moderndaystoryteller

Day 19/Thanks/Pimp List: Humbled & In Awe

In NaNoWriMo, Networking & Social Media, The Write Stuff on November 19, 2009 at 11:29 pm

Total Word Count So far: 34K

Wow, yesterday I could advance no further. Today I’m all set to go because of you. Yes You!

All you incredible people who showed your tremendous support here and on Twitter.

I am in awe and humbled beyond belief.

Honestly, I didn’t know you were all paying attention, much less cared – lol.

Your encouragement, jokes and words of wisdom moved me to the point that I felt guilty for having whined and set about to do something about it.

Jeanne (@jeannevb) and Sharla (@WinterWrite) had both recommended WriteorDie so thought I’d give it a go.

Am usually skeptical about such things but, it works. In thirty minutes, I got 1000 words down.

Here’s the link – http://writeordie.drwicked.com/ Basically you enter a time, click Start and write as much as possible in allotted time. If you stop or go too slow, it turns red and eventually starts making noise and if you go too slow, it sounds an alarm that shames your fingers into banging for dear life.

But no way would I have been remotely in the vicinity of doing anything of this nature had I not received the kindness and support that I did yesterday.

So today, I’d like to give each and every one of you a special shout-out – for yesterday, for NaNo support in general, and just for being so goddamn awesome.

In the words and footsteps of my dear friend, Jeanne Bowerman, I’m gonna Pimp It Good.

For posting your comments yesterday and saving me from certain writer’s death:

Jessica & Julie

Jessica and Julie at http://kingisafink.wordpress.com/ and @kingisafink on Twitter are a fearless and generous screenwriting and filmmaking duo who most recently made a kooky short film (one of many) called Snow Bunny, which just showed at the Queens Film Festival. Check out their website for details of their cool adventures from Chicago to the Big A for the screening.

Carrie Brozovic

Also known as @brozogirl on Twitter, Carrie is a barber by day, ninja screenwriter by night, and a very dear friend who has had my back at all times. She posts poetic stream-of-consciousness in the form of prose on her blog – http://purelycarrie.wordpress.com/ – quaint snapshots of her life and simultaneous attempts to figure out the maze she refers to as screenwriting. Her sense of humor, priceless!

Ann Marie Gamble

Ann Marie edits manuscripts for university presses, gives amusing and interesting writing tips on Twitter (@amgamble) and posts useful “notes from the wordsmith trenches” on her blog – http://annmariegamble.wordpress.com/ She’s a kind soul with a sharp mind who’s always there to help you on your writing way.

Brittany Langrebe

Another wise and helpful soul, Brittany is a most dedicated writer who not only completed NaNoWriMo in a graceful flurry (yes, already!), but also runs two blogs – one for herself at http://thewordsofawriter.blogspot.com/  and the other for her muse at http://thewordsofamuse.blogspot.com/ Somehow, she also managed to post as guest blogger for another writing site. Bitch!

Sheri

Sheri is a fashion buyer by day who also runs two blogs. One – http://theuneasywriterdiaries.blogspot.com/ – posts musings on everything from aging and etiquette, to being organized. And the other, a fashion blog – http://fashionautopsy.blogspot.com/ -  which I absolutely love and stands somewhere between Carrie Bradshaw and The Devil Wears Prada, takes an honest look at latest trends to embrace the catwalks. Sheri also has a wicked sense of humor so watch out, she bites.

Sharla

Sharla (@WinterWrite on Twitter) is the one who got me into this NaNo mess in the first place *strangle* *hugs*. She reviews books and has also posted amusing NaNo updates on her blog – http://www.winterwrite.com/ Unfortunately her studies has left her a little behind in her NaNo quest but with the help of WriteorDie, she is catching up admirably and I’m sure could do with more support.

Jeanne Bowerman

Is a screenwriter, gifted pimp, force of nature, dear friend and a mean blogger when she puts her mind to it. Actually, she is mean at anything she puts her mind to including #scriptchat which she runs on Twitter every Sunday 8pm EST (US time). Her last post about the passing of her friend Sharon – http://jeanneveillettebowerman.blogspot.com/ moved me to tears. She is currently adapting a novel called Slavery by Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon. If you find her on Twitter – @jeannevb – ranting madly about this, that and the other, I guarantee she will make you laugh.

Jerry Dennis

Jerry (@JerryD70 on Twitter) is one of the hosts of Movie Geeks United – http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited – which twice a week discusses the art of cinema and has terrific interviews with the likes of  Francis Ford Coppola, Paul Schrader, Brian De Palma, Jeff Goldblum, John Sayles, Howard Shore,  Jon Voight, just to name a few. Jerry has been one of my most loyal supporters and he also writes a mean review. His latest on Richard Kelly’s The Box can be found at http://blogs.myspace.com/cinemajunkie70

Tim Null

Tim is a writer, an indie publisher and another kind and loyal supporter. You will find him posting links from all walks of life as @timnull on Twitter. He is also currently working on a novel called Harry and Olive, and posts installments of his work in its various stages at http://www.befuddled.org/

CT Kingston

CT Kingston (@CTK1 on Twitter) has the funniest and most irreverent blog I have ever had the pleasure of reading – http://ctkingston.com/ If you want to find out how chicks cook corn and what aliens are really up to with their anal probes, check out her site. It will have you in stitches.

Simon

Would also extend another warm shout out to my mentor Simon who told me to stop whining and get on with it.

First Time Visitors

And other first-time visitors who shared their kind words during my time of dire need – Thank You!

Also to the following who pimp and re-tweet my posts and continue to send me priceless messages of encouragement and inspiration:

Marvin Acuna @MarvinVAcuna http://www.businessofshowintitute.com

Penny Ash @PennyAsh http://www.pucasforest.com/

Lori @Hereallalong http://www.hereallalong.blogspot.com/

Leslee Horner @lesleehorner http://lesleehorner.wordpress.com/

Jenny Martin @jmSapereAude http://jmartinlibrarian.wordpress.com/

Debbie Ohi @inkyelbows http://www.inkygirl.com/

Kristi Thompson @HowDidIGetHere http://howdidyougetthere.wordpress.com/

Sedef Onder @nsedef http://www.thehaloproject.com/

Alison Wells @alisonwells http://alisonwells.wordpress.com/

Than Niles @manvsballoon

Wow, I am truly blessed.

For those of you not here, please forgive my absent-mindedness and rest assured this list is a work in progress.

Also, those of you not already on my blog roll will soon be there.

THANK YOU for picking me up when I needed it. You guys totally rock!

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Day 18 – What Is The Point?

In NaNoWriMo, The Write Stuff on November 18, 2009 at 10:49 pm

Word Count: 32K – but who cares, really?

Okay, so have passed the halfway mark.

It’s supposed to get easier this week. And seeing as have 18K to go as opposed to 30K, guess in a way it is.

But now the excitement of story and character and fact that am attempting to write novel has settled, other questions perturb me.

So What? Who Cares? And What Is The Bloody Point?

At least when I post, somebody reads it and some wonderful souls leave comments.

But here I am, slogging away at some novel that have as many chances of seeing light of day as I have of running for Prime Minister of Australia.

Not to mention fact that am talentless, can’t write and well, can’t write.

So I finish Stupid Novel – which as we speak remains title-less – and prove to self can finish Stupid Novel. Big deal.

Will it stop domestic violence and violence in general amongst women?

Will it stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, the H1N1 virus, cure cancer?

Will it help reduce greenhouse emissions?

Will it bring an end to world poverty?

Will it do anything but satisfy my ego?

At least if I had become an accountant, I could have helped innocent tax payers save money and not-so-innocent dodge the tax system.

If I had become a doctor, I could have saved lives or at least write prescriptions for the common cold.

Even if I had become a divorce lawyer, I would have done more helping one person retrieve what’s theirs from the person they believed was the love of their life but turned out to be scum, than I would within the isolation of four walls, crouched over keyboard, banging out words that have no meaning and chances are, will make no difference to immediate environment or people or world in general.

So who cares and what is the goddamn point?

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Day 15 – As Week 3 Begins… Simon Says

In NaNoWriMo on November 15, 2009 at 12:07 pm

Total Word Count So Far: 25 001

Snack Of Choice: Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce – it’s summer in Oz

Drink of Choice: Iced anything – it’s bloody hot

Album of Choice: Heart Of Saturday Night – Tom Waits

Major Distraction: Heat and imaginary beckoning of ocean waves

State Of Mind: Questionable

So last week was tough.

Everyone I talked to agreed.

Tough. Tough. Tough.

With the exception of a certain Brittany Landgrebe – aka @lights_aurora – whose word count last time I checked was 28K (am sure it’s multiplying as we speak), and of whom I am becoming increasingly convinced is from another planet, most fellow NaNo nutters seemed to struggle.

But take heart. According to my NaNo mentor, this is normal.

Yes, I have a NaNo mentor in case you haven’t been reading the comments. His name is Simon and he rocks.

Seeing as I decided to sign up at the last minute without any idea what I would write, thought it might be a good idea to check out the forums and in doing so, found one for Mentors. Not sure how it came to be but after monotony of scrolling through pages, stopped at Simon, liked his post and wrote him.

He replied: “Seeing as how you’re going to be winging it – I’m in.” I knew then we would get along just fine. And I was right.

No nudges, just encouragement. He reads my posts and leaves cool comments. And here’s some handy info and advice he’s given me for Week 3.

Simon Says: (And me in Italics)

  • After the pressure of Week 2, once you’re past or almost past that halfway mark, Week 3 is way easier. So hang in there!
  • It doesn’t have to be a great story, just focus on getting the words down. Need to be excited about story so have been re-writing despite fact that it slows me down, but am trying not to be too fussy!
  • There are little cheats that can help you catch up or boost your word count (in case you didn’t know them already). If you write “is not” instead of “isn’t”, “do not” instead of “don’t”, it helps.

I HAD NOT thought of that. Duh…

As Week 3 begins, I am pumped. Took my mandatory day off, did fuck-all. And once again am ready to go.

But before I do, would like to give a warm Shout Out to Simon, as well as all my dear NaNo supporters and fellow nutters. Promise to post list of every one of you special people once I reach Finish Line and have more time.

Am certain I WOULD NOT still be here without you.

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