Midterms

I spent much of the day writing an in-depth blog post about how I feel about yesterday's Midterm Election results. Oh, it was a good piece - full of descriptive words and palpable emotion. It had everything: rants, history, quotes. One of my best, if I do say so myself.

Then I read this piece in The Busy Signal by JA MYerson and decided mine wasn't nearly good enough - this one says it all to me. I am sorry, Wisconsin, for your loss and for those in your state who were blinded by money and lies.

http://thebusysignal.com/2010/11/03/the-loss-of-russ-feingold-lamentable-and-shameful/

1,667 Words

That's the magic number I need to write everyday. Well, I need to account for every day. If I happen to write 3,334 words in one day, then I have accounted for two days worth of writing.

But that's only if my goal is 50,000 words - no more, no less.

In fact, my goal is two-fold. Demolish the 50,000 word barrier - preferrably before Thanksgiving so I'm not worrying about it all that weekend. And complete the novel. Preferrably before the 30th when the fever is still upon me. If I go past 50,000 words by November 30th, then I am technically a winner but will it continue to hold my attention past the 30th if I don't finish the novel? That's the $60,000 question.

So yesterday completed Day 1. I started the day off, right after midnight, by writing a 500+ word prologue from the point of view of a wolf. Yes, that kind of wolf. It's like that.

Then last evening, as I simultaneously watched my beloved San Francisco Giants win the World Series, I passed the 1,667 word mark still in the narrative section of the first chapter. And as it was growing late and I'd only gotten four hours of sleep the night before, I submitted my word count to the NaNo website and hightailed it off to bed.

Tonight I hope to account for two days of writing at least; my husband is working and much of television tonight is a repeat.

Happy Day 2!

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants! Thank you for beating Texas.

Leechblock

If you are a Firefox user (PC) and a Nano-er, Leechblock is an excellent tool for providing a proverbial slap on your hand for wasting time online in all the millions of ways there are to waste time.

All you have to do is install it as an add-on to your Firefox browser and then configure it to block your time-wasting websites for specific hours of specific days or beyond a certain amount of time each of those days - your choice.

I have it blocking Facebook, Phantasy Tour, CNN and other mind-numbing websites and message boards that could prevent me from stacking up 50,000+ words in the next month.

I can override it if necessary but I will use that ability only in the event of a surprise Phish show or terrorist act.

The Day Before Nano

'Twas the day before Nano and all through the house

The piles of clothing lay strewn all about.

The dishes - none rinsed - lean, waiting to be cleaned.

My hope is to give them all one last shiny gleam.

For come the next morning, my time'll be taken

With plot and character and themes, not baking.

For the next 30 days, my ass will be planted

In front of my laptop, as I make myself candid.

The novel this time will be dear to my heart,

about a daughter I'd have had if I had played the part.

So to wrap up this abomination

Let me just say

It's Nano time once more

And I am once more excited to play.

(Jesus, good thing I'm not using my 50,000 words for poetry.)