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February Foibles

I remember in my twenties being warned by older women in my Bible study not to pray for patience. “Pray for it, and the Lord will keep sending you ways to test your patience. Traffic jams, cranky kids, being on hold with insurance companies…you name it, you’ll have to deal with it!”

I’ve learned that trying to practice thankfulness seems to have the same effect. For the new year I started a devotional by Ann Voskamp about finding God’s gifts throughout each day. I absolutely love the devotional, but since I started it, I’ve been plagued by one test after another. Puppies that poop throughout the house and don’t sleep through the night; temperatures below zero with wind chills that would scare a polar bear;  and coughs and flus that never leave. My family often finds me mumbling over my coffee as I try to focus my thoughts on God’s graces, rather than the pile of used tissues and cough drop wrappers threatening to overflow the trash can.

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But, not surprisingly, most days this incoherent chanting of mine does produce the desired effect. When I thank the Lord for my warm house, comfy jammies and the wonders of Kleenex, my mood brightens and I’m not quite so miserable.

So far, February has been spent working on practicing thankfulness and not much else. I hope to have Woman of Flames up on Smashwords soon, but with my foggy brain, it’s been a slow process. I’ve finished 1 book review, revised two humor pieces for submission to a new venue and am struggling to complete my NaNoWriMo novel. I’m also hoping to start work on a novella about Anna, the prophetess. Years ago I wrote a monologue about her and the more I think about it, the more I think it would make a great story. My plan is to offer it free on Smashwords. I may try and publish it in paperback as well.

So that’s my February update. I’m thankful this month for my chiropractor (who fixes the pinched nerve in my neck when I cough too hard,) a patient husband, understanding friends, and God’s unending mercies.

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Anyone else got something to be thankful for? Leave me a comment and let me know!

 

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Touchdown!

Okay, so maybe y’all have had enough of the football analogies, but I can’t help it. I love the sport! It’s dirty and gritty–full of conflict and heartbreak.

Just like any good story!

As most of you know, I’ve spent the month of November participating in NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. Those of us insane enough to make it official signed up on their website and pledged to write at least 50,000 words over the thirty days in November.

Over the past month I’ve wrestled with my characters as I tried to meet my goal. I’ve fumbled the plot a few times, watching in horror as my characters spun across the page searching for their purpose. I’ve had to change my game plan, tackle a few opponents (like exhaustion and Black Friday shopping) but with time running out on the clock I drove down that gridiron for the go ahead score!

I reached 50,000 words last night at approximately 10:30 p.m.  I’m not the only one celebrating the achievement. My husband can’t wait to see the dining room table again (I kept my Thesaurus, idea notes, word count sheets and lap top set up there for easier access!) My kids will be happy that they won’t have to wait for me to come to the end of a scene before I’ll talk to them.

No, I haven’t completed the entire novel yet. I anticipate another 30,000 words will be needed to wrap the loose ends and fill in the blanks I left in the plot as I hopscotched to scenes I had fully realized in my head. But I’m excited to have achieved my goal. Thanks to all of you who commented either here or on FaceBook, I couldn’t have succeeded without your encouragement (and nagging!)

And now, I’m sorry to say, I have to leave you. I may have scored a touchdown, but my characters are still waiting to see who’ll win the game! I’m off to finish their story, just at a little less frantic pace!

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The Agony of a Field Goal Kicker

I’m lining up on the thirty yard line, waiting for the snap before the ball is set before me and I kick it through the goal posts to win the game!

At least that’s my plan…

There are only six more days in November…six more days to complete my NaNoWriMo goal of 50,000 words in a month! That’s the most I’ll ever have written in a thirty day period.  As of right now I’m at 38,116.

I’ve learned a few more things along this journey so far. I’m learning that the first draft doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t even have to be that good, as long as the story and characters are evolving. I don’t have to make it great before I move on, I can tell the story and polish it later.

Once again, my characters have surprised me by making me tell THEIR story, not mine. Whenever I try and force them somewhere they don’t want to go, those stubborn little figments of my imagination dig their heels in and throw a hissy fit. I spent two days scribbling in a notebook various possiblities for the plot until they finally yelled “That’s the way we want you to go!”

And I confirmed to myself that I’m a people pleaser. When my friends stopped asking me about my word count after I’d come home exhausted from a conference, I let myself slack off. But when I started posting my progress and people started prodding me on I forced my muse to come out of hiding and made my way back from a 4800 word deficit.

Now the end is in sight it’s time to steady my nerves, take a deep breath and kick that ball through the posts…um, pound those keys until I reach my goal!

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Of Brains and Words and Epitaphs…

I’m wondering where my brain went today. It seems to have wandered off. Perhaps its lingering in the remaining powdered sugar from the Dunkin Donuts I indulged in over the weekend. All I know is, I can’t find it.

This brain abandonment always occurs after a writer’s conference and that’s where I was this past weekend. I kibitzed with other writers, listened to interesting lectures and I sat down with editors to discuss my various manuscripts. The angst alone of those meetings is enough to send my brain underground. Throw in the lack of sleep and the abundance of people and I’ll be lucky to find my mind before Christmas.

On the plus side, I got lots of good feedback, insights and new avenues to pursue. A small publishing house, Written Word Communications, is interested in looking at my novel Deborah: Woman of Flames. Another contact insisted I try my hand at writing screenplays and helped to rekindle my desire to do theater again.

But now it’s back to reality and I must find my muse again. The NaNoWriMo count awaits and I’m two days behind. No matter what the future may hold, I have to remember the goals of the past and get back to writing my story.

Maybe I need another donut…

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Deadlines, To-Do Lists and Other Obligations

A few weeks ago I signed up for NaNoWriMo- National Novel Writing Month. I thought if I pledged on-line to write 50,000 words in the month of November it might actually spur my creative juices. Awaken my muse, as it were.

So far, as the start day approaches, my muse has remained in a comatose state. I think she’s begun the hibernation process, fearing the coming winter.

In addition to my slacker muse, my life has suddenly become incredibly busy. My job, which had been down to one afternoon a week, now needs me for several days a week. My daughter, an ice skater, has a competition coming up, which means extra practices. Early practices…waaaaaay before the sun rises ice times. I’ll also be out of town for several days at a conference. And then of course, there’s the realization that Thanksgiving is only three weeks away.

And so I ask this question, will this full calendar make or break me? I will actually have to schedule time to write and force myself to sit down at my lap top at those times if I even hope to reach the 50,000 word goal. It will mean not vegging out on FaceBook when I have an hour off, but being vigilant to piece thoughts together into a story. I’ll have to wake up earlier or stay up a little later than normal if I even hope to meet the goal.

It’s been a long time since I’ve put myself in this kind of situation. I’m hoping that by stating my goal “in public” as it were, I’ll have even more incentive to keep it. It used to be, when I was younger and more foolish, that I thrived on deadlines. They inspired me greatness. Now they give me heartburn. But I vow to persevere!

How about y’all? Do you work best under the pressure of deadlines and goals or does your creativity flow when you have time to let it percalate? Drop me a line and let me know!