Robot Dreams & Gay Sex

... a working title for my work in progress?

So, I am still struggling to reach the 50,000 word first draft goal.
I did not write a novel in a month, but if I can say I wrote a novel at all I will be satisfied, at least with the effort.
The outcome of this experiment is another story all together.
In a way I can't wait to show it to someone (I have already read a couple of passages to my super supportive boyfriend) but I'm also going to be a little embarrassed because this is by no means a deep or meaningful story.
So far it is a bit confusion and a lot indulgent.
It's still fun to do it and outcome be damned something is turning in me as a result of this staggered effort.
Something I hope to keep turning.
Writing is hard, but its really fun, too.
Its like having a really long one-sided conversation where no one interrupts you.
At least until you share it someone else.

I am happy to say that I am mostly done!

I am already curious about how the third draft will turn out.

It probably won't be seen by the eyes of other's until then.

On-word...

Current Word Count: 35001

Michael and Me

This morning I went to get a little take away breakfast at cafe a few blocks away from my apartment.
A large plasma screen TV in the corner was showing Michael Jackson's funeral which was being broadcast live on CNN.
As I waited for my egg white breakfast burrito I watched reporters spouting out facts about Michael's life and career as they waited for the ceremony to begin inside the Staples center (where 20,000 mourners had gathered).
A choir, floating on robes of deep blue, entered the stage underneath a beautiful LED replica of a large stained glass window and sang a gospel song as the shiny silver coffin dripping with deep red roses was slowly wheeled to a spot lighted section in front of and below the performance platforms.

I found myself swept up in the not so new ritual of a celebrity funeral.
The loss was palpable throughout the reverend's speech and even though I have never been a Michael fanatic I have always admired his talent and the impact he had on American culture, particularly the African-American presence in this country and then the world. And I did spend hours in front of the mirrored wall in the front hall of my parents home trying to teach myself the moon walk after seeing it performed live for the first time on the Grammy's. And I suspect that when my older sister, Dianne, introduced me to Off The Wall she unwittingly began my love of dance music.
I am also, through this funeral, experiencing a connection to funerals I have attended in my life, including my sister Dianne's over ten years ago.
Through all the pomp and production runs the undeniable reality of death.
The walk back from the cafe felt a more real than the walk there had felt.

I am at the last official day of this novel writing project and I am terribly behind.
I worked all day yesterday to catch up and my plan was to continue working all day today to complete the first draft.
It turns out June 2009 was not the best month for me in which to complete a novel.
Is there a best month? For me? Probably not. Or, not yet.
Today I will write, but my hopes of reaching the goal are muted by many thoughts and memories and the funeral I am watching on television.

Current word count: 28371

Powering Through...

... is what I keep putting off and what I must now do in order to reach the 50,000 word goal by midnight next Tuesday afternoon, July 7, 2009.
One thing I have discovered so far is that my talents for distraction far exceed my talents for composition and that there is always something to do.
In the future when I am bored I will simply give myself some unachievable, yet emotionally compelling goal and watch as all the chores and delights and mid-day TV shows reveal themselves like rows of jelly beans in a candy store.
I am also a kind of a mess as a writer.
I don't yet have a style or a real presence of mind when it comes to plot.
And I'm often too wordy when describing things that neither propel the plot nor deepen character.
Maybe I should go into advertising.

Anyhoosal, To The Keyboard Distracted Man!

The Soldiers of Chaos

Um.. whoa, so the last two weeks have been some of the busiest of the summer,but not due to my writing schedule.
Frown.
Sigh.
Feelings of guilt, shame and incompetence boil to the surface as I struggle to keep in mind that this IS a struggle; that I'm doing something I don't normally try to do; that I'm staring down more than one personal demon in this process of writing a novel in one month.
Work.
Pride.
Unexpected guests.
Dishes.
Cooking.
TV.
Facebook.
Distraction.
A broken computer.
Boyfriend needs.
Worry over the future.
Worry over the present.
Worry.

The soldiers of chaos are hard at work on me during this time.

But, on I will go.
I have until July 7th.
I will work diligently to meet my goal by that time.

I have noticed that the words per day increase to some degree when I write about sex. Perhaps I am a pornographer, though I hardly pay attention to such things. I do believe that sex and the feelings that surround it can tell a reader a great deal about a character or a situation. And I am hardly the first writer to broach the subject. Nothing so far is gratuitous and nothing will be, but much to my mother's dismay, my story will contain evidence of a familiarity with natural urges. At this point, whatever it takes to get the goal, right?

Soldiering on.

Current Word Count: 10776

Deep breath

Well as of late I have been going through a little downishness, working it out though. Unfortunatly it has hendered me from writing the way I want to the way I should. But I realize these moments are needed for clarity to arrive. I feel like I am on the other side of this now, so time to motor through. I have much more to do before its all over. So wish me well I need it

Word Count: 15678

The Rain

When it rains it pours...... we the rain anyway. I found myself with too much info floating around in my head and have only just poured it on the keys of my computer. I have thicken my plot in a way I did not expect, and yet I have found a perspective I and excited to play with. Feeling emotionally drained, I will forge ahead.

Word Count: 7457

Tentative Little Dances

I am one of the scary points for me.
So far in my story I feel I have two really big scenes, both of which are just conversations, but still vital scenes for the story... whatever that ends up being.
I'm right at the beginning of the first big scene and as I write I find myself
skirting around and stalling and hesitating and adding lots of little details to avoid diving into the meat of the thing... the meat being something I have not quite decided on yet. When I'm unsure, but unblocked I have a good time following the characters around, discovering what they discover as I write. But at this point its important that I add some structure or oomph to the goings on and I'm terrified. Okay, maybe terrified is too big a word, but I'm nervous and I know I must keep writing, but I'm not sure how to handle an "important" moment in the story.
Boo hoo. My biggest fears are the million cliche pits I've set up for myself to fall into and worse that I have nothing, not even a cliche to make the story more compelling.

Current Word Count: 5469

Fits & Starts

There are times during this writing process that the words flow and before I know it I have several paragraphs and whole new scene in front of me on the screen of my laptop. Then there are times when I stare blanking for long periods at the last line I've just written and am at a loss for how to continue. I start, stop, erase, get up for some water, think about going for a hike, worry about money, wonder what's on The View today, type a sentence I hate then go do the dishes or start a load of laundry.

I have not yet identified the rhythm of my writing ebb and flow, but by the time this novel has been written I will have a very good idea.

Because the commitment is 50,000 word in 30 days, I think it will be necessary to extend the deadline to include all 30 days instead of cutting it to 24 days and trying to get it done by June 30th. I am waiting until Sunday evening and would like to check in with my writing competitor sis before making it official, but 3333 words a day for six day in a row seem out of my grasp at this point.

For now the story continues...

Current word count: 4238

On the Third Day

Well... my word count is not what I would like it to be, but for the first time I feel as if I am onto something with the story. What that "something" is remains to be seen, but I can see a bit further down the street that I could on days one and two.
I used one of the inspirations that come with the novel writing kit to justify a sort of goofy, somewhat implausible event in the story. Ha! Take that skeptical brain of mine!
Just to make me feel that, even though I am 7097 words behind scheduled at the moment, I am moving forward I will post a brief excerpt here.

I search the room and see several beautiful flower arrangements at the booth tables. Platters of small cakes, sandwiches and fruit are lined up at the other end of the bar. Candles. An uneasy feeling starts in my shoulders and knees and works its way towards the center of me. I hear my name with a question mark behind it and freeze. The voice is familiar in that sinking feeling sort of way and I squint my eyes in its direction. A body is moving toward me from one of the booths.

Current word count: 2902

Day Two Gloom

As I feared, I have run head long into several psychological road blocks as a result of taking up this challenge. Moods, tiredness, anxiety, trouble sleeping. This has not stopped me, but has added a bit of toughness to the challenge.
In addition we are experiencing June Gloom here in LA - an unusual amount of cloud coverage and grey-ness fill the skies giving the eerie effect of a long blank day without end. I have chosen to steep in my own tea and use it to keep writing.
Yesterday we were suppose to find inspiration in the style of writer we admire.
I choose Christopher Isherwood. Though emulating his style has proved to be a bit difficult, it has given new direction to my story. I also visiting Book Soup for the first time since moving to LA and found it very charming.
Onward...

Current word count: 1901

Chapter 1 Done

The secret fantasticness of just letting my mind spill out through my fingers has once again taken me by surprise. As I have relished over the topic, plot and possible characters I knew that if I just sat down and started writing what came to mind, something with value would appear, and I am happy to say that this time proves to be no different. I just finished my first chapter and just over 2000 words, not the 3300 word mark for the day, but I feel good about it and believe that I it will increase as my plot thickens. Bro, stop trying, turn you head off and just write! Its all there, in that big beautiful head of yours, just let it come out. And Tim, you are so right, thanls!
Current Word Count- 2066

A Whimpering Start

Day 1 has come and gone and I did not reach the intended word count goal.
I remain, however, undaunted. I know it will be a struggle for both my sister and I to make up for the missed week and I am determined not to let the chase defuse the enthusiasm.
I had an unusually busy day yesterday and was forced to spend much of my time away from the laptop, so I forgive myself whole heartily.
Today the duties are much lighter and I guarantee my progress will be notably increased.
I am uncertain of the tone of my work so far.
I am uncertain of the outcome of the story.
But I have a character, a city and a very strange building.
Now for a plot... or at least a really good limerick.

Word count so far: 665.

Let the games Begin !

Ti's I, the sibling on the other end of this rivalry and the instigator of the idea by gift. After receiving, Darren's excitement filled email last night, I was not sure if I was going to be able to properly contribute to this project, and yet a small vibration sang to me as the rain came pouring down outside, and I knew that if my amazing brother was willing to "put the shoulder to the wheel and push along" (like that?) then "damn it" so should I. As the day has worn on I have found myself more and more excited about this opportunity of unbridled creation. Not having to worry about something as simple as punctuation, or editing of any kind, has made this more appealing and relived a massive amount of stress that momentarily builds at the thought of writing a book, not to mention in 30 days. So props to my bro, for taking this challenge and asking me along for the ride. I will do my best to keep up to the word counts and anecdotal inspiration.
I have a few hours before I can begin tonight, but tonight, being I will !!!!!!!!!!!
Debs
Curret Word Count: 0

A Week Late and Ready For Action

My li'l sis, Deb, gave me a novel writing kit for Christmas last year. The kit is a fraddy-cat-writer-friendly program for writing the first draft of a 50,000 word novel in one month. I had planned on beginning the program earlier in the year, but due to being laid off and other personal challenges I was delayed. A couple of days ago I picked up the program again and gave it a gander and after some thought felt it would be best to start the program immediately, even though it was already a week into June. "I can do it," I told myself. "What is unemployment for but ventures such as these?"

So, here I am. My boyfriend Doug and my good friend Tim have agreed to be my cheerleaders/watchdogs and my sister Deb has agreed to take up the challenge with me and write her own novel. We will be engaged in a friendly sibling rivalry.

In this blog I will document my progress, detail my struggles and undoubtedly spend most of my writing time complaining about any shortcomings or blockages.

I am going to attempt to write 3333 words a day through June 13 in order to make up for lost time. If this proves to be too difficult, I will adjust my words per day from the recommended 1700 to 2090 and spread the difference across the entire month.
I am no good at math so if anyone finds inaccuracy in my numbers feel free to leave a comment on this post.

I appreciate everyone's support and apologize in advance for any untoward behavoirs in which I might engage between now and June 30th.

Consider yourself warned.