Not bad for a first day. I’m going to stop now while I have brain cells left and go to bed. Tomorrow night I will sit down with fresh ideas (hopefully) and do this again. I worked off and on for just about three and a half hours. No rushing, no stress.
So far so good. 🙂 Talk to me in a few days.
I just turned all my clocks and watches back one hour, though technically, time changes at 1:59 AM. I hope I’m not awake then, so I thought I’d plan ahead.
I was awake, however, at that time last night/morning. Not even infomercials or Jamie Oliver cooking Halloween treats for cute little British children (“tiddlywinks” as he called them) could put me to sleep. I remember last looking at the clock at 5 AM. Needless to say, I am really, really tired right now, but since we gain an hour, I am pushing myself to stay up until at least 11 or midnight, depending on your point of view.
I have been ill this week. My annual Fall sinus infection. My allergy meds are not very helpful, so I got snagged this year. I have one more antibiotic pill to take tomorrow morning, and though I feel better, this no sleep thing has got to go.
Bless me. I just sneezed again.
I finished my “Read the Bible in 90 Days,” project tonight, which means I actually read through the Bible in 59 days instead of 90. I’m not trying to be an overachiever (this is me remember) but I had to clear my calendar as much as possible for NANOWRIMO, which begins in TWO DAYS.
I do have a character listing and somewhat of a plot summary worked up, but typically the words come from dreams in my head and trying to get myself into a focused mode has been difficult, especially this last week when my head feels like someone is sitting on it and plunging knives into it… but I will press on. At least I sort of know which idea I want to go with. Sort of. It all could change in a sleep-deprived burst of inspiration over the next two days… but who knows.
All that said, I just sneezed again, so please bless me and pray for me as I go forth to conquer 50,000 words in 30 days. Somehow, reading the Bible in 59 days seems quite a bit easier.
NANOWRIMO begins in two weeks.
Here’s a quote I found the other day… I am going to put it on my monitor.
“What is written without effort is read without pleasure.” — Samuel Johnson
TWO WEEKS!
I very eagerly await National Novel Writing Month in November. 50,000 words in 30 days seems insane, but I am going to give it my best effort.
For work I began a “Read the Bible in 90 Days” program September 1st. For sanity’s sake, I am going to read the Bible in 60 days or take a 30 day break and finish in December. I am involved in another intense Bible study as it is and I don’t think I can do all at the same time. I have to prioritize. Not that the Bible isn’t important, but I am a firm believer that too much Bible study and not enough attention to personal creative time can be hazardous to my health.
I did take off an additional two days at Thanksgiving time to hopefully give myself time to finish. And, sleep or no sleep, I do plan to finish… even if it’s all garbage.
I am working out which plot idea to flesh out but so far I have not made a concrete decision. For now, I am working on getting my room situated for maximum NANOWRIMO output. Should be interesting.
I look forward to this challenge. I need this challenge. I need to finish and follow through and all sorts of other things.
I will keep the updates coming as much as possible, but for all intents and purposes, my time is MINE, MINE, MINE! for the month of November. I hope you will still love me anyway.
I look forward to the challenge!
TIME FOR A RE-WRITE
Okay. I get it now. It’s sink or swim time. Put your money where your mouth is time. It’s I’ve got to do this or I’ll explode time.
SO…
Please pray for me. I am at a crossroads in my life. I am still looking for a job, still searching for a way to keep myself from becoming a homeless statistic. You know how they say most people are two paychecks away from being homeless? I guess I represent most people. I have scrounged my way for three years now and I’m nowhere near any goal I have ever set for myself — except for the goal of not being homeless. I’m precariously near blowing that goal and failing at something most people take for granted — putting a roof over their heads.
Therefore, in addition to trying to find a job, I am going to try something radically different. I am going to try to do some freelance writing to supplement my income.
“It’s about time!” you shout at your computer monitor.
“Go for it!” you chant while your neighbors think you’re looney.
“What’s taken you so long?” you inquire loudly to no one in particular.
…and yet some of you will declare: “Have you lost your mind?!”
Well, listen. I’ve listened to the “Have you lost your mind?!” crowd for 34 years and y’all are full of (fill in the blank — use your imagination– be colorful). I’ve listened to y’all and look where it’s gotten me. I’m miserable, out of sync, and barely surviving. I’ve tried to fit into the mold that our workaholic culture dictates, and I just can’t do it anymore. If you think I’ve lost my mind, I have, but in the process, I’ve retrieved my soul from the abyss of You Will Never Succeed So Why Even Bother? or another vestibule of creative hell.
Once that notion crystalized in my worn out brain, my ears perked up and my eyes brightened. Yes, indeed, I have lost my mind! If the “Have you lost your mind?!” crowd has anything to say, I reject it, and they can keep it and do whatever makes them happy with it, but for the love of Pete, please don’t try to infect anyone else with the negative psychobabble. Y’all have nearly killed me. Please don’t do it to anybody else. If you’re unhappy with your life, fine. Either do something about it or shut up.
For me, to not create is self destructive. I’ve had it drilled into my head since I was a kid that creativity was not practical, and that dreams come true for other people. Well, for decades now, I’ve tried to be practical and I’ve watched other people’s dreams come true. Practicality, conformity and the death of my dreams has not prospered me whatsoever. So, I’m taking a U-turn now. It may not turn out how I picture it… but I’m pretty sure that’s a good thing. It will most likely turn out better. It may be a long, very long time before I see any results from my labors, but I’m not going to deny myself anymore. It’s my time now and I have no problem with saying that any longer.
Anyone who has a problem with it, proceed with caution if you ask for an autographed copy of anything I’ve written, and don’t expect to see your name under acknowledgments or thank you’s. Amen. And if that seems harsh to y’all, imagine what y’all did to me every time you took my dreams and squashed them in the name of practicality and conformity and all the other garbage y’all fed me. I think, yes, I know I’m being much nicer to you right now than you were to me and my dreams. Trust me on this.
So… I’m finally going to try to realign myself with who I was so long ago… and go a different direction. I may not succeed in dollars, but I will succeed in sense.
BOOK UPDATE
I was working on the ending today and it’s going rather well. I’m just trying tie up all the loose ends. Would a cliffhanger be a bad thing? Right now, I’m thinking, no.
I have edited the first six chapters, and only twenty two more to go! WOO HOO! I’m getting excited about this. Just finishing this book (right, Ahjie?) will be a big deal for me. Keep praying!
BOOK UPDATE:
The book is 85% finished. I decided today how to end it — just STOP! I have enough material for 1 1/2 books now. Basically, I have Candelorio’s Rose and half of a sequel written. I am so excited! Now, I will go back and polish, edit and polish… and then…
I HAVE NO IDEA…
Just kidding! Pray for me to finish and pray for a publisher!
I have to get back to the book now…
Sassy Dreams Awake 