Writing Journal

Yes! 

I took a walk on my lunch break.  It was brisk and chilly, and I normally think as fast as I walk.  Which was good today.  I got a lot of thinking done for my NaNoWriMo.

I know who my main characters are (I cut out one that I had before) as well as who needs to receive and grant forgiveness and what for.

This week my roommate's out of town, so I'm hoping to get the apartment clean enough to foster clear thinking come November.  I'm also hoping to get my story binder filled.  I've got a tab for characters/relationships, one for settings, and one for plot points (stuff that happens).  I'm thinking I might create one for the conclusion, too, since I struggle with those.

I also just joined on at the NaNoWriMo website.  My username is seashmore if you want to be my buddy. 

Writing Journal

So, it just hit me: I'm going to write a novel.
Next month.
And I don't know what is going to happen.

I mean, I know what's going to happen to the novel I write: it'll probably sit on my computer for a while.  I might let other people read it (if I'm satisfied).  If they like it, I might save up and try to talk to my dad's publisher. 

What I don't know is what's going to happen inside the story.  I know who my characters are (or did; I haven't spent time with them in months), but I don't know what they're going to do.

So I asked myself: what do I want them to learn from their experiences?  That might help me decide what experiences to give them.
I've decided: I want them to learn about forgiveness.  How's and why's of granting and receiving.  I've got some drafts for a series about this on my home blog, but haven't really made time to flesh them out.  I probably should.

Next step: deciding how I want my characters to learn these lessons.

Reading Journal

I did some Hopkins for my poet between books.  I also read another poet; I don't remember his name but remember I liked his rhythm.  (I also liked the fact that I got some inspiration for a lesson I have to give in church in a couple of weeks because I read the bookmark before I started reading the other guy.)

Instead of doing "Latter-day Liberty," I opted for "You're Wearing THAT?" due to reading this.

Reading/Writing Journal

I'm falling desparately behind, mostly in my writing and scripture reading.  I'm only kind of behind in my leisurely reading.

I'm starting to doubt whether or not I'll have what I've decided to title "Constance in Sioux City" cut to even 15,000 by the end of the month.  I'm currently sitting at about 26k and am averaging less than 1k an hour when I cut.  If it's going to be in the 2013 issue of the BCR, I've got to have it done by mid-October at the very latest.  So like 3 weeks.  gulp

I finished "Like Any Normal Day" and was somewhat disappointed.  I read the acknowledgements and was not in the least bit surprised to see the author didn't thank a copy edietor.  I felt the story had so much potential, but the book barely came close to reaching it. Kind of like me on the chin-up bar in gym class.

I'm not sure who my poet is going to be, but I'll be reading that tonight.  Haven't got much further in Casterbridge, either. 

I think I've got "Latter-Day Liberty" on deck for my next True.  I'll probably have to do Cather as a Random in order to get her in for the fall.  I was really hoping to get her in as an Old.  sigh

Reading Journal

I did it!  I did it!
I finished the Catechism!! 
(True story: I texted a Catholic friend of mine and she said "I haven't even done that.")

My poet after that was Thomas Hardy, and I liked it.  (Having a hard time remembering which ones, in particular, though.)

He was my poet because I wanted to read "Mayor of Casterbridge."  I really enjoy Hardy's work--his descriptions of the land and characters, mostly.  I'm only a few chapters into Casterbridge, but I have high hopes for it.