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. :)

Things, and more stuff.

Well, I'm beginning to understand I'll never have a normal life. I kinda wondered when my youngest was born with Dwon Syndrome, but had hoped when my two eldest where on their own, that I'd be able to normalize things a little bit w/ no teens in the house. Yeah, that didn't work out so well. Most of you know the highlights of this last year, which includes medical thing like brain surgery for eldest and marinara sauce on my son's face, and money things like garnishments for the year, so you know, things are not normal around here.

Is it irony that the new remodel in the kitchen would have made it nearly impossible for my son to get burned? I wouldn't have been turned that way to get the ravioli's. One of life's idosyncracies. Or is it subconcious in the way Nate & I designed the kitchen? Neither one of us ever said "making it harder for kids to get burned" as a reason to put anything anywhere. But the stove is about a foot from the sink and already, I've had my 3yo zoom through the kitchen (it's in the middle of the house) not looking, walking, or rather, running, his sock monkey, and bump into me while I was moving boiling pasta to the sink for draining. Since I did not have to cross any long span of floor, This only resulted in me putting the pot on the sink edge to keep from falling/spilling.  Already, the remodel has earned it's keep. But it makes things crazy around here.

It also made us move our living space again, and I did not like it. So after two weeks, we moved the living space around and now I have a real mess. Been cleaning it/spring cleaning it and the rest of stuff. Need to do boys' rooms as well, and get someone to come pick up our malfunctioning refrigerator and defunct dryer. It's going to be super organized because it needs to be.

Went to doctor with my 8yo on Friday to discuss behavioral things and thyroid things. Guess what? We're being referred to Children's Village because she thinks he has High Functioning Autism. So, please forgive the lack of post Fri/Sat as I'd planned on doing one but did research and cleaning instead. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with the new information, the stress to get this house reorganization done the best way. Usually, I'm like well, if I don't like it, I'll fix it later. But now, we need to do that as little as possible.

Anyone know a good housekeeper that'll work for art?? lol

I have managed to turn in Traincoach of Death (can't remember if I mentioned that) and write 5500 on the Dangerous Journey (which required more research for nautical terms. Geez, trains, boats, what's next? Planes? My poor head has learned a lot in the last two weeks!!!) and I'm going to try to get that done today or tomorrow. So I have time to edit and turn in by Friday. Wish me luck as I have another novel to write, and two more novels floating around in my head screeching to be let out, including the sequel to The Ulfric's Mate (don't you love the cover ;D).

Oh and I'm putting the garden in this week as well. Hope things stay a little calmer this week...