Playing Catch up

Egads, it's been a while. Time to play catch up (briefly) and talk about some Christmas-y things!

NaNoWriMo 2009 - I did it! As you can see on my blog, I am a winner of NaNo '09 and I don't care what anyone says, I'm gosh darn proud of myself. I was getting a little worried there in the last week before departing for Dominican, but alas, on November 24th I typed like mad and managed to upload just over 50k on the morning of the 25th. The story itself isn't over, I still have about 15k-ish to go, but I will continue working with it and see what I come out with :)

Punta Cana '09 - I went, I sunned, I drank, I loved it and then I came back. Dominican IS gorgeous and to make a loooong, amazing vacationing story short, it was awesome. Great weather, great people and a great time. Then I came back to a blizzard and -20. Go Alberta. Here's a taste of where I was:




In other news, Christmas is quickly approaching. Yikes. I look back and I can't believe how fast this year has gone by! I think 2009 has been a rough year for many of us out there, but my thoughts are - lets make 2010 a gooder!

In the spirit of Christmas, I have been indulging and started something I like to call 'Ash's Christmas Cheer'. Earlier this week at my work, there were these guys working in the back alley of our office building and it was FREEZING out. I think it was -35 that day with the windchill, so needless to say when I saw them I felt kind of bad. I know, I know, these guys work outside doing what they do all the time and know how to dress for it, but still! Anyone working out there has to be chilled to the bone. So on my next break, a colleague came with me to brave the cold and walked to Tim Horton's, buying 6 large coffees (none for us) and struggled back to hand them off to the men working hard in the back alley. They were very surprised and thankful, which in return gave me warm fuzzies for my good deed. It's a feeling I like to have and one that makes braving the cold so worth it. One minute for a good deed = a lifetime of remembering it and giving someone a smile to cheer their day.

Stage 2 of Ashley's Christmas Cheer - I bought Christmas cards and bought scratch tickets to go inside for the other apartments on my floor (10 in total) and my 2 landlords. I haven't handed them out yet, but will this week and hopefully someone will scratch themselves a few bucks, and even if no one does, hopefully the thought put a smile on someone's face.

Stage 3 - It's something I do regularly, but will be donating to Edmonton Humane Society. I strongly support them and urge anyone to donate a couple dollars, their time, or even an item of need to them this holiday season. It's amazing how much those employees do and did you know that it costs $4.2 million dollars to run the Edmonton Humane Shelter every year! Of that amount, almost 40% comes from donations from the public.

Anywho, must stop the post for now or I could ramble on forever. I shouldn't wait this long before blogging again..

Happy Holidays to all and remember to be (and drive!) safe this holiday season.

Spreading her Christmas cheer one person at a time,
-A

One Week.

One week. That can seem like a lot of time, not enough time, or both at the same time. Enter me!

In exactly 1 week I leave for Punta Cana and in exactly 1 week I have to be at 50k for my Nano. The pressure is cracking down, I just hit 40k so I don't think it's too bad, though with all the stuff I'm doing this weekend and that I need to get done BEFORE I leave on vacation... Yikes. I want to be at 50k by the end of this weekend so next week I can focus on packing and getting stuff done before I leave.

My thoughts on NaNo nearing the end of week 3 and at 40k: It's been exhilarating, self-disciplining, frustrating, but I am enjoying it. Some of the stuff I have written is pretty good if I say so myself, but some of the stuff you spit out on a time crunch is your best work. The only thing I've found is how difficult it is with the simple things. Like remembering a character's last name. You know you mentioned it in the beginning, but seeing as you haven't re-read anything you've written yet (at least I haven't) you have to scroll just to find it. Not re-reading has probably made me make a few mistakes. But that's what next month and the months after that are for.

It's been a learning curve for sure; I never thought I would be able to write this much in such a short amount of time. I had low expectations of myself when I signed up for this, but have learned if I put my mind, fingers, much needed sleeping hours into it, I'm doing alright. I have surprised myself. It's been fun because you develop these characters so fast and pull things out of thin air to just make something to go off of. I know there are some parts where I need to elaborate more on or parts I need to change a bit, but I ignored it and just kept going. I have found that KEY in doing Nanowrimo. Don't ponder on what you've typed and DO NOT delete anything. If you must, just rewrite that scene or just keep going as if you already wrote it, or even go with what you put down, you may surprise yourself with how it can alter the story even better! Rule #4: Do not touch the delete key during your Nano. Unless it's to fix spelling mistakes from typing at Mach 1.

One thing I was incredibly surprised at is the character I *thought* and planned in my head to be the MAIN character, has actually developed to be the secondary character and my original secondary character has become the main one. I don't know how that happened, but I went with it and I think the story is better off this way.

What else have I learned so far... Take examples from real life and shove it into your story. Or if you see something happening on your way home, write that in too. Someone getting mugged, fire trucks parked outside of a building, a car accident... If you ever get stuck just throw in a random curve into your main character's plans. In the first part of my story I wasn't sure where I was going, then I was watching a show where a couple's car broke down and so in return, I made my main characters car break down on the side of the road. On a deserted highway. When they were running from something. Drama, problems, conflict... this will all buy you many, many words and can even strike you to take your story in another direction or beef it up even more.

Anyways, I should get back to writing seeing as I have some down time! Just had to post an update seeing as I've been lacking during this busy month.

Keep knocking on wood for me and sending me encouraging, inspiring thoughts!

-A

I won't talk about NaNo, I won't talk about NaNo...

Ahhh I love days off from work. I'm still in my pjs, hair's a mess and no make up. I've been up since 7.30am (was supposed to be 5.30am, but I slept through my alarm again... Good thing I didn't have to work today...), and I've been busy as a bee. Shot right into writing the 'unmentionable' furiously, trying to pump up my word count. Mix that with sewing away, my third project being pj shorts. This pattern has pockets and I'm starting to debate if I should just skip the pockets. I think it's only because I'm at that step and... *sigh, ok, I'll do the damn pockets...

I love the feeling after you've created something. After making my first hobo bag I was driven to do more. I made a similar one for my bff (shorter strap than mine)- here is a picture (don't mind the rough edges)-

and now I'm on to the clothe-esque projects. Hit up Fabricland's crazy sale last weekend and got a bunch of patterns and the ideas and creations are all floating around in my head, waiting to be made.

I had to take a break because sometimes I start to think too much about how the structure is supposed to fit together and I drive myself mad, then I get frustrated. It took me 10 minutes to figure out how to turn the pj shorts inside out (you laugh now, but if you were at the stage I'm at with them, you would have been confused too). The inside seams are all sewn together and for some reason I couldn't picture how... ok I'll stop.

What else is going on in the world of me... I'm in for a busy couple weeks. I'm at the halfway point of my Na-*cough* , well you know, so I have to pump up the volume (good movie, btw) because for my timeline I'm slacking a bit. Going to watch New Moon next Friday - I really wanted to re-read the books again before I went (Haven't read them since I first got all 4 and read all 4 in a span of a week), but I don't think that will happen, seeing as I have too much going on. I leave for Dominican in less than 2 weeks and I'm finally starting to get excited about it. I meant to tan for a good month before I went, but now there's less than 2 weeks until I go. I'm so screwed. I'm going to come back looking like a lobster and my office Christmas party is the day after I get back. I will rock the lobster look. I'll just be red in the spirit of Christmas.. Maybe I'll wear green and use that as my excuse.

Speaking of Christmas, I can't believe it's next month. How scary. Time is going by way too fast and I don't like it.

I got to see my bff last weekend, which was awesome. I haven't seen her since my birthday in May. Normally we have 'Rum Nights' when we're together, but this time we switched it up and had Co-Ca-Banana Night. It involved homemade pizza making, crazy mis-matched pjs, long island iced teas, and a mini Simpsons marathon. She also brought me a prezzie, his name is Charlie. Apparently we both had creative urges in making gifts for each other.


Anyways, I best stop procrastinating now and get back to.. the unmentionable. The next post will most likely be all about it though seeing as I'm about to celebrate at passing the halfway 25k point.

-A

NaNo Update and Other Musings

So I had this dream the other night where the world was coming to an end (or something like that), and I was a part of a few selected people who were going to be saved. The queen was even there - though she wasn't old and wrinkly at all, this queen (who was the queen of the WORLD!) she was young and quite beautiful and had red hair. Why I was a part of this group to be saved, I don't know. But my job, my whole task in this 'being saved from the world' thing, was to choose a wine to stock the boat with. The boat that was going to save us, I guess. Me, this person who was specifically selected to be saved from the world in this small, elite group of people, including the queen of the world (seriously, she was probably a only few years older than me) was chosen to choose the wine that the boat would be stocked with. So I remember me sitting around this big table, with the queen, and some other people and we were testing like seven different bottles of wine. That's all I remember.

I know what you're thinking, and don't worry I was thinking it too. I often have bizarre, unexplainable dreams. I wish I could remember them all. Man, what it would be like to be in my unconscious state of mind full time. I bet I would end up in a psych ward.

On another topic, it's now week 2 of NaNoWriMo! Huzzahhhh. My current word count is just a smidgen away from 18,000. I think I'm doing fairly well (at least I hope so), but there's this little annoying voice in the back of my head taunting me and telling me I'm not going to make it. But I just try to kick that voice with my literary power legs and try to ignore it to no end as my fingers fly feverishly over my keyboard. I probably wouldn't be near this far if it wasn't for my bff and her help with planning.
*Fun Fact* - A doesn't believe in outlines. A outlines as she goes along.
The actual story is going pretty well, I feel for how many words I have, my plot is kind of slow, but things will soon pick up. There's nerdlicious awkward flusters, a hot cop, slick haired, evil antagonist and pick-pocketing and conning. Things are picking up nicely.

There's also just over 2 weeks until my trip to Dominican! I've been so busy lately I haven't even had much time to think about it and get excited, but I'm sure it will come soon. Hurray for vacations! I'm just crossing my fingers that I'm not going to get sick with... well I won't say it just for the risk of jinxing it, but y'all know what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Knock on wood. A lot. And keep your fingers crossed for me.

Anywho, I could keep blogging away, but alas I must dress myself and get ready for work. Keep cheering me on and sending me good thoughts for NaNo!

Until next time.

-A

NaNo p4 - The Day After

Ahh I am taking a break from writing to do... more writing. Hello blog!

Let's back track a good 21 hours... It's almost midnight, I just finished watching a marathon of True Blood season 2 (saved the finale for tonight!)and I sit down to start up my NaNo story. It's weird - I knew what my first sentence was going to be word for word, so I got that out first, then the rest kept coming out. My goal was to get maybe a page out or so (I was exhausted), but before I knew it it was almost 2am and I reached the 1,677 word count. Hurray! To bed I went, a happy girl.

Today I woke up, did the lazy Sunday morning thing while adjusting to the time change - coffee, tv, breakfast. And off I went for more NaNo time.

My story is going pretty well so far (knock on wood), I think I got a good kick off for a start. I've tried not to say too much about my plot "idea" in fear of jinxing it (especially before I even started), except my bff - she is my muse and is going to help me brainstorm when the time is needed (I <3 her). I will say this - it starts out with a bang (well, more literally a murder). It was funny - last night as I was starting it off, Cape Fear was playing in the background on my tv (I like to have background noise when I write, else I go crazy), and it was a perfect ominous mood setting to kick off my NaNo.

So right now I lay at 3,225 words. I think that's pretty good (or is it? NaNo virgin here...) My "goal" was to have around 5k words by the end of today. I still have a bit of time left, but had a few things to do this evening. Now it's almost 9pm and I'm crying over the fact that tomorrow is Monday *tear* Hopefully I'll get a bit more write time in tonight, but if not - tomorrow is another day!

So now I'm going to settle in and see if I can spit any more out before sleepy time. Night all, and Happy November!

-A

NaNo p3 - The Day Before

Ahh, Nano-eve. What are you doing today to prep yourself for the hell of November?

Me, I prefer to take the distraction approach. Ever since I signed up for NaNo, I thought about what I was going to write 1 day. Just 1 day, that's all I let myself really sit down and think about what I was going to write. I had a little pow wow with my bff over the phone, telling her what I got myself into and how I had 0 plot ideas, so I gave her a few I had been tossing around in my mind and she helped me figure out a 'base' of what I would write. Made a few notes (very random, very sparse point form - it's how I roll) and then saved it and haven't looked at it since.

I like to take the surprise approach, I think this will be the best way for me to go. If I think about it too much and make and outline and all that jazz, then I would get bored and not want to write about it anymore. The story will be a surprise to myself and I will go with the flow, get inspired (hopefully) as I write and just see where the story takes ME (opposed to vice versa).

So what am I doing today? This day before NaNoWriMo begins? Well so far I woke up, coffee, Canadian Tire (the bf) and Safeway for some ingredients and stuff for supper. Ingredients are for some bread makin'. That's right, I've had the urge to make bread (from the bread maker, I'm not Martha Stewart people), though I absolutely love to cook. I'm a little chef. Baking isn't much my forté, but I like to do it once in a while. Hence - today I will try some bread, haven't done it for a while.

I also am thinking of making love to my guitar because I haven't for a while. We will play some sweet, sweet music together (maybe). We must be reunited, my guitar and I.

After I'm done writing this, I have to go get my Hep A shot (Phase 2 of needles for Prep for Dominican!), then when I get back I plan on finish writing my part in mine and my bff's story so I can send it back to her before tonight (aka before I have to start on my NaNo). Then I may take in a movie with my bf, thinking of watching the Last House on the Left. Catch up on some True Blood (*cough* addicted *cough*).

All in all, I will do my best to distract myself from thinking of my NaNo. This way when I start it will be fresh. I'm the kind of person who if I think too much on something before I start it, then I bore myself before it even begins and tire myself of the plot idea.

Wish me luck!

p.s. Don't forget to change your clocks back an hour tonight before bed ;) Extra hour for sleeping in.

-A

NaNoWriMo p2

Ok, so yesterday I caved and officially signed up for NaNoWriMo. Otherwise, I signed my soul away for 1 month when I drive myself to insanity over writing 50,000 words.

Some of you are probably asking, Why??? Why would I put myself through all of this? Well for one, I love to write. Period. Even if it comes out as crap, at least I'm writing something, exercising my fingers, my mind, my *cough* soul. I also love a challenge and lately with all my other literary musings I've been having trouble with the Block, inspiration, MOTIVATION. So here comes Nanowrimo, and it seemed like it was fate. Maybe this will light a fire under my ass!

I admit, I'm a little nervous, anxious, worried (what if I get stuck, what if I can't think of anything else, what if, what if), but then I think, who cares! It's a rough draft. A first rough draft that thousands of people are spitting out at mach 1. So I have a plan, if I get stuck I will get over it. Simple, right? Well, maybe not that simple, but I'll figure something out.

Plot ideas? Not really. I haven't had too much time to think about it and I think that maybe this will be better. This way I'll just start from fresh, maybe as soon as Nov 1st hits the idea will pop into my head and flow to my fingers where I will immediately type 5,000 words (A girl can hope, right?). I'm thinking maybe something comedic mixed with something serious like a murder/mystery. Something that will be fun! Hey, this challenge is about FUN not STRESS, right?

Anyways, I'm off for more coffee now.

Wish me luck come November!

-A

National Novel Writing Month

Break out your pencils and grease up your typing fingers, y'all. November is National Novel Writing Month! It's a world wide group that any writer can join in hopes to complete a 50,000 word goal in just thirty days. I JUST found out about this literally like yesterday. Now I'm thinking it might be kind of fun to sign up for it and see if I can make it. It's kind of exciting, kind of nerve-wracking, but I'm debating if I should test my skills (and will power, procrastination, focus, imagination, etc, etc) all with a tight deadline.

Plus, I leave for Dominican on Nov 26, so I would get shorted 5 days... Not fair! lol. I worry that I won't be able to make 50,000 words, but then I think, 'Well, it's not like you'll get yelled at if you don't!'. This is all about having fun, motivation and seeing how far you can go. Everyone should get a huge pat on the back for just trying!

Ok, so maybe I'll give it a whirl. As long as I think of an idea... Hmmm... So many possibilities.

For anyone who wants to check it out, go to: http://www.nanowrimo.org/