NaNoWriMo Thoughts, Feelings, and Tips

Hi,

One day, I will get this blogging thing back to its hay day. In the meantime, I'll keep on keeping on. I've had a lot of new releases, and more to come. But I'm most happy that I've kept writing through the worst year I've had since...a long time.

Okay, NaNoWriMo is a huge writing online camp. You do fun things, reach out, meet up with peeps you might never have become connected to otherwise. I've become a part of a group that is so positive and means a lot. New for me. But I think, that in the hoopla of reaching that 50k words written goal, people forget the purpose. The purpose is to get you to write, to stretch your  comfort zone, to reach for a goal that might seem impossible. Now, it doesn't show it on NaNo stats because I didn't remember to finalize the official word count, but I've only lost one year that I've done it.

That's not to brag. In fact, I had to work very hard to do it with all that's going on. The thing is, use NaNo to do what you need it to do. I use it to get back into the habit of making writing a priority. If you don't win, but you wrote at least 5 days a week, you're a huge winner. You now have words you didn't have before. If you're a new writer, this is especially important. The first couple hundred thousand words you write tend to not be your best. LOL

Since I've made 50k words this year outside of NaNo, I've made a stretch goal of 75-100k. That's insane, but I'm at 38,627 and I haven't written yet today. (Too bad can't count blog and emails! lol I'd be way over my 100k mark :P). Do you see that number? I've been ill, my kids have been ill, I've had no money (can't go to write ins, stress of power being turned off, etc.), and multiple hours spent at doctor's offices, and I've still managed. How? I've worked late at night, cut sleep back to 6 hours...if I'm lucky. Remember those sick kids? Sigh.

In case you're new here, I have 5 kids, one grandkid, and one daughter in law. I have three still at home, and they are all in different schools. They have been bringing something home from each school, and like good little kids, have shared with everyone. I've not gone one whole week without someone being sick. I'm ready for it to be done now. ANYWAY.

The point is to push yourself further than you believed possible, to make yourself go. I had to change strides. The one I was on just wasn't coming. I have more wordage on the shorts (I'm putting together something for Carina, cross fingers) that were supposed to be extras than on my main project. However, the new project is moving along nicely. I hope to really push it the last week. I'm also hoping to get some write in time, time away from family responsibility to really focus on my writing. But even if that doesn't happen, I am going to make my 50k goal. I am probably going to make the 75k goal. The real stretch will be that 100k goal. Who needs sleep :P

For those who have struggled in the past, here's a past blog post with some helpful hints and tips to make it through a successful NaNo!

Don't forget, the biggest plus is learning how to consistently put out words, regardless of the count! The new friends, reconnect with old friends, is just a bonus!

As a closing, I'd like to remind everyone, I have a new tagline for my artistic life and a youtube channel (Only have one video, but have started the planning for more. It's a learning curve for me. LOL), and I've put out quite a few books available across many venues, and continuing to add more books to more venues. To keep up on everything, you can sign up for my newsletter on the side bar, or here.


That tagline? The Next Leonardo da Vinci. Or, The Next Leona-rdo da Vinci.

The newsletter encompasses art and writing, and any other skill I want to show off, but mainly art and writing. Please, come follow me! When I get to where I want to be, it'll be once a week. Right now, I'm working hard for once a month. :)

Arting and The Princess Bride

*Waves* It's Monday, so time for the art stuffs and things. I'm feeling a little stressed about my personal life finances as a check we are waiting for (A LARGE one, so if you owe me money, don't think that's about you LMAO...I don't think anyone owes me that kind of money?! Well, if I'm wrong, and you do, I have a paypal *cheeky grin*) is taking it's sweet time through the mail services... Waiting, waiting...I am waiting for Vincini...you surely are a meanie. Okay, okay, I couldn't help it :D Love The Princess Bride.

Why?

There are many reasons, but, besides the well honed script--seriously, helps to be able to see the costumes than hear about them lol--we have fun characters, and sumptuous landscaped scenes. It inspires me deep inside. Now, that may sound silly, but think of it. Which books or movies do you enjoy the most? I think you'll find that all the things we enjoy the most, well, art wise (yes movies and books are art endeavours), touch your heart and soul. They can lighten it, put a burden on it, stroke it, soothe it, piss you off, make you think...it touches you. And, I believe the best art doesn't just touch your mind, or your heart, but also, the soul.

The pieces of art that last, that become classics, are those that do all three. The Princess Bride wasn't released yesterday, yet, I betchya that a large portion of peeps got a smile reading that bit about Vincini! The Princess Bride doesn't just tell us a love story, it gets us to live it with them, despite the impossible things. The Cliffs of Insanity? Yeah, every author and artist has been there. LOL The ROUS's. Well, those are a bit much, but still, we laugh, we worry, we smile, we feel... Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die. Who didn't feel that satisfaction as the sword grazed the cheeks? As he said, I want my father back, you son of a bitch. How could you not feel that. Not only was the acting well done (another form of art!), but the line was intense.

One of the ways it touches us is in the repetition. The repetition of him saying that built it up. In oil painting, it's much the same way. The balance of repetition and contrast can make or break a painting. I have one that the repetition has dulled the power down. I'm going to have to apply a fix. Also, I still have more glazing to do, but here, see this:

 

I like the original way I did the underpainting better for the shell, though, when I'm finished glazing, It *should* look more like that but with depth. The outer sand, I want more abstract, and I do love the bits, but it's too much. I'm going to scrumble a bit. Problem is, choosing a color.... LOL that will break up the monotony of the brush strokes, and I think both add to the abstract and get it looking how I want it to look. I don't want it to look like individual grains of sand, but I want you to THINK of individual grains of sand when you see it.  Something I hadn't considered when starting this painting was of the very repetition of the sand. However, I love the texture of sand against the smooth shell, so that's where I'm going to focus.

In my art, despite set backs like these, I not only think of the technical bits, but of the emotional bits. Truth be told, I think of the emotional bits first. And that, my friend, is what makes my art different. I focus on the emotional aspects of the art. I want them to be good, no, excellent, but more, I want you to feel touched in the depths of your soul. I want it to inspire you to smile, to feel peace, to feel love, to go out and follow your dreams. I want to empower people.

That's not asking for much...

Who inspires you to feel with your soul?