Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Final week of NaNoWriMo

As of the twentieth, National Novel Writing Month is open for validation of our fifty thousand words. I had such great plans to be done by this time this year. I'm still in the running, but I'm lacking words. Big sigh here.
Once again, I've learned so much. I learn about discipline first, then about story structure, not theoretical story structure, but my story structure. 
This year I boldly started a new project before finishing the last project, and, since this new WIP depends on the previous WIP, I am fast digging myself a huge hole. It's a great hole, but it's truly large and in charge.
Never mind all of that. I'm still laughing and gaily typing. It's not like cooking where once you've added you can't remove. Since I like to play and test various hypotheses, cooking isn't often one of my strengths unless I have time and ingredients to start over again, or tart over again, as the case may be. With NaNoWriMo, I'm not so fussed. I just leave the scene in, highlight it and head in a different direction. It helps me learn not to be such a perfectionist and to rely on my abilities in creating scene, character and plot and then re-creating all of them through editing after November.
There's the fabulously exciting first week. I started a novel. This is me typing on MY NOVEL. This is my word count growing. It's so cool and so odd. Voices in my head come out to play. All those imaginary friends I had when I was young, they live again, and I always want to hold that first week for a few extra days, to savor the breathtaking freedom of it. It's like getting a new little red wagon; like the shiny happy days filling it and carting stuff around, building worlds and carrying treasure, oh, and did I mention, playing, absolute tumbling, laughing, flying, rolling, playing.
The second week inevitably brings panic. I have a slim structure (not me, my story). I've enjoyed the first week. I've donated and purchased my t-shirt, but I need more scenes. The characters want more action. Questions set in. Is it good enough? Is there enough tension? Does the setting work? Is it a novel or a short story? Are the stakes high enough? I have to force myself to keep writing without editing.
The third week is resignation, but I keep chugging. This story will need so much work when I'm done. I won't even be able to finish the first draft before I fix a few things.
So how am I now? Glad you asked. Still learning and gearing up for camp NaNo. I never think I've done the thing correctly. Probably because I haven't.
This brings me to my point, yes my end point. 😟It's a silly thing, really. I pre-purchased a winner shirt this year and last year. I think I've always purchased one, but up until last year, the great NaNo folks didn't send a shirt until I validated my novel. I figured it was just expedience or a glitch last year. I won last year, but not really, because my fifty thousand words were on two separate projects. I wear the shirt anyway. I love NaNo. I simply can't resist.
This year, I had just decided I needed to suspend work on this project and spend some time planning and return to my original project, when, what to my wandering eyes did appear, my winner's t-shirt. Yikes. Do I wear it knowing I've gone rogue? Probably I will, because, I simply can't resit NaNoWriMo. Now, back to my fifty K, rogue or not.
Thanks for reading. Happy Thanksgiving. Bev 


Sunday, November 6, 2016

Blog « Gabby Care

Blog « Gabby Care

Thanksgiving and Wonder in the Maze of Being a New Author


Ghost Story Night 
As many of you know, we lost our local bookstore and local authors have scrambled to find ways to get the word out about our new releases. Here is what I've done so far to get the word out about my new book, Gabby Care along with other local authors, Barbara Patterson, Marilyn W. LathropJoyce McCollaum, and Eva McCollaum who has a wonderful new book out also. 
We had a great Ghost Story night at Pecos Flavors, but it wasn't a book signing. We invited local authors to come and tell tall tales and spread the word that many of us had new books out and others that needed to be  read. Thank you to Pecos Flavors for being willing to try something new. We read from favorites and enjoyed opening night at a new location for the winery. I told one of my favorite tales about Stingy Jack mixing several versions and having some fun with the great crowd. All of us were pleased with the turn out and hope to do it again next year. 
Next, hat in hand, I approached a dear friend who had offered to have a small book party in her home. It morphed into a wonderful event held at my sister's house who lives next door to my friend. Thank you to Mary Lynn Bogle and June Bible. Because of their
generous hosting I had the best first book signing ever and a fabulous time with so many supportive friends from our Hagerman Bible study, my family and our women's circle at the church. Who knew people would be so kind and generous? Even notes of encouragement and fabulous gifts came my way. I don't think my feet have touched the ground since yesterday morning. Thank you all so much and the cookies were amazing.
Earlier in the fall, I partnered with Marilyn Lathrop to do several workshops in Artesia at their fabulous new library. This is a series of three workshops for beginning writers. Each of us take forty-five minutes to cover a topic an hour and a half before the library opens. It is quick and energizing and reminds me why I write. At our first workshop we met many new faces and talented people, and we thoroughly enjoyed talking about one of our favorite subjects. Our next workshop is on November the 16th.
Before the end of the year, I hope to do a few public book signings, readings and some other wonderfully wacky event that I haven't quite dreamed up.
Authors, let me know what you are doing, especially in rural areas. Thank you for reading.
Up next Nano, week two.