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

A Response...

I’ve been enthralled by other writer’s blogs basically because I’m curious OR call it nosey as to what other writers think is important enough to put in writing! What is it that captures their imagination and causes their words to sprawl upon the page?

Through my search I happened upon:

http://imagineomit.blogspot.com/

On Monday, November 15 she blogged about her obsession with boxes and what it signifies about her as a person. After reading her words, I chuckled to myself; one as a result of her honesty and two because I also have a fascination with boxes.

I had to pose the question to myself, ‘What DOES this say about me?’ As I noted on Kenju’s comments, my attraction appears to be with containers on the small side such as the boxes Nicholas’ toddler shoes came wrapped in or the old cigar boxes that have since been replaced by plastic to be used for pencil boxes at school.

I have numerous boxes in my drawers that I’ve accumulated trinkets from prior students that may say, ‘World’s Best Teacher!’ or ‘Class ‘A’ Teacher! There’s one holding letters from old friends and family members; when that art was still in vogue.

Another box-type was actually my mother’s old metal lunch box; a rusty Christmas green that contains old portraits and cards sent by my Dad who is now deceased, and cards from my loving husband and son. I even have one with no lid that contains my son’s baby brush, and scraps of paper with book titles inscribed that I just couldn't wait to read, but I have yet gotten around to reading them.

Back to Kenju’s question: What does all this mean? I presume most of us like to keep reminders of who we are and where we came from. In my case, reading my Dad’s old cards is bittersweet since he was not a good father and we went through an estranged period but reconciled before his death. Things strike a chord and return recollections to the forefront of our minds and if we aren’t ready or willing to re-visit those times, they continue to be neatly tucked aside. At that moment and only IF we are dressed in suitable armor do we allow the memories to stake a claim to our hearts.

The box merely serves as containment; a holding ‘in’ of the feelings; good, bad or indifferent that connect us to a past world, a former friend, an earlier time and place. Therefore, if you are lucky, may you be blessed with many boxes of memories that have molded and shaped your life. I know I feel blessed by my own.

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~