January "jones"

I don't really know her work, but her name is really cool.

The entire month practically gone, and no blog post for January. New Years' resolutions are something I gave up with Barbies and a complete, unquestioned faith in Santa Claus. (Hey, I said "unquestioned faith" not total disbelief -- I believe...I just have serious questions, is all.)

Many times, in a quiet moment, I'd sit at the computer and try to come up with a post, but nothing ever gelled. One of the most disturbing parts of being a writer, is forging ahead in spite of feeling that every word that flies off your fingertips is complete and total garbage.

You know, my daughters, both of them like to write. When I bring my little Dana along, if I'm not using it, one of them is sitting with it in their lap tippity tapping something out. It's heartwarming, and it's astonishing, too. They, both of them, sit down with no angst, no worry, no hemming and hawing... and they write. They don't futz over whether or not it's publishable. They don't squirm when I read it (or when they are writing it...) Afterwards, they are proud of it -- "Look what I did, Mom!" -- and they don't go back to it obsessively tweaking over and over, picking at it like so much lint on a sweater until it's "perfect" ...but bland.

And the kicker? The stories are usually good. I mean really good. Imaginative, inventive, colorful, evocative... with characters that jump off the page. Are the stories "perfect"? No, heck no. They have surprisingly few spelling errors (my youngest especially is a very good speller), and a few grammar errors...but that is beside the point, and we all know it. Those things can be easily corrected. The creativity and spontaneity they exhibit in their stories I hope will never be edited away.

When I think of their writing, of course, I'm proud of them, although I don't feel proprietary -- I try real hard not to live through them. I try to say as little as possible that isn't along the lines of "Wow, thank you so much for sharing this with me! I'm honored!" They'll have teachers in their future, likely in college (hopefully they will be able to go to college) who will smash their work to bits -- come on, I had plenty of those types of professors, and I know you did too -- so I'm gonna be firmly ensconced in their cheering section.

Reflecting on this careless, reckless abandon with which they approach their own writing...I often wonder if a "little child shall lead them" in my case...and if I can absorb a smidgen of that careless, reckless abandon in my own writing?

So...other than a quick spellchecker on this puppy, I'm going to embrace that ideology and let this blog post ride, as hammered out in first draft style. And hopefully, in a small way, it can kick off a little bit of psychic 'new years' resolution' in my soul, and inspire me to approach all my other writing in the same way. It's something I've been attempting since the 2007 NaNo -- to give that inner editor a bottomless cup of aromatic Joe, drop her into a cushy chair with lots of books around her and tell her I'll be back in a few hours -- when I'm done recklessly hammering out whatever chapter I happen to be writing.

Here's to the new year!

Confetti and Cocktails Time!

I did it. That's what I can say, now, to the question "Have you written a novel?" Why yes, yes I did. As in past tense, as in already accomplished.

I've just submitted and been approved by the NaNoBot Overlords 52,541 words, topped off with "the end" and everything and I've now got the purple bar with the white lettering that says, "winner" on it displayed under my user name. I've printed out my pretty certificate with my name and my novel's name on it that has "Winner" emblazoned across it, and I'm gonna figure out how to put the winner badges on this here blog.

(the number of times I can use the word "winner" let me show you it)

I feel...Like I can accomplish anything, now.

So, I'm going to celebrate, kick back, enjoy the holiday...and plot my Script, for the upcoming Office of Letters and Light challenge, "Script Frenzy".... heheheheh... I'm addicted.

Some Random Thoughts...

I just distilled my writing Mission Statement in one sentence in an email to a friend:

"...I want to write trashy, gossipy, messy, escapist mainstream fiction which gets consumed in mass quantities. -- A lot of it. "

He implored me not to sacrifice my art for filthy lucre... And I had to ask, "Have you read my stuff?" I'm just sayin'...

Now, I'm not meaning to imply that I've never had more literary, lofty goals -- I am known to spew good intentioned -- but still rather bad -- poetry on occasion... But my writing desire is more satisfyingly filled when I'm spinning an entertaining story. Full of quirky yet believable characters. Who get thrown into believably simple yet frustrating situations. Who maybe find a little redemption along the way.

I wish I had the capabilities of a Jane Austen or -- shoot, I can't stand 'em, but they've definitely stood the test of time -- even the Bronte sisters to tell stories so full of scope and timelessness that they become classics read the world over. It's probably not gonna happen... and even if it does? I'll likely be dead, so I won't know anyway.

At the end of the day, I just want to look over a chapter I've cranked out, and smile a little in recognition, wince a little in shared pain, thrill in anticipation, and finally sigh with a little release... I want to...transport, and entertain, and maybe lift up a little... bring a smile... occasionally a tear... maybe just a tiny dash of conviction...?

So, yeah. I wanna tell great stories...but like the kind you tell after a glass of wine, sitting around in front of the fire with a group of friends, just enjoying each other's company. The kind you repeat to other groups of friends because you know they'll bring a smile. The kind of seemingly insignificant event which ends up becoming the gold thread weaving in and out of the tapestry of your days. (What did I tell you about the bad poetry...? See?)

So, yeah. It's not lofty...or significant...and probably won't be a blip on the radar in fifty years...but that's my writing life, in a nutshell.



Here's a quote, from my quietly BRILLIANT husband on writing, and more specifically, editing when you're supposed to be getting the story on paper. He said, "Honey, trimming an overgrown hedge into a topiary shape is much easier than growing a hedge into a topiary shape."

I love it -- I've quoted it to everyone who will listen.

So, yeah: Rule 1# - Get the words down while the muse is dictating in your ear like a chipmunk on an amphetimine high -- you can cut, edit, shape, style and beautify after she crashes into a post-rush dream state.

BLAVIN!

I did it. I signed up for NaNoWriMo. Late -- four days behind, to be exact (that's 6,668 words behind) but am now at 11,956 words. I've closed the gap, all I need to be caught up is a little over 3,000 words. I should be able to accomplish that on a Sunday afternoon.

I put the NaNo participant badges on my page here, proudly, and am trying to figure out how to put a little widget word counter on too. Anyone know how to do that? Anyone, Anyone... Beuller...Beuller...Beull - okay, I'll stop. (Figured it out ;-)

I'm writing a kooky story that I'm making up as I go along -- the characters have already taken on some recognizable signs of life, and I'm surviving and continuing to slap words on the virtual page by completely ignoring my internal editor -- and not being afraid to record the suckiest writing that sucks in order to reach the goal of 50,000 words by midnight, November 30.

It's... exhilarating! It is amazing how much output you can achieve if you simply speed write. And it is all practice -- no pressure...just writing like a kid does, for the pure fun of it!

If you haven't checked it out, and you kind of aspire to writing that novel that you just know exists deep inside your brain, check out the NaNoWriMo -- challenge yourself. You never know what you can do, till you sign up for a contest run on the honor system, with no judges, no monitoring and no monetary prize. It's GREAT!