Carolyn

Not much going on here - yes, am doing Nano but dang it, despite the fact I am currently not working, time seems to skitter away from me - spent the weekend helping my friend Cid move to her new place, and most of the rest of my free time was spent reading a school reading assignment, The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon.

This book has intrigued me for an unexpected reason - I finished reading part II this evening, but what has absolutely fascinated me, and caught my imagination, is how I can readily apply the dynamics of a revolution (colonized v. colonizer) to my current fantasy wip (the one that I haven't started yet, so probably isn't a wip quite yet). I have long planned to write Jax's world as an occupied one, but until this book (and this class, which focuses on culture and empire), I didn't have the meat so to speak that I needed to detail a believable scenario. I have it now. While reading part II especially, I found myself fictionalizing it in my mind, which of my characters would be doing what (and why, the all important WHY). I could see what roles my Oppressors should play (and WHY), and have found myself totally caught up in the possibilities for writing I am gleaning from this required reading.

Good times.

Been emailing my classmate Ethan all evening about it - study-group-via-email? - oh yeah, why not? He was going to drop out of this class, despite having a solid B and making an A on the midterm, as he was letting it get to him, how difficult it is (demanding more than difficult, really - the professor IS rather awesome), but I was so happy that he decided to stay in. There isn't much time left after all!

I've signed up for my next class, another special-topics history class. Should be a good one - European history, race, religion and politics, yo.

After that, I only have Algebra, a communications class, and to test out of the computer and English Comp II classes. Need to get my hands on a study guide of some sort for the computer competency test. Not sure when I will take those.

If I could just knock out the communications class this summer, I could conceivably graduate in December! *thunk*

And after that? My heart and brain and love of history tell me to keep going, dammit - Masters in History, oh yeah, at UTA. Double oh yeah. I have a weird vision of just going and going and going with this...I think it started when I read my professor's dissertation and I thought "oh good grief, I could do this." Um. Yeah. LOL!!! And how awesome it would be too. So we'll see...the future has lots of possibilities.

Son went to Austin tonight with friends to see Slayer. You bet I am freaked out and worried to death but trying to be chill and calm and all that. Oh man... *bites nails*

Daughter is at work, and is sad she can't afford to take any additional classes in the spring, even one. I am sad too, as I sincerely hate that I can't help her any. While I am very grateful to be on unemployment, I am horrificly distressed about it, too. If there was only something I could do at home that would bring in a guaranteed 2k a month... LOL. Yeah. I know.

Every day except today I've made myself get out of the house, go to Starbucks, and be around people. That has helped but I hate this feeling of "I am not worthy of enjoying this time off because I should not be unemployed." Okay enough of that. Those of you who have been there, know this all too well.

What else? Not much else. I hope to finish up this homework reading tomorrow morning so I can write my discussion questions and finally get back to work on writing. The rewrite is going slow, but I love all two scenes I've finished...

As for my book that is out there, I have no idea how it is doing. I don't want to know, as I did see some comments that make me groan (comparisons to the first book are many, and complaints the 2nd is not like the first - no, it isn't, because no book will ever be like that first book - I am no longer that person, THANK THE STARS).

And that is all for now. Hope all of you guys are doing well.

Take that, Nanostats, and your 'at this rate you will finish Dec. 5'!

I HAVE CROSSED 50k!!!!

That is all.

Today is Day 24 of Nano. My stats are as such:

Nano words: 36,043
Total wordcount: 71,657
Nano thinks I won't hit 50k until December 3rd. Hmph! Not true!
Plotpoints yet to write: 12
Estimated final wordcount: 90kish, a little higher than I had thought, but still under 100k, which is good for me considering last two novels were over 250k... :)

This is the first year of ALL the many years I've stabbed at Nano that I will actually get 50k. I am pretty floored about this. There's alot of differences w/me this go round that I think have made a difference: I have a project that I love, I have alot of reasons to get this thing done NOW, I have a local support group that is always asking 'how you doing?' (and incidentally? all of them have already reached 50k and beyond. Woot!). I have also had minimal hand/arm pain. That stopped me cold last year. But not this year. I do not know why but I am not questioning it.

Am at work today but not really working hard. There are four of us here today, as was yesterday and Monday. Not much else to say about this place.

Thanksgiving for us will be quick and easy. Spinach quiche, orange juice, croissants, jelly, bacon. 10-11:30, then MIL is out of there for other festivities with her friends, the daughter is off to work, the son has been invited to go eat dinner at a couple of different places so he is headed out. And I will stay at home with my pupsters, writing. Thanksgiving isn't a big affair in our house obviously.

Tonight though? HARRY POTTER! With mah kids! Plus two! Plus probably a couple more! Whenever I go see a movie 'with my kids' it usually means about six kids. No, not complaining. Much. LOL. Tiff was bad and saw it on Monday--she tried to sneak-watch it and wasn't going to tell but guess what? I woke up, realized she wasn't home (yes she is 21, but she always touches base with me, we just do that), so I texted her. CAUGHT! She had just got out of the theatre, bad girl. LOL. Oh well.

Busy days--Nick and Tiff both are in the throes of job hunting, so I am getting hit from both sides. Grin. I continue with my SPN rewatch, and am going to start watching Buffy as I have never seen it. It never appealed to me back then, but maybe now?

Not much else. I am so happy with how things are going writerly-wise, that that is really my main focus in life right now. Then once this is done, I'm diving straight into Yuletide. I really really like the fandom I have chosen from my recipient's list; I will be writing something I never have before, and that will be fun.

After that? I am challenging myself to a three-months, start-to-finish manuscript writing marathon. I want to get the next one to Loose-Id as quickly as I can. This one will have alot of fun built-in, and I can't wait to work on it. WHEE!

I guess I should get to work?

Nick just did a post in his lj about himself, which has inspired me not to do the same but just to plunk down what's been going on in my world as I rarely post things of substance.

NANO:
I made such great progress last week, almost 9k words (for me in a week that is fantastic), which brings my total for ballet boy to just under 59k. I *should* be able to turn it in first part of December. ZOMG YES! Yes, I am behind on the word count for Nano, but I'm not entirely doing it correctly anyway, completing an already-started manuscript as I am. Whatever. I'll get my 50k in by the end, and am happy about that, it'll just involve ending one ms and starting the next one which ultimately will end up with Loose-Id too, I hope. I am planning on it anyway.

2011 ORIG FICTION PLANS:
For other original fiction geared toward the fantasy market, I've settled on that too, and have been covertly working on it behind-the-scenes...primarily the planning stages. Right now, my #1 priority is finishing this ms, and the end is finally in sight, I'm making exciting progress and am extraordarily excited about that.

MAH LOCAL PEEPS OF AWESOME:
I have to say, a huge reason I am so much happier writing these days is, hands down, because of my friends here where I live. I've got a fantastic writing group now--Cid, Linda, Alice and Suz--they keep me sane and going ever-forward. It is awesome to have people around here who are fun and inspiring and enthusiastic and want me to adopt them. LOL! We have fun, and I'm learning so much from them too. Never thought I'd find peoples like that here. I'd given up. There are other good kids too, though these four are my core peeps.

I am much happier these days, I think, with writing and the writing world back as my priority in life again. Nick's writing again like a maniac too, and a couple who writes together... LOL! Seriously. I love love LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE him. And his writing. Oh yeah.

MERLIN:
So! Nick's also dragged me into the Merlin fandom, though as with Torchwood, I'm just hanging onto his coattails, on the edge. I like the edge. I've always preferred it there, under the radar. Merlin, Merlin...the fandom is so very very different from Torchwood. Lots of good people, but as with any fandom, there are Issues. Mostly, I just ignore them, watch the show and enjoy each episode as it comes without any expectations other than having fun, and read some of the fic. There are some good writers in the fandom, without doubt, and I love that there's alot of RPS as I enjoy Bradley James and Colin Morgan and their dynamics. The guys are great friends, are so different yet get along and are fun to watch.

TORCHWOOD:
I have to admit, except for Mander's TW 4.0, which is incredible and why aren't you reading it? GO HERE NOW: http://amand-r.livejournal.com/493428.html) I am not reading much TW. Those who know me know I love the show, am excited about the new Torchwood, that yes, while RTD is a prat in many ways, there is a hell of a lot I admire about what he's accomplished (especially after reading A Writer's Tale). So, I stay away from all discussion, wank and growls for a reason, as everyone does have the right to an opinion and I just prefer not to get involved with the hashing of opinions. For me though, it will be intriguing and hopefully fun to see how the fandom takes shape after, or should I say After. It'll be like Old Who/New Who! Old TW/New TW!

Other things...

PROGRESS ON STRETCH AND DANG THAT SCANNED NICELY:
I love Teresa Wentzler patterns. It is going slooowwww though because it is lots of thread-changes, each which involves pairing two different colors, there are tons of half-stitches, and it is maddening at times and oh the back is messy. But I love the progress! Returning to cross-stitch has helped me in so many ways. I think, no, I know, that side of my brain was STARVING. It is much happier now.

SUPERNATURAL:
I am about to watch episode 5.16. I am slowing down though, not wanting the ride to end just yet. Dean, oh Dean, you have infiltrated my dreams, and my fic! Yes, my character Lee has, without doubt, come to life for me because of Dean Winchester. I could never truly fall for Lee like I had Gev, and the solution came to me in the form of this glorious man:



I mean, c'mon, look at that. GORGEOUS and that is not even a picture with his eyes of awesome focusing on you. LOL. And yes, I know, I know...I succumbed right along with Nick, which makes blue_fjords happy. And yes that picture came from her. And actually? I think I can count on one hand the times I've posted a fan pic. Whatever. I'm glad to be watching this series, as I've enjoyed the fire out of it, and it has made my work go by so much faster. Yeah, I can watch shows at work. I know, right? Crazy.

What I 'can't' do, and shouldn't, is play on livejournal...

Um.

This is getting long. See? I don't write a post for ages, then blurt everything out at once. Sorry. This is why no one reads my long posts!

It is raining, pouring, and I am cozy on the bed with my dogs on the floor, watching Supernatural. Nick's been watching it and there's nothing more frustrating than when your partner wants to talk to you about Things, and you aren't able to! So I am watching it and enjoying it lots.

Started cross-stitching this week after a many-years absence from doing anything crafty. I started a Teresa Wentzler pattern and it is a PAIN what with the half-stitches and combining threads. Not stopping work on it, but my fingers itched to get started on the Welsh dragon. So today I bought 25 cream evenweave, and the thread. Such pretty colors!



I realized though I'd gone and left my pattern at Michaels. Stupid. But! got the bright idea to use my baby laptop. Even better!



Feeling a nap coming on, I think. Got to get my 1000 in, and tonight I must work on my plot for next m/m story. Speaking of that, it intrigues me how BIG the m/m group is on the nano site. I swear not just a year or two ago, they were non-existent. Hmmm.

Thunder rolls!!! I love that!!! Makes me sleepy though. LOL. Maybe a tiny nap?

I am Tatteredleaf on Nano. I've added a few of you lot, but would happily add more. Now that I have two ML's behind me, snapping their whips--and both are scarily prolific--I am optimistic that this Nano will be a wild one. LOL. And successful.

For me, that means 25k. If my hands agree to let me go further than that, then we will do so.

I'm definitely more ready for this one than any other one I've semi-attempted. More later on that.

More importantly--thank you everyone for all your comments and emails regarding my situation at work. A huge, terrible disappointment, that's for sure. My now-former-boss is doing fine, has some good leads, and hopefully all will be even better for him. I hope so, he deserves it.

That leaves me, and my extreme disappointment with this company. I can't stay there anymore. I will for awhile, as I can't just run off and quit--I have too many responsibilities for that--but I can start thinking seriously about my game plan. Lots to think about, but now that my last hold on this city is gone, there is a strange sense of freedom that I like. I don't have to stay here, not really, unless I want to. Right now I do, and I can deal with the situation at work without getting hurt, I am pretty sure. But I will also get my resume ready, put some feelers out to the Railroad to people I know there, and if something comes of that, will go for it. I hate to give up the railroad life after so many years, but maybe I am meant to. Who knows?

But thank you all, your thoughts, growls, encouragements...man, you all are awesome. I am crushed and sad. Sigh.

ANYWAY! Onward now, Nano looms, there are other books to finish and finish rewriting, and a special project I'll be a part of later. Much, much good to come.