National Novel Writing Month came and went and I DID write a novel. I uploaded my something over 50000 words on November 30th only hours after my challenging friend Cherie uploaded hers. I SO wanted to be first; but at least I finished.
Now the task is editing and reworking what is really more of a relaly long first draft than a true novel. It is a great place to start, but far from a publishable book.
Many have asked "now what?" "Where do you send it?" "Who will publish this?"
Now what? I edit. I common saying through the month of November is just keep writing, December is for editing. Well, for me December is for running the church and leading extra services through the season. But, the next step is to begin at the beginining and edit. Then, . . .
Well, I hve no idea how to begin to get something published. This wasn't about getting something published. This exercse was about writing for the sake of writing. I have wanted to write a book for as long as I can remember and now I have. What an accomplishment. Knowing I have done it is great. I don't need ti published in order to feel accomplished or successful.
For now, I am happy to have my "novelist" pin stuck on the fridge and know I have written a novel.
I am ready to move on to other things.
We'll talk more about those in particular coming up soon.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
NaNoWriMo
The fun has begun!
I have a hard time believing it, but I was so excited about this National Novel Writing project that I didn't sleep much the night of Oct. 1st. I kept thinking "tomorrow, I can write." What a geek am I!
It could be, too that my insomnia was in part due to the fact that I purchased a new vehicle that night as well. I have been driving a PT Cruiser for the past 14 months and mostly likeing the adventure. However, only 8 days following my purchase of this bradn-spanking new car I was driving down the interstate when lightening struck my car. I was surprised that that insurance company did not total out the vehicle. They did not. I hve not had any problems from the car pursuant to the lightening strike, however, I wanted to be out of that car prior to the warranty running out. Thus, with only 9k miles remaining in the warranty I was begining to look around.
I found a used Toyota Pruis - my current dream car - and made some inquiries. It hapened to be the last day of the month and the sales people were more than ready to sell a car, particularly a used one. So, the deal went pretty quickly and I found myself driving home in a new car Halloween night - - only hours before the start of NaNoWriMo!!!! I'm sure the two worked together to keep me pumped and awake!!!
Nonetheless, I am writing. I am up to 7966 words and working steadily. I had hoped to write like a crazed person this weekend and push the count up even higher, but I ended up actually having some activities so that plan changed. I'm doing well though and am a bit ahead of the 1667 words a day goal to complete in 30 days.
I just set up my NaNoWriMo site and it is so cool to see my name and my title in print!!! It seems so official or something!
I'm off to work so that I can get home this evening and write, write, write.
I have a hard time believing it, but I was so excited about this National Novel Writing project that I didn't sleep much the night of Oct. 1st. I kept thinking "tomorrow, I can write." What a geek am I!
It could be, too that my insomnia was in part due to the fact that I purchased a new vehicle that night as well. I have been driving a PT Cruiser for the past 14 months and mostly likeing the adventure. However, only 8 days following my purchase of this bradn-spanking new car I was driving down the interstate when lightening struck my car. I was surprised that that insurance company did not total out the vehicle. They did not. I hve not had any problems from the car pursuant to the lightening strike, however, I wanted to be out of that car prior to the warranty running out. Thus, with only 9k miles remaining in the warranty I was begining to look around.
I found a used Toyota Pruis - my current dream car - and made some inquiries. It hapened to be the last day of the month and the sales people were more than ready to sell a car, particularly a used one. So, the deal went pretty quickly and I found myself driving home in a new car Halloween night - - only hours before the start of NaNoWriMo!!!! I'm sure the two worked together to keep me pumped and awake!!!
Nonetheless, I am writing. I am up to 7966 words and working steadily. I had hoped to write like a crazed person this weekend and push the count up even higher, but I ended up actually having some activities so that plan changed. I'm doing well though and am a bit ahead of the 1667 words a day goal to complete in 30 days.
I just set up my NaNoWriMo site and it is so cool to see my name and my title in print!!! It seems so official or something!
I'm off to work so that I can get home this evening and write, write, write.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Breast Cancer Walk
This weekend I participated in the state Race for the Cure sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. There were about 45,000 participants. It was so moving to see all the people who were touched by breast cancer in some way. There were thousands of women who have or have had breast cancer. I was there with quite a few from my town. One of the women I roomed with recently was diagnosed with BC. She has completed both cheomo and radiation. She is bald. She whipped off her wig friday night and didn't put it back on until after the race.
It was moving to see all the survivors knowing that soon they may slip from being a survivor to being a statistic. There are so many hurting people in the world. It was very inspiring to see all these women and men who have hope alive in their lives.
I walked with my mother who had breast cancer. I was blessed by sharing this experience with her for the first time. She is coming up on her 6th year anniversary of being cancer free!!! Yipee! I pray she can continue to survive 6 more followed by 6 more and so on . . . .
It was moving to see all the survivors knowing that soon they may slip from being a survivor to being a statistic. There are so many hurting people in the world. It was very inspiring to see all these women and men who have hope alive in their lives.
I walked with my mother who had breast cancer. I was blessed by sharing this experience with her for the first time. She is coming up on her 6th year anniversary of being cancer free!!! Yipee! I pray she can continue to survive 6 more followed by 6 more and so on . . . .
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Update on Dad -- long overdue
I'm such a bad daughter!
Dad couldn't have had better news.
All the prayers weren't in vain!
We went to the oncologist and the report was that he ONLY had lymphoma in his eyelid.
Strange, but true.
No lymphoma showed up on any of the scans.
Great news!!!
We are relieved and so thankful.
He has to undergo three weeks of daily radiation and scans every 6 months.
That's it though.
Couldn't have been better news.
I was stunned that the prayers were answered.
God certainly heard us and all of you!
It was so hard to believe.
The docs had prepared us that for the lymphoma to be showing up in the eyelid it was already in some other places as the eye isn't a primary manifestation. We were prepared so well, that it took awhile for the good news to sink in.
Thanks be to God!!!
Dad couldn't have had better news.
All the prayers weren't in vain!
We went to the oncologist and the report was that he ONLY had lymphoma in his eyelid.
Strange, but true.
No lymphoma showed up on any of the scans.
Great news!!!
We are relieved and so thankful.
He has to undergo three weeks of daily radiation and scans every 6 months.
That's it though.
Couldn't have been better news.
I was stunned that the prayers were answered.
God certainly heard us and all of you!
It was so hard to believe.
The docs had prepared us that for the lymphoma to be showing up in the eyelid it was already in some other places as the eye isn't a primary manifestation. We were prepared so well, that it took awhile for the good news to sink in.
Thanks be to God!!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
What have I gotten myself into?
At the challenge of a friend I have signed up for the National Novel in a Month thing. The goal is to write 50,000 words in the month of November - 30 days. Eeek!
I hve no idea how I am going to accomplish this fantastic goal, but another friend said today "what have you got to lose?" She's right! So, I'm writing in November.
What am I writing about? Who knows. Some apparently begin on the 1st of November with no plot. That may be me. I haven't gotten my head around the fact that I've signed up as of yet! I want to do this though. I've wanted to write for years and now is as right as any to get serious and start.
Recently, I've begun two books. Still working on them, slowly. I enjoy writing, but I have to carve out time to do it. One of the books I can do a bit at the time, but the other is the story of my childhood and that one takes more of a chunk of time to write. I have to get into the proper mindset and have time to proccess. I find I get into writing after work which usually means I stay up late, sleep too late, am tired and cranky all day. . . it isn't the best routine. So, I'll have to figure something out as far as a workplan. However, not until I finish my novel in November.
I hve no idea how I am going to accomplish this fantastic goal, but another friend said today "what have you got to lose?" She's right! So, I'm writing in November.
What am I writing about? Who knows. Some apparently begin on the 1st of November with no plot. That may be me. I haven't gotten my head around the fact that I've signed up as of yet! I want to do this though. I've wanted to write for years and now is as right as any to get serious and start.
Recently, I've begun two books. Still working on them, slowly. I enjoy writing, but I have to carve out time to do it. One of the books I can do a bit at the time, but the other is the story of my childhood and that one takes more of a chunk of time to write. I have to get into the proper mindset and have time to proccess. I find I get into writing after work which usually means I stay up late, sleep too late, am tired and cranky all day. . . it isn't the best routine. So, I'll have to figure something out as far as a workplan. However, not until I finish my novel in November.
Friday, August 31, 2007
RGBP Friday at Five
I'm playing with the RGBP bloggers this friday - my day off!
I'm heading out for my folks in NC following worship on Sunday.
I'm SO excited to have a short vacation and to see my parents.
Play is exactly what I'm in the mood to do!
1) Share a highlight from the summer.
I think I have 2.
I attended a preaching conference in Montreat, NC early summer.
I just love Montreat and the area. It is so peaceful and beautiful.
I feel each time I roll into the little town that my soul is relaxed.
I can take a deep breath and all is well. It is a bit of an oasis for me.
Secondly, I traveled to Birmingham Alabama to visit a specialist in autonomic nervous system disorders and FINALLY had my little tendency to faint or at least come close to fainting diagnosed! Sad, I guess, that a doctor's visit would be a highlight! But having unexplained symptoms explained is a highlight! I am feeling much better, by the way!
2) Are you glad to see the summer end? Why or why not?
I LOVE summer. I am living in Arkansas and the heat is blazing, not to mention the humidity. However, I like it alot. The summer is far from over hear as temps are still in the 90's with no change in sight. Again, I love it. I am not glad when summer ends. In addition to liking the weather, I like the longer days, and the ablity to live without the extra baggage of sweaters and coats! Also, people are more willing to get out and do things in the summer.
3) NAme one or two things you look forward to in the fall.
Football is big here. High school football is a big deal. LAst year our team went to the state championship and lost. This year they have most of the returning players from last year and have a score to settle. They have won scrimages already and area teams are refusing to play our team because they know they will get beaten. I am looking forward to the regular season starting up next week.
I should be clear that my interest is less in football than in the socializing that goes on at the field. EVERYBODY goes to the games and pastors in town get a free pass to all school events, so that's great FREE fun!
4) Do you have any special preparations or activities to mark the transition from one season to another?
No.
5) I'll know fall is really here when ......
I'll know fall is really here when the temps get cooler and their is a nip in the air. We are blessed with LONG summers here, as I said and the calendar has little to do with the seasons.
Ahhhh, summer, you are welcome at my house any time!!!
I'm heading out for my folks in NC following worship on Sunday.
I'm SO excited to have a short vacation and to see my parents.
Play is exactly what I'm in the mood to do!
1) Share a highlight from the summer.
I think I have 2.
I attended a preaching conference in Montreat, NC early summer.
I just love Montreat and the area. It is so peaceful and beautiful.
I feel each time I roll into the little town that my soul is relaxed.
I can take a deep breath and all is well. It is a bit of an oasis for me.
Secondly, I traveled to Birmingham Alabama to visit a specialist in autonomic nervous system disorders and FINALLY had my little tendency to faint or at least come close to fainting diagnosed! Sad, I guess, that a doctor's visit would be a highlight! But having unexplained symptoms explained is a highlight! I am feeling much better, by the way!
2) Are you glad to see the summer end? Why or why not?
I LOVE summer. I am living in Arkansas and the heat is blazing, not to mention the humidity. However, I like it alot. The summer is far from over hear as temps are still in the 90's with no change in sight. Again, I love it. I am not glad when summer ends. In addition to liking the weather, I like the longer days, and the ablity to live without the extra baggage of sweaters and coats! Also, people are more willing to get out and do things in the summer.
3) NAme one or two things you look forward to in the fall.
Football is big here. High school football is a big deal. LAst year our team went to the state championship and lost. This year they have most of the returning players from last year and have a score to settle. They have won scrimages already and area teams are refusing to play our team because they know they will get beaten. I am looking forward to the regular season starting up next week.
I should be clear that my interest is less in football than in the socializing that goes on at the field. EVERYBODY goes to the games and pastors in town get a free pass to all school events, so that's great FREE fun!
4) Do you have any special preparations or activities to mark the transition from one season to another?
No.
5) I'll know fall is really here when ......
I'll know fall is really here when the temps get cooler and their is a nip in the air. We are blessed with LONG summers here, as I said and the calendar has little to do with the seasons.
Ahhhh, summer, you are welcome at my house any time!!!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Scared
My adopted dad was diagnosed with lymphoma last week.
I knew something was very wrong when the caller ID on my cell phone indicated that my dad was calling. First of all, mom usually makes the calls. Secondly, he is an attorney, it was 9:30 am, and he was calling from work. Billable hours and all, you know?!
My instinct was to answer the phone by saying "what's wrong."
I'm so glad I didn't because something was wrong wtih my dad.
I was really expecting him to tell me something about his mother who is 88 years old. Perhaps she had fallen. Perhaps she was in the hospital. Perhaps she had died. It is amazing how many thoughts can go through your head in a split second.
None of my thoughts turned out to be the issue.
Seems my dad's sister was visiting the week before and noticed a bump on my dad's eyelid. He nor mom had noticed it. It apparently didn't hurt, wasn't red, wasn't itchy or scratchy. It was just there. He made an appointment with an opthalmologist who excised the bump. He said he didn't know what the thing was and sent it for pathological study.
The path report indicated the lump was lymphoma.
The opthalmologist wasn't particularly helpful to my dad.
The doc told him to take a copy of the path report to his primary doctor.
Dad asked if he shouldn't see an oncologist. The doc said "yes, you probably should."
"Well", dad responded, "who would you recommend?"
The doc simply made a copy of all the oncologists in town. So helpful he was!
Thankfully, dad was able to get in with an oncologist in only a few days thanks to a friend knowing a friend of a friend . . . you know how those things work.
The waiting continues.
Bloodwork yesterday.
CT scan Thursday.
Oncologist Wednesday of next week.
We should know a bit more following the interpretation of these tests.
Dad is happy things are moving along.
He is perky and positive, sounds great on the phone.
I need to see them. I am hoping on a plane after church Sunday and going home.
I want to look into mom and dad's eyes, hug their necks, and share love in person.
Mom said she would love to have me there to see and to hug.
That made me feel special.
I'm glad it will work out that I will be with them on the day of the oncologist appointment. God smiled on us with this scheduling.
I'm scared he has lymphoma throughout his body and the prognosis is grim.
It seems that this is probably not the case, but tell my heart that.
I am scared, selfishly, I am going to lose the first man I ever trusted . . .the man who has made up for the horror my biological dad inflicted upon me.
Fear of abandonment I suppose the psychologists would call it.
Yep, I'm afraid that this man who taught me to love and to accept love is going to leave me. I want things to stay the same. I want to know that he and my mom are always there just waiting to welcome me home and bestow me with hugs. That's the way we've always done it!!!
I knew something was very wrong when the caller ID on my cell phone indicated that my dad was calling. First of all, mom usually makes the calls. Secondly, he is an attorney, it was 9:30 am, and he was calling from work. Billable hours and all, you know?!
My instinct was to answer the phone by saying "what's wrong."
I'm so glad I didn't because something was wrong wtih my dad.
I was really expecting him to tell me something about his mother who is 88 years old. Perhaps she had fallen. Perhaps she was in the hospital. Perhaps she had died. It is amazing how many thoughts can go through your head in a split second.
None of my thoughts turned out to be the issue.
Seems my dad's sister was visiting the week before and noticed a bump on my dad's eyelid. He nor mom had noticed it. It apparently didn't hurt, wasn't red, wasn't itchy or scratchy. It was just there. He made an appointment with an opthalmologist who excised the bump. He said he didn't know what the thing was and sent it for pathological study.
The path report indicated the lump was lymphoma.
The opthalmologist wasn't particularly helpful to my dad.
The doc told him to take a copy of the path report to his primary doctor.
Dad asked if he shouldn't see an oncologist. The doc said "yes, you probably should."
"Well", dad responded, "who would you recommend?"
The doc simply made a copy of all the oncologists in town. So helpful he was!
Thankfully, dad was able to get in with an oncologist in only a few days thanks to a friend knowing a friend of a friend . . . you know how those things work.
The waiting continues.
Bloodwork yesterday.
CT scan Thursday.
Oncologist Wednesday of next week.
We should know a bit more following the interpretation of these tests.
Dad is happy things are moving along.
He is perky and positive, sounds great on the phone.
I need to see them. I am hoping on a plane after church Sunday and going home.
I want to look into mom and dad's eyes, hug their necks, and share love in person.
Mom said she would love to have me there to see and to hug.
That made me feel special.
I'm glad it will work out that I will be with them on the day of the oncologist appointment. God smiled on us with this scheduling.
I'm scared he has lymphoma throughout his body and the prognosis is grim.
It seems that this is probably not the case, but tell my heart that.
I am scared, selfishly, I am going to lose the first man I ever trusted . . .the man who has made up for the horror my biological dad inflicted upon me.
Fear of abandonment I suppose the psychologists would call it.
Yep, I'm afraid that this man who taught me to love and to accept love is going to leave me. I want things to stay the same. I want to know that he and my mom are always there just waiting to welcome me home and bestow me with hugs. That's the way we've always done it!!!
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