New Year's Pondering...

I haven’t made a New Year’s Resolution in some time.  It’s not something I think about all year long, so it’s not really something I ponder at the end of every year.  Instead I usually reflect on what I did and what I hope to accomplish in the future.  Whether it be in the near future or some distant future. 

I’ve gained some new friends over the year and lost some old ones.  I started the year in school and ended it in a period of rest.  I lost a job I liked for one I enjoy more. 

I got to meet some fabulous authors at signing events and even had some memorable conversations with several of them.  I’ve also learned a lot from the seasoned writers. 

One of the most important things I’ve grown into is my writing.  I’ve always loved to create though I didn’t realize the extent of it until I dived into the writing world.  I’ve still got a lot to learn about it, but the act of writing is more soothing than I have ever imagined it could be. 

I’ve done a lot of reading this past year as well.  Not enough to meet the reading goal I set for myself but enough that I can say I’ve definitely learned from it.  I’m definitely going to try harder to meet a reasonable reading goal for myself. What number do you think is reasonable? In 2011 I read 80 books and in 2012 only 64. The average is 72.  Maybe I’ll make that my goal. ^_^ 

I want to write more too.  I don’t think I spend enough time every day writing to consider myself growing from the experience.  I want to grow and learn everything I can.  With a finished manuscript in the final phases before publishing and a second manuscript in process I think it’s important to continue to learn and grow into my writing as much as possible. 

Of course I plan on going to more signings and perhaps a book convention or two.  Of course I want to go to more anime conventions as well.  I’m looking forward to all the fun to be had. 

What are your plans for the future?  Anything fun? ^_^

Injured

So I fell on black ice today. NOT a pleasant feeling at all. No sir, not one bit. 

Bruised my knee up and banged my wrist around.  I went down to the urgent care and waited. . . and waited. . . 

Anyway. After being tortured but the doctor than again by the xray technician, the verdict is: my wrist, thankfully, it NOT broken.  It’s just badly bruised. 

Now I’m walking around in a brace that makes me look like I have a severe case of carpal tunnel. I suppose that’s better than a broken wrist. 

So far I have fallen in some way every year for the last three years.  Winter in the North bites. I think it’s time to move south. >_<  

Yup, not happening.

It’s going to torture me.  I’m going to go through the holidays with the voices screaming at me, and there’s really nothing I can do about it.  What am I ranting about now you ask?

I’m still trying to write. The key word in that sentence it trying.  I think the basis of this problem is my desk is not in a proper office but in a public room.  Thereof every time I sit down to write someone is talking, or watching movies, or on the phone. 

I’ve resorted to plugging in headphones.  Currently it’s Staind rocking in my ear.  I’ve set up this really cool station on Jango to play all my favor rock artists and then some.  It’s wonderful for curbing distractions.  Except when someone makes sudden moves in the corner of my eye. 

I shouldn’t complain.  I have written 2k words today.  And that’s with working eight hours at the day job.  So I’ve only been writing for two hours or so.  I guess that’s a good amount for two hours. 

I have twelve outlines sitting on my desk waiting to be written.  >_< It’s not like I have a lack of work.  If anything I have a back log of work and I should get kicking. . . but since it is Christmas Eve I think I’ll take a break.  I think that’s what my environment is trying to tell me anyway.  I need a break. 

So, I’ll try.  The last time I tried to take a break from writing I nearly DIED of boredom.  But I stuck it out.  Barely.  I’ll try it again. ^_^ We’ll see how long it lasts this time. 

To write or not to Write...

So, I’m procrastinating. It’s not that I don’t have anything to write or that I’m in a writer’s block because that’s not the case at all either.  I can’t put my foot on it, maybe it’s holiday exhaustion.  Whatever it is it’s interfering with my word count.

In lieu of writing since that apparently isn’t going to happen tonight I’ve written more outlines.  I am one of those writers that can’t write a single word until I have an outline.  It doesn’t even have to be a detailed outline.  A chapter title and a sentence about what I think is going to happen there is enough.  As long as I have an idea of where I’m supposed to be going I’m fine. 

Does it always work out that way?  Not at all.  You should see some of my outlines.  They’ve got things crossed out and sections rearranged and look a hot mess really.  But it is just a guide.  It’s not set in concrete. 

I have a few writer friends that panic when they fall off of the outline.  I find those are the best of times.  Yes, it may not be useful to the story or it may not be the original idea, but it provides me with an insight I didn’t have before writing it.  I don’t actually write my stories anyway, my characters do.  I am just the stenographer so to speak. ^_^

I think I’m going to step away for a few moments, grab some hot chocolate and then come back. I’ll hit my word count yet.  See you around.  Be safe. 

Okay, I'm Done.

I can't figure out the code I need to change the post title font to something prettier and I'm tired of looking at the code. Any takers? >_<

Otherwise I'm pleased with the look. I'll probably fiddle with the page links later. Right now I have gifts to wrap. ^_^