Skip to main content

Having an Unhappy, Unproductive New Year

Jan 12, 2018

Twelve days into the New Year and I’ve only written 300 words.

I succeeded in writing 50,000 words in one month for NaNoWriMo Nov 2017, and challenged myself to write 50,000 words a month, every month, in 2018.

I am not off to a glorious start.

I need to write 2,485 words a day to complete 50,000 words in January.

I’ll never make it. I just know it.

Of course, if I have a few of those 4,000 word days, like I had during NaNo, I just might make it.

I blame my lack of accomplishment on the flu. I contracted the demon disease a few days after Christmas, and I am not fully recovered yet. During my convalescence I haven’t felt like doing much more than sleep, eat, and watch TV.

I actually started to binge watch The Good Doctor. I’ve heard great reviews on the show, but hadn’t seen it yet. So, I watched the pilot, got all excited about catching up on the series, and realized they skip from S1E1 to S1E7 on Hulu. Argh!

Did binge watch Star Trek: Enterprise on Netflix. Just looking at Scott Bakula made me feel better.

You can learn a lot about writing, and pacing, from a TV show.

TV writers must tell a complete story, with a strong beginning, middle, and end, in only 45 pages. Each page of script usually equals one minute of screen time. Gotta leave room for commercials.

I’m experimenting with writing first drafts in script format. Get the dialogue down first, and then add all the descriptive narrative prose as an afterthought. Wonder if it will speed up my process?

Hey, it’s worth a try.

Maybe I’ll get a little work done tomorrow. We will resume our weekly Rose Rock wRiters’ Brunch meetings. We haven’t met since last year due to the holidays, illness, and Miss Dion’s recent surgery.

We will not be hanging out at the library tomorrow. We’re going to the Gray Owl, on Gray Street. We’ll be there a little after 10 AM until one of us gives out.
Come. Join.

vck



       Next Norman Galaxy of Writers meeting
January 13, 2018
10 a.m. til Noon
University Lutheran Church at 914 Elm.



Writer’s Digest 
Short, Short Story Competition 
Deadline
Jan 15, 2018



      I will be speaking 
January 20, 2018
at OKC Writer’s Meeting,
from 10:00 a.m. to Noon, 
St. Luke’s Methodist Church,
Room 130,
222 N. W. 15th  Street



       OWFI Writer's Contest Deadline
Feb 1, 2018.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

So Proud of My Son

           On September 30, 2022, my son, Ian Kennedy, opened his business, Naughty Axes Playhouse , at 4407 SE 29 th Street, in Del City, Ok. I'm so proud of him. The place looks great. Especially when it was all decked out for Halloween. He and his partners built all the targets, lanes, and remolded the interior of the building themselves. They did a great job. I didn't even realize my son knew how to use a hammer for anything other than demolition. I had such a great time during their Grand Opening. Throwing sharp objects at stationary targets is really a fantastic way to relieve stress. It's great exercise. Especially for tightening up those flabby underarms. I am bound and determined to become efficient enough to enter a tournament. Wonder if they have a Senior's division in pro axe throwing competitions? Not only is he starting his own axe throwing business, he's also starting his career as a comedian. He's already performed at the Bricktown C

M.I.A.

  I've been missing in action for the last two weeks. Not actually missing. Just not productive. Haven't written a word in two weeks. Haven't updated the website, or blog. Haven't really done much around the house. I did clean the coat closet in the front hall yesterday. Tossed 25 years of junk. I have a hard time letting go of things. The older something is, the tighter I hold onto it. I've still got emails from 2009 in my inbox. Well, most of those are in folders not actually cluttering up my inbox. Most of them could be trashed.   Along with a huge collection of half written—never will be finished—stories on my computer, in notebooks scattered all around my house, and rambling around inside my head. I can't seem to let go of old stories, or old story ideas. I may find a home for them somewhere. Someday. The problem is, I'm lousy at keeping track of where and when I've released them into the wild. I can't enter any of my old s

Decaffeinated Canine

  It's 103 degrees outside, and I'm searching the net for a cup warmer. Time to switch from coffee to tea for the rest of the day. August is approaching astronomically fast. Time flies whether you're having fun or not. I have definitely been having fun during my Birthday Month. My favorite, fantastic friends have treated me to lunches, diners, movies, and all kinds of gatherings. There's been Tiramisu, Bread Pudding, Ice Cream, and lots and lots of prezzies. His Majesty, King Midas, is being a lazy, lazy dog, watching me write between his naps. He hasn't been eating well for about a week. I'd like to blame the heat, but he naps in front of the AC six hours a day.  Ian is taking him to the puppy doctor tomorrow.