In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m here to remind you that it’s November. For many, many writers, this is the time to do NaNoWriMo. I got on board last year. It’s manic. I love it. NaNo is a bizarre, online community that has Writing Output as its goal. (It stands for NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth – get it?) The idea is 50,000 words in 30 days. If you’re interested, go here to play. I recommend it.
But I’m not doing it.
We’re all about honesty here, are we not? So you should know that now, even as my four Kids are all in school all day, every day, I am pretty darn satisfied if I come up with 1000 words a day. And that is fine. I’m also relatively satisfied when I come up with 500 words on a busy day (the kind of busy day where there is a movie to watch and some popcorn to eat).
I may or may not have told you (okay, I know I didn’t tell you, except one of you) that I’m working on an early-chapter reader book. This means that the total word count is between 7,000 and 11,000. Yeah. Total. And instead of finding myself finishing a draft in seven to eleven days, I have discovered that a really short book is very hard to write. Every word counts, do you know what I mean? I get a little paralyzed by it, to tell you the truth. An some days it can take me several hours to reach 500 words. (This may be normal, but it isn’t normal for me.) Kind of like pulling teeth, but I bet I could pull 500 teeth faster than I can write these 500 words lately. The words matter a lot. I can’t write a day’s worth of total garbage and say, hey, I’ll just delete it tomorrow. Not when it’s 10% of the whole book. *Shudder*
So I’m learning a new skill.
It’s called patience.
I hate it.
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Listen. Do you smell something?
That’s the wheat bread I just pulled out of the oven. Here. I’m using my arms to waft some of the wheaty-goodness scent your way. You’re welcome.
Rules: I have to eat a piece right now, while it’s still really too hot to touch. Hang on. I’ll be back in a minute.
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Have we read Georgette Heyer? I have heard over several years that she is a great Regency Romance writer, ala Miss Jane Austen. I’m midway through my first try of a Georgette Heyer, and I have a semi-formed opinion that the connection with Miss Austen is all related to Regency timeline. And possibly witty dialog. But Ms. Heyer is a cliche fiend. <–I wrote something else right there but I changed it, because the words that came to mind were unladylike and possibly a little blunt for me. But holy cow. The slang and cliches are in every sentence. Every one. It’s like doing mental calisthenics to read a page or two. Not that there’s anything wrong with mental calisthenics. But I’m not sure I’d use Ms. Heyer’s name in context with Miss Jane’s. Feel free to disagree.
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I live in a town where it is impossible unlikely to find a paperback pocket-sized French/English dictionary. Alas. Poor Kid 1 and her enormous, borrowed-from-grand-pere, hardback dictionary. No kidding. It’s the size of my well-read copy of Les Miserables (the copy is in English). She can’t fit it in amongst her many school books. I may have to leave town this week to seek out an actual book store. *sigh*
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And, finally, since it’s November, and some of us are all about the gratitude in November, I’ll end each post this month with a few things that I am thankful for today.
* Flip-switch fireplaces
* Excellent Wusthof bread knives
* Piano teachers with all kinds of patience
(22) Comments for this blog
Emmy and I can hardly contain our excitement about your new book! We’re way into the early readers. Just finishing Charlotte’s Web – it was a big hit.
P.S. Your bread smells real good.
Emmy and I can hardly contain our excitement about your new book! We’re way into the early readers. Just finishing Charlotte’s Web – it was a big hit.
P.S. Your bread smells real good.
“Listen! Do you smell something?” Go, go GHOSTBUSTERS! You are the yang to my yin, sister.
And you have just described why I can’t even do YA fiction. I’m a word-waster. I’m learning not to be, but it’s been an arduous process – finding a way to make every word count.
As you know, I am doing NaNo. But we’ll see…
Hugs to you!
“Listen! Do you smell something?” Go, go GHOSTBUSTERS! You are the yang to my yin, sister.
And you have just described why I can’t even do YA fiction. I’m a word-waster. I’m learning not to be, but it’s been an arduous process – finding a way to make every word count.
As you know, I am doing NaNo. But we’ll see…
Hugs to you!
Oh, and I am one of those uber patient piano teachers, which is remarkable because I’m a mean-as-a-snake everything else. Well, a fairly laid-back snake. Old. Without fangs. Mean as THAT kind of snake.
Oh, and I am one of those uber patient piano teachers, which is remarkable because I’m a mean-as-a-snake everything else. Well, a fairly laid-back snake. Old. Without fangs. Mean as THAT kind of snake.
I am so distracted by thoughts of fresh bread that I don’t know what else to say…
Oh yes, I’ve been curious about Ms. Heyer. I’ve a friend who adores her. Alas, our local library doesn’t carry her and I can’t be bothered to buy a copy.
I am so distracted by thoughts of fresh bread that I don’t know what else to say…
Oh yes, I’ve been curious about Ms. Heyer. I’ve a friend who adores her. Alas, our local library doesn’t carry her and I can’t be bothered to buy a copy.
And a quality bread knife is very crucial to fresh, hot bread. Thanks for wafting it over.
And a quality bread knife is very crucial to fresh, hot bread. Thanks for wafting it over.
I love fresh bread right out of the oven!! It is definitely worth the burned fingertips!! My daughter and I love your books and I can’t wait to see your work for the younger ones!! Oh, and by the way, there are 52 days to Christmas!!!
I love fresh bread right out of the oven!! It is definitely worth the burned fingertips!! My daughter and I love your books and I can’t wait to see your work for the younger ones!! Oh, and by the way, there are 52 days to Christmas!!!
“I hate it.” Hahaha!
Also, I hate Georgette Heyer. I couldn’t make it through ONE of hers even when I was in the peak of my Regency love in college. My best friend, however, collects them obsessively. It takes all kinds . . .
“I hate it.” Hahaha!
Also, I hate Georgette Heyer. I couldn’t make it through ONE of hers even when I was in the peak of my Regency love in college. My best friend, however, collects them obsessively. It takes all kinds . . .
I just found your blog after reading Kathy’s interview with you. Very funny. I’m more of a lurker blog reader, but occasionally I’ll put in my 2-cents. Can’t wait to get a peek into your life.
I just found your blog after reading Kathy’s interview with you. Very funny. I’m more of a lurker blog reader, but occasionally I’ll put in my 2-cents. Can’t wait to get a peek into your life.
I just happened upon your blog through another and I’m happy I did. Your books look great and I look forward to reading them.
I just happened upon your blog through another and I’m happy I did. Your books look great and I look forward to reading them.
Mmmmm, homemade bread. I need your recipe.
I’m not doing NaNo either. I’ve got 5 kids and school and writing and….(okay laundry). So I’m not committing myself (until next year). It’s all good. =D
Mmmmm, homemade bread. I need your recipe.
I’m not doing NaNo either. I’ve got 5 kids and school and writing and….(okay laundry). So I’m not committing myself (until next year). It’s all good. =D
I haven’t read Georgette Heyer. Methinks I shall not start.
Ooh the wonderful goodness that is wheat bread. I love wheat bread.
You’re 100% correct about every word counting. You have to pack a wallop with a third of the words. (Probably less than that. I suck at math.) But I have no doubts you’ll accomplish your regular hilarity and wonderfulness. =D
I haven’t read Georgette Heyer. Methinks I shall not start.
Ooh the wonderful goodness that is wheat bread. I love wheat bread.
You’re 100% correct about every word counting. You have to pack a wallop with a third of the words. (Probably less than that. I suck at math.) But I have no doubts you’ll accomplish your regular hilarity and wonderfulness. =D