Whoopee! I can't wait to begin!
This Halloween morning is cool and crisp and lovely. The leaves are turning. The birds are chirping. I wrote a bunch of character notes yesterday during my all-day staff meeting. The one at which we planned to have a "plan the planning meetings" meeting. I feel good.
And today I'm (finally) publicizing this blog to friends and family. So welcome! Once the writing is underway, I'll be posting daily and cumulative wordcounts here, possibly with cool widgets. You're also welcome to track my progress on NaNoWriMo. Look for me, RubyBlue!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
2 Days to NaNoWriMo
I'm excited to begin.
Last night I spent 45 minutes brainstorming ideas for things or people that might be in the novel. No list of character questions, no plot formula, just writing down ideas as they popped into my head. It felt great.
And I'm continuing to re-read Ann Lamott's Bird by Bird, which is very encouraging to those of us going in without a clear picture of exactly what our books will become.
As a friend said, this is supposed to be fun, right?
Last night I spent 45 minutes brainstorming ideas for things or people that might be in the novel. No list of character questions, no plot formula, just writing down ideas as they popped into my head. It felt great.
And I'm continuing to re-read Ann Lamott's Bird by Bird, which is very encouraging to those of us going in without a clear picture of exactly what our books will become.
As a friend said, this is supposed to be fun, right?
Monday, October 29, 2007
Grumbling
This weekend, I accomplished some major cleaning out/reorganizing of the bedroom. But sadly, the radiant joy of accomplishment has been extinguished in the darkness of a bad Monday morning.
I am feeling rather hopeless about this book. I am bored trying to think up character information. I have a general idea of the setting and main character but no hint of a plot or why I should write about this person as opposed to anyone else. Other than having no other novel ideas.
Feeling bad about the novel before I even start writing is making me grouchy.
That and the lack of sleep. Edythe got her first tooth this weekend--very exciting!--but has slept poorly. Add that to my natural insomnia and horrible allergy attacks, and I am in a dark mood, indeed.
And of course all my most pushy and entitled clients are the ones to contact me this morning. It is difficult to be polite and professional sometimes. I just want to say, "Maybe if it is so critical for your son to get a job right now he should return my calls, instead of you bothering me about it multiple times a day."
Grumble grumble grumble.
I am feeling rather hopeless about this book. I am bored trying to think up character information. I have a general idea of the setting and main character but no hint of a plot or why I should write about this person as opposed to anyone else. Other than having no other novel ideas.
Feeling bad about the novel before I even start writing is making me grouchy.
That and the lack of sleep. Edythe got her first tooth this weekend--very exciting!--but has slept poorly. Add that to my natural insomnia and horrible allergy attacks, and I am in a dark mood, indeed.
And of course all my most pushy and entitled clients are the ones to contact me this morning. It is difficult to be polite and professional sometimes. I just want to say, "Maybe if it is so critical for your son to get a job right now he should return my calls, instead of you bothering me about it multiple times a day."
Grumble grumble grumble.
Friday, October 26, 2007
I Hate Housework
I've been working on my character background information. It's going pretty well. I'm enjoying composing biopsychosocial-spiritual assessments for them all. Yes, I am a social worker.
But I'm beginning to panic about how, exactly, I will find time to write and keep my family fed and relatively clean. Christopher already shoulders the majority of the mountain of housework, and he can't physically take on any more than he is doing now. Like graduate school, I think this will be more an endurance test than a creative exercise.
But the house is a disaster that we already can't get a handle on, without me being sucked into novel writing. At best, the very best, I'll be maintaing this huge mess. My unfinished craft projects alone could swallow up a small pony.
I guess that's one good thing about this novel writing project; whether I finish or not, it won't cost me anything, and won't take up valuable closet space!
I wish I could call it sick day and go home and spend the day cleaning.
But I'm beginning to panic about how, exactly, I will find time to write and keep my family fed and relatively clean. Christopher already shoulders the majority of the mountain of housework, and he can't physically take on any more than he is doing now. Like graduate school, I think this will be more an endurance test than a creative exercise.
But the house is a disaster that we already can't get a handle on, without me being sucked into novel writing. At best, the very best, I'll be maintaing this huge mess. My unfinished craft projects alone could swallow up a small pony.
I guess that's one good thing about this novel writing project; whether I finish or not, it won't cost me anything, and won't take up valuable closet space!
I wish I could call it sick day and go home and spend the day cleaning.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Column Rejection #1?
I don't know if I should start numbering the rejection notices. It might become depressing. Or amusing. I'm also not sure whether this is a rejection or just a receipt of submission note, but seeing how it's several weeks after I sent the piece in (by e-mail), I'm guessing it's a rejection. Here's what I heard from The Washington Post:
"Thanks for your submission. We have hundreds already and can't reply indetail [sic] to everyone. If we can use your piece, or want to discuss it withyou [sic] further, we will contact you. Thanks again."
Not the most beautifully crafted of rejection letters, but I'm sure the intern who wrote it was quite busy. I particularly like the "we have hundreds already" part. Way to make a girl feel special! My poor little column, fighting for life in some giant pile, or worse, already the victim of the intern's delete button.
I figure I'm due for a lot of rejection. It's only fair. In my literary management days, I must have sent out hundreds of rejection letters. They fell into two categories; return with encouragement, and return without encouragement.
Return with encouragement was something like:
"Dear Ms. Hoover, Thank you for sending us your play, An Earthworm Went in my Mouth and I Ated It: Songs of Ralphie. While we couldn't find a place for it in our season, we did enjoy reading it, and hope you will continue to keep us informed of your work. Sincerely, Ruby Blue, Literary Manger, etc."
Return without encouragement went more like this:
"Dear Mr. Skinner, Thank you for sending us your play, Something Wicked This Way Strums: My Affair With an Evil Guitar Teacher. While we were not able to find a place for it in our season, we wish you well in all your literary endeavors. Sincerely, Ruby Blue, etc."
I would say my note from the Post was more the latter, no?
"Thanks for your submission. We have hundreds already and can't reply indetail [sic] to everyone. If we can use your piece, or want to discuss it withyou [sic] further, we will contact you. Thanks again."
Not the most beautifully crafted of rejection letters, but I'm sure the intern who wrote it was quite busy. I particularly like the "we have hundreds already" part. Way to make a girl feel special! My poor little column, fighting for life in some giant pile, or worse, already the victim of the intern's delete button.
I figure I'm due for a lot of rejection. It's only fair. In my literary management days, I must have sent out hundreds of rejection letters. They fell into two categories; return with encouragement, and return without encouragement.
Return with encouragement was something like:
"Dear Ms. Hoover, Thank you for sending us your play, An Earthworm Went in my Mouth and I Ated It: Songs of Ralphie. While we couldn't find a place for it in our season, we did enjoy reading it, and hope you will continue to keep us informed of your work. Sincerely, Ruby Blue, Literary Manger, etc."
Return without encouragement went more like this:
"Dear Mr. Skinner, Thank you for sending us your play, Something Wicked This Way Strums: My Affair With an Evil Guitar Teacher. While we were not able to find a place for it in our season, we wish you well in all your literary endeavors. Sincerely, Ruby Blue, etc."
I would say my note from the Post was more the latter, no?
Monday, October 22, 2007
To Do: Send
I don't want to curse my idea with plot rot, so I won't say too much. But I did enjoy writing some character sketches this morning, and they were coming fairly easily. I think having lowered my standards from "write a good book, or the 1st draft of a good book" to "write 50K of whatever about a character you like" has helped a lot. She's this quirky girl who's been hanging out in the back of my mind, and I've been pushing her off as Not Worthy of My Serious Literary Attempt.
But she's fun and weird and I think I could write a lot.
In other news, Edythe did not sleep well last night. I'm used to a sort of low-lying haze about my days, since I last got 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep what, a year ago? But some days are worse than others. For example, I just looked at the to-do list I'd typed up this morning. One of the items, in its entirety:
Send
Send what? Where? To whom? And why?
Also, it's not even 11 and already I am wanting lunch. Clearly this will be a productive work day.
But she's fun and weird and I think I could write a lot.
In other news, Edythe did not sleep well last night. I'm used to a sort of low-lying haze about my days, since I last got 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep what, a year ago? But some days are worse than others. For example, I just looked at the to-do list I'd typed up this morning. One of the items, in its entirety:
Send
Send what? Where? To whom? And why?
Also, it's not even 11 and already I am wanting lunch. Clearly this will be a productive work day.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Come Here, Baby!
I spent a great deal of time yesterday--the entirety of Edythe's miraculous 2.5 hour nap--noting and abandoning various plots for my NaNo novel. I was trying to use the Snowflake Method to give me a sense of order, of direction and purpose. To outline where I am going, how to get there, and exactly what scenes I will need to write. It didn't work. I still didn't know what to write about. I grumbled that I should have spent the time cleaning, instead.
I took Edythe for a walk, hoping inspiration would strike. It was late afternoon, a cool, crisp autumn day. We saw a lot of red and gold-leafed trees. We swung in the swings at the park. We played peek-a-boo and giggled at dogs. We had a lovely time. I still had no clue what to write about.
Hours later, after I put Edythe to bed, I took a bath and read Of Mice and Men. It's around 50,000 words. It's very good. But I still don't know what to write about.
Today I'm re-reading Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, and No Plot? No Problem! A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days. The latter is by Chris Baty, who founded NaNo. Both authors say it is okay not to know where you're going. Lamott recommends focusing on short assignments. Just describe the porch. And write a bad first draft. Baty says enlightenment is overrated, and to just keep going, without worrying whether it's good.
This is very hard for me. I don't work this way. I am a planner. I need to know what will happen next. And I need to know that all the effort and sacrifice--not just mine, but my family's--will be worth it.
On the other hand, it's not as if I have an idea, unless a magical plot outline appears on my nightstand tomorrow morning. Or Edythe crawls in, clutching one in her hand.
I took Edythe for a walk, hoping inspiration would strike. It was late afternoon, a cool, crisp autumn day. We saw a lot of red and gold-leafed trees. We swung in the swings at the park. We played peek-a-boo and giggled at dogs. We had a lovely time. I still had no clue what to write about.
Hours later, after I put Edythe to bed, I took a bath and read Of Mice and Men. It's around 50,000 words. It's very good. But I still don't know what to write about.
Today I'm re-reading Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, and No Plot? No Problem! A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days. The latter is by Chris Baty, who founded NaNo. Both authors say it is okay not to know where you're going. Lamott recommends focusing on short assignments. Just describe the porch. And write a bad first draft. Baty says enlightenment is overrated, and to just keep going, without worrying whether it's good.
This is very hard for me. I don't work this way. I am a planner. I need to know what will happen next. And I need to know that all the effort and sacrifice--not just mine, but my family's--will be worth it.
On the other hand, it's not as if I have an idea, unless a magical plot outline appears on my nightstand tomorrow morning. Or Edythe crawls in, clutching one in her hand.
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