My first NaNoWriMo comes to a close today. I feel like I should have some kind of an article to commemorate the experience – the long hours of staring at the same sentence, the sleepless nights, the writer’s block. Come to think of it – I do. I have a great start to an exciting novel. Notice I said start.
I didn’t make the 50k word count (my official count as of this writing is 18,658) but it was never about that for me. It was about getting a headstart on a novel that I was planning on writing next year. I got further than I planned and I’ve learned a lot along the way. I also like to think that I encouraged one particular individual (who may have had no idea of my brilliant plan all along – GO QLOU!!) to move forward on a novel.
My actual goal has always been to finish writing my novel by December 31, 2008. That will happen – God willing. To make the experience more interesting (and so I don’t slack off), I’m not shaving until I finish writing it. Why? Because I’ve alway been a little special like that.
The optimistic side of me wanted to sing the words “walking in the rain” to the tune of “Singing in the Rain” as I walked home this evening. All I could utter (in the spirit of Charlie Brown) was, “Rats!”
A long, seeming unproductive and frustrating workday coupled with rain and Atlanta traffic in the rain should have been enough. Actually it was enough. Enough for me to consider the haven that home would be once I got there to exhale and shower and enjoy a warm meal. It should have been enough. My pissed off car didn’t think so.
This evening as I waited in a long line of cars at a light for 30+ minutes because some fool (or fools) didn’t want to heed driving more careful in the rain, my beloved car decided to garner for attention.
Steam in the front.
“Maybe that’s from the rain?”
More steam in the front.
“Maybe the exhaust from the car in front of me?”
Loud POP! Temperature gauge goes red. Smoke or steam or…
“Rats!”
Several more miles to go before home but I safely park my car in a lot and walk the rest of the way home. In the rain.
Now I’m home and I’m going to exhale, shower, enjoy that meal, and then ride my bike back to my car in a couple of hours to see if all can be restored… or at least hauled home. Rats!
Seven eight nine, this that and the third
The dog ate my homework, eight subjects and no verb
The cart is pulling the horse and other musings so absurd
Am I being too abstract or just layering the fact that I’m perturbed?
Why do today what you can put off tomorrow?
Why feel better now, when in sorrow you can wallow?
If Jesus walks on water again then maybe you will follow
If Nietzsche lives next door to you, my faith I’ll let you borrow
I can’t count on my fingers, I’ve got more sense than that
I can’t count on my money, it all goes to buy more fat
What was that I said about being too abstract?
Seven eight nine and other punchlines, does this verse make me look fat?
My flag is at half mast
I ripped my garment for thee
My ashen face is downcast
And several doves have been released
Sixty seconds to respect
Much less seconds to be born
And a lifetime to reflect
On life for which to mourn
The bells, they toll for thee
And the rain allays the ground
The earth invites you back
From whence you first were found
My flag is still at half mast
It’s due my time to grieve
While not preventing living.
A moment of silence for thee.
Here again I’m emancipated from the reaches and auspices of death
As the fragrance and significance of you fills my lungs,
And I’m lucid
Now.
I can’t recall what it was like before I inhaled this colorless element of you.
Was I gasping, near collapsing, falling to earth while grasping
For hope
Then?
How could they have taken you for granted you when there could be no stand-in?
Yes, so many thrived on the presence and mere essence of you
Yet you were invisible and all the while
There.
I sigh to expel all that is not you just before deeply inhaling again
For I and my capillaries and all were weary while you tarried
Some time ago
But now
You’re
Here.
Today is Veteran’s Day and I want to thank all of those who have bravely served our country through military service. You are true heroes. Thank you for the sacrifice.
A week has come and gone since I began my humble participation in NaNoWriMo. I’ve confirmed what I already knew. Writing a novel is hard work. I love writing… but 30 days might as well be one weekend. It didn’t help matters when one of my writing buddies revealed her word count to be four times mine after a few days.
Quandra is a great writer and all – Actually she’s awesome. I’ve read her first bit and I’m sold – but I invited her to participate. She just comes in and takes over with her fancy 11,000+ start. And then there is Sylvia. Ms. Super-Writer-Director-Renaissance-Woman quietly doubled her word count in a matter of days making the above-11k mark where the real cool people hang out. James is MIA as he’s been on vacation for a week. A whole week. He’s the genius who told me about NaNoWriMo in the first place. He hasn’t shared his word count so he’s probably halfway done by now. (sigh) My friends have unknowingly taken it from friends-supporting-one-another to some kind of writing-smackdown-competition. Quandra, James, and Sylvia, I love you, think you’re great writers, and support you to the end. And now I will destroy you.
Friendly like. Of course I’m kidding. Kind of.
November 5, 2008. Dozens upon dozens of newspapers from all over the world headlining the historic day of Barack Obama winning the office of President of the United States. Simply AMAZING.
A lot of you rushed out and bought newspapers on November 5, 2008 to commemorate the historic day of Barack Obama winning the office of President of the United States. Here are a few scans of those newspapers. You’ll need something like Adobe Reader to be able to view them. Enjoy…
Austin American Statesman
Boston Globe
Chicago Sun Times
Chicago Tribune
Hartford Courant
Los Angeles Times
Times Picayune
USA Today
WallStreet Journal
Washington Post
I just had to share this blog that aims to document the outpouring of artwork inspired by Obama’s message of hope, change, and his image itself. Enjoy!
And if you haven’t voted… pitch a tent tonight at your polling location and help make history tomorrow.
Today is Saturday, November 1, the first day of National Novel Writers Month (NaNoWriMo). Today is the also likely the beginning of the end of my sanity as I know it. For you see, today I start writing a novel. 50,000 words. In 30 days.
In participation of NaNoWriMo, I have publicly declared and committed to attempt to write a novel in 30 days and share my progress and word count with the world (see the counter on the right). I’m not sure what that looks like but I am nervously starting with a great idea, some semblance of a plot, and no outline. I ask for your encouragement, prayers, advice, free meals, and sympathy. Stay tuned.
