Thematic Consistency?

Writing last night, I found myself going down a melancholic path with my character that was real, and reflected my own mood. Yet, thinking about it today, I'm not sure it's what I want my character to be - An unlikeable sod who is always worrying about how he's perceived or if he's "good enough".

I'm not going to change it now, though. I'm going to finish the story, then go back and edit as necessary. I'm just starting to become scared at the prospect of tackling that process. While I'm closer than I've ever been to "done" with this story that's been rattling around in my head for years, I'm starting to realize just how far away from done I am. The reality is better than the fantasy of thinking "it's easy, I can start anytime", as with reality I'm realizing that if I wait, it may never get done. But the reality is also sobering, and making me count the cost. Also good. Sometimes painful.

Press on,
-Nas

Tiny Steps

So, November - What happened back there, eh?  I didn't win NaNoWriMo, but I did win something else, if it can be considered a victory.

As I started to get burned out, I was looking for encouragement, and came across an article interviewing a published author/teacher whose whole routine is writing 250 words a day, minimum. He pointed out that even at the bare minimum, 250 words a day will yield 70,000 words over a years time. No small feat, though NaNoWriMo aims at 50,000 in a month.

I adopted his suggestion, and have been working diligently on my book and making good, if slow, progress. But progress to be sure.

So, to be clear, it's not "easy". It is doable. However, I've come to the place in the last week or two where I'm putting down just enough words to cover my goal, as I'm struggling to direct my story towards the next big event in a meaningful way. My concern is that I'm going to flush a lot of what I've been doing over the last couple weeks down the toilet in editing once I get past it, but that's fine, I suppose.

Still, since beginning this regime, I've had many (most) days go well over 250 words. Sometimes, it all just flows. But 250 allows me to be consistent without worrying that when I sit down to write, I'll have to be at the computer for hours. I can usually get my words down in about a half-hour, and if I'm rolling, can take more time as needed; But if I'm struggling, I can put it down guilt free, knowing I've pushed through more of the muck that just needs to be hammered out.

If you are considering setting a writing goal, but have yet to start for fear of failure, please allow me to suggest the "250 word a day" program. It's more than nothing, and if you scrap it all, you're at the same place as if you never did anything.

But you won't scrap it all.

Press on,
-Nas

Hero Status

My friend, who is also working on NaNoWriMo, was telling me about his story, and talked about a character being chastised for preaching platitudes and "big gestures", when doing good needs to be in the everyday and small things. I liked that. A lot.

Because, when you are faithful to do good in the small things, you can be trusted to do good in those times when it is a "big deal". Not only can others trust you, but you can trust yourself, which is important - To not be paralyzed by doubt.

One of my characters revealed that he does not lie. Ever. That's been fun to write, because it demands I creatively craft conflict that is believable; that the character can get out of without lying, where lying would seem natural.

When I put it that way, it doesn't seem that cool. I guess I'm tired.

13,494/50,000

Press on.
-Nas

Flies, the Time

...I mean, I've done stuff. I've been writing, just not here. Clearly.

But that's not the point.

It's NaNoWriMo, and I'm in it to win it. Because time is getting shorter. Because I don't know what else to do that will best use my time and talents to tell truth. Because when I look at my kids, I want them to have this story, at least so they can know more about me.

And because I've waited long enough. I wasn't going to do NaNoWriMo this year. I was afraid to start. But November 1st, I revisited three chapters I'd begun two years ago, and said "now's the time". So it is.

So these won't be much, because I have to write story. Here's the count, because it's a game too:

As of this writing:

10,267/50,000

That's with a considerable head-start at the beginning, mind you.

Here's an excerpt:

“How long have we kept you, waiting until just the right time?  Until you showed us the way.  And even now, as I know what I must do, I fear.  But that is normal, isn’t it?  While I have faith in our mission, I fear the tumult that this means for us…and the whole universe.”

“Are you speaking to me, sir?” The voice came from the cylinder on the table in front of Elder Flynn.  A small circular speaker was mounted in the lower part of its chassis, under the open indentation, and what appeared to be a single “eye” was built on the upper portion.  It moved to look at Elder Flynn. The iris opened slightly as the eye focussed on the old patriarch, adjusting to the light. The robot had no visible limbs of any kind. The whole of its body was colored a faint metallic blue. The only other external feature were four teardrop shaped bumps evenly spaced around the circumference of the robot’s body below the speaker, just above the lower  inverted dome.

“No, my friend.  I was talking to your charge.”  On saying that, Elder Flynn dropped the small object into the indentation.  “It is now your responsibility to take The Link where it leads you.”

“I understand, sir,’ said the cylindrical robot.  “Gulp!”  The upper and lower halves clanged shut over the nested container, closing the object inside.  

Elder Flynn patted the curved dome above the robot’s eye.  “Good boy,” he said.

Press on...
-Nas

Milestones: Kick-Off

Materials acquired:
-Pilot G-2 07 gel pens (My favorite for handwriting)
-100-sheet College Ruled Composition Books (25-cents each!)(And can be stickered and drawn-on all over!!)

Plan:
For each idea or story, I will start a composition book that will house all the outlines, characters, plot points and miscellaneous sundries that will be required to see the story/project to completion. All ideas will be cataloged in these primarily...while notes might be jotted elsewhere, I will compile them here.

Yeah, well...I can buy the stuff, but if I don't sit down and write, all I have is more stuff. However, Project 1 is underway. Next step...gather all relevant notes from previous notebooks and gather them in the new one. If I can find them...

Comic Con 2010: Goalsetting

Friday morning, I went to Douglas Neff's panel called Creative Kickstart: Goal Setting for Creative types. It was essentially a motivational panel with points on how to focus on getting things done in the creative arts, though variations of the same principles could be applied to pretty much any endeavor.

Doug's email is doug(at)toucanlearning.com. What's kinda weird is that ToucanLearning.com seems to redirect to some bizarro google file-sharing page. So I dunno. At any rate, I think the points and the worksheet he handed out were pretty helpful. I won't reiterate all the points, as I don't want to plagiarize the dude, and I don't know how much is available for folks online, but there was one specific point that was the most helpful for me:

Know your Nemesis - The idea s that, your nemesis is that which fights you, and keeps you from working or pursuing your goals. Be it watching TV, or playing games, or collecting toys (All of these are mine, BTW) by knowing it and naming it, this undefeatable "nemesis" can be controlled, and used to work to your benefit. He equated it to the idea that idea that "The darker the villian, the brighter the hero shines". So, there is a benefit to having a nemesis, but only where it doesn't cause you to compromise yourself.

So, how does this apply in light of my Christian views? Pretty well. If i were to address my nemesis, it would be anything good that I abuse, or put above God. For instance, certainly food is good, and In-n-Out is good food. But if I had three Double-Doubles for lunch, it would do me no good, and in fact, harm. The same with playing a game or reading a comic or collecting a toy...when it becomes a hindrance to my character or what needs to be done, it becomes a bane instead of a boon.

Doug also handed out worksheets to help focus an idea or project into a manageable goal. It was a little hard to fill out at first...my apprehension stems from a fear that once the idea is put to paper, it becomes real and then possibly shown to be implausible or impractical..or worse, just a bad idea. Actually, that is a real concern, but recognizing that in an idea helps to refine it to something plausible, practical and in fact a good idea.

I recommend anyone interested in the points mentioned in the panel email Doug at the address above. He encourages contact, and I'm sure would be willing to share his ideas with anyone who asked. At least, I hope so.