Category Archives: Resolutions

April 1, 2010

Done. Mostly. No Foolin’.

By piaveleno

 

 

“I’m a mid-spring snowfall, joke’s on you
I’m an April Fool for you”

Actually, I loathe this day. I don’t like surprises much, especially ones that are jokes at my (or other people’s) expense. I do like that song though – April Fool by Soul Asylum. That was a good album.

So the first of the month means it’s time to face the music – the resolution music.

Health: Meal plans be damned. The auto generated meal plans on SP.com were a great way to remind me how to eat healthier, but following a menu every meal and every day just isn’t me. The attempt wasn’t a complete failure however. Working with those meal plans I came up with new favorite meals. Instead of ordering pizza, I stop at the store for salmon and sweet potatoes. Instead of potato chips while waiting for dinner to cook, I eat raisins or a kid-sized yogurt cup.

I don’t need to resist the big endcap sale on my favorite chips anymore. I barely notice them when I’m craving salmon seasoned with that big green canister of Cajun spices. Oh, I’m sure I’ll have my moments of weakness (I didn’t need to eat those Milk Duds even though I had the room in the calorie count for them) but for now, I’m feeling good about the changes I’ve made.

Writing: Done! Done! Done!

Yes, I’m a bit excited about that one. I knew I’d have to push to get Morgan’s story done in March. Technically, it’s not truly finished. There are some missing bad guy scenes, but since the demons are being used to slow down the romance arc, I’m not concerned. I have stuff sketched out for them so that as I write up the synopsis, I’ll fit those parts in where the pacing needs some additional control. That was the plan all along so here’s a big check mark for March. Done!

 

Now, onward. April. Nothing.

Yes, you heard me: Nothing. With a trip to Vegas coming up and running into troubles called shin splints from pushing too hard in March, April will be a maintenance month. I’ll continue the good habits I’ve started and I’ll write my butt off. Then, at the end of the month, I’ll spend a week in Vegas. What happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas. If I fall off the healthy life wagon, I’ll admit it. No one’s perfect, but I’m going to try damn hard to keep some focus this month. We’ll resume with the monthly torture resolutions in May.

Ciao,
Pia

1 comment | posted in health, Morgan, Resolutions, SparkPeople, Writing

March 27, 2010

Frying Up Something Healthy

By piaveleno

As you may have noticed, there’s a long term goal of good health in my monthly resolutions. Recently, I’ve made great strides (no pun, really) towards that goal. I found a great website called SparkPeople that, while cluttered and busy, gives me a ton of different tools to help with living a healthy lifestyle.

I can track calories; grams of fat, protein, and carbs; veggies; and water consumption. I can set reminders to do cardio every other day and to rotate my strength training between upper and lower body and even set my core exercises to avoid crunches. I can set my own customized goals, such as sleeping 7-8 hours a night or practicing bellydance isolation drills each week.

On top of these tools, I have access to a community of people also trying to live a healthy lifestyle. They share motivation, tips, recipes, and good old fashion friendly support. You can meet the community through blogging or through SparkTeams geared to a large variety of different interests from wanting to lose X pounds to cat lovers to pagans.

Enough about that. I’ll blog in more detail as people ask. If you’re interested in weight loss, eating healthy, or anything closely related, let me know and I can write an expanded post about that part of SparkPeople. I’m also happy to chat privately via IM or email if you prefer more privacy. Also, if you’re interested in the site, let me know and I’ll send you an invite. (I do get referral recognition – it’s not much, but it’s always nice to get a little bone thrown your way.)

For reading my rambling, here is your recognition reward – the fried rice recipe that I’ve fallen in love with.

Veggie Fried Rice

The base recipe runs about 200 calories per 1 cup serving before the “extras” in step 4. Hence, you can afford to add one or more extras depending on whether you want this to be a side dish or a meal in and of itself. It really is as good, if not better, than every Chinese restaurant I’ve tried. I’d bet five pounds that it’s healthier than every one of them too.

1) Nuke ½ to 1 full bag of frozen mixed veggies. I like the bag with the diced carrots, peas, and green beans, but pick what you like with rice. Be creative. Microwave to defrost and warm. (I used 6-10 ounces depending on what brand is on sale and how big the bag is. I like to change it up too. Sometimes broccoli and onions, sometimes carrots and peas.)

2) Heat a wok on medium-high heat. (A large frying pan would work, but a wok is easier and less messy.) Spray with Pam or other non-stick low-calorie spray. Pour two large eggs down the side and scramble constantly, throwing the uncooked parts up the side of the wok so it cooks thin and quick. Set aside.

3) Spray with Pam again and add 1 Tbs sesame or other wok oil and 1 Tbs of soy sauce (low sodium or regular depending on your dietary needs). Add cooked brown rice (about 2 cups, or a bag of Minute Rice). Stir to coat with oil and then let stand. Stir again and let stand. You’re trying to dry the rice out and make it less clumpy, so don’t stir constantly or it will take longer to dry out.

4) Mix in veggies of your choice.  Here a great place to add extras: mushrooms, scallions, chopped onions/peppers, spinach, etc. Also, if you want it to be a full meal, add in 4-8 oz of chicken, crab meat, or pork, diced as small as the veggies. (Meat isn’t part of the above calorie count.) Mix in egg. Add a splash more soy sauce (no more than 1 Tbs). Mix and serve immediately.

5) Just as fried rice from the restaurant, leftovers in the microwave are just as good as fresh from the wok! I like to portion out leftovers in bring-to-work-for-lunch sizes once we’ve had supper.

Enjoy!

Ciao,
Pia

3 comments | posted in health, recipe, Resolutions, SparkPeople

March 1, 2010

On Your Mark…

By piaveleno

Hello March!

Wow, March… are you sure you’re not early?

I’m in no mood for resolutions, but then, who ever is? Let’s dive right in!

Health Goal: At first it was 5k on the treadmill, but after the month started I wanted more of a challenge, so I changed it to creating meal plans. Shortly after that change, the Hubby went on two back to back business trips, and I find little need for planning for one. After his trips, the flu hit. Yeah, I’m making excuses, but I still call this month a success.

Success? Yes, that’s what I said.

Thanks to my wonderful Mom, I found SparkPeople.com. At first, I bitched and whined about the site, because it’s very busy and cluttered, but I’ve since found some useful tools there. I track the food I eat; create loose meal plans; remind myself to run, strength train, eat my veggies, and try new recipes.

I’m not planning every meal, but I haven’t ordered a pizza yet, nor have I lost veggies behind takeout cartons in the fridge. We’re off to a great start on this and – the best part – it’s not that difficult.

PS. Yes, I did hit 5k on the treadmill. The first day back to the gym after a week off for the flu, and I pulled off ½ mile intervals with 1-2 minute fast walk breaks for a total of 3.25 miles. Yeah, baby. I just might sign up for a Spring road race after all.

Writing Goal: Right, not really writing per se, but reading. Reading is essential to writing. I know, I say that a lot. It’s true. Sometimes I need the reminder because it’s so easy to think of reading as an activity for free time, but let’s face it – who really has true free time?

I finished a couple of books sitting around half-read. I restarted one ebook, NIGHTFALL, that I had been trying to read on the computer. While I got farther along this time, finally having an e-reader for it, I had new issues since PDF files have such small text on the Kindle. The other Kindle read, FAKING IT, isn’t as exciting as I expected. Let’s face it, I’m a purist when it comes to books. I’d rather the actual book. I like the reader, however, for certain purposes. For example, it will be convenient vacations where I can read four books in a week on the beach, and for those darling M/M books that are either ebook only or come out in electronic format before print. Plus, I loved editing my own stuff on it. Super convenient for that.

In lieu of the ebooks I had meant to read, I did read extra “real” books. Some have been written up already and the rest are in the blog queue, waiting for me to put the finishing touch on my thoughts on each. Perhaps later this week, I’ll post another book summary for your reading pleasures.

So this brings us to March. Spring. Longer days. Leaves budding on trees. What shall we work on this month?

Health Goal: Continue the meal planning started in February. It was only the last week of the month that this came together, so I’m not considering it a permanent change just yet. It has been fun so far and my stomach has only been disappointed once – last night, when I used up all my fat grams in putting too much cheese on my baked potato. Yes, it was too much, I would’ve been satisfied with half that amount.

So, March, let’s solidify this meal tracking and planning game, and perhaps even draw up the focus on exercising regularly. Sure, we can run now, but we’re not running three times a week, or anything steady. March will be the month of etching good habits already started into stone.

Writing Goal: I want to continue the reading aspect of this, and yet, my word count has been low the past couple of weeks, so while I do intend to read more, I must refocus this month’s goal to actual writing. Morgan’s story has been floundering around – he’s whoring about and having fun in my head while the tension and pain of the story wandered off, bored. I don’t know that I will finish the story this month, but I think I can get damn close to a first draft by the end of March. If I try. If I focus.

Where did that focus go off to again?

Ciao,
Pia

1 comment | posted in fitness, health, Morgan, Resolutions, Writing

February 4, 2010

“February was so long that it lasted into March.”

By piaveleno

Just a quickie – I’m not on my computer and this keyboard is louder than a machine gun.

(Simultaneously published on SparkPeople.com)

I’ve been thinking of my February resolution since I wrote up that blog post. I love running and so this resolution will be one I will strive for regardless of promises.

Is that truly a resolution?

Usually, a resolution is something that we want but have struggled with. This one feels akin to me promising to write about my boys every week — I already do that! Granted I’m not up to the goal I set distance-wise, but I think I need a new resolution for this month… one that will challenge me.

The biggest thing that I struggle lately is groceries. Not the shopping itself, though I hate grocery shopping, but the planning of meals and the subsequent purchases of the proper ingredients. For the rest of February, I will be working towards that 5k goal on the treadmill still, but my resolution is now to plan out at least three meals each week. I think I’ll start with a salmon stir fry.

Mmm… salmon…

Ciao,
Pia

(Title credits: Dar Williams, February)

Leave a comment | posted in health, Resolutions

January 29, 2010

Racing Myself

By piaveleno

End of month and so much to say. It happens this way quite often. I want to blog daily for two weeks straight, and then I have nothing for a week. I’ve tried saving posts during my wordy times, but during the quiet periods, I do not have the same inspiration for those half-written epiphanies.

Today I have two things to cover, let’s see how much I get done.

First and foremost, the beautiful and energetic Ms. Jo Lynne Valerie has given me a blog award. It’s that pretty thing over there on the right. I even figured out how to link it back to her blog all by myself. If you know me and html, you know this is either a miracle or an accident.

Part of the requirements of accepting Jo’s award is to recommend three other blogs. Done. It wasn’t easy since I blew up Google Reader months ago when I breached the 500 mark on unread posts. I wish I had more time to read blogs, but let’s face it, we all have to make decisions with our time and I have to choose published works over most blogs. It was nothing against the bloggers themselves, or their writing, but all about me. If I’m not reading fiction, my writing suffers. It wasn’t a tough choice.

End of month also brings a resolutions update. Yay for little steps!

Health Goal: Twelve minute mile. Done. Actually, I first hit twelve minutes in the first week of January, but my energy level still ebbs and flows and so I wasn’t confident that this pace was sustainable until well into the month. Currently, my running routine is one mile at a 12-minute pace and then a second starting with a 2 minute fast walk break followed by running ½ mile. Rinse and repeat. Some days I’ve gone up to a total of 2.5 miles running (not including the fast walk breaks), but I’m not there on every run.

Next month, I’d like to be consistently hitting a 5k mark. That’s about 3.2 miles. It can be at the ½-mile intervals because currently I seem to peter out by the end of two and 2.5 is definitely pushing my limit. I think I can stretch my endurance that much farther this month, but I suspect it’ll be tough goal to meet.

Writing Goal: The month isn’t over yet! Ok, I pretty much have this one wrapped up, but I can’t say it’s done. I cut over a thousand words from FALLEN, but when doing a final read-through this week, I found a couple of minor details that needed patching. Those should get typed up Saturday for submission Saturday or Sunday. So long as I can get this done with the CRANK post due Sunday, I’ll have a double success on this month’s resolutions. I think it’s possible, but by no means guaranteed.

For next month, I’m torn. I have Kitty’s story to edit but that’ll take more than a month. At about 40k words, and not having looked at it in over a year, that will be a big project. I also am to the point with CRANK that I need to start nailing down some additional details for the summer months of this story arc. It was designed to run about a year, but since I abhor outlines before I begin writing, I still need to mentally approve of the endgame.

Don’t panic, my dear Readers. While I said that CRANK was intended for a year-long story arc, the boys will not be retiring at the end of that time. It is merely a way for me to measure my progress and to determine story breaks for when I pretty them up in novel format. There will be a second arc, and there are already the vaguest hints of it being laid down in recent posts.

While both of these things will be addressed in some form over the next month, the official resolution will be to read more. I have two novels started that I will finish and I have several new novella-lenth stories on the Kindle, of which I’m shooting for two to three of them this month. When I’m short on time, it is reading that gets forgotten too easily. Yet if I’m not reading my writing gets stale and the Muse fights against me with claws and teeth. I will stop brushing off reading as a frivolous hobby because for any writer, it should be a job requirement.

Ciao,
Pia

1 comment | posted in Blog, Crank, editing, fitness, health, In Response, Publishing, Reading, Resolutions, Writing

January 3, 2010

Faking it. An attempt to write.

By piaveleno

While wallowing in a writing funk, I’ve hidden it well until today. CRANK had been pre-written for the last couple of weeks since I knew the holidays would make my life crazy. I barely edited today’s post and I know it’s not as good as it could be, but since I’m in a deep well of apathy when it comes to writing, I’m going to think that. It’s probably fine, with the exception of a typo or two. Those always sneak in during these funks, no matter how much I edit.

I’m in a reading funk too. I skimmed through some reviews of books in my genre, hoping for renewed inspiration. Nothing. Not a single one caught my attention. Four books in progress scattered throughout the house and I haven’t picked up any of them since we returned from Montreal, and even then, I read little.

So that is the beginning of my year so far. Feeling “bleh” because I want to write, I love to write, and I haven’t been writing because I don’t feel the inspiration. Sure, I know that if I want to, I could. If I tried hard enough, words would come – like now, for this blog. Writing for me, however, cannot be work. I do it when I’m enjoying it and when I’m not, I mope, but I never, ever force it.

Writing is special for me beyond telling a story. If I start forcing it to make word counts, or to overcome these random bouts of meh, then it becomes more like work, and less like fun. Yes, writing is work. Twice a week, I write 800 to 1,000 words for CRANK. Editing a passage takes as long as writing it if not more. It is, however, also a burning passion. I enjoy these boys, these fictional characters, as much as I enjoy cuddling with the cat, or biting into the perfect piece of chocolate-covered caramel.

I write about monthly resolutions, but in all fairness, these are things I am working on to improve my life regardless of the new year or new month. I don’t believe in the typical resolution process because of funks like this. Had I “resolved” to write on a regular schedule this year, I’d be beating myself up this week due to the moodiness that I know will pass if I’m patient.

So, yes, I will continue the monthly resolution posts, but understand that these posts are not so much the ultimate promise that so many people make and then break in celebration of the New Year, but are instead, guidelines to remind myself what I want to work on in my life, and to share with you, dear readers, that old dogs can, and do, learn new tricks, should they only wish to do so.

Writing Goal: Clean up FALLEN and resubmit. I had the good intentions to do this before the first of the year, and then life got hectic, holidays came and went, and time flew by. I won’t work on this part of the storytelling process without 100% focus. I need my head in the right space to do this story justice. It’s worth the delay to do it right.

Health Goal: With the craziness of holidays, I’ve fallen out of my running routine. It was shaky to start with, and I did try to run in Montreal just to keep it going, but things happen, and I got a head cold. It wasn’t pretty, my attempt at using a treadmill in a Montreal Marriott, but the mind is there, even though the body still struggles. My focus, for now, will be to stamp the routine back into place and, maybe, get my mile down to twelve minutes.

This will be an extra difficult challenge thanks to all the people who do suffer through the New Year’s Resolutions. January through mid-February is always a busy time at the local gym. By mid-February, there are a few who have been successful and still attending, but the rest, those that hogged the cardio machines to read their magazines, have left by the time my birthday rolls around. Still, despite this, I intend to renew my affair with running nowhere as soon as possible. Save a treadmill for me, you wannabes!

Ciao,
Pia

2 comments | posted in Excuses, fitness, Gym, I am, ramblings, Resolutions, Writing

December 31, 2009

A Toast to the Dying Year

By piaveleno

I’ll finish my Montreal recap soon, but since this is one holiday that doesn’t give me hives, I wanted to participate with some kind of blog-like substance.

Time, for me, ebbs and flows, and sometimes even does somersaults. I have no true concept of time and often have to stop and do the math just to remember how old I am. Thus, a 2009 recap may be an impossible undertaking, but what the heck, let’s give it a whirl on the dance floor. I might spill a drink on 2008 while I’m at it. It’s all good. We’ve parted ways amicably.

I’m not going to bore you with the same stuff you can get on so many television programs at this time of the year. Yes, we were all stunned by Michael Jackson’s death. He was my first crush, setting me on this long road of loving and living in music. How I went from Michael Jackson to Brian Molko, I couldn’t quite say, but I do remember a several year, one-sided love affair with Brett Michaels somewhere in between.

As you should know by now, 2009 was the year I broke my long-standing resolution not to make resolutions. Instead of making a year-long goal however, I set myself up for month-long goals, looking for those little steps that felt just a little more achievable. Some went well and some stumbled into the gutter like my mind so easily does nowadays.

I had two major goals, each with smaller monthly steps throughout the year. Occasionally, I added a challenge outside these two to an individual month, but for the most part, I focused on my writing and my health. Neither is exactly where I want it to be, but both have had experiments with both success and failures that have led me forward more than back.

The boring one first. I won’t diet. I hate the word. If you want to lose weight, have more energy, feel better, whatever, you can’t just DIET. You need to change your lifestyle to fit your desired goals. Diet nowadays implies a temporary status until you’ve reached your goal, and let’s face it folks, you can lose five pounds and then return to your old habits and gain it back in ten percent of the time it took to drop.

So what have I changed?

I’ve cut back on video games significantly. There are some new dungeons on WoW that I’ve been playing in more often in the past month, but over the year, I’ve cut back drastically, to the point that the Hubby noticed he was playing alone quite often. Turnabout is fair play, he quit before me, when I was still using the game as downtime for studying. Less sitting in the computer chair and less staring at the soul-sucking, energy-eating computer monitor does wonders for my mind space.

The gym is no longer that looming shadow off to the right as I speed home after work. I don’t go as often as I’d like, but this time last year I couldn’t run for thirty seconds and now I can run a mile, if not more, and I’ve been slowly shaving seconds off my time. I’d still like to tighten up some muscles. I miss my sexy shoulders during tank top weather, but I’m getting there. I hope to ramp up the exercise over the next twelve monthly segments.

My food intake (aka, diet, but not DIET) has changed. While I still splurge at home with potato chips or chocolate, I have cut soda out of my life virtually completely and I never buy food from the vending machines. If I do have a soda, it is once a month, if that. Between the sugar and the caffeine, yes, I’ve noticed a huge difference. Ideally, I’ll next work in more veggies and remove even more of the processed crap. Planning meals each week is my downfall in this area, and that will be the first thing on the monthly list for 2010.

The second big resolution goal, writing and more writing, has progressed both too slow and better than I expected. I’d have preferred to have more stuff out in the submission circle by now, but I do have several rejections under my belt for 2009, plus two stories nearly ready to be thrown into the ring.

I’ve made many friends this year networking in writing circles online. That has been great for both the introvert and the writer in me. Shy by nature (no, really) this alone was a great feat (that technically started in ’08, but it took me quite a while to figure out how to use Twitter properly).

Word counts for the year are higher than I ever would’ve expected. Also, variety has soared. I don’t write just vampires anymore and, with the obsession over sparkly, weak Fangs, I’ve moved willingly away from them. It’s been good for me, and my Muse, who now likes angels, demons, fae, weres, warlocks, and *gasp* humans.

Outside of the resolutions, other stepping stones and hurdles presented themselves this year. I passed the Certified Financial Planner exam with flying colors. A very good friend and I both exploded and then made up in a much needed shift of passions and desires, both growing stronger for it. I’ve started, and maintained, a fun to write (and read, I hope) web serial and have plenty of tidbits to carry it through the next year. I sunk the health saving account into Invisalign to finally fix the crooked teeth my dentist has wanted to straighten since middle school.

As we head into the tail end of this decade, I don’t know entirely what to expect. I’m looking forward to subbing more stories, meeting up with some online friends in Vegas, exploring the opportunities my certification may provide, and watching my nieces grow like weeds. I’m happy with my Hubby, my family, my friends, and I look forward to more of the same.

Raise a glass with me, dear readers. Let us cheer to a night of drunken debauchery followed by a greasy hangover breakfast, to embrace the lush stereotype the writer loves to have.

Liquor, but I hardly know her.

Ciao,
Pia

1 comment | posted in health, holidays, I am, Resolutions, Writing

December 14, 2009

Focus: Like a Kid on a Sugar Rush

By piaveleno

Mid-December. Really? Where did the month go?

I vaguely remember reminding myself to do a resolutions post after Thanksgiving. I remember doing that again during the first week of December. I kept pushing it off in favor of other posts. I even tempted myself to change my rule about blogging every day just to squeeze it in. Monthly resolutions were supposed to be easier. Right?

It’s not as late as it sounds. I’ve been working on these things, even if I haven’t posted them. I’m not doing as well as I’d like, but that’s been about half the months of this project so far. Somehow, telling the world at large that I didn’t make yet another monthly resolution has not been a deterrent for blowing them off. When I started this, I thought it would be. I hate not finishing stuff. I hate admitting defeat. I also know, however, that without concrete deadlines and consequences for missing them, the procrastinator takes over my life.

I’m suffering that now. I don’t have a good writing deadline and so I’ve been ignoring ABANDON. Well, no, not ignoring, because Morgan and Adam have been carousing through my mind, but I haven’t written anything about them lately and I may have totaled 1k since the first of the month.

No, this isn’t going to be a whiny blog about writer’s block. I know what I need to do, but when I sit down to do it my focus goes out the window. Instead of cracking the whip, I let it go. I may even, on occasion wave and wish it fun on its journey. My own fault – not my Muse, not distractions – MINE. I know it. When I’m ready to do something about it I will.

So… resolutions.

I’ve been focusing (haha, yeah, maybe not THAT word) on exercise and vague writing needs. This month is a cloudy, just keep myself going, month. While The Hubby and I are blowing off family for the holidays, and we are not exchanging gifts, I still feel like I’ve been too busy for the past several weeks. So, instead of piling on more, I’m focusing on maintaining what I’ve accomplished so far.

Resolution #1: While I’m not going to the gym as often as I should, I am going at least twice a week and, when I make it that far, I run a minimum of a mile and a half, shooting for two. I would like to maintain two, but craptastic work days keep me closer to one. I refuse to let the day job drop me below that one. I worked too hard to reach it in the first place!

Resolution #2: Even though I haven’t been working on the current WIP, I have been working the writing angle. I’ve been researching options for FALLEN should I get a rejection next month. While I’m not assuming a rejection, I want to be ready in case I get one. I won’t wallow; I’ll resubmit to a new venue. Also along the writing vein, I’ve been mentally preparing a synopsis for Kitty’s story. It is not an M/M erotic romance. In fact, there is one mild M/F scene in it. But, that’s not what Kitty’s story is about. I’ll tell you more when I get into the meat of actually typing and editing the synopsis. For now, I’m working offline, because I think I might add a subplot to it. Kitty tells me something is missing, but we haven’t nailed down what it is yet.

So there you go. Two weeks late, but I did (kinda) have them. Perhaps my next resolution should be to focus more on resolutions? Hah, talk about impossible odds!

Ciao,
Pia

2 comments | posted in Excuses, fitness, Resolutions, Writing

October 13, 2009

To NaNo Or Not To NaNo

By piaveleno

My horror muse ran off and had an illicit affair with a pretty transvestite. Sure, I enjoy writing the gay romantic erotica, but I’d rather write horror. I’d rather write stuff that makes a reader say both ‘what the fuck was that’ and ‘give me more’ at the same time.

That’s not why I’m here today. I’m here because I should be writing.

It’s already mid-October and that means that NaNoWriMo is right around the corner. For you non-writers, NaNoWriMo, also NaNo for short, is short hand for write your ass off for the month of November. Yes, of course, it stands for something a bit more akin to the abbreviation, but you get the gist of it.

The goal is to write 50,000 words during the month. The reason for this goal is to get you writing. By throwing out such a high word count (just under 1700 words a day assuming no “off” days) the writer focuses solely on writing, forgetting editing, fidgeting, hours of fascinating but only slightly useful research, Twitter, food, spouses, breathing, and so forth.

In all seriousness, to set aside the need to make every sentence perfect in order to have some chance of reaching this lofty goal, we are forced to focus on spitting out that story running rampant in our minds. Editing will come. It just won’t happen in November. Sometimes we get so bogged down on whether or not one scene is working, or maybe the character should be named Bran and not Dillon, or if the MC should kiss his boyfriend / girlfriend / dog that we waste time wallowing when we should be writing.

So for NaNo, the rule is write. Just write. If something isn’t working, write your best effort and move on. If it really isn’t working, skip ahead a couple paragraphs, or a scene, or a chapter and get the fuck back to writing. Once the story is out, you can go back and fiddle with those spot that made you squirm and scowl, and you’d be surprised at how much easier it is to fix when you have the weight of every other chapter off your shoulders.

It’s tough, but fun. I’ve done these things before. I’m not sold on doing it this year however. Several people I know are going to, but the timing is all off for me. I’m nearing the end of Heaven’s Demons, and hopefully that’ll be presentable by November first when the write-a-thon called NaNoWriMo starts. I also have a decent enough outline for a real demon story, one that might revive my swooning horror muse. The thing is I have two stories that I really want to clean up and send out. I don’t want to wait until 2010 to submit the couple of pieces I’ve been not disgusted by this year. If NaNo was in February, then I’d be much happier. Sure it’d give me a lame excuse to be anti-social at Thanksgiving, but it would also delay the heavy editing and polishing.

I’m torn. To be in a mood for this step – this finish work – is rare. I can’t afford to dismiss it, even for the moral support and OCD needed to finish something like NaNo once I start. I’d get a lot done, if I signed up, but it might not be what I wanted to accomplish. It wouldn’t be bad, but still, I’m torn.

Are you diving into NaNoWriMo? What are you writing? Are you joining a group for support? Do you intend to tweet or blog about your progress? Will you share passages from your WIP to tempt your readers?

I don’t know if I will or if I won’t, tempt me with your plans both for and against.

Ciao,
Pia

1 comment | posted in editing, NaNoWriMo, Resolutions, The Muse, Writing Exercises

October 12, 2009

Introverted Me

By piaveleno

Let’s try this again. I started a blog post with the title “My sad attempt at being social.” It was a rambling affair of self-flagellation. Then I tried again with, “I didn’t chicken out too badly.” Too badly? Really Pia? Even if we were to overlook that lame-ass title, it was still nothing but babbling, and not the pleasing babbling of a brook in the woods on a lovely autumn walk.

Why? Oh well I don’t really know. I’d like to blame it on my failed attempt to play with Skype last night, but as I think back on it, it was mostly working fine. It was me that couldn’t use it properly. Talk? You want me to talk to people? [insert sardonic laughter here]

In retrospect, I did better than I expected. Here I sat, downloading and using a new social program with no time to figure it out first. I get IM, so that part of the Skype client was fine, but put me on a conference call with a computer who’s mic is in the keyboard and I’m bewildered that any time I type the whole group laughs because I won’t talk but they can hear me.

What helped was the great group of people who convinced me to download the infernal thing. This rare attempt at being social started when I finally made time to pop in on The Funky Werepig blogcast. Along with the program broadcast every Sunday night, horror writers and lovers congregate in an online chat room to shoot the shit. Some I knew already from Twitter and some were new to me. All were welcoming. The Skype thing was a way to get together and chat after the show. Or, in my case, a reminder that I need to learn a new tool by playing around with it alone before diving into a conference call.

Call me technologically inept. Call me hopelessly shy. Call me a good fucking girl for trying. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be back there next Sunday. If not I hope not to forget the week after that. I like the TFW and the peeps in the chatroom, plus Brian Keene will be visiting at the end of the month. Two-for-two. Plus I have no excuse not to figure this Skype shit out before then.

I never did remember to write up resolutions for October. Here’s one fallen in my lap. I can jump out of my seat as if it was a chipmunk the cat dragged in, or I can scoop it up and embrace it, dragging myself kicking and screaming just an inch out of introverted-me.

Ciao,
Pia

4 comments | posted in I am, Resolutions

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