Blocked

Tags

blogging, NaNoWriMo, writer's block

For weeks now I have been laboring (or not) under an enormous case of writer’s block.  It started with NaNoWriMo back in November, when my version of the Great American Novel started slowly and petered out quickly.  It got worse in January, with only sporadic blog posts.  And while I have missed my nightly visits through Trigger’s Horse, my body and brain seem to come up with any number of reasons why I shouldn’t be writing.

So today I am shifting from “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” mode to “Back in the saddle again” mode.  I refuse to listen to my brain’s cheap excuses any longer, and I am back.  Thank you to those who have looked in vain for my posts; thank you, also, to my friends who have told me they look forward to reading Trigger’s Horse on a regular basis. I have missed all of this.

Have a glorious Monday wherever you are.

I’m still here

Tags

NaNoWriMo, Tapestry

I was gratified today by a notification that a new reader had discovered Trigger’s Horse and commented on two of my postings, even though it has been over two weeks since my last column.

What I have discovered during the month of December is that I truly am a creature of habit.  As long as I was religiously blogging nearly every day, Trigger’s Horse thrived.  Once I broke my daily habit to take part in National Novel Writing Month (in November), it became easier and easier to NOT sit down and write in the evening.  And no, I didn’t write the Great American Novel in November.  I did, however, get started, and managed to write rough drafts of some difficult-to-tell stories.

And now that I have started, I will go back and edit, re-write, and continue writing until the whole story is told.  So NaNoWriMo 2015 was not wasted.  I will try again next year.

And meanwhile, I’ll be back to continue with my random musings tomorrow.  Thank you for visiting, and please come back again.

 

NaNoWriMo continued

Tags

card making, NaNoWriMo, procrastination, progress, Second Saturday Scrapbooking

Yesterday I bemoaned my lack of writing progress for the NaNoWriMo challenge I accepted earlier this month.  The end goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November, and there is a lovely web page where participants can track their progress (if they are making any, that is).

I have really only worked on my novel four days this month (including this morning).  I am living Judith Viorst’s statement that “You can have it all, just not all at the same time.”  I wrote this morning because I was supposed to be working on cards for tonight’s Helping One Woman dinner.  And I think in order to write, I should be “supposed to be” doing something else, which I will put off by writing.

Anyhow, The NaNoWriMo webpage has a progress tracker for writing, based on  the word count I post each day.  And according to their figures, I am in a world of hurt!  My progress goes something like this:

Your average words per day:  270

Words written today:  1271

Target word count:  50,000

Target average words per day:  1667

Total words written:  4599

Words remaining:  45,401

Current day:  17

Days remaining:  14

At this rate you will finish on:  May 4, 2016

Words per day to finish on time:  3243

Lifetime Achievement:  Total NaNoWord Count:  4599

Two statistics on this list really jumped out at me:  “At this rate you will finish on May 4, 2016” and “Lifetime Achievement:   4599”

Not only do I have a ridiculously long way to go, still being 45,401 words short, but I have also written 4599 words more than I had on October 31, 2015.  I may not –no, probably will not — finish 50,000 words by November 30, 2015.  But I have started, and am gaining momentum.

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go make some greeting cards for tonight.

Thanksgiving card created for Second Saturday Scrapping workshop last weekend.

Burnout/restarting

Tags

Burnout, fresh start, NaNoWriMo, projects, rain, restarting, routines

I’m tired!  I didn’t realize until my kids got back from their trip how truly tired I was…and I had forgotten that, when you are responsible for the safety of small ones, you really don’t completely sleep.  But now they are back, the weekend is over, and we are settling into our weekly routine.

I just went through my closet and pulled out the remaining clothes that have become too large (hooray!) for me, and the nicest ones are slated for a consignment store in town.  The rest will go to Rescued Treasures.  I once again have “breathing room” in my closet.

Yesterday’s lovely rainstorm has passed, and the weathermen say we received up to a third of an inch in some areas.  That seems rather puny compared to other areas of the country, where several inches of rain may fall in a single storm, but for central California it is huge.  Thank God for blessed rain!

My writing for NaNoWriMo is pathetically behind, but I am getting back on track today.  No more excuses, no more falling asleep at my computer the moment I sit down.  I’m making progress again.

Whatever projects you have on tap, I wish you progress (or a re-start) today.  Happy Monday!

Home alone

Tags

granddaughters, NaNoWriMo, single parents, time alone

I’m really beginning to appreciate how precious “alone time” can be.  After having my granddaughters to myself now for three days (minus my time at work, when sweet relatives cared for them), I took them to school, then came home realizing that I had three hours ALL TO MYSELF!

Then, of course, came the conundrum:  Do I hustle around working on projects and/or housekeeping, or do I simply give myself permission to veg?  Or perhaps I should tackle some of the NaNoWriMo writing I have been neglecting?

Not even being in the mood to make a decision, I started the second load of laundry for the day, turned on HGTV (in the living room, so I can only hear it), and sat down to play “catch up” with FaceBook for a bit.  Now a walk is calling me; I generally walk at night after work, after the girls are in bed, but can’t do that with no other adults at home.

By the time I get back from my walk, this load of clothes should be dry and I can start Round #3 of the laundry wars.  What next?  Who knows.

Kudos to those single parents out there who do this on a daily basis.  My heart goes out to you.

NaNoWriMo

Tags

50000 words, memoir, NaNoWriMo, novels

Today marks the beginning of NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month.  And I have accepted the challenge to write a 50,000 word novel this month.  If you do the math, that comes to about 1667 words per day; a far cry from my usual blog postings.  But I’m going to give it a go and see what happens.

I will probably share snippets along the way, but tonight I am bumbling and fumbling to get the whole thing started.  So although I will check in with occasional progress reports, it may be awhile before anything sees the light of day.  Think good thoughts!

NaNoWriMo

Tags

Carrie Baize, James Mitchell, NaNoWriMo, novels, writing

The “Dish” I have been working on tonight is learning more about NaNoWriMo, which is coming up in November.  National Novel Writing Month challenges its participants to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November, and provides a writing community of fellow travelers for encouragement, direction, enthusiasm, and pointers.

I have watched friends participate in NaNoWriMo for a couple of years, and have felt the “bug” nibbling at my toes.  So between the NaNoWriMo Facebook page and website, I have become more and more intrigued.  There appears to be a thriving community of writers who share the fun, frustrations, and inspiration throughout the month and beyond.  Two very special friends of mine, Carrie Baize and James Mitchell, are part of that writing community, and have encouraged me by their success.

I must admit that I am a bit intimidated by the whole process.  Can I really write 50,000 mostly-coherent words in a month?  That’s 1,666 words per day…considerably more than my typical blog post.  But if I don’t try, don’t start, I’ll never finish.  So watch this space as I sort out my reservations, do my groundwork, and make my decision.

Sweet dreams.