Saturday, October 25, 2014

Prep Talk



In one week National Novel Writing Month begins, and I as well as thousands of writers around the globe will be spending the next thirty days writing to reach the 50,000 words finish line. This is also the time when I generally try to come up with a fun, motivational post to encourage writers who are on the fence to dive in with the rest of us.

Thing is, at the moment I'm not feeling especially inspiring. I landed a job so I'm going back to work (hooray!), only it's ghost-writing so I can't tell anyone about it (ho-hum). I'm still recovering from my surgeries, which was going well until an unexpected infection set in last week. Every time I blinked felt like someone was stabbing me in the eye with a toothpick. Which meant going back on the steroid eyedrops, which burn almost as bad. Just as that started to clear up, I got my hand caught between two grocery carts I was trying to separate at the market. Yes, I am that kind of idiot. Freeing myself resulted in bruises + a nice big gash on said hand, which given my wimpy immune system will probably not heal until NaNo is over.

Did I mention I have a new job I have to start like immediately?

I know, whine, whine, whine. No one can do it better than writers. Honestly, I am grateful for the work, and the infection is gone, and I have plenty of Band-Aids. It's just dealing with the eyedrops and sore hand and depression over being so banged up while trying to do my best for the new job, all I really want to do is give up on NaNo, unplug and hide until January.

I could, quite easily. You would understand, wouldn't you? I mean, look at my excuses. They're pretty good, aren't they?

Still, as of November 1st, come Hell, come high water, come whatever, I'm writing a novel in thirty days. Why? We already know how mule-headed I can be, yes? But it's not just stubborness. It's joy to go with the job. It's laughing at wretched eye infections. It's kicking all the stuck-together grocery carts in the world to the moon. It's a bridge across the abyss.

Why? It's writing. I'm a writer. This is what I do, and I'm doing this for me.

So those are my pom poms, and while they're not especially pretty, fun or motivational this year, I'm shaking them for me and you. I know for every trouble I have many of you have at least as many, if not more. A lot of you are swamped, dealing with your own day jobs and financial worries and health issues and family dramas, and there simply is not enough time to do anything except put out fires and hope you don't go crazy in the process. Or maybe you're just tired and not in the mood. I get it, really, I do. I absolutely believe that your excuses are as good as if not better than mine.

But you're a writer, and this is what we do. So write with me this November. Write your novel. Do it for you.

13 comments:

  1. And I thought I was the only one in the 'what the hell am I doing' scenario. Get well and write.

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    1. I'm right there with you, Judy. :)

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  2. Thanks, I needed that.

    And hope you feel better by next Saturday. Next Saturday. Holy crap...

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    1. Yeah, I know -- I was just going to update my calendar for next month, and there aren't any blank squares left. :)

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  3. I'm sorry to interrupt this discussion, but could you tell me the reading order or your Darkyn novels and novellas? I think I have gotten the publication order, but don't know if that is the reading order. Also how do your Kyndred series and Lords of the Darkyn trilogy link to the storyline?
    If angels burn - Apr 2005
    Private demon - Oct 2005
    Dark need - Jun 2006
    Midnight blues - Oct 2006
    Night lost - May 2007
    Worthy - Aug 2007
    Willing - Dec 2007
    Wanted - Jan 2008
    Evermore - Jan 2008
    Master of shadows - Apr 2008
    Twilight fall - Jul 2008
    Incarnatio - Dec 2008
    Stay the night - Jan 2009
    Rain lashed - Jun 2010

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    1. No worries, Felecia. You have the stories listed in the correct reading order (I always write free e-books to fit in chronologically with my print work.)

      The Kyndred novels are a spin-off/continuation of the Darkyn universe, featuring mortal protagonists and some characters from the original Darkyn series. There are some continuations of storylines from the original Darkyn series in these books.

      The Lords of the Darkyn is a character continuation trilogy, featuring contuining stories for some characters from the original series but with a different plotline tying the books together.

      If you have any other questions about the series reading order, feel free to e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com.

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  4. {{Hugs}} on the complications. Right there with ya.
    But you're right. We write. It's what we do. And although I'm not signing up for Nano, I am auditing the class. :) Have a story idea waiting, & will see how much I can get done. Then, maybe next year...
    And congrats on the work, lady.!

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    1. Thank you, thank you. Hope you're on the mend as well. And auditing Nano is a great idea, btw -- less stress on you, too, I imagine. :)

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  5. Thank you, I needed that.

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  6. Keita Haruka5:04 PM

    Wow. Well, after reading that, how can I possibly not do Nano this year? I may just print this post out and tape it to my wall, my desk, my kitchen...everywhere I happen to be. See you on the other side. ;-)

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  7. I'm so excited for this year's NaNo it's all I can do to not start right now. It helps that this is Book III of the Project I Was Born To Write (or at least it feels that way!), but...wow! CANNOT WAIT!!!

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  8. Yikes. Thanks for the reminder to just write. And leading by example!

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