Ah, my brain is fried. I have no energy left to put several coherent sentences together let alone write a thoughtful or creative post. I do, however, have several incoherent thoughts running through my mind so I thought I'd waste the space and put them here.
1. Nathan Bransford had an interesting post on whether writing is nature or nurture. Actually, he didn't write anything. He pretty much just left it open to the public to decide in the comments section, which is what I suspect he does when he is flooded with work. I didn't write in... I always pass when the comment count is over 40 because I figure at that point no one is reading anymore anyway, and really, there are only two choices, three if you go with both, and that's pretty much covered by the third comment.
But, as it turns out, I have my own blog, so I can write here. And I disagree with all those people who say great writing can be taught. There it is. I put it out there. Me, a former English teacher, am saying it can't be taught. Sure, you can teach someone the technical aspects of writing: the vocabulary, the grammar, the sentence structure. You can teach someone the tips to get published: dump those adjectives and adverbs. You can teach three act structure, rising action, climax, denoument and falling action. But in the end, what you've got is passable writing. Great writing, dare I say, publishing worthy writing, is something inherent. Either you've got it or you don't. And if you don't, you can't always tell.
And yes, I wonder sometimes which category I fit in.
2. Totally non-writing subject, but my foot, which I injured back in September, is finally feeling 100%. For eleven months I couldn't walk without limping, and, per doctor's instructions, kept it restricted in running shoes every moment I was awake. This wasn't a problem, because a running shoe was the only thing keeping me from chopping the thing off. The only time it wasn't killing me was in a good shoe. And now that it's feeling better, my foot has claustrophobia. I put my shoe on and ten minutes later I feel like I am going to go crazy if I can't get it off. It's the weirdest thing ever!
3. The closer I get to finishing the book, the harder it is to put it down. It's always been like that reading. It's like that now writing. I shoo away the kids. I get dinner going late. I stay up all night, which is the only time there isn't someone talking in my ear and pulling me in other directions. I got over the scary part. I think it turned out okay. And I am pushing on. I'm almost done. Not just with the word a thon but with the book. And I think I'm really excited about it.
4. I had more random thoughts and in the writing of this post, they disappeared.
5. As has my grip on reality.
Today's word count: a record breaking 3,070
Total so far in word a thon: 40,015
Percentage done with 9 days left to go: 80%
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Bad Thing About Loving What You Do
I've always thought it was ideal to love what you do. Isn't that the advice every career counselor, every Tom, Dick and Oprah, give? Find what you love to do, and then figure out how to make money doing it.
I love to write. How ideal could this be? (Other than getting paid for it, of course). I get to write at home, on my schedule, and still be home full time for my kids and husband. All the things I love most wrapped into one pretty package.
Except there are days I wished I loved writing a little less. And today was one of them.
My daughter's birthday is coming up, and today the grandparents came to take her out and I got a few hours in the afternoon to birthday gift shop. The idea was grand: go to the two stores that have the exact thing I know I want to get, be home in an hour and a half, and have the entire house to myself to write for a few hours. BLISS!
Except the first store didn't have the gift I wanted. Neither did the second. Or the third. Or a fourth. And by the fifth store I was incredibly frustrated because this is the only day I have to shop without my daughter, I have no gift, AND my time to write is slipping away. I felt like a child on the verge of a temper-tantrum standing in front of the shelf where the perfect gift should have been, stamping my foot and saying, "This is really cutting into my writing time! Now I'm going to end up with NONE!"
And how pathetically sad is that? Instead of enjoying the time to shop for something special, I was grumbling that I couldn't get back to work.
So I breathed deep, let it go, and accepted the fact that I wasn't going to get any writing in until the kids were in bed tonight. Goodbye record word day. Hello eeking out whatever I could manage.
I'm not sure that I wrote anything brilliant tonight. I am tired beyond belief. And I come again to the wall of faith: how much should God and Babs faith in him be central to this story? The funny thing is, Babs is dealing with this too. And so in writing I write the way she deals.... a tiny chunk at a time, and when it gets too much the conversation changes or someone walks in. I'm going with it. I hope it will work itself out, cause I really have no idea.
Word count tonight: 1,621
I love to write. How ideal could this be? (Other than getting paid for it, of course). I get to write at home, on my schedule, and still be home full time for my kids and husband. All the things I love most wrapped into one pretty package.
Except there are days I wished I loved writing a little less. And today was one of them.
My daughter's birthday is coming up, and today the grandparents came to take her out and I got a few hours in the afternoon to birthday gift shop. The idea was grand: go to the two stores that have the exact thing I know I want to get, be home in an hour and a half, and have the entire house to myself to write for a few hours. BLISS!
Except the first store didn't have the gift I wanted. Neither did the second. Or the third. Or a fourth. And by the fifth store I was incredibly frustrated because this is the only day I have to shop without my daughter, I have no gift, AND my time to write is slipping away. I felt like a child on the verge of a temper-tantrum standing in front of the shelf where the perfect gift should have been, stamping my foot and saying, "This is really cutting into my writing time! Now I'm going to end up with NONE!"
And how pathetically sad is that? Instead of enjoying the time to shop for something special, I was grumbling that I couldn't get back to work.
So I breathed deep, let it go, and accepted the fact that I wasn't going to get any writing in until the kids were in bed tonight. Goodbye record word day. Hello eeking out whatever I could manage.
I'm not sure that I wrote anything brilliant tonight. I am tired beyond belief. And I come again to the wall of faith: how much should God and Babs faith in him be central to this story? The funny thing is, Babs is dealing with this too. And so in writing I write the way she deals.... a tiny chunk at a time, and when it gets too much the conversation changes or someone walks in. I'm going with it. I hope it will work itself out, cause I really have no idea.
Word count tonight: 1,621
Monday, August 4, 2008
The 100th Post!
You'd think with the 100th post as it's title, I'd think of something great to write, some wonderful commentary on how much this blog has meant to me and how much of life has been contained within these fair blue/grey backgrounds, and how many friends I have made here (okay, that part is true).
You'd think I'd have great words of wisdom, some monumental philosophical post on blogging or life or even writing.
But no, I have none of these. I didn't even realize until I signed in the significance of this post. And all I can think of is: Wow! My great day just got better.
Because today was a great day, which is saying something since the only foray outside my little humble home was to the library to let my kids get more books. There were lots of mundane things, like cleaning the bathroom (such a shock!) and doling out folded laundry for the kids to stuff in their drawers. We baked cookies and I managed to get three different meals on the table and all the respective dishes cleaned. But in a few small hours, I managed to write. Well. I wrote well.
Tomorrow I may look back and say, "This is all crap." And maybe it is. But tonight, the words feel like gold.
I cried writing part of it. And every time I went back through it, I cried again. Everything is coming together. These characters, like the ones in my first book, are like real people to me, and the way they have changed over the course of the book is like watching your child grow up. Though 99% of the time I question everything I write, eye it critically, think I will never make it, tonight I look at it and think, "This stuff is pretty darn good."
And before I start to think otherwise, I am going to bed.
Happy 100th post, friends. I may end up being a writer after all.
Word count for today: 2,451
Word a thon: 71% completed. 11 more days to go.
The song I listened to most of the day?
Ocean Wide by the Afters:
If love is an ocean wide
We 'll swim in the tears we cry
They'll see us through to the other side
We're gonna make it
When love is a raging sea
You can hold on to me
We'll find a way tonight
Love is an ocean wide
You'd think I'd have great words of wisdom, some monumental philosophical post on blogging or life or even writing.
But no, I have none of these. I didn't even realize until I signed in the significance of this post. And all I can think of is: Wow! My great day just got better.
Because today was a great day, which is saying something since the only foray outside my little humble home was to the library to let my kids get more books. There were lots of mundane things, like cleaning the bathroom (such a shock!) and doling out folded laundry for the kids to stuff in their drawers. We baked cookies and I managed to get three different meals on the table and all the respective dishes cleaned. But in a few small hours, I managed to write. Well. I wrote well.
Tomorrow I may look back and say, "This is all crap." And maybe it is. But tonight, the words feel like gold.
I cried writing part of it. And every time I went back through it, I cried again. Everything is coming together. These characters, like the ones in my first book, are like real people to me, and the way they have changed over the course of the book is like watching your child grow up. Though 99% of the time I question everything I write, eye it critically, think I will never make it, tonight I look at it and think, "This stuff is pretty darn good."
And before I start to think otherwise, I am going to bed.
Happy 100th post, friends. I may end up being a writer after all.
Word count for today: 2,451
Word a thon: 71% completed. 11 more days to go.
The song I listened to most of the day?
Ocean Wide by the Afters:
If love is an ocean wide
We 'll swim in the tears we cry
They'll see us through to the other side
We're gonna make it
When love is a raging sea
You can hold on to me
We'll find a way tonight
Love is an ocean wide
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Looking forward...
I had no caffeine today. I am asleep on my feet.
In exactly two weeks I will be here:
Between now and then I have to throw my daughter a birthday party, and finish the remaining 17,127 words left of the write-a-thon. I think this might actually finish the book. Or kill me.
What a better way to go out on vacation, though?
Today's word count? 1,286
Tomorrow will be better.
In exactly two weeks I will be here:
Between now and then I have to throw my daughter a birthday party, and finish the remaining 17,127 words left of the write-a-thon. I think this might actually finish the book. Or kill me.
What a better way to go out on vacation, though?
Today's word count? 1,286
Tomorrow will be better.
WORD-A-THON Update status
No time off for a writer.
Went to the pool with the family. Spent the day writing while overlooking this gorgeous scene:
Managed to write 1,805 words.
Total word-a-thon words: 31,587 words in 21 days.
The total WIP is now 55,000 words.
Can I just say that I realized today I never actually thought I could do this? The fact that every day I manage to get the writing done, that I am still on schedule, that this is still totally possible, blows me away.
Went to the pool with the family. Spent the day writing while overlooking this gorgeous scene:
Managed to write 1,805 words.
Total word-a-thon words: 31,587 words in 21 days.
The total WIP is now 55,000 words.
Can I just say that I realized today I never actually thought I could do this? The fact that every day I manage to get the writing done, that I am still on schedule, that this is still totally possible, blows me away.
Friday, August 1, 2008
It's Friday; It's a Good Thing
I realized today that my posts have become increasingly less interesting since the start of the Word-a-thon. I'm not sure if that's because I have no creativity left after writing (not to mention the lack of time) or if my life has become less interesting since I started this mad dash to finish my book. It's probably a good amount of both.
It's Friday. I made it through a rough writing week. I stalled out. For the first time this summer I actually had a day when I wrote NOTHING, and another that barely counted. And not because I was off frolicking in the pool or scampering around DC or NY or Philly. No.... I didn't write because I couldn't. The story stopped. Brick wall.
But I recovered! And now, I'm back on the cruising path. Today was an excellent day. Yesterday was good. I've almost recovered the lost days. It feels so good to be writing again, and to have the words come so easily, even though I have to keep stopping to research.
So the Word Count for today: 2291.
Yesterday's Word Count was: 2002
Which brings the total of the Word a thon to: 29,782
(this is just shy of my goal of 30,000 by tonight, so I may have to keep writing later!)
I am 60% of the way there. Woo Hoo!!
Now, on to the good things this week:
MUSIC.
This is my one thing this week. There are lots of things, really. But I'm going to list this one by itself, because it deserves it's own shout out.
When I am writing, I listen to music. Mostly to drown out the din around me, although partially it is a visual symbol to the kids, "Hey, I'm working! I can't hear you! Stop bugging me!" Admittedly, it works better in the first capacity than the second, but I keep hoping!
So here is the list of songs I write to. It's a mix I call SOME MAD HOPE, because this is the name of Matt Nathanson's CD, which seemed extremely apropos!
1. All We Are (Matt Nathanson)
2. Carry You Home (James Blunt)
3. The Time of My Life (David Cook)
4. Broken (Lifehouse)
5. The Guide (Borne)
6. Open Your Eyes (Snow Patrol)
7. Little Wonders (Rob Thomas)
8. Come On, Get Higher (Matt Nathanson)
So there you are. Judge away.
It's Friday. I made it through a rough writing week. I stalled out. For the first time this summer I actually had a day when I wrote NOTHING, and another that barely counted. And not because I was off frolicking in the pool or scampering around DC or NY or Philly. No.... I didn't write because I couldn't. The story stopped. Brick wall.
But I recovered! And now, I'm back on the cruising path. Today was an excellent day. Yesterday was good. I've almost recovered the lost days. It feels so good to be writing again, and to have the words come so easily, even though I have to keep stopping to research.
So the Word Count for today: 2291.
Yesterday's Word Count was: 2002
Which brings the total of the Word a thon to: 29,782
(this is just shy of my goal of 30,000 by tonight, so I may have to keep writing later!)
I am 60% of the way there. Woo Hoo!!
Now, on to the good things this week:
MUSIC.
This is my one thing this week. There are lots of things, really. But I'm going to list this one by itself, because it deserves it's own shout out.
When I am writing, I listen to music. Mostly to drown out the din around me, although partially it is a visual symbol to the kids, "Hey, I'm working! I can't hear you! Stop bugging me!" Admittedly, it works better in the first capacity than the second, but I keep hoping!
So here is the list of songs I write to. It's a mix I call SOME MAD HOPE, because this is the name of Matt Nathanson's CD, which seemed extremely apropos!
1. All We Are (Matt Nathanson)
2. Carry You Home (James Blunt)
3. The Time of My Life (David Cook)
4. Broken (Lifehouse)
5. The Guide (Borne)
6. Open Your Eyes (Snow Patrol)
7. Little Wonders (Rob Thomas)
8. Come On, Get Higher (Matt Nathanson)
So there you are. Judge away.
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