REGRETFULLY SO....Officially dropping out of NaNoWrimo

Ironically, the song currently playing on my iPod: "This Never Happened Before" by Paul Cartney.

Tried to play catch-up all weekend, staying up until after one o'clock this morning. My butt dragged all day at work and when I got home tonight I finally had to admit defeat.  36,537 is my final word count tonight. Do the math:  13,463 in two days means 6,732 words each day to break even at 50,000 words. I type fast, but not that fast. Plus there's the day job that pays me to write court pleadings, not romance stories. So, I am bowing out, but with good reason.

DESIGNER GENES is a finalist in OKRWA's Finally a Bride contest. This meant I had the opportunity to take advantage of the judge's score sheets from the first round, and fix the weak parts of my story before submitting to the final round. It also meant creating the dreaded synopsis, which I am also being judged on. Sounds like something the normal person would whip together in two or three days, right?
 

Wrong. First, I'm anything but normal, and since entering the contest, I wrote a completely new beginning. My luscious hero, Jordan, didn't make his formal appearance until Chapter Four. There were glimpses of him revealed, but his onstage entrance came too late, according to suggestions given to me by the last two agents I'd submitted a partial manuscript to. Thirty pages is all they request. Jordan doesn't sweep Marli off her feet until page forty-two. You get acquainted with my equally delicious antagonist, Jesse--Jordan's twin, but I felt that confused my readers. I didn't want them cheering for the bad guy before meeting my superhero. Therefore, Jordan steps into the limelight on page one with a bashful "Hi."

This created a dilemma regarding my contest entry. After consulting with my critique groups, several strangers, an online psychic, and a quick email to the Dalai Lama, I decided I had to keep the beginning on the contest entry. But I really like my new beginning, so I sprinkled bits of it through the thirty pages I resubmitted. In other words, major editing project. I won't even go into the synopsis. Consequently, this took almost two weeks and a huge chunk of my NaNo writing time. Then Turkey Day attacked. I spent so much time out of the story I created in NaNo that when I got back into writing it again, nothing flowed. Ideas had grown cold and the story took on a "deflated airbag" appearance. It's a good story and I don't want to mess it up further trying to meet a word count goal, which in all reality, I can't.
 

OKRWA's FAB contest and Designer Genes took priority and now I'm crossing fingers, toes, and eyes, my efforts will pay off. I'm also dipping in a deep curtsy and bidding farewell to NaNoWrimo 2011.  Next year, baby...next year.

NANOWRIMO - Day 15 - "Halfway there"

Current listen:  "When We Stand Together" a new tune from Nickelback and symbolic of this crazy world of writing.

Day 15, and we've hit the halfway point. Tonight's total word count: 28,656! I've also passed the halfway mark on my 50,000 goal, and 3,443 words into the "Lesli Challenge."

At this point, a lot of writers hit the wall--their creative muses suddenly go mute. Pep talks cover the NaNoWrimo site and write-ins are scheduled across the globe to kickstart the slump and rejuvenate the momentum you have to maintain to win this thing. It's amazing to see the support that rallies around writers through NaNoWrimo, and in my case, carries throughout the year from the various writing groups I belong to. Pose a question, give a cyber whistle or holler for help with a story, an agent, even a prayer when an author struggling on a personal level, and the support that pours out of these organizations is mind boggling. Most of us have never met in person, only through the "typed word," yet the relationships formed are every bit as binding. Amazing and somewhat intimidating talent is also prominent. Within this creative mayhem, I find personal joy, along with a few extra personalities taking up residency in my brain that I didn't know were there.

Sometimes, I am in the middle of creating a story, the words flowing effortlessly, the characters becoming more vivid and three dimensional with each chapter, when a muse suddenly cuts in front of me. I slam on my creative brakes and scratch my head, wondering what to do with the idea that's zipped from somewhere out in left field. Like today.

"Saving Grace," my current NaNo project is now two different stories, both fitting the title. One is not a spinoff of the other, but a whole new breed of animal, so to speak. I'm in the middle of an embarrassing "life moment" between current Grace and the colorful Tom Callahan when "new Grace" pops in behind my eyes, her voice clear and strong...telling a completely new story!

Here's her opening line, immediately catching my attention:

"Well, they definitely looked different taped to the outside of my locker. Wished I owned a pair of Victoria Secret panties, because the ones with the little yellow smiley faces, weren't going to do much for my reputation."

I spent the day delving into Sophie Mitchell's embarrassing first day as a sophomore in high school and the victim of senior prank. Another colorful somewhat dysfunctional family grew into the story, as well as the BFF who saves the day. Yep, the storyline remained strong until I finally shut it down. Now I'm writing two stories and hoping to get enough words out of both to meet the 50,000 mark. Then I'll split them into separate worlds. We'll see which one keeps the title, and who gets a new one.

Time to call it a day...or night. Later folks!

NANOWRIMO - Day 14

Falling asleep to "Heartbreak Warfare" lulled softly by John Mayer

My eyelids are currently winning the battle to close. I usually am up much later, but tonight, my spark has fizzled. Only a faint trail of smoke carrying a few words remains. Finally called it "quits" at 25,212 words. My "Lesli Challenge," which sounded good yesterday...but not so good today, is showing a dent of 2,476 against the 26,000 I signed on for. I am my own worst enemy.

Tomorrow I'm shopping for various sizes of body bags. My family thinks I can continue to be "on demand" and I've decided to take matters into control. Next one infringing upon my writing time, will be "measured."

Last night my father, bless his heart (that takes all the bad karma away), calls me at 9:30 pm, to ask me for help in running his new dishwasher. Seriously. I asked him if he read the owners manual. My father is a modern day "Archie Bunker." His reply is that whoever wrote the manual didn't know how to run a dishwasher either...code for I did not read the owners manual. Already feeling a tad snarky, (Sundays are a day of constant interruptions) I replied that's why they paid him the big bucks to write the book. I also informed him I was in my pajamas with no intention of getting dressed and driving 5 miles to his house to show him the "on" button. He threatened to go to his neighbors house and have them come over. Didn't work. I'm so past "the guilt trip" or "guilt trick." Finally, he described the instrument panel on front and I walked him through what buttons to push. I realized he knew what to do, just needed a little attention. Life seems to take up a lot of empty minutes and I don't check in often enough. I'm not looking forward to growing old(er). 

I want to do a "Pay it Forward" to some writer friends with new releases:

Ruth A. Casie's Knight of Runes released today. Check out her delicious cover and scone recipe on www.ruthacasie.blogspot.com

Loretta Wheeler, my picture of what a "Southern Belle" would be, released her new short story, "Dark Pleasures." Check Loretta out on Facebook (her hubby designed the cover) and www.lorettawheeler.com

Christina Wolfer's second book "Undercover" released last week. Check out www.christinawolfer.com Great cover!

Cindy Christiansen's "Braving the Blaze" is a sweet romance involving a firefighter, a labrador, and a woman who likes to strike a match.

I'd download covers, but hey, right now my left eye is twitching and my right one is spinning freely. Got to call it a night. The yawns are widening, cracking my jaw and holding my breath hostage long enough to be considered a health risk!  Later friends.

NANOWRIMO - Day 13

Current listen:  "Summer Girl" by Leighton Meester (from the soundtrack of the movie Country Strong)

Spent most of my writing time doing research today. I've picked the town of Sweet Home, Oregon, for my story setting. After locating the high school, I needed to find the library and get familiar with streets. In all my stories, water plays a big part in setting. Foster Dam proved to be just what I needed, sitting at the edge of Sweet Home and giving my characters a "play place."

So what happened to Tom's mom? In my last episode, she'd disappeared. I decided only one murder could be in this story (at least so far). Come to find out, according to Tom, when his stepfather and mom stopped for gas, she escaped.  Stepfather's character has ran out of storyline, so he does the honorable thing and turns him self over to police...or ???

Today's grand total is 23,790 words. A little less than I'd hoped for, meaning I'll have to do double time tomorrow. In a writing challenge with author friend and mentor, Lesli Lytle. 26,000 words by Sunday the 27th. That means 2,000 words per day. I can do it...I will do it...I have to do it! Lesli will never let me live it down if I don't! However, if I do, that will put me over 48,000 with three days left to write the final 2,000. Good way to push me, too.

Also sent off DESIGNER GENES to an agent this morning, so all in all...a very productive day. Later!

NANOWRIMO - Day 12

Crying to "Ghost" by We Were Kings

 

Lack of sleep makes me "weepy" as well as "sleepy." Wrote a traumatic scene today involving my colorful Tom Callahan. More so than a murder you ask? Sadly, yes. Child abuse is very real, and in my line of work, I've seen and heard too much. Being a young adult story, and me an author who doesn't really like to write vivid details of such things for the reason I just stated, I choose to put my readers in the spectator seat after the act has happened and let them watch how my characters deal with the aftermath. Tom told me his guarded secret tonight, but it was kind of hard to avoid. Telling the story in first person through Zoe's eyes, I saw the swollen face, the deep bruising around one eye, and a lip plumped three sizes too large. Tom stepped between a drunken stepfather and his mother who was about to be on the receiving end of temper tantrum, taking the beating for her. Boys are very protective of their mothers. Tom escapes to Zoe's house when his becomes too dangerous. His mom has disappeared, leaving Tom no choice but to contact his real father, exposing a seventeen year old secret with a scandal that promises to rock the community.

I just don't know if Tom's mother is dead or alive? If she's dead, the connection between Tom and Zoe could prove to be an interesting storyline, pushing the "planned" script sideways. If she's alive, the possibility of a positive turn of events could enhance the ending already plotted. Hmm. We'll see what shapes up.

Okay, I'm off to bed. It's past midnight, my left eye is twitching, and the dog just farted. I need to leave the room immediately! "Nite all." 

Final word count for day twelve:  22,236

NANOWRIMO - Day 9

Rocking out to "The One That Got Away" by Katy Perry 

(picture the swivel desk chair swaying, the head bobbing, and a couple other loose body parts swinging to the music...or not)

That's because tonight when I shut down my NaNoWrimo project I'd hit 18,644 words! I'm pattin' my back (okay barely over my shoulder - damn when did my 'flexibility' vanish? I swear, this body needs a tune up!)

Mr. Callahan returned in all his glory. He sat in the bleachers watching volleyball tryouts. After someone went through the routine, he'd hold up a card with a number rating them from 1-10. You got it. The jiggle test! Zoe, however, only rated an 8, which disappointed her, surprising both of us. Tom said she cheated by wearing a sports bra. We also found out in tonight's chapter, that Tom has a side of his life he keeps hidden, until Zoe draws it out of him, forming a bond that will play a big part later. Here's Tom's revelation in tonight's excerpt:

Tom lowered his head, scraping at a fingernail. "We need the money, or did until he lost his job. Now he just sits in the house and drinks, waiting for his unemployment to run out. He's a mean bastard when he's drunk."

A squirmy feeling twisted in my stomach. My next question came out on a whisper. "Does he hurt you or…your mom?"

"Sometimes." Tom's voice cracked and I heard his hard swallow. "Me mostly. I let him take his anger out on me before Mom comes home. She doesn't deserve to be smacked around for nothing."

"Neither do you!" 

 "I can take it. He's a puncher. Stays away from my face most of the time. Sometimes he's so drunk he's passed out by the time I get home." 

Of course once his tough guy facade melts away, he pays Zoe the ultimate compliment, for him, anyway.

"Thanks, Zoe." Tom said softly. "By the way, you're anything but an '8'. You're off the charts."

WACKY WEDNESDAY is traveling....

I'm guest blogging (I know! In the middle of NaNoWrimo!) WACKY WEDNESDAY today at www.calisarhose.wordpress.com 

Stop by my good author friend's site and read another reason why you're normal and I'm not. Sharing another episode off my personal reality show, this time on the "feast of foul" better known as Thanksgiving dinner. I've yet to pull off the perfect "Martha Steward Thanksgiving Feast," but I'll be darned if I don't get to try again this year!  Come share a giggle, and leave me your suggestion on how to get the grease spots from Thanksgiving pasts out of my rug. Later.

By the way...ended last night with a wordcount of 14,842 (yea!)

NANOWRIMO - Day 8

Tonight's listen:  "Princess of China" by my fav, Coldplay with the vocal help of Rihanna

DAY 8??? Where the hell did I disappear to? I'm going to use the excuse that an alien ship landed, scooping up all the beautiful and sexy people, and I didn't get a chance to say "goodbye" to you. You buying it? No? Why not? Because I'm still here. Either I was rejected or ejected, or I lied. I hate rejection, so I confess to the latter.

Actually, I don't know what's happened the last four days. Perhaps the New Moon is causing havoc, but my brain is mush, and I haven't hit the midway point yet. I'm already "slumped." My story is all over the place. It's like writing a patchwork quilt. And "potty mouth" vanished! My heroine, Zoe, walks into class where she shares a table with the obnoxious Mr. Callahan, and he's gone. Even I don't know why. Hopefully, in one of the other patches I'm writing, the mystery will be solved.

I'm back at it tonight, after spending the past few days in various stages of life happenings. My husband looks at me with puppy dog eyes, wanting company to watch a movie; my kids drop in to visit (hoping I'm fixing something to eat); Dad calls to chat; I grace the doors of my church, hoping the ceiling will stay intact (uh-hum, it's been a while); and then there's the day job that pays the bills. 

Word count was soaring at one point, showing me crossing the 50,000 word finish line in record time, but now hovers at the bench mark to barely squeak by on the 30th. Last count was this morning was 13,052. Let's hope something sparks tonight! I need another 2,000 to keep me on track. Later...but I promise, not "4 days later."

NANOWRIMO - Day 3

Current listen:  "Nine in the Afternoon" a strange tune by Panic! At The Disco

I like different music - modern. I attribute my strange taste to writing Young Adult stories and wanting to keep that "youthful" feeling in my head when I create. Hubby's stuck in the 80's or "riding the range" with a country western tune. He's played in a rock band ever since I've known him. We finally reached a settlement agreement. Whoever drives, gets to pick the songs on the radio. I carry my iPod with me constantly. When I've heard enough Santana, I place a bud deeply into each ear and crank on The Muse, Katy Perry, or sadly, Big Time Rush. I've yet to stoop to the "Bieb" though. Something about his carpeted head... I do have standards. I know. Shocking to some of you.

So I'm at Day 3 and this morning I started the second chapter thinking "what the hell?" The story was a mess. I contemplated writing NaNoWrimo 50,000 times and being done with it. Then, tonight, "the mess" made sense. A puzzle piece here and there snugged nicely together. A new character jumped on the page and he's campaigning real hard to be the hero. 


Meet Tom Callahan - the kingpin of the "bus cartel" occupying the back seat of the school bus. The first words to come out of his mouth, shocking me and my poor heroine, were "nice tits."  He is also the proud creator of  "the jiggle scale." Yep, that's how Tom's story rolls. Not sure where he came from, but he has no intention of disappearing anytime soon. We'll see how his character evolves...let's hope he sees the 'error of his ways'?

Today's writing challenge:  the aftermath of a murder. I'm sure the details of the murder itself will materialize, but today was about writing the shock my heroine, fifteen years old at the time, felt when she discovered her father's lifeless body on the sofa. 

She knows he's dead, but shields herself from the trauma by doing little gestures to make him more comfortable. Taking his shoes off, curling his arm against his body so it won't "go to sleep" from hanging at an odd angle. Covering him with a blanket so he won't get cold while waiting for help to arrive. When she decides she's done all she can, she sits on the floor beside him. Here's a glimpse:

Wrapping both bent legs, I pulled them to my chest and leaned against the sofa. Dad's limp, icy hand fell over my shoulder. I tucked my chin against it and cried.

Today's final count:  7,848 words! Wahoo!