Wednesday, November 7, 2018

ISWG, NaNoWriMo and Where's My Clone?

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Full disclosure, as I write this in October, I'm neck deep (as in someone else standing on my shoulders and we're talking about their neck), in NaNoWriMo and preparing for upcoming Author Events for all you book-loving holiday shoppers.  I love when you comment and I'm very glad you stopped by, but I can't promise that I'll get to check out your own blog post in a timely manner.  I will get there. Eventually.  

Hence my need for a clone. Has anyone got that process dialed in yet? I've noticed a trend in my blogging habits the past couple years. With the new year, I'm all refreshed and energized to spend blog time with you wonderful people. By the end of April's A to Z, I'm dead. And things only get worse from there. By mid-summer I'm down to once a month IWSG posts. I'd say this is a trend I'm hoping to change with the coming year, but again, I'm not going to make any promises. Maybe this is a sign I shouldn't dive into A to Z this year. Hmm. Things to ponder.


My tiny assistant Bitsy, kept
me warm while selling books
at Pumpkinfest in
Montague, MI.
So what's this NaNoWriMo thing? It's my yearly major writing binge where I join hundreds of thousands of other people around the world by writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Traditionally, that's supposed to be the rough draft of a new novel. This year, I'm aiming for 50K of whatever project my eyeballs and fingers agree on that day. As of this morning, my goal is to work on a total rewrite of 2007's NaNo YA fantasy endeavor that is half finished. I'd like to get another YA title out to accompany A Broken Race. I'd also like to generate a few new short stories to get into submissions early next year. I'd also like to get a million dollars, but as I don't play the lottery, the odds of me productively writing are far more likely.


In the further need for a clone category, I'm also on year 10 of acting as an ML for my region for NaNo. This means I'm organizing and hosting events all month, moderating a forum, writing regional emails and answering questions and encouraging the hundreds of writers in my region. While writing my own project. I also added a few extra tons of insanity and booked three weekend days of author events during November. Because who needs sleep? Can I write in my sleep? We'll find out.

This month's IWSG Question: How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?
The dress I made my daughter
for homecoming. She wanted
something 50's housewife.

Oh man, it's been a major evolution. When I first started writing, I had time to paint, draw, do needlework, sew, and more crafts than I could name in the time that I have to write this post. My creative endeavors were all over the board. But since I started writing seriously, about eight years ago, almost all of those things have fallen by the wayside. Though I still enjoy doing other creative things, my brain is stuck in creating worlds, characters, and plots.




I have dipped back into sewing in the past few months. After brushing the mental rust off and a lot of swearing at how hard it is now to thread the damned sewing machine needle even with my glasses on, I think I've got following a pattern and the improvising part of things figured out again. After this next project, which I really should do a post about, is finished, I think I'll put the distracting sewing machine back away. There are so many things I could do with it...but writing calls.

15 comments:

  1. I've heard about NaNoWriMo, but I'm not sure if I could ever handle it. It seems like a lot to write in one month.

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    1. I love NaNo. It's a great way to get a jump start on whatever novel I plan to work on for the year. If you've already got a process down that entails being a slow methodical writer, then no, NaNo is not for you. But if you need a kick in the pants to focus and get a rough draft on paper quickly, then give it a try.

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  2. You like to have a full plate, don't you?

    I find that A-to-Z always burns me out, which is why I never do it two years in a row. But then after a year off it starts to call to me again...

    Good luck on your NaNo! And I love the dress. Your daughter asked for a "50s housewife" style dress? That's kinda awesome.

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    1. I do like my plate full. It gives me less time to get into trouble. :)

      I'm thinking a year off might be the way to go for me this time around. I love getting around to see all the A to Z regulars but I could use a little less stress for a few months.

      Yes, my daughter was having a retro moment. She totally embraced it with hair and makeup too.

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  3. First up, as the second-born twin, I can tell you that clones are people, too. As soon as their experiences diverge from yours, they start having their own wants and dreams.

    Secondly, I had a thought about the A-Z challenge. Maybe you could do a regular-length post, but cover a weeks worth of letters? Then, you're not struggling by feeling left out of a thing you typically participate in, but it's not taking as much energy. Sure, an a-g post is going to take longer than an 'a' only post, but not so long as 7 separate posts.

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    1. Now you're just raining on my clone parade. Or giving me fodder for a story.

      Unfortunately, A to Z likes daily posts so the once a week thing would be heavily in the rebel category. While I do indulge my rebel side now and then, I'm thinking sitting out for once might be the thing my sanity needs.

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  4. I did A to Z to years in a row, and by the end of the second challenge I felt dead. I couldn't do it the next year. In fact, it's been three years and I still feel burned out from that last one I did. lol

    I'm doing NaNo for the first time this year. Good luck to you!

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    1. Yeah, that's kind of how I'm feeling about it. I'm fine with the posting, but it's all the socializing that drains me. And it's not fair if only post but don't play along.

      Good luck with NaNo! I hope you enjoy it.

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  5. I need a clone, too, esp. one who will do my promo, etc. and leave me time to just write. Love that dress you made for your daughter. Good luck with NaNo!

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    1. Yes! A promotion clone would be awesome! I have so much for her to do. Let's get on that.

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  6. Good luck with NaNo! That's cool you're helping with your regional NaNo group.
    I can't do the A to Z Challenge anymore. Just too much.
    I do have a clone machine though! Would you like to run through it?

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    1. I'd love a run though your machine. I'll be right over.

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  8. It's tough to keep on top of all those things! I've been giving A to Z a miss more often than not lately, as it really does distract me from the writing I need to do.

    And if you find a way to make a clone that actually does the marketing, let me know. I need one.

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  9. I hope you had a good time with Nano this year. I think it got me back into a solid writing habit that I might be able to keep up with for a while.

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