FRIDAY STIR FRY - Epic Fail

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Well, I gave up on NaNo - again.

I just couldn't keep up. I don't have the energy I had ten years ago when I first did NaNo. And, I don't think I have as many functioning brain cells as I did back then.

I tried getting up early to write before work. I managed that a few days, but my brain just wouldn't function that early. I tried writing at work, but then damn work would get in the way. I tried writing as soon as I got home from work, but again, my brain just wouldn't cooperate. After dealing with stupid people all day, my mind didn't want to deal with my stupid characters. And I found myself resenting having to write all weekend to catch up.

So, I quit.

But, on the bright side, I managed almost 20,000 words. Some of them are good, others are headed to the recycle bin. So, thanks NaNo for that.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Labor Day - Writing Day

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It's Labor Day Weekend. Three days to be me. That needs to be writer me. Not lazy me, not laundry me, not Netflix me. Well, maybe a little Netflix. I had three days off last weekend, but didn't get anything written. In my defense, I was drained from work drama. (see last week's post)

Saturday will be somewhat of a writing day. I have a writer's meeting that will take up most of the day. Hopefully it gives me inspiration. But usually after these meetings, I don't write. I think it has to do with writer overload. Don't get me wrong, I love being around my author friends. But when I spend most of the day talking about writing and listening about writing techniques, it can sometimes wear me out. And then writing ends up being the last thing I want to do. A nice cold beer at my watering hole is usually what happens.

That still leaves Sunday and Monday to make up things and put them on paper. I have some Starbucks cards that will be used.

**Follow up from last weeks rant. Be careful who you trust. And you can't trust anybody at work.      Voodoo dolls help.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Planning A Writing Weekend

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Every week I tell myself I'm going to do nothing but write all weekend. And then life happens or I just get lazy. But, this weekend, I'm devoting myself to my writing. Period.

All my other obligations are taken care of. I've done well with promotion this week, so I don't feel pressured to do that. My writer group meetings are over for the month. Everything else can wait. Grocery shopping can wait. Bill paying can wait. Laundry can wait. What do I need clean clothes for anyway? Cleaning house can certainly wait. Nobody there but me and I've grown fond of my dust bunnies. I may even start naming them. Any suggestions?

But just to make sure those obligations aren't going to be calling my name, there's a new coffee shop my laptop and I will be checking out. And a few others on my list when I get tired of sitting in one place. Heck, I may spend my whole paycheck (which won't take long) on coffee and scones. 

My goal: To come close to finishing my second novel. Wish me luck!

FRIDAY STIR FRY - My Life As A Writer

A writer friend of mine wrote a couple of blog posts about her life as a writer. She is living my dream - stay at home and write. She even has a house keeper and a husband that will sometimes cook dinner. You can read her posts here:
http://carabristol.com/2015/03/a-week-in-the-crazy-life-of-an-author-part-1/

So, I thought I would give you some idea of what my writing life is like.

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What you see in this picture is pretty much my life 8 to 5 Monday through Friday. Our office is a little different, but I bet you get the idea. Glamorous right?

Because I'm not a morning person, there is no early writing. My day starts with me falling out of bed about ten minutes after seven. Notice I said work starts at eight? Thank goodness I'm low maintenance, I don't live too far from the office, and there is coffee at work. Quick shower, dress and out the door by 7:40.

Nine hours later, I'm headed back home. My brain is so tired I sometimes have a hard time unlocking the back door. Kidding, but again, I bet you get the picture.

Next is a well deserved cocktail while watching the nightly news.
Sometimes, I feel a little better and open up my work in progress and write a few hundred words. Most nights though, I don't get out of my recliner until time for bed, usually around 9. What no dinner? Yep, some nights I'm too tired to fix anything.

So when do I write? Weekends. And if I feel like lugging my laptop to work (which isn't often), I'll get a few words during lunch.

Sadly, all this doesn't translate to creating a lot of books. But, it's what it is until I can live my writer friend's life and stay home. Although, I'll probably never have a house keeper and forget that whole husband thing.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Writing and Other Stuff

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Winter still has a stranglehold on us. Barely above zero today and this weekend - snow, freezing rain, sleet, regular rain. They keep saying Spring is just around the corner. I think it wasn't looking when it tried to cross the street and got ran over by a bus.

So my big plans for Saturday and Sunday - writing and editing.
(and let's be honest - probably some Netflix)

That's my plan, but as we all know, the best laid plans and such. I need to finish a 750 word story for Sleuths' Ink quarterly contest. It would help if I could figure out who dun it. I'm also putting together and editing some of my short stories for a secret project. More on that later. And, of course, I'm still struggling to finish my second novel. That sucker is killing me. 

And speaking of killing, 9 people, including the shooter, dead this morning in a small town about 90 miles from here. What the hell is going on? That's close to 20 people killed in and around this area in the last two weeks. Many of them are being blamed on domestic violence. It is a well known fact this part of the country is a hot bed for abuse. But, I've never seen anything like this. Yesterday our state auditor shot himself. So disturbing and sad. 

My book, Beyond The Horizon, deals with an abusive relationship but at least there is a happy ending. Not for these poor people and their families. 

Perhaps cabin fever is playing a role in all this. Another reason for Spring to hurry up, please.