Diversions are such occurrences, either created intentionally or encountered by accident, that sidetrack and/or otherwise delay completion of the task at hand.
Distractions are of a smaller scale, although sometimes a distraction can grow to become a full on diversion.
Really, I'm just talking out of my ass right now. I haven't actually looked up any definitions for either of these words (definition being another word that starts with the letter 'd'), so feel free to disagree with my interpretations.
In case you haven't guessed already, today's topic is inspired by my continual need to plow forward on my current project--that being this silly novel I'm trying to write in a month's time. Regarding this, I've checked out a few of the sites floating around the internet where writers talk about writer stuff, to see if anyone really succeeds in this task. I assumed that, like myself, I would find all sorts of folks commiserating on their lack of progress and the feeling that they're churning out nothing but stinky piles of crap, and I would feel okay about being just under where I should be at this point in the game. Instead I find just the opposite. People who have already surpassed the 50k word goal and are working on the sequel to their nano-novel. What? You're going to write a series of books in a month? Plus, some of these people get very offended when it's suggested that what they're writing may not be quite the quality you would find in a work that...well...let's just say some people are convinced that they can write an epic novel in a month and it will come out publishable.
Good for them.
Given this, I can only assume that in these people's lives, they are not plagued with the diversions and distractions I seem to run across every day.
But here's the thing...Isn't that what life is? A series of diversions and distractions to fill the days until you die? I know that sounds pretty fatalistic. But even in the pursuit of higher meaning, aren't you just looking for a way to keep from being bored? I say this with a bit of my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, but still, I can't help but allow that idea to creep in, out, and around my brain from time to time. Is there such a thing as a worthwhile diversion, or a legitimate distraction? Or, when it all comes down to it, is one time-waster just the same as another. If that is true, then maybe it's best to pick a pursuit that truly motivates you and stick to it. You like watching TV? Go for it with all the gusto of Kobe Bryant practicing his jump shot. Do you enjoy crafts? Perfect! Make the most beautiful string of beads or paper mache donkey imaginable. Focus your energy on one thing and one thing only with your goal being sheer perfection. And if that makes sense (and I suppose that's fine if it does), as long as whatever pursuit you obsess over is something that truly inspires you, brings you joy, and positively affects others in the same way, then diversion and distraction lose their negative connotations.
Now perhaps it's just me, but if I try to spread myself around too thin, then the quality of everything I'm doing suffers. I quit writing music to write words. I can't imagine doing both very well at the same time. Maybe some people can, but I can't. That's just me being honest with myself.
Then again, maybe it all comes down to desire. Another "D" word, as is Defeat.
Hee Haw
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Numbers update
Only time enough for the numbers...
Okay, okay, maybe I'll post another excerpt as well.
As of 2:23 pm on the 10th day of Nano, here's where I stand.
Cumulative word count = 14,870
Average words per day = 1,487
Suggested daily word count = 1,667
Days remaining = 20
Words remaining = 35,130
Words per Day to Finish on Time = 1,757
Okay, so I'm lagging behind a little, but the day isn't over yet. Still, I went to the nano forum over at Absolute Write and found the thread where people post their nano word count. I tell you, this thing is insane. There are people already over the 50k word mark. How in all that is holy does anyone write that fast without it being complete gibberish?
Okay, here's the excerpt I promised.
Something about the mornings these days seems darker than mornings are supposed to be. I take that as a bad sign—a sign that the world is actually growing darker, and if I were to guess, I’m the only one on the whole entire planet who’s noticing.
Not to sound like a parrot, but again, this comes back to the camera. Through the lens of this device, I can see things. Things no one else can. Things, like those old Chinese people trying to imagine the internet, no one could ever wrap their heads around. And if you’re reading this, then you won’t be able to wrap your head around it either unless I go into some big old long explanation.
So here goes.
As long as I can remember, I’ve never been what most people would call normal. Yeah, I know everyone thinks they’re something different, or special, or weird. People, I’ve figured out from reading books on psychology and junk, have a need to think of themselves as individuals. But when it all comes down to it, most people are all pretty much alike. Take the kids at my school. They all try to dress the same, watch the same TV shows, eat the same food, listen to the same kind of music. And sure, I try to do all those things too. But I’m a victim of circumstances. I mean how many kids do I know who are piano prodigies?
If you guessed zero, then you’d win something. Except I’ve got nothing to give you, unless you want me to play a Chopin etude, or a Bach fugue. Or maybe you’d like to take a shot at keeping the world safe from the powers of darkness.
Okay, okay, maybe I'll post another excerpt as well.
As of 2:23 pm on the 10th day of Nano, here's where I stand.
Cumulative word count = 14,870
Average words per day = 1,487
Suggested daily word count = 1,667
Days remaining = 20
Words remaining = 35,130
Words per Day to Finish on Time = 1,757
Okay, so I'm lagging behind a little, but the day isn't over yet. Still, I went to the nano forum over at Absolute Write and found the thread where people post their nano word count. I tell you, this thing is insane. There are people already over the 50k word mark. How in all that is holy does anyone write that fast without it being complete gibberish?
Okay, here's the excerpt I promised.
Something about the mornings these days seems darker than mornings are supposed to be. I take that as a bad sign—a sign that the world is actually growing darker, and if I were to guess, I’m the only one on the whole entire planet who’s noticing.
Not to sound like a parrot, but again, this comes back to the camera. Through the lens of this device, I can see things. Things no one else can. Things, like those old Chinese people trying to imagine the internet, no one could ever wrap their heads around. And if you’re reading this, then you won’t be able to wrap your head around it either unless I go into some big old long explanation.
So here goes.
As long as I can remember, I’ve never been what most people would call normal. Yeah, I know everyone thinks they’re something different, or special, or weird. People, I’ve figured out from reading books on psychology and junk, have a need to think of themselves as individuals. But when it all comes down to it, most people are all pretty much alike. Take the kids at my school. They all try to dress the same, watch the same TV shows, eat the same food, listen to the same kind of music. And sure, I try to do all those things too. But I’m a victim of circumstances. I mean how many kids do I know who are piano prodigies?
If you guessed zero, then you’d win something. Except I’ve got nothing to give you, unless you want me to play a Chopin etude, or a Bach fugue. Or maybe you’d like to take a shot at keeping the world safe from the powers of darkness.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Excerpt
So I've been telling you all about this Nanowrimo thing I've been doing and questioning why in god's name I picked this year to jump into it. I had a light bulb moment last night where I realized that events currently dragging on my life have created a need for me to look for distractions. This is a survival mechanism, one I developed at a very young age, and which I can attribute to all those hours I would spend at the piano perfecting what I now consider to be a mediocre but serviceable talent. Believe me, I would like nothing more than to live in reality but honestly, sometimes it's just too damn hard.
Anyway, before I expend any more words, I thought for today I'd give anyone interested a peek at what will certainly be the world's worst novel. Keep in mind this is raw, unedited material that has none of the benefits of thought and or care as to quality or redeeming value. So here you go. I can feel myself getting dumber every day.
BTW, this is intended to be a middle grade paranormal piece. Something of which I'm sure is over-saturated in today's book market.
Chapter 1
For me it all started with that stupid camera. Now I know that’s being a little self-absorbed and all, since the fate of humanity is hinging on the brink of extinction, but since I somehow seem to be at the center of this whole mess I think I have every right to allow myself a little me time every once in awhile, in between trying to save the world.
Now before you get lost in all this cryptic talk about the end of all things as we know it and some strange camera thing, maybe I’d better back up because I want to make this as clear as possible. None of this is my fault. I swear. I’m not just saying that because in the past I’ve notoriously tried to shift blame for my actions in any direction but the one that leads directly to me, but because it is the honest to god’s truth. I mean how can I be blamed for something I had no control over? As in apparently this was my destiny from before I was born, which sounds a little egotistical, but I swear it’s true. If this was like a movie there’d probably be some sort of Oracle or something who could verify this after a lot of misdirection and life-tests and guidance by a wise older master leading me along my chosen path and all that other righteous nonsense. Believe me it’s not like this story hasn’t been told over and over before because it has. Just not with me as the main character.
So since this isn’t a movie, and as far as I know there isn’t an oracle, at least not that I’ve met, how, you might ask, do I know I’m so special. Well, the thing that iced it for me was the dreams. Sure, everyone has dreams, and for the most part mine had never been all that extraordinary. Just the usual fare, like giant spiders, and trying to run with feet that feel like they were made of concrete. Maybe at some point even those will end up coming into play when the time is right. But this, like all things in my life lately, comes back to the camera. The one I inherited from my grandpa. The one given to him by an old Chinese guy back when cameras didn’t fit in your pocket and Facebook and Twitter and all that other internet stuff was way beyond anyone’s imagination. No, this device doesn’t produce pictures of all those fun things going on in my life that I can put on the internet to impress my friends. Friends, by the way, of which in my case are admittedly few and far between. Oh, there’s Jimbo, and Cleo…
I can’t really talk about them right now. It’s just too hard. Maybe later.
Anyway, before I expend any more words, I thought for today I'd give anyone interested a peek at what will certainly be the world's worst novel. Keep in mind this is raw, unedited material that has none of the benefits of thought and or care as to quality or redeeming value. So here you go. I can feel myself getting dumber every day.
BTW, this is intended to be a middle grade paranormal piece. Something of which I'm sure is over-saturated in today's book market.
Chapter 1
For me it all started with that stupid camera. Now I know that’s being a little self-absorbed and all, since the fate of humanity is hinging on the brink of extinction, but since I somehow seem to be at the center of this whole mess I think I have every right to allow myself a little me time every once in awhile, in between trying to save the world.
Now before you get lost in all this cryptic talk about the end of all things as we know it and some strange camera thing, maybe I’d better back up because I want to make this as clear as possible. None of this is my fault. I swear. I’m not just saying that because in the past I’ve notoriously tried to shift blame for my actions in any direction but the one that leads directly to me, but because it is the honest to god’s truth. I mean how can I be blamed for something I had no control over? As in apparently this was my destiny from before I was born, which sounds a little egotistical, but I swear it’s true. If this was like a movie there’d probably be some sort of Oracle or something who could verify this after a lot of misdirection and life-tests and guidance by a wise older master leading me along my chosen path and all that other righteous nonsense. Believe me it’s not like this story hasn’t been told over and over before because it has. Just not with me as the main character.
So since this isn’t a movie, and as far as I know there isn’t an oracle, at least not that I’ve met, how, you might ask, do I know I’m so special. Well, the thing that iced it for me was the dreams. Sure, everyone has dreams, and for the most part mine had never been all that extraordinary. Just the usual fare, like giant spiders, and trying to run with feet that feel like they were made of concrete. Maybe at some point even those will end up coming into play when the time is right. But this, like all things in my life lately, comes back to the camera. The one I inherited from my grandpa. The one given to him by an old Chinese guy back when cameras didn’t fit in your pocket and Facebook and Twitter and all that other internet stuff was way beyond anyone’s imagination. No, this device doesn’t produce pictures of all those fun things going on in my life that I can put on the internet to impress my friends. Friends, by the way, of which in my case are admittedly few and far between. Oh, there’s Jimbo, and Cleo…
I can’t really talk about them right now. It’s just too hard. Maybe later.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Update - Day 8
That's right folks, day eight and I'm hanging in there. From here on out I'm not going to waste a lot of words on these pages because God knows I need them for my nano novel (and to write scathing letters that I will probably never send to people who have crossed me). So here's the numbers as of right now.
Cumulative word count = 11,355
Total words remaining - 38,645
Current day = 8
Days remaining - 22
Average words per day = 1420
Words per day to finish on time = 1757
So it looks like I've got to pick it up a little bit, but not much considering my average page-per-day count when I'm writing a real novel is between 500-700.
Back to it.
Hee Haw
Cumulative word count = 11,355
Total words remaining - 38,645
Current day = 8
Days remaining - 22
Average words per day = 1420
Words per day to finish on time = 1757
So it looks like I've got to pick it up a little bit, but not much considering my average page-per-day count when I'm writing a real novel is between 500-700.
Back to it.
Hee Haw
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Numbers
First off you all have to know how silly I feel doing this. As in, how much more of a dork can I be to participate in this Nanowrimo thing and then, even worse, use it as a jumping off point for my blog? But here's the deal. I'm in it, and as long as I'm in it I may as well play it up for all the dorkiness this process affords. I will say this. Even now as I type away, I've already developed this mindset of stretching sentences out to include superfluous verbiage in the quest to run up the word count in as expedient a manner as possible. The thought has crossed my mind that perhaps this is a dangerous precedent, as the craft of novel writing is to make every word count (okay, I see you rolling your eyes). Keep the reader hungry for more, not fleeing for the nearest exit to avoid a bombardment of excessive letter bombs being flung their way. I'm sure everyone who is a reader has run across a book they simply couldn't finish because they had to stop every three seconds to clear a path through the weeds simply to comprehend what that fifty word sentence was really trying to say. In fact, one of the areas in which I've trained myself to be painfully cognizant of, is that it's very easy for me to overwrite. If there was a support group for this addiction--something along the lines of "Overwriters Anonymous" I would be the first one to jump up, coffee in hand, and introduce myself to the group.
But this "Nano" thing pushes the writer to do exactly the opposite. When you're trying to crank out close to two thousand words a day on a novel, you can't be afraid of adverbs and purple prose. Long, rambling paragraphs that do nothing to move the plot forward should be embraced. Telling, not showing is admired. As their website says, "Thirty days and nights of literary abandon," the operative word in that being 'abandon'. Abandon every thing you've ever read on how to write that bestseller. Write sentences that you would very, very, very much never allow in a final draft. As you may have notice, I'm doing it right now.
So here are my numbers as of day five: Total words written so far = 6,730. Total words written today = 1,404. Total words required today = 1,667. Words until today's goal is met = 263. Current trend - 2 days behind schedule. Words per day to finish on time = 1731. Total words needed to finish = 43,270.
Again, if I was reading this on someone else's blog I'd be rolling my eyes in disdain. This whole thing goes against every principle I've established in my philosophy of artistic expression. I've always been a quality over quantity guy and this...well...this ain't that. But like I said, I'm in it, and if there's one principle I place over all others, it's that commitments should not be made lightly and I've committed to do this because shying away from new experience and alternative lifestyle methods is like poison for the soul.
Hee Haw
But this "Nano" thing pushes the writer to do exactly the opposite. When you're trying to crank out close to two thousand words a day on a novel, you can't be afraid of adverbs and purple prose. Long, rambling paragraphs that do nothing to move the plot forward should be embraced. Telling, not showing is admired. As their website says, "Thirty days and nights of literary abandon," the operative word in that being 'abandon'. Abandon every thing you've ever read on how to write that bestseller. Write sentences that you would very, very, very much never allow in a final draft. As you may have notice, I'm doing it right now.
So here are my numbers as of day five: Total words written so far = 6,730. Total words written today = 1,404. Total words required today = 1,667. Words until today's goal is met = 263. Current trend - 2 days behind schedule. Words per day to finish on time = 1731. Total words needed to finish = 43,270.
Again, if I was reading this on someone else's blog I'd be rolling my eyes in disdain. This whole thing goes against every principle I've established in my philosophy of artistic expression. I've always been a quality over quantity guy and this...well...this ain't that. But like I said, I'm in it, and if there's one principle I place over all others, it's that commitments should not be made lightly and I've committed to do this because shying away from new experience and alternative lifestyle methods is like poison for the soul.
Hee Haw
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Why Nanowrimo? Why now?
That's right, folks. It's November and guess what? Everything I've ever said about Nanowrimo...well...as they say, never say never. In the past I've poo poo'd the whole nature of the beast. As in, why do I need to take a month out of my serious pursuit of being a novelist to crank out so many words of crap just because some stupid website arbitrarily declared this as a valid use of a writer's creative energy? I mean really. I don't need the good people at Nanowrimo to kick me in the butt to get me writing regularly. I'm pretty much always working on something new. As someone who stands firm in the belief that I have a "calling" to string together words in a coherent fashion so as to tell stories that are entertaining, meaningful, and relevant, I'm also convinced I must discipline myself to practice my craft each and every day, otherwise I'll fail. So why should November be any different than any other month?
Maybe it's just because Nanowrimo is cool sounding.
Now here's the thing. All other pursuits aside, my current workload looks like this: One novel out for submissions, meaning I've got one book (Matthew Newman) I feel is complete enough that I want to throw it against the wall and see if it sticks. Another book (Paramount) is completed in first draft, meaning I wrote a 100k-plus word "outline" that's waiting patiently for me to gather the courage to go back and face the reality of how terrible it might be. Such is the nature of first drafts. Finally, I've started another project (Piano Lessons) of which I'm at the mid-point in the construction process; as in, it's 45k words of drivel with no clue as to how I'm going to finish it up. Sounds promising. Hmmm...seems like I'm forgetting something. Oh yeah, there's this blogging thing I've gotten back into, and facebook, and the NBA season's just getting started (go Lakers), and the job I go to everyday that keeps me from living under a bridge. You'd think that would be about all my senile old brain could handle without putting me into catatonia.
So now, for whatever reason, I've decided to jump on this Nanowrimo band wagon. I've become one of "those people" I previously scoffed at as not being dedicated enough to do it on their own. For this I've decided to take on a re-imagining of my first attempt at novel writing. It's a middle grade book that started off basically as a memoir of my childhood and, of course, ended up with a paranormal bent to it. Why I've decided to revive this old chestnut is one of those questions of what do you do when you hear the Universe speaking. In my vast experience with life on this planet (ha), I may have finally learned that the answer to that question is: you listen. Besides, at this particular junction, I need all the distractions I can get my hands on as the rest of my life at the moment is...well...let's just not go there.
So I can do this. It's a challenge. It's going to push me to pick up the pace and write in a different style than I'm used to. And perhaps, at the end of the month I'll have another unfinished manuscript to keep my other projects company while I get my shite together. Like I've always said, you can't edit something that hasn't been written. At least I won't have that to worry about that anytime soon.
Hee Haw
Maybe it's just because Nanowrimo is cool sounding.
Now here's the thing. All other pursuits aside, my current workload looks like this: One novel out for submissions, meaning I've got one book (Matthew Newman) I feel is complete enough that I want to throw it against the wall and see if it sticks. Another book (Paramount) is completed in first draft, meaning I wrote a 100k-plus word "outline" that's waiting patiently for me to gather the courage to go back and face the reality of how terrible it might be. Such is the nature of first drafts. Finally, I've started another project (Piano Lessons) of which I'm at the mid-point in the construction process; as in, it's 45k words of drivel with no clue as to how I'm going to finish it up. Sounds promising. Hmmm...seems like I'm forgetting something. Oh yeah, there's this blogging thing I've gotten back into, and facebook, and the NBA season's just getting started (go Lakers), and the job I go to everyday that keeps me from living under a bridge. You'd think that would be about all my senile old brain could handle without putting me into catatonia.
So now, for whatever reason, I've decided to jump on this Nanowrimo band wagon. I've become one of "those people" I previously scoffed at as not being dedicated enough to do it on their own. For this I've decided to take on a re-imagining of my first attempt at novel writing. It's a middle grade book that started off basically as a memoir of my childhood and, of course, ended up with a paranormal bent to it. Why I've decided to revive this old chestnut is one of those questions of what do you do when you hear the Universe speaking. In my vast experience with life on this planet (ha), I may have finally learned that the answer to that question is: you listen. Besides, at this particular junction, I need all the distractions I can get my hands on as the rest of my life at the moment is...well...let's just not go there.
So I can do this. It's a challenge. It's going to push me to pick up the pace and write in a different style than I'm used to. And perhaps, at the end of the month I'll have another unfinished manuscript to keep my other projects company while I get my shite together. Like I've always said, you can't edit something that hasn't been written. At least I won't have that to worry about that anytime soon.
Hee Haw
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