Finally!

Yes, it's done. I just typed "THE END" for The Seventh Crow. It's an unbelievable 89k+ long and I wrote almost 6000 words today to finish it. The last ten pages will probably need major editing but at least it is done. I feel like I could sleep for a week.

Except that NaNoWriMo starts in three days.
;-)

Celebrity look-alikes

Okay, this is hilarious. Over at MyHeritage.com you can upload a photo of yourself and it will compare you to a database of celebrities, then tell you who you look the most like. Oh, sure, it might be ego-boosting, but can you really believe it?

Hopeful

I think I'm going to finish this manuscript today. My stomach is churning with the absolute excitement of it all. I had to stop and take a breather to post this.

Still going

It's an up-and-down battle to get this manuscript done. I'll have a good day of writing and then a few bad ones. My Time Left counter is telling me it's only 4 days, 3 hours, and 34 minutes 'till NaNoWriMo, and I'm less prepared than I've been any other year. I can't believe the MS has now become longer than the rewrite of One's Aspect To The Sun. No idea how that happened.

Remember the Coca-Cola slogan, "Things go better with Coke"? It appears they found one thing it hadn't gone with before: coffee. Yesterday I tried a very strange beverage called Coca-Cola BlaK, a "cola coffee fusion beverage." Now, I'm not saying it's bad. It's just very strange. At first it just tastes like Coke, and then the coffee aftertaste kicks in. Weirdly, my kids like it. It will be interesting to see if it catches on or is just another marketing idea gone wrong. (Be warned, if you go to the website, it starts playing music and talking to you.)

I also just made a fantastic musical discovery: Afro Celt Sound System. Wow. Absolutely awesome writing and background music! I bought one CD through PureTracks and I'm going to look for more.

Discouragements

This was a very discouraging day as far as writing goes. I knew I couldn't write this morning (school library) but I had the afternoon blocked off--or so I thought. Unexpected family needs came up and wiped out the writing time, and then it was simply one thing after another...after another...after another all day until finally now, at 11:30 p.m. I sit here writing this. With no other writing accomplished all day.

Sure, we all have days like this. But I am so stressed to finish this manuscript in the next few days...or I feel like NaNoWriMo will be ruined for me, which I really don't want since I look forward to it so much all year. I guess all I can say is "maybe tomorrow," although there are things on the horizon that make me think I shouldn't count on it.

Since I was obviously not going to be able to write anything, I've spent the last fifteen minutes tidying my desk and sorting out the materials and notes for The Seventh Crow into a new binder to free up my NaNoWriMo binder. So I do feel that I accomplished something. I've left a few things so that in the morning I can begin my pre-writing desk-tidying ritual. Who knows? It could work...

Writing Rituals

I'm reading Bruce Holland Rogers' wonderful book, Word Work right now (hard as heck to come by, but if you can find it, I recommend it), and in the current chapter he's talking about writing rituals, or more precisely, pre-writing rituals. The things we do to get ourselves into the right headspace for writing, so that we don't spend the entire day writing emails, doing laundry, or dusting the tops of all the doorframes just because we haven't done it in a while.

Some pre-writing rituals, although practiced by well-known writers, are not as effective as others, or at least not for every writer. For instance, some writers like to have a drink. Or drinks. This one wouldn't work for me. While I'm not averse to a glass of wine once in a while, it doesn't do much for my writing ability. I'm what you might call a cheap drunk. Likewise long walks only make me want to stay outside, or just keep walking until all my writing time is eaten up.

Years ago, I used to play "a" game of computer mahjongg before every writing session. I would tell myself it was just to relax, to bridge the mental gap between dealing with things in real life and dealing with things in writing life. And at first, it was. After a while, though, I realized that I would not just play "a" game. I would keep playing until I won. What had started as a harmless ritual had turned into a time-devouring habit.

Right now I don't think I have any real rituals, although I was mulling this over through the day today and I thought of a good one that I'd like to establish. Tidy my desk. Now, that sounds like it might be one of those doorframe-dusting things, but if I were doing it every day--well, there would never be that much to do, would there? And I do seem to work better in a tidy space. Admittedly, it could pile up if I wasn't writing every day, but that's also a goal that I'd like to make a habit--daily writing. And with NaNoWriMo coming up, when I will be writing every day, it seems like a good opportunity to try out the desk-tidying thing. Of course, I will have to clean it up in order to start. Luckily there's still a week left before November 1st...

Five Things

My friend Helen prompted me to add this list to my blog: Five Things You Didn't Know About Me--

1. I have never dyed my hair.
2. I was once a caller on the comedy tv show Open Mike with Mike Bullard.
3. I was once thrown and then run over by my horse. I had a horseshoe-shaped bruise on my back for a week.
4. I am adept at determining the gender of mice.
5. I have a form of arthritis called Ankylosing spondylitis. It isn't that common in women, but I don't seem to have any of the other health problems that can accompany it, either.

Time Management or Life Management?

In the current issue of The Scriptorium I reprinted an old article of mine on "Finding Time to Write." One of our recent monthly polls suggested that readers would be interested in more articles on time management and organization, so I thought this would be a good start.

However, the last week has me wondering if it's really time management that's the issue. I have to a large extent, figured out how to manage my time to include writing. I've made the lifestyle changes (I watch only about 1 hour of tv per week), I've organized my household chores, I've worked out when and how I can be the most productive. And yet this week, when I'm trying to meet a deadline (self-imposed, but still a deadline), I've hardly been able to write at all.

What it comes down to is that it's a lot easier to micro-manage time than it is to macro-manage life. My husband chose this week to take some vacation time, we have household renovations ongoing, so zap!--there go my writing plans. Even though he didn't plan to spend the whole week working on the house (and we didn't), my nicely-constructed time-management plans have pretty much been out the window. Throw in a few extra things that I had to do with the kids and other family members, and the week's a washout.

I guess it just goes to show that even the best plans only work if you can keep them isolated from The Rest Of Your Life. And that's just not possible--unless there's nothing in the rest of your life. Which of course would leave one alone and melancholy and probably with nothing to write about. Oh, well, maybe I can get it done by next Wednesday and have a whole week to plan for NaNoWriMo.

Fear of Writing

There actually is a website called Fear of Writing, but that's not what the title of this post is about. I suppose it's not actually "fear of writing" that I'm even going to talk about, since the writing is certainly progressing. But I think it's fear of something. I can't seem to get to the end of this novel.

I mean, I want to get to the end. I'm trying very hard to get to the end, even though this is a bad week with a lot of other things going on, and with Halloween on the horizon the next couple of weeks don't look much better. I'm still managing to write pretty much every day, something, and some days a good bit of something. I'm close to the end. I can see the climax on the horizon. But man, it is a long road to get there.

So it's got me wondering; is there something in my subconscious that is trying to keep me from getting there? Because once I have the first draft finished, I know that this manuscript will be very close to being really finished. There's polishing to be done, certainly, and probably some inconsistencies to iron out. But it's not one of those manuscripts that needs a lot of work adding or taking out subplots or completely reworking story threads. It's not going to go through many more incarnations before it starts getting to publishers.

Therefore I am considering the possibility that it's either fear of failure or fear of success that's stringing this story out. Which, I don't know. I guess I'll have to hope I come up with the answer to that one later. After it's done.

Raising Readers

I'm such a huge reader myself that I always took it for granted that my children would be, too. My daughter loved books from the outset, wanted them read to her even when she was very small, and never varied from that. She took to reading on her own when she started school and has read almost every night before going to sleep since then (she's in 7th grade now). I dread the nights when I hear her say, "I have nothing to read!" because I know there will be no sleep until I hunt up something that strikes her fancy and she reads at least a little bit of it.

My son seemed cut out differently. He wasn't as interested in having me read to him; it was a sporadic thing. When it came time to start school, though, he had taken the notion that he really wanted to be able to read. He wanted to read Harry Potter by himself. I told him that that was a wonderful goal, but he might have to work his way up to it. That was okay with him, and the desire got him through the first year of school, which he unfortunately found boring in many other ways.

This year he's six and his reading has really taken off. He wanted to participate with his sister in the Summer Reading Program at our local library; each child had to keep a reading log and read eight books over the summer to qualify for a prize. He decided he wanted to read the "Little Critter" books by Mercer Mayer. I was pleased with that choice because he didn't look for the easiest things he could read; they had some words that challenged him and that was okay with him. Sometimes I would suggest a different (easier) book and he would scold me: "Mom, that's not going to help me advance my reading skills!" (Yes, that's a quote.)

Now he's reading in bed almost every night. He's reading "Scooby-Doo" mysteries at the moment, and keeps up a running commentary for me, calling out from his room, "Mom, I just read 'spectacular.'" "Hey, I just read 'industrial.'" "I just read 'complicated.'"

So it looks like he's turning out to be a reader, too. I don't know if I did anything to help that along, or if we're just born readers--or not. Surely being read to as a child and living in a house practically wallpapered with books and having adults reading all around you should help--but I wonder if it's more nature or nurture. One of those things that we can't, as parents, know. We just have to do the best we can and hope it works. Just like every other aspect of parenting, I suppose.

Reports and musings

My word count stands at 72,084 right now and while things are definitely moving along now, I'm not exactly writing the denouement. So it looks like my 73K estimate is going to have to be revised upward again. Feels like I'll never see that bar completely green!

However, I had a bit of an epiphany today and saw quite a bit of the remainder of the story roll out before me like a path through the forest. That was a lovely feeling and I'm excited about it again.

I've come to the conclusion (once again) that I am simply not a journal-er. Not in the sense of really writing things that anyone outside possibly my family and very close friends would want to read. I come across these lovely blogs sometimes, that are so beautifully written and full of fascinating or thought-provoking things (like my friend Helen's, for instance). Whereas mine is more like a news report, and not very interesting news, at that.

I think it is a reflection of another personal trait--the fact that I'm not good at making conversation. Oh, I can fake small talk with ease, but you would notice if you were really paying attention that you wouldn't learn very much about me in the course of that small talk. My mother and sister and I have discussed this many times. Some people can tell you fascinating stories about themselves at the drop of a hat, while in my family we tend to think "no-one would be interested in my story about such-and-such. Of course I won't even mention it." We're very good listeners. Not so good talkers. And I think this plays out the same way in my blogging efforts. I simply don't know what to talk about, apart from brief mentions of how the writing is going, etc. etc. blah blah.

This seems a sorry situation for a writer. And my family has always told me I write lovely letters. So why doesn't it translate into journaling? I'll have to ponder on this. Maybe I should try to write one meaningful post a week to see if I can get the hang of it. Or maybe I'll just go and read my friends'. I don't have to be good at everything, right?

The numbers creep up

Tonight I finally passed the 70k word mark--it seemed like I would never get to it. Still a ways to go but I'm hoping for a good writing day tomorrow.

There's a wonderful video at Duirwaigh Gallery (make sure your speakers are turned on for the lovely music) that's sure to lend a bit of inpsiration if one is needed. I'm keeping the bookmark handy for NaNoWriMo.

I did my school library duty this morning--alone. There's only one other reliable volunteer besides me, and if she gets a call to work, of course she has to go. I find it hard to believe that there are no other parents with one morning a week to volunteer at the school. I think that the library is just so important--especially to the children whose parents might never take them to the regional library. At least I always feel appreciated there! No wonder. Apparently good volunteers are hard to find.

Back to work

The long Thanksgiving weekend is over and now I have to get back to work on The Seventh Crow. I did manage to scrawl a few longhand paragraphs over the past days, but now it's time to really buckle down and get to "the end." November is still a few weeks away, but it's getting harder and harder to hold my NaNoWriMo idea at bay--it's begging my brain to be let out to play. I mustn't give in before this other MS is done! I have to be strong!

Wasteful? Disgraceful!

I'm feeling quite incensed over the idea that the Canadian federal government would include drastic cuts to adult literacy programs in its sweep of "wasteful" programs. Improvements in literacy levels have been shown to boost economies, lower unemployment rates, and improve standards of living. Yes, Mr. Harper, we certainly wouldn't want those kinds of things, would we?

They've also annoyed me this week by eliminating the CAP program, which makes computers available to the public in libraries, schools and other designated sites. This hits especially hard in rural communities and the already have-not provinces like here in the Maritimes. He stated once that he thought those of us on the East coast lived in a "culture of defeatism." I wonder how that would happen? Ever notice how a dog who's been kicked a lot begins to cringe every time he sees a boot?

And now the Nova Scotia government has suddenly decided that the votes of the public don't count, and they have thrown out the Sunday shopping restrictions. Seems to me that for all his talk about "respecting the will of the people," the Premier had precious little of that respect when it came right down to it. It's incredible how easily people can be brainwashed into thinking that an idea is a good thing. Sadly, I've come to believe that the vast majority of people are stupid, plain and simple.

Okay, rant over. Maybe tonight I'll actually get my mind back on writing.

Beleaguered

I am beleaguered by a person that I'm becoming quite convinced is crazy. Not the wacky kind of "steps to a different drummer" kind of crazy, but a true mental psychosis. And I really don't know what to do about it.

This person is getting to the point that I don't think they* can function on their own any longer. Their understanding of reality is fine for some things (such as having to pay the rent on time), but they also live largely in a fantasy world. I'm not sure that they understand the consequences of all their actions. I'm not sure they are capable of dealing with things like banks and businesses. I also think that in the past they might have been on medication but that this is no longer the case.

It impacts me because this person often asks for favors from me: a drive here or there, sometimes money although I do not give it. In the past I haven't minded giving a bit of help when I could, but now I am increasingly reluctant to have anything to do with this person. I don't think they are dangerous, but one never knows. Unfortunately, living in a town as small as mine, it's impossible to avoid them altogether.

I could call the social work department and express my concerns, but I don't know A) if they would discuss this person with me at all or B) if it would do any good. Do I want to get involved? Can I simply ignore it? All very confusing.

*Sigh* I wish people would just leave me alone and let me write.

*I'm using "they" in a grammatically incorrect way here, I know, but I don't really want to identify the person's gender and this is (perhaps sadly) the most efficient way to do it. My apologies if this is offensive to the grammatically strict. Normally I'm one of them myself, but hey, it's my blog, I'll break the rules when I want to, I guess.

NaNoWriMo 2006

The NaNoWriMo site is officially online again and set for this year's month of furious creativity. Excitement is rife in our household as both my daughter and I are looking forward to another month of NaNoWriMo insanity. I think I'm in the same pickle this year as I was this time last year: trying to finish up a project so that I could gear up to start a new one. The one I'm trying to complete is the one I was itching to start last October. Full circle, I guess.

As to my progress, it's inching along. We're busy with home renovations and other time-stealing business, but I've been writing some each day. My handy-dandy notebook is a lifesaver. Each night I'm just too tired to face going down to my office and "working," but if I tuck myself up in bed and set out to write just a few sentences, I usually have three or four pages done in no time. It's not NaNoWriMo-speed writing, but it's progress.

I'm accumulating quite an intriguing cache of generated ideas and names for this November. So far it's looking like a science-fiction/fantasy noir murder mystery. Never heard of this genre? I think I may have invented it. Hey, if Charlaine Harris can invent Southern Vampire detective novel, I can invent one, can't I?