Yes, I know, I'm behind...blogging and writing! Days 1-11 have been quite eventful! First day, I had two sick boys, and had to go rescue the eldest boy who'd totaled his car. This is how my NaNoWriMo started. Next day, I had the flu. Well, I still managed to start. I've managed a few over thousand days, but mostly, either not getting any words in (one day on purpose because I needed a day off.).
I've been re-editing and line editing The Ulfric's Mate. I've added 600 words straight up from old numbers to new. I deleted a few things here and there, and changed some words for stronger ones. It'll be interesting to see what the readers think of the new bits. :D I'm super excited! I'll do a cover reveal around the 20th as I'm looking to release on Black Friday!
I'm over 10k, about 4 days behind, I believe. I did over 2k two different days or I'd be behind even more! I'm also editing, was hoping to finish the hard one tonight so I could write the rest of the week. Doesn't look like it's going to happen. I started this blog five hours ago.... yeah...
Well, I'm painting, writing, editing, mothering, wifing, marketing, friending, quilting, crafting, crocheting...and forgetting stuff. JUST remembered about a water bill from three weeks ago... yeah. Need to talk to the city. *sighs loudly* Heaven have mercy, I'm overloaded.
I spent five weeks with excruciating headaches. Turns out, I needed bifocals. I'm just getting used to them with fewer "oh my god bifocal throw up" moments than okay moments now. I'm so far behind on house and edits and writing, it's not even funny. And it's now seven hours since I started this blog. I cannot express to you the craziness that is my life. But really, when I say I'm overloaded, it's because I want to live life to the fullest, and my health--and that of my children--is trying to tell me to give up. But I won't. I won't give up any bit of my life of creating, loving, laughing and working in the arts at whatever level I choose to be involved. Which includes leaving me time to love on my children.
I'm gonna keep on keeping on. :D Soon, I'll make official news on here. Oh...well, suppose I should share the other news first: I am no longer affiliated in any way shape or form with Breathless Press and have no wish to be. You will no longer see books from them being promoted here. However, the authors are welcome to bring other books from other publishers. My beef is not with the authors as a group. I love my authors. I have pulled all books from that publisher, and my books will be re-released with other publishers and some self published. I am not giving up writing. So if you noticed a sudden decrease in books, no worries! They'll come out bigger and better than ever, shining brilliantly the way of my new future! *grins*
NaNo shall not defeat me. I shan't let it. I've made it every year and I have writing partners. We hall prevail! We shall overcome! We shall write!
Showing posts with label family needs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family needs. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Thursday, October 24, 2013
NaNoWriMo Classic top ten
Buy now, if you've followed me for very long, you know I'm a bit of a NaNo enthusiast. My first year, it literally saved my sanity. Now, it may very well stretch it, but I digress. NaNo pros and cons can be seen everywhere. quickly, before I post my top ten list, I'd like to give you a reason. If you're a writer, published or not, the only way you'll make it is to develop good writing habits. Every year, by the time NaNo rolls around, my habits have deteriorated to the point of hellacious, despite writing partners, contracts, etc. (Oh, didn't you hear, I have a 15 book contract for War of the Weres. Go me! :D So excited. But *ahem*)
This helps me get back into the rhythm of writing every day or goal per week. *More on that in the top ten* and it keeps me on track! Now some people can get all fancy shmancy and use those word counters. I haven't figured it out yet. Heck, it took me two years to figure out how to use bloggers easy interface traffic counter. I love watching my little green bar rise to tell me I'm hitting a goal. For no other reason, this makes NaNoWriMo a terrific tool for me. Okay, that's enough about me. What about you? Okay, so there will be more about me, but it's to benefit you. Here is my list of top ten things for NaNo, and more importantly, WHY they're in the top ten.
1) Turn off your inner editor. I know. sucks. Make notes. Word commenter system worked wonders for me (one of the things I learned my first year:)
2) Breathe. This may seem obvious, but think of the stress you get under pressure. This is the worst kind of pressure-the pressure to create. An intimate act that you are doing that you hope will eventually be printed by strangers and loved the world over. Or at least by enough people to keep you in ink and pepsi. (Uh, no Pepsi doesn't pay me for product placement. I live on the rez. Some stereotypes hold true.)
3) Find a rhythm. A pattern. Whatever your pattern is. It helps me to twitter/blog and get my brain going. It gives my kids a chance to remember all that, oh yeah mom, I forgot to tell you stuff, and I'm hungry whines, and get it all out of the way. Then, when writing is underway, I can say with total assurance, I took care of this or that. That was my pattern. It helped. You may need to stay off the internet and use it as a reward. You know yourself. If you don't, you have a week to figure it out.
4) Quit freaking out about the word goal. It's not really that high. You may need to push yourself out of that comfort zone you've been in, but just do it. (Nike's not paying me either. Maybe I should apply?)
5) Make your daily word count based on weekdays or in other words, a 5 day week. That does two things. One, you have two days off if you succeed and you can look forward to that. It allows for birthday parties, school functions, what ever you need those two days for. Two, it gives you those days to make up something you missed because you got a flat tire on the way to a write-in (I had three flat tires during my short stay in Texas...they're ALWAYS doing roadwork) or your kids' teacher calls and wanted to know why they thought Duct tape was an awesome disciplinary tool.
6) Prep meals and TREATS ahead of time as much as possible. Freeze cookie dough, muffins, whatever it is that you and your family like, particularly if you or your family have a food allergy/preference (gluten/vegan comes to mind). They will feel less like you've abandoned them. I wasn't prepared my first year (yikes! Still not this year!), so the first week sucked, but I'm a quick learner. I spent one day prepping as many meals as I could for the next week. That included grocery shopping, and portioning out things in preparation. My first year was a real challenge because I had no oven or microwave-stove top only. A gas stove top. I'd never used a gas stove top before. I also had literally, 800/month for rent, power, and food for a family of six. Challenges. I've had them.
7) If you are having problems with the plot, or a chapter, write what you want to happen. I did this and before I knew it, I was writing again to the story. Granted, I had to edit out things later, but it kept my word count going and my stress level stopping. (Can you keep something stopping??? LOL)
8) Let no bad happen. If you can help it. I don't mean in your story. If you are writing horror. Write things as bad as you like. I mean, don't over stress the little things. Further, farther? OMG which is it? My story will suck now cuz I can't remember. Worst, worse? Everyone will think I'm an idiot. Okay, get the picture? QUIT IT. When this is over, I will steal a few wonderful language sites from edittorrent's grammar site and post them here so that you can fix it-LATER.
9) Keep networking. Keep talking to those people who have been your support all this time. It will relieve stress, give you companionship, and keep it all in good fun, which leads to my last rule.
10) Have fun. We're writers. Writing is fun. Yes it's hard work. Yes, it can tear us apart emotionally when things aren't loved by everybody and their dog PB. But over the top, it's fun. Why else would we do it? Half the time we are fighting sterotyping (that's not a REAL job & You're not Published? then you're not a REAL writer) and our families to buy the time we need. Not to mention jobs, illness, life's foibles. Why not have fun?
There you have it! I hope this helps you to a successful, enjoyable NaNoWriMo.
This helps me get back into the rhythm of writing every day or goal per week. *More on that in the top ten* and it keeps me on track! Now some people can get all fancy shmancy and use those word counters. I haven't figured it out yet. Heck, it took me two years to figure out how to use bloggers easy interface traffic counter. I love watching my little green bar rise to tell me I'm hitting a goal. For no other reason, this makes NaNoWriMo a terrific tool for me. Okay, that's enough about me. What about you? Okay, so there will be more about me, but it's to benefit you. Here is my list of top ten things for NaNo, and more importantly, WHY they're in the top ten.
1) Turn off your inner editor. I know. sucks. Make notes. Word commenter system worked wonders for me (one of the things I learned my first year:)
2) Breathe. This may seem obvious, but think of the stress you get under pressure. This is the worst kind of pressure-the pressure to create. An intimate act that you are doing that you hope will eventually be printed by strangers and loved the world over. Or at least by enough people to keep you in ink and pepsi. (Uh, no Pepsi doesn't pay me for product placement. I live on the rez. Some stereotypes hold true.)
3) Find a rhythm. A pattern. Whatever your pattern is. It helps me to twitter/blog and get my brain going. It gives my kids a chance to remember all that, oh yeah mom, I forgot to tell you stuff, and I'm hungry whines, and get it all out of the way. Then, when writing is underway, I can say with total assurance, I took care of this or that. That was my pattern. It helped. You may need to stay off the internet and use it as a reward. You know yourself. If you don't, you have a week to figure it out.
4) Quit freaking out about the word goal. It's not really that high. You may need to push yourself out of that comfort zone you've been in, but just do it. (Nike's not paying me either. Maybe I should apply?)
5) Make your daily word count based on weekdays or in other words, a 5 day week. That does two things. One, you have two days off if you succeed and you can look forward to that. It allows for birthday parties, school functions, what ever you need those two days for. Two, it gives you those days to make up something you missed because you got a flat tire on the way to a write-in (I had three flat tires during my short stay in Texas...they're ALWAYS doing roadwork) or your kids' teacher calls and wanted to know why they thought Duct tape was an awesome disciplinary tool.
6) Prep meals and TREATS ahead of time as much as possible. Freeze cookie dough, muffins, whatever it is that you and your family like, particularly if you or your family have a food allergy/preference (gluten/vegan comes to mind). They will feel less like you've abandoned them. I wasn't prepared my first year (yikes! Still not this year!), so the first week sucked, but I'm a quick learner. I spent one day prepping as many meals as I could for the next week. That included grocery shopping, and portioning out things in preparation. My first year was a real challenge because I had no oven or microwave-stove top only. A gas stove top. I'd never used a gas stove top before. I also had literally, 800/month for rent, power, and food for a family of six. Challenges. I've had them.
7) If you are having problems with the plot, or a chapter, write what you want to happen. I did this and before I knew it, I was writing again to the story. Granted, I had to edit out things later, but it kept my word count going and my stress level stopping. (Can you keep something stopping??? LOL)
8) Let no bad happen. If you can help it. I don't mean in your story. If you are writing horror. Write things as bad as you like. I mean, don't over stress the little things. Further, farther? OMG which is it? My story will suck now cuz I can't remember. Worst, worse? Everyone will think I'm an idiot. Okay, get the picture? QUIT IT. When this is over, I will steal a few wonderful language sites from edittorrent's grammar site and post them here so that you can fix it-LATER.
9) Keep networking. Keep talking to those people who have been your support all this time. It will relieve stress, give you companionship, and keep it all in good fun, which leads to my last rule.
10) Have fun. We're writers. Writing is fun. Yes it's hard work. Yes, it can tear us apart emotionally when things aren't loved by everybody and their dog PB. But over the top, it's fun. Why else would we do it? Half the time we are fighting sterotyping (that's not a REAL job & You're not Published? then you're not a REAL writer) and our families to buy the time we need. Not to mention jobs, illness, life's foibles. Why not have fun?
There you have it! I hope this helps you to a successful, enjoyable NaNoWriMo.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Finding the Time
One major obstacle I encounter in my writing is finding the time. The other is my Internet, but that's another story. I have 5 kids, and although the eldest has moved out, her bipolar has only begun to be treated and she still needs her mom. I'm going to make a rundown list of my children and their needs.
Ash: Age 19, PVC's, asthma, bipolar
Josh: Age 17, Severe asthma, rebellion (don't laugh this is serious issue!), senior.
Patrick: Age 9, Severe asthma, peanut allergy
Edward: Age 7, Newly Severe asthma (used to only get it when sick and not as bad as others)
Isaac: Age 2, Down Syndrome, odd sleep patterns, terrible two's. (there is not a mother out there that wouldn't agree with the assessment of that being a NEED!)
I'm homeschooling the two middle boys at this time. I've cleared everything except now I can't get the Internet working long enough to get the stinking scanner working. May have to make copies and mail. Sigh. It's always something.
Since pulling my children out of school, we have had zero asthma attacks. I know this will change, but up to now, the majority of attacks were not illness related, they were stress related, school was that bad. That means the amount of time I'm spending on asthma related crisis has drastically reduced. In fact, there is now a direct correlation between the time spent homeschooling and the time I used to spend on asthma. Just less stressful cuz, you know, helps when your kids breathing.
As you can see, having a job with my children can be tricky. I do have a husband, and he is more than capable of dealing with it. However, I would still end up having to stay home. Also, I'm absolutely certain the 2 yo is better off with me than at a daycare.
But staying home with them takes work. There are demands of different types, needs that can't wait, and the normal love and care with raising kids. How do I find time to write, you may ask. Simple answer is I have to. For my sanity, I have to.
One thing my family doesn't do well is schedules. The health needs pretty much preclude that happening. Where does that leave me? With an 'approximate' schedule for them. Where does that leave my writing? With an approximate schedule and taking it where I can get it.
I've spoken before on having a ritual. This helps. A ritual means I don't have to worry about what time it is when I start, which helps me to find the time.
I write on paper, notebooks, anything I can get my hands on if I can't be on the computer. In fact, there are times I purposefully move to paper because it changes the way your brain works. There's science to back it up, don't ask me to prove it :P
The other thing is, my mind is always working on my books. If I'm stuck, my mind will work it out as I'm cooking dinner or feeding the 2 yo (certain foods we select to give him minimal amounts as his idea of informing us he's finished is to THROW THE FOOD so, yeah. Still feed him at times.)
The other thing is editing. Editing is the pits for a lot of people, but I don't mind it. If I know my computer time is going to be limited, I print out a copy of the current project I'm working on. Then, when stuck at doctor's offices, or whatnot, I can read, edit, take notes, or even write more. I have added thousands of words to MSs this way. I write on the back of relevant pages. Then when I'm finished, I input it into the computerized version, working backwards. (I will explain the benefits and technique of this in another post. It is awesome for finding problems.)
After I've input everything, I can either reuse the pages I didn't write on back of for next time, or give to my children for drawing/coloring.
What do I have so far? I have a ritual, so the time I work is immaterial, I work in various formats, I'm working things out even when not in front of the MS, what have I missed? Lots of little things, I'm sure :D
But that's the gist of it. If your time is severely locked with family and work responsibilities, you have to be willing to work when you can. You cannot be picky about where, sound, etc. Or you will go crazy. You may have to teach yourself to work through extraneous distractions, but it is well worth the effort.
How about you? Do you have any tricks or tips you can share? I know there are tons more since I barely touched the tip of the iceberg! What obstacles do you overcome to find time to write and how do you do it?
Ash: Age 19, PVC's, asthma, bipolar
Josh: Age 17, Severe asthma, rebellion (don't laugh this is serious issue!), senior.
Patrick: Age 9, Severe asthma, peanut allergy
Edward: Age 7, Newly Severe asthma (used to only get it when sick and not as bad as others)
Isaac: Age 2, Down Syndrome, odd sleep patterns, terrible two's. (there is not a mother out there that wouldn't agree with the assessment of that being a NEED!)
I'm homeschooling the two middle boys at this time. I've cleared everything except now I can't get the Internet working long enough to get the stinking scanner working. May have to make copies and mail. Sigh. It's always something.
Since pulling my children out of school, we have had zero asthma attacks. I know this will change, but up to now, the majority of attacks were not illness related, they were stress related, school was that bad. That means the amount of time I'm spending on asthma related crisis has drastically reduced. In fact, there is now a direct correlation between the time spent homeschooling and the time I used to spend on asthma. Just less stressful cuz, you know, helps when your kids breathing.
As you can see, having a job with my children can be tricky. I do have a husband, and he is more than capable of dealing with it. However, I would still end up having to stay home. Also, I'm absolutely certain the 2 yo is better off with me than at a daycare.
But staying home with them takes work. There are demands of different types, needs that can't wait, and the normal love and care with raising kids. How do I find time to write, you may ask. Simple answer is I have to. For my sanity, I have to.
One thing my family doesn't do well is schedules. The health needs pretty much preclude that happening. Where does that leave me? With an 'approximate' schedule for them. Where does that leave my writing? With an approximate schedule and taking it where I can get it.
I've spoken before on having a ritual. This helps. A ritual means I don't have to worry about what time it is when I start, which helps me to find the time.
I write on paper, notebooks, anything I can get my hands on if I can't be on the computer. In fact, there are times I purposefully move to paper because it changes the way your brain works. There's science to back it up, don't ask me to prove it :P
The other thing is, my mind is always working on my books. If I'm stuck, my mind will work it out as I'm cooking dinner or feeding the 2 yo (certain foods we select to give him minimal amounts as his idea of informing us he's finished is to THROW THE FOOD so, yeah. Still feed him at times.)
The other thing is editing. Editing is the pits for a lot of people, but I don't mind it. If I know my computer time is going to be limited, I print out a copy of the current project I'm working on. Then, when stuck at doctor's offices, or whatnot, I can read, edit, take notes, or even write more. I have added thousands of words to MSs this way. I write on the back of relevant pages. Then when I'm finished, I input it into the computerized version, working backwards. (I will explain the benefits and technique of this in another post. It is awesome for finding problems.)
After I've input everything, I can either reuse the pages I didn't write on back of for next time, or give to my children for drawing/coloring.
What do I have so far? I have a ritual, so the time I work is immaterial, I work in various formats, I'm working things out even when not in front of the MS, what have I missed? Lots of little things, I'm sure :D
But that's the gist of it. If your time is severely locked with family and work responsibilities, you have to be willing to work when you can. You cannot be picky about where, sound, etc. Or you will go crazy. You may have to teach yourself to work through extraneous distractions, but it is well worth the effort.
How about you? Do you have any tricks or tips you can share? I know there are tons more since I barely touched the tip of the iceberg! What obstacles do you overcome to find time to write and how do you do it?
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