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*

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!

Day 1...

Day 1 - Have you participated in NaNoWriMo before?  If so, which years and what end result?  If not (or even if so, for that matter), what’s your connection to writing?  Why do you want to participate this year?

This will be my fourth session of NaNo.  I won my initial NaNo experience and lost during camp last year and last year's session of NaNo as well.  This year, I'm hoping to do the July session and the November one too.  I am a writer.  It is my hobby (as in, I don't do it professionally - I don't use my income from writing to pay for food, whiskey, caffiene, or any of the other necessities in order for me to function and live comfortably).  I use the money that I get from writing to by other writing things because it is not nearly enough to live on.  I'm hoping to write more and get better so that I can do it professionally.  I am participating in this session because:
1. I love the atmosphere and comradery,
2. I'm hoping that it will help me develop better writing habits,
3. It is fun, and
4.  I have stories that need to be told or I will die a slow and painful death. 


So far, day one has been going swimmingly.  Which is ironic for me to say because I really don't know how to swim.  So "swimmingly" for me would mean a lot of flailing around in the water.  Er, so how about I don't ever use that term again.  Day one has been going well.  I'm well past my word count goal for today so the rest of my wordage for today will just be word count padding.  

If you are participating as well, I wish you luck!

X Marks the Spot

I will venture upon new territory.  When I try to write in a new genre, I feel like I am a treasure hunter.  I peruse the authors that write it and write it well.  I peruse the authors that write it badly.  I look under covers, in between books at the library, in between the lines of a particularly vivacious scene, I look at it all.  This April, I will be venturing upon new territory: romance. *deflated fanfare*

I used to look at the genre with distaste.  It had its audience (and a loyal audience at that), but I wasn't a part of it.  I kept my distance and chuckled as I passed by it.  However, writers have to be adventurous and as far as adventure goes..., what is more adventurous than new territory?  So, I am committing the month of April (and this upcoming session of Camp NaNoWriMo) to writing a romance novel, of sorts.

Of course, with all that in mind, April is only 13 days away..., and that's counting today.  I feel as though I can't stuff enough research and planning into those 312 hours.  In all honesty, I have never read any *real* romance and I feel like I've jumped into the middle of the Pacific Ocean by taking on this endeavor.  It's a scary thought, knowing that the islands that are there to rescue me are labeled "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "Savage Dreams."*

I've said it before and I'll say it again: For me, NaNo is about pushing myself.  And that is what I intend to do.  My goal for Camp NaNo isn't just to write a romance novel but to reinvent the genre in my eyes.  Oh, and write a good book.  That's pretty important as well.  Now, to find some *good* research material...


*Of course, I've never read them so in all reality, they could be marvelous pieces of literature that should be cherished for all time...and I wouldn't know it.

April Showers bring...campers inside to write more NaNo novels

First of all, let me say that when I first viewed my blog this morning, seeing the face of Fabio staring back at me was a bit unsettling. But, anyway...

“There's an old folk saying that goes: whenever you delete a sentence from your NaNoWriMo novel, a NaNoWriMo angel loses its wings and plummets, screaming, to the ground. Where it will likely require medical attention.”

~ Chris Baty

Camp NaNo run in April and July this year.  In addition to that, they're running it a bit different.  During camp we can choose our word count (what????!), and we can choose other formats (screenplay, anyone?).  As hectic as my schedule is, I'm still going to try to participate next month.  Not only that, I'm going to keep the word count goal at 50k.  I don't participate in NaNo just so I can win bragging rights.  I participate because it helps push me.

I'm looking for some equally motivated people to be in a cabin with.  Anyone interested?  :)

YoCW has begun!!!

I'm sad that I didn't get to spend "Read Across America/Dr. Seuss" Day (yesterday) reading to kids at the library or some other social function.  Instead, I did sneak away for a moment and read from my current book, Only the Innocent by Rachel Abbott.  It's a fantastic book that has a touch of intrigue mixed with mystery and suspense. It has been a fun read thus far but I haven't been able to get too into the book with the things that have been going on.

I have started another exciting year at the YoCW (Year of Continuous Writing) Project.  This time, I intend on trying my best and keeping writing at the forefront of my priority list.  A small (but growing -- apparently it has grown leaps and bounds since it's inaugural year, last year) group of writers band together to support each other in the same goal: Make this year the most prolific, fruitful year of writing ever!

Yesterday, I wrote a measly 2k.  I am hoping to surpass that today but my schedule is full.  I have decided that waking up an extra half an hour or hour should provide me with even more quiet writing time.  After 9 PM, when Jake's granddad goes to bed, I can also get a couple of hours in front of Microsoft Word or Scrivener.  

As of late, writing has been my hobby.  But this year, I'm hoping to make writing my career.  With that in mind, I have dedicated this year at YoCW to improving and honing my craft and pumping out some great short stories and a novel or two...,or four, if I really knuckle down!  Wish me luck!

Today's prompt:

You haven't fed the goldfish in days.  The goldfish are revolting!

Can you see the malice in his eyes?!!!