Archive for November, 2009
Monday, November 30th, 2009
click for source Reading Nothing – I’ve been too wrapped up in my NaNo novel (From the Ashes) to be reading. I have re-read a little of my novel in the last few days… on my to read list now though is The Twits ^-^
Listening to the music that has gotten me through NaNo – Apocalyptica’s “Faraway”, and their cover of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”. Kate Miller-Heidke’s “Words”. Within Temptation’s “The Cross”, and “The Truth Beneath the Rose”. Nightwish’s “Creek Mary’s Blood”, and “The Islander”. The Used’s “The Bird and the Worm”. Ayumi Hamasaki’s “Ourselves”. My Chemical Romance’s “Helena”. Lisa Mitchell’s “Coin Laundry”. Iron and Wine’s “Flightless Bird, American Mouth”. Sixpence None The Richer’s “Kiss Me”. Just to name a few.
Wanting all sorts of things – money would be nice so that I could stop stressing about a few things in my current circumstances.
Making: I’m currently madly sewing a dress to wear to my youth group formal this weekend – I hope I can get it done in time! I’ve also started making Christmas presents.
Loving my friends, and the fact that I have finished NaNo for my fourth year in a row.
Promising to have this dress done by the weekend!
Drinking far too much Coke, and far too many vanilla milkshakes this week. Still lots jasmine tea as well though!
 On a final note: yes, I am as shocked as you are – I made it just passed the 50k mark before coming here to make this post before we rolled into December. I had half an hour to spare before I finally crossed the line. I just checked the clock and there are 8 minutes left… I might try and belt out a few more words.
xx
Monday, November 30th, 2009
click images for their source
It looks like a fantastically dreary day here in Melbourne ♥
I haven’t finished NaNo yet, but I have over 48,000 words now. Before I do any more word wars though, I must head out and buy some fabric so that I can make my dress for this Saturday – I’m hoping for something green to bring out my eyes, and match with my silver and gold shoes and silver tiara. Wish me luck – on both counts!
I’m feeling miserable at the moment, so hopefully achieving these two things will cheer me up.
xx
Sunday, November 29th, 2009
I suppose you noticed those photos I promised “tomorrow” (the 20th) haven’t been put up yet? They are still on their way, they have just been held up because my Adobe CS4 is being unkind. I will be fixing that in the next few days though, hopefully. Also, after having declared that I was no longer in the running for National Novel Writing Month ‘09, I was inspired by my friend Scarlett Archer with an idea for my novel that set off a chain reaction – filling in all those holes and missing plot-points that I so desperately needed to be filled. I decided to write some more while the thoughts and inspiration were fresh in my mind, and thought it would still at least help Melbourne out a little. So I now have just short of 44,000 words in my novel, and I think I would be foolish now, to have come so far and then not make the 50,000. I’m unwell today, so I’m curled up in my pyjamas with a good cup of tea instead of going to church. Scarlett is hosting a write-in today, so most of my Melbourne friends won’t be online to war with – but I know a few will still be there, and we all intend on hitting 50k today if it is at all possible.
Wish me luck on my busy lazy day! ♥
I would also like to point you all in the direction of something wonderful. The Drifter and the Gypsy is organising a lovely book for herself full of inspiration, and we can all help out. I’ve signed up to do it, and if you are an inspired person, then you should too!
I have so far spent my morning cleaning up the code for my blog – so it is neater for my benefit now! So this layout is only temporary – again, I just need to fix up CS4.
Have a lovely Sunday my friends (or Saturday if you’re still there, then also have a lovely Sunday when it arrives ^-^)! I will be back tomorrow (provided I have hit 50k – if not, I’ll be back the day after) ♥
xx
Thursday, November 19th, 2009
click for source National Novel Writing Month. I’m so stuck it’s not funny, and I’m about a week behind. So, why am I here and not writing to catch up? It seems like every time I sit down to write, something happens that demands my attention and requires instant action. Now, I’m sure this is the curse of any writer, but it’s just become too overwhelming. I’ve been hurt, insulted and made to feel very small by other NaNo writers, and it’s provided me another stumbling block.
I love writing, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy it – but it’s become a burden. So unless I now feel like writing at random, I’m no longer taking part. I know I shouldn’t allow others to ruin these things for me, but I also feel that there is no point in me doing it if it is no longer enjoyable.
My mind has also clogged over this month – I’ve not been updating my blog, or reading the blogs I love. My mind feels like there is literally a block in there, so I think I need to do these other things as well to help clear my mind.
One friend insisted that I keep going because they want to read more of it – just because I’m dropping out of NaNo, doesn’t mean I won’t keep writing it over a longer period of time – I certainly intend on finishing it. It is a very important project to me.
I’ve always done NaNo, because I always feel like I fail everything – it is truly the story of my life. This is something though that I know I can do – it’s an achievement for me. I think though, this year’s achievement has been recognising when enough is enough. It can’t get in the way of my life.
I’ve missed the blogging world, I’ve missed taking photos, I’ve missed drawing. I hope to spend some time tomorrow re-adjusting myself back to normality.
All this being said, I adore the new friends I’ve made this year from the Melbourne crew of NaNo, as well as re-connecting with other members who I’ve spoken to over the last 3 years. I’m also very excited by a project that has been proposed amongst some of us. We feel that the Melbourne Writers Center here, is quite unhelpful and we have plans in progress to offer something better. Well, fingers crossed, anyway.
I hope to have some new photos for you all tomorrow, but for now my friends, it is late and I need some sleep.
Oh! My layout is currently under construction, so sorry for the lack of… pretty. ^-^
xx
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
click on image for source I know, it’s perhaps silly. Making sure to keep memories preserved, and backed up. After what happened on February 7th though, it reminded me of the value of photos and special written notes. My brother got called out to fight a small bushfire nearby this morning. Apparently it’s small, but keeps jumping containment lines. It just served as a timely reminder though, that we are in the fire season again. After the dreadful death toll last February, my family and I have decided that we won’t stay and defend.
What if we aren’t there to grab the important legal documents though? Or all the family photos, and notes from my grandparents, and great aunt’s that we have lying around the house? I won’t manage to get it all together, but I have started scanning things in. My laptop goes everywhere with me, so we will still have some treasured things safe.
It’s a daunting task though. My mum has suitcases full of photos, it’s going to be a lot of work. It isn’t a nice way to live in the meantime… the fear… but as long as I can get together as many things as possible. I’m sure we’ll be okay. I have a very bad memory – photos serve as a prompting device, I see an image and it starts to bring things back. Where would I be if photos from my childhood, my parent’s and grandparent’s childhoods were lost? I’d forget so much.
I know it probably seems silly, but it’s important. To me, at least anyway.
xx
Friday, November 6th, 2009
Last night, before going to bed, I had the sheer genius idea, that I was going to ask a few questions of my friends from National Novel Writing Month (Melbourne, Australia). The first who agreed to my call out, was Isabella Rayne, and short and sweet as it is, this is what she had to say:
How long have you been doing NaNo?
Third year this year.
How many wins have you had?
Two, aiming for my third win this year.
Quality or Quantity – which is more important to you during NaNo?
Quantity, but also quality. Bashing out the first draft(s).
What is your target wordcount this year and do you think you will succeed?
150k+, and yes!
What genre are you writing, and what is your story about?
One novel’s fantasy, one’s smut!
What is your favourite part of NaNo?
The socialising, and writing… the writing’s good too.
Words of advice/love for your fellow Melbourne NaNoers?
Stop playing Pandemic II.
Words of warning/challenge to other regions in NaNo?
We have delyra. We have me. You’re going down, bitches.
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
click image for source The madness has begun.
First though, an apology: the photos in my previous post are currently down. I’ll let you know when the problem is resolved, that may not be until December though.
Today is day 3 of National Novel Writing Month, and blessedly, I am ahead of the minimum word count for the day. I decided before NaNo even started that this time around, my goal was quality, not quantity. I’ve been frustrated, because what I’m writing feels like it is lacking massively in description, and there are holes. The plus side though, is that at least this year my novel isn’t random – it does have a path of sorts that it is following, and so therefore it will be editable.
Now, I promised that I would share some of my writing with you. You have been sufficiently warned, it isn’t very good – but I guess I would still appreciate your thoughts. So here is a snippet from my introduction, sorry if it makes no sense:
The Unbound Truth
There was something unusual about the lock jutting forth from the earth. It wasn’t limited to the fact that it seemed to be attached to nothing but the earth, there was something different in the way it caught the light that fascinated her, triggering something in a memory that she couldn’t quite place.
Pushing the overgrown shrub that was covering it back further, she could make out more clearly, it’s aged, brassy colour. Gouging her fingers into the dirt around it, she tried again to find whatever it was attached to and protecting. The earth was too hard and dry for her to make much progress though.
‘Stace,’ her head snapped up to search for her caller, ‘Satan said we can stop for the day, you can have first shower if you want.’
Still unable to find the person who matched the voice through the dense scrub, she knew regardless who it belonged to. ‘Thanks Bek, I’ll be in soon.’ She threw one last look at the lock, before promising herself she’d be back for another look some other time as she slowly rose to her feet.
Peeling off her sweat-drenched gardening gloves, she ambled back to the house, squinting against the harsh summer sun as it set before her. As she stepped inside, she hung her hat on the back of the laundry door, before darting across to her bedroom to grab the things she needed.
It wasn’t until she was in the shower that her body could really feel her hard day of work. Her muscles and joints ached under the hot water, and the burning sensation against her skin let her know where she was more than likely sunburnt. She wished she could stay in the shower far longer than she did, but they were in the middle of a drought and that would have been selfish on her part.
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