I am pumped. I am excited. And I am . . . busy! Not only do I have
the fun--and it really is fun!--of judging the poetry contest, but I am about to embark on my yearly pilgrimage to the land
of NaNoWriMo. Don't know what NaNoWriMo is? Officially, it stands for National Novel Writing Month, which starts today. (You
can still sign up, though.) The challenge is to write an entire novel (50,000 words) in a month. Sound crazy? You bet. Fun?
Truck loads of fun! Several friends in my critique group have signed on, so we'll be encouraging each other. I might even
have time to send you a few "postcards" from the hinterlands.
So watch out, world. I'm lighting my Pumpkin Pie scented Yankee Candle,
putting on some Leigh Nash for mood music, and writing my heart out!
Want to come along for the ride? Visit the fine folks at NaNoWriMo and sign up today for an adventure.
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"Two
saxophone cases sat on the table. I rushed over and ran my fingers over the case that was clearly the more expensive. When
I lifted the cover, I gasped and my mouth went dry. I'd never seen anything so beautiful. The gold-lacquered saxophone, nested
in a plush velvet lining, shimmered like a rare jewel. I ached to own it and to run my fingers over the mother-of-pearl finger
pads whenever I wanted to. It was a dream. Would it come true?" [...] Read "The Saxophone" by George Thomas, winner of our 2010 Dead of Winter Nonfiction Contest.
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So why get a critique?
Every day we pay for small, trivial things, like a soda out of the vending machine at work or
a candy bar in line at the grocery store. A magazine or a manicure. A cup of coffee through the drive-thru.
But how much do we invest in enriching our lives?
Developing a talent that's been dormant for a long time? Realizing a dream, like seeing our name in print?
Why
get a critique? I say, why not?
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