The New Floodgates of the Mind

Yay!! 🙂

You know, I have to admit that it’s nice having a cheering section at work who always greets me with my latest NaNo word count whenever I get in in the mornings 🙂

i’m very happy it’s the weekend. i’m looking forward to the rest and writing periods!! 🙂

By the way, Sara, Sarah McLachlan’s latest CD is on sale at Future Shop for $9.99 this week starting today! I haven’t gotten my copy yet, but I think I may take a walk at lunch time to pick it up 🙂

And on that note, I must depart! More later!

Yup, it was a good day today if somewhat a little long.

I got my flu shot this morning and my arm is still sore.

I went out with two guys from my team for a yummy lunch at Chez Cora’s. Mmmm.

Got a raise! yay! What it translates into, though. [shrug]

Got comics! Yay!! 🙂

And tonight, although it’s only a little after 9pm, I’ve passed the 24k point for NaNo. I know I can easly write up another 1000 words but decided that instead, I’m going to take a break. Yup, reward myself with some relaxing time in a nice hot bath, followed by lounging around with Chantale and then reading some comics 🙂

Based on my current output, I don’t see a reason for me not to break the 30k barrier by Sunday. And I’m actually going to the downtown NaNo meetup this Sunday! I’ll finally meet my writing nemesis face to face which should be a lot of fun 🙂

A demain!! 🙂

Don’t stop believing.

It’s the song that’s currently playing on my CD and it’s actually speaking to me.

I broke the 20k barrier tonight. 5 days into the NaNo challenge and I broke 20 THOUSAND words. Can you believe it? My actual count is now 20,743 words. I’m at a complete loss for words (to speak – not to write) and found myself an almost emotional basket case.

I may be writing a lot, but this is still quite significant to me. As I mentioned at the West Island Meetup earlier tonight, I have written plenty of stories before, but, due to necessity and requirements, they’ve always been short stories. A part of me wondered if I would ever or COULD ever write anything longer. This is just more “proof in the pudding” for me.

Forgive my swearing, but I’m just so Fucken Glad that I decided to do this. And I’m so Fucken Happy that Chantale gave me her blessing to spend whatever time I needed to do this. It is the most important “psychiatric” soul-cleansing I’ve ever done and it comes at the most opportune moment in my life considering all the massive life changes that have gone on this year: New Job Role, New House, New Wife, New Car, and my First Novel.

Close your eyes. Breathe. Drink it in. I’m floating beyond Cloud Nine. Thank you, my love. You’re my inspiration. You always have been, and you always will be…

It was a little slow-going tonight. I got caught in that pretty bad ice storm on the way home which meant I got to walk home fighting the cold, the wind, and the ice rain pelting me and my little umbrella. 35 minutes walk home from the train, in almost pitch black, with cars spraying me and causing my legs to freeze, made me wonder how I would even make it home.

I did, of course, suffering, wet, cold, and in pain. I stripped as soon as I walked into the door and went to run a warm bath to try to make the cold go away. It did, but even now 3 hours later, my knees still hurt from the cold of the wind and rain and wet pants. I’m making sure I’m taking plenty of vitamin C as I’m in no mood to get sick! Heck, my flu shot isn’t until Thursday morning! 🙂

My wrists are also aching tonight. It started late last night so I had to find my wrist wraps to ensure I don’t carpal tunnel myself out of NaNo!! I managed to get in another 2700 words which brought me up to 17,552. It’s the least amount of writing I’ve done so far, but I don’t mind. I need a little break. 🙂

There ya go. Came in to work with a bit of snow falling, and it is now falling much harder. Thick flakes which cause me to start singing christmas songs, much to the chagrin of many around me (although the other half actually join in, so i’m not as insane as it looks 🙂 )

Tired again today. Think I’ll be tired for a long time to come. 🙂 But I will say one little thing about NaNo. Ever since I started this challenge, I have slept through the night. Normally, I found myself waking up every couple of hours for some reason or other. Within NaNo, I go to bed and once I pass out, I do so until the alarm goes off in the morning 🙂

And now, to continue getting through the day…. but first, I need a coffee! 🙂

I was about to run a poll to see if those reading are tired of my posts on NaNoWriMo. Then I realized that besides the fact that many of you are in the same challenge, this journal is about what’s on my mind and obviously, the challenge is. I also figured that if you’re reading me then you’re at least a little interested in what’s going on in my life and brain and thus don’t mind my NaNo posts. And if you do mind… move along.

Now, in regards to the actual challenge, I have this to say: I, for one, am doing this mainly for myself.

I am a writer and have been for years, all the while holding down a regular day-job which takes up a hell of a lot of my time and energy. However, I’ve never attempted to challenge myself in this manner before and am taking NaNo in order to do that and push myself beyond anything I’ve ever accomplished before.

Happily, no one in my family is suffering and neither is my day job. I may be a little more sleep-deprived than usual, but even that is for a good cause. What I’ve written so far is not crap even if it is probably a lot of run-on. Heck, it’s all part and parcel of the going through the motions of this project. It’s not a race, it’s something I have to do.

I don’t care when I finish, but finish it I will. I’m determined to do so. And seeing other people’s word counts only inspires me to keep trudging along. In fact, after a weekend of being in the top, I’m happy to be in second place for Montreal (I’m at 14,840 words and the person in first is at 16,261 words). Less pressure to perform 🙂 It is kind of cool, I must admit, to be in 103rd place out of 24,400 participants…

And now, off to bed with me.

Well, I now have another reason to finish my NaNo challenge before the actual deadline: I’m going to need that weekend to study/ cram for my LOMA 301 exam!! 🙂 I finally set my exam date as December 3rd at 9am and could really use the previous weekend to study up (especially all the sections on re-insurance).

Ah well. No problem. As long as my ideas keep flying out of my brain through my fingertips as they’ve been doing the last couple of days… 🙂

I’m anxious to get back home and write!! It’s quite difficult to be at work when all you want to do is work on the novel. Especially extra-difficult is when you end up working through your lunch hour!!! That’s ok, though. It’s almost quitting time and then I’ll attempt to actually write on the train home. We’ll see how do-able that is. Either way, besides the time I”ll have tonight, Chantale’s got another late-night meeting tomorrow so I’ll go find myself a place to sit somewhere and type away until she’s done. That alone can give me about 4 extra hours…

it was another great weekend with the kids. Lots of fun, laughter, and love. And in the midst of it all, Mikey had a blast working on NaNoWriMo.

Tonight, I’m wiped. I was exhausted about 2 hours ago but absolutely wanted to write. I wanted to break the 10k barrier especially considering a number of participants had already done so. Thus, I sat my butt down in my chair, lit a candle, and concentrated on writing. Considering the fair amount of wine I had imbibed with Chantale tonight (yes, we were celebrating again 🙂 ) it was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.

But, the thoughts came, the keys clicked, and only when I got to the point where I was falling asleep at the keyboard did I decide to call it a night. 11,057 words.

Well, it has been a little slower going today. I managed to get in over 1700 words in my last sitting which brings me up to just a little over the 9k point. I’m sure I’ll be able to put in another 2k or so before the end of the day.

I’m sometimes plagued by doubts that I’ll have enough ideas to finish off the 50k, but I’m working hard on sticking to it. Chantale’s encouragement has really made a difference, I must admit. And keeping an eye on the rankings has also given me a kick in the ouchies every now and again 🙂

My own personal nemesis seems to be a general desire/ drive to succeed and finish, while at the same time be true to my self and motivation and get the best out of this experience as possible.

Of course, the idea of getting to the 50k before the end of the month and thus spending the rest of the month cheering everyone else on does hold something of an appeal for me… 🙂

I think I did plenty today. I’m at 7346 words for NaNo and am now just wiped. Tomorrow is All Saints Day and we’re obviously going to church to hear the bells rung for our dearly departed. And in order for me to get up, I need some sleep.

Before I do, I wanted to share some thoughts on the NaNo challenge.

Obviously I know word count will differ from day to day. But, what I’ve been wanting to learn about from this challenge (more than actually finishing it!) is what I can do in terms of maximum output. The fact that I can get in, on average, about 2000 words per hour, is bloody encouraging. That, more than anything, will allow me to better pace myself because I’ll understand my limitations better. Especially as applied to living my hell-of-a-lot-longer than 9 to 5 job 🙂

Take this weekend for example. My kids have not suffered in terms of missing my presence, and nor has my wife. I’ve been with them the entire day in all the ways that matter. In fact, I’ve been able to get through my writing even while doing all the dad-things like laundry, dishes, meals, walks outside, and errands!

Regardless of if I get to the finish line of this insane race, I have learned something huge about myself. I can do things like this without my regular life being affected. Perhaps now I’ll be a lot more willing and determined to accept those freelance writing jobs I’ve been holding back on in the last few years…