Trying again

I sit here and stare at my tablet screen, wondering how to promise my readers, if there any left, that I will be more faithful about writing, both on the blog and in general. I've failed so many times before that I am positive no one will believe me. But I really hope to be strong and keep my determination from waning.

I may never make it as a writer. I'm not sure I have the discipline. But I will never stop trying. I have a brand new tablet, several new writing buddies to nudge me along, and a supportive family backing me up. One thing that may hinder me, is the beautiful new addition to our family, who made her appearance last November. I am all about showing her off these days. As you know, babies take up a lot of time and have unpredictable schedules. NaNo was a total no this last year, what with baby arriving and all. And last years Camp NaNo was a bust even though I tried both times. The pregnancy just made me too sick.

But enough with excuses. Excuses are the lazy writer's downfall. I am strong. I am determined. I am and will be a writer. I have started outlining a fan fiction piece based off of one of my favorite shows. Nothing more to spoil the surprise, but I will post a snippet or two in time. I have to research and learn about the rules and regulations of fan fic before posting anything, so I don't infringe on any copyright laws. Any help pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

I guess that's enough for one night. I have fulfilled my wordcount goal for the day, and I must sleep while baby sleeps. God bless and happy writing!

~KK~

Been a While

I haven't posted I'm ages. I probably don't even have any followers any more but that doesn't matter. I want to start writing again, both on here and personally. I've started outlining again, and writing a little. NANOWRIMO is kind of a bust this year, but I'm not giving up entirely. I may not hit 50k, but I won't stop writing. It will also be one of my New Year's resolutions (again) to write every day. I'm gonna try my hand at children's books again and maybe start dabbling in poetry again. I have so many dreams.
One big dream that came true this year was meeting and marrying my soulmate. It was a whirlwind adventure and I've never been happier. T is so loving and supportive of my goals and ambitions. He makes me want to succeed in a way I never felt before. He completes me.
A short post, I know, but I promise to write again soon. If anyone actually reads this, thank you.
KKHH

New Year, New You...or something...

I kind of abandoned my blogs in the last year. Well, to be perfectly honest, I abandoned my writing period in the last year. Life pretty much got away from me. But, I'm not here to make excuses. It's a new year, maybe our last, though I don't believe that, and I want to make the most of it. My one goal is to write every day. That's it. No word count goals, no finishing story goals, just get words on paper, blog, or word-processing doc every single day. If I want to think negatively, I can say that I've already failed. I've probably written 4 or 5 times in these first 16 days of the new year. But I am bound and determined to think positively. It doesn't matter if I fall down, as long as I pick myself back up. It's going to be a fun year. I will be juggling tech college classes, writing, working, health issues management, getting in shape apartment renovating, and several family trips. It's going to be an adventure, but I'm looking forward with a smile on my face and a positive attitude. To simplify things a tiny bit, I am restricting myself to only my writing blog, both to encourage my writing as a possible means of employment and to keep things slightly less stressful for myself. I will be updating the blog at least once a week, sometimes more. I hope that people will read and respond, so I don't feel quite as alone in this big ole writing world. I appreciate the friendship and support.

Now it's off to get ready for the day job, with the accompaniment of some awesome Pandora music, at least until my favorite morning radio program comes on. ;)

Have a great one peoples.

~KK~

A Slight Revision

After conversing with the beautiful Night Owl (always a welcome form of writing procrastination, one of my favorites if I do say), I have decided to take her excellent and expert advice to include blogging toward my word count goal for the year. After all, the goal is to get myself into the habit of writing regularly, and apparently she enjoys my blogging. I have be painfully neglectful of my poor blogs in recent months, and though it may be too much to hope for regular post to BOTH blogs, I will certainly be trying. Of course, the most effort will probably go to this blog, though I have fewer readers here than over at Life Serial. The major focus of my year is going to be my writing, therefore it seems fitting that I write most often here at The Write Stuff.

As Night Owl decrees, so shall it be! Let the words flow!

~KK~

New Year, New You

Ok, so last year was a total bust, writing-wise. I didn't meet ANY of my 2010 writing goals and only two of my non-writing goals. I had an AWESOME time visiting my families in both Maine and Kentucky and I joined a gym, but I have only made infrequent appearances at said gym. I've also been seriously lacking in the blogging department.

I did, however, finish my first NANOWRIMO!!! I haven't finished the story, but I made it past the 50k mark before midnight on November 30th!!! This was my third NaNO, but my first win. It felt great, made me feel like the year wasn't a total waste.

This year, my darling Night Owl over at The Unhero's Journey has made me promise to write 1500 words a day starting today. Any words that do not get written will be added to the next day's total and so on. This equals approximately 525,000 words for the year. Today and today only, updating my blog will count towards my word count goal. Too many people have been bugging me about my blogs, and the hours in the day keep slipping away!!!

So here's the goals for 2011:

Writing Goals

1. Write at least 1,500 words every day for a total of 525,000 words this year. Stories, poems, MS, songs, all count toward my word count goal. I will give myself leeway in my daily word count, taking into account several weddings, 2 High School graduations, a baby birth, a memorial service, and a cross country road trip. A few words less here, some more there, you get the picture.

2. Clean up my writing space, so I can have some semblance of order to write in. This will help in the successful completion of #1.

3. Look more deeply into freelance writing and opportunities available. Talk with the pros, research, figure out where I can go with my "talent."

4. Finish and polish up NaNo novel, get it ready for submission.


Non-Writing Goals

1. Help Roommate find a new job.

2. Clean up and weed out our clutter. Organize, rearrange, make our living space more...liveable.

3. Work out. Gym, pool, home, whatever it takes to lose the weight. I'm aiming for at least 2 pants sizes, and 1 shirt size, minimum. Don't ask for numbers, cuz I'll never tell... ;)

4. Find a summer job in Maine, so I'm not a total bum for 3 months. Start saving a little at a time.

5. Bankruptcy. Enough said.

6. Become a full tithe payer. The Lord blesses those who are obedient...or so I've heard...

7. Get my sorry butt back into college!!!! Get in gear toward getting my degree.

8. Visit Canada while I'm back East. There are some wonderful people that I just need to hang out with in person (you know who you are)!!! This also requires getting my butt in gear and applying for a passport.


Whew!! Ok, so maybe my goals are a little unbalanced this year, but I've got to get a lot together before I can make my life work. I'm hoping that this will be a better year than last.

What are your goals for 2011???

~KK~

NaNo Day 1 Wordcount

So in the first two hours of NaNoWriMo 2010 I wrote 684 words. Then I came home and slept until mid-afternoon (not exactly in my plans...). I wrote a grand total of 2,064 words for the first day. In the midst of massive back pain and the side effects of painkillers. I'm pretty impressed with myself. And now I plan on drugging myself into oblivion and sleeping until morning. Work tomorrow, then writing until I pass out. My goal for tomorrow is 2,500 words. Go me.

Hope everyone made their wordcount goals for the day, whether you're doing NaNo or not!!!

~KK~

NaNo 2010

Ok so tonight at midnight is the official start of NaNoWriMo 2010. If you live in the US or Canada or anywhere in our nearby timezones, you still have plenty of time to register and get yourself ready. And by plenty of time I mean 9 hours!!!!!

I'm so stoked. I've been saving for a Netbook, and I might have enough money by halfway through the month. Until then, I'll be doing Write-Ins by hand and the rest of the time I'll write on D's new owrk PC when she lets me and on the dying laptop when she doesn't! ;)

I had a most spectacular fall flat on my back yesterday, during which my entire left side went numb and I'm hurting a LOT today, especially in my left arm and hand and my back. So writing by hand at the Midnight Write-In tonight should be interesting. We shall see how it goes.

My NaNo novel is called Roads Taken. My MC came to me in a dream. I think hers will be an interesting story to tell. Her name is Sasha and she's going on a trip with her bet friend Sam and her dog (who is unnamed as of late). I'm excited and I really want to succeed this year. I plan to attend every single Wednesday Write-In and every other Saturday/Sunday one. I need all the moral support I can get!!!

So, are you doing NaNo this year???

~KK~

Slightly off the Normal Topic...

Now, usually I reserve this blog for strictly writing related topics, but I really want to spread the word as far and wide as I possible can. Here goes:

So this family was brought to my attention by a friend of mine. They work with a program called Reece's Rainbow that advocate for children all over the world who are in orphanages and institutions simply because they were born with Down Syndrome.

They are currently working toward adopting 2 children, Ianna and Axel. They both have different conditions and I believe they are each from different countries. They are both around ten years old.

At the moment, they are very, very close to being able to bring Axel home. Hopefully, the Lord willing, they will leave for his country sometime in December to start the process of bringing him home.

At the moment they are holding a raffle for an iPad. As you know, these things are pretty pricey. But right now you can buy a raffle ticket for one of these babies for $25. And if you donate $100 to the site, you get 5 entries.

Here's the family's blog:
http://myianna.blogspot.com/
And here's the entry advertising the raffle:
http://myianna.blogspot.com/2010/10/ipad-give-away.html

I hope that some of you wonderful blog readers will be able to help this family out by contributing to the raffle or at least spreading the word.

God bless you all, my lovely blog readers.

~KK~

NaNoWriMo 2010

So it's that time of year again!!!! NaNo 2010 is only 9 days away!!! I'm so excited for this year's NaNo. I've been doing all kinds of of research for my novel and stocking up on the essentials (you know, junk food, notebooks, pens, junk food, white out, fingerless gloves, back support for my chair, junk food, caffeinated beverages, possibly a Netbook, and did I mention junk food????), I've taken the first of the month as a personal day so I can attend the Midnight Write-In at Denny's and then spend the first getting a jump on my writing...that is, if I don't fall asleep...cat naps are goooood...

I feel really good about this project. I think it could actually go somewhere, unlike the last few projects that seemed to crash and burn before they were even off the ground.

NaNo will be a crazy ride, as usual, but this year, I think I can succeed.

I hope.

~KK~

My Very First Guest Post!!!!!

So Miss Dolly has given me the great honor of doing a guest spot on her Blog Writer Revealed!!! She's doing a series on Writer's Journeys and she asked me to do an interview! I was so excited and honored. Dolly's a great person and I love her blog, so I was very quick to agree. So check it out on Friday, 8 October here!

My Poor Neglected Blog

Oh my poor blog, how I've neglected you so!!! I feel like I've neglected a lot of aspects of my life this summer, including my writing, but I'm back in full force, scribbling in my notebooks when I can't get to a computer. FtF WILL be finished before the end of the year, I swear to it.

I am organizing my life, new job, cleaning my apartment, making a gym schedule and sticking to it, and hopefully joining a local writer's guild and writing group. Waiting to hear back from the people in charge to find out their schedule and location for the fall.

Also on the radar is my very first GUEST POST!!!!!!! Look for it on Writer Revealed. Dolly has given me the honor of appearing on her blog and I'm soooooo excited. So keep an eye out for my guest post on 8 October 2010.

I promise to be more regular with my posts and try to keep up with the reading of your wonderful blogs!!! Thank you for being so patient with me!!!!!!!!!!

~KK~

ADH..ooo Shiny!

I am so easily distractable.

I've been working diligently on FtF for several weeks. I've spent more time than I should tweaking and changing the outline and a considerable amount of time writing chapter by chapter. But recently, other characters are knocking on the inside of my brain, begging to be let out. I have the almost uncontrollable urge to let them out, put them on paper, just to get the noise out of my head!

Question: What do you do when characters come knocking on the inside of your brain??? How do you cope?

Please enlighten me!

~KK~

WIP in Pics (Thanx Sara!)

Sara over at SeeSara Write gave me an awesome idea, as well as an opportunity to waste time on Flikr and We Heart It.

It's my WIP Far to Fall in pictures. It took me forever to put this together, partly because I'm a perfectionist (*cough cough* read, OCD), and partly because there were just so many pictures to choose from! I think this is an awesome idea and everyone should try it.

So here goes...Far to Fall in pictures:

Update

Well, I survived the end of school...and dove right back into school.

So much for my uninterupted writing binge. Money troubles dictated that I had to have a job this summer or we would lose everything. And I mean everything. Not that there's that much to lose, but I rather enjoy having a roof over my head and a car to drive.

So I'm working as a Summer School aide. Woot. I've never worked with High School kids before and I've decided after 2 days that I rather dislike it. There's just so much DRAMA!!!!! It's ridiculous. I'm rusty on my government skills, my math skills suck, and I have no experience with speech. The only real good I can do is assist with the english classes, which don't really seem to need my help so far.

On the writing front, I'm outlinging like mad on Far to Fall, 14 chapters and a prelude done. FtF WILL get written. I'm writing every chance I get, including during down time at work and late, late into the evenings. It's coming together rather nicely. I have high hopes. For now.

We shall see where it all goes...

~KK~

The Home Stretch

There are 7 days (not including the weekend) left of school. 7 days until my uninterrupted writing binge begins. I am counting down hours now. I can't wait.

We're in the home stretch now...

~KK~

Countdown

There are 39 days of school left.

Why do I care, you ask?

I care because I work in a school and I am ready for summer break. 2 and 1/2 months that I can hopefully devote to writing, housesitting, and a trip back east to see my family.

I should probably devote my time to searching for a full time job or at least summer work, but I need to focus my energies on writing. I'm going to put sopme real effort into finishing this project.

And speaking of "The Project", it's coming along. I've decided on a different approach than I had originally planned, and I think it will turn Far to Fall into something decent and worth the effort, instead of being just a dull and crappy project that no one will ever want to read. Leanna is a strong and beautiful MC and her story deserves to be heard.

So, fair readers, you can count the days to my writing bliss with me, while I keep trudging along.

~KK~

Long Time Gone

It's been a long time since I last blogged.

It's hard not having regular access to internet. :(

Life has thrown a lot at me, including a back injury and losing one of my jobs, as well as problems with my OCD and anxiety. I haven't been writing as much as I would have liked, but I'm starting to get back into the groove.

Leanna, the MC of my current WIP just got too loud to ignore. Her story needed to be written and it needed to be written NOW. It's not been going as quickly as I would have liked, but at least there are words flowing.

I haven't had much access to a computer, so most of it has been hand written, which is more tedious than I can possibly explain, as I'm used to making handwritten notes and typing my stories rather than writing down everything. But life goes on. Words are on a page and that's what's important right now.

Right?

~KK~

Ideas

I foud this book at Barnes and Noble that I just had to pick up while I was there. It's called 102 ways to Earn Money Writing 1500 Words or Less. It's a book of writing venues from magazines to greeting cards to just about anything you could imagine someone writing.

I've wanted to make writing a career, not just as a novelist, but as a freelance writer and this book is a guide to making that happen. I'm very excited to start exploring some of the options that are available and get writing on them!!

~KK~

YA Fiction...or Autobiography???

It seems recently, that absolutely everything I write turns into something autobiographical. These ideas aren't original, they're already-lived stories, many with not-so-happy endings. I've started doubting myself and my ability to create something original that anyone would want to read. Are my characters really speaking to me? Or is it just the ghosts of my past coming back to haunt me?

~KK~

Meme that I Stole from Adam's blog who stole it from Janna's blog. We're all Happy Thieves Around Here In Blogland!

Here goes...

Your Cell Phone? Dying
Your Hair? Short
Your Mother? Loony
Your Father? Dork
Your Favorite Food? Food
Your Dream Last Night? Weird
Your Favorite Drink? Pop
Your Dream/Goal? Writer
What Room Are You In? Lab
Your Hobby? Poetry
Your Fear? Everything
Where Do You See Yourself In Six Years? Writing
Where Were You Last Night? Home
Something That You Aren't? Sane
Muffins? Blech
Wish List Item? NetBook
Where Did You Grow Up? Maine
Last Thing You Did? Scolded
What Are You Wearing? Jeans
Your TV? Crappy
Your Pets? Several
Friends? Crazy
Your Life? Better
Your Mood? Psychotic
Missing Someone? Always
Vehicle? Green
Something You Aren't Wearing? Hat
Your Favorite Store? B&N
Your Favorite Color? Black
When Was The Last Time You Laughed? Today
Last Time You Cried? Yesterday
Your Best Friend? Diane
Facebook? Junky
Favorite Place To Eat? Home
Favorite Character you've written about? Adella

That was fun!

~KK~