On the Writing Front  has moved!!!  

 

Follow the link to the new wordpress site or just go to 

 

joybernardo.wordpress.com

 

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The start of this novel was easy to write...back when I didn't think much of it.  I think I may be putting too much pressure on myself now that I think it could be the key to my big break.

*deep breath*

*more keyboard mashing*

It's May 1st!

Well, everyone, it is officially May 1, 2013.  I am happy to report that I won Camp Nanowrimo 2013 as of two days ago, and that I kept and made a few deadlines that I wanted to make last month.  This will be win #3 in the record books.  I’m hoping that this trend will continue and that May will be just as productive as April. 50,000 words is a lot.  It’s 1/3 of a novel, four submissions, eight other short stories (or short story attempts), and I’m not even talking about the planning required for any of them. 50,000 words is also a lot of hot tea, Sugar Free Red Bull, and coffee.  I’m sorry to say that the NaNoWriMo 30 Day Challenge Questions had to fall by the wayside last month because my goals changed about 1/3 of the way through the month.

I’m also happy to report that my boyfriend, Jake, got his first win. I’m trying to convince him to write with me in June as well.  He’s working on a fantastic novel about deceit, betrayal, airships, and love.  This next month, he will be working on editing (and if we get far enough) he may be working on rewrites in June (perfect for a NaNo Rebel, amirite?).

For me, May will be the month of my big breakthrough novel.  Ambitious remark, isn’t it?  I will be working on an as-of-right-now-nameless novel idea about international spies with historical WWII figures.  It may be labeled as historical fiction but for right now I’m just going to label it action/adventure.  If all goes according to plan, I will be writing it this month and doing rewrites next month.  The month after will be my birthday month which means ...

PORT TOWNSEND WRITING CONFERENCE! 

As a bonus, I told myself that I would buy business cards for the conference if I won NaNo last month.  Victory be mine!  I’m looking at the wonderful products at Moo.com (as recommended by my writery friend, Lex Chase).  She is also the same person who reminds me that dreams can come true if I just work hard and keep at it.  Seeing her success is such a great motivator.  I love being one of the cheerleaders, hehe.

Anyway, back to the word mines...

Still going strong

So begins my second week of camp.  I'm still on par with my word count (sadly my word count buffer seems to have dissipated.  But I am happy to say that on this day (Day 9 of camp), I have:

1. Swept the dining room and hallway
2. Put two coats of wax on those floors
3. Swept and mopped the tile in the front room
4. Made 2000 words
5. Cooked breakfast for Jake's granddad (and brewed coffee for the house)
6. Washed the dishes 

All of which was before 11AM.  Seeing this momentum on "paper" has reinvigorated me, which is good.  Especially since I just woke up from a 20 minute nap that zapped every ounce of energy out of me.

As far as camp goes, I have felt guilty working on a novel (that I'm not 100% passionate about), and not working on stories that I plan to turn in to publishers and/or literary magazines.  Because of that, I am widening my April writing goals and adding "Finish 5 short stories a week until the end of the month".  I have finished two since Sunday (unfortunately, I'm not very fond of the second one).

Excellent advice, yes?

Good luck Wrimos and fellow word slingers!

Oh shnap, someone's getting serious about her work...

Yep, I made deadline charts and everything...

Talking to fellow writers always gets my motivation up.  Thanks to Devon (*hugs*) for really getting me going during our Skype chat last night.  Camp NaNo will run this July as well (my birthday month!) and I'm pondering the thought of possibly being a rebel that month (or even this month).  While my current story is still new and fresh (I'm only 10k in right now), I'm not used to this genre and, honestly, I'm not sure if I like it very much.  I almost prefer the snappy, fast action and wit of a thriller, suspense, and/or horror story.  I love to read and watch a good story with a happy ending (like The Princess Bride and Stardust), I just don't think that I'm good at writing happy ending stories...

I am glad that I came to this conclusion during the first week of camp.  While, I may not be able to finish this story currently, I am hoping to return to it one day.  I think it's a solid piece.  I just don't think that I'm ready for it yet.  So here's the question: if I switch gears but continue to write toward a 50k goal (like, perhaps a string of short stories for an April 30th deadline), will my previous 10k count toward that 50k goal?  I am still writing, in fact.

Well, either way, I've made myself a submission tracker.  I love duotrope.com but sometimes, physically picking up a pen and writing things down on paper...then looking at them all laid out in front of me...it helps me remember deadlines better.  How do you follow deadlines?

Donuts and Lucky Star

Yesterday (Day four), I decided to take a quick hiatus so that Jake and I could spend some quality time together.  And by quality time I mean, snuggling on the couch watching Lucky Star and eating lemon-filled donuts from Krispy Kreme.  I had enough buffer in my word count to take another day off today but I'm going to save it for an emergency.  




As for today, there will be quite a few distractions today but I'm still hoping to write 3k. (though 4k would be awesome and make me feel as though I made up for yesterday).  I guess I better get to work.  But first...

Day 4 - What genre is your novel?  Why did you pick it?

My genres are fairy tale/fantasy and trashy romance. I picked it because I wanted to do something I've never done before. I wanted to write in a genre that I wasn't comfortable with.  And believe me, I'm not killing off enough characters in my story to be comfortable.  But someone will die.  I'll make sure of it. :P

 

 

Day 5 - Name two songs from your playlist that you feel are connected with your novel in some way, and explain how they are.

My playlist is filled with songs from movie scores.  I have a couple from Disney movies with an "I'm going on an ADVENTURE!" feel to them.  I also have some really outrageous (with a semi-seventies game show feel) songs from an anime series called "Chobits" because they really do give me the feeling that "I'm running from something."  I've chosen a lot more fun and upbeat TV and movie scores this time around because of the genre that I'm writing in.