Can We Get a Little Crazy in Here Please?

Maybe it's the lack of sleep talking, or the awesome plot planning session I attended on Sunday afternoon, but I am starting to think that I ought to just try pantsing my NaNo novel this year. Yes, I spent most of the month working on a detailed plot line only to be annoyed and frustrated by the way things were going.

To tell the truth, I haven't touched my plot plan in over a week.

Am I really going to throw out nearly a month of my hard work? Well, no, not really. I did figure out what world I am writing in. I discovered my other main character. I figured out some of the plot details. So, it wasn't really wasted time.

Plus, I never throw away (ermmm delete) anything. I have some absolutely horrid writing. Things that are only one or two lines in before being abandoned, but I have them because you just never know.

But, I digress. I was unhappy with the plotting of my current NaNo novel, but not with some of the realizations it gave me. I have a feelings that this may just be a wonderfully shitty story that I am going to be writing, but that's okay. It's a part of NaNo - allowing yourself to write badly.

I may just start my planned novel in a whole new spot... Or maybe throw it to the side for now and write something else... Who knows. There are two full days left in which I can decide.

Worst comes to worst, I'll drop some characters in a setting with a MacGuffin and see what happens.

You know that feeling?

You know that feeling when you write a really good, meaningful blog post. You even do research and link to sources? It's a great feeling.

Unfortunately that feeling was followed by accidentally deleting said blog post. I bet you know that feeling too. And word didn't do an autosave recover. I searched my work computer high and low, but the blog post was gone for good.

Sorry readers. I'm even more disappointed than you could possibly know. The only reason I am not crying is because I am at work right now.

And even though you'll never get to see it because I just do not have the time or energy to attempt to write it again; much thanks goes to The Capillary for her wonderful help in the editing of what would have been today's blog post about bullying.

The NaNoWriMo Meme

The wonderful, incredible The Capillary decided to start her own little 30 days of NaNo meme and I quite like what she has planned!

Although I am planning this novel to the extreme because I would like to finish a full first draft again this year (~90K words). For me to write that much in 30 days I need to be prepared. I flounder and panic when I pants it. Or even just percolate it. I need a plan. However, I would still like to give this a bit of a try.

I've got a few choices. I can base something within the same universe that I am currently writing in. I've written in this world before for a previous NaNo and a Screnzy. So it's a world and characters I am familiar with.

Or I can write in one of the many other worlds that I have previously created, but not worked in as much. Such as my Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Supernatural crossover novel that I've kept on the back burner for a couple of years. Or something based on the novel that I am currently on the fourth edit of...

And of course, I just write something entirely new. A whole new story in addition to what I am writing for NaNo. A story and world that is almost completely pantsed and barely percolated.

So what do we think I should do? The sooner I decide the easier it will be to get my mind in the right working frame prior to November.

Whew. This is going to be one hell of a November.

A Day To Give Thanks

Although the Canadian Thanksgiving has a different origin than the more well known American Thanksgiving, it is still a day in which we are reminded to give thanks. Families often gather together to share a large meal, but how many people really do think to give thanks for the bounty of their lives?

So right now I'd like to give thanks in writing for all the blessings in my life. A good job, incredible friends, a family that knows how to love unconditionally. My dog and my cat that never judge me. A roof over my head and food in my cupboards.

I give thanks for the ability to always see the beauty in things. For an imagination that keeps my world colourful. For the ability to keep my faith even when things are that their worst. And most of all, I am thankful to just be here.

I could probably go on forever, but I'm sure you get the idea. I have a lot to be thankful for. A lot that I just take for granted. And I think it reminds me that I have a long way to go on my self improvement project.

I part of my self improvement is to try to keep a positive mental attitude and part of that is to constantly remember all the good that out-weighs the bad. I need to always keep in mind that the bad is never as bad as I think it is. In fact, it's really just an opportunity.

Great example. I am tired of being alone and single. Actually, I used to love it, but I am starting to hate it. However, if not for this small thing that I don't like I may never havw strived so hard to improve myself as a person. And to be honest, do I deserve what I often have a hard time giving to myself?

So, I am thankful. For the good and the seemingly bad. Happy Thanksgiving.