I Won!!

And by that, I mean I have successfully completed the challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days for NaNoWriMo. Oh, the story isn't quit complete just yet. There's still a little more since I've just written up to the Black Moment in the story (apprx. 3/4 through). I'll be totally completing DBWB sometime this month at my leisure.

Did I say leisure?? I must be nuts, since now I must get back to my ST edit. But DBWB will get finished.

As for the celebration, I chose veggie pizza and a huge, cold Young's Luxury Double Chocolate Stout Beer. Mmm . . . so yummy and delicious! I was in heaven and took the rest of the night off from writing. I'm taking tomorrow off too.

But, I DID IT! After trying twice before, this year I WON NaNoWriMo!!! WOOHOO!!!


NaNoWriMo, DBWB -

50,483 / 50,000 (101.0%)

~A

NaNoWriMo: DBWB --

I'm getting there . . .

43,866 / 50,000 (87.7%)

~A :-)

All In A Day

What was I thinking to sign up for NaNoWriMo (at the last minute) this year on top of everything with family going on plus T-day??

Reason: I'm insane. I must be. After the great feeling of accomplishment I had about finishing FP in Oct., I was on a roll from the writing high and wanted to continue. So, DBWB was born and I threw my proverbial hat into the NaNo ring seconds before the starting bell rang.

Gads.

Now I'm not so sure about this story. I've been working my assets off trying to get it written, and I'm not where I want to be. My goal was to reach 40K yesterday because this is the last week and the official "pencils down!" bell will go off at midnight Nov 30th. I'm sitting just shy of 38K right now.

And WHY am I blogging when I should be writing??? Procrastination is my friend. At least first thing in the morning until I get caffeinated and ready to tackle my lofty goal of the day (usually between 10-15 pages which for me is quite doable).

No, wait, dialogue is my friend. ;-) And I just finished breakfast -- 2 Lady Walton's Gourmet Creamy Dark Chocolate Butter Wafer Cookies totaling 6 points on my Weight Watchers chart and . . . soooo yummy!!! I'm on my second cup-o-Columbian Supremo, DH is at work, my kid's at school and the house is quiet. Even the cat's outside, though I can hear him up on our rook chasing squirrels.

Ahhh, it's writing time. :-)



NaNoWriMo: DBWB --

37,388 / 50,000 (74.8%)

~A

T-Day: Take Two

Yep, I'm doing it again. When my DH realized we weren't going to have any turkey or feast leftovers, I decided we'd have our own little family meal with all the trimmings. Made for a nice Friday night dinner, plus we now have plenty of leftovers to gobble down when we get peckish. ;-)

~A

In The Zone

The baking zone, that is. With the holidays in full swing, I've been cooking and baking for nearly a month. I always start off easy, a cookie or cake recipe that's an old favorite, then I move on to something a bit more challenging.

Much like writing a book -- start with what you know, research if necessary, and expand from there.

No biggie.

So, okay, the old stand-by muffins-out--of-a-box mix and spice cake went well. The new chocolate mint cookie recipe didn't even give me to much trouble. I liked that, and a few of them are still around for the family to savor for breakfast. Today I've pulled another old standard: candied pecans. I haven't made these in a couple of years, an they always turn out great. I have to do my fav maple pecan pie too for T-day. And . . . I'm trying out a new cake recipe from Paula Deen's TV cooking show, Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake. Mmmm!!! So easy and quick.

Not like writing a book, which takes time and an whole heck of a lot more effort to get just right. ;-)

For me, baking and writing are so similar: you start with the basic elements or ingredients, mix them up, see what it needs and add a pinch of this or a smidgon of that or turn it over to a crit partner, adjust and mix a little more then bake it or write "The End." Volia! You have a great final product to read or eat.

Not too difficult to figure out. The process (of writing) can get detoured by life interferences, and right now I've caught up on my obligations, but waaay behind on my own stuff, especially NaNoWriMo. I'm 32,000 in, and I have 18K to go to finish by the end of this month. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

Maybe.

No! I WILL FINISH THIS STORY!

And catch up on emails, and report to my BIAW group, and get my butt to the gym at least 2 times today, and clean the kitchen, and-and-and . . .

Good thing is, with the NaNo project completed, in Dec. I only have a couple of things to do. I have my online workshop for FTHRW ("Writing By The Signs: Creating Believable Characters with Astrology" starting Dec. 17, 2006 -- the info is on my website if you're interested in taking the class, www.AnnJR.com). Plus I'm going to write a story just for me and because I want to. Kind of like a present from me to me. So far, my working title is "Down For The Count," and it's about a modern everyday witch who owns a little bakery, her magical mishaps, and what happens when she meets a real European Count with a sweet-tooth. I've plotted out the story outline, and will get to the rest later. Gonna have fun with that one.

Gotta so play catch-up this morning--more later.

Happy T-day!

~A

My Progress

Well, I'm writing and editing, but I've lost count of my pages over the past week. I have 2 WIPs and 1 complete manuscript I'm editing, plus all the baking for the holidays.

The house smells yummy, and my heros are becoming even yummier as I progress. I love it when I get to this point, just beyond about 1/3 of the story. It makes sense, motivations seem real, goals are realisticially out of reach (for the moment), and my Muse kicks my butt into a higher gear. :-)

And tomorrow I have my very first function as an official Room Mother to help with my son's Thanksgiving Feast at school. Gonna love it. :-)

~A

Not Getting It

Yesterday was frustrating at best. I didn't get back to my writing until last night after averyone was alseep. I still think I can finish Nano, if I can stay on track. I'm pretty close to the halfway point, and my other WIP is almost complete (realized a new twist toward the end, so I have to write that in).

Yesterday would've gone a lot better if I'd brough in my notebook to write on as I stood in line at Fry's waiting to check out for almost 45 minutes. Yep, their computer system was down, and they didn't bother to let anyone in line know. Even long-hand, I could've written at least 2 to 3 more new pages. But I had to stay because we need a new battery for our base phone. Two more days until Mercury turns direct and things settle down.

Hopefully today will be better.


~A

The ill MIL

DH called and found out him mom's been in the hospital for the past week. Of course she didn't want anyone to worry, so she didn't tell anyone! Nasty things, kidney stones. She's home and doing better, thank goodness, but not going to make it up for T-day.

Who else is coming in? Brother-in-law? Maybe?

I have no idea, because no one tells me until the last minute!

Going to my Tai CHi class now, then back to writing.

Grrr . . .

~A

Powering Up

Okay, the last few days have been almost too smooth. I've editted almost 100 pages on my WIP (not the new NaNo story), and I'm trying to figure out when the monkey-wrench is going to drop.

(sigh)

Okay, I'm just going to keep going and hopefully it'll be smooth sailing through the weekend. :-)

~A

T-Day Planning

Not to be confused with "D" day. But sometimes I think it's the same thing.

My sister emailed to find out our plans, and, well, my DH informed me his mom is coming. And his brother. And I don't know who else.

So, I emailed my sister back to plan this shindig. We figured the moms would have a nice chit-chat and enjoy the grandkids. I've frantically pulled out my recipes and check out the pantry (defintely lacking!), and in short, I NEED to schedule an extra shopping day. I usually do this every year, it just sneaked up on my this year.

And writing? Well, it's getting done, slowly. More on that later.

~A

Chaos Rules!

Oh, geez, so many pages to write, so little time! So many errands, a family to do for, animals wanting food, and we need groceries again. Gotta get toilet paper! And vote!

No, wait, I did the early voting thing last week. (Thanks goodness)

Making a list . . .

Oh, yeah, and the holiday season's started!

Goody. Now I can't sleep until Dec.

~A

Maybe Baby

Seems like I'm getting the hang of this new story. It's been bothering me to start, so I've started working on it already (yep, even before I've finished the last one). So far, so good, as the baby steps see to be working and the chapter is almost completed.


~A

FP

52,388 / 50,000 (104.8%)

THE END!!!


~A :-)
(doing the happily-ever-after dance)

I Did It Again

Well, I've jumped head-first into the NaNoWriMo challenge. (Geez, what have I gotten myself into now???) I *think* I'll be able to complete my current WIP and start the next one within the week, so I won't really be behind. I've already plotted out the new story (no title yet), and I pretty much know the main characters. A bit of a departure from my norm, as it's a contemporary paranormal instead of a futuristic/SF.

We'll see how this goes.

Wish me luck.

~A