Read the labels and create your own title!

As I reach the 60k mark in Spiders, I have come to a strange realization: I don't want to have the whole thing finished by the 30th. I wanna take it a bit slower, try to complete it at the pace I usually go at. At this rate, I could finish it in early December. And you know what? That's fine with me. I'm really enjoying the story and characters, and I really want to spend a little more time with it.

You see, I think this may be the last time I "officially" participate in NaNoWriMo. After doing it a second time,  I realize that I hated having to cram in a bunch of words in one day. I wanted to write two to three thousand words that meant a little more than padding. Nothing wrong with the NaNo approach, it works for some people, but I've come to realize that it doesn't work for me. I like taking my time (well, not years and years, but you understand) and crafting something a little more than a zero draft. Then again, oh hai perfectionist self! (And also, it doesn't help there I already got the nicest prize from the whole shebang last year: the coupon for Scrivener.)

This is not a hatefest on NaNoWriMo, people have shown their asses doing that and it's honestly a ridiculous thing to get worried about. Man, it must be nice not having real problems! Y'all are just sad that people found a way to make writing fun and more than an art, but a fun craft! But then again, just read what John Scalzi has to say about all this, he said it better than I could. And also, Mary Robinette Kowal. They are wise beings.

I think my time with NaNoWriMo has come to an end. I had tons of fun and wish everyone who still partakes in it all the best and nothing but the best.

~

I finished Woolf's A Room of One's Own. I got a bone to pick with it. I understand women having their own writing space (i.e. time) and their own funds is important, but thanks for throwing the poor and uneducated under the bus! I mean, damn! When I was reading this book, I couldn't help but think of writers that were born in working-class families and writers who don't have college degrees and thought "wow, y'all... hate to break it to you, but by Woolf's standards, you ain't ever gonna be good writers". Of course, there was rarely any decent discourse about writers of color. And I won't even get into the whole concept of one sounding like a man or woman in their writing... uuugggh. That is all such utter bull***.

~

I'll wrap up Spiders in due time and get ready for the next big challenge: the grad school application!

Now there's something I'll keep trying every year until I succeed!

Two Things

Okay, here is the update on A Wilderness of Spiders:

61543 / 80000 words. 77% done!

~

I have become obsessed with this song:



P.S.: The Band are aaaammmaazzzing (Levon Helm is the man, may he rest in peace) and I'm convinced that Emmylou Harris is an angel on Earth.

~

Oh yeah, today's my birthday. Whee, twenty-six years of living... I mean, WHEE it's my birthday! Yeah, had some cake and homemade chicken wings. And writing. It was a good day.

~

This post was brought to you by "Screw the Nether" and my new favorite meme.

*meme does not belong to me*

Good Lord... owww

Okay, I reached the coveted 50k goal for my novel, but it ain't done yet...

50556 / 80000 words. 63% done!

In order to completely finish, I need to write about 4,300 words a day until the 30th. I could pull a large miracle on my free days and write more than that. Like today, for example.

If I succeed, I'm gonna give myself a nice reward. Like stuff from LUSH or something else... perhaps this book in glorious paperback? We shall see!

Black Friday

This one goes out to all my friends out in the retail world right now that are working their asses off to make a living (or some semblance of one) all in the name of consumerism, capitalism, and a holiday that lost all its meaning sometime in the 20th century.

Peeps, peace and love to you all. May you be safe and sound by the end. May your lunch breaks be delicious and full of funny co-workers. And when you clock out for the day, may you dance out of the building to your families and rest peacefully for the next round. This is only the beginning. We're all in this wacky mess together. Let's at least go out laughing at the fools.

Holy Mackerel!

I found a dang title for my NaNoWriMo novel! From Virginia Woolf (A Room of One's Own) of all people!

I shall rename it to the more awesome: A Wilderness of Spiders.

F***ing awesome.

/unprofessional blog post

Veteran's Day (For My Grandfather)

Yesterday and today, we honor those who served in the armed forces, who gave their time and lives to fight for our freedoms and big causes. One person I remember the most is my paternal grandfather.

He died when I was ten, after a brief but merciless battle with lung cancer at the young age of sixty-seven. He was in the Army and served during the Korean War, stationed at Fort Hood in his later days (my father was born there, in fact). As a kid, I remember going to his trailer home and seeing mementos of those times. There was a standard-sized portrait of him in his uniform in the bedroom. I also remembered that he still had his dog tags from those days. He also told my parents that he took pictures while he was over in Korea. He never did get to tell me about his days in the military, or show me those photos he took while he was over in Asia. When he died, all that went with him. His ex-wife took all of his things, including all the awards and pictures of his times in the Army, and we were left only with our memories (and a few trinkets). If things were more ideal, I would have that portrait and his dog tags and I would wear the tags on this day every year.

But at least I have wonderful memories of him. To my shock, my mother told me that of all the grandchildren, I was his favorite. I think it's because he saw a lot of himself and my father in me: a stubborn streak, pale skin freckled with moles, a kindhearted personality laced with grouchiness, and fierce independence and intelligence. He also showed me my first typewriter, an old Underwood desktop he took with him when he retired. It breaks my heart to say that we gave it away years ago and I deeply regret it (as does my father). Even when I left behind my teddy bear at a state park, my grandfather only said "well, we have to go back".

I like to think that he and Neil Armstrong (another Korea vet) are chatting it up in the higher planes, trying to remember if they ever ran into each other. They probably didn't, but at least they can share memories.

I miss you, Papa, and I wish on this day every year I can wear something that shows how proud of you I am. Either way, I am honored to be the granddaughter of an Army vet.

Before anyone thinks...

I'm some sort of "Obama-zombie" or whatever ridiculous name was created for those who voted for the current president... I'm fully aware that President Obama is not a perfect leader.

Yes, I'm very upset about Guantanamo Bay still being open.
Yes, I'm very upset about NDAA.
Yes, I'm very upset about the drone attacks.
Yes, his states-rights view on gay marriage were infuriating. (Thankfully, he may be changing his mind on this,  hope he does that for everything else listed).
Yes, I'm very upset about how the war on drugs and the war on the Internet has gotten even more ridiculous and sad.
Yes, the defunding of NASA was very disappointing.
Yes, I'm very upset he re-instated the Patriot Act and kept the Bush-era tax cuts.

I'm sure I'm missing some things, many apologies. The point is that even when one votes for a certain candidate, sometimes it's not always 100% "yeah, this person is totes awesome and I back EVERY SINGLE THING they do!"

But then, I have a feeling that my gentle readers are aware. This was more for those who aren't.

Thank you for your time.

I'm gonna weep...

I'm so proud of the USA right now. Re-electing Obama, several states legalizing gay marriage and marijuana, not voting in two pro-rape Senators...

We done good, y'all. Great job!

Here is to a prosperous and fortunate four more years for all of us!

Congrats, President Obama!

Whoa, never mind...

Okay, I ain't going to write 3k a day for my NaNoWriMo. That's going to be too effing much. Change of plans. 2k a day for that, 2k for my other novel project, and then 1k for a short story idea I had.

Whoa. Ouch.

NaNoWriMo 2012: Houston, We Have Cowbell!

Okay, I hit the ground running today, getting to 3,000 words. That's going to be the daily goal; along with finishing the grad school application and finishing my current novel project. So yeah, a f***-ton of writing. To be honest, every time I write 2,000 words a day, I feel I don't do enough. But that's the thing: that's a lot of words... for ONE project. I need to have several going. Plus, I could prevent burnout by switching mindsets for different ideas.

But I have to be careful. I don't want to hurt myself with this. But here is my solemn promise: if things get nasty during the month, I'll drop NaNoWriMo and work on what's important at the moment: the application. We'll have to see as the month goes on...

Happy writing!