NaNoWriMo

NaNo Started, Or I started NaNo

If you’re reading this, it means I have successfully made it through the first day of NaNoWriMo 2012.

It was a bitch. I struggled, but as I was hovering around the last three hundred word mark, ready to give up for the day–tell myself I could come back and put in extra tomorrow, I caught a break and made it to 1806 with ease. I started a new sentence and saved the file in two places. I know enough of NaNo to not get too far ahead of myself.

Eck. So it’s a start. And I don’t talk about ongoing books because I’ve lost them that way, so how are you? Are you making Christmas plans?

My lovely niece is in negotiations to get as many people visited while she and her brother are in Pennsylvania for Christmas. I haven’t begun to take my Halloween decorations down yet. It’s on my list to have that taken care of before Thanksgiving. Or my sister’s visit–whichever comes first.

So, I know, it’s not much of a post. Please forgive, but if you’re looking for something to read, and you haven’t already, would you please at least consider buying Short Lean Cuts? I think it’s like a dollar for the kindle version. I started to read it yesterday.

I feel a wee bit guilty as I promised Alex that yesterday was the last day I was going to bitch, carp, cry, and complain about my submission to a certain magazine taking so long to go through the process when, on Duotrope, people are posting 70, 90, 100 day rejections and I’m like 270 days in now. For Feck’s sake! It’s annoying. If I had gotten pregnant on the day I submitted there, I’d be in labor now–or close to it. The third of November is the nine month mark. And since I just complained on the day I promised to stop for a month, I owe it to Alex Pruteanu to tell you that he’s a great writer. You can google him and read several of his stories for free before you decide to buy his book, but come on, it’s less than a dollar. Buy Short Lean Cuts. He’ll thank you for it and I won’t feel so bad about complaining about not getting a rejection (or acceptance) from a ‘top’ magazine in almost nine months.

Until next time!

(*These are just my Creekside Reflections. Your experience may vary.)

Counting Down to NaNoWriMo

This week has been filled with social functions: There was writer’s group on Tuesday and I volunteered at the library on Wednesday. Later today I’ll be donating blood because apparently that’s something I do now, and I’ll be back at the library on Saturday for another shift. It seems I either have a million things to do or nothing. *Sigh.*

As a rule, I hate talking about writing projects I haven’t completed a rough draft of yet, but this year I’m thinking of doing things a bit differently for NaNo. I have two stories I’ve been kicking around for a while now. Each began with the idea that they were going to be short stories but they quickly outgrew that form, and since I was certain they didn’t have enough steam to be novels, I gave up both of them for other writing projects. What I’m thinking is to concentrate on these two stories and turn them into novellas. That’s my theory of what I’ll be doing for NaNo, but it’s early yet. I may change my mind.

I had been thinking about a different project, one where “Bess No More,” the story scheduled to appear in Rosebud Issue 54 (still loving the sound of that!) would serve as the first chapter in the novel–and I have a vague story arch I want to explore–but I don’t think I’ve sat with that book long enough to write it, so that’s where the novella idea stepped in to be considered.

And as a cool aside, my daughter-in-law asked me to review her research paper, which is kind of neat–though I quickly remembered why I didn’t like college: Writing research papers. Also, why I didn’t want to become a prof: Reading and grading research papers. Luckily, I didn’t get near the toxic part: Publishing research papers or perishing. *Sigh.* DIL did a good job on her paper; it just needs a few tweaks which I’m happy to provide.

Otherwise, it’s a matter of wrapping up as much as I can and simplifying where it’s possible before the first of November. Putting in 1667 words a day consistently is stressful enough. I don’t need a stack of papers to file staring me in the face while I’m working.

Ah well… Let the writing challenge begin!

(*These are just my Creekside Reflections. Your experiences may vary.)

Killer Tomatoes, because that’s what I grow.

My trip to Chicago was the best one so far. I spent time with friends and this time I went to the top of the Sears (Willis) Tower and even stepped out into the glass over-hang and had my picture taken. I don’t know what it is about that city–I’m generally scared to death of heights–but while I was there, I was fearless.

Back at home, I was pleased to find that my tomatoes had not all turned red at once. I was even home to pick this killer.

Over three pounds! People who have seen the plants and the harvest so far have asked what I did. I don’t know what to say because I planted my seeds later than normal and I didn’t think I’d have a good crop this year. The peppers I grew from the seeds from the peppers I got from Natalie last year were the ones that survived the slug attack. They are producing like crazy and have the most wonderful heat. I didn’t plant spaghetti squash this year, but the volunteers produced some great specimens that have found homes.

As to my other babies… I wrote–or at least started–30 pieces this summer. (Good Lord I love free-writing!) I’ve been working back through them and have 7 polished and ready to go out during this new season. When I saw that Tin House was looking for submissions with the theme of “this means war,” I smiled. I had one of those.

Queries for “Ellie’s Elephants” are going out to agents again. Having a few more credits and a little more experience is helping, I think. I just re-read the latest query letter and it sounds both more excited and more relaxed–if that makes sense. After so many re-writes and tweakings, I feel like I “know” this book better than I should, and now it’s a matter of finding someone to babysit.

Besides, I think I found my new love. I don’t know what to call it yet, but I’ll be chomping at the bit, waiting to write it. Let’s go NaNo!

Until next time!

*These are just my creekside reflections. Your experiences may vary.

 

First Post in the New Year!

We have snow! I was beginning to wonder if we were going to get any.

It’s a new year and so far it’s going well here. How are things in your world? I’ve been keeping up with everything and I feel slightly more efficient–still waiting for the endorphins to kick in, but I’m not holding my breath. I can’t, yoga discourages such things.

Why I decided to try yoga is beyond me. It makes me nervous to do things so slowly. Besides which, I think it is actually making me more antsy than before. Listening to the little weasel politicians the last few days has been torture. Why can’t these morons just get along already? I’ve been making snide comments and veiled threats. If I do it much more (or louder) Husband will take the radio away. I hate it when he does that. Not as much as when he locks me in the library for NaNoWriMo, but it’s a close second.

Holiday visiting was varied and fun. I got to annoy a bird. I don’t want one for my house, but I enjoyed watching it react and preen and chirp. I did not get to see somebody that lives in New Jersey now, but that just goes to show how he’s changed (Uh, BTW Jimmy, I’m giving your bucket of fudge away for blowing us off.) And I really thought Rachael would be in Pennsylvania longer, but she’s already back in Boston so I’m bummed I didn’t get to see her again before she left. (Miss you babe!)

Everything else was good though. We even had a “tree” this year and everything. As it’s being taken down, I remember that is why we don’t have trees. Putting them up is fun, but after is sad and hard. Kind of like writing. The story idea is great, and finishing a first draft is like plugging in the lights, then it sits and you finally have to rewrite.

I didn’t have any intention to, but it’s the fifth of January and I have 5 things submitted. If I keep it up–a submission a day–I’ll easily surpass last year’s output, which was 263.

I got confirmation that my submission to the Minotaur Books/ First Crime Novel Competition  was received. I had opted for delivery confirmation and saw that it was forwarded and I couldn’t figure out why. Once  it was delivered, guess what? I addressed my entry just like I was told to, but I was given the wrong zip code. So, whatever. It arrived. I believe I did everything right and that’s why I received the notification I did. I can’t find stats on previous years, but I bet it’s a tough competition. Keep your fingers crossed. I’ll let you know if I hear anything more.

I’m off to work on my entry to the Amazon Break out novel contest, wait…Ouch. There’s the first rejection of the year. Welcome to 2012!

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*These are just my reflections. Your experience may vary.