November 13, 2005

  • Consider the towel thrown.

    I'm proving Sister Bernadette Marie, my biology teacher at Nolan, to
    have been correct in her assessment of me as one who possesses no
    perseverance.

    I'm giving up on the NaNoWriMo.  Can't think of a thing to write, and yes, I have
    been trying.  Vaguely know where I want to go, but vague don't cut
    the mustard when it comes to writing a book.  You'd better have one of the following:

    • Characters who are real to you (I don't)
    • A plot (I don't)
    • A burning ambition to write (I don't)

    Perhaps someday the characters and plot line of "Mercy Maud!" will gel,
    in which case I might give it another try.  Right now, though,
    what with Orphan Care Sunday next week, then leaving to visit Alex in
    Tennessee, then Thanksgiving, forcing myself to write a story not
    begging to be released seems a rather silly thing to do. 

    Thanks so much for the kind words for the bits I did write, however!  I could just eat y'all up with a spoon. 

Comments (7)

  • YOU CAN'T QUIT!

    You're the only reason I started. >

  • Guilt, here's guilt, you're going to visit Alex next week and I, your elderly, white haired mother!! the great grandmother of Hannah, and I didn't know?!! Shame, mmmm, one would think I had practice siccing guilt on kids, hmmm, I don't think I do, but still, whine, when, how long and is there any room in suitcase for cute baby stuff?? Let me know and you're forgiven. Love, mom

  • I learned that writing is very very difficult when I was in high school, when I had an idea for the beginning of a story that I didn't have an end for.  You have to know the end before you write, that was my lesson. (I still think the begnning of my story was good.) And then you have to figure out how to get from the beginning to the end.  And then you have to figure out all the steps in between.  Which means an outline, which means it becomes like a term paper...which takes all the fun out of it. To me.

    Someone once said that a good story's plot can be written on the back of a matchbook, and that the rest is fill. I think there is truth in that. Tell you what, I think you ought to turn this into a free-for-all.  Let people give you the rest of the story, and choose one out of them.  Then see where it goes.  I think you are more than a fine writer.  You've got natural talent, that's what. Does your library ever have creative writing workshops?

  • I think you should really really listen to Eleanor.  Seriously.  You've taken the wind out of my sails so that  I don't think I can make any more headway on my own, and I'm only up to 8000 words.

    (Are you feeling terribly guilty yet? *evil grin* )

  • im with you, except im still writing, im just not trying for the minimum anymore. a newborn, all the kids were sick, now i have mastitis and i need to rest. i think trying to do my daily words contributed to the stress & its stress i don't need

  • Kelly, there's no reason you can't keep a-goin'....you've got an actual story going there. Unlike me. Write, Kelly, write! Write!

    Justagirl, you poor lambkin.

    You know, part of my decision to cease and desist was a comment you made about how it should be fun, not a chore, and it had become a burden. "Oh, NO! I'm XXX words behind! Whateffershallido?"

  • Brad will be disappointed, I feel sure, but Mercy Maud! needs to live!  Take the November 30 pressure off of this project, and drop us a periodic chapter!  Take people's hints, if you want to . . . or not.  Because of you, I've read more in the past week than I have the last year.

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