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Thursday, November 4, 2010
In a NaNo world.
Influence this week- Lots of caffeine, lots of fun size candy bars and a new playlist filled with alternative music that I love. Right now: "Please" by Ludo and "In the Night" by Cavo. STL has great local bands and if you like alternative music, check these two out.
Hi, my name is Sin. I wasn't quite sure if you'd forgotten about me. I've been hibernating in the crow's nest while I organize my thoughts. The last year has brought about a lot of changes in my personal life. Changes are a good thing, except they tend to mess with my creative flow. In order to function properly I need to have the ability to flex my creative fingers and use my imagination. My imagination lately has been in the form of paint colors and used furniture I want to revamp and upholster.
Like in fiction, characters have a “real” life where they have to work and do ho-hum every day crap to tide everyone over (even if it is a cat named Mistress.) My real persona has a real life and plays a role that I don't always relish in. I'm not the stereotypical type of person. I morph into bits and pieces I need to play in order to get the job done and flitter about until I can call it done. Then I move on. Playing the role of suburban decorating wife does not suit me. Makes me feel like climbing into a dress and heels and standing in the kitchen when my husband comes home and proudly announcing his dinner is done. (With a dash of arsenic for flavor.) Then promptly finding the nearest foot long piece of non-waxed dental floss to strangle myself with. Notice I didn't say waxed. Too slippery. And smells like mint.
* sad shake of head * Sorry, bad inside joke. At least it wasn't the toothpick and ice pick this time. I'll save them for a special occasion.
So imagine my surprise when I realize the month of October is upon us. Thanksgiving, Christmas, family gatherings and Christmas parties to plan and presents to find and buy and snow days to work around. This is the type of anxiety ridden panic that immediately swallowed me as I realized there will be times when I won't be able to breathe, let alone do something I want to do. Then I signed into my email and there was one glorious email hidden amongst the junk.
NaNoWriMo season was closing in on us again, my email read.
In 2006, someone dared me to do this feat. And a giant feat it is- a person signs into a website to become a participant in a large scale noveling event. I was new to writing in 2006 (as you've undoubtedly heard me say before) and fell in love with a character in my mind named Sadie Michaels. This grand scale monstrosity I wrote in 30 days was promptly deleted into a folder deemed “Never Open Under Penalty of Painful Death”. Not salvageable. Ever.
But it was a lesson. A lesson in I could do anything if I set my mind to it. I could write an original novel. I could create my own characters and setting. And I went back to doing what I've done since then, selectively writing fan fiction for Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Every year since then, I've received emails telling me to come back to NaNo. Participate in another glorious month of pure selfishness and do what you love to do.
Every year I decline. The thought of organizing and actually putting together a written work of my imagination scares the hell out of me. That's right. I said it. The one thing that scares me in this world is the one thing I want most. If I fail and lose the one thing I love, where will I be without it? So I've never put forth any effort to do it.
Oh, I have plenty written in my own characters and in my own settings. I have folders upon folders of stuff about Kiki, Kady and Sadie and Tory. Dex, Ash and Ruiz. Short stories and one shots, scenes out of nowhere. I know these characters. They are mine. I am theirs. If I put them out there and they are no longer mine and they no longer speak to me, how will I get them back?
The question has haunted me late at night for years.
This year I stared at the email. I read over the contents once, twice, three times. And without a second thought on November 1, I pulled up the NaNo site and got my user name and password and became a participant for the second time.
christietaylor – user name for NaNo. Follow my word count, berate me when I fall behind, encourage me or ignore me.
I know this is going to be tough. I know I'm going to struggle and swear and probably throw something off a cliff and ice pick someone (possibly a sacrificial bunny) by the end of the month; but I have to know if I can do this. I can't fail Dex and Kiki after I've spent so much time getting to know them and learning about their story. That is failure. Not using your potential while you have it, not accessing the story and organizing it so it can be shared with someone else so that maybe your love for your characters will be passed on to someone else. Imagination and characters are a creative gift to others. Share your imagination with everyone around you. Even if you're not a writer, or even a reader. Characters are all around you in life. Find some enthusiasm and encourage others to join in.
I hope that sometime in the future you will join in on NaNo or tell someone about it and encourage them to participate. If nothing else, the forums on the NaNo site and the emails they send out could encourage you to get started in your own fictional world some day.
Have you ever done NaNo? Would you consider it? Anyone willing to become my assistant just to go on Starbucks runs in the middle of the night?
Hi, my name is Sin. I wasn't quite sure if you'd forgotten about me. I've been hibernating in the crow's nest while I organize my thoughts. The last year has brought about a lot of changes in my personal life. Changes are a good thing, except they tend to mess with my creative flow. In order to function properly I need to have the ability to flex my creative fingers and use my imagination. My imagination lately has been in the form of paint colors and used furniture I want to revamp and upholster.
Like in fiction, characters have a “real” life where they have to work and do ho-hum every day crap to tide everyone over (even if it is a cat named Mistress.) My real persona has a real life and plays a role that I don't always relish in. I'm not the stereotypical type of person. I morph into bits and pieces I need to play in order to get the job done and flitter about until I can call it done. Then I move on. Playing the role of suburban decorating wife does not suit me. Makes me feel like climbing into a dress and heels and standing in the kitchen when my husband comes home and proudly announcing his dinner is done. (With a dash of arsenic for flavor.) Then promptly finding the nearest foot long piece of non-waxed dental floss to strangle myself with. Notice I didn't say waxed. Too slippery. And smells like mint.
* sad shake of head * Sorry, bad inside joke. At least it wasn't the toothpick and ice pick this time. I'll save them for a special occasion.
So imagine my surprise when I realize the month of October is upon us. Thanksgiving, Christmas, family gatherings and Christmas parties to plan and presents to find and buy and snow days to work around. This is the type of anxiety ridden panic that immediately swallowed me as I realized there will be times when I won't be able to breathe, let alone do something I want to do. Then I signed into my email and there was one glorious email hidden amongst the junk.
NaNoWriMo season was closing in on us again, my email read.
In 2006, someone dared me to do this feat. And a giant feat it is- a person signs into a website to become a participant in a large scale noveling event. I was new to writing in 2006 (as you've undoubtedly heard me say before) and fell in love with a character in my mind named Sadie Michaels. This grand scale monstrosity I wrote in 30 days was promptly deleted into a folder deemed “Never Open Under Penalty of Painful Death”. Not salvageable. Ever.
But it was a lesson. A lesson in I could do anything if I set my mind to it. I could write an original novel. I could create my own characters and setting. And I went back to doing what I've done since then, selectively writing fan fiction for Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Every year since then, I've received emails telling me to come back to NaNo. Participate in another glorious month of pure selfishness and do what you love to do.
Every year I decline. The thought of organizing and actually putting together a written work of my imagination scares the hell out of me. That's right. I said it. The one thing that scares me in this world is the one thing I want most. If I fail and lose the one thing I love, where will I be without it? So I've never put forth any effort to do it.
Oh, I have plenty written in my own characters and in my own settings. I have folders upon folders of stuff about Kiki, Kady and Sadie and Tory. Dex, Ash and Ruiz. Short stories and one shots, scenes out of nowhere. I know these characters. They are mine. I am theirs. If I put them out there and they are no longer mine and they no longer speak to me, how will I get them back?
The question has haunted me late at night for years.
This year I stared at the email. I read over the contents once, twice, three times. And without a second thought on November 1, I pulled up the NaNo site and got my user name and password and became a participant for the second time.
christietaylor – user name for NaNo. Follow my word count, berate me when I fall behind, encourage me or ignore me.
I know this is going to be tough. I know I'm going to struggle and swear and probably throw something off a cliff and ice pick someone (possibly a sacrificial bunny) by the end of the month; but I have to know if I can do this. I can't fail Dex and Kiki after I've spent so much time getting to know them and learning about their story. That is failure. Not using your potential while you have it, not accessing the story and organizing it so it can be shared with someone else so that maybe your love for your characters will be passed on to someone else. Imagination and characters are a creative gift to others. Share your imagination with everyone around you. Even if you're not a writer, or even a reader. Characters are all around you in life. Find some enthusiasm and encourage others to join in.
I hope that sometime in the future you will join in on NaNo or tell someone about it and encourage them to participate. If nothing else, the forums on the NaNo site and the emails they send out could encourage you to get started in your own fictional world some day.
Have you ever done NaNo? Would you consider it? Anyone willing to become my assistant just to go on Starbucks runs in the middle of the night?
Labels:
2010,
Quartermaster's Queries (Sin),
Sin,
Writing for Rum
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75 comments:
You have a twenty four hour Starbucks where you live? Wow!
;-)
NaNo...nope. I toyed with the idea this year, but figured I'd be knee deep in revisions. Fun part? I am! And I'm flying low on vicodin because I was diagnosed with shingles yesterday...
WEEEEE!
But I totally dig where you're coming from. Fear of failure I get. Fear of sharing the secret world you've created and having people not care as much as you do about it. I would imagine, even fear that someone will take your characters and make them better... Been there, done that.
Nothing beats trying. Nothing beats the effort. There is no failure, there is only hiding and not doing. Not sharing.
Damn, I'm channeling Yoda!
Welcome back, Sin. And go! WRITE!!!
Sin~
I've signed up for NaNo, but haven't done much else. I've been in a weird funk, and am struggling to get out of it.
Today I leave for my local RWA chapter's retreat weekend, and I'm hoping it will help. This blog has already helped. I'm printing it out and taking it with me today.
Di
Damn I have a wicked eye twitch this morning. F8ck it all to hell. It's driving me insane.
Di, I've spent the past two years in a weird funk where writing was a hazy part of my brain I couldn't get functioning for the life of me. I hope this weekend brings you some inspiration and gets your fingers back pounding the keyboard with ease!
Nano for me is an excuse to be free with the way I create the story. It gives me the excuse to write the scenes I know will get cut. The fluff, the melodramatic and the just plain snoozefest. I hope you'll allow yourself the same freedom to just create.
Chanceroo, shingles are the devil. I've not had them, but my cousin did when we were kids. Um, it's uber painful. I feel for you babe. But on the plus side at least the pain killer takes the edge off the revising. lol
If we had 24/7 Starbucks I'd be a junkie. I'm not even sure what time they shut down. I'd imagine the one on campus stays open later than the ones in the neighborhoods.
Wouldn't the B&N Starbuck's stay open longest? The bookstore closes at 10 pm I think on weekends. But maybe the downtown ones stay open later...still, I think it's the local coffeehouses that stay open late for the kiddies. After Starbuck's closes.
Good luck, Sin! As someone who's been desperately waiting for something of yours to read, I'm sooo excited to hear this from you.
I signed up for Nano, thinking I'd use it to hit up my Regency-set. But Monday, the fabulous Caroline Linden agreed to mentor me through the Beau Monde's wonderful mentor program. So, instead of hitting Nano hard, I've been working up a synopsis and a couple sample chapters to send to her. Therefore, Nano has fallen to the back of the priority list.
I'm still planning to get going again here soon, so we'll see. If I even get 20K written this month, I'll think I'm a winner, Nano rules or no.
Go Sin Go! And all the rest of you as well!
I say any word count is a win no matter what the number!
Eye twitch, not any better. I either need mainline some caffeine now, or I'm gonna need a nap before tonight's writing session commences.
That's wonderful news about the mentor, Marn! So excited for you and isn't this what it's all about anyway? Writing, making goals and achieving them? Screw the NaNo word count! (Well, not literally. lol)
Starbucks on the west side stays open til 11 (In front of Hyvee). But I'm not sure about the north side. For that matter, the Starbucks inside Hyvee should be open 24/7 since Hyvee is. lol
Also, I didn't write yesterday.
It was a conscience decision to take a breather on my brain and organize my office so that I could relax in my own space. So my office is clean. Hells we will be in my office tomorrow for quiet time. I'll get snacks.
Sin, it's good to see you back! And with a very inspiring post. :) I loved your point about being afraid of the one thing you want the most. I know that feeling too well. I'm doing NaNo again and I'm ahead on my word count so far because I keep typing every day, even if I feel like the story isn't really a "story".
My expectations are unreasonably high for some reason. LOL I'm competing with myself as well as the books I've completed that are further along in the process. It seems to be a new method the Inner Critic Bitch (ICB) is using on me lately!
So I just keep plugging along, knowing that NaNo is a good way to outrun the ICB while I get to know these characters and fall in love with them like I did with my other books. :)
Chance, sorry about the shingles. Wish the Kraken could take care of those for you. :)
Marn, that's exciting about the mentor opportunity. Can't wait to hear how it goes!
DRD it's weird to see you signed in as your name. Makes me feel like I need to do this proper and use mine. LOL
Eye twitch and hives. Ugh. I'm not even going to whine that this day can't get worse. I'm sure it can. Like at lunch time I go to Starbucks and they can't make my coffee due to out of syrup.
I'm ignoring the ICB. She can come out and play when I start to edit and revise next month. I'm with you. NaNo is a good excuse to exercise creatively and not hold back. I like writing useless scenes. I have a million of them on my computer in folders.
Why do you feel like it's not a story? I think when it doesn't feel like a "story" it means it seems real. The story comes alive and becomes reality. At least for me while I'm writing it and for my characters as they are living through it.
Is it a no no to have your heroine's husband kill her father? Not that it matters because I'm going to do it anyway, but as a reader would you have problems with the couple if they found a way to make the relationship work after that?
I'm not sure how my full name got in there. LOL I just did a revision. :)
And as for your last question -- I'd hang in with the couple if there was a good reason for offing dear ole dad -- something more substantial than "Hey, he wouldn't give me the remote!" LOL
I can outrun the ICB when I'm writing. But she knows she can get her poison-tipped talons in before that, to keep me doubting so I will just say the heck with it and quit writing the story. :) So far I've outwitted her.
I am just having some doubts, which are part of the process. I have to remember that I felt this way with the other books too. Now that they're done and on their way, it's easy to forget that they made me weep and wail and gnash my teeth too.
I think it depends on the father. If he was a good man, you'd have a harder time than if he was a bad guy.
Her father is a criminal and while not a very bad man, bad enough. I see it very vividly in my head.
I can't tell the reasoning behind the kill (it's important to the story) but it's sort Mr. Mrs. Smith style.
Isn't that what writing is about? The weeping, the wailing and the gnashing of teeth? I'm pretty sure that's how I chipped my bottom ones. lol
Isn’t that what writing is about? The weeping, the wailing and the gnashing of teeth? I’m pretty sure that’s how I chipped my bottom ones. lol
Gah! I was hoping that since I've learned so much more about the process I could skip this step. LOL But maybe not.
You've got a great wordcount going on NaNo -- and you took yesterday off? Even more awesome!
Bless you, Chance! I hope recovery is quick and the vocodin effective in the meantime.
Marnie, great news about the mentoring! Congrats!
Sin, it's good to see the Quartermaster's byline again. I've missed you.
I am doing NaNo this year--sort of. After I signed up, I signed a contract for 15 (15,000 words total) articles that I have to finish by the end of the month. I don't know how much NaNoing I'll be able to do, but I'd love to hit at least 25,000 by Nov. 30.
I didn't sign up for NaNo, because I'm swamped, and I was worried it'd just add to my stress levels. But I am still trying to revise this month, so I might sign up just to keep track of how much I'm revising
Well, that and everyone else is clearly doing it, so I want to as well :)
Sin - yay for writing!!
Marnee - hot damn *g*
Chance - that sucks big time, and I hope the pain pills are helping!
Marn! That is so cool! An official mentorship! Wow, it's just so good to see so many of the crew stopping by.
Sin, an eye twitch? Nerves, baby...nerves.
And thanks for the well-wishing on the shingles front. Not a whole lot of fun right now. But the meds cut the pain...nothing to do about the blahs and tiredness save to wait it out.
And all my Starbucks are closed by 10...but it works out. Now that they have those Via packages, I manage!
Now, must dig into the revisions...
WRITE SIN! GOGOGOGOGOGOGGOGOGOGOGO!
I'm signed up for NaNo, but haven't done much yet. This week I've been focused on Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write week - amazing info and oportunities for writers who are targeting HAR (like me) :)
I've done only 899 words since Monday, but I have BIG plans for this weekend.
I'm on NaNo as SabrinaShields if anyone wants to check on my progress and whip my a** into shape. I have got to write THE END to this first WIP before the end of the year. That's my goal. I have to get this 1st one done and prove it to myself that I can do it.
I'm right there with you on this one!
Sabrina and Janga -- I add both of you to my buddy list. I'm listed there as MsTerious (I picked it way back in 2004 when I was trying to say anonymous -- LOL)
If I missed anyone, feel free to buddy me and I can re-buddy you. :)
DRD You’ve got a great wordcount going on NaNo — and you took yesterday off?
I have a goal in mind for where I'd like to be by the end of the weekend. I'll have to see if I can still accomplish it even after taking Thursday off and I'll probably take a partial rest day on Sunday.
Gah! I was hoping that since I’ve learned so much more about the process I could skip this step. LOL But maybe not.
The more I learn about the process the harder it gets to do what I set out to do, write.
PS. I've missed you guys too but I was in no shape to blog the past few months. Too much work going on and not enough brain power to host business let alone my craft.
Janga! Fifteen articles! Eep! Good luck dear! I'll keep my typing fingers crossed for your 25k by the end of the month! You're plate is over-runith. lol
Hal, dude, you've got enough on your plate to give out seconds to the whole crew. I think the whole process is just as important as the initial book writing. So revision should count in NaNo. It's only fair.
Chanceroo, my DR told me once that an eye twitch is caused due to lack of rest. My eye twitch is much like when your eyes flutter while you sleep. Your brain is moving and your eyes are watching the images produced by the brain. That's how my right eye was this morning. Still a slight twitch but a Venti of Starbucks has kicked in so the twitch may be caffeine induced. lol
PS. We're going to do it! I may not type THE END when NaNo is finished at the end of this month, but I'm going to be damned close and I'm going to finish.
Scapey, go woman go! I have big plans for myself this weekend as well. Monday we should reconvene and see how we did!
Sinster, one of these days, you have to figure out how to manage more hours of sleep. Sounds like your eyes are trying to take you there, whether your body is horizontal or not!
Wow, GO everyone!
I get 4 hours a night. Most times.
That just isn't human.
Who said anything about human?
*giggle*
Thanks guys! I'm really excited. I think I've got a bit of a synopsis to send her. Now I need to polish up some pages. Grrr.... Where's my clone....
And I'm really excited Sin's determined to type "The End" soon! Hoorrayy!!!
Go pirates and shipmates and everyone involved in Nano and everything else. We're definitely kicking butt and taking names around here.
So, frustration central. I open my revision doc from my editor and want to begin working on it. But! The new laptop has a 'trial' version of Word and won't let me make any changes until I buy the upgrade.
Guess revisions will wait until tonight!
Sigh.
And we should. The RWR and our friends are some of the best writers out there. Sometimes we just all need to be reminded of that.
Word.. those f*cking bastards.
My sentiments exactly. I miss the days when a brand new laptop came with actual programs, a carrying case and no need to buy a ton of stuff right away!
Agreed. Although, anymore I just scratch everything off the laptop and start fresh. All that pre-programed loaded crap gives me the heebie-jeebies.
The RWR and our friends are some of the best writers out there. Sometimes we just all need to be reminded of that.
I'm carving this into the mast. :)
Chance, can you load a previous version of Word from your old laptop? I'm guessing you aren't at home to do it though.
Okay, off to work on my NaNo count. I'm feeling inspired. :) (Plus I want a glass of wine afterwards!)
Dear DRD,
You'll have to carve it under the one that says, "DRD *heart* Undead Monkey".
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
Dear Evil Twin,
Why oh why do I forget that your first name is Evil?
Sincerely,
DRD
Totally unfair you can work on your word count now. When I get home, I'm taking a nap and then I'm going to get down to business.
I've GOT to work on my word count now. The only productive thing I've done today is wash dishes and design business cards online that I'm not even sure I'm going to order. LOL
Dear DRD,
Because I look so sweet? I've heard that's the case.
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
Ah, but you're a computer diva and I'm a computer peasant...
Hey, that's productive. You gotta have clean dishes so you can drink later.
Donna...not at home and even if I were...I honestly don't know how to do all that! LOL!
If I lose the DH for any reason, I am so screwed.
Doesn't matter. Stupid crap they load onto computers is worthless.
You should have a couple of licenses with Word on your old set. Load it up babe. I would give you mine, but it's pirated.
I'm gonna need another vicodin soon anyway and then I'll need to come down a little before I can coherently do the work. So, tonight will be good.
*shaking head* One of these days I'm just gonna have to fly out there and spend the day with you and the computer.
Well, you can do that anyway, Sin! This time of the year is awesome... And you'd have to write it all down because I'd forget what you showed me inside a week.
Menapause does terrible things to the memory. This is why I carry around a bunch of little tablets, to write things down in so I don't forget my life.
I would give you mine, but it’s pirated.
Of course it is! LOL
Chance, you should have a disk, which you just pop into the CD or DVD player and let it do all the work. It's wicked easy!
I need a soma and a fifth of vodka. Then I'd be good. A good slurring pirate always makes her word count.
If I can teach my little old grandma how to use the computer, I can teach you more advanced level stuff. Like DRD said, when you get a hold of the disk, pop it in and follow the prompts. You'll need your product registration key (which is a long f*cking number/letter combo that you're sure to get wrong 5 times in a row) but other than that, you should be good to go.
Woohoo! It is Friday. I say drink and write. The words will come faster that way.
You're right about that product key -- I had it about a half inch away from my eyeball to make sure I could read it. LOL
I'm freezing. Maybe I should drink the wine now so I can stay warm.
Yeah, as long as I keep my fingers on the right keys. LOL
You can translate it tomorrow. Or next month. Just get moving!
esjy js[[rmd og upi idr yjr etpmh lrud/// pj/
;-)
Chance is copying my paper! LOL
Cheaters. *hahaha* Everyone knows the answer is always D. None of the Above.
I'm back online! Whoot!
I'm cheering on all you NaNoers. I did it last year and I think I might have gotten only 16K words out of it, those words turned into my first finished MS, which I really need to get back to revising.
Congrats on the mentorship, Marn. That's amazing and I can't wait to hear how it goes.
Sin - I'm totally jealous of your ortanized, ready-to-work office. I'm so far from that!
I will take a picture and post in the group next week so you can see. Manda is going to paint a tree (a dark crazy looking dead tree with dead leaves blowing in the imaginary wind- can't wait!). The office is nothing much to look at but it's mine.
Yay Terri! And you don't have to finish NaNo -- I tried twice on I Do. . .or Die and had to finish it later. But it got me an agent and some contest wins. :) So NaNo did its part.
Sin, I just noticed in Windows 7 I have a "snipping tool". What am I supposed to do with that? Do you know?
Love the snipper.
It's like the old Print Screen. You can make a snippet (screen shot) of what your doing into a file so you can paste it into a document.
Mmm, I thought it was used for surgery. Dang.
Removal of muse's balls not recommended.
I apparently left my typing skills behind while I was offline. LOL! WTH?!
Can't wait to see the office. And I have Windows 7 at work so I'll have to look for my snipper!
*snip *snip
You'll make Bumbles run from you, Terrio!
I will look for that when I get my upgrade...to word 2010...who the hell knows what is in that thing!?
no telling. I have 2007 and its weird as hell. I'm still trying to get used to it. I hear 2010 has bugs. Like undead monkey lice or something. Though they have fixed it now.
Bumbles were removed via lazer last year. No worries about that.
I have 2007 but I might have 2010 at work. Huh, I'm not sure. Once you figure out where to find everything at the top of the screen, you can scoot right along.
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