This cartoon is cute!

I'll be using this little dude to show you my mood all throughout the month of July...and probably during revision as well. Write now I'm hard to work at my novel and loving it!

So how is your novel going? And if you aren't writing...what are you up to this summer?

Tomorrow

I have decided that in order to get my first draft of my WIP done this summer I will participate in NanoWrimo in  July. I have not been known to be the kind of person to finish anything, let alone a novel. And even though I wrote a Nano Novel last November...I never had the chance to finish it due to some really sucky circumstances. So this time around I not only want to write the rest of my WIP this month, but I want it revised by the end of the year, ready to be sent out to agents. Think that's crazy? It might be. I have never tried to submit anything in my life. I know this is going to be hard work. But I have always wanted to be a writer. How can my dreams come true if I never go after them?

Hopefully I will be writing on the blog every day, letting you know about my progress. That's the goal anyway. You will see my moments of extreme desperation, times of pure happiness and feelings of brilliance. Okay, that might be a little over the top. But I hope to at least make this a fun experience for somebody.

I'll be posting my word count every day. If you so choose you can participate as well. I'd love to know how everyone else is doing.

I have been inspired. Only time will tell if it lasts.

Word Count For The Day: 1000

Goal For Tomorrow: 1500

And let the writing begin...

10,000 Word Mark

It seems like has taken forever but I've finally reached that first mark in my WIP. I actually feel like I'm getting somewhere, like I'll finish this thing. Which is funny because in reality I have quite a ways to go. But I am happy anyway. Just wish progress was a little faster. But hey, I haven't really been known for my patience.

My biggest problem has been finding the time to write. When I actually sit down the words flow easily. They may not be good words, but at least they come. And its only going to get harder. When I go to school I'll have to somehow balance homework, my infant a job and writing. So I have made a list of when I can write and where I can start cutting at other things that aren't as important.

I found that the easiest times for me to get words on paper is in the early morning or when my son goes to bed at night. These actually work extremely well because its silent, so I don't have any interuptions. I'll admit it sucks dragging myself out of bed in the morning, but its worth it.

TV is another big one. The time I watch it could easily be used to write a scene. So I'll be doing that more often as well. This is usually when I am feeding my son, but I could easily write in a little notebook instead. This way I would always be able to write every day instead of a couple times a week.

I also bring my notebook with me everywhere when I leave the house because I never know when I could sit down and write. It has paid off quite a few times. And those minutes add up after a while.

I know there is probably other things I could do to make sure I have the time to write, but this is what I have found that works for me so far.

How do you find the time to write? Do you sacrifice anything? Have any advice to give? Let me know in the comments.

The Hunger Games

Even though the need for sleep has made my brain more than a little foggy I couldn't help but write about something that has had me obsessed for about twenty four hours. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Anyone who hasn't read it should. I'm serious. That book changed my life. Okay, maybe there will be the few that hate it anyway...but this is easily on my top five favorite books of all time now.

I almost didn't get this book. The reason was stupid. There was a lot of hype about it so I thought it would be a letdown like Twilight. But a friend of mine practically begged me to read it, so I decided to give it a chance. But I didn't expect in a million years what I got.

From the moment I started the first page I was drawn in by Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl who was not your average girl at all.  I read about her world, the officals that kept people in line by making them send one boy and one girl from each district (which there are twelve) to participate in an annual event called The Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. I felt her fear when her sister is chosen and then she bravely goes in her place. I watch her fight to stay in the game, and, almost by accident, becomes someone the rest of the kids fear.

If that wasn't enough to keep me wanting more there is a love triangle as well. There is the boy at home, Gale, who she knows pretty much better than anyone, someone that in many ways is just like her. Then there is Peeta, who is the other one chosen from her district to participate in The Hunger Games with her who confuses her at every turn. I'm not sure who the author wants us to vote for, but I am instantly drawn to Peeta. He has saved and given Katniss kindness so many times there is no way I can't like him.

The story moves at a fast pace, and I even found myself crying in places. Especially when Katniss loses someone that she gets to know in the games. But instead of breaking her, this makes her stronger.

Katniss has to make some hard choices if she wants to survive. Choices that leaves your heart racing til the very end.

I am going to get the next book as soon as possible, I can promise you that. I am already counting down the days until the last book comes out!

Anyone else read any good books lately?

More Words!

I got to write again today thanks to my awesome husband. He watched the child for a few minutes while I scribbled furiously in the bedroom, wanting desperately to finish my scene before baby needed me. I don't think I've ever written that fast in such a short amount of time, not on paper. The words literally poured from me. The Muse took over completely, and that doesn't happen very often because I tend to be a tad controlling. So imagine my surprise at how well this session went.

My wordcount was 800 words in less than 15 minutes. I couldn't believe it. And the words didn't completely suck either. This was a much needed scene where my MC tries to save her mother's life, only to watch her slowly slip away. And then she discovers that even if she recovers she won't be the same. It was a tough scene so I am glad it came out so well. I wish all of them went like this.

Seriously, maybe I should always write under pressure. If I did this book might come together a little faster, which means I wouldn't worry so much about new projects catching my eye. The thing is, when it comes to me and writing, I can't focus on more than one thing at a time otherwise I just start working on one thing and not the other. That is how I have so many starts to projects with nothing finished. Something always gets in the way. I can't do that this time. I have to finish something. I need to. I want to send this out to agents, to see where I stand. I want to see if I can make it.

I really wish I could juggle more than one project at a time, something I have said many times. I get so amazed when I see writers that not only have more than one WIP in first draft, but are also revising something else and even still has another in development. It makes me almost feel depressed about my one WIP. Like it is small beans in comparison. But I can't think like that anymore. I can only do what I can do, and I am still new at this anyway. Maybe when I have more experience things will get easier.

For now I just have to buckle down and continue on this journey of discovery and hopefully end up with not a competely dreadful first draft. And even if I do...that's what revisions are for. Right?

Writing Will Always Be My Answer.

I just had to post this. I was spending the day really thinking about writers who want to be published but always make excuses why they aren't writing. For awhile I was one of those writers. But for the last two years I have busted my butt even with a now three month old boy, even with a husband, even with any chore that comes to your mind, even with friends and family responsibilities. The fact of the matter is I find the time to write. No matter what. Writing will always be my answer, will always be my getaway. Nothing will make me give it up.

Why do I bring this up? For awhile I was feeling down, feeling like what was really the point of writing? The Voice Of Doom, or rather, my Inner Editor, kept telling me that all my stories were crap. I was never going to get published. So why keep writing? You'd be better wasiting your time on something else.

But it took those hard moments to realize exactly how important writing is to me. This is not about wanting money for my writing. It's not about wanting to be published, or to see my name on the shelves. It's not even about wanting fans. It's about the fact that writing is my life. It's who I am. And because of that it will always be my answer. It took some really sucky moments for me to remember that, but I am so glad I did.

So why am I writing this? I don't want anyone else thinking the way I did. Everyone who wants to write deserves to write. You all have a story to tell. So stop saying that its stupid or trash or doesn't mean anything! Write it!

Don't make excuses about wanting to write, find the time for it. Even if it means getting up thirty minutes earlier than usual. Don't be the person that talks about writing. Be the person that writes.

Is writing your answer? Is it a part of your life?

I don't know if I will ever be published. I want to be, but when I ask myself will I always write no matter what...I know now what I will say.

Writing will always be my answer.

It's Late, I Can't Sleep...Perfect Time To Write!

So the last few days have been tough writing wise. My son is going through another one of his growth spurts and I just couldn't seem to get any time to myself. I'd put him down for a nap but as soon as I took out my notebook or my laptop he would wake up! And need to eat again. Or want to be played with. Or need to be changed. You know, all that baby stuff. So writing through this has been extremely difficult.

Today I decided that no matter what I'd write. Even if it meant asking hubby to watch our son for a few minutes. I just had to get writing again. Meeting my deadline for this story is important to me.

To make a long story short...I somehow managed to write rather furiously while my family kept baby busy, and I even like what I wrote! It seems my Muse really likes to come out to play at night, and while its nice and all...it can also suck. It really gets in the way of my sleep.

I didn't really have much else to say other than I'm proud I got some more words down. I have about thirty five pages of my new story now, which means I am becoming more and more certain I will make it to the end of my first draft. And that sure keeps me going.

When do you write? Whenever the mood strikes? Every day at the same time? Different times every day? I write at least three times a week now and always find that I work bettter at night. Not sure if that is because people are less noisy or my Muse gets more excited...but it sure is fun.

I'm still smiling about those surprise pages. And to everyone reading this: Don't let anything keep you from writing, no matter how little time you think you have.