NaNoWriMo Preparations

Yes, it’s that time of year again, when writers everywhere, both professional and wannabies, gather around their computers and word processors for that insanity of fun that is known as National Novel Writing Month!

Yes, that’s right. I’m one of those crazies that love to participate in this every year. It’s always a good time, and each time I do it, I learn something about writing a novel. But, before the big event starts, there are always things I need to do to prepare for it. And not all of them involve planning a plot or outlining my stories.

This does not mean that outlining and planning do not need to happen. They most certainly do. And I do a little of that before hand. But one thing I have learned in the years I’ve done NaNoWriMo is that I, personally, do better the less planning I have done.  A basic outline, the character’s basic stories written, and that’s about it. It works well for me.

But, to me, the non-writerly things are more important. These include, but are not limited to, house work, time off from the office, grocery shopping, and just generally making sure that all the mundane things are done before November 1.

For example, each year, I try to take the first week of November off work, so I have time to just sit and write. I can usually get a big lead on the needed 50,000 words during that week, so it pays off for me to do so. But, taking that week off and working on writing, I need to make sure that stuff around the house that would normally distract me is taken care off. This means, making sure the dishes are all washed the night before I start writing. Laundry is done before that week. All the grocery shopping is done. Any cleaning that needs to happen in the living room takes place before that week begins.

This way, I can just focus on writing.

Does it always work? Well, to be honest, it hasn’t completely worked yet. Mostly because it’s tough to get everything done before the writing begins. However, getting as much of this mundane stuff done as I can before I start the writing helps me focus better, and so in that respect, I have to say that it’s a huge success.

Even if that means that sometimes, I’m still vacuuming instead of writing.

More gaming geekiness

So, this blog post is late, and the reason for that is because I just couldn’t come up with something to talk about.

Here’s what’s happening with me. I’ve been kind of distracted from writing since this weekend. Hyphen-Con, the gaming event I went to, has, as it does every year, re-kindled my love of gaming. Role-playing games, card games, board games, video games. I just love games. Hell, even in the Renaissance Guild I belong to, my job is to teach people about period games.

So, right now, I’m pretty geeked out about games, and especially about some new ones I’ve discovered at Con, such as In A Wicked Age and Fiasco (thought I never played Fiasco). These games are a big departure from the standard type of game I played in the past, but they all look like great fun. And I just want to play.

I would love to have a regular game, maybe once a month. I’m just not sure I could put much effort into it. In the past, I was always the game master. I think if I got into a game, it would have to be one where I didn’t have to do a lot of prep work, or one where I was a gamer.

But, right now, it just seems like a lot of work. So, I’m not sure. But whatever, I would sure love to play again.

And, of course, I still need to and want to write. It’s like an imperative. I can’t skip writing for more than a few days before I start to wig out. And so, I will continue to write.

But, that’s pretty much where my mind is at right now. Just thought I would share.

Of Geeks and Car Troubles

Phew! What a week!

First, let me update you all on the writing angle. No submissions this week, but, I am working on three projects right now. Two short stories are in the work and a flash fiction piece for a podcast is also up and running. I’m working on draft two for the flash piece (the one I posted on Friday, in fact), and I am working on draft one for the other two stories, which will be submitted to magazines, one that pays and one that doesn’t. I know, submitting to a mag that doesn’t pay? But, it’s a new mag, and a publishing credit if they take me. So, while I continue to research them, I’ll work on a story assuming I want to submit to them. If I decide not to submit, I still have a story I can submit to other places. And if I do, and they take me, then like I said, publishing credit.

So, that’s the writing front. In other areas of my life, things are very interesting. My wife and I just dropped a huge chunk of change to get some needed maintenance on our car. You know, stuff like oil filter changed, new oil, new tires, alignment, tune up, that kind of stuff. Then, this very morning, on the way to work/school with our boy, the car breaks down. Turns out the plug for the oil filter fell off, and there was river of oil on the side of the road. So, back to the dealership for the fix and a rental car. The good news is that the engine itself was not damaged, they’re going to do the fix, and also replace our wearing breaks (not really in need, but it would be soon, so hey, cool) and a detail, all for free to make up for it being their fault in the first place.

So, rough day today. But this weekend?

Man, it was awesome! A group of friends of mine do this thing every year, a weekly gaming get together we call Hyphen-Con. It’s a two day affair where a bunch of RPG geeks get together and play RPG’s on one day, and board/card games on the second. And I had a blast! I ran a game of Danger Patrol (retro-future pulp sci-fi narrative game, it’s fun, you should Google it) and played in a fantasy game that used the mechanics from the Smallville RPG, which was also fun. I’m not sure I’d be really interested in a Smallvilleesque campaign, but the one-off was pretty cool.

And board game day was filled with awesomeness. Settlers of Catan, Dominion, Puerto Rico, Zombies, Kung-Fu Fighting, and those are just the games I played in. There were a ton of others.

So, great weekend, filled with geeky goodness, and while I am exhausted now, it was well worth it. I’ll probably take a night off of writing today, for recovery as well as other prior engagements, but I’m ready to jump back into the pool tomorrow. So, until then, remember:

No matter where you go, there you are!

To share, or not to share?

So, I’ve been thinking about this blog of late, and I have something I want to ask my readers.

I’m rather enjoying doing this blog. I like giving out writing advice that I’ve heard, learned, and used and of sharing my adventures in writing and attempting to get published.

But it occurred to me the other day, I don’t really talk about myself. I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, I Should be Writing by Mur Lafferty, and she was talking about blogging. She said that some of the most popular authors that blog, Neil Gaiman, and John Scalzi, for example, share experiences and stories from their personal life on their blogs.

Sure, they talk about writing, too, but not all the time, like I’ve been doing. They discuss things happening with their kids, their wives, family, dogs, cats, whatever. Shows they went to, places they’ve visited, people they’ve talked to. They use their blogs to do more than promote themselves, they’ve used their blogs to share themselves.

So, I thought, maybe I should do the same. I have a wife and kid, and interests outside of writing. Shocking, I know, but there you have it. For example, I like Role Playing Games. Oh, sure, video games like Neverwinter Nights, but what I mean are the tabletop kind, like Dungeons & Dragons. In fact, I’m going to a min-convention of local gamers from a message board I hang out on, where we have two days of RPG’s and board games. This weekend. And I’m excited to go, because its’ always a lot of fun.

My kid is six years old, and the school he is going to is closing down, so my wife and I are looking for a new school to put him in, as well as summer activities, like camp. I could talk about those things from time to time.

My point is, there’s lots of stuff outside of writing I could talk about that would give you, my lovely blog followers whom I love, the chance to actually know me better. And maybe his would be good for me, because the truth is, I don’t often share my life with others, even those I consider friends.

So, what do you think? Should I blog about things happening in my life, as well as the writing stuff? Or just stick with the writing stuff?

Thanks for sticking with me through this and for giving your opinion. I appreciate it. Until tomorrow, when it’s Flash Fiction Friday!

Jihmye, a tribute

So, this blog post is a little delayed, and the reason for that is simple.

Today, I learned from my wife that a mutual friend of ours, Jihmye, died. It came as a shock, because my wife just saw him last week, and spoke to him last Thursday. Apparently, he had a stroke, went into a coma, and never woke up.

When I heard the news, I felt like I had been hit in the gut. I picked up my wife to give her the car so she could grieve, she was closer to him than I was, and then I went back to work.

I was a little unfocused, and sad, but otherwise okay, and got work done.

Then, I was on the deck, talking to my wife about Jihmye, and wondering what I should write about in this blog, and she said "talk about Jihmye."

And so I am, because like many of my wife's ideas, it's a good one.

I first met Jihmye and his wife many years ago, when I was an active member of the Baha'i Faith. I had been introduced to it by my ex-wife, and Jihmye and his wife were some of the first people to accept me.

But, more importantly, Jihmye was one of the first people to recognize in me talent.

Let me re-phrase that... he was one of the first people that I believed when he said I had talent.

There was just something about him that made him credible. When he said that something you wrote was really good, you believed him. When he said that you had talent, and that you should explore it more, you wanted to run out and explore it fully right then and there.

I never got really close to Jihmye, but he's the kind of guy that makes an impression on your life and you never forget him. So, even though I drifted away from the faith, and eventually divorced my first wife, I always remembered Jihmye and his wife fondly.

A few years later, I was with my current wife at a poetry reading. While we were in the coffee shop, waiting for things to get started, I spotted Jihmye. So, naturally, I went over to talk to him. My wife saw and came over, a little freaked out. See, Jihmye was her friend, and she had known him for years through the poetry community. Did I mention that he was a poet? And a painter, too. And a number of other things, and he was amazing at all of them.

Jihmye was one of those bright stars that touched everyone's life that he met. Even if all you did was ride on the bus with him, your life was brighter for it. He had a passion for life, a zest for people, a belife in the good things in life, and when he spoke, you believed him. And more, you wanted to believe what he believed, you wanted to make your life better just for having known him.

I wouldn't be the writer I am today if I hadn't know Jihmye back then. I didn't know him long, or very well, but he made a huge impact on me.

And I will miss him.

So, cheers Jihmye! I hope that you're composing poetry to the angels and painting the colors of God.