NaNoWriMo Day 14

Posted on November 14, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Word count – 1,181.

Another transition scene finished. I can’t wait to get past all these fill-ins and write the end. I’m saving some things to write before the final scene, because they are going to be just that fun.

There’s going to be a LOT of rewriting ahead. My protag is superficial, and my word choices are just adequate. I’m just not able to concentrate as well as I could. There is the whole not-having-a-job thing, and the whole breakup thing. Not having someone to talk to is really wearing me down. I’m not a person who functions well in complete isolation. Online conversation isn’t the same.

Hopefully soon I’ll find a job, and then there will be more of a routine going. In keeping with my tradition of sharing a bit of entertainment at the end, please enjoy this video about the Disney Star Wars acquisition. This is relevant to my interests.

NaNoWriMo got me started but… (bcsirrom.wordpress.com)

NaNoWriMo Day 13 – First Draft Problems

Posted on November 13, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Word count – 542.

I HATE writing these stupid transitions. HATE HATE HATE. Chalk it up to it being the 13^thand a touch of triskaidekaphobia. Or maybe this book is just harder than the last one.

I wonder if there is a correlation to how difficult a book is to write and how successful it could be. You would expect a fabulous story to just pour out of you faster than you could type. When it comes out in drips and drops, it’s easy to think “Maybe this sucks.”

I’m done for tonight. Tomorrow is another chance to get it right. In the meantime, please enjoy this video of The Best Cosplay of All Time!

My #NaNoWriMo in week two! (zaraawritingstory.wordpress.com)

NaNoWriMo Day 12

Posted on November 12, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Word count – 1,758.

Tonight I worked on what I call a lull scene. A book or film can’t be action and crazy stuff all the time. So some people had an amusing dinner, and my protag sought reassurance from someone, and didn’t get it.

Things still seem rather choppy at the moment. But they’ll come together during revision.

The hand is still pretty sore. I’ve got some of those braces you wear for carpal tunnel, with the mitts attached. They help a little. I can’t type much more tonight, so I’ll leave you with this hilarious video by internet comedy queen Jenna Marbles, “Things Guys Lie About.”

NaNoWriMo Day # 12: With NaNoWriMo Comes a Sense of Discipline (write-2-be.com)

NaNoWriMo Day 11 – Ouches and Couches

Posted on November 11, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Word count- 0.

Today I spent time writing a post for Clerical Chick, and also finishing up some guest posts I’m working on for another blogger. So it wasn’t a writing-free day, just a novel-free one.

My right hand has somehow decided to go rogue on me. Yesterday afternoon, the temperature reached 73 degrees, so I took advantage of it to clean out my little Chevy. Either I did something to it then, or while I was skating in the morning. My fingers are sore and swollen, and typing seems to be difficult.

Of course, it could be the weather, which has also gone rogue, changing to a nasty bout of cold rain. They’re talking maybe a snow mix overnight.

Ugh. I call dibs on perpetual summer.

Image: Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Speaking of skating, I hope you watched the ISU Grand Prix Cup of Russia on NBC this afternoon. Gracie Gold earned her first senior Grand Prix medal, a silver. Way to go, Gracie! Congratulations!

I’m going to lie on the couch and rest my hand now. Type at you tomorrow.

NaNoWriMo ’12 – Extreme Weekend Plan of WORDS (days 10 & 11) (vetanda.wordpress.com)

NaNoWriMo Day 10 – Lots of Words

Posted on November 10, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Word count – 2,195.

Feels like I’ve been sitting here forever.

Image: farconville / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A small portion of that was an addition to a previous scene. The rest was an entirely new one. I haven’t done an entirely new scene in a while. Most of these counts are additions to something I’d already begun.

I know I’m totally cheating using this thing to finish a book rather than start from scratch. Since I’m not formally signed up for NaNo, I feel fine about bending the rules. If I can finish this stupid thing, it will be worth it.

For tonight, I bid you adieu. If you aren’t sleepy yet, please enjoy this compilation video of Internet sensation Maru.

NaNoWriMo Day 9

Posted on November 9, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Word count- negligible. Just a few notes here and there. Sometimes when you have to change something, it means you have to regroup. I’m not worried about it.

I had a job interview today, and for some insane reason, I’m super tired. It’s quite possible I didn’t sleep very well. I had a hard time waking up. You know, one of those mornings where you keep almost doing it, and your dream goes on and on and on? Like that.

This weekend, I plan to hit it pretty hard, with a break to watch my friend Gracie Gold skate at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of Russia. The ladies and men’s long programs will air on NBC Sunday. She was first after the short program (!!!!) so she has an excellent chance to medal. Go Gracie! You can do it!

Since it’s already tomorrow there, I’ll have to stay off Twitter for a while so I can be surprised. Someone will undoubtedly tweet the winner before I can watch. Rawr.

Oh no you DI’ INT!

Image: imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

NaNoWriMo Day 8 – Asleep at the Post

Posted on November 8, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Word count: 1,023.

Too tired to continue. I wrote two articles for a guest post gig today, took a hard walk, and looked for jobs on the internet. Tomorrow I have an interview.

During tonight’s session, I ran into a common conundrum in Writer Land, that of the Mysterious Changing Plot Device. I had something already written for a pivotal event, but now I have to scrap it. With the changes I’ve made, it just doesn’t make sense.

Nooooooo!

Image: AmericanCinematiquecalendar.com

I was kind of bummed, but it happens. I usually keep a file for cuts so I can pick their bones later for useful bits. There is some good stuff in there I can salvage, so it’s not a total loss.

The good part is that I was able to sit down and force myself to write, even though I’m really tired and I didn’t feel like it. That’s the mark of a real writer. I may end up being one yet.

Time to stop now because I can’t see the page anymore. Good night.

NaNoWriMo Day 7 – Back on Track!

Posted on November 7, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Day 7.

Word count –

1,958!

I finished a new scene, a pivot point before the third act. Not only that, but there are things that were vaguely contradictory that are now beginning to work themselves out.

In a book where there are speculative elements, your world rules have to be very clear in order to allow suspension of disbelief. You must set them up in the beginning, and not deviate from them. It doesn’t matter how outlandish the world rules are. If you present them as truth, and keep to them, the reader will be able to accept what happens in the story in the context of those rules.

You’re just dying to know what this story is about, aren’t you? I don’t dare divulge it at this point. Maybe once it’s finished and I start querying it.

If I told you, I’d have to kill you.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Since I started NaNo, and it actually seems to be working, I have come up with a plan. If I can finish this book by the end of the month, and hoping like hell that even worse things don’t happen in my life (pleez no moar!), then I can get the first edit done by February. If all goes well, I can quite possibly have it ready to query by the time spring rolls around.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PROMISE ME YOU WILL NOT QUERY A NANO BOOK WITHOUT EDITING!

Sorry, but so many agency screeners get hit by crappy first drafts, and in January, New Year’s resolutions (“I’m gonna dust off that old thing and send it in this year!”), or so I’m told. You really should be presenting no less than your best, polished work.

Time to go watch X-Files reruns for the evening. Later.

NaNoWriMo: 10,000 (michaelmcmullen.wordpress.com)

NaNoWriMo Day 6 – Election Day

Posted on November 6, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Word count – 0.

If you’re in the US, I hope you voted today. I did.

No NaNoWriMo For Me (thewearywriter.com)

NaNoWriMo Day 5 – Slogging Along

Posted on November 5, 2012 by A. Elizabeth West

Once again, I’m ashamed to post my word count. (542. Shut up.) Honestly, this would be so much easier if I had something to distract me.

Like this.

Image: perezhilton.com

Someone on a website I like to read posted that she was far less productive when she was put into a cube off by herself and didn’t see or talk to anyone all day. I’m like that. If I stay home and don’t talk to anyone, I find my attention lagging, and distractions are soooo much more enticing.

If I have something to ignore, I can concentrate better. Music is fine, but it has to be instrumental. The second people start singing, I have to hear what they’re saying and I’m out. That’s why I don’t like the TV on when I’m studying or writing. Sometimes I can turn it on with the sound off, but even that is a problem sometimes.

Trying to find a job, figure out if I want to go back to school, deal with personal crap and everything else has made me wonder if I should have tried to do NaNo at all. But I’ll keep plugging away. I think eventually I’ll hit a point where it takes off. It’s all there. I just have to excavate it.