NaNo 2010 novel finished

Just a very quick blog post to say that I did it. I have, sitting next to me at this very moment, a fully completed draft of my very first novel! Well...the very first novel I actually completed as of this date...I would actually classify a different one as first...but it's only half-way done since I had to put it on hold to do NaNoWriMo 2010...maybe I'll get back to that one now?

In any case, for those curious, the last line (at least for this draft), which is said by my protagonist:

"I think today is your lucky day."

I think so too, main character, I think so too. :D

NaNoWriMo 2010 Complete!

Well, I did it. I persevered through the month. It was a challenge at times with birthday parties and traveling and many almost sleepless nights in a row. It was a journey well worth it though. I haven't quite finished the novel completely. It still needs another few chapters to tie up the end but I will finish that before the end of the week. I just might not write *quite* so many words per day.

My official Microsoft Word count is actually 50,440. For some reason, when I scrambled  my work and submitted it to the counting gods on the NaNo website, it only counted it at 50,089. My personal count, less the "Day XX" headings to keep track, is actually 50,387. No matter which way you count it though, I made it! Huzzah! Hip, hip, horray!

And to celebrate, I ate a piece of pumpkin pie. Yum. :)

I will eat another celebratory piece and perhaps do a dance as well when I finish the first draft of this novel completely. Then, I'll take a day off.

Meanwhile, it's Nutcracker week, Ellie's surgery week, and apparently...my first clarinet student for lessons week! Because as we all know, it's Murphy's Law that I would end up with a bazillion things to do on top of the quadrabazillion I already have to do this week.

However, most importantly...

I'M A WINNER!!!!!!!! 2010 NaNoWriMo, I am proud to have accepted and completed the challenge.

Phew. Now to bed I go.

New Furry Family Member! :D

For those of you who don't know, I have wanted a bunny-rabbit since I was a young child. I have waited until I was both old enough and stable enough (strange as it sounds) to make the commitment to a rabbit.

And now, after twenty years of wanting one, I finally have my very own rabbit! :D I adopted him from the humane society (same one where we got Ellie, our chocolate lab, two and a half years ago). He was only $5! Can you believe that? He came with a cage and a litter box (yeah, for all my non-rabbit friends and because I myself had no idea, rabbits can be litter box trained just like cats!) I probably won't let him hop around everywhere though, cuz from what I've read...and seen...rabbits are chewers. Plus as much as Ellie wants to play with him, I just don't see that being a good idea. I'll still let him out of his cage for some bunny-exercise though.

He was named "Jumper" (probably just some stock name they threw at him). I've renamed him "Koben". He was found hopping around somebody's backyard and they managed to catch him and take him to the humane society.

Hurrah for our newest furry member! I am very excited. David saw me lying on the floor, my nosed pressed up against the bunny's and he said that I'm just like a little girl whose dream just came true! And that's exactly it! Yay!

--------

As for my writing, I am *almost* to 30,000. I will be after tonight. I decided last night that I need a health and wellness respite so I actually went to bed at a normal time. David got some type of the "blah" bug...which means that after he felt like blah all last week...my week was sure to come. I just hope I can kick it because the next four weeks are going to be brutal anyway. I can't add the yuckies to it!

Meanwhile, I've hit the mid-month sluff. I still am excited about writing and I actually know about where I want to go with my novel, but having the "blah" bug is making it difficult to actually sit down and write. Just have to keep plowing through. Now that it's more of a downhill count, it's a bit more exciting!

NaNoWriMo Week One Complete

It has been a different sort of week. My writing schedule, from about 11pm until 3:30am, has actually been quite productive. David and I would brush our teeth together, then he'd go to work and I'd head to bed! The only time the schedule didn't really work was when I had to be at school to teach clarinet masterclasses at 7:20am. Whew. That was one rough morning and day!

At some point last week, I managed to write almost 4,000 words in one sitting. I just got on a roll and really wanted to finish a certain section--to get my main character through a town and back to the woods. It actually consisted of three or four scenes. I didn't realize I'd written quite that much until I sat down to type it. And I kept typing and typing, turning the pages and wondering when it ended (in a good way). I thought to myself, "I know I've gone over my daily quota. I've probably written about 2500 words." I was shocked when the word count said 3939. I actually thought I'd accidentally selected everything I'd written (it was only day three after all) so I reselected my work and it still came up as almost 4,000! That certainly put me on a high for a day...

...at least until I tried to write again the following night and realized that I didn't really want to write the next section. Nonetheless, I persevered and have been above my daily word quota each time. At this point, my history and projection report on the NaNoWriMo page says I'll reach 50,000 words three days early! Yeeha!

At this point, I am only just over 3000 words away from 20,000. (That was an awkwardly-worded sentence.) I only have one or two more major scenes to write and Part I of my novel will be finished until the editing stage; and I will get to move onto Part II. This is very exciting for me! I know none of you have any idea what my story is even about, nor that I even had a Part I or Part II. And sorry, I don't intend to share more than vague details anyway. The creative types out there, and those who know me well, can understand, I'm sure.

Meanwhile, from here on, the writing schedule will be a tad trickier. Towards the end of week two I will be forced to write in places other than my quiet office where I sit in my papasan chair and have a nice system established. Week three I will be heavily involved with the symphony as it is concert week for both the adult and youth, which translates to lots of rehearsals and a concert both Saturday and Sunday. Then it's Thanksgiving week followed by Nutcracker rehearsals on the final days of NaNo! Thank goodness I have written myself ahead of schedule.

That's the update on my writing mumbo-jumbo at the moment. I am pleased with certain sections and know that other parts will be discarded immediately when I get to the editing stage. However, I think that NaNoWriMo is exactly what I needed to get my butt in gear. And when I finish my 50,000+ words and have a full first-draft of a completed novel in my hands (and I will because I am determined to finish and 'win'), it will prove to myself that I really can complete my novels!

Thanks to everyone who's keeping me on track and focused. I really appreciate all the positive energy and comments and encouragement.

Come December, my inner editor is going to be THRILLED when she's unleashed and allowed the freedom to tear into my writing. I can't wait.

Until the next chance I get to write a blog posting:

Cheers!

(And don't forget that you can now subscribe via e-mail to receive alerts when there are new postings!)

NaNoWriMo (Day Two Complete)

This will be short, as I am tired.

Today I learned these things about my writing:

1. I cannot write in the daytime. I tried at 1:40pm. It was a lot of: "This isn't anything that I want or where I want my novel to go. What is this anyway? I guess I'll start over. Wait, this isn't right either. Guess I'll practice my clarinet instead."

Lesson learned: I need to write in the evening and late at night when I'm creative.

2. Thesaurus is my friend. As is my mom. Both are very useful tools as far as finding just the right word.

Lesson learned: get an even better thesaurus at some point; keep Mom-->she's the best!

3. I have a new schedule, or should I say, the same schedule that I am now going to say is more permanent: stay up until about 3:30 (say good morning to David as he gets up for work). Read in bed. Sleep until 11am or noon. Practice and do chores during the day. WRITE AT NIGHT (because as we learned from #1, I don't write well during the daytime hours).

Lesson learned: don't feel guilty about having a strange schedule; as a writer and a musician, you work the night shift.

4. I wrote better quality stuff today (after I attempted the afternoon writing, that is).

Lesson learned: write from the outline because it's a guide, after all; then you can divert into other scenes.

Word count for the day: 1893. (Although I did have to go back and add more as my first count was only just over 1300.)

NaNoWriMo (Day One Complete)

Well, I have started the journey of NaNoWriMo 2010. While I wanted to start last night at midnight (the first moments of November), the jam-packed weekend forced me to get some much-needed sleep instead.

However, I did make up for it slightly by writing 1862 words for the first day! (Remember, the goal is at least 1667.) That means I am actually slightly ahead.

I started at the very beginning of my story, which I may regret. I'm not sure. I didn't actually have the beginning much in mind so it hasn't quite started how I wanted it. However, perhaps it's better because I've at least started my characters now and I can always scrap the beginning later in the editing phase. Tomorrow I think I'll actually work on what I'd had outlined.

Since it was the very first day, though, I'm not disappointed at all. In fact, I now know just how many pages I have to write (both handwritten and typed) so that I can gauge how far along I am during the daily writing process.

Meanwhile, I don't know how frequently I will be able to update via blogging, but on the top-left is my running update of words written so you can always know where I stand!

Only 48,138 to go!

NaNoWriMo (Introduction)

To whom it may concern:

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has officially begun. This means for the next 30 days I will be sequestered in my office or the library or a coffee shop writing, at minimum, 1667 words per day in order to hit the 50,000 mark before the end of the month, thereby effectively writing and finishing my very first full-length novel! (In rough draft form anyway...)

This means that my phone will be turned on silent; I won't be (theoretically) sucked into Facebook; returning e-mails won't be a priority, and hopefully I'll have magical cooking and cleaning fairies!

Feel free to send me encouraging notes, however, via phone, e-mail, snail mail, Facebook, blog comments, et cetera. Just don't expect a reply!

So, until December or when I need a break from my novel and manage to write another blog entry...

One to warm your heart

Rarely do I watch news on the TV. It's always depressing. More recently, I've begun to read the local newspaper that's delivered every Friday (courtesy of the former owners who obviously forgot to cancel their subscription). And until I get the bill, I'm going to continue enjoying decent coupons and the ability to flip through the pages at will. However, even if I do get a bill at some point, I think I can pay the $24 a year for stories like this one:

A six-year-old boy receives allowance for doing chores. That in itself is not so newsworthy. But this six-year-old boy takes half of his money and puts it in a savings account in the bank. This is where you sit back and think, "Aww, that's a smart investor, that young'n. He's being wise with his money and for a reward he surely spends the rest on some little toy or game or candy." Nope. The other half of his allowance goes into a "Sharing Jar." Okay, seriously, that in itself gladdens your heart tenfold. But wait, there's more. When this little boy has enough money in his jar, he heads off to Fred Meyer and buys canned goods, which he then donates to a local food bank. He does this a couple times a year!!

Your heart is about to burst, isn't it? Hold onto your socks, folks, we're not done yet. Every year for his birthday this philanthropist insists that instead of presents for his birthday, guests bring food to donate to the food bank instead.

He found out about this specific local food bank when he was attending day care. He is now in first grade and for the past two years, with his grandpa, he has been helping serve food to needy families every Thanksgiving and Christmas. That, to me, is such a touching image: grandpa and grandson working side-by-side to serve others.

The boy was honored for his service by Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. His reward? A $500 gift to the charity of his choice. And where do you think that went? Yup. Right back to that same food bank. What an inspiration! Seriously, if you don't have a hand pressed against your chest to keep your heart from bursting out and aren't smiling that absurd "awww, that is the most touching thing I've heard in a while" smile, then ... I don't even know what to say to you.

This child does more for the community and humanity than most of us will ever do in our entire lives. Let's take a page from his book and remember to give back.

I challenge us all to do more. Whether it's something small or something grand, take that extra hour you've saved from not being sucked into all that technology ;) and pick up some litter in your local park or take the extra change from your coffee and drop it into the Salvation Army buckets that are soon to be in season. For that matter, forgo your coffee every now and then and put that money into it!

There are so many ways to reach out. Be creative! And come back and leave a comment telling me what you've done, small or big!

In fact, let's start right now. I just received a Heifer Project pamphlet in the mail. Would anybody be interested in starting a fundraiser and helping garner funds to donate a "Gift Ark"? It is $5000 but that translates to FIFTEEN pairs of animals from cows to chickens to guinea pigs.

Give me your feedback. I'd love to do this but I certainly can't do it on my own and am terrified of "fundraising". Perhaps it's a bit ambitious, but I think we can make a virtual "Sharing Jar" and find a way!

Meanwhile, I think I will pick up an extra can or two of food each time I go grocery shopping.

Are you a tech junkie?

*Ring* *Ring*

"Hello?"

Ah, instant gratification.

Technology is great. Isn't it? There is just something about being able to pick up your own personal phone, log into your e-mail, sign into Facebook and instantly be connected with friends, family, colleagues, and complete strangers. There are so many perks to having the ability to stay in touch with all those you love (and those you don't love quite so much). But when does all this technology become a crutch?

Sometimes I physically have to remove myself from the computer, otherwise I get sucked into hours of checking my e-mail ("Really? Nobody has e-mailed me anything in the past twenty minutes? How can that be?!"), "Facebooking" (yes, in society nowadays it is everyday vernacular), or who-knows-what, and suddenly three hours of the day have been lost to cyberspace.

But it's not just the internet. It's my cell phone, the TV, video games, so on and so forth. I feel the urge to check and answer as soon as possible any text message I receive. I get so excited when my phone tells me somebody has thought about me. There are times when I hold up a finger during mid-conversation with somebody in the room to answer a phone call. Wait a second, don't I have a thing called "voicemail"? Therein lies the rub.

Although I quite enjoy living in the age of instant connection, immediate answers, and constant contact, there comes a point where I need to disconnect. Sometimes I need to remind myself that while the convenience is there, I don't have to rely on it. It will, theoretically (barring any apocalypses or severe power outages), still  be there when I need it.

Let voicemail pick up the phone call. If the person is important enough, they will leave a message. Or they'll call back twenty times in a row so that you know it's urgent (or maybe they're just annoying, in which case it's even better to not answer!). Turn off the TV and go for a walk or sit on the deck and sip a cup of coffee or go talk to your neighbor. Shut down the computer and actually play a board game or read a book.

In this day and age, I think we sometimes forget what life actually sounds like without the whirring of computers or some random song-melody emitting from a cellphone. Not that we need to delve back into the dark ages, but it would certainly be a nice feeling to go into a public bathroom and use it without having my business be privy (pun intended) to eleven other people who aren't even there because the people in the other stalls are talking on their cell phones! One of these days, I'm bringing in a whoopee cushion.

Enjoy technology and its usefulness. It's there; it's great; it's convenient. But remember to take a break and reconnect with the real world. Every now and then I open my mailbox and find a postcard from my dad when he's been on a business trip or a card from a good friend or a twelve-page letter from my great aunt. Now that is much more personal and exciting than any quick sugar-rush e-mails.

Life is all about balance. Technology is fascinating. It changes daily, which is a phenomenal thing. It can certainly makes our lives better. But do yourself a favor and disconnect every once in a while. Go without a cell phone or a computer or a TV for a week, even just a day or so. Honestly, it feels good.

(End note: I have written a personal essay on this subject. If anybody is interested in reading that, please let me know and I will send you a copy.)

Happiness is a direction, not a destination.

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." ~Abraham Lincoln

The other day I read an article about deciding to be happier. It was in a Cooking Light magazine (Sept. 2010 edition) of all places. Its focus was not only on happiness and garnering it as an individual, but the article specifically delved into women and how we, as a group, tend to overlook the single most important relationship in our lives: ourselves. Now, this isn't to say that we should be selfish or egocentric, but in fact have an openly happy relationship with one's self. Psychologist Dan Baker states, "You can't have a healthy relationship with anyone until you have one with yourself, because you're the common denominator."

I couldn't agree more. There are so many outside factors dominating our minds and bodies and souls that it is, quite frankly, impossible to sum it up succinctly. There's a reason why multitudes of books are written on the subject. But what better way to start off my newly formed blog than to talk about happiness? I am a little tentative to delve into such a topic; after all, what can I say that hasn't already been said about happiness? Probably nothing. But perhaps it's not about just what I say but how I say it and who it reaches.

Male or female, child or adult, happiness is something that we all individually strive for in varying degrees. We've all heard and said, at some point in our lives: "I just want to be happy." So why aren't you? Is it because you need a better job, a nicer place to live, a significant other, more friends, a slimmer body? Great. And when you have that awesome job, the perfect home, the wonderful person standing next to you, more true friends than you can even count, and the perfect model body (which doesn't exist), call me and tell me how happy you are. I will agree that all those can be, without a doubt, contributing factors to a happier life (to an extent), but much more than that, I see those factors as outside influences that dictate: "This is the only way you'll be 'truly' happy." And that is most certainly not true.

Happiness, I feel, comes when you find what feeds your soul and then do it. I need to read (good) books, to write, to play music. I need to do what inspires me, what I'm passionate about. If I don't, then I don't feel complete as a person, and I certainly am not going down a path of fulfillment. Those are the large happiness factors for me, the ones that carry the deepest weight in my "personal" happiness folder.

Then there are times when I just need a "quick-fix" to increase my happiness: bubble baths, throwing a ball for Ellie, calling an old friend. Maybe I need silliness: dancing around the house, laughing until my abs hurt, having a snowball fight. Or perhaps reaching out: helping out a neighbor, assisting an elderly person, feeding the homeless. There are numerous ways to get a little boost to be happier.

This combination of individual life-inspirations and simple joys creates a happiness inside. And when you decide to be happier and do what makes you happy, that spills into other facets of your life and it gives you a radiance that draws other people in. When you, I, we, decide to be happier, our relationships with others grow stronger. Because let's face it, people are attracted to happy people.

It is a decision to be happier. Make that decision. I know I feel better when I choose to do what makes me happy, when I look for the positives in my life, when I take the time to focus on what inspires me. And, in turn, I feel that I bring more to the table in my relationships and daily life--whether that be with my husband, my friends, my family, my dog, or even strangers.

And so it begins...

I have decided to start a blog, as evidenced by...this blog. For months I've been contemplating it.

"I have stuff to say," I would say to myself.

And so, on this autumnal equinox of 2010, the musings of one short 'n' sassy shall begin.