Fellow Pasadena-area blogger AmyR is beyond busy this month. Besides hosting a dinner party last weekend and her mother this weekend and besides it being a busy time at work (which I learned from one of her posts) and besides operating two blogs, Amy is writing a novel.Yes, she's writing a novel this month. November is National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, and Amy's participating. Her goal is to write 1667 words per day. Think that's a snap? Give it a shot.
I'm not participating in NaNoWriMo, but I know all about it. I'm participating in National Novel Writing Decade, which is totally different.
The aim of NaNoWriMo is not to complete a publishable novel in thirty days (bully for you if you can), but to get your first draft going. Just blurt it out onto the page or the screen, no stopping to edit. It doesn't have to be good--hell, it can't be, can it? The point is, maybe you've been saying for a long time that you have a novel in you and NaNoWriMo is your chance to get it out.
I'm cheering Amy on. I'm saying, you can do it! Spit out that book, my friend!
Amy took her mom to the Huntington yesterday. It was a cool day. The ginkgo trees in the zen garden are golden this time of year. I took the above photo in the zen garden last year at this time, when I came upon a group of young women kicking it up after a bridal shower in the tearoom. I don't know if this was bride or bridesmaid. I just know she was letting loose.
Something for Amy to do, perhaps on December 1st?
17 comments:
What a lovely tribute to Amy, Petrea! Amy's a honey, so this leaf shower is a fitting colour. Good for her for committing to NaNoWriMo ~ go, Amy!
{I suspect you're in good company with your own NaNoWriDec, Petrea.}
Hee hee. Petrea.
National Novel Writing Decade just cracked me up. I'm fifty-one years into my novel now so all I can do is wish Amy the very best of luck!
I adore this photo! It'd make a great Thanksgiving or Xmas card, don't you think? But would you need the girl's permission for that? AmyR's blogs are lovely, especially the Disneyland one. How does she cram so much into her daily life?
Aww, THANK YOU! When you said this blog would for me, I had no idea it would be about me. This is so sweet of you to put up. I am pushing along, I'm at 23,595 words. And trust me, it definitely isn't a great book. It's hard not to go back and edit. I will hopefully have some kind of draft that I can use later. :D
December 1st, there will definitely be celebrating.
Shell - thank you! I'm typing fast and furiously.
Dive - I will gladly take the luck. I need as much as I can get.
Bellis - That is excellent question, and I have no idea. :D
You keep writing, Amy, and don't edit. There'll be plenty of time for that later. I think my first draft took me three months. It's the second, third and fourth that have taken all the time.
Shell, I do hope I'm not the only one.
Dive, how many drafts have you written?
Bellis, I remember the whole bridal party kicking up leaves (and you know how quiet the Zen garden usually is). I asked if they minded if I took pictures for the blog; they didn't. But to sell the photos as cards might be quite another story.
Adorable photo! Makes me want to go out and dance in the leaves myself. Too cute.
Best of luck to AmyR on your novel! And LOL Petrea on NaNoWriDec! That's more my speed also!
Ah, that's joyful.
I always read NaNoWriMo as "Now I No write more."--I guess that's why I haven't been personally inspired. But bravo to all you brave ones and Amy!
Go Amy, go Amy! I'll happily sit on the sidelines and root on anyone attempting this sort of writing feat. I hope you're soon able to kick up the leaves like this woman in celebration of a finished novel!
Super great photo! love the motion since Amy is all motion (even when sitting down to write, I am sure).
My friend Tricia is doing the November novel thing - she is ON TRACK and she writes soooo well! (I know how difficult it is to get 1667 words in. I once wrote a whole 230 words in a day - that wasn't required for some sort of school/work-work.)
WEll you go Amy!! We know you can do it. And P, this is a terrrific shot. I've wanted something like this all season but I bow to you!.
V
I always read it as "Nah! No Wri More" which is how I slur my speech at the end of the day when I've managed to slog out three pages which will be deleted the next morning.
I'm glad people showed up to cheer Amy on. Should have posted this on a weekday when more people come by, thanks guys.
I'm glad you like this, V. We do get autumn leaves but not like you do. I was lucky to have a bunch of happy, pretty girls and bright, yellow leaves all in the same place.
My God, too right, Petrea, I'm on novel writing decade too - and the rest. Good for Amy. Fascinating venture though and so good for those of us lacking bum on seat concentration. I look forward to hearing how Amy's novel progresses - can see how brilliant it would be to get a first draft down.
Just adore ginkgo trees - the only species of tree, I believe, that has only one variety - this one.
I didn't know that about ginkgos, Jilly, so interesting! They grow well around here.
Ms M - thank you very much. Every bit of encouragement helps!
Desiree - thank you, I question my sanity for trying it!
Katie - Thank you so much! There will be kicking when I'm done - kicking back of drinks especially. :D
Tash - so true, my hands fly across the keyboard during good writing sessions. Good luck to your friend Tricia!
Virginia - thank you! :D
Jilly - I'm right on track at 28,035 words right. So close to 50,000 and yet so far!
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