Word Count
An Aspiring Author's AdventureWow, I’m really bad at this whole “blogging regularly” thing…
Ok, so I haven’t posted here in a few months, apparently. So an update is in order: I wrote 50045 words (worked on Ayana’s Gift) in November for NaNo. No word padding, no devious tactics, just a lot of rambling… I mean, a LOT of rambling. Editing is going to suck. But it’s all worth it in the end, because even if I end up scrapping more than half, that’s still like 25000 words more than what I had before. (I really, really hope I don’t have to scrap more than half – I might have to cry…) Anyways, planning on getting back to regular blogging. (Probably after the Holidays, let’s be realistic.) So yeah, hopefully I’ll be around here a lot more in the very near future. 
Finally, A New Post!
It has been a ridiculously long time since I have posted on this blog. I’ve been a little less absent on my writing group’s blog, but still. It’s time for an update!
I have written quite a bit since the last time I posted here. I’ve finished a few short stories, I’ve done some critiquing with the Underground Writers, I’ve done a ton of reading. (Well maybe the reading isn’t helping my productivity, so shh! don’t tell anyone. lol) I’ve also started working on a new novel, which I have yet to title. Ayana’s Gift is my working title though. Guardian, my first novel, was really starting to feel stale and I wasn’t at all passionate about writing it anymore. I started it such a long time ago, and I think I really need to just get a fresh start now that my writing style has changed so much.
I don’t have an actual word count, but I estimate my productivity at close to 12000 words since the last time I posted on here. I’m very happy with that! I’ve been staying at camp, and it’s enabled me to write a lot more than I would otherwise. No internet = less distractions. That and I’m completely alone when I’m there, which also helps with no distractions.
So… what next? It being October means one thing – NaNoWriMo is just around the corner!!! I can’t wait! I’m going to be working on Ayana’s Gift for NaNo. I’ve just started it, and I won’t be counting anything I write before November. I was going to wait until November to start working on it, but really, NaNo’s all about giving you a kick in the butt when you need it, not about slowing you down!
Well, enough procrastination with the blog, it’s time for homework. I know, I know, that’s not very interesting. But before I can write with a free conscience, I have to finish this assignment. It (hopefully) shouldn’t take me too long. Crossing my fingers on that one. I also have to read and critique the other members of the Underground Writers’ submissions for this month. Hopefully it won’t be months before I post here again!
Balance
I’m finding it really hard to find balance between my two blogs. There’s this one, and the group blog for the Underground Writers. I post there much more often because I use it to update the other members of the group on what’s going on, what my word count is, that kind of thing. By the time I’ve done that, I feel like writing here is a little redundant, and that the time I spend blogging could be better spent writing. When I’ve returned from camp once and for all, I’m sure this will change, but because of my limited internet access, I can’t blog whenever I usually would, so I feel like I’m taking my writing time to do it. Now that I’ve written that out, I feel like it’s completely illogical for me to feel that way.
Regardless, although I am not blogging regularly, I am still getting a lot of writing done. I don’t have a word count because most of it is hand written, but I feel that I’ve been rather productive lately. Go me. Once everything is typed out, I’ll have a tally of how many words I’ve written in the last while.
Also, I’m a little nervous to return to school after a whole year away. I’m starting my Masters next week, and I’m expecting that it will significantly cut into my writing time, though I really hope it doesn’t. I hope I will continue to write at least at the same pace as I’ve been going, because I’m very proud of the amount of writing I’ve been doing. I’ve been more productive than ever this year, and I hope to keep that momentum going. Cross your fingers for me.
Not Blogging, but Writing!
I haven’t written on the blog in a while because I have been at camp without internet access, but I have been getting some writing done! I’ve written at least 2000 words since my last post. I’m going back to camp, so will not have internet access for the next while again. Hope to still get some writing done!
New Group, New Beginning
So I’m part of a new-ish writing group. The group of us that were meeting on the off-weeks for the SHS have now formed a new group, the Underground Writers. We had our first official meeting today, and it was very refreshing. We got some housekeeping done, deciding when meetings would be and such, and eventually got some writing done. I didn’t write much fiction, less than 100 words, to be exact, but I did write my entire speech for one of my best friends’ wedding, which obviously has to count for something.
I am excited about writing again, in a way that I hadn’t been in a while. As much as this has been the most productive year of writing I have ever had, I had been losing steam lately, and wasn’t getting what I needed out of my writing group anymore. Now I can’t wait to get back to my writing, so that I’ll have something to share with the others. I’m very encouraged by this development.
Word Count…
I haven’t posted on here in a while. I don’t have an actual word count of what I have written since then because I have been writing in long-hand, but I have been doing a little writing. Hopefully that’ll pick up soon!
First iPod Post
I figure it’s about time I give this iPod/iPhone App a try.
I got behind on my work today, and didn’t end up having time to write… That’s really something I need to work on – time management.
Oh well, you know what they say, tomorrow’s another day!
Missing in Action…
So I lied in my last post… I totally didn’t get any writing done on Sunday. Yesterday, I didn’t get any words written in any of my stories, but I got some plotting done, which will enable me to eventually get some words written, so that’s productive too! And today, well… No words yet, but the night is young-ish. Still have time.
Today’s Word Count
As predicted, my word count is zero again for today… I do plan on getting some writing done tomorrow, though!
Today’s Word Count
I gave myself the day off because it’s my birthday, and I’ve been super busy… In fact, I’ll probably take the whole weekend off, seeing as I have a friend here from out of town, and taking time away to write would just be rude. lol.
Today’s Word Count (and a correction…)
503 words, written on Penelope.
Correction: If I know how to count, it has been 8 days, and not 7 since I have started the blog, so I am full of crap, haha. Either way, the points in the post stand.
One Week Anniversary
Ok, I’m kidding with the title, but I would just like to mention that this is the 7th day since I have started the blog, and I have written or done something writing-related every day, AND I have blogged every day. I’m proud of myself, since consistency is usually one of my problems. Hopefully I can keep this thing going. Wish me luck!
NaNoWriMo
So I promised to explain NaNo in a future post, and here we are. NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month, takes place every year in November. It is a challenge to write 50000 words in 30 days. That’s 1667 words per day, for 30 days. It’s actually not that bad if you can keep up, but life usually gets in the way, and then you have to catch up.
I have participated in NaNo for 2 years now, and I am looking forward to my 3rd NaNo this year. In 2007, I was still a student, and I hadn’t planned anything, and wrote a disappointing 4500 words. I know, it’s pretty pathetic. In 2008, thanks to outlining and a wonderful group of local participants, I actually reached my goal. I even finished a whole day early, which is quite impressive when you consider that I was only at like 28000 words on the 24th.
I’m already looking forward to November! I’m thinking of continuing my NaNo from last year, which is exciting. I haven’t even looked at it since last November, so I’ll definitely need to re-read it and finish outlining in order to pick up where I left off.
If anyone wants any additional information, visit the site, at:
http://www.nanowrimo.org
Today’s Word Count
roughly 200 words, written on Penelope. (handwritten)
And lets not forget the 30 or so words of my haikus! 
lol
Vampire Haiku
“What?!” you might ask? Well, I found a contest today, for which I had to write vampire haiku. Here’s what I came up with. (I’m not a poet by any stretch, so please don’t judge my skills based on these… lol)
.
Fangs can be a bitch
No one finds a lisp sexy
I will shuck your blood
.
And the second one I wrote is this:
.
Drops of blood glimmer
On fangs silver in moonlight
Come be mine forever
EDIT: Forgot to mention that I ended up winning this contest! 
I am now the proud owner of five autographed books by author Michelle Rowen. Have read the first two so far, they were fantastic, I can’t wait to read the next one!
Balance
I don’t know if it’s just me or if it’s writers in general, but I find it very difficult to find a balance between working and writing. Whenever I’m working, I would rather be writing. Whenever I’m writing, I feel guilty, like I should be working instead. I should explain… I work from home and make my own hours, therefore I don’t work 9 to 5 then I’m done for the day. I work in bursts throughout the day, and then I feel bad if I take time out to write. I’ve been trying to work out a schedule where I don’t feel as though I’m neglecting either. I think I might have figured it out, but then today, when I was planning on trying it out, I woke up with a headache and went back to bed, which threw off my whole schedule for the day… lol. Take 2, tomorrow. We’ll see how that works.
Pleasantly Surprised
I just calculated my cumulative word count for the year (in the second column of the blog) and I was pleasantly surprised at how many words I’ve actually written in the last 7-ish months. I never thought I had written that much. I know that 27000 odd words isn’t so much when you consider that I wrote almost twice that in last November alone (NaNoWriMo* – National Novel Writing Month – will do that), but it’s a lot for me, and I’m proud of those words! And now that I’m committing myself to writing every single day, no matter how much or how little, I’m hoping to see that number rise quickly.
If you feel like you haven’t been writing a lot, maybe doing an inventory of everything you’ve written could help… It’s definitely encouraged me!
*More on NaNoWriMo in a future post!
SHS Meeting Tonight
One of the things that I’ve found that has helped me the most in continuing to write is my wondeful writing group, the Sudbury Hypergraphic Society (SHS). We meet every two weeks, and do writing exercises, talk about what we’ve been writing and what our goals are… We are also involved in the community, organizing a book sale for the end of August, the proceeds of which will go to a literary cause, probably a local elementary school’s library. I love spending time with these people, and I learn a lot from them. I hope to keep growing as a writer, and I hope they continue to help me on that journey.
If someone were to ask me if I have any advice for other aspiring writers, (not that anyone would do that, because I’m far from being an authority on the subject) I would tell them that they should find a group of writers in their area, and meet up with them if possible. Spending time with like-minded people, even if the time isn’t spent writing, is very refreshing and encouraging. It’s not everyone that understands what it’s like to love writing, to struggle with an idea that you can’t seem to put on paper, to have a character surprise you so much that you don’t know what to do with him or her anymore – but others in a writing group do.
That’s what’s on my mind today. I will be updating my word count later, as I plan on doing some more writing before the day is done.
