NaNoWriMo 2009: No Pink Cloud This Year

I wasn't as excited about doing NaNoWriMo this year as I was last year. Last October I was all excited, anticipating finally writing my first novel. I fell off that little pink cloud around the third day. Writing a novel is damn hard work. NaNoWriMo will take over your life. If you're OCD like I am, your word count will be your dominant thought for the month, nagging you constantly in the back of your mind.

Honestly, I was contemplating not doing it this year. It's insanity at it's best. It's stressful, and stress takes a toll on me physically. But then I remembered that it was also fun. Yes, it was hard, but I enjoyed it. And the feeling when I hit the 50k mark? Well, let me just say that when I remembered how that felt, I changed my mind and decided to do it.

Just like last year, it's Oct. 31 (my absolute favorite day of the year), and I have nary an idea of what to write. But that's okay. I work well under pressure. Matter of fact, that's usually when I'm at my best.

Last minute prep: sync the Palm, find some chocolate, buy more coffee, and trust myself that I can do this.

Forgotten things that I just remembered: clean the coffeepot.

Read more...

WIP Wednesday 10/28/09 & NaNo Alert: Liquid Story Binder on Sale Nov. 1!

Sorry I've been absent. My current WIP is my house. I'm trying to get it organized before NaNo starts, and I'm woefully behind schedule as I've been working more hours at the job that actually pays the bills. And the increase of hours at work took a physical toll. I don't do stairs very well for extended periods of time. So that had me thinking that I need to find another job. But I don't just want any job, I want a job that I love. Yes, I love writing. But that's not bringing in the cheese right now. And my current job isn't bringing in enough. Being happily single, all the finances are on me. I have no partner to back me up financially. So I'm contemplating starting my own business. I'm doing research in that area right now. I figure I'll keep my current job and start the business part-time until I build it up. Then it's bye-bye to climbing stairs constantly at work and wearing out what knee cartilage I have left. And the great thing is that writing can also be involved with this business. It just won't be fiction.

So far: bathroom and kitchen are done, living room is halfway there, and the bedroom will be last due to the closets and the files. I'm off work Thursday and Friday, so hopefully all will be completed before Sunday.

I'm working this weekend and I've done absolutely no planning for NaNo. I didn't plan last year, and all turned out well. Let's just hope that FBTSOMP plan (Fly By the Seat of My Pants) works this year.

But the Really Exciting News is that Liquid Story Binder is going on sale Nov. 1 at half price! Sale price is less than $25! I've been waiting months for this software to go on sale. I've tried it, and it's totally awesome. It has more features than I probably will ever use, but they are there if I need them. People who use this software rave about it. And it's portable! Yes, the learning curve is steep. But the developer of this software is so into customer service, he has a Yahoo Group dedicated to helping people to use all the features of this program. Download the free trial now, join the Yahoo Group, and when the sale starts Sunday, just purchase the half-off license.

I'm so psyched! Even though I'll be purchasing this next week (on Friday, which is payday), I don't know if I will use if for NaNo this year due to the learning curve. But I'll probably play around with it, and most likely turn into a LSB convert in December and use it exclusively for writing novels after November.

Don't forget Daylight Savings Time ends on Nov. 1st. That means an extra hour to write your novel! On to the insanity that is lovingly known as NaNoWriMo.

Read more...

Just To Avoid Any Problems

Image via Wikipedia

Because I already have enough on my plate and don't need any more, after reading this interview with the FTC's Richard Cleland on Edward Champion's site I will be removing all review posts and any product links from this blog. Yes, even though I have a disclaimer at the bottom, I'm still removing the links. And for my own protection as well as for the protection of others that I've linked to on this blog, I've updated that disclaimer accordingly.

Of all things the FTC decided to "fix" they had to pick on bloggers, book reviewers, writers and publishers. :Sigh:

The guidelines are here.

Read more...

Pick a Post Title

Let's see. It could be "How This Blog Got It's Name." Or, "How Much We Like Sweet Tea in the South." Or, "Why You Can Only Find Sweet Tea in the South."

Southerners Like Sweet Tea Most of All

Read more...

Wrangling Words on the Web

Hats off to Angel Zapata for his post exposing an internet plagiarist. Richard Ridyard has been plagiarizing many people who have posted their work on the internet. He's even plagiarized Stephen King.

If you've posted your work online and think you might be a victim of plagiarism, please go to Plagiarism Checker or to Copyscape to see if your work has been plagiarized.

The boldness of some people is just amazing. Just because someone can't think of their own words to write does not give them the right to steal someone else's work as pass it off as their own. I hate thieves, but I hate word thieves most of all.

Read more...