The Post NaNoWriMo Blog Wrap-up

My NaNoWriMo has been validated. And an impressive 55, 118 words was the final count.

What I learned this year: I have gotten rusty when it comes to fiction. I am not reading enough different materials anymore and I am not developing my characters the way I need them to develop into deep creatures of habit.

So what I may end up doing next year is finding characters I have already worked on or at least tried to work on previously and finding a deeper story to provide the depth and the generous story quality I know I can create.

I also happen to know that I am not creating those moments for my characters, moments that I hold in deep emotion. Those have been harder to create this year.

The best news: the growth out of the deep dark that I can write was not nearly as bad this year. I could write a dark, emotionally haunting scene, and as an author I could walk away and not feel the emotion boiling over limiting my ability to recover.

I don't know if that is a reflection of maturity as a writer, or the fact that I did not care about my work this year.

As for my company books that are pending: I have five or six books lined up and I just need to get them to be organized.

So new goals:

1. Write more. This isn't a quantity, this is a discipline. And more in fiction.
2. Remember that I can only improve. Or at least that is my goal to continue to improve.
3. Ignore the goal of publishing. It would be great if I was worth lots of money from my writing, but it is not the only thing I can do.
4. Know that I am in this for the long haul. I like writing. I always have. 

NaNoWriMo 2014: done. And now a little time to relax while I prepare some books for my company for publication.

More Rantings from the NaNoWriMo Side

I don't think I've ever blogged so much in one month through this account. Let me tell you something, it's for a great cause.

So to date: at this moment I've written 12,001 words. That last word was a hard won fight.

Here's why: I realized that I'm telling a story about a character who has no likes or dislikes. She has no attachments, and her relationships last only as long as a few breaths.

Shouldn't she be a secondary character?

The character challenge. Building characters because they have nothing is pretty key here. Not because they rise from nothing to become nothing, but the character who cannot do anything, shackled by oppression...it's almost 18th century French or Russian literature...And then they drift into the aether of existence.

I didn't know that when I chose this character to follow. I thought I had another story here. Wow. I love this journey.

Near future: I need to cross into 16,000 word territory to make up for the 2 nights this week I've skipped writing. I need to focus on the world around my character more. I'm excited and giddy. Right now I'm also worried that my goal of 60,000 with being happy cracking 55, 000 is going to be too much. But I'm going to try. I've got nothing to lose right?

Why NaNo2014?

Or better yet, why NaNo at all?

As a person who generally walks down the street, I am normally not thinking about the sidewalk, or things I see, hear, or smell specifically in much detail. My world lives and dies the way I write, the way I think, and the way I need to convince someone else to think.

Writing is probably the easiest way for me to do this. I've been very reluctant orally to express my thoughts.

But while I write describing every last item within reach of my characters, I know completely that over half of that dribble will be cut away. None of it matters, but it mattered to me because I am trying to build a world that I know almost nothing about even if it is very similar to my own world.


So far, so good, crossing 2000 words after an hour and a half of writing yesterday. Going to try for some more today. My goal this year officially is 55,000 words. I would _really_ like 60,000 just to say I was able to make it.

Other complications: the blogging I do for the Company. That's at least an hour or two once a week to develop the topic, edit what I have written (sometimes rather poorly I might add) and then send it through the social media whirlwind.

But I can't abandon the idea of NaNo after nine years. I like the dedication I am required to have to help hone discipline I rarely use in the rest of my life. Although, upon brief reflection that discipline would serve me better if I used it more often outside of NaNoWriMo.

Time to get cracking. Another 2000 words await being placed on the page.

NaNoWriMo 2014

I promised myself, that in my life, if things became routine, that I would really examine why I kept doing them, to look out for things that I perhaps did not want to keep doing.

NaNoWriMo is exempt from that promise. There are things that are very conducive to knowing I will come home, I will find at least an hour or two to dedicate to writing at least 1667 words, but up to 2000 words. I have been able in the past, dedicate upwards of 5000 words in a day.

But I need to be practical for a little while. I have 3 company blog posts during November. I will have to post those or at least prepare them over an hour in advance of publication over the three weeks. I have work that requires a lot more of my energy. I will also have to prepare the quarterly budget report. The good news, not a lot changed from the previous quarter, so that's not too demanding.

Of course there are obligations like family and the need to relax. And there are exciting things happening with my friends I wish to take part in.

So how does time management come into this? Well, there are things I will have to give up. Showers, food, and sleep are non-negotiable. In bed by 10, up by 6:30. That's my life, non-negotiable. TV and gaming time are flexible. My productivity drops to around 15-25% activity during those times, but I combine that with family time, and so I don't think that's too bad.

So more importantly: what I am I writing?

I'm writing a prequel to a story I worked on for years. I came across a story plot by accident. I was writing a suggestion to someone and then I realized it would be a great baseline for myself, so I kept it for myself. And as I created the situation, I realized, the person who sat across from my doomed main character was someone I had already created.

It is the first time I'll really look at an adult/child professional relationship and the helplessness of adults and children even when they do really want to help the other.

That's what I've got going for November.

I have prepared two books for publication in 2015. I think those are almost ready to go. I have the cover ready for the first. The second I keep working on the material. It's harder to manage a vocabulary only book than I anticipated. In the meantime, I keep working.

I hope to announce my word counts more regularly. See you soon! Writing like crazy.

Two books, one summer, and onto other things

First, don't let the title scare you. I'm going to keep going here.

But my "paying job" has begun. I use the paying term losely. While I make more than minumum wage, I shouldn't complain as I am employed, but I honestly don't make enough at a shade under 40 hours a week to be successful and financially careful.

But here to announce book #2 of this summer: The Bard In Stick Figures. It has 130 illustrations, of which 110 are original illustrations. By the third story, I had a really good method for getting the characters into the scene and into position.

It includes both interpretation and direct quotes.

I might be able to re-release that book I wrote last summer in a second edition, but not before December.

I've started the first new books, prepping for release next summer.

This life of publishing is awesome.

Onto NaNoWriMo.

Muses and upcoming

I have spent most of my writing career getting material on the road. I have conveniently arranged my life to try and figure out how to work my way into Los Angeles and to see my friends.

Almost six years ago now, my friend Jane found a kitten. The kitten joined a large family of other cats, but fit in rather well. The car was named "Trainwreck". In the early years, I would work on the couch while visiting. If my friends went to work, I would stay and work from my laptop. And Trainwreck would come over for cuddles. In those early days, there were long nights and sometimes, naps. Trainwreck seemed to understand that my napping in front of the computer would be detrimental to my success. And though I was pretty allergic, I would find some cat claws deep in my leg.

I'm back right now, and Trainwreck is outside. But clearly my muse remembers who I am. A half squeak from this cat and I'm awake. Actually, right now, she is sunning right out of the window while I work on the last few pages of the new book I am about to release.

I haven't nodded off yet, but when I do, I'm certain, Trainwreck will find away to get me up and working. So close on the new book.

What it's like to solve problems when you're a writer AND an illustrator

My primary background is in graphics. Which is odd because I have this degree that says I can build things that people can live and work in. But the thing I walked away having learned and evaluated the most of, was simply graphics. The visual way of convincing someone I'm right. If I can fool you with what you're looking at, then I've done a good job. And I need to do it in the most professional way possible.

So when I moved into the world of illustration for Project Beta for ParaEducate, it was sort of a no brainer. Part of the beauty of "Bard in Stick Figures" is that it literally looks slapped together. this accomplishes two things.  The first is reminding my primary target audience, that some of our work needs to be "slapped together" at the last minute. The second is addressing the fear most people have about drawing. If I had a penny for every time someone said, "I'm not very good at drawing"; I'd be insanely rich at this point.

But even though I had finally gotten the text together for the new book, I had been dragging my feet on the illustrations. And I would have really loved to have the book out already. But such is the life of the author/illustrator/publisher. And I couldn't figure out why. I even started flipping through the original text which I was using to work from to help generate ideas. I thought I might have been too true to the original text [wholly possible as I spent many years in theatrical sets], I thought I didn't understand the text [wholly possible as it is Shakespeare], and I thought maybe this just wasn't as cool as I thought it could be.

One of the signs that bothered me was the book was only 80 pages long (40 pages published). Ambitious yes, but not impossible. But when it comes to publishing, this means that it's going to be really tiny. I thought about adding another section to the book, but then I realized, that I couldn't handle the pages where there were actual conversations. And this made me not want to finish the book. Unlike the first second where conversations weren't really a major element of the story, the other plays I had chosen to illustrate were all wrapped in conversations between characters. And then I realized, conversations happen over multiple pages through the illustrations--like a comic book.. Poof. My book is now extraordinarily viable at around 150 pages with illustrations (which means around 75 pages published).

Of course, I'm not sure how this will translate to publication as there are file restriction limits. But I don't care the book is working out finally. Yes that does mean the illustration count has moved proportionally so of 150 pages, 140 pages are original illustrations. But that's okay. I figured out how to solve the issues for the remaining two of three sections.

To give you an idea of how excited I am that this is possible and I'm making progress: I just finished 5 illustrations since 7 AM. While Facebooking, blogging, and spending 30 minutes walking to the Post Office and back (and not illustrating). Yeah. That means that this is the solution.

And now, for a little fiction

I don't remember when I wrote this. But I apparently did so.

My first love has never been non-fiction, it has always been fiction. Characters, emotion, descriptions. I love writing for that simple reason. Those elements don't exist anywhere else in life, but through imagination I can perceive a variety of different worlds, all vastly different from my own.

But this, I'm not sure why I had started, I am cross posting this from my personal blog today because it speaks to the way I start--typically with one character's voice.

So, I give you about 50 words of my mind from I can't remember when..

---

He asked, "How would I know if you loved me?" With saucer eyes and a muddy shirt.

I thought for a minute and put him on my knee.

He kept going while I stalled for my answer. "Mommy loves me with the kisses and the way she makes my lunch. and Daddy loves me with the way he shows me how to do things to help him. But how do you love me?"

I was silent I had never thought of this answer before.

"I love you because I laugh at your jokes, even the ones you don't know that I know. I love you by the way I turn a blind eye to letting you get away with mischief."

"I love you in the way that I answer the problems and you know my work is as important as you are in my life."

"I love your smile when things are just perfect in the world as you see it."

"I love your curiosity."

"But most of all I love you because you remind me of the potential of the future that I still want to work at."

There was silence for a few minutes. I worried that I hadn't said enough. Finally, "I would like it if you loved me with less words."

What have we learned?

So, I am excited to announce that I have selected "Approve" from the publisher. And they must have been thrilled too because within 5 hours the amazon page was up. I know. They had all then information for weeks, wouldn't take them long.

And I'm exhausted. Not as exhausted as I was at the release of "Finding It In the World", but enough that I know what I will be looking for in the next book.

The primary, early complaint, was simply "Just the Words:Science" was set up as busy work. So the challenge as I approach the History series (which is 6 volumes by the way!) is to find a way to take it out of busy work, reach for the stars, and connect it to relevant CCSS. 

But before all of that can happen, first, a week off, then straight to the library, we have a lot of research to sort through.

How many times? And for what integrity?

The thing that frustrates me the most about non-fiction is the amount of detail that needs to happen. With fiction, of course, as an author, "Well that was explored, but not important to ultimate outcome." But with non-fiction, if a little hair is out of place, it's questionable.

I've spent the last week fixing errors after error that were minor. And the things that should have been minor that exploded into reformatting.

What have I learned?

1) Apparently with my multi-platform set up, I can only handle 240 pages total. Anything beyond that, and the document dies.

2) My thoughts for the History set up is going to change a little because of this lesson. In addition, History will be approached with different purpose.

3) Early complaints about the new book included, "It looks like busy work" And unfortunately, yes, busy work does have a purpose in Education. And busy work can lead to some other things. I will defend later. I apologize for being vague, I'm really tired of trying to stand on this leg of defense of busy work.

4) I _really_ hope that this is the last update. I'm glad I've been vigilant in fixing the errors, it'll look better long term. But otherwise, I'm at the desperate "please let it be done" of the design and finishing.

Drowning in Work

I think the thing I resent the most about being paid for my non-fiction work is the amount of research I need to do to make the bit of non-fiction be truthful. Or as truthful as I understand the world. And yet, I know I will have opposition as I have the words "Darwin", "natural selection", and "evolution", within my own, modern loving country.

But now I sit on my lap with history, and I know there is yet another controversy going to be lead to my feet. But I publish it anyway.

I have blood and gore in my Project Beta. It's being illustrated. Going to publish it anyway.

I have been toying with the idea of getting an intern next summer. Just to help with the research.

But I'm on the precipice of releasing a new book. I'm waiting to hear back from the publisher and I thought I would actually submit something to my Author's blog.

And I want to send a congratulations to my friend Jane. She has known for a while she's expecting. She and her husband, Tarzan, have waited 13 1/2 years for this to happen. I wish them the best of luck.

As for my adventures when I'm not doing work, primarily between the hours of 12 pm to around 6pm to help conserve electricity, I'll be gaming via hand held devices and writing by long hand or through my ipad (which will hopefully not kick off while I'm using it.)

So much to do, so little time. And I want to release at least 3 things this summer. Some people have babies, I have books.

Falling off the edge of the world and returning to do the hard work

So, I've been out and about trying to pull my written world together. I have been working on several books including illustrations. And keeping my job and running a company.

So while on a blogging hiatus, I have spent time getting caught up on recreational reading. And some things stand out as I read. Most recently the sprinkling of vocabulary. I was reading a new book the other day and I saw the reading level was fairly mild. Every now and then, the author would throw a special world, one of those sorts that I had to stop and re-read for context for the meaning. Doesn't happen often but it would come haphazardly through the reading. That annoyed me to no end. Not that I had to stop, find a dictionary, and look up the word. But just the way the author was allowed by their editor to do that to the reader. It is what my students do. And they are in 7/8/9.

So looking at what I really want to do as an author with my materials and I realize I need to perfect my polishing. I need to publish regularly, remind myself of my audience and my fans.

And publish. And write. And write. And edit with fidelity to my characters and my character. I owe the world that.

Creative Bursts

I have found that as I've grown older, that my discipline is much more fickle. I know I should write for at least twenty minutes every day, but I find that if I go away from my work, it makes sense and I will be much more thorough about my creativity. All the parts that need to be completed are filled with more attraction to my senses.

But what about those unfulfilled ideas? Well they are valid, I was thinking about them, they're half baked. They aren't any less than a fully formed idea. No this isn't symbolism for some other opinion in my life.

I know I have a finite amount of time in an undefined spectrum. I have a lot of projects just for work that need my complete attention. I will get to them all. And post regularly here as an author.