Yesterday Was A Day

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Yesterday, I took the day off from writing.  I decided I needed the break from it, especially since I’m switching gears, and need to work on my shiny new idea.  My end goal is 50,000 words (for everything), and I’ll have the beginnings of 3 different stories.  I don’t know if I’ll go back to any of them- maybe the mermaid one, but that’s not likely.  Maybe the roller derby one but I can’t say for sure since I haven’t even started it. 

My plan for today is to write in a really quick (and very random) ending- a metapohrical blowing up of those 2 worlds and to do a little more planning and then on Tuesday, I’ll start up with the new novel.  I’m hoping I can stay interested enough to write close to 25,000 words, but if not, then I guess I’ll switch to something else.  I suppose I should come up with a few more back-up plans too, just in case.

That’s all I can think of for now, so I’ll be back tomorrow, and hopefully with a real update.

A Little Funny Amongst A Sea Of Uninspiring Words

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This year, I’m feeling really uninspired.  So what is my plan?  Blow up both of my novels and start over!  Instead of writing about mermaids and being mistaken for an assassin, I will be writing about a gang war based on roller derby!

Yes, you read that properly.  I need a new idea, and I found one yesterday.  A friend got this great idea yesterday, based on how some gangs have taken on Raider’s colors.  But since I know nothing about football, I decided to adapt it…for roller derby!  I wanted to go with gymnastics or ice-skating, but that wouldn’t work very well, so I went with roller derby! 

My total wordcount is a few hundred words over 26,000, so I’ll be working on a plot and the characters the next few days, so that’ll give me some time to work on it and feel inspired. 

After that update, let’s go on to the funny!

  • “I open my words and my mouth comes out.” (Um, I’d really like to see this happen)
  • It was completely ridiculous, and poor planning on the part planner’s part.  (I honestly don’t know what to say about this.  There are no words)
  • “So we have to let more fridges die in the hopes we will catch the assassin?” (Um…okay)
  • No common factors at all, they’ve never even walked in the same side of the street.”  (Again, I have no words)
  • “We dion’t know,” said agent blue.  “We’re still trying to figure that out, because their very good at figuring out their tracks.” (Good lord)

I’m feeling pretty good about my decision to just dump my 2 ideas and start over.  They weren’t going anywhere, and when in doubt, blow things up!

Is It Really About The Word Count?

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I’ve been talking (mostly complaining) about how I’m behind on my wordcount and how I can’t seem to focus on writing. 

But I’ve decided that I need to worry less about wordcount and how far behind I am.  I’ve realized I seem to do better when I know random details about my characters and what motivates them, and when I have more than a vague plot.  But since those are things I don’t really have this year, I just need to keep writing.  Do I need to write the 1667 everyday?  No,  but that is my goal.  Would I like to be all caught up with both novels?  Yes.  But the words will come.  I’m hoping to work on my characters a little, and think about things that need to happen, and I’m hoping that will help me out. 

I’ve been worrying too much about how I’m not writing, so I’ll do my best to write more and worry less.  I’ve been much further behind than a few days, and still managed to get to my goals, so the words will come.  I may be struggling now, but I just need to trust the NaNo ninjas and believe that it will all work out in the end.  I’ll get some cool idea and then lots of words will come!

  • The Mermaid One: I’m at 13,025 words.  It’s going okay, and I’ve written about a witch and an old man who are arguing about whether to take sides in the mermaid war.  At least I found an interesting path, and it’s one that’s working right now, so that’s what I’ll go with.
  • The Mistaken Identity One: I’m at 13,180 words.  For something that’s supposed to be about a mistaken identity, it’s barely come up.  In fact, it’s mostly about…nothing.  Just Kaylee chatting with the coworker who wears purple a lot.  Why name characters when you can give them colors?  Something interesting needs to happen…and when in doubt, add ninjas.  I need to find my ninjas for this one.

The grand total: 26,205.  Tomorrow, I’ll be posting more funny typos!

 

Yay For Write-Ins!

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I had a productive day yesterday, and feel very glad I went to a write-in yesterday. 

I managed to write a lot more than I have been (at least since the weekend), and I’m definitely at the same point for both of them now, so that’s always good.  I’m roughly 3 days behind for both novels, so catching up completely and ending up with a combined 100,000 is not out of the question.  I just need to write a little more everyday and hope that I can have a couple days where I write an insane number of words. 

  • The Mermaid One: 11,689 words!  I’ve been focusing a lot on the other mermaids in the world, and the different clans they have, which has been a big help.  I think I’m going to be writing more about the magical sanctuaries too, so that’ll be fun, and I get to write about fairies and stuff!
  • The Mistaken Identity one: I’m at 11,670.  I think my problem with this one is that I didn’t do enough planning for it.  I didn’t have a clear idea of it before I started, and I’m really starting to feel that.  I’ll give it another week, and if it’s something I’m still struggling with, I’ll drop it.

I’m at 23,359 right now, and I’m aiming to be 2 days behind by the end of the weekend.  There isn’t that much to report, but I think I’ll be posting some of my funny typos this weekend.   

 

 

 

 

Just Writing

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This year, I feel like all my NaNo posts are boring.  I know I did 3 novels last year, and so I had a lot to talk about, while this year, I’m barely keeping up with 2 novels. 

  • The Mermaid Novel: Originally, I was going to do Poppy’s journals and what was going on in the present.  However, I’ve decided to write a journal entry every once in a while, write about her family and friends, and write about the effect her death has on all the other mermaids and magical creatures.  That’s working about a lot better, but I’m finding I care about her friends and family less and less, so they may make random appearances.  I did some writing for it, but not a lot, so I’m at 10,709.
  • The Mistaken Identity One: I actually worked on yesterday, which is good, especially since it’s been several days since I worked on it.  I’m still not sure what I want to do with it, but I may need to inject a lot more silliness into it.  I’m at 8,559, and hoping to keep working on it.

So, my total right now is 19,268.  I’m not sure what I’ll have to report tomorrow, but hopefully it’ll be something more interesting than what I have been posting.

And I’m Back!

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I didn’t have much to talk about yesterday, hence no post. 

I’m really struggling with writing this month, and I’m not sure why.  I love NaNo and everything, but I can’t seem to put forth some energy to write.  If I do write, it’s because I don’t want to get further behind.  I’m thinking about really downgrading my goals, and focus on one novel, or do both, but do 25k for each.  I think that’ll be my plan if I can’t muster up enough energy to do 2 50k novels. 

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I am at 6,671 for the mistaken identity one, and 10,151 for the mermaid novel.  My total wordcount is 16,822, so combined, I’m doing okay (and even ahead of schedule) but still not where I’d like to be. 

It’s okay, though, since I’m sure I’ll get it all sorted out, and I’ll be writing away in no time.

Adventures In Writing, Or Why I Don’t Edit.

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So, I wrote this weekend.  A lot, but not as much as I’d like.  I’m a couple days behind for each, but that’s okay. 

I’m at 6,701 for my mermaid one, 6671 for my mistaken identity one, and a total of 13,372. 

Today, I’m going to share some funny stuff I’ve already written!  They’re all from the mermaid one, so enjoy!

  • “Don’t let her hear that, she is out of blood will go for the jugular,” Arabella awarned”
  • “Fine, all non-magicals and magical that aren’t refgistraerd on in the process of their tyrandfoamrion.”
  • However, when he opened the door, he didn’t see anywhere do.
  • There was only one things written on it.  KEEP HERE. 

I’m not sure what to say about any of that.  The only thing I can think of is *headdesk*

Seriously, sometimes, I think this is why I don’t go back and edit anything.  It’s entertaining, but with gems like that, why edit when I can read old novels and laugh at the insanity of a month?

Today’s plan is to sleep, since I’m tired, and to write.  And maybe some other stuff too. 

 

Slow And Steady Wins The Race

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Today was relatively productive, at least in comparison to the last few days.  I managed to write quite a bit yesterday, and focused all of my attention on my mistaken identity novel.  I think I’ll focus most of my attention on my mermaid one, since I have a lot to write for that one. 

  • Mistaken Identity One: I’m setting things up but it’s moving really slow, so I may need to skip ahead to the action and fill in the rest later in the month when I can’t think of anything to write.  I’m at 6,671 right now.
  • Mermaid Pact: I didn’t work on it yesterday, but I’m planning on writing 4,180 and 5,847 words today so that I’m 1-2 days behind.  I’m still at 2,488.

I have a grand total of 9,159.  I think my plan is to write 4,187 for my mermaid one, switch over to the mistaken identity one and get to 8,335.  Then I’ll switch back to the mermaid one if I’m still in a writing mood.  That’s my plan for tomorrow.  I’m slowly catching up though, and if I keep up this pace, I’ll be all caught up in no time!

Off To An Unproductive Start

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My wordcount is terrible!  I used to be a day behind, now I’m several days behind, and I just can’t get myself to write.  I will catch up, though.  I mean, look at last year.  I was a few days behind on the Giant Prehistoric Novel, and still managed to win a day or two early.  So with 2 novels, it’ll be no problem to catch up.

  • Mermaid Pact: Currently at 2,488.  Definitely behind, especially since I didn’t work on it yesterday.  But my goal is to be at 8,335 by the time Monday rolls around.  That means I’ll have to do a lot of writing today and tomorrow, but I swear I’ll be at 8,335.  And this is in addition to the writing I have to do for the other one.  Maybe some kind of punishment/reward system?  I’ll think about it.
  • The Mistaken Identity one: I am currently at 2,712, and will be at 8,335 by Monday!  I managed to write around 1300 words, which is good.  That certainly is a lot of writing, but I can do it.  What am I if not a word-writing ninja?

This leaves me with a total of 5,200 words, which means I need to write 11,470 words today and tomorrow.  Let’s see, that averages out to 5,735 words today and 5,735 tomorrow.  That’s my primary goal, but I might work on just one this weekend, and get caught up, and then work on the other one right after that…or I could aim for 8,335 but be okay with 6,668 each. 

I’ll definitely have an interesting weekend.

Book #100: Catching Fire

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Book: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Pages: 391 Pages (Hardcover)

What Did I Think? Catching Fire is the 2nd book in the Hunger Games trilogy, and I was as impressed with this one as I was with The Hunger Games.  In Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta go on the Victory Tour that all previous Hunger Games winners go on, and they are forced to participate in the Quell Games.  The Quell Games are a special version of the Hunger Games that are done every 25 years.  There are hints of a rebellion until the end, when we learn District 12 (the district Katniss hails from) is completely destroyed- but her mom and sister manage to escape, as does her friend Gale. 

It wasn’t as striking as the first book, but I still found myself wanting to see what happens next.  Much like The Hunger Games, there were issues with the global economy, and how District 12 teaches it’s trade of coal mining in comparison to the other districts.  I still found myself slightly disturbed by the idea of the Hunger Games, but there was hope that things would get better and that the districts would band together and overthrow the Capitol. 

President Snow was creepy, with breath that smells like blood and roses.  And the arena for the Quell Games was interesting, with a clock and the same things happening at specific times.  And the symbol for the rebellion being the Mockingjay, and Katniss being the face of the rebellion- as long as she’s alive, the rebellion lives on. 

The pacing was great, I loved the characters, and there’s something about this book that fascinated me.  The cliffhanger…I have no idea what to say, but I want to know more about District 12 being destroyed, and how Prim and Kat’s mom managed to get out.  Are they in District 13, which we now know exists?  Are they on their way to District 13?  Will Peeta be okay and be able to get away from the Capitol?  This was a hard book to put down, and I can’t wait to read the 3rd book!

Rating: 5 out of 5.  I loved it and it definitely made me think.