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I Do Declare!
It's no secret that I haven't written on the WIP since just before Nationals last summer. Have I thought about it? You bet your sweet bippy I have. Have I contemplated opening the file? Of course I have. Have I made any progress? Nope.
This is where you might think I'd make excuses. And so I shall. It's not that I haven't been writing anything. I'm working on a degree here people. (Hence that big ass party in six months I mentioned last week.) This college thing takes time and attention. Who knew?! And raising kids is apparently no cake walk either. They expect time and attention. And food. And they like to go places. Draining little things, really.
But I've been feeling that itch lately. It's gotten itchier through the month of December. It's that new beginning thing. What is it about the roll over into a new year that gets us all gung ho and excited about doing things? I mean, the seasons change four times a year (depending on where you live) and we don't get all gung ho with those new beginnings. Okay, maybe that change into spring gets me a bit revved up. But I HATE to be cold. By the way, is it spring yet?
Then we start a new month twelve times a year. Face it, new shit begins all the time. So why is the beginning of a new year such a big deal? I'll tell you. Because it's a new freaking year, people. Come on, this is the chance to forget all the procrastinating and avoiding and playing you did last year. This is where you get to start over. Put your foot down. Stand up and say "I'm going to do this now." Go on, put your foot down, we'll wait.
Feel better? By golly, I know you do. And I feel better too. I'm going to write in the month of January. Then I'm going to continue to write in the month of February and every month after that. No more "I'll do it when this class is over" or "I'll do it in the summer when kiddo is out of town." No, no, no more of that. I'll do it today.
Okay, maybe not today today. I mean, I still don't have a comp at home and I have all this work to do and I have to comment on here all day. But tomorrow. Really.
Here's your chance to make your declaration. This is not a resolution or a goal or any of those other things that we all talk big about and then forget by Feb 1. This is a declaration. A proclamation! We are writing pirates, hear us YO HO!!! What is it you are going to do this year that we can kick you in the ass about for the next twelve months?
Books by the Crew
55 comments:
ARRRRR! I'm gonna get a website up and begin bloggin' (or babblin' as the case may be.) Get published... uhmmmm... all that stuff we talked about last week...
I think it's easy to think of telling stories this time of year because it was, once upon a time, the only thing we could do as we huddled in our dark caves and waited for winter to set us free. The heck with this running about, visiting and exchanging fruitcakes and all that nonsense. Once upon a time, we knew better! We knew we had to hunker down in our caves, stay warm and entertain each other by... (big drum roll, please...) telling stories!
Embrace the inner ancestor, gaze into the fire and let your mind wander. Tell stories deep into the night...
It's diet time for me. Again. Getting more sleep would be good too...
You know, Maggie. I follow in your footsteps here with the wake up too damned early thing in the morning. Damn brain won't shut off and give me some quiet sleepy time.
Good for you, Ter. Just remember what you do is admirable. I know I couldn't go to school, do the kid thing and write. Okay, what I really couldn't do is the school thing. My attention span just isn't there. :)
I think getting more sleep, or at the very least, not pulling all-nighters would be a great thing to get back to.
I'm not going to operate in the "if" mentality any longer but in the it's going to happen mentality. I'm not hiding my light under the bushel any longer, although I'm not sure if that was ever hidden. LOL
I'm going to be a published author. I'm going to get an agent and publisher. I'm going to write three books this year.
And I'm going on a diet, too.
I need to work out. I'm going to start doing that this year. I'm just going to start with a yoga tape I have at home and see if can do it 2 or 3 times a week.
I'm going to keep to my 5000 words a week schedule of writing. And I'm going to write at least 2 books this year. Maybe more if I can manage it.
And if you wrote 5k last week Marn, I'm going to pull my hair out. :( Just lie to me.
I feel ya Tiff. If only I could get the damned brain to shut down for a couple of hours a night. Last night I didn't get any sleep. Too much going on.
If I don't go on a diet, I'm in danger of hitting the fat pant no return zone.
I'm going to finish my freakin' manuscript this year. At least ONE finish. I need at least one to keep my sanity. Or what's left of it.
Chance - I never thought of the storytelling that way. That's one of the many downsides to all this technology we have at our fingertips. It's makes it possible for us to shut down and not use our brains. Good luck on the website! You'll have to alert us to your blog locations so as we can all torture...errr...join you in the fun. :)
Maggie - It's weird but I seem to end the year with the weight down and then go up during the summer. Totally backwards. Doing the sympathy liquid diet with kiddo right now is certainly helping. Now I have to get to the gym (fitness room in my complex!) to tone up where I've lost. It's great that all my jeans are too big for me, but it also means I need to go shopping. Dang it.
Tiff - I really can't wait until this school stuff is over. I've always hated homework and I long for the days when I can go back to my grown up life when all my time outside work could be spent on fun stuff. Well, other than all the house stuff. LOL! And you could do it. With your discipline in writing, you've more than proven you can do anything you set your mind to.
Ely - That's a great attitude! And it'll all happen. You just have to see it in your mind and make it happen. I will finish this WIP this year. Come Hell or high water, this baby is going to be finished. And I'm with you on getting more sleep. I don't pull all nighters, but if I could just make myself go to bed one hour earlier, I know I'd feel so much better.
While I admire your goal Marn, my goal is going to be 3,000 words a week, because let's face it, I'll never keep up :)
But way for mini JanNaNo - 4,000 words this weekend! Progress *g*
Marn - Back in '03/'04 when I lost most of my weight, I did it by doing a pilates tape 2 to 3 times a week in my living room. It was only 22 minutes long so it didn't take much out of my day. I did it right after kiddo went to bed. It's a great, inexpensive way and it works. I know you can do it too.
And I also know you'll finish those two books. You're the pirate that keeps this vessel afloat my dear.
Sin - I got a text message at 3am this morning that woke me up. It turned on the brain and that was all she wrote. I hate when that happens. I really needed that sleep! We are going to finish this year. And we're going to do it in style. We can't let Captain and Marn have all the fun. :)
Hal - Yippee!!! Awesome numbers. I'm not crazy enough to set a goal that specific. At least not until school is finished in June. If I make it too strict, then it won't feel like fun or doing something I want to do but have to do. I must keep the "have to" out of it. Writing is the only thing I have that is all mine and something I do for the fun of it. If I take out the fun, I'll never do it at all.
I've only written 3000 since Thurs. I wanted to write 4000 but I had some probs with a scene.
My 5000 week goal works cause I try to write 1000 a day during the week and catch up on the weekend if I miss it. So I don't write as much on weekends cause the hubby's home and likes my attention usually. And 1000 a day works ok cause it's just like 4 pages. I can usually ramble for 4 pages.
Hmmm.... Maybe this is why I hate revisions so badly. All that rambling....
When you call it 4 pages a day, that doesn't sound so bad. I like that number better. So if I did two pages a day, then I'd have 2500 words a week. Basically. I think that's clearly managable.
New policy, goals declared in page numbers instead of words. LOL!
Ter, my tape is only 25 minutes, so it's fine. And I like yoga and pilates cause there's no really big bouncing around. Aerobics that make me feel like I'm cheerleader on speed just remind me how truly out of shape I am and I end up quitting. Slow and steady, I think.
Marn - With my bad knees, I can't do anything aerobic. And I've tried yoga tapes but that's not for me. Pilates is a god-send. You really feel the difference quickly. I never thought I'd break a sweat laying on the floor doing these little moves, but I did. I need to get back to that.
The gym is because my doc says riding the bike will strengthen my knees and prevent (or put off) surgery. So to the exercise bike I go. Until spring when I hope to get the real thing and go out riding with kiddo.
I must aim for at least four pages of ramblings a day. This shall become my mantra. My goal is to be more like Marn and less like the big blob I've become. LOL
I like the exercise bike. We got a tredmill for Christmas so I'm really liking the convinence of having it at home instead of having to trek to the gym when it's cold outside.
But I love yoga. I told my BFF that on date night this week, I'm going to teach her some yoga.
I'm going to move into my new apartment! I'm going to do dishes and occasionally vacuum! (Do you know that's in my lease clause--they have "you must vacuum and take care of the carpet, or you may lose your deposit"--SERIOUSLY?) I'm going to buy "adult" things like vacuums and furniture and toilet scrubbers.
Oh, and I'm going to go to the Harry Potter movie probably about four times. (I'd go MORE but I think four would be the max I could afford.)
I'm also going to go to the He's Just Not That Into You movie that's coming out in February. And I'm going to go to more massages--which means I'll need to schedule more instead of putting them off. I'm going to eat less fast food; I'm going to plan more menus and eat more healthily.
Oh, and I suppose I'll write more. *LOL* I'm still working on what I want to write exactly...because none of my projects excite me in any way. I might just start and do something COMPLETELY different. I'm thinking about it.
This week, I declare I'm going to exercise more and drink more water. Part of my new health plan.
*hopping up and down* I'm SO excited for this weekend!
Sin, your boyfriend is a manager at a gym and you got a TREADMILL? Okay, okay, so I want a little elliptical machine for home too...actually I don't because I don't have the room and don't want to store it, but it's a good idea.
Here's another goal--now that we've opened up the exercise and diet discussion. I have like 10 work out DVDs that I never work out to because I never have the TV alone in the livingroom to work out. But I want to work out. I have the S-factor DVDs I've been wanting to do FOREVER...and some bellydance and some other dance...
Another goal: try not to treat Amazon.com as a second home and send all my spare and not so spare money to it. I went through my packing lists for the last few years at Amazon and most of it I was like, "WHAT THE HELL?" Hi, I'm Fran, and I'm in impulse shopper....
That was "thick" hair. LOL! Unfortunately, my hair doesn't think any more than the rest of me does. *sigh*
*jumping up and down*
Is it move in weekend!?! I'm so excited for you. Whoohoo!!! Captain is getting new quarters!
I'm all about toning and I need to kick up the supplements. My hair is falling out at an alarming rate. I used to have really think hair, now it's very thin. After I finish blow drying my hair in the mornings, my bathroom is covered in the stuff. I could make a wig daily!
Terri - excellent point about not "having" to write. That's all any of us need, right? One more chore to do every day? Gah. Good luck getting back to it, even in the midst of school and kiddo and work!
I've been working out like mad recently, mostly because I'm the wimp of my pole-dancing class who can't keep up during the 30 minute cardio session. And I WILL climb to the top of that pole, no matter how many push-ups I need to.
So there you go girls - the perfect way to force yourself to excercise more! Humiliate yourself in a public exercise class, and before you know it, you'll be working out every day just to prove yourself :)
Hal: I used to humiliate myself in a kick-boxing class. The pole-dancing class sounds harder! Now I humilate myself in a bodypump class. I still can't do push ups.
hey I finally managed to do seven girl push ups in a row without collapsing and I was giddy *g* The pole dancing class is hard (but SO much fun!). Luckily, apart from the instructor, we all suck, so no one person stands out as more humiliated than any other. That helps.
I loved the kick boxing class! I WANT it back! I told Mattycakes that I'm striking until I get it.
I can't do pushups either. I used to be able to, until I got out of playing ball. Now when I played ball, I could kick ass.
Now, Hellie, we're going to do exercise tapes because there is nothing more I love to do than act like a goofball for exercise.
Oh, good, you can come over and we can do S-factor stuff. Goodie! Then we can eat cheese dip after. Woot!
Four pages a day then.
How about this, "Thou shall write some shit down every single day."
I like it better.
Shall and Shit in the same sentence. How fitting for this ship. LOL! I like it, Marn.
I can't afford to do exercise classes though goodness knows I need the humiliation. That pole dancing class sounds fun. I think I could do some push ups. We'll go with that. No need to try it and make myself a liar. :)
Surely I can write some shit down. I'm an info dumper. I should be able to write 20 pages a night of useless shit.
I'm taking the easy route with exercise. I'm walking, and my goal is that each day I'll walk further than I did the day before. I figure if I can sustain this for the year, I will end 2009 healthier than I ended 2008.
I'm doing the same thing with my writing. Setting words or pages as goals hasn't worked for me, so I'm committed to writing each day and writing more than I did the previous day. Since January 1, I have written a new chapter for TLWH. Of course, I cut two. I'm not sure how the total comes out on balance, but I am moving toward finishing these #&#$@ revisions. I will finish!
Sin - Shit we can do.
Janga - Walking is so good for you. I moved to this really pretty, older area of town. Kiddo and I need to make walking a part of our routine.
You will get these revisions done. Though deleting two chapters and writing a new one sounds terribly painful. Writing everyday sounds too much like a "have to" again. It's great that so many embrace the concept though.
A have to is kinda how I see it, I think. But not like, I have to do the dishes, like a chore or something. More like, I have to shower or I have to brush my teeth. Just something I do because the day can't begin without it.
See what I'm sayin? A little different, I think. Though I suppose someone does have to do the dishes in my house too.... Maybe my analogy isn't as good as I thought.
Marnee... Not to mention showering and brushing the teeth everyday make you feel better... Great way to look at writing. I did the morning pages thing for years, ala Julie Cameron. It gets the brain working first thing in the morning to do that. My first MS walked right out of my morning pages.
Marn - You're bloomin brilliant!! That does make sense. As Chance says, I do those things because they make me feel better. So if I look at it as writing is something I have to do so I feel better, then that's a good *have to*. I could kiss you!!!
I'm brilliant? I mean, of course, I'm brilliant!! LOL!!
Embrace your brilliance, Marn.
I love what you said! I'm going to do this. Now. I need to vomit out my novel. I've been at this for 2 yrs and still no complete manuscript to show for it! And really, the longer I sit at my computer not achieving my word count the more time I waste when i could be doing other things. I will do this!
I'm also going to get a better handle on everything from finances to my car to preparing for grad school(Ugh, GMAT here I come). I keep eyeing all these organizational things but somehow I don't think that will help me get control of my finances...lol!
Uh oh. Steph said the "F" word. We haven't talked about that today. I'm freaking a bit with the new car payment. Not sure what I was thinking. I mean, I can do it, but man it's going to be TIGHT. And I said I wasn't going to keep spending money like it's going out of style but what did I do this weekend? I went to the movies TWICE and ate out THREE TIMES. *sigh* I need an intervention. LOL!
But for the record, Marley & Me is good but a tear jerker (though I think everyone knows that) and Yes Man is more of a chick flick than they are billing it in the commercials. I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to see He's Just Not That Into You. Talk about a movie I can relate to!
Steph - Forgot to say YOU GO GIRL!!! Get the words down, get the story out, and everything else will feel like a breeze. (Marn - don't you dare mention revisions and burst our bubble!)
I know you can do it and we're all going to feel better when we get to the end and do that happy pirate dance. I say Chance passes out a round of Seething Passions and we all toast to our finished products that will be!
I saw the trailer to "He's Just Not That Into You" twice and I laughed my ass off. When Drew Barrymore was going about how many tech gadgets a man could break up with you by--and how stressful it was, I bust a gut!
Hmmm. Was thinking of going to see Bolt for a final time afore it disappeared...maybe I will opt for "Yes Man" ... Don't think I could stand the tears of Marley and Me...
You got it! Seething Passions for everyone! Yo ho!
Happy pirate dance, eh? Do I need tap shoes? I always wanted tap shoes...
Cap'n? I understand yer moving...need any furniture? Check this out... fer the proper pirate room... http://www.roomstogokids.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=showRoom&roo_id=3365
Love the nightstand!
OMG. They seriously have pirates furniture that costs 2300 dollars!?!?
*dies*
Oh. My. Gosh. Captain has to have that furniture. LOL! Though that is a lot to spend for stuff that will be beat to hell and rum soaked in no time.
Chance - I still need to catch Bolt. Maybe it'll play at the $1.50 theater before it disappears. I need to go check that out.
Oh, and a guy I work with fixed the button on my laptop. So I'm back online at home AND my new laptop was ordered today. I'm going to have TWO laptops. Be still my heart.....
It do be costly...think pirates are makin' it? ;)
The barrel nightstand is just...perfect. I want it for me rebuilt front deck, which looks more like a pier than a deck! Even got rope 'stead of rails... Plannin' a mast...
Terrio, I hope ta find Igor on pay per view one of these days!
Chance - You'll have to let me know what you think. I loved it and I need to keep an eye out to get it on DVD. Hope when you get your blog going, you'll post something about that deck. I want to see that!
In an unrelated posting - I just had a hissy fit. Hissy fit over and done with.
I'm going to vent more in 2009!
And I am going to finish 'No Soup For You!', put a period to poor eviscerated 'Sweet Melissa'. Query like nobody's business and see if this romance I have with romance is reciprocated. In my heart of hearts, I believe it is.
Go to it friends in all your declarations.
LOL! Have I told you how much I love you lately, San? Spew girly. Spew your little adorable heart out. It's good for you.
I know the Romance world is waiting anxiously for you to let the work of art loose. No matter what, you've got a misfit bunch of pirates with black pom poms cheering you on!
Lots of awesome declarations!
I'm just gonna pick one because it's gonna be the hardest thing for me - exercise! I really have to do something. I spent the holidays with my FIL (who is falling apart) and really, really don't want to end up like that!
Congrats on the new digs, Hellion! Sounds like loads of fun. I don't usually have feelings regarding the future, but it feels like 2009 is gonna be a good one! Bring it on!
I forgot to say Woo Hoo on the 2 laptops, Ter. That's awesome! Forget about doctors, mechanics or plumbers... I'm telling my kids to go for the computer geeks. They are invaluable! I know!
Heya, Irish! 2009 is looking pretty good. Not sure what it is, but I see nothing but blue skies. Well, once this dang rain stops. LOL!
It is handy to work with a bunch of IT guys. I never thought they'd be able to fix it, but he changed some ribbon thing and now it works beautifully. And before it broke, I had no sound whatsoever. Now I have volume. No idea how he fixed that!
Santa said "I’m going to vent more in 2009!"
EEwwwwwwwOMG
Good thing I own a hard hat, a chemical suit and seven pairs of safty glasses!
Golly
Is it just me, or does any one else have this strange urge to yell "Thar she blows?"
By the way Santa.... YEAHyeahYahyahhhhhhh!
Way to Go.
Here is a toast to No Soup!
And speaking of going , I'm glad that you're Going to Vent... verses B!#@h Slapping. Since I suspect that my putting you on my Writers Watch list has put Me on your "Naughty" one. So yah. Venting sounds ... uuhhhh a little more Un-e-vent-ful
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