11.7.13

Whoo-hoo, 4K today!  That's a good jumpstart on catching up on NaNoWriMo. Now I'm only 7K behind. Tomorrow I'll go at it again - a group of us who are doing NaNo together did a writing sprint day, shooting for 10K words today. It is more fun when you have accountability and cheerleading, for sure.

I've done 10K days several times before, and it is an absolute blast. Once you've written 10K in a day, you feel a bit like a slacker when you only lay down 1K. I feel a bit like a slacker today too, truth be told, because I really wanted to slam dunk this one. But I wasn't able to prepare quite how I liked, and I am taking rather hefty muscle relaxants for the old trick back, and there are MINIONS underfoot (and on lap, shoulder, chest, chair, pillow, windowsill -- wash, rinse repeat) so I guess I'll cut myself some slack. 

And I have an outline for this book - or the bones of one. Here's the problem with outlining. You have a general idea of where the story goes: the high points, the main plot, the villains. But that only covers the top line. There's still a huge amount of work in between the stated variables that needs to build, one scene at a time, one character at a time. I never know everything about my characters until I start writing them, allowing them to come to life as I get to know them, sort of like the reader does, if I've done my job properly.

Which is why I hate outlining, because I have to force the story in certain directions instead of just letting it do its thing.  So 10K days are good for filling in the gaps, so to speak, by turning off the internal editor and just going for it. You can't edit a blank page, right?

The minions are learning how to jump, which has been very amusing. Jordan has a new nickname - Air Jordan, because she can spring into the air three, four feet high, and jump up on beds and chairs with ease. Jameson is smaller than her sister, and has a harder time, so she had several false starts trying to get into my lap today. But she got it, in the end. I've allowed them out into the upstairs, so hopefully by the weekend it will be time to let them conquer the whole house.  

Sweet kitten-breath dreams!

11.6.13

I'm sad to see my parents head home, we had a great time hanging out and playing with the kittens.

The kittens miss my parents too. My dad is such a natural with babies - you can tell this man raised three kids simply by the way he picks them up by the scruff and tucks them into the crook of his arm. They recognize the voice of authority and settle right down. 

Jameson has really taken a shine to Randy, too. She loves stretching out in his arms. Jordan is coming out of her shell more and more, it's so fun to see them really blossom. 

 Back is still all kinds of screwed up - Daddy pointed out I'm walking like the letter S. Makes me think of Sesame Street - JT Ellison brought to you today by the Letter S! If it's not better tomorrow I may have to get it looked at. Ugh.

Going for 10K tomorrow with my chicks, we'll see how that goes. 

Sweet dreams! 

11.5.13

The writing process is an interesting beast. While everyone has been powering along in this first week of NaNoWriMo, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and plotting, and a lot of movie watching. Movies are a great way to both refill the well and learn pacing and three act structures. Two divergent thoughts:

Yesterday we saw ENDER'S GAME, based on the eponymous novel by Orson Scott Card. I read ENDER'S GAME this summer on vacation, and absolutely loved it. I thought the movie did a decent job of following the book, though it was the ultimate example of tell, not show. 

As novelists, show, not tell is drummed into our heads from the first day. Telling is lazy, showing is talent. But as always, there's two sides to most writing rules, and showing and telling is one of them. Sometimes, the curtains are blue. They don't need to be described to the N-th degree. Talent is knowing when to tell and when to show.

But in this particular movie, if you didn't already know the story, it was difficult to connect with the main character, Ender Wiggin. In the book, we see him earn the respect of the children he eventually leads. In the movie, we're just told, and not told well, in a variation of the Greek chorus that is disjointed at best.  

Moral of the story: Don't be lazy, but don't overdo it, either. 

The second movie was WHITE HOUSE DOWN. It utilized some of the sheer ridiculousness that makes a good thriller. Part of what we're doing is creating a world and situation that in reality could strain credulity, but in fiction, is plausible, IF handled correctly. But there is one thing that is never, ever plausible -- the bad guys who are deadly accurate with their weapons, use a single head shot to kill fifty people, but manage to spend two hours missing the hero with both submachine guns and mounted machine guns. Come on, people.  

Moral of the story: Don't make your readers hunger to check their email when they're reading your unbelievable action scenes. 

The minions had their first vet appointment today, and have been running around like crazed demons all afternoon. I can't begin to tell you how cute they are.  

Sweet dreams! 

11.4.13

I want to talk briefly about writer's block. I've always rather blithely claimed that I don't think it exists, that it's your story's way of telling you you're going in the wrong direction. And that's true. Absolutely, 100% true.  

Except for when it isn't. 

Writer's block can be more than your story going off the rails. Sometimes, it's your brain's way of saying ENOUGH!  You're working too hard, you're not refilling the well, and damn you, stop with all that infernal typing for five minutes, I need a BREAK!

Recognizing writer's block is a talent. Too many of us hit a wall and throw up our hands, declaring all is lost, wailing and gnashing our teeth. Some of us, though, recognize the symptoms of overwork or storyline miscues, and take a day off. Or a month. Or whatever is right for you.

Listen, we're artists, not machines. We can't program ourselves to spit out X number of words every day no matter what. Life interrupts. Stories go awry. And that's okay. It's how we face these challenges that define our professional lives.

Since we're in NaNoWriMo mode, I just wanted to toss that out there. If you don't make that 1667 words today, don't fret. You'll be fine. The story will tell you what's right. Go read a book. Or take a nap, or a walk, or go to the movies.

Permission, granted. 

Sweet dreams!

11.3.13

It was a day in which we discovered the diversity of almond milk. I've developed a decent case of lactose intolerance, and so have had to remove all dairy (except cheese) from my diet. Normally this isn't an issue; I've even weaned myself off my favorite fat free half and half in my tea. But my parents are coffee drinkers -- amusing in its own way, as I have to dig out the coffee pot and find the frozen coffee ground and filters when they come -- and my dad likes vanilla creamer in his morning joe.

And I forgot to get milk. With so much craziness this week, a lot of things have fallen through the cracks.  But lo, in the fridge, we did find vanilla almond milk. Daddy put it in his coffee and loved it, and bam, the morning was saved. 

Today was also early thanksgiving. The kittenish minions were given a second room to explore, and I cooked all the usuals: turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, sausage cornbread stuffing, pecan and pumpkin pies. Only, of course, again, no milk. Derp.

Guess what else is good with almond milk? Mashed potatoes! I was afraid it would be too sweet, but they were delicious. Who knew?

Work tomorrow, then we're going to see Ender's Game - hurrah! I adored the book, I can't wait to see what they've done with the film. 

Off to eat pie, sweet dreams!