Omg, 50,000 words in a month!

I feel a sense of relief getting to the 50,000 word goal of the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) but now, I really feel like writing!

What an incredible month this has been. I knew I could do it, I knew I could write a novel, I knew I had one in me, and now, I'm off to a good start. My story is far from complete, with lots of editing and rewriting to come. I hope that one day soon, I will have something you can hold in your hand or your electronic reader and enjoy. Moreover, I hope it doesn't suck.

Thanks everyone for being supportive and cheering me on along the way, and thanks to my good buddy Alexia for starting the book club that made me focus on making lofty goals achievable and really nailing down my daily writing routine, and mostly getting to me to commit to this project in such a busy month.

I'm a leaf on the wind! Now more than ever before, I feel unstoppable!

Action was the word I chose for the year because I needed to get moving, and a lot of wonderful progress has been made with my art career. I'll tell you though, this little accomplishment really feels like icing on the cake! I am pleased to have progress in my journey to share with others and maybe inspire, too.

Remember: Never EVER give up!

Thanks to a few awesome people who lead by example and sticktuitiveness and probably have no idea I’m referencing them here: Christy Dekoning, Curt of Keemo, Christine Kane, Carl at Cakuart.com, Alexia Petrakos.

But Scarecrow, I thank you most of all. :)

Omg, 50,000 words in a month!

Hey Thanks!

I am thankful for a loving family, great friends, sweet dogs, a great dog sitter, awesome clients, our troops and volunteers and social workers and adoptive and foster parents, and people who care for other people and animals....and this internet connection that is allowing me to say to you all:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday,
Rebecca

Hey Thanks!

Lure me with your smallness and baby breath

Bowl of Puppy
Acrylic on wood

Day 21 of Nanowrimo and 6813 words to catch up. I had a lot of painting to do this week, so I have not written in 3.79 days. Tonight may be one of those late nights that becomes a surreal writing experience likely to leave me feeling the carpal tunnel aches tomorrow.

I was thinking about smallness and the adorable quality of small. Take this little Westie puppy, for example. Don't you just want to feel his tiny tongue kissing you or smell his sweet baby puppy breath? I do. I think if I had this dog, I would simply not be able to let him down, except to pee, of course.

November is a rather large month, and it makes me wonder why the National Novel Writing Month happens in such a big month. Writing 50,000 words is momentous, at least it is the first time you do it. And in a month that also brings the preparation for the largest retail shopping days of the year, where artists and crafters alike are unbelievably busy preparing stockpiles of goodies for art and craft fairs and online sales. Then there is the added goodliness that I am also a portrait painter and I have lots of orders to fill. So, thanks Nanowrimo, just pile it on, why don't you?!!

Could be for a reason, though. If they did it in a metaphorically small month, we might not be up to the challenge. Through all of this, I have found companionship in my procrastinative obstinacy, and learned that writers are like me, they put things off and get distracted by dishes and sunshine and small animals. What I really mean is that in a small month, we would likely find no time at all to write a novel, because there is just too much 'nothing' to be done. And when there is nothing expected, you tend to go with the flow.

In November, when so much is due and the TV still has new episodes to watch (geesus, this is really painful), and everyone goes out of town or has plans for 3-4 days at Thanksgiving, why there couldn't be a better time to squeeze in a novel. Busy is what makes procrastinators move. This is the grandest time for a procrastinator who thrives on a deadline; Me.

So, bring it on, I say. You cannot discourage me! Bring on the kind of night that if I smoked, would be littered with visits to the porch in the wee hours to stare at the moon and think of new plot twists while stretching my neck. Bring on the late night pasty mouth (blech) and the dry red eyes. They will go unnoticed. For I am a nom de plum on the wind and my cup can always be refilled.

I'm off to make a French press and find a bit of ice cream.

I'll brush my teeth later.

Lure me with your smallness and baby breath

Nanowrimo or try try again!

Ink Leaves on Watercolor I

November is National Novel Writing Month. Really, it's worldwide novel writing month, or every other country's national novel writing month as well, however you want to look at it!

The goal: Write 50,000 words in a month, about 175 pages, give or take a few. My Storyist demo software says I'm on page 92. (Omigod, 92 pages! I totally rock!) That's almost better than selling a painting! Ok, it IS better than selling a painting, because it's the first time I've ever done this!

Half way day is tomorrow. I'm at around 20,000 so far. I honestly wondered if I would even get this far. I know I have a novel in me, but I didn't think I could get so much out in so little time. Each time to go to write, it just flows, and flows. Plus, I still like my story after 14 days.

I honestly thought my first writing experience would be a screenplay, and if you're into that, the same people who bring this fun contest also bring "Scriptfrenzy" in the early Spring. I have had oodles of movie ideas in my head forever so I'll be working on this one next year.

I have found this experience to be very liberating. The Nanowrimo people even come right out say that some of what you will write will suck. You aren't going to create a masterpiece with this effort, and you aren't going to publish on your first round anyway, so let it out and get it down, that's all that matters here. Why? Because some of what you will write will be brilliant! You don't have to share it with anyone. I wont even let my MF (Man Friend) read it, because I don't want any tiny iota of potential negativity to dash all my hopes and have me leave my novel career before it begins, which could happen with an eyebrow twitch. (ok, but probably not, because I am stubborn and believe I can actually do this. he he. rookie.)

So, with regard to writing the remaining 30,000 words, I have confidence I'll get through this, although tomorrow will only be week 3 and there is still so much to write and still a lot of time to get sidetracked and procrastinate. However, the Nanowrimo folks have thought of that too, with their daily blogging of motivation and the amusing "Procrastination Station" where, if you are short on words, you may find scene suggestions to add a thousand or two extra words to your story and maybe spark your story back into a flame. Daily I say my mantra: "Oh Lord, let my words flow, and help me from having to use the 'Shovel of death' scene to get an extra thousand words! (courtesy of the procrastination station).

For more information on Nanowrimo, visit http://www.nanowrimo.org/

For the rest of the month, each post will mention my current word count. The daily quota to get there is 1667 words. I chose not to write this weekend so I could work on a few other important things that actually help me get paid. The rest of month will be some early morning and some late nights, but I am driven to succeed on writing my very first novel. I have always wanted to do it, so let's see where this gig takes me!

I will remember that great quote, "Write Rebecca, write like the wind!" (or something like that)

Nanowrimo or try try again!

The Case of the Runaway JackaBee

Leopold "Butters" Scotch

This is the sweet young male Beagle Terrier Mix that has been roaming between owners in the Acworth area in the past few months. He is currently at my neighbor's house.

He's seems like a pretty smart, sweet little guy and he took a bath well. He likes to be on the leash and doesn't pull. He eats like eating is a luxury, a possible symptom of his chronic running away. Maybe he is trying to get back to his original owners, although I have searched every lost and found pet database in Georgia, and there doesn't seem to be an owner looking for him.

He is not neutered. His teeth are clean and his ears are pink, but a little dirty. The vet says he is healthy and is around a year old.

If you can, please post this on your blog today and someone, somewhere in the country may decide to adopt little Buddy.

Buddy after his bath and blow dry!

If you wish to give Buddy a better change of getting adopted, you can donate any denomination to help pay for his shots and to have him neutered. Dogs who come with no extra financial burden get adopted quicker! Thanks!

Tuesday, November 9th!
UPDATE:
Leopold "Butters" Scotch has been placed in foster care and will be receiving shots and getting neutered tomorrow. Thank you to the wonderful Paige at Mostly Mutts shelter in Kennesaw, GA for taking in Butters and having an endless supply of love!

To donate to Mostly Mutts continuing care of neglected, dumped, abused and lost animals visit Mostlymutts.org.

Thanks everyone!

The Case of the Runaway JackaBee