Hey, everyone, just checking in to see how everyone's doing this month -- anyone out there finishing a term at school? Getting a new job? Moving? Starting Christmas shopping?
This November, as I've mentioned in my last post, I'm doing National Novel Writing Month, trying (for the third time) to write a 50,000 word novel during November. Incidentally, I've also picked up a new job that has me on call 24/7 and my etsy shop is getting ready for the Christmas rush. I don't think I've ever been busier, even when I was finishing my degree.
The amazing thing is -- and trust me, it's amazing because I'm normally so bad at time management -- so far, I am actually caught up to my word count, more or less, making this my most successful Nanowrimo yet! There's something about having no time to yourself during the day that really forces you (me, at least) to make the time. I've been waking up earlier, telling my friends and boyfriend that I can't hang out because I need to write, making sure I write at least enough to be on "par" for the day, and making myself continue writing because I don't know when I'll get the chance to do it again.
TLDR version -- being so busy that I don't have time for anything forces me to make time. I might actually do it this year, yay!
See you!
Showing posts with label creative writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creative writing. Show all posts
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
NaNoWriMo Yet again!
Well it looks like I'm kicking off 2014's NaNoWriMo with a new job! Yay? My position is temporary, lasting only this month, which is good news for my wallet (just before Christmas), but bad news for my writing. Without getting into too much detail, this job is pretty high-stress -- not exactly the kind of job where I can call it a day at 5pm and take off.
Even so, I'm feeling optimistic. One of the main purposes for Nano is to learn how to write while busy. My plans for Nano this month are to finally get to work on a fantasy concept I've had floating around my head for years. After two years of not succeeding at finishing a novel for Nano, here are some things I'm changing this year to make it easier:
-- I have notes. I'm not sure if it's considered "cheating" or not, but since this concept has been in my head forever, the notes were inevitable. Now that I have them, I'm clutching them to my chest this month. I think they'll keep me focused.
-- I'll be keeping my notebook will all these notes close at hand. I find it best to remember things and be organized and productive if I have the chance to physically write things down. Call me old-fashioned, but smart phone note-taking doesn't cut it for me. I've tried.
-- I have to budget my time. I was great at it the first year but much worse the second year. This time, since I'll be busy with work, I'll have to do such horrid things as wake up early -- yeesh -- to write.
Good luck to all the writers trying NaNoWriMo this year!
Even so, I'm feeling optimistic. One of the main purposes for Nano is to learn how to write while busy. My plans for Nano this month are to finally get to work on a fantasy concept I've had floating around my head for years. After two years of not succeeding at finishing a novel for Nano, here are some things I'm changing this year to make it easier:
-- I have notes. I'm not sure if it's considered "cheating" or not, but since this concept has been in my head forever, the notes were inevitable. Now that I have them, I'm clutching them to my chest this month. I think they'll keep me focused.
-- I'll be keeping my notebook will all these notes close at hand. I find it best to remember things and be organized and productive if I have the chance to physically write things down. Call me old-fashioned, but smart phone note-taking doesn't cut it for me. I've tried.
-- I have to budget my time. I was great at it the first year but much worse the second year. This time, since I'll be busy with work, I'll have to do such horrid things as wake up early -- yeesh -- to write.
Good luck to all the writers trying NaNoWriMo this year!
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Chasing Deadlines
I believe I've mentioned in past posts how much of a love-hate relationship I have with deadlines. To get started as a writer I've noticed how imperative it is that I take it upon myself to hunt down, tackle, and meet deadlines.
I need places -- journals, magazines, websites -- to send my work, and more often than not these places have guidelines, rules, and dreaded deadlines to adhere to. Generally, I have school to thank for training me up to meet deadlines, but the rest -- finding and dedicating myself to them is all a test for my self-discipline. Something that tends to get quite rusty.
These are the submissions I'm working on for the end of October. All of these deadlines are in November, but of course November's when NaNoWriMo begins. The goal is to get it all done beforehand. (You got this, Sarah's self-discipline!)
--LEAP books Beware the Little White Rabbit submission
--CBC Canada Writes Short Story Prize
--NFLD Arts and Letters Competition
That's all for now! See you.
I need places -- journals, magazines, websites -- to send my work, and more often than not these places have guidelines, rules, and dreaded deadlines to adhere to. Generally, I have school to thank for training me up to meet deadlines, but the rest -- finding and dedicating myself to them is all a test for my self-discipline. Something that tends to get quite rusty.
These are the submissions I'm working on for the end of October. All of these deadlines are in November, but of course November's when NaNoWriMo begins. The goal is to get it all done beforehand. (You got this, Sarah's self-discipline!)
--LEAP books Beware the Little White Rabbit submission
--CBC Canada Writes Short Story Prize
--NFLD Arts and Letters Competition
That's all for now! See you.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Living is Hard.
I believe I mentioned at some point in the past that I wanted to update my blog once a week. What happened? Not that.
Unfortunately, but fortunately at the same time, life happened -- and life keeps happening. While I'm very grateful to be busy making life happen one step at a time, and celebrating others on their life happenings as well, I've decided that I need to manage my time better to fit in the things I really want to do!
I'd love to start selling jewelry again, National Novel Writing Month is just around the corner, and of course, my blog is always here, getting lonely without me!
The new-and-improved organized me* will be back, I promise!
Now, for your viewing pleasure, a rabbit fleeing a dangerous swamp-monster. The rabbit thinks living is hard too.
*Note, the "new-and-improved organized" model Sarah has been under construction for many years. No word yet on the possible release date.
Unfortunately, but fortunately at the same time, life happened -- and life keeps happening. While I'm very grateful to be busy making life happen one step at a time, and celebrating others on their life happenings as well, I've decided that I need to manage my time better to fit in the things I really want to do!
I'd love to start selling jewelry again, National Novel Writing Month is just around the corner, and of course, my blog is always here, getting lonely without me!
The new-and-improved organized me* will be back, I promise!
Now, for your viewing pleasure, a rabbit fleeing a dangerous swamp-monster. The rabbit thinks living is hard too.
*Note, the "new-and-improved organized" model Sarah has been under construction for many years. No word yet on the possible release date.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
New Blog. Hooray!
These past three years have been amazing to say the least, but at the end of my days I'd come home feeling happy about my job, but without an ounce of energy or motivation to write.
However, after discovering upon returning home that I haven't been seriously going after my goals, I've finally decided to be A Writer (A title. I'm drawing up the business cards presently). I will accept all responsibilities therein. So I figured I'd give this blog thing another shot.
This is my fancy, new, (and as writer-y looking as I could make it) blog for super-short stories: Submachine Stories I'm going to try to post there at least once a week. Ah, but what will I do with this lovely blog here? For now I'll keep it for life updates, writing things that aren't stories, and maybe even reflections on the stuff thatI've written. We shall see.
So if you are so inclined, check it out. As always, thanks for reading!
However, after discovering upon returning home that I haven't been seriously going after my goals, I've finally decided to be A Writer (A title. I'm drawing up the business cards presently). I will accept all responsibilities therein. So I figured I'd give this blog thing another shot.
This is my fancy, new, (and as writer-y looking as I could make it) blog for super-short stories: Submachine Stories I'm going to try to post there at least once a week. Ah, but what will I do with this lovely blog here? For now I'll keep it for life updates, writing things that aren't stories, and maybe even reflections on the stuff thatI've written. We shall see.
So if you are so inclined, check it out. As always, thanks for reading!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Welcome!
Hello, and thank you for reading!
I suppose an introduction is in order, therefore, I will explain my intentions with this blog. I have been severely out of writing practice for some time now, and I need a little motivation to get back into it. As a shy and quiet High School student I would scrawl out my emo poems, angsty complaints and ridiculous short stories on loose leaf, then cram them into the back of a binder where they wouldn't see the light of day. (and, frankly, after re-reading some of that crap, that's where it should stay!)^1
Now that I've (almost) graduated with an English degree, I'm pretty good at essays, but I think my creative writing has not improved since High School -- I want to change this. Hence, this is where the blog (and hopefully lots of you brilliant and insightful readers!) comes in. I want to publish various things here, from poetry to stories to experimental... whatever. I will not claim that anything I post will be brilliant, or even good, but I do want it read so that I can figure out how to do better!
I hope that after posting each piece I'll have the time and wherewithal to accompany it with my own criticism. I'll explain in general what I was trying to do, and how it could be better, or why I think it's awesome or not. I also hope to get some feedback! Please, if you would like, post some constructive criticism, all in the hopes that someday I will not suck^1.
I suppose that's it for now! Have fun reading this, because I'll have fun posting!
Footnote:
1. Here is where I would put a smiley emoticon, but I really want to get away from that. Oh well, okay, just once. :)
I suppose an introduction is in order, therefore, I will explain my intentions with this blog. I have been severely out of writing practice for some time now, and I need a little motivation to get back into it. As a shy and quiet High School student I would scrawl out my emo poems, angsty complaints and ridiculous short stories on loose leaf, then cram them into the back of a binder where they wouldn't see the light of day. (and, frankly, after re-reading some of that crap, that's where it should stay!)^1
Now that I've (almost) graduated with an English degree, I'm pretty good at essays, but I think my creative writing has not improved since High School -- I want to change this. Hence, this is where the blog (and hopefully lots of you brilliant and insightful readers!) comes in. I want to publish various things here, from poetry to stories to experimental... whatever. I will not claim that anything I post will be brilliant, or even good, but I do want it read so that I can figure out how to do better!
I hope that after posting each piece I'll have the time and wherewithal to accompany it with my own criticism. I'll explain in general what I was trying to do, and how it could be better, or why I think it's awesome or not. I also hope to get some feedback! Please, if you would like, post some constructive criticism, all in the hopes that someday I will not suck^1.
I suppose that's it for now! Have fun reading this, because I'll have fun posting!
Footnote:
1. Here is where I would put a smiley emoticon, but I really want to get away from that. Oh well, okay, just once. :)
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