Starting the Race

 

Starting any race can be intimidating. Fears about timing, performance and whether or not finishing is possible can easily invade thoughts or be discouraging. However, the hardest part as I stated in my last post, is starting. Any start can cause nervousness even if proper preparation is in place. The undetermined end is the real problem. Not knowing how the race while pan out is scary, but that's also part of the adventure.

 

Today I began my race. On day one of NaNoWriMo I was nervous I wouldn't be able to write much, but I pushed my fears aside, set my alarm for two hours of writing time, and began typing away. Soon the story took over, and I was typing away! Yes, there was pausing along the way as I thought about what to write next. I also may not been have able to write as fast as I would have liked. However, I did write. I wrote 1,695 words of my manuscript today. I wanted to reach 2,000 words at the end of two hours, but I am happy with my accomplishment. Who knows, maybe I'll write the remaining 305 words later. For now, I am happy with my accomplishment, and I am going to reward myself with a break!

 

To follow the NaNoWriMo journey from day one please visit National Novel Writing Month.

I Think I Can

The hardest part of any project truly is starting. My mind creates so many doubts before I can even begin my writing. Earlier when I sat down to write I thought, "I can't do this." From there I kept worrying about how unprepared I was for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and how I didn't know what I was going to write on day one. Then something changed. I stopped procrastinating on the internet took my planning one step at a time. Quickly, my thoughts changed to, "I can do this." It seems simple, but how many times do I put off valuable projects simply because I fear the unknown? The answer is too many times to count!

Does it really matter if I fail? Maybe. However, I'd like to think that my effort means something even if I don't reach 50,000 words. I am trying my best and learning something from this. And you know what? I actually feel prepared to tackle NaNoWriMo on Saturday after further preparing tonight. I also recognize that I cannot be completely prepared for a novel sized writing project, and I have to be okay with that. I may not know all of what is coming my way, but isn't that part of the adventure?


To follow the NaNoWriMo journey from day one please visit National Novel Writing Month or continue the journey with Starting the Race.

The Day Approaches

I have four days until National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). As the official start date draws near, I have been scribbling details of my fantasy world. A tool I have been using as I jot down my ideas is a binder. It is an organized binder with tabs for blank paper, an outline, notes, how to (articles on such topics as worldbuilding), maps, images, and of course a tab for the manuscript. Despite my organization and my production of ideas the past couple of days, I feel unprepared. I know little to nothing about my fiction world. Okay, okay...I know more than I let on, but there are so many details missing. I'm not sure how I am going to pound away at the keyboard in a few days when I haven't adequately created my world.

I know I can't let doubt get in the way. I will do this somehow, I'm just not sure how yet! I will start from the reworked opening of my story and let my fingers do the talking. If I overthink too much as I type, the magic won't happen. For now, off to the planning!

 

The water may be icy, but it's time to dive in!

 

 

To follow the NaNoWriMo journey from day one please visit National Novel Writing Month or continue to follow the journey with I Think I Can.

National Novel Writing Month

In the month of November I will begin my journey of writing a novel in thirty days. The goal is to reach 50,000 words by the end of the month. Yes, this is a short goal for a novel. However, the point is to throw words on the page non-stop. The recommendation is to write like crazy with no editing. After the end of the November, I can go back and slice out what I don't need or add more substance where required. This is indeed going to be a crazy month. I need to do this so I know that I can!

I'll try not to be disappointed if I don't reach 50,000 words. However, having that goal is a good to keep me going. Making a habit of writing daily and producing a workable product is what is most important. I am sure I will have a lot to learn from National Novel Writing Month.

Since mid October I have attempted to prepare for this marathon by writing down a basic outline and details of the fantasy world I will be creating. My first novel took me three years to complete with no pre-planning. I don't have that luxury this time around. It's time to go crazy now. Let the creativity begin!


To continue the NaNoWriMo journey please visit The Day Approaches.

If you are interested in participating in National Novel Writing month, check out the official website:
http://nanowrimo.org/

Green Tips

I have started a natural living blog! I am not discontinuing Flowing & Ebbing. My new blog, Butterflies & Dirt, is simply an additional resource. If you are interested my hippie habits please visit my new website for tips on a green lifestyle and for product reviews.

 http://butterfliesanddirt.blogspot.com/

Needing Change

Powerful words, inspiring images, uplifting music, and other forms of encouragement or motivation can lose their punch as familiarity sets in. For instance, I greet my refrigerator often, enticing it to part with some delicious treats. Though I frequently visit this friendly device, I hardly notice what decorates the white skin of this machine. This is not for its lack of tattoos. It is quite the opposite actually. There is a splash of color here and there and some words of wisdom. Once upon a time I found these decorations could sooth my soul or motivate me. Even if the effect was small, there was power remaining in the artwork. Slowly over time, the magical spell no longer had its hold on me. I knew what to expect when I went to beg Mr. Fridge for some food. I was not taking his advice anymore. I had heard it all before. When Mr. Fridge asked me to make him some new tattoos, I agreed. I knew it was time for a change. I also didn’t want to risk him putting my food on lock down!

 

Mr. Fridge Before

 

 

Mr. Fridge After

 

 

This may seem like a small change, but I know small steps are building blocks for reaching higher goals. I am working on creating better habits for myself so that I can accomplish these dreams.

 

Above is the scripture of the day. It is one of the current tattoos on my refrigerator.
(Please click to enlarge image.)

Gory with Graphics

Graphic design is not in my near future! I attempted to post a logo for Flowing & Ebbing and failed. Once I finally figured out how to place the image onto the blog I realized how poorly colored and pitiful it looked. The edges were sharp, the image itself was too large, and it was off center. I had a more beautiful image pictured in my mind as I was creating it. I could be upset at the time I wasted, but I'm just going to use this as an opportunity to remind myself to write more. I'll paint pictures with words and hire someone to do the artwork on my blog. Who wants to work for free?

The humorous part of this whole ordeal is I began with a graphic that was designed for me! I would have placed it directly on here if it had not been for the fact that I couldn't figure out text color in relation to the background of the blog or how to handle white space behind the text. I won't even get into issues about the size of the logo. This may be a laughing matter for those who are more skilled than I am. To me it is a lesson learned. Run away and go write!

In regards to my recent experiments, please excuse any unusual changes on this site. Or just go with the flow and have fun with it!

 

Please Accept My Apologies

Spring has returned and so have I! I apologize for the unannounced sabbatical. It has been since October of last year that I have posted. About a week after my last post, I ended up in the hospital. By December I had to quit my job due to ongoing health issues. Unfortunately, I allowed my difficulties to discourage me from writing. Though I am still dealing with health problems, I plan to do my best to maintain a positive attitude throughout the current challenges and aim to return to writing regularly. That means more posts!

I realize that I made some promises before I stepped away. The story Bitter was supposed to be posted on the blog. I am sorry this has not happened. I still hope to post the story, but I will not make any more announcements or give any dates until I know it is ready to go! I know my time management skills are poor, and if I could let go of my perfectionist ways when it comes to editing my fiction stories, I’d probably have Bitter posted by now! Until then, I will be posting my humble observations and personal life experiences.