Day 18: Enjoying the process

So I've begun again. I really, really want to start from the beginning again, but I'm trying not to. I've figured out a better villain, a better way of executing the story... and yet I did say I was going to finish this 'zero' draft. Oh well. I have 12 days and then I can start the entire process again!

The beauty of coming back to the novel is that in the time that I've been working on my own issues and work problems, I've seen some beautiful things that I can now include in it. The snow has set in at the Lake District, so what was once green and brown is now completely white. All the trees are bare and the other night a lovely fog came in. You couldn't see for more than a metre in front of you. It was just stunning, albeit cold.

I've written about 1000 words more so far, and I know I have to catch up a lot more. My plan is to wait until my flatmates aren't in. They are great and really supportive but I can't seem to concentrate while they are in. It doesn't help that they have bought some great movies I've yet to see (and really want to as well!), or that I need to clean my room a little and get rid of the excess so that I can really get focused. I would love a proper writing place, but there's no room. So hopefully in the next few days I'll really get up to date and power on through.

xx

Starting again, in the middle

It's been a long time between posts, and that's just not right. So I apologise. My life has taken a strange turn.

I've been job-hunting and it seems that I may have to move on from the place I found so beautiful in order to get that. Things seem a little awkward and almost hostile at my workplace, which is never nice, and so I've been trying to get my life together. It's not a bad thing though - just a great way of finding a new foundation to build upon.

That said, from tomorrow onwards I will be completing the 30 days of novel writing. Technically it's still 30 days worth of writing - I just had to leave it for a while. And I know that NaNoWriMo has ended but this is about me finishing something. It's always been about that. So I am going to finish this novel over the next 12 days, edit it, and re-edit it until it becomes my masterpiece. As I re-edit, I'll be posting chapters online. My hope is to have a manuscript to give to publishers by March 2011.

Thank you for your support so far and I'll post an update tomorrow :) xx

Another hiatus...

I've been real slack on the writing front. So many things have come up - I've been to the Mind Body Spirit festival in Manchester, had to rework a recording that has been messing about a lot, and I've been told that my hours at work have been cut down because of the slowing down before christmas.

It's not a bad thing: it's made me feel more invigorated about finding another job. I was feeling down about possibly looking at leaving - the money wasn't really helping me out with rent or repayments, and I was starting to feel sick about going in, which should have been a sign for me to call it quits then and there. It's certainly given me hope in being able to mould my life better so that I can fit in my writing, the workshops I'd like to offer, and some time for me. But until I can find the job that suits - which should be soon - I'll be on hiatus.

However I will be coming back to document the completion of my novel draft in what would be 30 days (in total, without the hiatus). So when I come back I'll start from Day 18.

Sorry about this and hopefully I'll get to writing a new word count post next week :)

Cynth xx

Day 17: Daily word count reached

I've managed to get back into writing at least 1670 words daily (hitting 1671 today... yay!). Yesterday's writing marathon killed the part of my brain that normally works for creativity, sucking it dry and spitting it out so that I could admire it's disgusting transfiguration. However I kept writing, even though most of it was crap, just to get me past the line.

My villain is shaping up now, and is a very sadistic, cold hearted villain if I may say so myself. Reminding me slightly of the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, but much more menacing, I feel the villain has a good point to make. I like those types - the ones you can empathise with and understand how they came to whatever conclusion they have. It makes them human, but also makes you question whether or not you agree with them. One movie that did that brilliantly was Batman Begins, where Ra's Al Ghul and Batman both have the same goal: to cleanse the world of the evil it has created and been corrupted with, and starting fresh. The difference is only in the approach. Ra's Al Ghul wants to destroy Gotham in order to cleanse it of evil, because corruption has gotten to the core of every person there. Batman wants to show them how to save themselves. Who's to say which one is right or wrong?

I'm now realising that I've forgotten to include a whole lot of scenes where two of my characters start to develop an infatuation with each other, which would make the ending that is in my head actually make sense. So I have this sneaking suspicion that I might finish writing early, and quickly go back and include those scenes. I do like them together, though they aren't really together. It's one of those spider web things... will probably have to write it down for my edits.

Now, it's after midnight, and even though I have candles still burning, I may have to blow them out and say goodnight. xx

Day 16: Struggling to write 5819 words

So to get back on track yet again, I had to force myself to write 5819 words. This has brought me back to a 1667 daily word count goal, which I can make less if I write more tomorrow. But it also means that I've reached 26,670 words in total. Ah I feel so much better.

It's pretty late at the moment (1.05am) but the writing was worth it. Will blog a better post about everything tomorrow. Just really chuffed now that I got up to date!!

xx

Day 14 and 15: Still on mini sabbatical

The last few days made me reach the depths of exhaustion that I haven't known for quite some time. Because of NaNoWriMo taking up half of my night time, and work taking up most of my day time, my sleep time has been erratic at best and non-existent at worst. So I ended up resting for a total of 3 days instead of 1. This means that I've now got the responsibility to reach 6668 words today, my day off.

But there were some treasures in leaving the novel for a few days.

1. I attended a Shamanism workshop, which was much more revealing than I thought it would be. The workshop (which took place on Day 14) involved discussion on journeying to other realms, in particular the basic shamanic realms of the Upper World, Middle World and Lower World. It was a great opportunity to gain new insights into what I am currently writing and to somewhat experience it first hand. I've only ever journeyed a few times in my life and the workshop reminded me that it was such a necessary part in my own development. My power animal turned out to be a spider, which is all about weaving the web of life and of creativity. Spider has been a big part of my life for many years - there have been times when I've had one crawl over me, a few living in my room (just cobweb ones, not anything dangerous) or falling onto me trying to get attention. She also seems to be writing herself into the book! It wasn't until this journey that I confirmed what I knew deep inside. I've also gotten insight into why I'm so attracted to all things dreams and death, and why I've always connected with the rugged landscapes of western Ireland and the UK. So now I've got some proper ammo to continue on my novel's journey, and my own one too!
2. Dreamtime has been active, and I have a few more ideas for the dream sequences, especially since my main character Mira is heading into that world now to save some people. It's provided me with a good foundation for a world unlike our own.
3. I've been making editing notes. No, not editing the novel but writing down where I want it to go when I revisit it at the end to edit. It means that there's going to be a lot thrown out, but there are going to be some new interesting bits woven into it (man I am really channelling Spider energy now!).
4. My travels are starting to produce interesting insights that are making their way into my novel. My travels, which started off as just a holiday and have ended up being a Pilgrimage or Imramma of sorts, has started to reveal it's lessons and it's changing how the novel is being written.

I know how it's going to end and who is pulling the strings, and to what end they will be pulled. These things I would not have come to had I not taken the time off to experience other things. So I guess that's the most important thing in this entire post:

If you write about life, take time out to experience it as well.

Day 13: Taking a break

I've decided that tonight I'm going to take a break from writing and just write double tomorrow evening. There are a few reasons, one of which is I got into a long conversation with my sis over the phone for her bday (HAPPY BDAY CHANTELLE!) and also because I'm attending a Shamanism workshop tomorrow and I have to get up early. I feel there's a proper reason for it to be delayed, but I won't know for sure until tomorrow evening...

So, until then... ta-ta! xx

Day 12: Finding the Gate of Dreams

In the beginning there was the night, and from the dark was born the light.

After writing 1687 words today, even though I was about to completely crash and burn at 6pm, I am happy I persevered. The last few days have been a bit of a brain-fart really, and it took a lot of work to get the momentum and the motivation to write. Today it seemed like it was ready to all flow. I can only liken it to the feel of breaking a habit or addiction: the first day or week you feel on top of the world, and then the world gets tough and you start thinking of how easy it is just to throw your hands up in the air and forget you ever had the crazy notion of breaking the addiction. And then, if you don't throw in the towel (or you throw it in a little and then take it back just as quickly), you realise there is something beautiful coming up on the horizon. It's not a mirage. The end is in sight. Granted, the end is about 2.5 weeks away, but it's still there.

My characters are moving along well. Mira and Faith are working hard at finding out how to get through the Gate of Dreams to save two different people: one they know and the other is the guy who i keep forgetting to feed. They are yet to meet their nemesis face to face so they don't know how dangerous this dreamwalking can be. I will probably move the rest of the book into new realms now, because the foundation for the real world and the technical ideas are all set up. It just means I can give my imagination some creative freedom for a bit.

And now, I'm going to have some much needed rest. Goodnight!! xx

Day 11: Back on track and gearing to go.

Today's word count: 1680. Back on track, and if I continue the way I'm going, I'll be able to finish by Nov 29. According to the stats on Nanowrimo, anyway.

Thanks to Laura for reminding me that one of my main characters should actually have some sort of sustenance if he's stuck in a cave. He has finally received that sustenance - a lovely steak pie and chips. Of course there are some set backs in taking advantage of this offer. He's going to learn a big lesson in trust.

My other main character, Mira, has found out that the spirit of someone in a coma has entered her dreams. Or has she entered theirs? Or is it even a dream?

I found some references to the Gates of Dreams and of Death, suggesting that they are the same gates. I wonder if this will feature strongly in later parts of the novel. I feel they will, because the idea of death being an entry point into a dreamscape is fascinating to me. The thing I would like to know is who pulls the strings in the dreamscape? Is it an individual thing, or is there someone behind the scenes? Will we see the wizard or will we be terrified by his hologram image?

Till then xx

Day 10: The letdown

Thanks to a busy day at work, the internet not registering on my computer, and the fact that I'm exhausted, I've not been able to write as much as I thought I would.

Today's word count: 788.

Disappointed doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. My brain feels like it's been sucked dry, and I know this is probably the time to start researching a little to keep myself from being too fried with imagination. Maybe I'm not meant to write today.

The writing has really been delving into areas that I've needed to work on. I've never been good with writing journals, so to actually write a fictional account of what has happened to me (however exaggerated or tweaked) helps me process a lot of the unresolved feelings and thoughts. But today nothing seems to want to come out. I don't like writing when I'm uninspired, so I decided to try and push myself today to at least over 500 words. Now all I'm thinking is ZZZZZZZZZZZ.

So I'm going to sleep. Goodnight all :)

Internet down most of the day

I've had so many problems with the internet today that I've been set back with my writing because I was troubleshooting. Stupid internet.

So I'll probably be a little late with my NaNoWriMo updates and blog posts. Sorry :(

Day 9: Meeting the Family

Word count today: 2539. It was a hard slog though. I wasn't sure where it was going, and suddenly I'm meeting the protagonist's family.

Like most families, this one is dysfunctional. They gang up on my protagonist because they believe she made the wrong decision in leaving her husband. While they don't have the full story, they try to encourage her to make amends and give her relationship another go all in the name of tradition and the church. It's all done in friendly banter, but because she has heard it so many times before, it's more like they think she will wear down and finally accept that 'marriage is forever', something that one of them actually says. I guess I wanted to make a point about how just because things have been a certain way before, and have existed in that same way for many years, it doesn't make it right. It is not acceptable to suffer any kind of abuse, emotional or physical, just because tradition has told us we should. Family is important, but when family encourages you to do what you do not believe to be right and holds you to ransom on it, then there is something wrong with the dynamics there. I haven't had her husband come into the picture yet so I'm not sure what I personally make of him, but I have a feeling that he will soon make an appearance. I wonder if I'll get angry while writing him?

My other protagonist is still stuck in his tomb/cave. He's not come out but he's been announced as missing by the authorities on television, which has given a whole new spin to how these characters all relate. I want to see him do some more dreamwalking though :)

Another plot point from one of my minor characters has now prompted the whole story along a little further as well. This character has suddenly fallen ill and been taken to hospital after trying to help out my protagonist with her dreams. The doctors can't find what is wrong with her because there is nothing wrong with her on a physical level. The problem is on a very different level possibly relating to the dreams. I feel tomorrow's writing is going to be very interesting.

I keep wondering when the idea will run into the ground, but it seems like it's all falling into place. I feel like I've been writing jigsaw pieces for most of the last seven years, and now it's starting to fit together.

Being thankful for thorns

While I've been writing about death, rebirth, healing and all sorts of depressing and nerve hitting things in working on my NaNoWriMo project, I've been subjected to a huge amount of synchronistic events. It seems I'm on the right path because everyone I meet and the emails I've gotten have been based on these things, pushing me to delve further into it.

Today I received an email from emPOWER Magazine (www.empoweronline.com.au) and the subject was "Thankful for Thorns". The story in this email touched my heart and I thought it important to include it on this blog because sometimes it can be hard to remember that our darkness is our gift, and the light we create from it is our gift to others. I don't have the original credit for this so I apologise in advance:

I found this great story that I wanted to share. It's a little long but well worth the read...

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come.

Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an air bag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, may I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her. "I....I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra. "For Thanksgiving? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a favorite I call the Thanksgiving "Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?" "Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong." Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Then the door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi, Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses; Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers. "Want this in a box?" asked the clerk. Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed. "Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest.

"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh....she just left with no flowers!" "Right, said the clerk, "I cut off the flowers. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet." "Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra. Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery. That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk, "and for the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra. "I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for good things in life and never to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort.

Sandra sucked in her breath, "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God. I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life," Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too...fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious". Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out. "I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute." "Thank you. What do I owe you?" Sarah asked. "Nothing; nothing but a promise to allow your heart to heal and to be grateful for the thorns."

 And now, back to my novel... xx

Day 8: Rebirth and Fear

Having some trouble uploading the word count for today (1722 words) on the NaNoWriMo website, thanks to maintenance. Oh well, I'll try later on.

Today's writing expanded on the idea of death and has taken on board the importance of rebirth. Rebirth is messy. It's not something that happens beautifully. The end result may be beautiful and something that we can love and enjoy in our lives, but the actual rebirthing... well... think  about being in labour and it's probably something like that. There is blood, there's shit, there's a whole lot of crying and pain. And then you hear the life you created inside you coming out, crying and seeing the world for the first time. And you see them for the first time. And suddenly things change. In that one moment, things completely change.

Rebirth involves us to let go, absolutely let go, of our old skins which is something that not many people are ready to do. I know for a fact that I have a lot to let go, and it's probably why it's coming up in my writing. But it also requires us to take a new form. The form is something that has always been inside us, waiting to be released into the world. Once we come into the world in this form, we can truly be our authentic selves.

But of course there is the fear of leaving all that behind. In my experience that fear has stopped me from seeing the magic in front of me. It has stopped me from properly rebirthing into who I want to be. We all fear the pain that risking our old lives can bring. We want it to be easy and painless. The problem is that if we do have it easy and painless, we do not truly strip our skins. We do not truly end one cycle.

My characters are going through a pretty intense process at the moment, seeing their true forms, understanding their abilities and completely unsure about how to move forward. Both protagonists seem to be floating on the wind rather than being grounded and secure, but this is important. Until they let go of their old world truths, they will never set foot on this new ground they must connect with. I feel sorry for putting them through it, but it's necessary.

Day 7: Total word count for first week - 12,435

Today I've surprised even me. I looked at the word count total for the week, and I've hit 12,435. That is a new record! I'm right on track to finishing 50,000 words. Now, just to keep the motivation up for 3 more weeks :)

A new twist in the novel - there are just so many things popping up out of the blue - is the concept of death, healing and rebirth, and how that fits in with dreaming. Originally I had this guy stuck in a cave with some old lady, and suddenly the old lady decided to reveal that it was really a tomb. Then a whole discussion on death and rebirth came up. I kept having images in my head of the West Kennett Long Barrow, and what I would imagine would happen if someone walked through the red 'Otherworld' door (it's a red stone, as opposed to the blue and gray stone everywhere else). I had visited the long barrow while I was at Avebury, UK, and it's definitely an experience.

The thing about the long barrow is that archaeologists believe it was a tomb, and that the red door led to the underworld. When I walked around in there, I didn't get a sense of that. It felt like a healing area. The death aspect seemed to be more around the idea that it was a waiting area, a preparation place. However there was definitely a healing feel, much like the idea of a hospital where patients come to be healed and sometimes they do die.

I guess that death, true healing and dreams are all intertwined. They all exist on a different frequency or level of understanding. Healing is not just what cures we come up with, but what we believe and feel. Death is just a transition. The realm of dreams is a place where we can create and experience anything, a place that holds death and healing in its black nothingness while they wait to become.

Day 6: Dream a little dream...

I've written two dream sequences today, and it's taken 2101 words. They are dreams that I've had personally, but I've exaggerated them a little, and tweaked it so that it's not exactly like my dreams (nothing like getting too personally invested in a novel, right?). I know that there's another dream or three to add to the story, but I'm sure that it'll be revealed to me when I need to write it.

The beauty of writing dream sequences is that it doesn't have to make sense, but it does have to flow. It's a challenge to conventional writing. Conventional writing tends to be rigid, full of rules and regulations, similar to a still life painting. But with these dream sequences the conventional rules must be broken, similar to Dali's artwork.

I guess the only way to really describe it is to add a sample here from the very rough draft (please note, it has not been edited and I won't be going over it until AFTER I finish NaNoWriMo).

Paper scrapes across her path. The pavement glistens under the street light. Two nights: one above, one beneath.

There is a boarded up gate ahead with shredded remains of posters fluttering: some popstar that used to be famous headlining a main arena. Towering above is a rusty ferris wheel, no lights, no music. A crack of thunder throws her off-guard. She steps towards one of the boards, reaches her hand out and pushes it to one side.

It ripples like a curtain, and the twinkle of lights from the other side intertwines in a dance with the sounds of children laughing and Greensleeves playing in the background.
©Dreamwalker, Cynthia Cano, Nov 2010

It doesn't make sense, but it doesn't explain itself either. There are no apologies in writing a dream sequence. That's the beauty of it. It just is.

Day 5: Tarot, spiders and a strange addition to the character list

So I've written 1692 words today, bringing my total up to 8665 words in 5 days. That's a hell of a lot more than I've ever thought I could write in that short time. I know there are things I've written that sound like something I wrote earlier but with different wording, but this is such a rough draft that I'm tempted to go along with a blog I read and call it a Zero Draft :) (as opposed to first draft)

Tarot is starting to feature, which was really only a matter of time. I find tarot mesmerising, and love the different images on them. My favourite ones are usually the more obscure ones with images that do not relate at all with the Rider Waite version. The tarot deck that is featuring in my novel is the Mantegna Tarot, which I bought a while ago and have left in Sydney so I have to go by pictures online (which you can see on this link). It's interesting because it has the different economic statuses from medieval times, as well as the seven muses and Apollo, and some alchemical references. I'm kind of missing them at the moment.

Spiders are also featuring. I've had such a connection with spiders lately; they seem to be getting in my way a lot. Today we had one coming down from the ceiling in our shop and it landed on me and kept going down my arm. I find them fascinating and I'm taking it as a good sign really - according to some cultures, spiders taught the primordial language and so they are connected to writers of all kinds. But they are also essentially part of the dreaming, which makes them perfect for the novel.

And finally a new character, which is really a character I had thought about for a series of novellas that is still on the shelf, has made a cameo appearance and it's had a huge impact on the path of the novel. He's the one who brought in the Tarot bit. Sly dog, that one :)

Till Tomorrow x

Day 4: Back on track

After missing out on 100 words from my goal daily word count yesterday, I've gotten over 1750 words this time. It was a little harder getting into the mood to type tonight, mainly because I've been working on a recording for almost 9 straight hours. It's really not fair to be writing AND working. Why can't writing BE my work? Ay, I can dream.

I have a couple of new characters popping up: one is from one of my planned stories that I haven't yet started, and the other is based on a story I started two years ago. It's nice writing some familiar personalities and having them guest star.

Apart from that, the novel's shaping up to be a very complex and interesting web of mystical phenomena and romance, mixed in with some tragedy and hopefully some enlightening bits. It's definitely not the same as what I thought I was starting with ~ it's taken a dark turn somewhere there. I find that while I'm at work I'm wishing that I was at home writing. Or while I'm on the train heading to work, that I was at home writing. Is this what happens when you get addicted to writing?

Today I also realised that finishing this novel isn't just about finally finishing what I start. It's about developing my self confidence, my willpower, my strength and courage. It is about releasing the pent up creativity that has been stunted by my own mind, believing that I "never finish what I start". In finishing this novel, I can prove to myself and other naysayers that I can do whatever the bloody hell I put my mind to. And that is worth writing 1667 words a day for, even if I have to stay up past my bedtime.

Day 3: a little less than I wanted

Because I had a lot of work to do on a newsletter (proof reading, writing, desktop publishing) I wasn't in the right frame of mind to write what I wanted to. Instead my brain was a fresh helping of gloop shifting inside my skull and no amount of hot choc or chips and curry could make me feel more human.

So, sadly, I've only done 1579 words today, which is about 100 words off my target. Why didn't I just write 100 words now? Because the day is almost over. The time has just switched over to midnight and so officially it's now Day 4. So I've just gotten everything put into the nanowrimo counter on time, and am ready to call it a night. Well, maybe after I watch a little tiny bit of Castle :)

Great links with docs for writers

Thanks to the official NaNoWriMo website for starting a thread on documents and tools for aspiring and experienced writers. A whole lot of Wrimos are posting up what they use to keep track of word count, characters and novel outline. One of the best resources though is the following link:

http://writingblog.truckpoetry.net/search/label/Author%20Resources

I've downloaded everything I could get my hands on, even if I'm not sure I'll use it. Sometimes it's just good to have it onhand. Just in case.

Today feels like it's going to be a little tough going. I'll be working on a newsletter for work, which is good except for the part where what I write there doesn't contribute to my 1667 words per day quota. Just means that I'll have to keep myself up tonight with a nice cup of mocha. Bring on Day 3!

Day 2: Word count ~ 1928, and a new character subplot

So I procrastinated again today, but I had a good reason to. Serious!

I have been busy looking for part time work to keep me going financially so that I can save it for something good... such as... well... publishing, maybe? See, told you it was a good reason :)

But I'm still proud. I've clocked in 1928 words today in the last hour. My imagination was on a roll and I didn't even re-read what I had written down yesterday. The most awesome thing is that apart from going past the average word count today, the protagonist of Dreamwalker has just thrown a surprise out of nowhere and made herself quite interesting.

Mira, the character, had started off as a professional working woman, very much the straight up and down 'boss' kind of lady who likes simple lines and bare offices. Anything slightly out of place is a strict no-no. So it's interesting that I've just found out that she is divorced. And not only that, she divorced a man that was very similar to who she is now. And even better, it's almost like the reason she is the way she is, is like a mourning to her lost love, even though she hates him for everything he put her through. Is that not demented? I'm absolutely thrilled with the psychology of it, and hoping that the other characters start to develop some sort of depth and layering. Can't stand a 2D character.

So I'm excited about getting back into writing tomorrow. Can't wait to see what new storyline develops :)

Inspiration from successes

Browsing through different blogs, I came across a NaNoWriMo success - Courtney Alison Moulton is publishing her novel Angelfire, which she wrote as part of NaNoWriMo  in 2008. Check out her blog here:
http://courtney-allison.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-nanowrimo-rocks-my-life.html

And I know there are a lot of people who love, viciously hate, or are on the fence about Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love). Regardless, this is a pretty cool video by the team at TED. She speaks on the western world's view of the genius of a writer. Just a little interesting note for those whose hearts are set on becoming a part of the intertwining global web of stories.



Oh, and by the way, NaNoWriMo nutters rejoice - there is someone crazier than you:

Day 1: Made it a little past the mark

So I got to 1716 words. Not a bad start. Took me all of 2 hrs but that also includes South Park and Sex & The City time... imagine when I have no distraction.

My novel has started off as a tale about dreams and nightmares. I really want to make it an artistic piece of writing, something that is written in the vein of the subject and not just ABOUT the subject. I've given it the working title of Dreamwalker, which is a person who consciously connects into and can work in other people's dreams. Similar to the concept of the movie Inception, which I haven't seen yet but I have heard great things about. I'm planning on taking a different route to Christopher Nolan's interpretation of the dreamwalker, but it might be nice to rent it out when I finish Nanowrimo as a "YAY I've finished" gift to me :)

The hardest thing about today has been to switch off from the world. I love checking my Facebook and having the TV on in the background - I find it soothing and yet so distracting as well. But once I got my tea sorted, it was like being on moderately easy street.

The other hard thing is switching off from re-reading what I've written. When I re-read, I tend to edit, and this stops me usually from finishing anything I start. Hopefully it's one of those habits that stops once you admit it to yourself. 

Tomorrow I have the day off, so I'll probably be able to get quite a lot of writing done. Chances are that soon I will feel the urge to do a prelim edit, so I need to figure out what I can do to curb that craving. Maybe a nice walk down near the river. Or chocolate. I definitely will need to figure something out.

Nanowrimo starts today

It has been an entire year since I set upon my keyboard for what could be the most thrilling, crazy and difficult month in my life. I am talking about Nanowrimo, a writing competition where the only prize is the satisfaction gained from having gotten a 50,000 word novel written in a speedy 30 days.

In 2009, I dropped out pretty early on. I lost interest in my characters and in the plot, and it didn't help that for at least one of the weeks in November I was involved in a big conference at work.

But this year it's different. I can feel it in my bones. I am writing now in the Autumn months from the Lake District in the UK, a far cry from the Australian springtime. There is more reason to sit indoors and enjoy the light tap-tap-tapping that rises from my fingers hitting the keyboard. It seems it's all going according to plan... muahahahaha.

So when I get home tonight, I'm going to have my dinner, make a nice cup of tea, and write 1667 words (if I do this every day, I will get to 50,010 by the end of 30 days). If I write more ~ woohoo bonus! I have an idea of what the novel will be about, but I'm letting it surprise me. I figure if it's a rough draft, it's probably better that way :)

I'll be posting some bits of the novel and research as I go as well. 


Keep smiling!!