Category Archives: Writing

NaNoWriMo, Week 2.5

(This started out as part of last week’s entry.  But then I decided that I really had two separate entries, so, Bonus!  Extra Week 2.5 Entry Today!) Last time, I talked about potential excuses for why writing wasn’t happening.  Let’s … Continue reading

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Link Salad for October, 2011 (Better Late Than Never!)

Just realized that I never got around to posting my “link salad” for October. So here’s what I found: Ten Reasons Not To Write Your Novel How to be Miserable as an Artist (oops–link now repaired!) What To Do When … Continue reading

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NaNoWriMo, Week 2

It’s Week Two of that insanity known as National Novel Writing Month.  (Wow, it looks weird to type it all out that way, instead of NaNoWriMo.) This time last year, I was singing the Week 2 Blues.  Which is not … Continue reading

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And The Magic Happens; or, Add New Characters And Stir

Toiling away on my latest NaNoWriMo endeavor, I was beginning to despair.  There was an awful lot of recap happening, and not much in the way of new development. And then…I introduced some new characters. Joshua Newton’s entire family full … Continue reading

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Timing Is Everything; or, I Thought I Was A Night Person…

I think I’ve learned something about how I NaNo best. Last night, after a long and fairly eventful day, I came home and parked myself in front of my computer at around 10:00 pm, with every intention of squeezing out … Continue reading

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NaNoWriMo, Week 1

Well, here we are in November, which means it’s now NaNoWriMo.  I’m plugging away on my novel, staying on pace, but not building up much of a cushion. Part of my problem is that I haven’t been able to get … Continue reading

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It’s Almost Here; or One Day Left Until NaNoWriMo

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 30) So earlier in the month, I posted a list of tasks I hoped to accomplish before this year’s NaNoWriMo begins on November 1.  Let’s see how I did: 1)  Installing New Keyboard.  Status:  WIN!  Got that … Continue reading

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Getting To Know You; or, An Interview With Your Character

(Post-a-Day Challenge, day 29) One of the ways you can get to know your characters a little better is by conducting an interview with them.  Asking them the right kinds of questions can reveal things about them that you might … Continue reading

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Retail Therapy; or Shopping For A Creative Spark

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 27) [Almost there…stay on target….] This evening, my friend Rivka and I decided to go out and engage in a little low-budget retail therapy.  We headed over to the ARC thrift store. I love shopping at thrift … Continue reading

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Plot Decisions; or Weighing The Possibilities

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 26) I just finished running the last few chapters of the first book of “The Daughters of August Winterbourne”* series past my critique group.  As part of the critique, two members of the group questioned one of … Continue reading

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Weather Or Not; or, Let It Snow?

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 25) As I write this, the season’s first snow is falling outside my window.  Sadly, it does not appear that we’ll get the 18″ some forecasters were predicting.  I’m thinking we’ll be lucky to make 3″ by … Continue reading

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Too Much “Was”; or, One Easy Way To Add More Life To Your Writing

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 24) In my on-line critique group, this was my week to receive a critique.  As always, my group provided helpful feedback, catching all (or at least, many) of the things I missed. One person pointed out to … Continue reading

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It’s Dangerous To Go Alone; or Do You Know Where Your NaNoWriMo Support Group Is?

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 23) Today, I attended a NaNoWriMo panel at MileHiCon.  Since I’m a NaNo veteran, there wasn’t a lot that I didn’t already know, but I was intrigued by the discussions of NaNoWriMo as a social activity rather … Continue reading

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Things You Learn From Conventions; or It’s About More Than Just The Writing

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 22)   I love going to science fiction conventions, especially the more literary ones like MileHiCon (which is where I am this weekend, hence the lack of internet connectivity).  These conventions aren’t about meeting your favorite actor … Continue reading

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Postus Interruptus; or, You Want Free WHAT?

Sorry guys.  No free wi-fi at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center, under any circumstances, ever.  (I’ll rant more about that later.) So I’m still writing my blog entries for my blog challenge, but I won’t be able to post them … Continue reading

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Officially Registered; or NaNoWriMo, Here I Come!

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 18) Today, I finally got around to officially registering for this year’s NaNoWriMo challenge.  Not that it was an urgent task–I still have a few days left before the beginning of November, after all.  But it always … Continue reading

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Another Goal Achieved; or, A Clean Desk Is A Sign Of…

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 17) Ahhh.  The smell of furniture polish is in the air.  That can only mean one thing:  Today was desk-cleaning day at my house. One of my pre-NaNoWriMo prep goals was to clean off my desk, and … Continue reading

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And Then What? or, Pacing

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 16) (Gah!  Somehow this got saved as a draft last night instead of getting posted.  It should count anyway, right?) Found myself indisposed with an unhappy tummy today, so I took the opportunity to read through one … Continue reading

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NaNoWriMo Icons & Banner; or, Spiffing The Place Up

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 15) (Yes, I know, it’s technically tomorrow, but I haven’t gone to bed yet, so it still counts.  Neener-neener.) Okay, so today, I made myself some icons–and a banner–for NaNoWriMo.  I’m going to try for a couple … Continue reading

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Prose To Poetry And Back Again; or, All The Other Cool Kids Were Doing It….

(Post-A-Day Challenge, Day 13) Okay, so…. After seeing this on a couple of other writers’ blogs, I decided to try it myself. The idea is to take your prose and break it into lines and stanzas like a free-verse poem.  … Continue reading

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