The NaNoWriMo Experience continues. When I write my books, there are always sections that I build up in my mind. That does two things; it ups that stakes and challenges me to do better on them, and it also makes it harder for me to write. There are certain chapters in any book that are … More Spectacle in St. Louis
We spend a great deal of our waking lives trying to maintain or gain control of our personal situation. What we do before work or school, how we drive, what we do once we are in our offices or classrooms, and what we do when we get home are all based on the idea that … More Control Is An Illusion
I’m hobbling along today. We spent the weekend helping my son and his family move from a very small apartment to a not-so-small in Austin. I spent the entire weekend going up and down stairs, carrying heavy things. Yesterday my feet were hurting very badly. When I took my shoes and socks off, I found … More Moving Right Along…
Over the years, I have learned to give myself different rules than I give everyone else. Whenever I have a deadline, I demand that I finish a day or two before the deadline. When I have a word count for a certain day, I try to do more. This process of adding a cushion has … More Reality Bites Back
Well, I got a good chunk–2,500 words–written yesterday, and I haven’t given up on my NaNoWriMo project. In fact, finally it’s starting to get fun. My weakling, whiny main character just went through survival training and was faced with the realization that she would be alone for much of her trip across post-apocalyptic America. In … More A Good Chunk
I have a young friend who sees himself as a writer of screenplays. He has education along those lines, with some of it coming from me. He’s currently working on a short film that he has high hopes for. I’ve read the script, and I also believe that it shows some promise. I’ve actually read … More Give a Man a Fish
I am making progress on my NaNoWriMo project, “Infinity’s Reach.” Today I am working on chapter 13. On one hand, I am eager to share it with people who have been cheering me on. On the other hand, as I write quickly, I realize there are many things I want to fix and change. So … More Progress
Well, after last week’s last blog, the obvious question is, How goes NaNoWriMo? In one word, slow. Because I am working on a book I already started, I dropped 14,000 words in on the first day of NaNoWriMo, and have since added about 6500 words. That’s not too bad, considering that today is only Day … More Slow and steady wins the…something
Today is the last day of October, and tomorrow morning marks the beginning of National Novel Writing Month. For those who know NaNoWriMo, you’re know what’s going through my mind right now. Anticipation. Excitement. Wonder if I am making a terrible mistake. It’s a major commitment of time, energy and patience–both of you and those … More Last gasp. NaNoWriMo, here I come!
It’s a good news, bad news scenario. First the good news. I finally am making time for writing–my writing, the stuff that ruminates in the back of my mind when I am busy doing other stuff here at the University. When I am writing articles for Southwestern Spirit magazine, playing webmaster, teaching classes or sitting … More Over the Hump
