Tag Archives: NaNoWriMo

Note to Self: You’re failing miserably at…

Posted in about me, blogging, faith, family, Note to Self, Uncategorized, While I was Away..., writing by

So I basically suck at blogging.

If you found this blog when I started it last summer, then you may have noticed that I went from posting almost daily to  being almost eerily silent.  You may have also noticed that I’ve occasionally changed a background or something, but haven’t bothered to even post a quick “hey y’all, how’s it goin’?” since November .

Of course, it’s more likely that you barely noticed I’ve been gone at all – much like the tabs on my page that I just discovered disappeared at some point during my tinkering.

Oh, before I forget…

Hey y’all!  How’s it goin’?  

And now back to our regularly scheduled blog post…

No excuses, no reason, I’m just failing at being a blogger.

It’s not for lack of trying, or for lack of something to say.  (I’ve always got something to say!)   It’s just that I can’t stay focused on writing a post.  I start, then stop to browse other themes, then start on a completely different post, then move on to whatever in my real life requires me.

The number of unfinished drafts I have saved on my laptop is actually a little embarrassing.

But it’s not just blogging.  I’m really starting to think I may be failing at life in general.  (Yep, that’s right — you get a grade for this life thing.)

So let’s start with the last thing I posted about…  NaNoWriMo.

I won!  YAY!  I didn’t fail at writing a novel in 30 days!  I’m so amazing…

After finishing the first draft of my novel in November, I tucked it safely away in it’s little Scrivener folder and moved on to my next unfinished project.

Much like this blog, I’ve visited my NaNo novel many times and even done some editing here and there…  but that’s as far as it’s gone.  At this rate, it might be ready for a first reader somewhere around the year 2040.

So “F” number #1 goes to…  failing miserably as a novelist.

Let’s move on to “F” number #2, shall we… Continue reading →

A NaNo Update

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NaNoWriMo is going great!  Day 10 Word Count

Or, at least it’s going good…

Ok, I’m behind on my  word count, but it’s not like I’m so behind I’ll never catch up.

[Insert catch phrase of 16 year old daughter:  “Don’t Judge Me.”]

I haven’t started writing yet today.  My current word count is 12,235.  Not bad for 9 days of writing.

Well… if we’re going to get technical about it, it’s been 6 days of writing.  I didn’t write at all the first day of NaNo, and I got a little sidetracked a couple other days…

Which doesn’t make me a sucky NaNoWriMo’er (Yes, it’s a word — I just used it!), it just means that, when I put my heart and mind into it, I can sit down and spew out a bunch of words that may or may not be the work of a literary genius form complete and/or coherent sentences.

And, as you can see by the above handy dandy gadget up there, hitting 50K is still completely doable!  I just need to average 1,793 words/day instead of 1,667.

Before NaNo started, I actually did an outline.  I had my characters all figured out…  I was a total Planner!

And then I started actually writing my novel. Continue reading →

No New Posts…

Posted in blogging by

Hey guys, I know I’ve been gone for a while.  It definitely defeats the purpose of having a blog if I’m not going to post, but I just haven’t been able to lately.

I’m feeling much better, but I do feel that I owe you all an explanation, especially since I can’t promise not to fall off the face of the earth again any time soon. Continue reading →

My Random Thoughts on the Mystery of Unedited Books and Questions about Self-Publishing

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As you probably know by now, I’m preparing for NaNoWriMo next month.  Since I’m not used to this whole “prep” thing, I’m turning to even more books to help me out.

(Note to Planners:  planning out a novel beforehand sucks.  Simply having a general blurb and then sitting down to write it all out is much more fun.  I now have an even deeper respect for those who actually do this prepping thing as a general rule and not just once a year.  Any suggestions from you are greatly appreciated!)  

In one of my recent posts I asked about the current editing standards.  Some others agreed that self-published books seem to be better edited in recent years than the books the big publishing houses are putting out.

I know this has been driving you all crazy too…  Well, I have found the explanation, my friends!

(It wasn’t bothering you at all?  Huh.  I guess I’ll keep typing anyway.)

Continue reading →

NaNoWriMo Prep Starts… NOW!!!

Posted in writing by

It’s October.  And that can only mean one thing…

NaNo

It’s NaNoWriMo Prep Time!!!

This will be my first time participating, and I am super excited about!  I’m also super nervous.

I really don’t want to write a “Well, guys, I failed” post.  So I’m asking for all of your support!

I’ll try not to drive everyone crazy or turn this into some sort of Facebook “Hey guys, look at me!” thing.  But I will update at least once a week with what I’ve been up to.  There won’t be a LOT going on in October, but there are some things I need to do in order to prep.

(Oh wait…  I have a blog.  I’m not sure, but I think the definition of blog is “Hey guys, look at me.”  I’ll have to check Webster’s later!) Continue reading →