17 posts tagged “writing”

NaNoWriMo = 50,048 words so far
I did it.  Pure utter crap.  But it's done.  And I am already starting over.  From scratch.  Same character.  Same concept.  TOTAL re-write from page 1.  New word count is more like 1k.  And being re-written and re-written.  So it'll be there for awhile.  But I've now completed NaNoWriMo once.  And probably never again.  We'll see next year.    It did inspire me to try writing.  We'll see if I can ever truly work this story out.

Books:
I finished Fire (Graceling).  It's billed as the prequel to Graceling.  Um, can we say a book is a spinoff the way a tv show is?  If so then yes this a prequel time wise.  But Graceling would be a spinoff.  Without giving spoilers, Gracelings have almost nothing to do with this book, they make an appearance.   This book is more about monsters.  Graceling  was a woman basically being thee strongest person alive and struggling with it.  Fire -- a good book, but our heroine, while strong, her struggle is that she's a beautiful monster.   And she hates being what she is.  Still a good book.  Just a bit more whiny than the first book.  The characters in Graceling were more likable/developed than in Fire.  Graceling was 5/5 but Fire is 4/5.

Now onto Tempest Rising (Jane True), I think. 

NaNoWriMo:
Rushing this weekend, tons of filler story crap.  I know.  Bad me.  I just wanna finish SOMETHING.  To restart it.  Properly.  My new ideas for this are much better and require total re-write start to finish.  Sooo write crappy fluff, but still writing actual words = get it done.  The start over.  I won't cheat, but I will write TOTAL rushed crap that will never see the light of day.  I think I will finish tonight.  And then restart.  Bit by bit.  Around reading and making presents.  Slowly.  Properly. When the mood hits only.  But I will have completed it! HA! 

Music:
Wtf is up with Adam Lambert?  Okay so he put on a "hot" performance at the AMAs.  But musically, I saw him do better on American Idol.  That song kinda sucked.

Movies:
Watched Star Trek.  Brian asked what I thought, since I don't know jack about Star Trek, don't care much about sci-fi, space stuff, except maybe Red Dwarf.  He mostly asked if it was better than Terminator Salvation , the last Brian movie we watched.  Yes it was better than that.  Because Star Trek had character development.  It was fun in that respect.  Terminator Salvation didn't seem to care about the characters at all.

Got our invite to see Avatar.

NaNoWriMo:
24,624 words so far
Believe me, it's getting a total re-write when I finish it and holiday gift making.  This is totally gonna be an outline.  Parts are good enough, parts I think go off track because I'm rushing.

Reading:
Finished Grave Secret (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 4).  So I had pre-ordered it because it was a Harper Connelly book.  Loved the first three.  Didn't read the teasers, etc.  Starts out with the same formula as the other books -- and then, it becomes clear:  everything needed to complete the series is in this book!  What?  Yup. Final book. Damn.  Though she does say on her message boards she'll never say never, it's done at least for now.  Shame.  There's a character who wasn't a main main character but a semi regular character anyway, who I felt could have been explored a lot more.   Oh well.

My current to read pile is big, so I am still on a reading spree while working on NaNoWriMo and then of course I need to work on Christmas presents at some point but been soooo dizzy lately, haven't started them yet.  Here's how backed up I have gotten:  Graceling (starting it now), Fire (Graceling) (next), Anansi Boys,  Tempest Rising (Jane True),  Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate), Beautiful Creatures,  Nightlife (Cal Leandros, Book 1), Moonshine (Cal Leandros, Book 2),  Madhouse (Cal Leandros, Book 3),  Deathwish (Cal Leandros, Book 4).  Needless to say, even though I can rip though books that are good in a few days usually, I can also slack.  So with this stack on my desk waiting for me, I've not yet broken into the remaining $75 gift card.  I know how to show a LITTLE restraint ;)

I do think I may have to get my sister the Sookie Stackhouse 8-copy Boxed Set (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood) for Christmas though.  The silly girl is trying to get the books from the library. She is still waiting for book #1.  She waited though 40 some people then had to work when it was her turn to pick it up, they wouldn't hold it til she could get there, she's back to waiting through 30 or 40 people again.  She'll be taking 20 years to read the series at this rate.

Health
Same old, same old.  Been uber dizzy.  I can't tell if it's MS, or shots.  It happens on non shot days so I think it's just MS flaring up as it's been for about a month now.  And since it is any day, not just shot days... well.  Sucks to be me.  It's listed as a "Common" MS symptom.  It's nice to be common for once.  Many of my other symptoms like tremor, headaches, etc -- they're all listed under uncommon on the NMSS site.
  

Links:
I found a house that Melissa and Brian might both wanna buy.  Any other Doctor Who fans too.  Here.  Kinda afraid to show Brian.  Our house might end up with a makeover and I don't watch Doctor Who.  Though he could decorate it worse.  It'd be better than turning it into a Star Trek ship or something.

Yeah, in case you didn't click that link -- it comes from me spending  too much time at this site tonight: http://lovelylisting.com/  Man the things that people do to their houses.  Namely houses they want to sell.  Really matching your comforter to your wallpaper?  Couldn't find matching carpet too?  Something that looks like blood on the floor?  Couldn't throw a rug down for the picture that you're using to try to sell the house?

Watching TYT:

TYT talking about Carrie Prejean's sex tape made me LOL. 

Oh also liked TYT telling off Pat Robertson for saying that Islam isn't a religion.  Video here.  Cenk slams Christianity some to prove some points, so sensitive types need not watch. 

Lister update:
Lister went to the vet.  His ear is still being irritated.  But he's still on track to have the cone and stitches removed next week.  He'll be so thrilled.  He's HATING the cone.  Cats love sleeping but contrary to popular belief they do occasionally do more than eat, sleep, and poop.  Lister is having a tough time walking around as he just crashes into stuff with the cone on, even though it's clear.  He does venture out around the house, once in awhile.  But yeah..  He mostly sleeps it off still.  As I was waking up today he did come running into the room and jumped on the bed, taking over my pillow before I was quite ready to give it up.

NaNoWriMo:
Writing: 18,853 words so far, plan to write a little more before bed.   I may have to do a COMPLETE re-write when the year is over.  Ivel's story is sucking at the moment.   The concept is okay but woah boy...  It isn't so bad that I wanna beat myself or anything, but bad enough that I'd gonna be a 50k outline when I'm done.  *nods*

Reading:
I finished A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse: The Complete Stories).  I'm kind of annoyed.  Not by the book, it was good.  By how many fans gave it one star reviews.  Apparently a lot of them read the short stories in the anthologies they've been published in before.  They're disappointed.  If they'd read the book description they'd know that.  I did read the book description and have never read the short stories before, only the full length novels, so I loved it.  *shrug*    Have also gotten another 60 or so pages into Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel, which is getting way more interesting now.  Yay!  Want to finish it though.  Am on page 200something out of 300something.  Don't want to rush but have tons of books I'm excited about starting next too.  Ahh.  The problems of being a junkie.  

NaNoWriMo update: 10,124 words so far.  I skipped a day, or was it two?  Plus I did some minor tweaking.  No, no major editing -- I know I'm still supposed to have crap.  Just a little tweaking as I had screwed up a bit so bad, I had to fix it enough to be able to keep writing the crap even ;)  I'm sure when I finish this my main character will be happy to know I'll re-write his world -- probably next year.  After I finish holiday stuff anyway.

Me update:  I'm almost expecting to experience Night Twitches soon, aka Myoclonic Jerks.  I don't usually attempt to predict these as they happen so rarely.  But, I've actually had something similar happen a few times  while awake the last two days now.  So, I'd say it's a good bet they're coming for me -- soon.  I'm overdue for them anyway.  They suck. But I've not had them much since on the higher doses of anti-seizure pills either.  So, maybe I am wrong.  Maybe the similar things I experienced while awake made up for the falling asleep ones I've not had happen in ages.  *nods*  Speaking of sleep.  I feel so sleepy that I could fall asleep right here, right n

NaNoWriMo update: 6,067 words so far.  I didn't write today as I only slept about 2 1/2 hours total last night and today, while sitting up on the couch.  Not so comfy I must say.  Didn't think I could wake up on time for shot delivery.  But was soooo tired this morning.  Guess I just passed out.  Woke up about 5 minutes before the knock at the door at 11:30 but had been awake this morning when Brian got up for work.  Then I tried to sleep and couldn't -- so I'm still up.  But finally exhausted.  Writing will have to wait until tomorrow.  I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll have some catching up to do and this version will be complete crap and a basic outline, basically.  I'll have to totally redo it as there's no way I'm getting good stuff at this pace but I like my character concept.  I just don't like what I'm writing for them.

Since I knew I couldn't focus enough to write even crap, I spent part of the day reading one of the two books I'm reading now.  Yes, two.  I'd started Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel before my other books got here.  I'm on page 150 of it.  But A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse: The Complete Stories) started calling to me once my new books arrived, since it's the Sookie short stories that I've missed as they've only appeared in anthologies before now -- I'm halfway done and only started today (It's only a few stories).

Now I think I'll sleep, a lot. But hey, I read a little and have shots for three more months. I just haven't slept in, erm, I can't remember now.   Can't see straight.  zzzzz

Well, I still have no idea where I'll take this story.  As expected, it's starting out craptactular.  I actually think that later on I COULD maybe with lots of practice make it better.  But for now, I'm just okay with the word count... 3,524 words so far   w00t!  Staying on target is good.  Making it a good story later, well we'll see.

In other news, I'm still trying to come down with something.  Surely swine flu since everything is swine flu. Except no one we know has it.  I actually think I'm just trying to fight off a sinus infection.  My sinuses have been driving me nuts since the winds were crazy and blowing dust and probably tons of other allergens around the other day.

Oh and my cat scratched my back.  Cat scratches HURT.

I'll be torturing myself with NaNoWrimo (National Novel Writing Month). 
Mom will be doing AEDM (Art Every Day Month).

What will YOU be doing?  Picking up my slacker slack?  Some other fill your November full thing that I'm unaware of?  Preparing for the holidays as I should be doing?  We all know that I'll finish mom, Karina, and Krissy's presents at the last minute or on December 26th :P

For the record, with the countdown to November now being counted in hours instead of day just how much have I plotted out in my head?  Still just the main character names, general initial concept of how the story starts out... and then... I dunno.  I did mention that I'm no writer, eh? Just this blog.  No short stories, no fan fic, no... nothing.  I just want to say I've  done this.  I do believe that I shall probably only allow people like um, my mommy to read what I end up with.  People who won't be so mean that I'd end up crying.  Or maybe I won't even let her!  I'll spend a year trying to turn it from pure suckage into just slight suckage before even my mom could read it.  I actually think my story concept is okay'ish but I'm such a scaredy cat, I don't even want to post THAT. ;)

Pilots --
NBC is reporting that those pilots were out of touch for what an hour?  because they were using the bathroom and breaking out their laptops for mundane work tasks like looking at work schedules.  Uhh... That must have been a hell of a bathroom break and on hell of a complicated work schedule to go over.  You're PILOTS.  I know that traffic isn't as bad as say LA freeways.  But you're operating some sort of a vehicle.  You don't friggin have BOTH pilots off peeing and playing solitaire at the same time for an HOUR. 

Reid grew a pair?
Senator Reid just announced that there will be a Public Option in his health care bill, with an Opt Out option for states.

October is almost over -
I'm still convinced I'll take part in NaNoWriMo, despite the fact that I've never written a story (maybe in like 1st grade -- back when they forced you to and called it homework).  I've been trying to at least think about it.  Surely it's not cheating to think ahead.  And so far I've come out with a very vague concept -- the three main characters, the general idea of what the story will be, and that's it.  I kind of hoped I'd figure out how I'd want to end it as that's actually major I think for what I do with the middle -- but it's not coming to me yet.  Hrmph.   If you're playing along and are going to give it a go, feel free to add me (DelusionalAngel) as a writing buddy so I can cry over how much faster you write than I do ;)  I MIGHT even let a few trusted read what I write if they ask -- though as I said, I've never written a story and expect suckage to occur.

Home
Lister is having surgery tomorrow.  His ear was swollen with blood this weekend.  They decided he had earmites and shook his head so violently that he burst a blood vessel or something and would be fine -- except he was left with an ear that looks more like a puppy ear than a kitty ear, flopped over.  They said to watch it.  It keeps filling with blood.  So now they they think he has an artery that is open and he needs kitty surgery basically.  They have to go in and stitch it up.  He may or may not end up left with the puppy floppy ear - the vet has had a kitty with this and it can be permanent.  It's both cute and sad when he looks up at you with that ear flopped over.  He's not in pain though, so that's good.

They're coming to my apartment in a few hours to green the place up.  Well, these apartments are older.  They want to upgrade the lighting fixtures and/or bulbs to be energy efficient --  Except they said if you put in newer fixtures those are exempt.  Well the people who lived here before us put in the very fixtures that Brian LOVED from IKEA.  So they're gonna let us keep those and only change the bathroom stuff (which I suspect means just the bulbs, maybe, not sure -- they are enclosed though and technically not sure you're supposed to use those energy efficient bulbs in those  *edit* apparently the way to upgrade fixtures that are enclosed in the ceiling IS to just add new bulbs)  and outside stuff.  I'm surprised they're changing so much.  I thought that it was as early as next year when we could have to move out, since they're gonna tear these down to build newer fancier "we can charge a fortune for waterfront Marina apartments" even though the newer expensive ones next door are all but empty.  We're thinking that they're waiting another year to start since they did say 1-5 years and the economy here still sucks so bad, etc. 

So it's October.  This means a few things.  Birthday month.  Sister's birthday month.  Halloween.  Year is almost over.  Eeek, how'd that happen -- better start making mom and Karina presents for Christmas.  And next month is NaNoWriMo.  Many people I know have done this many times.  I've said I'd do it in the past, I never have.  This time I'm pretty sure I'm going to give it a shot.  Nevermind that I've never really written anything beyond this blog and a few horrible "poems".  That's the point though, right, you do it even if you suck -- just to do it.  I had an idea pop into my head for a story this time.  I expect it to be horrific and that's okay *cue Stuart Smalley affirmation clips*  This time I'll almost certainly do it at last,  probably.  Yeah, I'm trying to psych myself up into doing this, yet again.  If I can write the rants here, I can write a bad story just for the hell and then forget about it once it's done.  Or, I can make my mommy read it and tell me how brilliant I am, you know since that's what moms are for.  Except my mom will tell me  at least you did it, nice try!  Never mind.  Everyone should have a mom like mine..   ;)