Archive for previous entries this month
October 1, 2006
Fireworks Painting
This journal is now eight years old. That seems kind of amazing to me. I'm not certain what I wrote about in all those passing days.
Things have changed over the last eight years. When I started this, I didn't have anything published. I hadn't considered taking over a huge writing site, and I hadn't started Vision or gone to work for DDP. Back then I was making pretty good money doing web sites, but that's virtually all gone now (and I can't say I miss it, though I do miss the money). Eight years ago I had just started getting into digital photography.
Eight years ago I would have thought it impossible for me to write a million words in one year. Now, this year at least, I wonder why I haven't done as well. Which, I know, is stupid.
I hadn't done the first NaNo yet.
I am finally starting to make more money at writing than I used to at photography, which is good. I like to think I'm making the right choice... though lately I've been looking at CafePress and thinking I might do some things there. I enjoy the visual art side of things.
The odd things like Daz, Bryce, etc. were no where on the radar back then.
But three things have remained steady in my last eight years. The first, of course, is Russ. He's been wonderfully understanding of most of my eccentricities, even though I drive him crazy some times. The second is the cats. Half of the eight have been with me the full eight years.
And last, of course, is writing. I can't tell you the number of keyboards I've gone through in the last eight years. I think there's been four or five desks as well. The number of novels I've written? Well, there's something to go check....
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Total | |
| Poem | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||
| Short | 6 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 134 |
| Novelette | 3 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 18 | |||||
| Novella | 4 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 21 | |||
| Novel | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 58 |
| 10 | 26 | 32 | 38 | 38 | 28 | 23 | 25 | 15 |
There have also been about 50 articles (at least), about 15 outlines, and four or five nonfiction books. 2005 and this year have been especially heavy on the articles and nonfiction books, which is part of the reason the number of things finished doesn't look quite right. While I do count my nonfiction books and outlines in the yearly totals, I rarely remember to get the articles in there. There are at least 18 of those a year for Vision alone.
Some of the novels are rewrites of older material, too, so the total number of novels is probably closer to 50 totally new ones. Still, not bad at all. (Rewrites, for me, means taking the old novel and completely retyping it, so it pretty much is a new book anyway.)
The other reason for the drastic change in my work numbers is Forward Motion, of course. The site takes a lot of time, thought and energy. While I've managed to keep my word count totals up, it's not been easy and I see where I'm losing out on some stuff that I need to get back.
It will be interesting to see how this looks at the end of a decade.
And now... really, it's time to get back to writing!
October 2, 2006
Lovely Leaves
Disaster was averted on the NaNo Boards today. The happy people and the angsty people will not have to share a board. We are all better for it.
(grin)
I made good progress on the 2YNY2 book today, which is good. I don't know that I can get it done before NaNo, but I'm going to give it a real try. I just have to keep my mind focused on it, and that isn't always easy.
Yesterday I felt like I had something to say. Today I feel like I'm back to being dull and boring again. I wish I could say that I feel like I'm making real progress somewhere, but even though the 2YNY2 book is going well, I don't feel that it really matters all that much.
I'm still working on Paid in Gold and Blood. It's going well. But I feel like it's another one of those never ending novels.
I think it's time to take a break, right?
October 3, 2006
The NaNo Book is available!
Tonight I got the okay from Chris Baty (who emailed me about three weeks ago, but it got lost!) to go ahead and offer the free NaNo guide. So... anyone who wants it can email me at zette@cableone.net and I'll send it along. It's a PDF file.
Table of Contents to the book:
INTRODUCTION TO THE INSANITY
What is this Madness?
The First Step in a Crazy Journey
How to Go Crazy Once a Year
Why I Wrote This Book
The NaNo Question for Zette
An Interview with Chris Baty,
PREPARING FOR NANO
Attitude
Challenges
Pre-Writing Work and NaNo
Outlining for Fun
Phase Outlines and NaNo
Characters and Other Nuisances
The Time and the Place
The Last Steps to Getting Ready!
FORUMS, BLOGS AND WEBSITES
Forums are Good -- and Evil
Posting Fiction on Open Boards
Forward Motion and Other Writing Sites
Helpful Sites
GOALS AND KEEPING THEM
The Actual Writing
Four Steps for Working up Openings
Easy Daily Goals: Moving Ahead with the Story
A Different Goal: Moving up the List
Almost Random Events
Keep Writing to The End
Don’t Stress
Why Do You Bother?
It's Not Your Fault If They Quit
Prolific Writers and NaNo
THE AFTER NANO BLUES
Writing for Publication -- and the Dread of Editing
"It's a dull word," she said.
Hints from a Small Time Publisher
The Question of Publication
JUST FOR FUN
The Angst of Hero Naming
Author versus Character
A Few Books on Writing
Besides that... had a lovely day. Went with Russ up to where he teaches, read in the car while he was busy, and then drove home. It was great. This is the most gorgeous autumn I remember in years.
And now... I'm tired!
October 4, 2006
Beautiful Colors
I've gotten a little work done today. Not as much as I should have, but at least I got a few things done.
I plan to go rest in a tub of water with (gasp) a pen and paper, and see if I can write a few things for the 2YN book. If I can just get a good push on that one, I'll be very happy.
The NaNo book is doing well. Lots of requests for it! I'll probably put it up on LuLu.com eventually, and let people download it from there -- but for the moment, it's fun to have this bit of contact with the others.
And that's about it! Things are going pretty well, but I'm still falling behind. Not a good thing with so little time between now and NaNo!
October 5, 2006
More Lovely Colors
Yesterday I made up a list of things I need to get done. It's a good list, too.
A shame I went off and did other things today.
So, tomorrow I have this really good list to work from. Today, I went with Russ up to Sheldon while he taught, and there I did some reading and a little writing. We came home and I went to the local writers' group meeting. We came home. Between times, I've worked on various odds and ends and sent off copies of the NaNo book.
And now I'm just exhausted. I'm not sure why, but I am. So tired, in fact, that I'm not going to do a lot more work tonight. I'm going to climb into our nice, comfortable bed and fall over dead asleep for a few hours.
I hope tomorrow goes a bit better, work wise. I can't afford to fall any farther behind!
October 6, 2006
Lovely Tree
I did get some work done today, though still not nearly enough. Still, if I can keep up at it the way I did, I think I have a chance of getting something done. Today I completed the first six weeks of the 2YNY2 Class. It will still need another read through and editing, especially since I'm doing it in Super Notecard, rather than Word. I'll copy it over to Word when I get all the chapters arranged the way I want them. If I can keep getting three or four chapters a day, at least, I should get this done in time. But I have to say, it's not been easy.
I also need to work on outlines for NaNo, but the closer the month of November comes, the less likely it seems that I'll be able to throw myself into it the way I normally do. Maybe that's not all bad. I have been crazed about it a few years.
But...
Well, we'll see. I'm still working toward it.
October 7, 2006
Fall Flower Painting
I got quite a bit done today, but as it nears midnight, I realized something... I just don't have enough time. There's no way I can get everything done between now and November 1.
Time to rethink things again.
One thing I need to do is get pictures off to the ADW people. Since my free trial of Paint Shop Pro is about to run out, I'm concentrating on it tonight. I want to get at least one cd worth of pictures off to them.
I'm still working on the 2YNY2 book, but it looks like it's going to fall over into December after all. It's going well, but I don't think it can go well enough!
And I want to do NaNo. I not only want to do it, I want to enjoy the time leading up to it. I don't need to put myself under stress. So...
We'll see. Maybe by tomorrow I'll look at everything and decide that I need to get more done again. But for tonight, things look calmer.
It's a good sign.
October 8, 2006
Another Flower Painting
I like the way this one turned out. It looks nice!
I got some more work done on the 2YNY2 book, but even working on it most of the day, I only got 2.5 more weeks done. I'm looking more and more toward a December finish.
I have had a lot of requests for the book today. A few people have already gotten back to me and said they've enjoyed it, so I think I've done all right. Now, if I could just get focused on my own work. That doesn't look likely to happen any time soon, though. Tonight I'm feeling lousy, so now that I'm done with my work -- or some of it -- I just don't feel like doing anything else.
And there are other things I need to do.
They say it might snow a bit on Wednesday.
It's a bit early for that kind of stuff!
I've turned the heat up tonight and the guys are all curled up in various places, apparently happy with the world.
I wish dinner had settled better with me tonight, though. I think I would have gotten a few more things done today if I didn't feel so lousy tonight. Ugh. I'm giving up now.
October 9, 2006
Rose Drawing
It looks as though I won't be going to the zoo tomorrow after all. It's probably just as well since it looks like it's going to be very cold. Russ says that he'll take me down on another day, though, so I should get my visit in this month.
Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be getting any warmer soon. (grin)
I've gotten a good amount of work done on the 2YN book today. I think I've finally gotten the basics worked out, and now it's going to be a case of cleaning things up and adding in more exercises.
Still a lot of work there, but at least I can see the building blocks rather than a chaotic pile of rubble. I've got it just about down to the barebones of material, too -- about 72,000 words, I think. There's some material that has to be written back in, some that needs to be rewritten in light of the new layout, and a lot that just plain needs cleaned up.
Unfortunately, it's not what I really want to be working on... but I need to do it, and I'm sticking with it -- but I'm also giving myself more time. The combination seems to be working.
But right now... tired! Time to get this up and think about bed.
October 10, 2006
Sleepy Leopard
I am mostly done with one project. That's good. I want to feel that I've gotten something done, somewhere. I've also done something odd -- I've pulled up outlines I've written and not worked on the books yet. I'm thinking about pulling one of them out for NaNo. I'm not sure. I still have one other outline that is going well, but I'm having trouble concentrating on it.
Hell, I'm having trouble concentrating on everything, so I can't blame it on the story. I tried to give myself a break today, and it worked a little. I've been editing a shorter piece, and I'm almost done with it. Good. I need that. But I also need to get a lot of other work done.
But, again, I'm tired. I shouldn't be since I slept late -- no zoo since it was way too cold to sit outside and wait for it to open.
Why can't I get any energy or enthusiasm going?
Ack.
October 11, 2006
Lion Painting
This is the best of the digital paintings I've done so far. It still looks much like a photo in the small version, but if you click and look at the larger one, you'll see what I mean. It worked very well.
So, yeah, I messed around for a while today. And I got quite a bit written on my main outline. Overall, not a bad day at all. Except, of course, that I didn't get anything done that I should have worked on, but we'll just ignore that part.
This month is going too quickly. I need more time.
The outline, at least, is looking good. And I think I've just about got another piece done -- the one from yesterday. I want to change some stuff toward the end, and I need to think that out...but not for long.
I wish I could report something big, exciting and fun... but mostly I think I'll settle for 'not so bad' and 'moving forward."
Oh, and it never got above 38f today. This is October. I think that kind of weather is entirely uncalled for at this time of year.
October 12, 2006
Autumn in the Midwest
I have gotten most of three things done today, which is really pretty good. I've written most of a workshop for Vision, most of another article for it, and finished nearly all the edits on my contribution to Sheila Viehl's e-story challenge. I'm particularly happy about the last part, because it's taken me several days to even decide which story I wanted to do. I also had to make some major changes in the work -- one that I wrote some time ago, and never quite knew what to do with. This seems like a good time to bring it out to the public.
I've also had some pretty good luck with the outline for my main NaNo book. Which means -- yes -- I have finally made a decision on which story I'm going to write. Another great measure of stress is now gone for that reason.
The 2YN book... not so good on that quarter, but I've decided that I don't care. Really. I'll get the book done, and before January. But for the moment, I need to be able to write something for myself again. I need to remember that's what I'm really supposed to be doing, and while the 2YNY2 book is not a bad thing, it's also not fiction. I want to write novels again. This has been a nonfiction year, and I'm starting to get very twitchy. The year's almost over. I need to write something. Maybe a few somethings.
At any rate, I'm getting things done. Vision is taking shape. NaNo stuff is falling into place. Maybe it's the cooler weather. Who knows. But at least I'm working again.
October 13, 2006
Cover for free ebook
I have spent most of the day doing two things -- finishing the work on the ebook from the cover above (the cover wasn't that much work), and fighting a massive headache caused when my neck popped in an odd way. The second made writing that little blurb up there a three hour project just on it's own.
So it's not been the most productive day in my life. But, nonetheless, I did get something done.
I just can't do anything else with it tonight. Tomorrow I'll upload it, do links and site blurb and whatever else... but tonight I'm just happy to have it done.
October 14, 2006
Pretty Sunset
My computer has turned off on my twice tonight. And an attempt to get the DVD recorder to work set problems with another plug in drive that had to be fixed. But the Recorder is working now, it seems. I made back ups of all the pictures from the last few months. I was worried since I didn't have any copies except on the second hard drive.
Also backed up WIPs and outlines.
But... had headache that got no better for the problems. Then had an odd allergy attack. I've taken so many pills it's a wonder I can get my fingers to move..
So, I'll be heading for bed in a couple minutes. Tomorrow I'll get more work done.
I hope.
October 15, 2006
Leaves on the street
Oh, what a silly, naive person I am to think that I would get more done today than I got done yesterday. At least when it comes to writing. I did get some major updating done on the Vision database, and even found most of the people I still owe money to and wrote checks. I have some checks to go into the account to cover them, so as soon as one set goes in, the other set goes out. Yay!
But that's about all I did today. It took hours.
I guess I did do some work on the 2YNY2 book earlier now that I think about it. Good. I had visions of a day with absolutely no writing yet, and it depressed me.
I need to work on my outline. I want to do some cover art for the new book. OH... I think I have a vision of it, too. Good. I can do that, maybe. It might be just the kind of thing I need right now.
But other than that... not much to say. I need to get writing done. It will keep me from going stark raving mad.
October 16, 2006
Lovely Moon
In one of the major miracles of the year, I got some work done today. I added some points to my outline for NaNo, and I got a few more weeks of the 2YN book done. Although done is kind of a misnomer. They're thrown together, the assignments are there, but the editing sucks. Still, I'm almost to the half way point on the book, so that's good. It's up to about 79,600 words. But it's going to lose some more of those, because some of the examples are too long.
Still... I'm happier about it. I think I'm starting to see the end ahead. Probably not before December, at least for the edit, but it will get there!
Oh, and go over to my main site -- http://lazette.net -- and check out the free stuff I've put up. Yay!
And now... back to work!
October 17, 2006
Sunset
I have gotten most of the Vision work done... at least what I have so far. I need more articles.
I've also written quite a few new points for my outline. Most of them, though, are still on paper, so I'll be transferring them to the program tomorrow. Yay! I think I have a chance on this, finally.
Right now, though, I'm... tired. Really tired. So off to bed I go!
October 18, 2006
Last breath of summer
It snowed here today. Apparently it was snowing quite hard when Russ left this morning. I missed it all, but I didn't miss the cold it left behind. it never got over 38 today. I love snow. I hate cold.
I've gotten a good push forward on my outline the last couple days. I'm going to take a pen and paper to the bathtub again tonight and see if I can't push a bit farther. I have some ideas, too. That always helps.
I'm starting to look forward to NaNo again. Some of the pressure is off on other work, and that has allowed me to look at the coming fun as... well, fun instead of another huge thing hanging over me.
I still have a few other things that I really must get done, though. Adding more aimless blathering on tonight's journal is not one of them. (grin)
October 19, 2006
Summer dry....
I have gotten work done today. Good work, really. I sorted out some problems with my outline and got about 3/4s of it completed today. I got some Vision work done, and I'm working on some pictures I promised to send out ages ago. I should have it done tonight, and the CD out tomorrow. I hope.
Actually, I'm starting to get tired. Maybe I won't finish them tonight. I only have a few more to do, and it might be something fun to look forward to tomorrow.
But, back to the outline... It's worked out really well, and I'm happy with the story and the outline. If I get it done and have time, I'm going to work on another outline.
Vision is coming up, and there's still a big problem with it... but we'll see how it goes. I'm not going to stress over it because I'm tired of stressing over everything.
I want to go to the zoo. I'd love to go with Russ, but I think once every twenty or so years is the most he can stand. (grin) I'd like to have a day with him doing something I enjoy, though. It's selfish. The guy hardly gets any time for himself these days.
But still, if you are going to wish for something, wish for the whole thing, right?
Yeah, I'm tired. Time to post this and get to bed!
October 20, 2006
Road
I'm writing this up tonight, but it won't be posted until tomorrow sometime. The computer is tied up in some other work right now, and even this is slow. I'm doing a graphic in Daz and it's taking far more time and computer power than I expected.
But it's a really nice looking picture....
I finished the outline to The Servant Girl tonight -- which is why I allowed myself Daz time as a celebration. The outline went together really well in the end. Yay!
I am going to take a look at the outline to Dancer before NaNo and see if there's something I want to do with it, too.
And that's it. Posting this tomorrow. Right now... sleep calls!
October 21, 2006
White Tiger
Today I got the pictures done to send off to the ADW people. Yay! 210 of them, in fact. I just need to copy them all over to a CD and off they go.
I still have another three days worth of pictures to go through -- two of which I haven't even done for my own website yet. Not that I've been busy or anything.
My second NaNo outline is going well. That's good. Time is running out, after all.
And I have a cold. Actually, I've had a cold for quite a while. It just sometimes makes itself known more than at other times. Today has been a sneezing day, and I can't say I appreciate it.
But things are going pretty well. Have a few more things to get done, of course, but at least a few of the things on my list are finally getting checked off!
October 22, 2006
Last colors before the fall....
I have two outlines done now. I think I'm ready for NaNo.
Well, except for all that other work I need to get done first. Gah.
I want another couple weeks before NaNo. Failing that, I guess I'll just have to get as much done as I can, leap into NaNo for a few days, then settle on a sedate rate for the rest of the month while I get other work done.
I want a break.
October 23, 2006
Sunset
The days are going too fast, of course. I have far too much to do... and very little ambition to get it done. Vision is the next big thing on my list. The 2YNY2 book is moving along very well, too. But...
But I'm tired. I'd mostly like to go curl up in bed and sleep for a couple days. Maybe come out long enough to get some writing done, and not worry about anything being late. Leap into NaNo feeling like it should be fun, not something I dread hitting because I won't have enough other stuff done.
Okay, I can tell... I'm just tired. I'll get a couple more things done off my list and then maybe go to bed early. A good night's sleep would probably put me in a much better mood! I mean, there's not that much more I have to do. I just have to concentrate on it.
And I do have my outline done, so life is good there!
October 24, 2006
Guarding the Last Treasure
Okay, so it's late. But I have gotten a few things done today, so I can't complain. I actually feel as though I'm making some progress. I'm sure after I sleep and get back up and look it over, that feeling will disappear. But right now... yeah, looks good.
I am going to try to go to the zoo on Thursday. It may be my last chance for this month, and I have not missed a month since I got my pass in March. There are problems, of course. Rain is the big one. Not that I mind it raining while I'm there, but sitting outside in the rain might be bad.
But still. Zoo. Day away from the computer. Break. I think I need it.
Other than that... got things out in submission. Got more Vision work done. Got more to do.
And I'm going to bed before I get depressed at the thought of what I still have to get done!
October 25, 2006
Last Colors
I intend to go to the zoo tomorrow. I am going to wear my good coat, and I'm going to enjoy myself. The break from computer work will do me good. The chance to see things again will be fun. And walking certainly won't hurt, either.
Today I've worked on the 2YNY2 book, Paid in Gold and Blood, Vision, and sent out about 100 copies of the NaNo Book. I need a break. I also need to get something finished, but I'll settle for a break instead.
It's getting very close to NaNo time, too. I've got to remember to line up pictures for November. Going to the zoo and getting some new ones might just be the thing I need.
I have plots, at least. I have things I can write. Here's hoping that it goes well!
October 26, 2006
I went to the zoo....
Nice day, overall. Didn't get as many good pictures as I would have hoped, but it was fun!
I do seem to have a cold, though. Ack. But still... worth it. I needed the day away. And it wasn't terribly busy, either.
Now I'm trying to get caught up on a few things and then go to bed. I'm tired! And now, of course, I'm behind on things.
October 27, 2006
The warm spot
I'm doing all right today, but mostly because I finally acknowledged that I can't get everything done. Today I worked on some stuff for FM and Paid in Gold and Blood. The novel is really going well, and I plan to keep most of my attention on it until NaNo. I don't think I can actually get it done, but I'll make a good inroad into it.
I still have Vision work, of course. I'm getting that done as well.
I've been remarkably tired lately. Going to bed early, getting up late -- lazing about in bed for a while after I wake up, not particularly caring about all the work I should be doing. I don't know if this is good or not.
I'm tired now, but I'm going to get at least a little more work done tonight!
October 28, 2006
Why it's difficult to work sometimes....
That would be Edmond curled up in the bottom of my shirt while I am trying to work. He loves to be held and snuggled, but he's not a tiny kitten any more. They're six months old now... and while Edmond is not the biggest cat I've ever seen, he's still a bit hard to work around.
I can see this is going to be a difficulty for NaNo. Russ suggested that I put them in the bathroom, which I'll do only if I have to get some words written and they won't leave me alone.
We're drawing closer to NaNo. I have to start worrying about these things.
Tonight Russ convinced me that I just can't keep doing everything and get all the stuff done I think I should do. I need to back off from some of it, slow down a little, and at least enjoy NaNo without worrying about what I haven't done.
Most of what I haven't done is the 2YNY2 book. It's moving, but slowly, and trying to rush through it has not worked. Every time I push ahead on it faster than I should, I end up with problems that I have to sort out.
So the first draft of the book will not be done until December. The edit might be done in January. We'll see. This just has not been the kind of year where I could push ahead on work like this and do it well.
I'll get there.
October 29, 2006
Sun and Water
I just had a scare. I went looking for the last set of zoo pictures and couldn't find them anywhere. I thought the computer had ate them -- maybe the kittens walked across the keyboard and deleted the folder... But I wisely pulled up Picasa and took a look -- and there they were. But not in the folder when I looked at it again. Huh?
Oh. They'd gotten saved to the wrong hard drive, along with a couple other sets of pictures. Okay. That's better.
So now they're all copied to the right spot. And I think I'll do a back up tonight besides.
I'm a bit tired tonight, but I've gotten some good work done today, relaxed and played some of the time, and had discussions with the cats over how they will behave during NaNo. Yeah, like that's going to work.
I still have a few things to get done before November 1, but it's looking less troublesome since I decided I don't have to do it all, and I can enjoy myself anyway. (grin)
So now I'm off to do some more fun stuff!
October 30, 2006
Leaves
The wind pretty much stripped the leaves from the trees today. It was quite a storm that blew through here. Cold, too!
I'm working on Vision tonight. It's going together and I think I can get it posted tomorrow, early, and still be able to relax for a while before the madness of NaNo strikes. I'm about 24 hours away from the starting line. I hope I can get a lot of the work done in time!
But getting Vision put together is the big one, and it's falling into place now. I have my desk cleaned up and ready. I haven't printed out my outline yet, but part of that is because I want to add one small thing and change one major thing (the name of a character).
I don't think I can get Paid in Gold and Blood done. I have less than 100 pages to go, but it moved too slowly today -- or, really, I couldn't concentrate for some reason. Ah well. I'll get there.
So, I'm heading in the last hours. Time to get more work done!
October 31, 2006
Sailing Past the Shallows
Okay, this is pretty much it. I have about two hours to go before NaNo. Vision is done. FM is done. I just remembered something else that isn't done, though, and I'm going to work on it next.
Paid in Gold and Blood made it to 343 out 427 pages. I might do a few pages of it during NaNo and I may not.
They're saying we'll have near record lows tonight of 10 to 15f. That's way too cold this early in the year. It's 26f now. Gah.
Two hours to go. I keep feeling like there's something drastic I've forgotten to do, but if so, I guess we'll all survive it. I don't know how much I'm going to end up doing tonight. I might only get a thousand or so in and call it a night and get some sleep. I'm tired again!
But... I'm done with Vision. I've updated the site. I just did a quick DTF update and I'll upload that in a moment. I have my outline printed off and my Excel sheet done. All I really don't have is a brain ready to engage in writing madness.
Maybe I should just turn the cats loose on the keyboard this year. They seem a bit more lively than me at the moment. (grin)