Oracle and NaNoWriMo don’t mix

I have learned a lesson today. It is virtually impossible to write coherent fiction at 4:30 in the morning while waiting for an Oracle DBA to call back about a database that shut itself down at absolutely the wrong time.

I did attend the writer's group meeting last week and I think the jury's still out on that one. I'll go to another just to make sure, but… I felt like a third grader suddenly dropped into a college course, like I had no business being there. I did get one good idea out of it. Every November, there is a contest called NaNoWriMo. It's really more of a challenge than a contest. Write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. I think I might try it, writing out what I've been creatively calling book 4.

One of the people at the meeting said he was planning his own personal nanowrimo during October. I think that's a great idea, and decided to try it – on the current book. It breaks down to 1613 words every day. With a two day late start, I am 3877 words behind.

So I need to get busy – to get caught up. But not at 4:30AM.

 

Book WC: 28064

Hive WC: unchanged

Procrastination

‘Write the book.’

This is actually a quote from Twilight-Boy, AKA Robert Pattinson. Thankfully, Liz is apparently over her Twilight obsession and isn’t Team-Anything at the moment, so she hasn’t been playing endless Twilight clips on YouTube. But I like the quote, and hear it in his British accent whenever I am …not writing the book.

I have been reading blogs about writing. About publishing. About agents and books and authors and marketing and web pages and….you get the idea. During this same period, I have only added about 4000 words to the book. Part of that is the rewriting of chapters 2 &3, trying to keep my lead character in character, since him having multiple personality disorder really isn’t part of the plot. Some of the reading has been helpful, allowing me to see that those chapters needed work. But more, I think it has been about delaying, stalling.

You see, if the book isn’t done I don’t have to show it to anyone. And I am terrified of letting anyone read what I’ve been writing. I’ve tried to explain this to Jeanne – to find a good analogy for what this fear feels like. The only thing I can come up with is running down the median – on I-4 – naked. During rush hour.

I need to write the damn book. Without that, all of the reading about agents and publishers and all that other dreck has just been wasted time.

So, I’ve decided. Next week I’m going to go to a local writer’s critique group meeting. I’ll see if it’s any easier to let total strangers read what I’ve written. If that doesn’t work out, there’s always I-4.

Book WC: 22,481

Hive WC: 1128

Labor Day in Oviedo

My neighbors like fireworks. I mean they REALLY like fireworks. We have lived here for more than ten years. I know this. But it is like shuttle landings – I know when they are going to happen. I set up meeting reminders for launches and landings. But the sonic booms that shake the entire house scare the shit out of me - Every. Single. Time. I should understand the way fireworks work around here by now. But apparently I don't.

 

It goes like this:

New Years – Can't see the car for the smoke. Check, check, check.

Valentine's Day – Check.

St Patrick's Day - Green ones. (Hey – wait a minute. They are from Puerto Rico….. St Patrick's???) Check.

Memorial Day – Ah, mostly white and the really loud ones. Check.

July 4^th – OMG, I didn't know those were LEGAL for home use…..Check, check, check, check…..

Hmmm – maybe there is a pattern here?

Today is Labor Day. I know this. I had to work, the stores closed early, I've known this ALL DAY. So, when loud squeals began to fill the air a little while ago did I open the front door and wave to my neighbors? Drag a chair out onto the driveway to watch the show? NO. I frantically searched the house, trying to find the cat who was stuck, in pain, or otherwise disturbed. Lily was on the bed beside me, ears rotating like little radar units, but OK. Kasey, Bu, Buddy – all fine. It took a while to find Wocket, but she was in the front window, also fine, watching….the neighbor's fireworks. Red ones. Check.

Sher is a slut?

8/24/09
19,617 words


Sher is a slut?

Ummm – what?

We were leaving the Chinese buffet* on Saturday afternoon. While we were waiting for the light to change, I looked over and noticed graffiti on a large power transformer box. And on the side of the Denny’s. And the bus stop. Identical graffiti. Hmmm. It was obviously stenciled, not just sprayed on. The stencil marks were visible around the edges.

OK. So. My mind, so recently turned to words and stories and possibilities, was off. Is Sher a Slut? Is she having a feud with some other girl? Is it a band? Or some student film from the nearby Full Sail? The stencil made me think band. But – Denny’s? As if they wouldn’t notice? I don’t know the answer. But I DO feel a short story forming, about Sher, and what she did….


* And yes, I do know (now) that that particular Chinese restaurant makes the top-10 worst health violators of all the time list. But we already ate there, so, let’s just let that one go, OK?