Writing Journal

Long story short, I've failed NaNoWriMo this year.

I'm only recording my excuses/reasons so I can do my best to not repeat them.

1. I didn't prep as well as I needed to in October. This includes my outline and my writing space(s).
2. I got off to a slow start. I let a few consecutive days go by without writing.
3. I got sick. A nasty cold knocked me out for about 5 full days. It probably only would have been 2 or 3 were I in a position to call sick to work.
4. I didn't set word count goals or a reward system. This probably falls under not planning well.
5. I didn't create a support base. At best, 5 people I come face to face with knew about my challenge. No one was asking me how I was doing or telling me they wanted to read it when I was done. Which is sad, because I might actually have let them with this one.

Writing Journal

Well, I've started thinking about NaNo for this year. I recently moved to a place that is 90 minutes from any WriMo region, which means I'm equally viable in the Nebraska: Omaha, Lincoln, or Elsewhere regions. Since I have a few remaining ties to Sioux City, I'd probably get along there, too, since it falls into that 90 minute web. 

My point in explaining all that isn't to showcase the "where do I want to pledge my allegiance" question, but because the Municipal Liaison (captain) who led both the Lincoln and Elsewhere regions has bowed out for this year. She'll still be participating, but I guess being President of the Nebraska Writer's Guild, managing a bakery, and going through chemo is a bit much. So they're looking. For someone. And I'll admit: I'm tempted. 

Also, I'm preparing my fourth church-related speaking assignment since November. It'll be my first time speaking with interpreters for Spanish-speaking members of the congregation. 

Writing Journal

Once again, I have something that gives me experience in my desired field of editing. A friend of mine is starting a web page, and I've volunteered as a managing editor. I'll provide the link as soon as the site kicks off. I may even kick out a few posts for them, although I'm not as issue-charged as the rest of the staff seems to be. Which is probably a good thing. I'm only in it for the proofing, anyway.

Writing Journal

Long story short, I didn't finish my train story. Wacky work schedule and a bad case of Taco Bell early on started me in the hole, and I realized too late that the iPad for novel writing just doesn't do it for me, even with the keyboard case.

However, I'm within sight of finishing Constance in Sioux City. All that's left is a literal cut and paste job of 9 pages (margins narrowed; 12 at regular) to see if I can cut at least a page before I send it off to the BCReview for inclusion in their 2015 issue. I talked to the editor at this year's reception, and she seemed keen on the idea. So, yay!

Writing Journal

I'm still struggling a little bit with my keyboard.  Especially the shift key, the apostrophe/quotation mark key and the sensitivity of the keys.  Sometimes I get more than I bargained for and sometimes I'm halfway through the word before I realize it didn't recognize my tap on one of the letters.

This wouldn't be so bad if I were writing in word, which auto corrects a lot of those kinds of errors, but I'm not.  Which is slowing me down significantly.  The NaNo gurus are all like "don't edit as you go, not even typos," but they do not understand how utterly gruesome it would be to read what would appear as a result.  I'll give you an example, using a very well-known first line of a novel.

"It i sa truth universally ackknowledged, thaht a single man in posession of a good fortune, must be in wawnt of a wife.?"

Could you imagine 80 pages like that?
Um, that would be a big, fat NO.

As such, I signed up for free typing tests online at www.typingweb.com
When I hit blocks, I go there and keep my fingers limber, especially that right pinky.

Writing Journal

Now that I have a keyboard with my iPad, it will be easier to update this, as well as work on my writing. (Even though I'm not using the cheap keyboard right now, since the on/off toggle switch is really hard to get at, and I don't anticipate saying much.)

Today, I went browsing for free writing apps, and I have to say I'm not impressed with the Apple store's search feature. With Google Play on my phone, if I search the exact name of the app I'm looking for, it shows up. Not so much with the Apple store.  Anyway, I haven't found what I'm looking for.

-free

-word count

-offline capabilities

-easy to navigate within the program.

Werdsmith is pretty much the best one I've found so far.  I won't stop looking until the end of the month, or I find one that I love instantly.

I also just created Pandora radio stations for the three characters who are not me.

Writing Journal

I want to share my thoughts on the #AmtrakResidency program. Please note my opinions may be influenced by the fact that I was actually on a train from Omaha to Salt Lake (but I got off early in Provo) when I first heard about it.

Basically, writers appeal to Amtrak for the chance to take one of 24 trips within the year so that they may have uninterrupted time to write on a train. Don't worry, I'm working on my application. I've seen a lot of dismay about the fact that Amtrak reserves the world rights forever to the writing sample that you submit with your application. 

Authors are upset because they want to retain the rights to all of their writing. I'm not that hardcore about it. I write to share stories with people, not make money. (Although I'm not opposed to that.) If I were to want to write for money, I would have turned to tech writing.

Writing Journal

Long story short, I took a vacation from Omaha to the SLC metro area at the end of February. Knowing that I wanted it to be relaxing (and nervous that I would get distracted by the beauty of the mountains and accidentally drive myself off a cliff) and having no desire to deal with the hassles of airlines (also, it was February and I didn't want to risk cancellations), I decided to cross a thing off the bucket list and take a train.

Best decision I could have made. Will probably blog about it at some point.

The ride from Salt Lake back to Omaha...I can think of no single word to describe it.  The cast of characters is absurd and gave me the idea for a story. I can't help but tell it, in novel (or at least NaNoWriMo) form.  Thank goodness for Camp NaNo in April!  The cast of characters is small (Terrence, Grandma Betty, Helen, and Chiraq) but vibrant. The scenery is mundane enveloped in the grandiose, and the climax is astounding.

My intention is to stay true to the events that happened on the train, and give wide speculation as to each individuals interpretation of those events, as well as their backgrounds. I'm going to title it "Family for a Day." I haven't decided as of yet how I want to format the story. I'm going to be oing a lot of reading in March to help me figure it out.

Do I want each character to have their own section for each plot point? Or do I want to tell it third person omniscient? Do I want to introduce their backgrounds straight away, or interweave those details into the storyline?
So many questions, and not much time to answer them!