NaNo What!?!

It's November which means it's time for NaNoWriMo.

What exactly is NaNoWriMo, you ask!?!

National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known as NaNoWriMo, happens every November. All over the world writers set an ambitious goal of writing 50,000 words on a novel from November 1 through November 30.

Last year NaNoWriMos wrote over 2 trillion words during the month of November! I managed to finish with just over 50,000.

The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to get people writing; to get those novels out of our heads and onto a computer or paper or whatever your medium of choice.

I'm participating once again in this year. I don't know if I'm crazy or what, but I'm going to do it. Last year I was a rebel. To be official you have to start a brand new novel, page 1, word 1. I had a novel in process that I wanted to finish a first draft so I rebelled.

This year I'm going to be official and play by the rules. I'm writing a historical fiction that has been in my heart and mind for many years, but I've put off writing it because it needs lots of details so that match actual fiction. I've done some preliminary research, enough to be able to write the story.

My main character has been wandering through my mind whispering to me this weekend. She has a story to tell. I know some of it, the rest I will discover throughout the month of November.

So, that's what I'll be doing this next month. What about you? If you're a writer with a novel banging around inside you, won't you join the craziness? You can find out more information at www.nanowrimo.org

I Kind of Did That Backwards

The standard advice for wanna-be freelance writers is to not quit your day job until you are making money as a writer. I kind of did that backwards.


It wasn’t intentional. I ended up in a place where I felt it was time to leave my job and I decided this would be a good time to pursue my dreams. If not now, when? So here I am six months later with a dream and a little extra writing experience under my belt, but not publishing regularly and not being paid for it. Am I a freelance writer or still a wanna-be? I’m certainly not a freelance writer who is supporting herself with her writing.

I've been doing some little projects like temp jobs here and there to bring in some money these past months. One of those projects has led me to the reality that I’m no longer content with just working to pay the bills. I no longer want to wander through life having to put my passion and joy on the back burner for 40 hours a week. I don’t think every writer has to give up a fulfilling day job to be the best writer they can. In fact, I know of many writers who worked all day and wrote all night. But, here I am at a crossroads in my life where I can pursue my dream or go back to my old life. That one project really instilled in me the desire to not go back to the old life just yet.

Once many years ago my pastor said, “If you have a God-given dream and you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. God will be there.” I wrote that quote in my journal all those years ago not knowing that the dream was writing for God for a living. I had buried that dream so deep it didn’t register on my radar back then. It wasn’t until 2006 that I began to unbury my hopes enough to reach my true pleasure in writing something that spoke to someone else. Now, I feel the drive to see where this will take me.

So, here as 2010 dwindles down to memories I am making a list and checking it twice. I’m making a plan, a business plan if you will. It won’t be easy. I’ve been tempted to think that if God gives me a dream it should be easy. But, I don’t really believe that. I think that God gives the dream and He gives the talent, but the elbow grease, that has to come from me. 2011 will be a year of elbow grease. I may end up doing the whole starving artist thing before I succeed, but I am willing to do that.

Welcome to 2010

Party like it’s Y2K10! I totally stole that so I should definitely not take credit for it. It came from a friend of a friend and it made me laugh so I appropriated it.


It’s now 1am MST. The ball has dropped, champagne has been drunk, horns have been blown, silly hats have been worn, and the New Year has been toasted. I am snuggled warm and toasty on my couch with my lap top trying to convince my kitty boy that I still love him even though I was out later than usual and his ten o’clock snack became a midnight snack tonight. He’s not having it right now and is giving me the cold shoulder. Since Wilson is leaving on my own, I thought there was no better time than now to write this, my first post of 2010.

Tonight I had the pleasure of ringing in the New Year with my friend Renee and our friend Amy and our other friend Amie. (Is it just me or are you all thinking about the “Newhart Show” with Larry and his brother Darrel and his other brother Darrel? If you weren’t, you are now, huh?) Anyway, I received a text from Renee this morning asking me if I wanted to join them. I haven't talked to Renee is ages so I was thrilled. It was just what I needed at the end of this year. So, I joined them as the Philharmonic provided fabulous music and then we went in search of a place to watch the ball drop.

As we waited for midnight we talked about goals for 2010. I had to laugh when I discovered that Amy and I share three objectives this year. The amazing thing about this is that Amy and I haven’t really spent any time together for a long time. We just happen to be on the same wave length on what’s important at this point in time.

All week I have been thinking about what my fifth should be. You know how I am. I have four and there just seems to be the need to have a nice prime number like five. Tonight the last goal suddenly became clear to me. Since I am really feeling the accountability thing these days I decided I would let you all join me in my quest by sending my list of desired accomplishments out into cyberspace to make them real.

So, anyhoo, here goes with the five things I am working to accomplish in Y2K10:

1) Finish writing/editing/revising my novel in time to submit it to Operation First Novel

2) Regaining my physical fitness and getting my health back on track

3) Working through Dave Ramsey’s “Total Money Makeover” in a quest to become more financially fit

4) Market the Lewy Body Support Group I would like to start in order to support others who are walking that road

5) Kiss a stranger (you had to be there to get this one)

There you have it. The big five. My prime targets. ( Smile, pun intended!) The holy grails of 2010. Feel free to ask me how I am progressing and to share your goals for the New Year.

Ending One Year and Moving into the New Year

Photo copyright 2009 Beverly Seng

The sun is setting on 2009. As 2010 looms many people are thinking about what they hope and dream will come in the new year. New year’s resolutions are made and goals are verbalized.


I have recently read a couple of blog posts that laid out clearly and concisely what the posters want to achieve this year. Their readers know exactly what these folks are working towards this coming year.

I am still in the process of finalizing my goals. A few years ago I made a goal to try something new every month. You can read more about my adventures by reading any of my Year of Living Adventurously posts. This year I have toyed with making 12 goals in 12 months. I am still waffling on what exactly I want to do.

However, I do have one firm goal in mind. Every year the Christian Writer’s Guild hosts Operation First Novel. This contest is open to any unpublished author. The grand prize is $20,000 and a contract with Tyndale House to publish their novel. I have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with 2008 and 2009 winners Jennifer Erin Valent and CJ Darlington. I have experienced how this contest has changed their life.

So, this year one goal I have already set for myself is to have my novel ready to submit to the contest. The deadline for submissions is October 15, 2010. This gives me 288 days to work on finishing the manuscript and then editing, revising, and polishing. It’s a big project. 288 days sounds like a lot of time, but the only way I will succeed in finishing is if I break my goal into smaller chunks and set deadlines for myself. The other thing I have learned about goals is to tell them to my friends and family so that there will be accountability. Now that I have published it for the entire world (theoretically) to read I have more to lose if I drop the ball as I have in years past.

My hope is that this time next year the sun will be setting on a year of hard work and success at this goal.

Determination

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.  ~Mahatma Gandhi


Have you heard about Cha Sa Soon? I heard about her on the radio this morning and didn’t know whether to be amused or inspired.

According to the radio report Cha Sa Soon is a 68 year old woman in South Korea who was determined to get her driver’s license in order to support her business. She took the written test which required 60 out of 100 correct t in order to pass. She took it once and failed, twice and failed, three times and failed. Turns out she took the test 950 times before passing!

She does still have to pass an actual driving test before getting her license. Can you imagine, though, the perseverance it took to continue going to take that test? She knew what she wanted and she went after it. Cha Sa Soon certainly has an indomitable will.

While I am not sure I would want to drive the same roads as someone who had to take a driver’s test so many times I tip my hat to this spunky lady. Her story should be a lesson and encouragement for us. She never gave up and finally attained her dream. So, the next time I try and fail I will remember Cha Sa Soon and try again.

Fall is in the Air

Fall is in the air. Today I decided around noon time to run out and take care of some errands. I slipped into a pair of capris, a short sleeve shirt, and flip flops and headed out the door. Despite the sun shining brightly, the air had that unmistakable fall nip to it.


I love autumn. There is something about the colors that nature displays, the crispness of the air, the sun that teases that makes me feel introspective and peaceful. I look forward to the coming of fall each year more than any other season. It’s kind of silly, but with the coming of fall I like to pull out my old, much used home taped VHS version of “Hocus Pocus” and watch it. Fall, “Hocus Pocus”, and turning inward go hand in hand in my world.


Most of the world does spring cleaning; I do fall cleaning. As the days grow cooler and shorter I tend to think of cleaning carpets, washing windows, and organizing closets. I need to organize closets; my 3 year old nephew said to me on Saturday as we went looking for the cat who was asleep in the closet, "Your closet's a mess, Auntie Tammie."


I talked with a friend this morning and she told me how this time of year leads her to think of what the year has held and what she would like to do in the coming year. We have been friends for many years and I never knew this of her. It is my habit also to begin to make my new year’s goals around Thanksgiving time.


I am one of the Saturday bloggers over at The Christian Writer's Forum. This past Saturday I posted about a recent trip to visit family in a small farming community of Southern Indiana. Fallow Ground came out of that trip. This is the time of year when farmers are harvesting their crops and the fields are lying in lost splendor. The thing about these fallow fields is that they are not really dormant, they are reviving and restoring. They are preparing for the next growing season.

Maybe that is why the fall makes me think to the future. The activities of spring and summer are done and life seems to slow down some. It seems to me to be an opportune time to consider the year that is almost done. The restoration that is happening during this time leads to anticipation of goals to be accomplished.

This fall brings me to the one year anniversary of my mother’s death and with it the sadness of having lived a year without her. It brings with it the realization that my goals were always important to my mother. She believed I could do anything I put my mind to doing.

So, as I hunker down and replenish, I savor the memories and lean on the strength she instilled in me. A new year is coming and I still have much to accomplish. My fallow ground is making way for new growth in the coming year.