NaNoWriMo Drop-out!

Here it is, November 30th and I can officially tag myself as NaNoWriMo ‘Drop-Out! I’ve ‘dropped out’ of a few things in my life; failed relationships, a pick up volleyball game, a few rambunctious parties, and even a church that just wasn’t my niche. Once I got ‘Kicked-out’ of Sunday school and even 4-H club but don’t be too hard on me, I was only ten or eleven and I was just trying to blend in on both accounts.


But golly, I truthfully never meant to be a drop-out of NaNo. That surely rings out like I’m a quitter; ugh! Typically, committment means a great deal to me so when I make one, I follow through to the end, I soldier on and all that stuff...well, that was until; hmmm...

For those of you who don’t know what NaNO is, let me explain. The entire month of November is dedicated to writing a novel of a minimum of 50,000 words. Individuals, who are writers, or aspire to be writers, work diligently to wrap up the arduous task of crossing this goal line before midnight on the last day of the month; I aspired as well!

I signed up for the contest and anxiously awaited for opening day. For the first week, I typed, I typed and typed some more. My diligence led to an accomplishment of 6,393 words. Although temporarily, I was neglecting my husband and my son as well as ignoring the book I had just signed a contract to complete. My Life as a Dog… manuscript needed to be wrapped up so it could be sent to the editor. What was a gal to do?

Something had to give…so guess what it was? Yes, NaNoWriMo…hence, I’m a drop out! However, the dictionary defines a drop out to mean to withdraw from participation or membership. Gosh, that sounds so much better, doesn’t it? I had such high aspirations, too.

But here it is, closing day of the challenge and I’m no further along than the 6,393 words I’d compiled the first seven days. Again, UGH!!! I try my very best not to live off of Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda’s…I could’ve done it had I just not slept, I should have just sucked it up and plunged through to the end or I would have finished if I’d sacrificed everything; family included…

Even though I didn’t finish, I congratulate all my friends and those in the blog community who did complete the goal! Hurray for you! I mean that sincerely! You have a great deal to be proud of, so CONGRATULATIONS!

…and in closing, a toast to next year’s competition! Furthermore, may I not be a Drop-Out!

Here contains an earlier post to my quandry: http://thinkingspot-tracy.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-writing.html

It's fun to look back...

When contemplating what to blog about this day, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, I thought I'd glance back and see the focus of my blog a year ago.

Imagine my surprise to discover I was completing my book and now, a year later, my book has just been released and I have two book signings scheduled for Ohio in four weeks.

Life certainly is full of surprises!
Enjoy the piece from twelve calendar changes...


Happy Writing?

Okay, so I’m not a realist!


I had to chuckle to myself as a result of my lofty goals. I am attempting to complete My Life as a Dog… so it can be sent to the editor/critique person so the publishing of my book can come more quickly. Currently, I have 24 stories finished and have ideas for at least four more. So it would only make sense to devote all my time and efforts to this ambition, right?

In addition, I joined National Novel Writer’s Month (NaNoWriMo) which to goal is to complete a novel of 50,000 words in one month. That sounds obtainable, doesn’t it?

Well, both would have they not been on variant roads to crash at the intersection of November. I realized this morning when my husband Scott came back from running with me at my usual sitting place, the computer room. He puts his nose in the air and said, ‘Oh, I thought I smelled grits, but I guess not!’

SLAM…’But I thought you wanted me to write?’

‘Yes, but I also want you to pay attention to me!’ Ahhh, so he wants the best of both worlds; as do I. It is not easy taking time away from my family to devote to writing, plus teaching, plus whatever it is I do all day. I’m not a self-centered person so this is not an easy path to navigate.

So what if I want it all? Would anyone like to add additional hours to the day so I have time for everything? What will it be that is put on the back burner? I’m at 6,393 words on my novel for NaNo, and My Life as a Dog is at 14,668. No, I didn’t write all of those 14 thousand words but probably a third of them within the past week which should account for something.

Meanwhile, I have clothes to wash, the floor to vacuum, and bathrooms to clean so if you’re looking for me, that’s where I’ll be; obtaining my lofty goals~