Zette's Days of Writing

Began, October 1, 1998

October 2, 2009

The NaNo boards are up and running.  I've done a few posts and I'm getting into the spirit of things.  The only problem right now is that I'm not done with The Servant Girl yet, though I am really very close.  I've reached the part where the previous ending is totally scratched and I'm into the new stuff.  It's taking me a little longer than I like to get into the feel for it, but I have faith that I'll get it moving tomorrow, and probably finish it then, too.

I hope.

I need to get to work on the outlines for NaNo.  I really need to have a better idea of what I'm going to write this year.  But I need TSG done.

Soon!

October 3, 2009

I am starting to feel as though this is the novel that will never end.  No, I am not done with The Servant Girl yet.  I'm close, though.  Down to the final part of the last battle.  After that, there's just a short closing chapter.  I have every faith that I will have it done tomorrow.

Of course, I've been wrong on when I would have it done before, so I'm not certain why I think I'll pull it off this time.

Still... I am quite happy with how the new ending is going.   Finally!

Other than that, it's quiet, calm and cold.  And going to keep getting colder.  Eek.  Winter seems to be settling in far too early this year!

And that's it for me.  I need to go get warm!

October 4, 2009

I fear we are going to have a long, cold winter.  It's too cold already.  It's going to drop well below freezing later this week.  I'm starting to worry about a White Halloween.  We have had some pretty nasty ice storms about then.

I plan to finish The Servant Girl today.  Yes, the ending is giving me fits, but once I get everything else out of the way, I can concentrate on it.  I think it needs more fire.  I'll be happy to get the basics of it down and then fix it up afterwards.

I can't believe this ending is giving me so much trouble!

So, off to do work.  Get things done.  Right.

October 5, 2009

I finished the novel last night!   And then I wrote a short story!

Today, I'm working on outlines.  And trying to stay warm.  The second it snot working well, though I hope to take care of that with a long, warm bath.  And note paper so I can keep thinking about the outline, too.

I'm happy to have the book done.  I even like the ending I eventually came up with for it.  So all is well there.

But it is cold here.  Uck.  I hope I can get the house warmed up soon!

Warm bath, here I come!

October 6, 2009

I am working on outlines.  They're slower than actual writing, but I really enjoy the process.  It's fun when something new occurs to me and suddenly I can go back and drop clues to it earlier in the story -- so much easier than having to do it in an already written section.

But still, slow work.  I need to focus on it.

Right now.  Off to work I go!

October 7, 2009

They're calling for snow this weekend.  Snow before Halloween.  That just can't be right.

I dread the coming winter if this is a sign of what we're going to get.  Maybe it's just a fluke.  But I have my doubts. My luck does not work that way.  Even if we don't get any more snow, it will still be cold, cold, cold for months on end.

October 8, 2009

I am doing this early today while I wait for things so I can finish off some work.  I should be writing the last of the short story.  I think that will come next.  I'm almost to the end, so that's good.  Oh and I think I just figured out one thing I want to do with the story.  Yes, that will help....

Other than that... well, Russ should be home tomorrow night!  Yay!  We have plans!  And a few days together!  I am so looking forward to this!

Back to work now, though.  I need to get all kinds of things done!

October 9, 2009

Russ should be somewhere between Chicago and Omaha about now.  Yay!  Home REAL SOON NOW.

I, of course, should get other things done.  But I got the work out of the way.  I'm going to do some writing now.  That's about all I have to do, right?  I think so. 

I'm looking forward to this visit.  It's going to be nice.

And we will not talk about the snow we're supposed to have tomorrow.

October 10, 2009

I am going to be gone for a couple days.  I doubt I'll be able to update this, so I'll just keep a travel journal and post when I get back. 

I'm having a good time with Russ being around.  It will be nice to have even more time with him.

But now I have to go get some rest.  It's been a long day and tomorrow will be even longer.

October 11, 2009

Day 1

We left about noon after spending far too much time checking and rechecking the cats.  This is only the second time the boys (Zaphod and Edmond) have been left alone over night.  The last time was for two nights in March of 2007, I think.  Not that we’re really obsessively worried about them, though all in all, I think I was ready to shove them into a suitcase and bring them along.  Wind and Willow won’t have much trouble being alone, but the boys are rather attached to their humans.

But still, off we want, leaving just a little before noon. Within a few minutes we had crossed the Nebraska border into Iowa and started heading northward.   It was cloudy but still bright.  The grain fields are all brown – the last time I was out they were still mostly green and tall.  We grabbed McDonalds and right about 1:30 pm we crossed over into Minnesota.

A great deal of the state is flat grain fields dotted with farmsteads with big, old barns of red standing against the skyline while the houses are nestled between lines of hundred year old trees, making windbreaks against the winter snow.  Even in early October, it looks like winter has dug in – no snow, but rather the dead brown of trees and corn stalks.  A few groups of birds gather on the telephone lines, looking as though they’re waiting for a few more friends to show up so they can head south into the green lands again.  There are hawks on many of the telephone poles and even on a few signs.  We are going too fast and I can’t get any pictures of them, but they’re gorgeous.

Then we reach a truly lovely stretch of road that wanders along the river with the bluffs to the left.   The trees here are all in autumn colors, and I instantly decide this is where I want to live.  It’s beautiful!  Reds, oranges and greens dot the hillside, while the river flows past on the right.  Russ agrees that we should live here.  All he needs is a job.

We make it to Minneapolis somewhere around 5 pm and check into the hotel.  Then we go out and have dinner at Applebees followed by a trip to the grocery store so I can have lunch stuff while Russ is off doing work things. 

Russ, unfortunately, has a horrible cold.  We get medications for him, too, and then we come back to the hotel room.

We both work on laptops for a while --  Russ has two, one for work and one personal.  I have not worked on a laptop for any real length of time, but I don’t have too much trouble getting the feel of the keyboard.  I manage to finish the short story I was working on without too much trouble.  Then I nap for just a little bit and finally get back up so I can post a picture to my Picture A Day blog before Russ closes down the computer.

Later, though, I take a book, climb up on the bed with my lap desk and notecards, and start doing research for Foundling: The Story of Tom Luck, which I intend to place in Victorian times.  This works out very well for me, and I am still writing away when Russ climbs into bed and falls into a drugged sleep.

My plan is going to work.  This will be a writing retreat for me.  I’m going to focus on outlines and research.

Let it snow....

October 12, 2009

Day 2

Russ gets ready to go off on his work-related stuff.  I snuggle farther into the blankets.  He mentions it’s sleeting and snowing a bit, but nothing bad.    I finally get up and take a look, get a couple pictures and go back to sleep.  I don’t wake up again until about noon.  It is so incredibly quiet here!  I never realized how loud it is at my house until I was sitting here and realized how little I could hear.

And oh yes, it was still well and truly snowing.  I took more pictures.  Then showered, made hot tea, and came out to do some work.  And it was still snowing.  And harder.  More pictures.  I did some research on Tom Luck.  More pictures.  Then, about 2:30 pm the sun came out.  Still snowing, but brighter.  It didn’t last long.  Now it’s back to snow.  It is not accumulating on the ground, though.  Still not cold enough for that, so it’s a pretty thing to watch without a whole lot to worry about.

I typed in the notecards I did last night.  I think that might be the best way to get them done and not let it get overwhelming.  I  plan to work on the Wildlands outline now, though, and see if I can’t get something workable out of it.  It is moving precariously close to NaNo.  If I want to do anything this year, I better start focusing on it.

So now I am going back into writer-retreat mode.

Deer

October 13, 2009 

Day 3 

Last night I very nearly finished the Disraeli book and I have lots and lots of notes to transcribe today.  I can’t say that it has really helped prepare me for the new book but… 

The first time I read Disraeli was January, 1989 (I have the date in the book.)  That may have actually been the second time, but I don’t think it is off by far anyway.  When I read Disraeli, I wanted to write a book about a young man who shouldn’t have found his way into a high position in a government.  I wrote Silky. 

Now, reading through the book again, I realize that I may be ready to write the final book in the Silky series.  I had such a strong impression of what I wanted to happen, finally, that it got me out of bed and to the computer.  I will start writing the outline, even if I don’t use it for NaNo. 

So, that’s kind of an odd way to start the day, I suppose.  I have notecards to transcribe for Foundling and an outline to work on for Silky, and they are both coming from the same inspiration – Disraeli by Andre Maurois.

The notecards are filled with a plethora of details about the Victorian Age.  Style and clothing colors, descriptions of rooms in houses, etc.  That was the reason I wanted to read it again for Tom Luck.   

Last night we went to a Borders bookstore and I found a wonderful little book on Norse Mythology – a listing of people, places, things.  This is just what I need for In the Shadow of Giants.  If I could find the same for the Chinese gods, I think I could just about be ready to really tackle the background work for In the Shadow of Giants.  The Norse book is the more important since the book will most likely be from Loki’s point of  view. 

We’ll have to see how that goes. 

It is not snowing today, by the way.  So now I’m ready to go back to work on the outlines and such. 

Wish me luck. 

Later…. 

I finished reading Disraeli.  I had to get it done or else I wouldn’t have gotten to work on anything else.  What a wonderful book.  I have lots of notes from it, but still no clear idea of what I’m going to do.  I have started the 4^th Silky outline, though.  Why not?  It might be fun to write. 

I’ll be looking for fun stuff. 

I’m starting to get anxious about getting back home to the boys, though.  I hate the idea of them there alone for so long, though they have plenty of food and water.  And I needed this break.   

So now, back to Silky.  I think I’m going to aim for a somewhat short first draft – maybe around 60k.  Then I’ll take a look at Book 3, which was short, and decide if I want to combine 3 and 4 or expand both of them. 

See,  I have plans. 

I best get back to work.

My work place

October 14, 2009 

Day 4 

This is the fourth day already?  I need to get things done!  I’ve worked on the outlines, finished a short story … but I want to finish at least two of the outlines.  I’ve been working on a laptop which has slowed me down a little, though not much.  I’m not certain if the absolute quiet here is a help or not, though I do appreciate it.  I’m used to staying in hotels during conventions.  This is very different, and I can see where it would really be a help if I had a deadline and needed to work without interruptions. 

I think I see the ending for Wildlands, so I’m going to work on it first, and then Autumn Storm and Silky 4.  The other two are still in research mode, but I added quite a bit of that to Foundling: The Story of Tom Luck.  Yesterday I stated reading a book for research on In the Shadow of Giants. 

We’ll be leaving either tomorrow night or Friday afternoon, depending on what work Russ has for Friday.  I’ve really had a nice time here.  Part of me wishes it wasn’t going to end so soon, especially since it’s been such a nice time with Russ.  But it will be nice to be home, too. 

And now, time to get back to work. 

Later… not a lot done though I am finally seeing the end of the Wildlands outline.  I’m having trouble focusing today.  Not a surprise.  It’s been an odd few days.  Last night I started reading my new book on Norse myth and really enjoyed it.  I’ll probably go  back to it soon. 

Unfortunately, I have the start of a sore throat.  I hope to get it stopped as quickly as possible. 

Pretty Colors

October 15, 2009 

Day 5 

This is the last full day here.  We leave either tonight or tomorrow.  It’s raining today.  Russ says it is supposed to snow today and tomorrow.  Kind of figures, doesn’t it? 

I finished the Wildlands outline and got quite a ways into the Silky 4 one.  I might be able to finish it today if I sit down and focus.  I’m not sure if that’s possible, but I’ll give it a try.  I would have liked to do more work while I was here, but I did get some research done as well as the writing, so that’s good. 

Besides, I got to spend time with Russ, which is the big thing.  I sure wish he could get a job closer to home.  It’s nice to spend time with him. 

I have, unfortunately, picked up a bit of a cold.  I’m fighting it off.  I refuse to be miserable now.  I have 68 entries on the Silky 4 outline and a good idea of how the last ¼ of the story will go.  I think I’ll just leap over and get to work on it now. 

I now have over 90 entries in the Silky outline.  I’ve reached a major battle scene.  After that, it will a return to the capital and a fight there – though not so much a battle as it is here.  Confrontation, final ‘rewards’ for both sides, and then a great ending scene back with the Lords of the Land.  I am still tending toward adding this one and the previous one together, which would make a really powerful, longer novel.  We’ll see. 

Part of the problem is that I really don’t want to let Silky go.  I only just now realized it, though it is kind of obvious now that I look.    I’ve been drawing out the last of the work, but it is time to let go.  I would like to do a print version of all three when I’m done.  That gives me something to work towards, too. 

So, maybe that can be my plan for January 2010?  Have everything written, edited, and all three ready for print?  I like that idea.  Or maybe I can plan on it – more reasonably – for my birthday in March. 

I must, then, write this one for NaNo.  That means I better get this outline finished. 

117 entries.  Russ will be back here in the next hour.  I have made it through the battle.  Rounding up a few little facts and figures for the group and then they are off to fight for the capital, to destroy the invading prince, his army – and most importantly, his mages. 

I am glad that this finally fell together, even though it is not the outline I thought I would be doing.  I will still have time to finish at least one more, though, before November 1. 

So, I think I might actually be ready for this.  I didn’t expect it. 

We went out to dinner tonight and then to a bookstore.  I just looked around and realized we now have 14 books with us in this room.  No, not at all odd. 

We’re both stuffed and tired.  We leave tomorrow afternoon.  The weather may turn bad on us, so we’ll just have to see.  I enjoyed this week, though.  It was just what I needed.  I’ve read one book, most of another, did research on two stories and I might have two other outlines done. 

I’m really glad I came along. 

Oh, I just did a recount.  There are 17 books here.

A lovely place

October 16, 2009 

Day 6: 

We came home today.  We left about 11:30 am.  It was a bit cold but bright enough.  Lovely colors on the way out of Minneapolis.  I like the city.  It seems far different from the cities a little farther south.  If it wasn't for that rather LONG winter they tend to have, I think it would be perfect. 

It was a really lovely drive, despite some heavy rain.  We stopped at a wonderful little state park and I got some absolutely gorgeous pictures.  It was the sort of place I would love to go back to and see at other times of the year.  I can just imagine the falls in winter, or in spring after a good rain. 

We hit the bad rain after that and it kept coming in bands -- but it was dry again when we got home.  That was good.  Really didn't want to go trudging through water to get into the house! 

We reached home just at sunset.  The kitty guys looked as though they had pretty much slept the entire time we were gone.  That's one of the great things about cats -- they really can take care of themselves.  It was good to see them again, though.  That's the longest I've ever been away from them!  I think it was more traumatic for me than it was for them. 

But it's good to be home.  We're both very tired, though! 

Oh, and I counted 19 books by the time we loaded up. 

I think they were breeding. 

War Eagle Monument

October 17, 2009

Day 7: 

This is the day after.  It's been so crazed that I haven't had a chance to add this to the journal, so I figure I might as well add the last day as well.  Russ leaves very early tomorrow.  But the good news is he'll be back in a week, and he'll be home for a week then!  He has a couple classes to teach and stuff like that, but he'll get to spend time at home, too! 

He spent today visiting with friends and stuff and I spent it trying to get caught up on various things, and getting all the pictures done from the trip.  I have a page set up for all of them. 

http://www.zettesworld.com/minnesotatrip.htm

I have a lot of work to do next week.  Vision is due at the end of the month and we had a major email problem that didn't turn up until recently.  I think it's fixed now.  I need to get the issue put together and out of the way.  I want to finish one more outline if I can.  Get things set up for FM. 

Too much to do.  I'm going to get this posted... and go sleep for awhile, I think.  I'm just exhausted thinking about all the work I have to do. (grin) 

Back to normal tomorrow.

October 18, 2009

I am SO tired.  Didn't sleep much at all last night.  Russ left at 6:30.  I slept a couple hours more.  Now... must go sleep.

Russ is back in New York.  He'll be here again on Saturday, though!  Yay!

I, in the meantime, am going to go nuts trying to figure out everything I need to do.  NaNo is coming!  Vision!  FM!  DAZ Newsletters!  EEEK

I'm tired.  I'm going to bed now.

Zaphod

October 19, 2009

I have had a very long day working on a newsletter that unexpectedly had to be done today.  Ugh.  Tired.  2 am and I'm about to post it so people can make corrections tomorrow.

Then I have to work on the next one.

Oh, am I tired.....

Cute Birds

October 20, 2009

No, really.  Don't have much to say at all.  Too tired tonight.  But I got the newsletter done, got the page edits for the next set done, and I got some work done on my outline.  Yay.

Too tired to really care much, though. I really do need to sleep tonight.

October 21, 2009

The Boys

I worked to get that little entry done last night, and then forgot to upload it.  I was VERY tired.  I still am, in fact.  But I am back up and working.  Vision, DAZ newsletter, FM stuff -- NaNo outlines.  I would like to get a little ahead on some of the work, but that doesn't seem likely today.

And it is really autumn out there.  And cool in here.  I need to get some heat on, I think.

It's going to be a dull few days for the journal.  Not that it's ever really exciting, but right now I'm just focused on all the other work and trying to get ready for next week when Russ is home again, and then for November.

So, off I go to get something done.  Anything at this point.

Leaves

October 22, 2009

They are calling for snow tonight.  I'm not thrilled.  I'm already cold and miserable and I don't need to think about it getting worse.  Winter coming.  Ugh.  I used to like winter, but not these days. 

I don't really want to be in a bad mood.  And it's not like the snow is going to last more than a couple hours at best.  And Russ will be home on Saturday, so that's all fun.

But it's getting colder again.  I think I'm going to be grumpy.

Deer

October 23, 2009

Russ should be home tomorrow.  Yay!  Looks like the weather is going to be a little nicer tomorrow, too -- though it's going to go downhill after that.  Snow... I am not going to mention that part to Russ.  I don't want to scare him away.

We're drawing closer to NaNo.  I think I'm looking forward to it, though I'm not really sure yet.  I have outlines and I think they're going to be fun to write.  I hope to get the last one done, too.  It's moving oddly.  We'll see.  I have a couple fun scenes, but I'm not sure it's really working out the way I want.

I think I better get to work on some of the other stuff now.  So much to do over the next few days!  But it's always this way, so I know I'll manage.

Pretty Leaf

October 24, 2009

So, we're waiting for Russ to come home.  I'm not really sure what flight he's on, but it could be the one getting into Omaha about now.  That would be great!

I got a lot of things done off my list today.  Ah, just thought of one more to do!

Okay, there.  That's done as well. 

I am still working on my last outline for NaNo.  I'm not sure it's really working, but I'm kind of having fun with it.  It made me laugh in a couple places.  Since it's supposed to be funny, that's a good thing.

So, I'm going to post this and get some writing done for the day.  It's good to have gotten other things done so far.  The writing should go pretty well, I hope.

Snow

October 25, 2009

Russ is home, though he hasn't been home here all day.  He had some friends to see and things to do, but I expect he'll be back soon.  I, in the mean time, have focused on the outline today and made some good headway on it.  I need to get back to the workshop, too.  I really don't have that many more days before Vision has to go up.

It's been cold here again today.  I don't like cold.  Snarl. 

That's it. Really.  Nothing else going on here at all today.  But at least the last outline is going well!

Clouds

October 26, 2009

So, why is it with only a few days left to go in October, that people suddenly think I need all kinds of work?  It's like they just know, right?  Zette's preparing for NaNo!  Let's drive her crazy and send her all kinds of odd things to do!  Ha!  Won't that be fun!

I'm getting there. Slow, slow work... but I am getting closer to being ready.

I may have to kill some people first, but I'll get there.

Pretty colors

October 27, 2009

Yes, I will get this uploaded early tonight so that I don't forget it entirely.

I wasn't feeling real great yesterday, so a lot of things got past me.  I'm doing better now.  So it's back to work on all this stuff that's piling up around me.  I will have it done by NaNo.  I still have time.  Really.

Thunk.

The weather, by the way, is much better than it was supposed to be.  This is helping.  It was warm enough not to wear a coat today (up in the middle 50's), and felt just wonderful.  Since I felt like I was coming down with a cold, this was a really good thing.

I have work to do tonight.  I've gotten part of it done, so now it's back to work on the other things.  And I need to finish the outline yet.  I can do this.  It's really not that much work!

It's nice having Russ home, too.  We got a few things done this afternoon.  I got out of the house for a while.  I know that once he's gone and winter sets in, that I'll be pretty much stuck for months.  Not looking forward to it again!

Okay, back to work.

Lovely

October 28, 2009

All the pictures I've been dropping in here are from that lovely trip we took a couple weeks ago.  I've been choosing them at random and dropping them in.  Such a gorgeous place for this one.

I'm still working away at everything, trying to get at least a couple days cleared so I can leap into NaNo. The bad things is that Russ will be leaving the day NaNo starts.  I'm already depressed about that.  I'm trying to make it not affect my work badly this year like it did last year.  We'll see.

Headache tonight.  I hope that clears up soon, too.

Ugh.  Better get back to work on things.

Windmill Tower

October 29, 2009

I made progress today on things.  Everything except for the outline, but I think I can still get some work done on it as well.  Except for some things I still need to finish writing for Vision, it's pretty much done.  I am working on the updates for FM, but since most of the things for November have not been posted yet, I can't actually get that part done.

I am waiting on a couple things for the DAZ newsletter, too. 

The outline?  No.  Just not yet.  I'll get to it soon, though.  I'm still kind of stumbling around toward the end, though I think I see some of the way I need to go.

That's it for today.

Pretty leaves

October 30, 2009

Tomorrow is the last day Russ will be in town.  He'll leave about 6 am on the first of November.  If it goes like the last two years, he won't be back again until February.  He's hoping it doesn't go that way, but I'm not counting on it.

It makes a very long winter.

I am still in this house. We didn't even pretend like we were going to get me into the other one this time.  No time to do the work, no money to get things fixed... best just to prepare to be in this one.  I do have a new little heater which will help a lot.

I am trying to get the last outline for NaNo done, but no luck so far.  I'm getting a lot of other things done, though. 

I have nearly everything done for Vision already.  That's really good, considering how late it was running.

So, back to work on the things I want to get out of the way before NaNo starts.  I'd like to have at least a couple days of NaNo fun before I have to get back to real-world work again.

Whatever that might be.

Cormorant

October 31, 2009

Russ will be leaving in about eight hours.  We had a very nice day.  Saw his brother, sister-in-law and their daughter.  Then we drove down to De Soto.  We ended with dinner at our favorite restaurant and a quick trip to the store to pick up a few odds and ends for me.

On the other hand, NaNo starts in less than 2 hours for me, and I am not in the least bit enthused at this point.  In fact, I'm down right tired.  If I could nap for a bit, that would probably help a little.

But anyway, it was a good day.  I also have posted Vision, updated FM and sent off the DAZ newsletter.

So, now to look over the outlines, decide what I want to start with, and try to get serious about this!

YAWN

That can't be good....

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But you are a writing animal. I'd be afraid to to get between you 
and a sheet of blank paper if you had a pen in your hand. 
-- Timothy Clarke, writing about me in my newsgroup 11/17/99

All material, including artwork and photographs, © 2008 Lazette Gifford, All Rights Reserved