Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 27

So, I think it might be time to mention the fact that I've stopped writing my Camp novel. The thing is, I really thought that I would pick it back up again. But I haven't, yet, and I doubt that I will. Why is that, exactly?

Well, truthfully, this Camp experience hasn't been wonderful. And, since I was so pumped up about this in the beginning, I'm going to explain why... sans the plethora of small details that created the bits I am sharing.

For the first time, I was attempting to write a novel without really doing much planning. But, as it turns out, if I don't have a plot outlined, then I don't have inspiration to write. Hence, not a lot of writing has gotten done this month. (I should note here that my progress bar has been left unattended due to the fact that my computer... for some reason... no long has a calculator and I'm not sure where my school one is, at the moment. I do have more done than that.)


Second, I broke my foot. It's getting better now - thankfully - but for the majority of this month, I've been in pain and doing a lot of bed rest. (That's boring, in case you were wondering.)

Reason 2.5, because of the bed rest, I didn't get my work done because I couldn't actually move much. So I've been doing that, instead.

Third - and probably the real reason behind the lack of novel writing - I've been suffering depression for a while now and this month, it kind of swallowed me whole. And when I'm depressed, I don't do much of anything because I feel like I can't do anything properly. And the not doing anything leads to a deeper depression, because I'm not getting anything done and that makes me feel guilty and just worthless - which leads to a 'why bother', and that leads to more worthless feelings and can't do anything right feelings, etc., etc. etc. You get the point.

Anyway, so that's it, really. I feel like I should have more reasons than that, and I probably do, but I really can't see past the last one at this point. My real mission this month has been overcoming that.

So, I apologize for the lack of excitement and what not. Hopefully things will be better in November. Either way, I promise that November will be all about NaNoWriMo and I'll finish it whether I'm feeling better or not. Sound good?

I sincerely hope your Camp novels aren't looking as miserable as mine is. Good luck to all of you still writing!

And, because I have to:


Write 400 words if you read this.

Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 25

So, I didn't update on Monday because... well, the thing is... I forgot. The last week has been oddly busy. It was my birthday last Tuesday, and I celebrated that on Tuesday evening and again on Saturday. I've been attempting to make major life decisions, too... which is a bit frightening. And, I don't know, there was probably some other stuff in there, also, but I'm rather tired right now and I can't remember.

Anyway, this was the post intended for Monday. I apologize for the lateness and I hope you enjoy.

A while back, I ran across a book of weird things people look up on the internet. I read a bit of it and enjoyed a good time full of laughter and wondering why people look up the things they do. I mean, honestly, some of those things were so weird...

Then I was struck by a sudden realization. Writers look up some really weird things on a daily basis. And while the images shown in that book displayed the most frequently searched things, I wondered how much of those things were only on those lists because many of us writers are a strange lot with many odd questions.

In honor of clearing the names of people who are probably innocent, what have you looked up this month for your novel that might - out of context - sound remotely odd/strange/disturbing?

Here's my list for the current novel:

• Types of magic in fantasy
• Half
• Definition of boil
• Definition of roil
• Rabbit hole
• Hortensia
• Horticulture
• Drowning
• Whiskey
• Tumbler glasses
• Cardigans
• Gray eyes
• Illegal jobs
• World building
• Plot lines
• Plotting 
• How to plot your novel
• Alice soundtrack

Actually, that's not too scary, yet. How about we throw in a few slightly more incriminating searches from past works?


15 Odd Searches Done By This Author (In The Name Of Writing):

How to make C4?
Would it kill someone if you punched them in the throat?
Surgery in the 1800s
Chloroform
Sleeping position body language
19th century slang
Roman nomenclature
Drinking games
Tattoos believed to hold a spiritual power
Signs of drug usage
Bare knuckle boxing
Repairing a dislocated shoulder
18th century fashion
Bedrooms on yachts
Monsters

Tada! There's some other weird stuff on the list, but that's fifteen.

Also, thanks to the Google search engine machine for making such weird research easy. We writers really appreciate it.

What are some of the weird things you've looked up for your writings?

Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 15

Look what I did! I wasted time putting together my sash and badges. Let this be a lesson to you all! You should be writing!


It does look sort of fabulous, though...

Thanks to SavannahJaxx who made all of the pretty badges and the banner.

Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 12

This week, I've been debating about what to post today. I thought I might post a summary, but I still don't really know what this book is about. Then I thought about making a cover but, due to the fact that I don't know what this book is about, yet, I also don't know what I want the cover to look like. And I've already posted the soundtrack and the basic information, so, that leaves me with... not much.

Luckily, I just realized something awful.

By Monday, I need to have a lot of stuff done. I made an agreement at the end of last month to a friend, so I need to uphold that and plow through a heap of stuff to do. I have to sell my old text books soon, too, since the new semester starts soon (On a totally unrelated note, the idea of selling books sort of makes me want to cry.). Also, next Tuesday is my birthday, so I'm not going to be around then. And the Saturday after that, I'm having a party at my house, so... no writing then either.

And, so, I've found today's topic.

You might have noticed that my word count is pitifully behind. I need to catch it up. But with all of that stuff and more on my plate of stuff to do right now, I don't have a huge lot of time to get writing done. In other words?

It's time to up the motivation.

By Monday, I fully intend to hit twenty-five thousand words.

And that, in case you haven't noticed, is slightly ahead of the curve in terms of where we should be on Monday. The idea makes me perfectly happy.

Unfortunately, that's not really motivation for you. So...


CHALLENGE TIME!

Write 1,000 words in one sitting if you read this post,

and

Hit at least 15,000 by Saturday at 11:59 PM.

Ready?

GO!

Camp NaNoWrimo: Day 5

Well, it's day five and, currently, my Camp novel is going along rather slowly. I've got 4076 words penned, so far. In other words, I'm a bit behind schedule.Oops? Oh well, there's plenty of time to catch up.

How's your Camp novel coming?

I've been working on my cover and on my summary/synopsis. However, one of the first things I work on when writing a novel is the soundtrack, and that is already finished. So, without further ado, here it is (in no particular order, despite the fact that it is numbered):

Half Soundtrack

1. Passenger - Deftones feat. Maynard James Keenan
2. 9 Crimes - Damien Rice
3. Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie
4. Enjoy The Silence - Depeche Mode
5. Pompeii - E. S. Posthumus
6. Wild Child - Enya
7. When I Grow Up - Fever Ray
8. Paralyzer - Finger Eleven
9. Alice's Theme - Danny Elfman
10. Satellite - Guster
11. The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson
12. Lullaby - Josh Groban
13. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
14. Club Foot - Kasabian
15. Teeth - Lady GaGa
16. Gorecki - Lamb
17. Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
18. Stockholm Syndrome - Muse
19. Time Is Running Out - Muse
20. The Saltwater Room - Owl City
21. Creep - Radiohead
22. Break Me Shake Me - Savage Garden
23. She's So Heavy - The Beatles
24. In The Shadows - The Rasmus
25. Prison Sex - Tool
26. You're The Only One - Maria Mena
27. Cherry Waves - Deftones
28. What If You - Joshua Radin
29. Flame - Bell X1
30. Nara - E. S. Posthumus


I find it only slightly creepy that those are somewhat in alphabetical order despite being put onto the playlist at random...

Anyway, the entire soundtrack is hooked up to links, if you'd like to listen to any of the songs. I probably don't need to say this, since it's pretty obvious, but I don't own any of those songs. And, since I don't own those songs and I didn't create the videos attached to them, I make no guarantees on the appropriateness of said videos.


Do you use a soundtrack when writing? If so, what's on it?

Bet I'll beat you to 12,000 words!

Catch you on Monday with a not Camp related post.

Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 1

Well, it's midnight on August 1st and the second round of Camp NaNoWriMo has just begun. This month, I've let everyone know that writing is the number one thing on my schedule. So, with any luck, I'll actually make it to 50,000 words or more by the end of the month.

As you may have noticed, I've changed the background on the blog to what I imagine my Camp NaNo tent looks like. The background will remain this way until the end of August, when I'll switch it back to normal. The background will now also be changing during NaNoWriMo.

Anyway, I promised that I would document my Camp NaNo experience this month, instead of doing traditional blog posts. Let's move on to that, shall we?

August's Camp project is: 

Working Title: Half
Genre: Fantasy (urban/high)
POV: Third person, numerous views.
Summary/Synopsis: Yet to come.


I could ramble on here for a while, or check my bag to make sure that I have all of the necessary supplies for novel writing, but that's not going to help me get any writing done. And, besides, I'm supposed to be winging it anyway, right? So, enough of this. For now, it's into the woods with all of us.

Best of luck fellow Campers; I'll see you on Friday!

Camp NaNo: Cabins, Questions, And Updates!

Beginning August 1st on Camp NaNoWriMo, the cabins feature will become available to campers. It has been announced that we're doing genre cabins - which is not quite what I thought was going on, but still pretty cool - and that announcement has both made me excited and put a thought into my head. For all of you reading and/or following this blog, this is the official cabin role call!

What cabin will you be camping in this August?

I am going to be camping in the Fantasy Genre Cabin. (Anyone joining me?)

XOXOXOXOXOX

I have some questions about Camp for my fellow bloggers/blog readers. Because I am lacking in both time and information, at the moment, I was hoping you could answer some of these.

1. Does anyone know whether or not a 'friends' feature will be introduced at Camp?

2. Are we, at any point, going to get forums? Or are we just going to use the NaNo ones permanently? 

3. Are the cabins going to receive fun names, as they were in the beginning phases, or has that been edited out?

4. Are we going to have a participation user badge feature like what we have on NaNo?

XOXOXOXOXOX

 

 

Updates!

I've got some blog updates regarding next month. During Camp NaNoWriMo (August), the blog will be turning into a somewhat different place. Namely, a Camp Site. Every Monday and Friday, instead of doing a normal post (with exception of one or two), I'll be doing a 'Camp' post. Meaning, I'll be posting updates about my Camp novel and what sort of Camp related stuff is going on.

I'll probably post things like a book cover (loose idea), a Camp novel soundtrack, a novel summary, word count updates, competitions, and various other things.

 

Anyone else care to join me in this Blog to Camp Site transition?

XOXOXOXOXOX

 

 

Last thing. Next year, I'm totally making a tent for Camp and posting pictures of it.  (This may or may not be just an excuse to build another tent...)

Camp NaNoWriMo And The Brick Wall

Okay, for those of you who don't know already, Camp NaNoWriMo in July is kind of a beta test run. As in, you participate and the people who run this gig - Office Of Letters And Light - look for bugs and what not in the site. (They've already fixed the stats page - which was, apparently, glitching up. I don't know. I didn't see it, but thanks for taking care of that problem OLL!)

Anyway, here's the deal.

July has become extremely busy for me. I'm still participating in the beta Camp NaNoWriMo, but I'm not holding many illusions in my head. There's a pretty good chance I won't finish this month.

The thing is... there's another Camp NaNoWriMo next month! As in, another chance to try my hand a writing 50,000 words in a month. I'm pretty happy about this and I am nearly bouncing in my seat with excitement for the new features coming to Camp NaNoWriMo. Cabins, anyone?

Okay, so, I don't actually know what cabins are, yet, but they look like possible fun.

Hopefully you'll all be joining me next month. 

Now, moving on.

Ever have one of those days where you stumble into a realization that feels more like a brick wall than a thought? And then, for quite a while afterward, you just sit there thinking about said 'wall' and wonder how you failed to notice it before? 

Today was one of those days in my writing world. Except, I think I might have known the brick wall was there and I was, quite possibly, just refusing to look at it.

You see, earlier today, I was watching this video I'm Goin To Summa Camp! Word! and I realized something. 

I have never had a traditional NaNoWriMo experience. 

This is sad, mostly because I have participated in NaNoWriMo three times (four if we're counting this month) and I have never done it properly. The point of NaNoWriMo is to write a lot and fast with "literary abandon". I write a lot... kind of slowly and with a lot of editing in the mix, which is not supposed to be happening. To accentuate my point even further, during this month, I've been working on a rewrite! Which I have a deadline for and it is supposed to be in perfect form... yeah, not a great choice.

So, shout out to LaurenLiterally, because you have inspired me to try something new.

Next month, I'm handing myself over to a real NaNoWriMo experience.

Writing Tips: The Blank Page

You might have noticed that this post is about three hours late. It is now Tuesday, so you are correct. However, in my defense, I would like to say that I have spent my entire day believing that it was Sunday. Apparently, owning a calendar filled with beautiful pictures of Ireland does not mean that I will actually look at said calendar. My apologies for not updating earlier.

Anyway, right now, Camp NaNoWriMo is in full (beta) swing, so I thought it would be appropriate to do a post on writing!

Today I sat down in front of my computer and I opened three blank documents. Then I put my hands on the keyboard and... nothing. I stared at the screen like it was going to eat me and then I decided to go and do something else.

One of the most difficult things a writer faces on a daily basis is the blank page.

I'm currently terrified of it, even though I know I should be writing my Camp NaNoWriMo novel. 


The thing is, I just can't start. 


When I look at a blank page in front of me, I see possibility and perfection. It's like looking out at a fresh, thick layer of snow on the ground. It's pretty, it sparkles in the sunlight, and it's untouched. Somewhere deep inside of me, I have this overwhelming urge to run out and trample all over it. And, during the winter, I do run out into the snow. I stomp around like a little kid. I build snow forts and snow men. I make snow angels and I make snowballs to eat or throw at unsuspecting victims. And, at the end of the day, I wander back inside feeling satisfied... until I look outside.


Upon seeing the horrible mess that I've made out of the once pristine snow, I am irritated at myself for giving in to that impulse and ruining something so beautiful. 


I feel the same way about blank pages. 


I have all of these awesomely wonderful ideas in my head, but when I sit down to write, I can't do it. The blank page is pristine and anything I write on there - if it comes out as anything less than perfect - will ruin it. 

The other prominent issue I have with the blank page lies a little bit farther down the line. I know that, someday, someone else will be looking at whatever I write in that document. And if I don't think it is perfect then, certainly, no one else will want to see it. Sure, they'll ask to see it at first, but I know they'll walk away disappointed. And that fact, along with the issue of ruining perfection, keeps me from writing a single word.

This post isn't really a writing tip, you see, because it is a present issue.  Even in the middle of Camp NaNoWriMo, which is meant to get you writing with literary abandon - I cannot move. This post isn't a tip, simply because it doesn't have a solution.


This post is here to let you other writers know that you are not alone. 


Numerous people suffer from fear of the blank page.


I said this post doesn't have a solution in it, but the truth is that it only lacks a solution that I have already used. 


You can never move forward if you don't take the first step, and stagnate water is no good for drinking. 


This week, my goal is to take the first step and ruin a piece of paper without caring too much.  After all, how bad can it be? (Excuse me while I cringe and try not to think about that question.)


So, what is your goal for this week?

Happy 4th of July!

Have a wonderful holiday! 

Also, Camp NaNoWriMo update:

I need to be more disciplined. Granted, I really haven't been home much, but I am behind. I hereby donate the rest of today to writing... and not playing Free Rice.

How is your word count coming?

Camp NaNoWriMo

I am horrible about checking my e-mail.

Therefore, before I get to the point, I have to say: Thank you, Neve! Without you, this post would not exist because I hadn't heard of this before you mentioned it.

Moving on. There's some fun stuff happening over at NaNoWriMo.org. Namely, Camp NaNoWriMo has just opened! It even has it's own website, which is mentioned in the 'Breaking News' section of their front page.

For those of you who don't know, Camp NaNoWriMo is a novel writing summer camp created by the lovely people of the Office of Letters and Light. 

Okay, so you don't really get to camp. 

In reality, Camp NaNoWriMo is quite similar to NaNoWriMo. It's premise is the same. 50,000 words, one month. The difference is that Camp NaNoWriMo takes place in the summer, instead of during November - which is a great opportunity for all of us who have exceptionally busy Novembers to take some free time and settle down to write 50,000 words or more without stressing.

Even more fun, is the fact that Camp NaNoWriMo takes place during the month of July... and August. Two months of pure motivation right in a row.

Thank you, Office of Letters and Light! This is excellent.

For those of you who wish to participate, travel over to this link and sign up or sign in!

Camp NaNoWriMo



(I will be participating and, as I mentioned a couple posts ago, the bars on the side of my blog recording writing progress will be changing. 

Anyone in for a little competition?)

PS: Yes, I know it's Thursday. However, this post is relevant to tonight (starting at midnight), so I thought it was appropriate to post it early. Next week, things will run on schedule.