Archive for previous entries this month
November 1, 2006
It's a rough life....
Welcome to the first day of NaNo. And for me, the first day of the cold from hell. This is awful. I'm sneezing, coughing, so congested I can't breathe -- and so tired all I want to do is sleep.
My total for today is 11,117 -- which is considerably better than I could have believed I would do when I started out this morning.
But now... now I'm going to bed.
November 2, 2006
Watching me work
Day two of the cold from hell. Day two of NaNo. I think the cold is wining.
But, I managed to write 12,212 words.
So, time to go to bed again. Yeah, it's early. Yeah, if I stayed up, I could probably get quite a bit done for the next day of writing. I'm not sure I would survive it. And I'm tired.
But hey, at least I'm getting good word counts.
November 3, 2006
Helpful Edmond
Another 11,000 word day. And another exhausted night. This is a lot of work when you're so tired!
I've just crossed the quarter mark on the outline. This means that it's actually running over what I had expected it to -- a nice surprise for me, since lately most of my novels have fallen short. This one is now about 6k over what I thought it would be at this point, and it's not slowing down much. Yay!
But I really am tired. This cold has taken a lot out of me this week. I'm getting better, finally, but I spend a lot of time curled up in bed sleeping. Who knows how much I would have done if I wasn't sleeping so much!
Anyway, time for me to get some sleep again now. It's been a long day!
November 4, 2006
Sleepy Zaphod
A bit over 14,000 today. I'm so tired!
The story is going well. It's about to make a major change in direction, and I'm looking forward to it, because I think it will be more active again.
But now... wow, this has been an interesting, but tough, story to write.
I feel better tonight, though. The cold is mostly gone, finally. I still don't have any energy, but at least I'm pushing through and getting the story written. And since I've done over 10k a day, it's about where I was last year, as well. I'm not sure what that means though, since this is a longer novel. I'm already up to 222 pages on the beast.
I have nothing else to say. I couldn't have anything else to say because there is absolutely nothing else going on in my world.
This won't go on for long. I can usually take about seven or eight days of writing like this, and then it's back to the 'real' world.
Yeah, like I would know the real world, right?
November 5, 2006
Poor, cold baby
That's Edmond from a few days ago. Silly guy. Lucky for me that it's warmer tonight.
I've done a little over 13,000 today. Still not bad, all things considered. It's been a troubling day -- poor Zelda is not well. She's nearly 17, so this isn't a shock, but it is a worry. I've had to check on her often.
The book is over 60k at the half way point on the outline. I'm not really sure that I want it to go to 120k, but if I keep at it like this, it will. And I'm heading into the last section of the book where some exciting things SHOULD happen. Whether it turns out exciting when I write it is another matter.
I also might lose most of the 7th. If Russ doesn't have to teach class in Sheldon he might take me to the zoo. This could be important -- it's supposed to be about 70f that day, but snow two days later. It could be the last warm day of the year for zoo stuff, and I'd like to take advantage of that.
We'll see. Right now, I'm just going to concentrate on writing again.
November 6, 2006
Winter Tree
10,032 words today. 71,765 words total.
This day has really wiped me out. Much of it is because Zelda, one of our oldest cats, is very ill and the vet doesn't expect her to live through the night. It's rough, knowing she's not coming back home.
And I'm tired. Just tired. I'm going to post this and go to bed.
November 7, 2006
Lovely sunset
As expected, Zelda died today. It's a hard loss. She was a wonderful little cat.
I'm feeling as much weary as tired today. I wrote about 5,000 words and that's good enough. I am going to go to bed early, sleep and sleep and hope that tomorrow I can do a little better on the work.
It's a good story, really. I see, as I go along, places that I'll want to rework later, but the point right now is to get it down in a workable form. I'm doing that. I expect it to go somewhere between 90 to 100k, which means that I'm really close to done. I've stopped worrying too much about the phase point word count because it was going way over what I expected anyway.
I'll be done with it soon. Then I expect to go on to the outline for Dancer and see if I can't, finally, write a good first draft of that novel. I like the idea of it, I like the characters, I like the plot -- I just haven't been able to pull it together.
This time....
November 8, 2006
The Book I'm Writing
Only another 5k today while I tried to get some DTF work done. It fought me all the way, and now I need answers to a couple things before I go on. And I'm letting the book sit for a bit. I'll get it finished tomorrow, I think.
I might go to the zoo in the morning. Probably not. I've been feeling awful all day and I have horrible pain up the left side of my back and into my neck. Right now I just want to go to bed.
And that's it.
Things are always dull during NaNo.
November 9, 2006
Tuesday's Sunset
I have just reached 90,000 words. That puts me about where I was last year at this time. Not bad. But tomorrow I am going to the zoo, so I'll not reach my 100k at 10 days this year. Ah well. Zoo sounds like more fun!
I'm pretty tired tonight, too. So I'm going to retire early, I think.
The story really isn't bad. I'm pleased with it when I get moving! I hope that having a day away won't take away all the momentum. I really hope, in fact, that it does just the opposite and gets me fired up to work again.
I'm coming in for the close of the novel. I think it's going to be about 100k total. It'll be fun to have it done!
November 10, 2006
The Morning Drive
I went to the zoo today. It was really very nice! I didn't stay as long as usual, and though it was cold, I just scurried from building-to-building. It had snowed this morning -- not much, but we took the back road down to Omaha rather than the Interstate so we could see scenes like these. Isn't this lovely? It was wonderful!
And it helped. I didn't take many pictures at the zoo, but I got a few really good ones. I can't wait to get to them -- and all the others I haven't done yet.
I came home feeling more like writing than I have for the last few days. I've done 5308 words and I'm over 95,000 total. Things look good! I'm heading into the last stretch, and I think the novel will be done this weekend.
So... off to writing I go!
November 11, 2006
Forgotten Places
Missed last night's posting. Too much of a headache, which is holding on today. I did get over 100,000 words. I hope to finish the book today, but it doesn't seem likely.
Especially if I hang around here too long.
Off to work....
November 12, 2006
On to Book 2
(Just before I went to post this, a virus tried to sneak into my computer. I decided not to upload until I was certain it had been fully caught and removed, so I let Norton do a scan over night. So that's why I'm late this time.)
I've finished The Servant Girl. Now I'm about 3600 words into Dancer. I like it so far. I think I might finally really have the feel for it that I want. Dancer himself is about to make his first appearance, so all is going well.
I'll have about 5k for the day, and I think that's going to be my goal for a while. I need to get back to work on other things so that December is not overwhelming. I want to get a few things cleared away and have a nice calm few weeks toward the end of the year.
Like that's going to happen. That damned 2YNY2 book is still hanging over me. Even though I have much of it done, I know it's still going to be a problem. 666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666
Zaphod just typed that. I kept saying these guys are the kittens from hell some days....
Anyway, it's going well. I'm happy with Dancer and I don't think it's going to be difficult to write. I'm hoping for a second 100,000 word novel. The Servant Girl came in at 102,085. A second novel like that will give me a good count for this month. And more importantly, it will give me two nice novels to work with.
My only problem right now is a continuing pain up through my left shoulder and that side of my neck. It's part of what caused me the horrible headache yesterday. I would like it to clear up. That would make this writing stuff so much more fun!
November 13, 2006
Edmond
This morning I was miserably ill with a horrible ear ache. Tonight I'm much better. I managed about 4000 words, despite long times in bed and the bathtub and a nice night out with Russ.
Dancer is really going very well. I'm about 8000 words into it and really enjoying the story. I'm not going to rush it unless I really get an urge to write like mad. But for now -- 4 to 5k a day is going to be it for a while so that I can get some of the other things caught up again. Maybe toward the end of the month I'll go crazy and write more, especially if I'm not quite done with the novel.
I might also have a chance to get caught up on some pictures and stuff. That would be nice!
November 14, 2006
Bubbles in a tea glass
Wrote a bit over 6k today on Dancer. I'm happy. It's going well, and I like the story.
There. A good NaNo day! Yay!
I really don't have anything else to talk about, either. It's been one of those days where the most exciting thing I did, outside of writing, was the dishes. I can't complain about a day like this, but it doesn't leave me with much to say here!
I think I'll go sleep for a few hours and see if I can have another good writing day tomorrow!
November 15, 2006
Invasion
That was a very fast picture I threw together last night. I like the way it turned out, though I need to redo the lighting so that the rocks are a little brighter.
I have written over 20k on Dancer so far, and it's going very well, too. I'm happy with it so far. It's pretty much falling right into the proper word count, which means it should be about 100k by the time I'm done.
I did some other work today, too -- starting to really throw myself back into the real world again, so that I can get stuff done before the end of the year.
Too much stuff, too little time.
But right now... time to either get back to writing or go to bed. I can't quite decide which I want to do yet.
November 16, 2006
Sailing Past the Reefs
I am tired. Really tired tonight. I've written a bit over 5k so I'm calling it good. And I'm going to go crawl off to sleep for the night and hope that I wake up tomorrow and can get a real run on Dancer again, because I've slowed down a bit and I need to pick up the writing if I hope to be done with it this month.
So there. That's all the news.
Time to sleep.
November 17, 2006
Winter is coming!
I had a very good writing day -- a bit over 10,000 words -- and I am very much happy with the world tonight, even if food disagreed with me, and I thought I was going to fall over dead for a while there.
NaNo is rough this year. But I am very happy with the second book and reasonably happy with the first one. The hard work is paying off. I just wish I wasn't so tired!
I honestly wish I could come up with something interesting to say... but right now, the most interesting thought I have is that bed is only a few feet away, and if I get this done quickly, I can just go crawl off and sleep.
I think that thought is going to win.
November 18, 2006
Mine, all mine....
I have no idea what he has... but I remember that he was pretty happy with it.
I wrote another 10,000 words today. That's two days in a row, and pretty late in the month. I don't think I've managed that before in NaNo. Let me tell you... It pretty much did me in today. And now all I really want to do is go curl up and sleep for a few days.
I did get the 2YN class stuff posted, so like is good there. I wish I still felt like I had a brain left, but maybe it will come back after I sleep.
Or after NaNo.
But sleep first. You know, before NaNo I wasn't tired this early. I find this kind of amusing, in an odd, annoying sort of way. I should be good for another two or three thousand words. Instead, I can barely type this up.
Time to post and get some sleep!
November 19, 2006
Tree Trunk
Another 10k day! And let me tell you, it was a difficult one to get to! About six, with only 4k done, I thought I was finished for the day. A headache was winning the battle with my brain, and the outline looked like a bunch of nonsense lines.
I took a long bath, napped there, did a few notes... and came out and wrote. It finally came together.
so, I'm up to about 160,000 words. Dancer is moving along quite well, and I think I'll have it done before the end of the month.
But, as usual, I'm tired now. It's amazing how tiring writing 10k in one day can be!
November 20, 2006
Sioux City
Okay, so here it is, heading into the last ten days of NaNo. I've started to pull myself back from the precipice and cut down from the 10k I had been doing the last few days to a mere 6,800 words today. (grin)
Really, it's gone well. I'm closing in on 170,000 words, and I should make 200,000 by the end of the month. I should also start having time to get caught up on other things. I still have quite a few things left to do before the end of the year.
And that end of the year is looking far closer than it should, isn't it? Ack.
But I'm going to leap in and see if I can get things done and not rush at the last moment. My blood pressure with appreciate it.
Tonight I'm really just messing around. Relaxing. Playing with the kittens and thinking about gathering all my teddy bears (I have quite a few) and sitting them out around the house as a pre-holiday decoration. I think it might be fun.
November 21, 2006
Blue Heron, back in June
I spent most of today worried about Kwi. He was very sick, but he seems to be a bit better tonight. Since his litter mate died two weeks ago, it was a very troubling day. I didn't get a lot written, and I really don't care.
We are skipping turkey dinner this year as a little more expensive than we need. I can't decide if I'm upset about this or not. The generally feeling is 'not' though I love turkey and only have it twice a year. But still... even in the 'easy' style that I make it, it's more work than I like.
I wonder if we can still score a pumpkin pie, though. Hmmmm.... have to think about that one.
Anyway, we're going to do some nice, easy chicken and dumplings, which I happen to love anyway. I'm looking forward to it, in fact. So I obviously can't be upset. (grin)
Now, if Kwi will just get better, I'll be fine.
Right now, though, headache from hell, and not real happy with the world.
November 22, 2006
Goliath Heron
Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US!
I didn't write much today and I don't plan to write much tomorrow. I'm fighting the headache and winning. I'm working at relaxing for a couple days and just doing some odd things.
We will have a quiet and fun day.
As we get closer and closer to the end of the year, I am thinking about what I want to change in 2007. Something has to change. I've not been at all happy with some of the stuff this year. Not all bad, but I need to get better control over my own writing-needs in 2007.
It's a plan. I think, in fact, it's been 'a plan' for several years now. Maybe I'll get it right next year.
And maybe I should just keep my mind on getting through 2006....
November 23, 2006
Happy Holiday!
Or just plain Happy Day to the rest of you.
I spent the day pretty much doing the same things I've been doing the rest of the time. I got some writing done. I even got some work done on the 2YHY2 book.
That's it!
November 24, 2006
Wings
I like this one.
Long day. Appear to have pulled muscle in my neck and shoulder, and I'm not real thrilled about it. I'm heading for bed and good thoughts for tomorrow.
November 25, 2006
Summer
Arm and shoulder are much better. Head is not. I think I've taken too many pills the last few days, between the cold, the shoulder and neck, etc. I am having a hard time locking down on the writing side of things. I finally managed to get a bit over 2000 words done, and that's going to be it for me tonight.
I'm coming close to finishing Dancer though. And I'm still happy with it. We're down to the last few scenes and I think it's falling together better this time.
November is almost over. Yay!
November 26, 2006
Wings
Got a good amount of writing done today, at least. Tired, though!
The story is going very well. I think it's going to do very well, and I can pull it through right to the last day without a problem. That would be good. I'm also getting a few other work-related things done, and even a bit of reading.
There is nothing else going on. We had a little bit of drizzle/freezing rain tonight, but it passed quickly and now it's just turning cold. Maybe some snow later this week. I don't know if I want that or not.
Bed. Bed is mostly what I want right now. I don't know why I'm always so tired lately, but the idea of sleep really appeals to me....
Night!
November 27, 2006
Owl
Good writing day. Got other things done as well, but not nearly enough. I keep getting distracted by odd things like old stories, or pictures. I think my brain is trying to take a little break, whether I want it or not.
I did spend a good amount of time cleaning up my hard drive tonight, though. Much needed work, in fact. And now I'm waiting for Russ to come back so we can have a piece of chocolate cake together before he heads to bed and I go back to a bit more work.
The weather here is on the edge of changing to snowy stuff. Not Tuesday, but maybe Wednesday. I like to watch snow. It should be fun.
And that's it again tonight. Really. I haven't hardly been out of the house for days. I rode with Russ when he went somewhere this afternoon for about half an hour, but that's it.
The cats are still cats, too.
November 28, 2006
Lovely Hummingbird
I started out the day feeling lousy. In fact, I spent most of the night that way, too. But I got to feeling better and I've managed a lot of writing on Dancer. I should have about 2500 words a day to do for the last two days of the month.
I've been working on the 2YNY2 book, as well. I'm about half way through it and it's going well. I think there's going to be some serious cutting come up, though. I was glancing through the next few chapters and saw all kinds of things duplicated.
I'll get there. I just have to stop stressing over it. I will get it done. I get so worried about not doing it that it's hard to work at all sometimes. But it's moving along fine, and I'll get there. Really.
It's been that kind of year.
We're having strong winds tonight! It's cold sitting here! I think I'm going to get my work done and crawl off to bed as soon as I can!
November 29, 2006
I'm done!
It's after midnight. I waited until November 30th to write the last few hundred words. I now have 200,343 for NaNo 2006.
And boy am I tired!
I had fun, though!
And Russ stayed up and baked me cookies to celebrate! That was wonderful!
Time for bed!
November 30, 2006
Today
Yes, I made it through NaNo once again. That's the sixth year. I had a great time, and really the level of politeness was far higher than it has been in previous years.
I spent a good amount of today away from home. Wow! I think that's the longest I've been out for weeks! It was a cold day, though, and I suffered through a horrendous headache thought part of it, too. But... went to Russ up to Sheldon while he did some work, then we drove around town and looked at houses for a bit -- not that we'll really move, but it was fun to check them out. Then we came home, did grocery shopping -- hey, it was exciting for me! -- and then went and paid bills and had dinner out! Then back to Wal-Mart for some stuff. Oh, and Sam's Club in there somewhere, too. Russ got paid, and it was not as much as he expected, so we did the 'we have to have this stuff this month' shopping and stocked up on things that it would be harder to get later. It's going to be a rough month, but we'll get through.
I keep looking at the list of things I need to do for December and getting that kind of 'ugh' feeling... but I will get there! If I can write 200,000 words in one month, I can certainly get a few things done off a list!
Right. We all believe this, don't we?
I'm going to bed....