October 26th, 2006
So, I’ve hit a snag on the outlining that will require a slowdown– some worldbulding, some re-consideration. My self-imposed schedule, as you might recall, is very tight. Even tighter, since I was aiming for finishing the outline on the 30th so I could have a day to breathe before launching into the text.
I get all panicky when I think of my schedule as a hard deadline, as ‘must have X by end of November’.
But when I think of it like I was taught to think of deadlines at work, as ‘I think I can have X by the end of November, but of course events may revise that’, I feel calm, relaxed, as if it’s achievable.
I have to remember my theories about not rushing. But I also have to balance those against various unavoidable time limits. Juggle juggle.
Categories: Updates From the Void |
Tags: Me, observations, Writing | 1 Comment
October 24th, 2006
I seem to be more interested in reading about writing than writing today. Lots of breaks, pulling those little sentences out, staring in dismay at how hard it is to get so few words, wondering how the heck I’m going to make this work in the rough draft phase, wondering if anybody is going to find this dreck interesting, worrying about tension and how I haven’t as precisely constructed each scene this time. There’s more of ‘I need to show X happening’, less of making sure each scene follows the rules I used in the last book (wherein things never quite go the way the scene protagonist plans). Whine, whine.
Jenna had a lot to say about how ‘unique’ my narration style was. She said it was like opening a door and walking into a room full of people, mid-scene. I’m still thinking about that.
Categories: Updates From the Void |
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October 23rd, 2006
Jenna rode the bus down. We were going to have many fried foods and play games and see a movie on Sunday.
Then Kevin, slicing French fries with a mandolin, injured hmself. Michelle wrote up an excellent post describing the day’s adventures. And we skipped the movie Sunday, too, since Kevin didn’t feel up to it. But Jenna finished reading my novel! Twice! And tried to steal the reading copy. So I suppose that’s a good sign.
I’m awake again. I’m pretty sure it’s not normal to sleep in 4-6 hour bursts, twice a day (or even three times). But I seem to be slipping in that direction. I had another dream about leaving work. The nightmares seem to be coming with less frequency now: the one where I’m failing everybody around me and the ones where I haven’t finished the separation process between myself and the old house, and/or myself and work. I think last night may have been triggered by Kevin’s injury, wherein I totally forgot my employment situation. The habit is still there.
Oh God, terrible thought just occurred. How is this different from dropping out of college? Perhaps I really am just a terrible quitter. Oh well, sorting that out is not my job; it’s my subconscious who does all the heavy lifting here.
House is a disaster area. I have a Draft post started long ago called ‘Meet My New Bosses’. It was supposed to be a clever post anthropomorphizing my goals for un/self-employment. However, I just now glanced at the title and realized how happy I am to be able to bumble along at my own speed for a while, without trying to live up to others expectations. I may not be accomplishing stuff, and I may not be happy with my own progress, but at the moment the only person I am disappointing is myself. And since I’m making tiny but steady daily progress I cannot be too harsh. I am kind enough to not expect a total 180 at high speed. Once the nightmares are gone and I no longer think I am on an extended vacation from Microsoft, I must make sure I am not drifting along at Grandpa speeds in the far right lane, but as I decelerate in one direction — er, yes. Perhaps this metaphor has gone on long enough.
Oh, bummer for your morning: the Flying Lab Software insurance situation change recently from the golden apple it once was to something I am assured is much more ‘normal’– and spendy. It’s mostly okay for me though we need to rework the budget, but kids suddenly have a bigger pricetag attached. Oh well. If Tiffany can make it work, I am sure we can. I wonder if I already posted all that? I can’t be bothered to go look. You’ll all forgive me. It’s part of this drifting along mid-spin thing. Well, and raging ADD untreated by anything but Zoloft and self-indulgence.
It’s so dark. I wonder if Daylight Savings Time changeover came and went and we never noticed. The web says next week. But I think all of our clocks are self-adjusting these days so I wonder if it COULD come and all we’d notice is a bit more morning darkness. Or is it light? I think it’s light, now, and darkness in spring. But whatever. I am not a farmer, and it is my earnest desire to someday find a school for kids that does not function on farmchild hours. If, you know, I have kids to send to school.
I saw a bit of Date Movie last night. I sat through all the fat-girl humor designed to make it clear how I could never get a man, but the poop and vomit jokes drove me away.
Categories: Updates From the Void |
Tags: Health, kevin, Me | No Comments
October 17th, 2006
I’m basically done with my ghost draft! Go go meeting milestones! I even got a taste of the bang-smash ending thrill.
I think I’m better at coming up with justifications and explanations than I am at being spontaneously original. Or at least, it’s much more satisfying and rewarding.
Having a two-story house creates climate control problems!
Categories: Thrones of the Firstborn, Writing |
Tags: tfn, Writing | 1 Comment
October 16th, 2006
The shelf, improperly secured, came out of the wall. I was standing on a stool to stock the top with our alcohol supplies. It always looks nice on a shelf in a bar.
Tops flew off and alcohol spilled but no bottle broke. I don’t think so, anyhow.
The dogs are scared. So am I, still.
Raymond says, “Glass bounces.”
Categories: Updates From the Void |
Tags: flakiness, Me | 1 Comment
October 12th, 2006
I was thinking about my schedule. I think… I can set the goal of finishing my various outlines by the end of October. And I think if I’ve outlined well it’ll take me four weeks to write the rough draft. Or at least I’d like to aim for that! I only work well in a crunch.
Coincidentally, the month after October is November, which is the infamous month in which many people strive to complete a novel in about four weeks. For example, last year I tried to finish TFN 1 in November.
*pause in which I meditate upon that disaster*
I’ve never actually completed Nanowrimo before. Not legitimately and within all the boundary markers. I’d like to say something dramatic like ‘if I can’t do it now in near ideal circumstances, I’m clearly not cut out to be a writer’. But… I don’t think I’ll be so harsh.
Somebody tell me it counts as legitimate if the novel is unfinished in November but makes it to 50k words, instead.
Categories: Updates From the Void |
Tags: Me | 5 Comments
October 11th, 2006
Okay, so, I’ve created a separate writing blog. Here is the link and feed for those who are interested in such minutiae. Those who aren’t, well, you’ll still get the occasional general update because it’s part of who I am.
In other news, the desire for a morning nap continues strong. But I think I’ll manage to take a walk today, at least.
Categories: Updates From the Void |
Tags: Me | 1 Comment
October 10th, 2006
In my latest little schedule, which really only stretches out another week or so, I’m supposed to finish the ‘ghost draft’ in one week. And I’m on schedule! A schedule I made last week! Go me! I also did some scrubbing and vacuuming today. And more reading. And now perhaps some playing of World of Warcraft?
Categories: Updates From the Void |
Tags: Me | No Comments
October 7th, 2006
The Introduction to Alchemy in Full Metal Alchemist displays text reviewing an RPG supplement from Bastion Press called Alchemy & Herbalism. WTF?
Categories: Updates From the Void |
Tags: Me | No Comments
