Categories
NaNoWriMo poetry

Writing Month of November: NaNo, PAD, etc.

A little under 24 hours until NaNoWriMo begins; in general, it seems like this year has exploded with a lot of writing challenges across the web. I’ve seen a nonfiction challenge, a picture-book idea challenge, a reading challenge….gee whiz! While I’d love to participate in all of these writing challenges, I also must keep my sanity.

So I’ve decided that the only other writing project I will take on is the Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge. Although I don’t consider my poetry too great, I figure writing out poems alongside working on my new novel will be a good balance.

I love the motivational spirit I feel from this year: just a larger support group locally and online. I realize that I probably quit my novel early last year because I didn’t have much of a support group (and my story was driving me a little crazy).

Still no plot, but some characters are forming in my mind. Although no promises can be made, I would like to blog daily about my NaNo progress via this blog. At least then I’ll have another source of motivation, since you all will hold me accountable for my goal.

I always forget about Halloween these days, because my mind ends up skipping onward to November right away.

Categories
editing observation

Finally Revising & A Clutter Realization

Well, well.

Looks like I have not been able to keep up with my blogging schedule the past few weeks (supposed to release posts on Tuesdays and Fridays).

Instead of feeling guilty about the irregular schedule, I need to re-think which days are best for me to post. At the end of the last post, I thought about starting to post everyday again. Then, the next day came, the next, and the next…and no posts.

This morning I finally tackled a story I had originally written early last year. After the first read-through, I was impressed with how the story went along in only the first draft; however, I notice that the draft has more telling than showing. So, I dissected the darn draft with a red pen, which is my pen of choice for self-editing. Even though people think of red pens negatively in terms of corrections, it helps me focus on what I can improve.

Something else I’ve noticed about myself this past week: I collect way too many things. I’m not talking about just physical things, but also digital. It’s time to declutter and free up my physical and digital space…which will in turn free up my mental/emotional space as well.

I enjoy Saturdays where all I need to do during the day is work on writing and website design.

Categories
NaNoWriMo project Work Diaries

A New Cycle & NaNoWriMo Thoughts

It’s always about cycles; once I get used to a routine, something else changes it up. I think this weekend I’ve finally gotten the hang of my recent schedule:

Since I’ve received unexpectedly good attention for client stories, I’ve been keeping busy with writing short stories up to 2,000 words. These stories are essentially me being a ghostwriter, so in the end I don’t get credit for writing them (other than the bit of cash I receive from the gig). It’s okay; it’s been fun learning about new topics I wouldn’t have ever thought to write about in my own work.

Since the past few Sundays have been errands days, the rest of the week I decided to be more proactive and finish all my projects/assignments by today. Success! Amazing what a little deadline does to me. It’s probably a common feeling, but I find that just having a deadline/plan later in the day forces me to focus on my work earlier in the day. It’s better than floundering around all day and not seeing an “end” to the project.

Blogs have fired up for NaNoWriMo preparation; I remember how last year I wasn’t able to complete my novel. Then again, there was a lot on my plate last November–my mind wasn’t completely on writing. I wonder if this year will be different. I’m still against too much preparation for the project, though; in terms of writing, I just like to go with the flow rather than plan too much.

Earlier this week, I was chatting with a friend about how I’d like to get back to my own writing after I complete my client projects. Although it’s nice to earn money writing for others, I find the most joy in writing from writing for myself. That’s how everything should be in terms of career, right?

Categories
life Life Decisions

Thoughts on Life

What can I say? October has been quite something so far. Reflections, contemplations, so forth.

This whole year I’ve wondered more and more about the paths that I cross and vice-versa. Why do things happen? Why do some people stay in my life for good and others just drift off with no good-byes?

I realized yesterday that one of my many mantras in life is “Everything happens for a reason.” Even if something feels so painful and unreal at the moment, it all was meant to happen.

But I understand that I just need to keep moving forward. To continue to think back and torture my mind…it will only hold me back.

*****

I’ve been avidly scrolling on Twitter lately.  I tend to check my writing, inspirational, and health lists the most since I enjoy reading about those three topics. I’ve been need of some inspiration, and not necessarily of the writing sort. I just need some more reinforcements on why I’m in this life and why things are the way they are.

Every day, really, I am thankful to be alive. As that sad memory drifts further and further away in time and in my mind, I feel a little less shackled, a little better about running off with no fears.

If I can survive what had happened to me, I can survive anything at this point. Life is not always easy, as my parents have told me and showed me through their life experiences. But whatever is worth fighting for will surely still be there at the end of my life.

Categories
health life list memories

Week in Review: Last Quarter & Running to Freedom

I can’t believe it’s already October; memories continue to flash through my mind of all that has happened in the past year. And now, here we are, on the cusp of entering 2011.

This week I’ve been working on more writing–various topics for clients. It’s good to see I’m getting some work in, especially doing what I love! But, of course, the pay could be better….

But it’s not always about the money, at least I try to not think about that aspect so much. This week I’ve also been out running more since I have new running shoes (see picture). I used to own a pair of pink shoes back in college but when I lost weight, the shoes ended up being too big (shoe size did shrink when I lost weight). When I first moved out here to San Francisco, I bought a new pair of running shoes then, but that pair has said its goodbyes after three years.

Seeing my new shoes sitting by my door sure makes me feel motivated to go running. Also,  I never realized before how liberating an outdoor run could be–I held back from running outdoors for a long time because I was afraid of being seen, of running alone (it’s hard for a woman to run outside alone, sadly). But, I finally decided to overcome this fear and just do it, because my indoor fitness routine wasn’t doing enough for me anymore.

Today is the start of my new 101 list in 1001 days, so I must complete my first task now: write a letter to myself to open on the last day of the journey, June 28, 2013. Should be an interesting letter.