Nanowrimo strikes again!

Okay, I wanna know who decided to set Nanowrimo in the month of Thanksgiving! When we’re supposed to be preparing our homes and our kitchens and our tables and our psycho children for an influx of loving relatives. (Did I say psycho children? What I really meant was psycho selves—note the plural. We’re getting a little loony over here). What about the lead-up to Christmas? How can I possibly complete shopping prior to the holidays if my fingers are cramped from writing so gosh awful many words?

I swear I am never, ever, ever doing Nanowrimo again. 

Well. Not unless my writing has bogged down, my confidence has failed me and I need a massive kick in the pants to pick up a pen or a crayon or a keyboard, whatever, to get creating again. Oh, I’m inventive enough to worm out of facing that computer screen or ratty old notebook, but what I really need is tale-telling, story-spinning, and if it’s gotta be through a tortuous Novemeber marathon that leaves me scratching words into my bedside table at midnight instead of watching the stars and listening to the wind whispering through the flaming leaves, so be it.

Wait. Did I just talk myself into Nanowrimo? Ah well…I just wish it were during another month. Like January. When we’re all recovering from the holidays and have nothing to do but set outrageous, unreachable goals and then kill ourselves trying to meet them.

That’s kind of how I am, anyway. I work best under pressure and under some crazy plan that requires I sacrifice my sanity. When will I learn to take life a step at a time, a bite at time, instead of trying to choke down the whole enchilada, or alternatively, spew a whole new world of characters and scheming across my digital canvas in a short thirty days, less really when you consider that I can’t possibly write from Nov 25 on.

On the bright side, I am now at 33,000 words, many of which are actually in the right order. My main character has developed into a powerful, determined girl who just might triumph over her embittered past, with the help of her feisty cat, Cinder, her sister-cousin Glory, and a handful of moonlight at just the right time.

 What project is ruling your life right now and how are you surviving it?

Nanowrimo: Progress on Gypsy Moon

This pic (courtesy of Jorbasa, flickr creative commons) captures the mood of my latest novel in progress, Gypsy Moon

Well, I’m one week into Nanowrimo, and I must confess it’s going better than I could have anticipated. Despite the lateness of my planning compounded by the surprise wedding of my daughter (I really think I was certifiable on Tuesday), my word count is on track, 14,238 as of this morning, and my novel currently titled Gypsy Moon is unfolding nicely.

Things I have learned in my first week of self-imposed compulsory writing:

1.       When I really, really want to, I can write much faster than I thought I could. Of course, deadlines, self-imposed or not, have always been motivating to me.

2.       In the past, I would reread and edit my previous few pages prior to starting writing. This is a time killer and actually does little to get me in the zone. I’d thought it helped immerse me in my story world, and if I’ve had a week-long lapse in writing, maybe such a review would be necessary. But with regular writing, I only reread a sentence or two to see where I need to pick up.

3.       While it is fun treat to read over pages written on previous days, I’m forcing myself to refrain from any serious editing, which is very time consuming. Instead, my focus is digging my little pearl from my brain. When that’s complete, the true polishing will begin.

4.       Since my plotting got off to a late start, I’ve taken a different approach than I have at other times. We’ll see by the end if this helps or if I end up with a winding mess. I’ve plotted the Inciting Event (the incident that sets the novel in motion), the first turning point, the second turning point, the end and a few key scenes in between. As I’ve written with those things in mind, I’ve discovered that other key scenes and plot twists come to mind as I go and I’ve added these to my outline. This is easier for me than staring at a blank screen and willing the creative juices to flow into my plot plan. When I combine it with writing, I think both my plotting and writing are more effective.

5.       At this point, I’m focusing on writing only each necessary scene, with no transitional connections between them. This forces me to jump around, highlighting only the most important events, which is what the writer is supposed to do anyway. In the past, I’ve gotten bogged down on how the principal characters got from here to there when it really doesn’t matter. This time around, I may need to add a little connective ideas between scenes, but that is much easier than cutting pages of transitions that contribute little to the plot.

At this point in Nanowrimo and Gypsy Moon, I am hopeful, excited and ready to write.

What motivates you to finish projects? What helps you keep on track?

NaNoWriMo 2013

 

Well, Halloween has come and gone and now it is time to get back to real life, in which there’s no people walking around wearing spider pantyhose or rainbow wigs. Sigh…. 

On a happier note, I’ve decided to attempt NaNoWriMo this year. Woohoo! Bells and whistles! For anyone who’s unaware exactly what this means, it stands for National Novel Writing Month. The only requirement is that you write 50,000 words in the month of November. I have to admit, I wish the creators of this monstrous, delicious idea had chosen a different month.

What were they thinking, setting up NaNoWriMo during Thanksgiving, and in the lead-up to Christmas? Don’t they know I have kids? Like a million of them? I’ll be panicked, typing with bloodshot eyes and trembling fingers in between story reading, tooth brushing, homework helping, and baking…all the baking! 

Admittedly, participation is voluntary. I just may be volunteering to drive myself to the loony bin in early December. Already, I’m a bit behind on my ambitious plan. What with all the happenings in my life over the last 5 weeks, I totally forgot I wanted to try NaNoWriMo this year. I’d planned to outline all October so I’d be ready to dive in come November 1.

Fortunately, my friend Grace posted her preparations for the novel-writing event on her blog, sin and inconvenience (Kudos Grace—you inspire me!) and gave me a much-needed kick in the pants. So, I started my planning on October 30. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself and to simply enjoy the creative challenge. I’m hoping to be outlined and ready to really write by Monday.

For now, I’m setting aside my nearly revised underwater fantasy novel in favor of a foray into gypsy magic. I’ll return undersea after Christmas to finish my editing and start submissions. Lately, my attempts at editing feel more like banging my head against a coral reef. So, a break from Sparks, a break that still keeps me writing, is just what I need.

And honestly, since I took up my pen (ah, keyboard) to write Wednesday, I am finally finding some semblance of peace and stability in my inner life again. Whether I finish up those 50,000 words in 30 days, or finish a more complete novel draft in a longer time, the point is I’m back in the chair. Writing. Creating. Breathing in the hope that invention always brings.

What hobbies bring you sanity while threatening your sanity at the same time? What big projects have you taken on? How did you feel when you completed them? How did you cope if you were unable to finish?

Life Lessons from the Sea #22: Tips for Surviving Halloween

My sweet Little Mermaid 2012

      1.      Plan ahead. Buy or reuse what costumes parts you can then trawl the internet on ways to make the rest. For a quick and easy jellyfish costume, buy a clear umbrella and hang curly ribbons from the inside spokes. Easy and fun!

      2.      Gather all supplies and accessories the day before the big event so there’s no panic-filled dive through the make-up drawer in search of glitter, bobby pins, black lipstick or fake blood. Deep diving is way too stressful when there’s too much pressure.

 

      3.      Check the weather and be ready for whatever rain, cold or ice that Mother Nature throws your way. There’s only one thing worse than freezing in a flimsy mermaid costume—listening to your daughter freezing in a flimsy mermaid costume. Coats, long johns, underarmor can all be factored into your Halloween duds if you use a little creativity.

      4.      Feed the minions before trick-or-treating. A nice hot bowl of chili and a couple of hot dogs are an easy fix that will stave off the blood sugar swings that are bound to occur on this darkest of nights. The last thing you want is for your little darlings to turn into sugar-fueled piranhas. Trust me on this one.

      5.      Leave your porch light on only if you have candy to pass out. Who cares if you have to come home to a dark, sinister doorway? If you leave on the lights without leaving someone to pass out treats, you may well find that Halloween hooligans leave you a few unwelcome tricks! If all else fails, move so far out in the country (or deep under sea—there’s sea stations now, right?) that no one would dare knock at your door.

Have a frightful, delightful Halloween!

What tricking and treating tips have helped you most? We’d love to hear your ideas!

Life Lessons from the Sea #21: Five more fearsome friends for your Undersea Halloween Party

Dragonfish, photo by Lelik, flickr creative commons

 1. Leafy dragonfish—be sure to invite at least a few of these. They coordinate well with princess or knight-in-shining-armor costumes.

Giant Tubeworm photo by Subarcticmike flickr creative commons

Hatchetfish photo by NOAA public domain image

2. Giant tube worms--what party would be complete without these ooey, gooey creatures whose plumes brim with blood?

3.      Hatchetfish—named for their hatchet-shaped bodies, these deep sea dwellers search for prey with their upward-facing eyes, so just be sure your smaller guests don’t swim above them! These also glow, but their light organs point downward. For a light show, encourage them to swim near the ceiling.

 

Hagfish photo by NOAA public domain

4.    Hagfish—this slimy, gruesome creature fits right in with ghosts, witches, and ogres known to frequent Halloween activities. Just try not to watch her eat—she bores into her prey then eats them up from the inside! Ewwww!

Firefly Squid photo courtesy of Dante Fenolio www.anotheca.com

5.      Firefly squid—these slimy beauties are covered with thousands of photophores. They can flash them all at once or in an endless variety of patterns to confuse predators, attract mates, and lure prey. They migrate toward the surface where they pounce on small fish with their powerful tentacles. I'd love to see these babies!

What fun things do you like to do for Halloween? Who are your favorite monsters?