Days left: 495
Words written: 4,114
Over 700 words today! My dad, sister and her three children are set to arrive in about 30 minutes so it will be interesting to see if I'm able to get any writing done over the next couple of days while they're here. Maybe all the extra words I've been doing the last few days will make up for it? (Or am I just taking the easy way out?)
Anyway, as I delve deeper into Ronnie's story, I'm realizing I need to go back and do some more in depth research on NYU and painting. My coworker Rish has a friend that went to NYU so maybe I can talk to that person about what the student experience is like there. Contacting the art program there wouldn't be a bad idea either...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The CBC, Day Four
Days left: 496
Words written: 3,358
So today I decided to do my writing while my daughter was still awake so that I could rest when she went down for her nap. This proved to be quite the challenge as I had to stop my train of thought every ten minutes to stop her from getting into whatever she wasn't supposed to be getting into.
I managed to write well over 500 words though. Maybe not the best stuff I've ever done, but at least I got my ideas on "paper" and can go back and finesse it all later.
The next few days should prove challenging as well since I have guests decending for New Years, but I am determined to see this challenge through. Wish me luck!
Words written: 3,358
So today I decided to do my writing while my daughter was still awake so that I could rest when she went down for her nap. This proved to be quite the challenge as I had to stop my train of thought every ten minutes to stop her from getting into whatever she wasn't supposed to be getting into.
I managed to write well over 500 words though. Maybe not the best stuff I've ever done, but at least I got my ideas on "paper" and can go back and finesse it all later.
The next few days should prove challenging as well since I have guests decending for New Years, but I am determined to see this challenge through. Wish me luck!
Monday, December 28, 2009
The CBC, Day Three
Days left: 497
Word count: 2,767
I'm tired today. My daughter has had a cold for what feels like forever (really only three weeks) and was up at 3:30 a.m. coughing. Being a mom, this brought me fully awake and even after checking on her and tucking her back in, I had a hard time getting back to sleep.
With that said, I only wrote 601 words today, which met my 500 words-a-day goal, but were kinda off topic. Part of the reason for that is that I started on the story line for my second main character (Sharon/"Ronnie") today so I don't think I have as good a grip on her as I do on my other main character (Mark). I ended up going off on this long tangent about how she got started on this project she's working on and don't really know if I'll end up using any of it. I remember from my classes with Sheila Ortiz Taylor, however, that oftentimes you'll end up writing whole histories on your characters, most of which you will not use, but that are necessary to the writing of the story.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring a clearer focus on Ronnie. 'Til then...
Word count: 2,767
I'm tired today. My daughter has had a cold for what feels like forever (really only three weeks) and was up at 3:30 a.m. coughing. Being a mom, this brought me fully awake and even after checking on her and tucking her back in, I had a hard time getting back to sleep.
With that said, I only wrote 601 words today, which met my 500 words-a-day goal, but were kinda off topic. Part of the reason for that is that I started on the story line for my second main character (Sharon/"Ronnie") today so I don't think I have as good a grip on her as I do on my other main character (Mark). I ended up going off on this long tangent about how she got started on this project she's working on and don't really know if I'll end up using any of it. I remember from my classes with Sheila Ortiz Taylor, however, that oftentimes you'll end up writing whole histories on your characters, most of which you will not use, but that are necessary to the writing of the story.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring a clearer focus on Ronnie. 'Til then...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The CBC, Day Two
Days left: 498
Words written: 2,165
I am really on a roll! Day two of the Christmas Break Challenge has also been a great success with another 700 or so words written along with some great editing to earlier stuff. I'm actually have fun, too, something I tend to forget about writing.
I think that is a hazard of writing professionally when you also want to write as a hobby. I spend so much of my time at work writing and editing (fairly dry) pieces that I forget how much fun writing "just because" can be. No deadline, no "message" or "audience." Just writing whatever I want just because it pleases me.
I hope I can keep this joy and momentum going into day three...
Words written: 2,165
I am really on a roll! Day two of the Christmas Break Challenge has also been a great success with another 700 or so words written along with some great editing to earlier stuff. I'm actually have fun, too, something I tend to forget about writing.
I think that is a hazard of writing professionally when you also want to write as a hobby. I spend so much of my time at work writing and editing (fairly dry) pieces that I forget how much fun writing "just because" can be. No deadline, no "message" or "audience." Just writing whatever I want just because it pleases me.
I hope I can keep this joy and momentum going into day three...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Christmas Break Challenge, Day One
Days Left: 499
Words written: 1,678
The Christmas Break Challenge (which shall be referred to as CBC from now on) began today, and I am proud to say I far exceeded by 500 words-a-day goal, writing 713 words all in one sitting. Maybe it was pent up writing energy from the two months I've spend not writing.
Today's writing took me to an unexpected piece of backstory for two of my main characters, essentially showing how the two of them got together. All I'm going to say is that the song Lady in Red had something to do with it.
Your assignment? Go download that song and listen to it. Classic. That's what I'll be doing as soon as I post this. I've decided to start a playlist on my new iPod (Thanks, Dad!) that will be a sort of soundtrack for "the novel." Stuff I can go to for inspiration when I'm stuck.
'Til tomorrow...
Words written: 1,678
The Christmas Break Challenge (which shall be referred to as CBC from now on) began today, and I am proud to say I far exceeded by 500 words-a-day goal, writing 713 words all in one sitting. Maybe it was pent up writing energy from the two months I've spend not writing.
Today's writing took me to an unexpected piece of backstory for two of my main characters, essentially showing how the two of them got together. All I'm going to say is that the song Lady in Red had something to do with it.
Your assignment? Go download that song and listen to it. Classic. That's what I'll be doing as soon as I post this. I've decided to start a playlist on my new iPod (Thanks, Dad!) that will be a sort of soundtrack for "the novel." Stuff I can go to for inspiration when I'm stuck.
'Til tomorrow...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Christmas Break Challenge
Days left: 522
Word count: 975
So.
Yeah.
I haven't done a thing with "the novel" in weeks. Haven't really even thought about it. This is no way to get a novel written, I know, but life just, well, intrudes. I tell myself very rationally that if this is something I really care about, that I really want to do, that I will make time for it, that it is worth sacrificing a night or two vegged out on the couch with my husband. But then I get the baby to bed at eight, and I just can't resist the pull of those cushions, the glow of the television, the foot rubs!
Sigh.
I have a plan though. My office is closed the week between Christmas and New Year's and my husband has to work. This leaves me with nine days (not including Christmas Day) with relatively large amounts of free time to write (in between adoring my daughter, of course). So, the plan is to write at least 500 words on each of those nine days, leaving me with an additional 4,500 words I do not have now and (hopefully) jumpstarting my urge to write this novel again.
The question is, am I truly disciplined enough to stick to my plan? (History says no.) Stay tuned to find out. I promise to blog each day to keep you up to date on my progress (and whining).
Word count: 975
So.
Yeah.
I haven't done a thing with "the novel" in weeks. Haven't really even thought about it. This is no way to get a novel written, I know, but life just, well, intrudes. I tell myself very rationally that if this is something I really care about, that I really want to do, that I will make time for it, that it is worth sacrificing a night or two vegged out on the couch with my husband. But then I get the baby to bed at eight, and I just can't resist the pull of those cushions, the glow of the television, the foot rubs!
Sigh.
I have a plan though. My office is closed the week between Christmas and New Year's and my husband has to work. This leaves me with nine days (not including Christmas Day) with relatively large amounts of free time to write (in between adoring my daughter, of course). So, the plan is to write at least 500 words on each of those nine days, leaving me with an additional 4,500 words I do not have now and (hopefully) jumpstarting my urge to write this novel again.
The question is, am I truly disciplined enough to stick to my plan? (History says no.) Stay tuned to find out. I promise to blog each day to keep you up to date on my progress (and whining).
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