Welcome, friends old and new, to my blog. This is the place where I can share my scribblings and thoughts on loving life. I hope you enjoy them, make suggestions and come back to read more.
I am posting this because I don't want to write today. I am writing this instead of the difficult scene I have been dreading ever since I knew it must be written. I am writing this because it is a distraction from the terrible words I must write in order for my story to be complete, as it should be.
Today I have to kill a character. And it will break my heart.
I know I shouldn't be so attached to imaginary people who only exist inside my head, but it's difficult, when I've heard their voices, watched their movements, known their loves and fears and hopes and dreams to end it all with a few taps on a keyboard.
Another NaNoWriMo post tonight, for which I refuse to apologise.
In case you hadn't noticed (I may have omitted to mention it- ha!) I am participating in National Novel Writing Month, the aim of which is to give procrastinating writers a swift kick up the bum and bully said bum onto a chair in front of a keyboard. Or notepad. Or stone tablet. Whatever tickles your fancy. And then encourage them to write. I say encourage, but cajole, threaten and bribe might be more accurate. Honestly, they're very nice about it though.
The target is a measly 50,000 words in 30 days, or a mere 1,667 words per day average. No problem. Except when I have a late meeting. Or a friend to meet down the pub. Or a Supernatural box set to watch. All three of these spanners have lodged themselves in my works this week. Nevertheless, I have battled on, as my word count (top right) will testify.
I am typing this with one finger, very slowly. The reason? NaNoWriMo has broken me.
From a flying start on Friday night (if you don't count the dashed-out prologue to break the ice on Friday morning) to a solid effort on Saturday, punctuated with 500-word sprints in between cups of tea and housework and schoolwork, to a still-enthusiastic if slightly ridiculous Sunday morning effort, I'm shattered.
My vision is slightly blurry and I keep bumping into things, my neck hurts and my bottom is completely sofa-shaped. The boys are feeling neglected already (although they have had more frequent short walkies than usual) and I have a ringing in my head from too much caffeine. I'm a mess.
Today I begin the epic quest to write and finish a novel in 30 days.
This will not be without difficulties, and so I have drawn up a list of rules that I must follow in order to be successful (and clean, with a job) over the next month. If I can stick to these, all will be well.
Here they are:
1. Thou shalt not let the day job suffer- this is thy quest, not thy employer's.
2. Thou shalt write at least 1,667 words on a week day, and aim for 2,000.
3. Thou shalt not lie in on weekends, but shall rise with the dawn to write 2,500 words on those days.
4. Thou shalt not neglect thy terriers, for lo they will perform dirty protests if regular walkies are not adhered too.
5. Thou shalt not eat Haribo by the bucket, as thy is wont to do when sitting at a computer for lengthy periods of time.
6. Thou shalt not idle thy time waiting for more Candy Crush lives, but shall banish the iPad from thy sight until the daily word count is reached.
7. Thou shall make use of quiet moments to reflect on thy novel, and scribe every idea on post-its for future reference.
8. Thou shall shower every day and eat too, for a smelly and hungry writer is no joy to the world.
9. Thou shalt not go home to commence work on thy novel until planning is completed and books have been marked.
10. Thou shall phone thy parents at least twice a week, or face the wrath and woe of anxious fretting that thy have been eaten by terriers.
Keep an eye on my counter (the blue one, top right) and feel free to berate me if you think I'm not writing fast enough!
But you may not know that I've encountered a few ghosts myself, and seeing really is believing.
The event I'm about to recount is true and, apart from minor vagueness caused by the passing of time, factual. It may not be the most terrifying tale you've ever read, but I'm betting it will be on your mind the next time you're driving at night on a badly-lit road.
Happy Halloween! Have you had any trick or treaters yet? I'm busy with Parents Evening tonight, so will have a few tricks and treats of my own to dish out... mwa-hahaha!
A bit of a fun one today, to make a change from all the spooky goings-on you're bound to experience tonight.
I don't know if any of you watch Ellen, but this is worth five minutes of your time even if you don't. One of the show's writers is a real scaredy-cat, and every year they send her through a Haunted House where she screams and freaks out in a way that would be comical if it weren't so genuine. This poor girl is really scared, but manages to have a giggle about it too. A true heroine! Or just a glutton for punishment?
This year, she was joined by Andy, who also works on the show, and Amy looks tough compared to him! I especially like, "Stop it! Stop it now!" and "Are you #*$@ing kidding me?" as he hides behind Amy and occasionally uses her for cover! This is the funniest video I have seen in a long time, but then, I do have a Strange sense of humour.
I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) starting on November 1st, and I've got a shiny blue counter on my homepage. I've got a cupboard full of teabags. I've got post it notes all over my dining room table. I've even got a lush pink folder to keep everything together.
I've also got an idea to keep me motivated.
How about if, instead of cheering me on as the numbers on my counter go up, you could read the words I wrote that day? Sort of a serial... but where you get to comment and make suggestions. I've pretty much got the outline nailed down, but who knows where the story might take me?
Would anyone read it? Would anyone feel compelled to comment in cheer-leader-style or demand a plot twist that takes everyone by surprise?
Let me know.
Until then, I'll keep scribbling ideas on post its, receipts and stationary children...
xxx
There are a lot of videos on the web about pranks to play at Halloween, some better than others. This video made me laugh so hard and gave me lots of inspiration! I can't wait to try these...
Adrenalin pumping? Remember: Late: a ghostly tale is free to download this week. Scare yourself silly- it's on me!
I didn't write this, but I wish I had! Click here for my source and to read some other funny urban legends.
A COUPLE were invited to a swanky masked Halloween Party. She got a terrible headache and told her husband to go to the party alone. He, being a devoted husband, protested, but she argued and said she was going to take some aspirin and go to bed and there was no need of his good time being spoiled by not going. So he took his costume and away he went.
As you know, I adore a good scare, and ghost stories are my particular favourite. However, real-life is often way more frightening than fiction, and so here are five real-life terrors that make me shiver, sweat and scream.
1. Spiders
I've always been terrified of these nasty little beasties, and it took a tremendous amount of courage to even google a picture of one.
'shudders'
I've trained myself to delay a panic attack long enough to catch the smaller ones and get rid of them, but I just can't handle anything with a leg-span larger than 5cm. A short while ago, I
