NaNoWriMo 2011, Day 18, 36092 Words

One of the things I really enjoy about my job is that no two days are ever identical. I suppose that's true of most people's worlds...but when you have an open door that lets in the general public, it definitely enhances that reality.

Yesterday was a really special day. A few highlights include helping a customer who was coming in to pick up a DVD he'd special ordered. He gave me his name, "Blank*" and told me, when I couldn't find it on the shelf that it was spelled "B-L-A-N-K." It was not on the shelf. I asked if I could get the phone number he used on the order and he said, "NO. I didn't give one. But I got the email and I know it's here." Okay...let's try looking it up with the email. As he started to give me the email address I recognized the first name in the email as being the first name of the only DVD I did have on hold. "Oh," I said, "I do happen to have an order for that DVD under the last name 'Smith.'" "Yeah," he said, "that's one of my aliases."

Nice. Maybe next time we start with the alias that you're using to order your DVDs.

I suppose that's smarter than using your real name and address to special order a book about kidnapping and then attempt to kidnap Gert Boyle (of Columbia Sportswear). Another true story.

My other favorite story from yesterday was a return. The gentleman had been in the day before and purchased a novel he was really excited about. When he got up the next morning he found a note (which he brought for me) on the table with the book that said, "Take it back Doug." He said he figured his wife had already purchased the book as a Christmas gift. He'd already been instructed not to buy himself anything.

My point to all this? For me, writing is a lot like my day job, in that no two days are ever the same. And that makes me happy. Going back through words written days and weeks and years ago, sometimes it really does blow my mind to think that it was me who wrote those words. Even just by sitting down one hour versus another on the same day I know it will change the shape and content of my work. I love it. I love the thrill of staring down a blank page (or screen) and knowing that in an hour (or two...or three), something completely new and never before written, will appear. From my mind and into the world.

That's pretty darn cool.

"I said, 'Please try not to love me. Close your eyes, I'm turning on the light. You know I have no vacancy and it's awfully cold outside tonight."

          from She Says by Ani Difranco

Some days knock you harder than others.

*Name changed to protect the paranoid.

Paddling Against the Current (NaNoWriMo 2011: Day 17, 34459 Words)

Yesterday was a long day, probably the longest I've had this entire NaNoWriMo. It wasn't bad long, just full long and by the time I finally reached home (after passing 3 bad accidents in less than 1 mile), I wasn't sure I had it in me.

But I figured it was worth a try.

The writing wasn't easy. It was slow to get started and the flow wasn't there. All the momentum I'd had the morning before had disappeared and I was struggling with how to get going again. Rather than being swept away by the swift current of my story, I felt like I was paddling up an angry river.

So I took a break. I procrastinated with an hour of television and internet and made my 2011 donation to NaNoWriMo. After a few false starts, I finally got a bit of a groove back and was able to get down some 1200 words or so before I found my eyes blinking just a little bit too long. A long stretch from my average day this month, but it's the 17th of November and I have yet to use one of those free day passes. Perhaps I never will.

Tonight is a quiet and rainy night. Just me, the animals, and some Magnetic Fields. I've mixed a drink and have settled into my writing chair and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

I can't imagine wanting to do anything else.

"Let this be the epitaph for my heart. Cupid put too much poison in the dart. This is the the epitaph for my heart because it's gone, gone, gone. And life goes on and on and on. And death goes on, world, without end, and you're not my friend."

          from Epitaph for my Heart by The Magnetic Fields

The only thing missing is me.

Interrupting (Moo!) Cows (NaNoWriMo 2011, 33010 Words)

Yesterday's writing session knocked me to the ground. Quite literally. It was an awesome morning of writing and progress and ideas and excitement and let's not forget yesterday's discussion of kissing. I was on such a roll and was very frustrated by the interruptions.

The first time my husband came in to say good morning I did my best not to be grumpy about it, realizing that it was likely the only real conversation we were going to have time for. I do still happen to enjoy his company and appreciate the time we have together so I set aside my writing for a little while. 

A little bit later my dad came over and suddenly, there I was, in an intense moment of writing, momentum carrying me onward and there were two people and a dog in my writing space talking about things that had absolutely nothing to do with me. I don't think there has ever (in my entire life!) been a time when I have more sincerely wanted to be left alone to write.

After a few more minutes the room was finally cleared and I was left with only 15 more minutes to write before it was time to leave for work. My fingers flew across the keyboard, chased by the words that were desperate to be written.

When I finally had to force myself to get up, I was quite surprised to learn that my entire right leg had fallen asleep. Really, I had no idea. None.

What happened next is hard to describe because it was so traumatic my brain has already blocked off a good portion of the transpiring events. What I do remember is that my leg collapsed in an unnatural way and the rest of my body desperately tried to compensate. The end result was me lying on my back, bloody and bruised.

Today I can still barely use my right wrist. My back hurts. My right knee is in pain. My left leg which already suffers from nerve damage is pissed off at me. In short, I am a painful mess.

Work was a disaster and so what writing I was going to do when I got home was exchanged for preparation for a presentation I have to give in three hours. What writing I was going to do this morning before said presentation, I am giving up to go in early to finalize presentation preparation. This blog is really just about procrastination.  Presentation preparation procrastination. Say that 10 times fast.

Today is donation day over at NaNoWriMo and I am looking forward to giving my own financial contribution to them later on. They really do great things and deserve all the support they can get. For anyone else who's interested, you may check them out at: https://store.lettersandlight.org/donations

With my husband working tonight, I'm hoping that this evening will be a productive time to pick up where I left off, without interruption.

Facebook, I'm looking at you.

"I knew you well, I know you best. Everybody owes something to everybody else. Gabrielle gave me some news to give to you: 'Never take him for granted, you've got nothing better to do.'"

          from Monkeys Uptown by Iron & Wine

On Kissing, NaNoWriMo 2011 (Day 15, 32,415 Words)

I've spent the morning writing about first kisses and kissing in general. It's been fun to have the creative license to make up wonderful, sad, humorous and near tragic tales of first kisses. To imagine that moment again, in so many different and varied ways.

Remembering what it was like to anticipate my own first first kiss...

Then there are the kisses that come after your first first kiss, the first kiss you share with someone new you've been wanting and waiting to kiss for the first time. The best friend of one of my characters talks about PKMs (Perfect Kissing Moments) and I can't help but think about how those PKMs can both haunt and inspire us. Pleasant memories and missed opportunities, carried with us for the rest of our lives.

I can only remember one truly Perfect Kissing Moment that I didn't take advantage of. The reasons for that were a bit complicated, but thinking of it now, I can't help but wonder how things would have been different if I'd leaned in instead of pulling away. I don't live my life with regret, that's just not what I do. But sometimes, I'll confess, I wonder how my life would have been altered if I hadn't been quite so afraid.

Sometimes a kiss really can change everything. Friendships can be forever altered, for better, for worse.

"A kiss is not a contract, but it's very nice, it's very nice. Just because you've been exploring my mouth doesn't mean you get to take an expedition further south. A kiss is not a contract, but it's very nice, it's very, very nice. Just because we've been playing tonsil-hockey doesn't mean you get to score the goal that's in my jockeys."

             from A Kiss is Not a Contract by Flight of the Conchords

NaNoWriMo 2011 (Days 12-14, 29,610 Words)

I'm home again and back in the library, cozied up in my slippers (new, warm, wonderful) and a blanket. I've settled in for some writing time as the sunrise transforms the sky from black to a light, steady gray. I've got my music on and the shuffle is cooperating with my mood (or my mood is cooperating with my shuffle?). My coffee is warm, the heat just kicked on, and I have had an amazingly wonderful weekend.

Wonderful food was eaten, the beach was explored, waves flirted with, fresh air breathed in deeply, sleep was restful, and over 10,000! words were written. Saturday alone was nearly 5,000 words. It was a productive and wonderful weekend and I am going to enjoy this last day of vacation before returning to a very hectic work week. In fact, I'm going to do my best to not think about what's waiting for me upon my return.

My story continues to progress well, though I am probably 10-20 pages away from some of the most challenging writing of my life. There is an inevitable confrontation that is going to take place and I am still unsure how it's going to play out.

In general, during NaNoWriMo, I have avoided trying to write anything that involves doing much research/fact checking. But, while I was away at the coast, the story took off. On the road. And I was left with my Google Maps app and a 3G connection to try to get some basic facts right so I could proceed at least somewhat accurately. Let's just say I'm happy to be home again with my 27-inch portal to high-speed internet. And a printer. 

I have a much greater respect for people who write historical fiction, or any kind of fiction that involves accurate details in time and space. I just keep hearing this little nerdy voice in the my head that keeps saying things (while pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose) like, "You know, if they'd been driving for 6 hours, wouldn't they really be {insert name of town} instead of {insert other name of town}?"

I hate and love that voice. 

For now, for the sake of speed and time, I'm just plowing forward with the most basic of details and will wait to consult with my little nerdy voice when it comes time to edit and fact check. 

And for those of you who are curious about how the word count translates to pages, I've written 78 pages so far and the month has (not quite yet) reached the halfway point.

"Flew out of Amsterdam, put up one hand on the window to say goodbye. I'd been so lonely there, I'm so lonely everywhere, even though they'd been so nice."

                    from Amsterdam by McKinley

Jellyfish

NaNoWriMo 2011 (11/11/11...19,418 Words)

My first TMBG concert, 16.5 years ago!

Now it's time to take NaNoWriMo on the road! We'll see how the updating goes. The hotel we're staying at does not have wifi, so my ability to update on a daily basis will be restricted, but I haven't ruled anything out yet...including drive-bys to free wifi hot spots.

Last night I went to see They Might Be Giants for the not sure how manyeth time. It was completely awesome and I had so much fun "dancing." It was hot, it was sweaty, it was loud, and I remembered going to see them for the first time, when I was just 19 years old.

Jezebel, one of my characters, just turned 19. Last night at the concert, thinking about my own experiences as a 19 year old, I couldn't help but wonder how things like technology (iPhones, Facebook, etc) have changed what it's like to be in high school and in college.

Neil Gaiman wrote a song that talks a bit about that very thought that begins, "I Google you..." The world is a very different place and I think we have yet to really understand how social media has changed what it's like to be a teenager. And I like to think and wonder about how other advances in technology have changed that as well. Once upon a time you didn't wait by the phone for someone to call (or text, or tweet, or update their status). Did you wait by the post? Wait to see them at school or at church?

Keep Typing and Carry On! NaNoWriMo 2011 (Day 10, 18,182 Words)

It has been slow going this morning. I'm still unable to get much sleep. The downside, is I'm tired (or more accurately, exhausted). The upside is that I got to watch a beautiful sunrise while listening to My Morning Jacket.

Another obstacle I've found, when it comes to writing, is more physical. The less sleep I get, the more coffee I want to drink and the more coffee I drink...well, the more active my bladder becomes. This means I have to break my concentration, abandon my writing space, and go to the bathroom. It's annoying. Sometimes it takes ten or fifteen minutes to get back into the same rhythm I had found before the interruption.

This morning I've probably written some 500-600 words. I found myself being much more critical than I usually am at this stage in the game. I started telling myself that I needed to just keep moving forward. I created my own variation of the Britishism, Keep Calm and Carry On. (Because honestly, how can there ever be too many variations...)

Keep Typing and Carry On!

NaNoWriMo, for me, is about the freedom create without criticism, without the bother analyzing or questioning. It is what it is and what doesn't work can be edited out...in January, March, June, or September. November is all about letting the ideas, the words, flow freely and without that inner critic knocking you down.

Keep Typing and Carry On...

Today is another fun filled day of adventure and tonight will be filled with more music. The sun is shining, the sky is transforming from gray to blue, and I can't help myself from feeling happy.

"Bang, bang, on the door. You open not knowing for. If opportunity rears its head will you answer or stay home in bed."

               from The Day is Coming by My Morning Jacket