Today did not go as planned.
I’m a bit frustrated that I didn’t hit that twenty five thousand mark tonight. I’m even more frustrated that I only typed a whopping four hundred words today. It had nothing to do with the story, it had everything to do with how today started.
I can blame everything that happened today on someone else. But at the end of it, I definitely didn’t do more to ensure I achieved my target. I could say I didn’t get support from my partner. I could say we shouldn’t have stayed out as long as we did. I could say that I was tired.
All it translates to is that I have failed.
I hate setting myself a target and not achieving it. I have made crazier things happen under worse circumstances and achieved seemingly impossible targets.
Tomorrow is a new day, tomorrow I will crush that word count.
However I am happy that so many of you enjoyed yesterday’s post! I should probably stick with humour more, but sometimes you just need to vent.
Today I feel as though I made a difference in one of my coworker’s lives. He and I have been talking frequently about games and writing and the such. This morning was different and we got into a discussion about writing and its challenges. He said he’d always enjoyed writing and just hadn’t done it in a long time. I’d asked him why and he said he caught writer’s block. He asked me how I dealt with it and I was blunt.
I don’t technically experience the traditional writer’s block. I can always write, given the time. I have a whole universe of ideas and for every question I ask, I find two more answers I want to write about. This has proven quite challenging, until now. Arranging all of my ideas into the one world has helped tremendously, and kept me focused on advancing the story. Even as I explained my story to him, he said I sounded like a raving lunatic as I described how the web of characters worked and who was involved in who else’s life at some point or another.
At the end he asked what I would suggest for him to do if headed back to school so he could get into writing. I suggested editing as I believe that would be the greatest for getting into the industry and understanding the process! Do you ladies and gents out there have any ideas? Also, how goes your NaNoWriMo?
Anyway, hopefully tomorrow’s post is rainbows, sunshine and lollypops. Until then… Zzz…
My day included only my blog yesterday. There were too many other unavoidable commitments. I still devoted some head space to my NaNo work. Honestly, you have so many words in the bank, you could afford a day that pulls you away now and then. Baty says if you pop 500 words in on a day like that, then you’re maintaining your connection. You’re still well on your way. The target for 11.10.14 is 16,670 words, you over-achiever!
Unavoidable commitments are life. No matter how hard you try something always weasels its way into your writing time. I know I shouldn’t be one to complain about falling flat one day, my problem is when I’m running I’m great, but once I lose stride… it’s a struggle to get back to what I was doing!
In all honesty, I devote a lot of head space to my NaNo writing. I preach it at work. I annoy my partner about it. Cornered my boss and told him about it. It’s as if it were my newborn child and no matter how ugly the poor thing is, I want everyone to see it because no matter what… I love it!
Thanks for swinging by and I’m going to try and get back on the horse for my day off tomorrow. No dogs to entertain, girlfriend at work… I am going to write as much as I can tomorrow!
I’ve scheduled myself some random mud-week vacation days during November to indulge in the solitude and the writing. I hope your day is productive.
Cheers!
I got in under the wire, no thanks to napping! My partner goes away in a week and a bit, so I’ll be focusing my every extra moment on writing! Thanks again for stopping by and good luck with the word count!
I love typoes…and don’t know how to correct a comment.
When I say the word ‘mud’ that is fat-finger code for ‘mid’
Mud-Week sounded interesting, I almost asked what it was. Shame it’s only mid-week 😛 Have fun, and reconsider that Mud-Week, I think there’s something there!
The suggestion to do editing as an entry into the writing world is a good one, provided he’s got a good feel for it. Editing has several advantages: forcing you to read lots of raw material (which doesn’t have the “mystical glow” of having been published, and therefore finalized); lets you push a few words around while you’re at it; and exposes you to many different styles of writing.
He’s very interested in writing and loves reading fan fiction and the such. He’s strongly considering taking a course and nothing would make me happier than knowing a professional editor that I guided into that role (A few favours? Yes please!) I also agree with the exposure. I believe that being an editor would improve your own writing almost as fast as if you only were writing yourself. I think Stephen King said something like “I’m a terrible writer, but I’ve always been a fantastic editor.” Thanks for stopping by 😀
Persevering through challenges is what separates a writer and a dabbler. Not that it’s good to see anyone have a bad word count day, but it is encouraging to see other people pull through. I lost 900 words yesterday and was only able to rewrite 600 before I couldn’t see straight from being tired.
As for the your advice, I think editing would be an awesome skill to have. Would love to be able and edit my own books better.
Wouldn’t we all love to be better editors and writers? I certainly would love to be paid to write. That is my dream. Stephen King has said in many interviews that he’s a terrible writer, but one of the best editors. Might be something worth looking into!
As for persevering, I will bounce back. It just takes a bit of time getting back up on that horse. Also to go from 3k a day to 300… it’s a bit of a kick in the pants. But that whole seeing straight thing, I know what you mean. I was so tired while writing those 300 or so words that when I reread what I’d written, it was a write off. Might as well have gone to bed early! Determination is key, and at least the ideas were there, even if it would take Sherlock Holmes or Scooby Doo to figure it out!