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Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Word Count Roll Call
I shoved a hand through my hair as I made my way into the office. Or as I liked to call it, my imagination room. Except this month, I lacked all the imagination I usually found within the room's four walls.
April was a rough month.
I sighed as I flipped the floor lamp on in the corner behind the chaise lounge. The calendar behind my desk reminded me April was almost over, X's covered all the days passed. With just a few days left and several thousand words left to cover, this month felt impossible. May wouldn't be any different. I'd pledged in a slight drunken stupor to do the same goal next month.
I flopped into my computer chair. Mina sat up with a squawk. She flicked her tail in my direction, smacking me hard on the hip. Her eyes shot me the death stare as she climbed up on top of my desk and stomped with extra enthusiasm on my keyboard as if she showed her displeasure with each little step.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and mentally counted to ten. I couldn't do anything right this month. I couldn't wait until April was over and done. Bring on May and another 50k challenge. Maybe May would bring me better luck.
At the beginning of the month, I felt such promise pulsing through my veins. The creative juice that fills me on my off months motivates me right off the bat. But I struggled to find my voice. Struggled to find my point-of-view. Struggled to find my starting point. So I worked hard on notes. I used up a new notebook and two new ink pens. I added new music into my playlist. But all that successfully did was get my booty out of the chair and down onto the trail for my other monthly goal.
That's right. Not only did I foolishly say I would write 50k this month. I also pledged to run on the trail 5 days a week. I did better with one than the other. I've been on the trail Monday through Friday since the beginning of the month (except for the days I was in Florida). I've managed about 2 to 3 miles a night. It helped clear my head of work. Helped me focus on my story. However, it did not help me put my fingers on the keyboard and type it out.
I reached for the pink Peeps and tossed one into my mouth. The Word cursor blinked back at me with no sympathy whatsoever. I slouched in my chair, put one foot up on the corner of the desk and propped the wireless keyboard in my lap.
Where do I go from here? What do I see?
Tank eyed me from his position on the back of the chaise lounge. Mina stared me down from the top of a stack of shoujo manga. The desk lamp beats down on me, giving me the third degree.
I take a deep breath to calm down. I close my eyes and imagine my world. This dark insidious world where nothing is truly what it seems. Where night is always around the corner. Where you can find me lurking the shadows.
All is right in my world. I just need to write it.
Now, Hellie and I had a drunken writing meeting last week with the GPS; and it was decided by Hellie and I that we'd do another 50k month for May (and June too). So will you join us on our writing crusade? Do you ever think of your own life as a story you're narrating as you move along? Anyone want to share their word count this month? Or pledge a word/page count for the month of May?
April was a rough month.
I sighed as I flipped the floor lamp on in the corner behind the chaise lounge. The calendar behind my desk reminded me April was almost over, X's covered all the days passed. With just a few days left and several thousand words left to cover, this month felt impossible. May wouldn't be any different. I'd pledged in a slight drunken stupor to do the same goal next month.
I flopped into my computer chair. Mina sat up with a squawk. She flicked her tail in my direction, smacking me hard on the hip. Her eyes shot me the death stare as she climbed up on top of my desk and stomped with extra enthusiasm on my keyboard as if she showed her displeasure with each little step.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and mentally counted to ten. I couldn't do anything right this month. I couldn't wait until April was over and done. Bring on May and another 50k challenge. Maybe May would bring me better luck.
At the beginning of the month, I felt such promise pulsing through my veins. The creative juice that fills me on my off months motivates me right off the bat. But I struggled to find my voice. Struggled to find my point-of-view. Struggled to find my starting point. So I worked hard on notes. I used up a new notebook and two new ink pens. I added new music into my playlist. But all that successfully did was get my booty out of the chair and down onto the trail for my other monthly goal.
That's right. Not only did I foolishly say I would write 50k this month. I also pledged to run on the trail 5 days a week. I did better with one than the other. I've been on the trail Monday through Friday since the beginning of the month (except for the days I was in Florida). I've managed about 2 to 3 miles a night. It helped clear my head of work. Helped me focus on my story. However, it did not help me put my fingers on the keyboard and type it out.
I reached for the pink Peeps and tossed one into my mouth. The Word cursor blinked back at me with no sympathy whatsoever. I slouched in my chair, put one foot up on the corner of the desk and propped the wireless keyboard in my lap.
Where do I go from here? What do I see?
Tank eyed me from his position on the back of the chaise lounge. Mina stared me down from the top of a stack of shoujo manga. The desk lamp beats down on me, giving me the third degree.
I take a deep breath to calm down. I close my eyes and imagine my world. This dark insidious world where nothing is truly what it seems. Where night is always around the corner. Where you can find me lurking the shadows.
All is right in my world. I just need to write it.
Now, Hellie and I had a drunken writing meeting last week with the GPS; and it was decided by Hellie and I that we'd do another 50k month for May (and June too). So will you join us on our writing crusade? Do you ever think of your own life as a story you're narrating as you move along? Anyone want to share their word count this month? Or pledge a word/page count for the month of May?
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2011,
Quartermaster's Queries (Sin),
Sin
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49 comments:
Page count? 35 so far. I'll make the 40 I pledged before April is over.
May. Big month. 31 days. And...my agent is negotiating another contract, for the two remaining Kraken's Caribbean books. One is written. One...isn't. It's 13k words so far. I need...oh, 65k. I make 15k by Sunday...
I'll go for it. 50+k for May. Count me in.
;-)
Terrio found me a soundtrack, a double CD set of the soundtrack from Cuthroat Island. Plus I found a few more that will help for the more ominous places I need darker music...
Now, if I could narrate my daily grind? Oh, how terribly boring it would be! Well, other than a bank robbery next to my Starbucks on Thursday...which I sat through, oblivous about while the rest of the people in the cafe watched the robbers speed away...
Ipods...great thing to make the world disappear.
What is May going to be called?
Do you ever think of your own life as a story you’re narrating as you move along?
OMG? Is that what I've been doing? And here I thought that I was "recording" my correspondence because I hated to type.
I want to get in on this writing. I am going to pledge to make it to 30K on my MS by end of May. I'm sick of messing around with this story. I'm just going to try to force it out of my brain now, I think.
I'm at a little over 5K on the revised story, so that leaves me 25K by end of May. I think I can manage that if I show a little discipline and barring any cases of the plague to overtake the house again.
Great writing and working out, Sin. Very proud of you.
I haven't thought up a name for May's writing event. Anyone wanna give it a shot today?
Chanceroo, super huge congrats to you on TWO more Kraken books!! Such exciting news!
To make up for not even hitting 30k this month I need to put in at least 45k next month. And at least 30k in June. I'm a slacker. I hang my head in procrastination misery.
I'm a fan of my ancient iPod. I want a new one but I'm pretty sure I'm going to spring for an iPhone in September so no use in getting a new iPod. But I can tell you an 8GB iPod is not enough room for me to have all the music I want to listen to. I got the acoustic version of an older CD I absolutely love to pieces and have put it on repeat for the last 2 weeks.
When I was in Florida, I looked for some pirate music for you Chanceroo. All I found was Disney pirate music for children. I didn't think you'd appreciate it. lol
For once, I have proven Hellie wrong. I am NOT the overachiever of this crew. In fact, I might be the most underachieving pirate of the month. My numbers are not good. And I mean NOT GOOD.
I think I have 10 pages. For the month. And I think I stopped literally mid-sentence about two weeks ago? Haven't opened the file since. To be fair, I've made two consecutive weekend drives to Knoxville and went a week without Kiddo, which always throws off my mojo.
I did write an 800 word story for Woman's World, but realized last night I'll have to do some major surgery on it before sending it off. I might have written it while I was miffed (read: boiling mad) and some of that anger might have seeped in (read: heroine is EVIL!).
So I have 10 pages, a few blogs, a million emails, and 800 words that need de-angered. Like I said, NOT GOOD.
I clearly need a deadline. I would very much like to have 100 pages by the end of May. I'm taking an ecourse but other than that, I have no excuses. NONE.
As a title, can I suggest Mayawrapamo? No idea why but I think we should keep the Native American tribe sounding thing going. It's fun.
Jules, we could make your life into a HBO series. You could do the voice over.
Marn, I'm feeling the same way. I'm tired of messing around with my story. If it's in my head, it sure as hell can be on the Word page.
PS. Happy Admin. Professionals day everyone.
Hey, it's my day! I'd totally forgotten. And so did everyone else. No shocker there.
You even exercised? Man, you really know how to make a girl feel like a total loser. Thanks.
Bo'sun, you're not an underachiever. There is a difference between underachieving and being so damned busy you can't sit down for 2 seconds. You fall into the busy bee category. Running around on the road for two weekends in a row, working full weeks and maintaining a household is no small feat. You'll get back to writing. And I know you'll edit the WW story and whip it into shape. You can do it!
PS. I like the name for May's writing event. If we can't have a pirate theme, we've got to keep the Native American tribe sound alive.
Sorry Bo'sun. If I don't start exercising I'm gonna have to start going naked to the office. And I'm pretty sure naked is not listed under casual Friday's dress code.
And I’m pretty sure naked is not listed under casual Friday’s dress code.
Favorite comment of the day so far. :) hahaha!
I'm pretty sure no one wants to see my junk. And my hideous tan line from Florida. I wish I could blow up the pic of gold thong man from the beach. It was hilarious.
I bet it is at Marn's "office". LOL!
I'd like to say I'm that busy, but my house is in dire need of attention. The grass needs cut AGAIN, but I can't cut it while it's wet and we're at the "afternoon showers" stage of our spring. Which will last until September, oddly enough.
I do sit down at the computer, but I get so easily distracted by *whispers* the internets.
The whole Internet thing is the main reason I still don't have Internet hooked up at home. I have it on my phone, but it's mainly for reference and email only. And it's hard to type out a long email using your thumbs.
I hate Spring for the simple fact I have to go outside and do sh*t with the yard. I like to be outside, but I also like to be inside writing in my office. Away from the allergies and nosy neighbors.
I bet it is at Marn’s “office”. LOL!
Trust me, no one wants to know the amount of nakedness I thwart on a daily basis. My youngest is destined for the nudist colony, I'm certain of it.
I can't believe both boys don't thwart mama and run around naked through the house just to hear you holler.
My brothers were like that. What is it with little boys that they have to be all flapping in the wind all the time? (I realize this is not always limited to "little" boys.)
Sin - I think it goes back to my childhood of not having the luxuries other kids in the neighborhood had, other than cable. I will not go without cable or internet. I'm the grown up and it's my money and *stomps foot* I don't wanna!
Willpower me haz not.
The website is great but I have the books. I'm a sucker for little kitty pics and captions.
LMFAO
Procrastination iz must. I do 2marrow.
I still love the bunny hanging between two trees with the caption "Ninja skillz, I haz dem." LOL! Kiddo and I say that all the time.
Bosun, you just wanted to prove me wrong so you could be right. *sticks out tongue* And you never do well when kiddo is out of town. Not having weekends to yourself puts you off kilter and having kiddo absent makes you depressed. (Mothers.)
So far, I've got about 12,000 words (45 pages) on the manuscript, but I think only 10,000 of those are 'new' words. (I think I started the month with about 6 pages or so.) My goal was 30,000 words, with 4 pages written a day, but there is something about weekends that drives out nearly all my initiative to write at all. I can usually write weeknights for an hour, but somehow carving out 2 hours from my 48 hours weekends is impossible. It's one of those things I just have to work on.
In the meantime, I'm looking forward to carrying this on into May and writing 30,000 in May instead! I like the Maywrapimo (or however it's spelled. Yes, the Native American theme seems to be working. *LOL*)
It's my favorite saying. I mean, how can you NOT love those little kitties?
Sin, I'm sorry if you already said this--the caffeine isn't waking me up like it's supposed to--but you DID write in April, correct? Even if you didn't get your word count goal? You were working on it, and thinking about your story, and trying to accomplish it? That counts as winning in my book. :)
And all that running you did is awe-inspiring.
Chance, congrats on the new book contracts. That is exciting news.
I haven't kept track of word count, since I'm revising, which often means ripping out one thing and adding something else. My 15k short story/novella is at 17k right now. LOL And next is a book that I have to tear off the last half and put on a new one. And I have three more H&H posts, in addition to my twice-weekly personal ones, so a lot of my word count is going there.
That's why I haven't been hanging around here as much. :)
But before I dash off, I'm lifting my rum in salute to all the hard-working pirates here!
Sin = winning. hahaha I feel like there was a Charlie Sheen moment in there, DRD.
Yeah, I did write. I've got under 20k. Not even half what I pledged to do, which makes me a tad depressed. But I did write. Dex and Kiki are killing me this month. Since I'm not focused on them they want to play and I keep shoving them back into the dark part of my brain for a nice nap. But neither like that idea.
Hells, I'm feeling ya. I'm having a hard time getting inspired to write on the weekends this past month. When the office stresses me out, I tend to veg on the weekends to get my brain set back to semi-normal just so I can make it through another full week.
I would suggest writing together but we know how that goes.
Sin, the CS reference was totally unintentional. LOL That goober has taken away a perfectly good word!
And I don't want to take away your depression or anything. :) But did you write more because of that deadline? Even if you didn't hit the goal #?
Okay, enough. I might start cheering you up. And I don't want that to happen. LOL
I'm with Donna in that I don't think you get to hang your head when you've made the kind of progress you did. Goals are to "encouraging motivators" as rules are to guidelines around here. They serve a purpose, but that purpose is never locked in stone.
I know. A happy Sin is.. well.. I dunno what a happy Sin is. That's some kind of parallel universe or something.
Chance, I've tried to email my congrats to you twice, but Yahoo is NOT winning right now! I expect it'll work itself out later, but just wanted to let you know I'm excited for you. :)
"I know. A happy Sin is.. well.. I dunno what a happy Sin is."
I asked the Resident YA person this question. Her answer?
"Lust! Or... Thievery! Because if you steal something? Its because you want IT!"
LOL. That sounds like the perfect answer!
I wrote around 25 K in April, but I think I trashed twice that. My WIP actually has fewer words than it did on April 1. I'm in research mode this month for articles I'm writing for a popular music encyclopedia, which means limited writing time. But even so, I think 1000 words per day is doable. I'll aim to write that many at least. No promises about keeping them.
I think we should get extra bonus point stars for researching and revision during our writing months. It's not like those things are simple. Way to go on the words this month, Janga! I know you can do it again next month too!
Congrats to all of you writing anything at all! Keep it up!
I'm totally impressed with Sin running Mon-Fri! I know I can't catch any of you on the writing, but I would love to match Sin on the exercising at least 5 days a week. If this stinking rain would ever stop. *Sheesh* I feel as if I live in Seattle, which I could never do BTW. I would need one of those SAD lights on me 24/7.
Irish, too bad we don't live near each other so we could keep each other motivated. This week has been a difficult one for me too since it won't stop raining around here. I'm sticking with my running goal next month too so we'll do it together. You don't have to run, but I think exercising helps me focus and get some of the bad juju work nonsense out of me before I write.
I'm not a runner, Sin, but I love to walk outside. I'm loading up my MP3 player and getting reading to start roaming the neighborhood. LOL I know what you mean about clearing my head - it's sort of peaceful for me too.
BTW, I just finished Susanna Fraser's An Inconvenient Marriage at midnight last night. I couldn't put it down. Awesome story and I've got The Sergeant's Lady waiting for me to start, which I hear is even better. Thanks for turning me on to her. I guess that answers your question from yesterday, Ter. This author is one I will buy again!
Oh, and it wasn't just my little boy that loved to run around naked! My daughter loved it too. I don't know what it is about toddlers and clothes. They hate to keep them on.
We'd do this thing called "naked kid" before they went to bed. My DH would yell "naked kid" and they'd both go running through the house without anything on before putting their pj's on. When my daughter was about 3-3 1/2 we decided we should end the "naked kid" game before DCFS was called on us.
Glad to hear it, Irish. Though the books came out in the opposite order, the second is more a prequal so you're reading them it what might a better order. I need to get that on my Reader. I've been in reading limbo all month as well. So odd since I've been in the middle of one book or another almost as long as I could read.
I read a comment on another site saying that she actually wrote them in the right order but couldn't sell the first one. She sold TSL and then went back and cleaned up AIM. So, I figured if she wrote them in order I'd like to read them in order. I'm glad I did.
Kiddo would actually walk around nekkid for years until she started to develop. Now she hides certain parts of her anatomy at all times, much to my relief. I did used to worry she wasn't modest enough. Though getting dressed from a certain point in front of a window doesn't bother her. Must buy blinds.
I've heard that happen to more than one author, but I'm looking forward to reading about the secondary character already knowing how her life turns out. So there's a pro no matter what order you read them in. LOL!
Sounds ta me like a whole lot of writin' was done. Maybe we should count collective words... Creative accounting?
I'm gonna be busting my butt ta get my stuff done, but after the long brain coma induced by finishing up the RT stuff, I'm ready to get the old girl fired back up and running like a clock!
Me, I'm like hell's highway department. My good intentions have paved miles and miles of road.
I think I'll keep my goal simple. Finish up the last chapter in the almost-finished draft. It shouldn't take more than 5K words.
Oh, and Chance, congrats on the contracts! Woo hoo!
We must be on work detail together. Pat. Good luck on the 5K!
Good luck P!
Working the chain gang on the highway to nowheresville...
We need a more positive image, even if that does fit!
Thanks, Pat!
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