September 1, 2008
Another sunset
There is a banner at the top up there. It's too Holly's new six month course in writing, and everyone who writes should check it out. She does an extraordinary job of helping other writers. The class will only be open to registration for one week, so don't waste time!
Yes, this is very early on September 1. I'm trying to get the journal done early rather than the last thing since I'm usually so tired that I can't think of anything to say.
Not that I have much to say this time, either, but still... it's better to do this in the morning.
I hope to start this month off write with a good amount of writing today. I need to get to that next. It was supposed to be the first thing I was going to do, but I needed to get the stuff up for Holly's Class and that got me sidetracked a bit. I will be jumping into the story very soon now, though. I am at a very exciting part of the story (It's a shorter Devlin story -- I have a couple of those to go along with the eight novels), and I'm having a lot of fun with it.
Yes, time to get to writing!
After I post a couple more links!
September 2, 2008
Settling in for winter?
I have another story finished! Yay!
It was hard work today, trying to get and a few other things done. And now I just want to go get some sleep! Which is good. I am so happy to have gotten so much done today, too. I actually, for the first time in quite a while, marked more off my list than I added to it. I'm sure it's just because I haven't thought very hard about it, though.
Another good reason to go to bed!
Tomorrow I'm going to go to work on the rewrite of Touched by the Wild. I need to do some more art work for that one, too. I think I'm going to do more of a line drawing style for it, with just a little wash of color here and there. I have a couple ideas for it. I think it will be fun to do.
But now... sleep before I think of more stuff to get done!
September 3, 2008
Playing with Graphics Again
I got a bit of work done today, despite having a miserable headache. I think it is the weather change. It's actually cold enough tonight that the guys are starting to snuggle -- with me and with each other.
I just want to go crawl into bed and sleep.
I am working on the rewrite to Touched by the Wild that I started a while back. I like this story. I want to get it right one of these times!
All in all, going all right. Russ might be home a week from Friday. I'm looking forward to it!
September 4, 2008
Yeah?
I had one of those days where little things kept going wrong... but I won out over all of them. I have the newsletter posted. I have updated other things. I got writing done. I even had an idea for something... I'm going to talk to Holly about it later. I need to work out a few more details before I pitch the idea to her.
I'm going nuts on other things, though. I've had a miserable cold and headache for days now. If I can get it to clear up, I'm going to be a much happier person. Lately, I've felt as though there has just been too much work and not enough free time to think about anything else.
Then I have to ask myself what else is there? At least I stay busy!
September 5, 2008
Zaphod, of course
I am trying to convince Zaphod that he doesn't have to stretch out on the desk right in front of me while I'm trying to work, especially because he's too big for it, and he hits the keyboard every time he moves -- or he has his paws on my hands while I'm trying to write. Either way, it just doesn't work all that well.
Now he's nestled in behind me on the chair.... and Pip is on top of the stack of books.
There are days when things just don't work quite the way you hope.
I'm tired tonight. I got quite a bit of work done, though, so that's good. Now I'm off to bed and some rest. And then back to work tomorrow.
September 6, 2008
The Jungle Fae
I got things done today! Many and varied things, including the dishes and finishing the 100th render challenge picture (above). I did writing and editing, and various other things.
And tomorrow I'll get other things done. Right now, I'm starting to think that bed is a really good idea, though. At least my cold is starting to ease up a bit, so I don't feel like I'm totally run down all the time.
Russ is supposed to come home this Friday. I hope it works out!
September 7, 2008
Were-Fox
I did this one tonight while I was playing around and trying to work out a couple problems. I don't know that I fixed the problems, but the picture was fun to do. I figured out a couple more things I've been working on, so that's good. At some point, I'll have a clue on how to use the program!
I've gotten two major projects done tonight. Tomorrow it's back to the DAZ work -- have to get it all done early since Russ should be home on Friday night.
Right now, though -- time to sleep!
September 8, 2008
Cute Cat
Both of the projects went off to publishers last night. I stayed up, did the last work and sent them off rather than lingering over it any longer. I haven't heard from either of them yet, but I hope for the best.
I'm working on Touched by the Wild again now, which is an easy project since it's just a rewrite. It's going nicely, though. And because there isn't a lot of plotting to be done with it, I can let my mind play around with the idea of writing outlines for NaNo.
A lot of my problem right now is that I'm just worn out, though. I plan on going to bed fairly early tonight and maybe sleeping even longer. It appeals to me!
I need to do some house cleaning, too. I'll get back to that tomorrow.
But now... post this and really think about sleep instead of more work!
September 9, 2008
Derry San Osen
The picture today is of the main character in Touched by the Wild. I really enjoyed doing this picture, which started in DAZ Studio and then went on to Paint Shop Pro and several layers of work.
It turned out rather well, really.
Writing is going okay. My cold has been on and off for the last few days. I want it off by this weekend when Russ comes home. And with that in mind, I am going to be now (midnight) to try and get my sleep schedule back in line again.
Nothing more to report here -- except that it's too cold already! I think we're in for a long miserable winter!
September 10, 2008
Young Blue jay begging for food.
I'm starting to get some work done again! the novel is moving forward very well, and I'm starting to look at some outline ideas. I got most of the newsletter done today, and all in all, it went well.
Now, if I wasn't so tired to enjoy it!
I'm getting more caught up, though, so I can't complain too much. I would love to get a day where I could do nothing but write again, though. I can't remember the last time I had a day like that!
Over all, though, things are going well. I'm reading about pigs in the last of the Grzimek books. I'm not certain I need to know so much about pigs... but there it is. About 400 pages to go to be done with the entire set of books! It won't be much longer now!
If... you know... I get the time!
September 11, 2008
Mourning Dove
I spent a good part of tonight watching a special on 9/11, which turned out to be no less horrifying and terrifying than it had been the first day. I'd avoided most of the shows until this year.
I am now exhausted. I'm heading for bed.
And I'm very glad that Russ will be here late tomorrow. It will be nice to see him for a couple days again!
September 12, 2008
Nice shot!
Russ should be home soon. Yay!
I got just about everything done that I need done. This is amazing. I'm usually fighting to get some stuff done and have it still hanging over me. It should be a relatively calm weekend, I think.
(Looks at watch....)
Writing is going well. I'm trying to get fired up about some submissions as well, but that isn't going as well. Maybe next week. Right now I'd like to finish Touched by the Wild and I really should just keep thinking about it and not worry about other stuff yet. I'm over halfway through it. Lots of little and a few big changes.
And that's it. I'm going to post this and hope Russ gets here soon!
September 13, 2008
Heron and Pelican
Russ is home!
We have been going all day. We had a great time in Omaha -- found a Friends of the Library book sale. We didn't buy a lot, but it was fun. Then we went to DeSoto and it turned out to be a perfect time and day. Then we came home, talked for a while, and then went to a very late dinner with a friend.
And now home. Russ is asleep and I will soon be!
I took 396 pictures today!
September 14, 2008
At De Soto Yesterday
I am still working on Touched by the Wild, but it is going very well. I think I'll have it done this week sometime, or early next week. After that, I'm down to a few odds and ends, mostly consisting of outlines that I want to get done before NaNo.
I have several outlines to choose from, too. It's going to be interesting to see how that goes. I just need to get caught up in a story or two and see if I can get something going. I have lots of ideas, but I haven't really tied anything together yet.
Russ is here at the moment, but he leaves tomorrow. We had a nice day, though things have progressively kept going wrong. A bad problem developed with the car today. Can't get the water pipe fixed in the other house. But Russ has been here, and that was fun anyway. The trip to De Soto National Wildlife Refuge yesterday was about the best picture day I ever remember from there!
But that's it for today. Russ leaves tomorrow. Life will go back to quiet and dull again.
September 15, 2008
Another picture from Saturday
Russ left a little before noon today. He's in Milwaukie tonight. He'll be there for a few days, and then back to Long Island.
But he'll be back soon, so that's good! And it's even going to be a longer than usual trip!
I am just beat tonight, so I'm heading off to bed early. It'll be back to the usual stuff tomorrow!
(Thunk)
September 16, 2008
Last of the summer flowers
I went for a short walk about six this evening. I prefer mornings for the walk. It was too hot, there were too many people, and it was dusty. But I'm having trouble getting up for the morning walk, so we'll see.
Trying to get things done. Eventually, I will get caught up. I have faith in it.
I'm starting to get fired up about NaNo, too. I sure hope I can get something pulled together for it in time!
That's it. I'm off to sleep for a few hours!
September 17, 2008
Cave Troll
Getting work done today, at least. I've been very tired, but it's still going all right!
I am having some odd computer problems. Well, maybe not any more odd than usual, I suppose. And I'm not at all happy because part of my DAZ Studio runtime is messed up. This could be a serious problem if I have to redo the entire thing. On the other hand, I know far more about this stuff now, and I might be able to arrange the runtime better. It might even be fun, if you have a strange masochistic idea of loading tons of little tiny files into place as fun.
Hey, I never said I was sane.
I'm closer to being done with Touched by the Wild. I'm starting to think about the next thing to work on -- one of the story projects for NaNo. Not sure which one I'll work on yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
Other than that... nothing bad going on. I'm going to get this and several other things uploaded, so I best get to it! And then back to writing for a little while.
September 18, 2008
Just having fun with pictures
It's about 1 am. I got the newsletter done, Russ got a problem cleared up, and except for some little annoyances, all is well. I'm tired and going to bed. I can't say I have anything worth writing about tonight anyway!
I need to get some things done and then off to bed -- but I figured I had better get this done before I tried anything else! Once I get really tired out, it's hard to come back and do this one. I really should try to do it early in the day! I might even have a few things to say then.
September 19, 2008
Tired
Zaphod is tired. I'm tried. Everyone in the FM Writer's Only Chat room got tired. I think it's time to head off to bed!
Got a lot of writing done tonight, though, so that's good. Might be done with the book this weekend.
Going to sleep now, though!
September 20, 2008
Lovely colors
I got a good deal of writing done today, but not much else. I guess I shouldn't complain about it, right? It is the weekend. I should not have to worry about doing work on the weekend! (Must remember to do one bit of work yet tonight, though!)
Russ is going to be home again in a couple weeks, which just seems odd. I don't like feeling that way! But the idea that he'll be home twice in about a month -- and then a couple weeks later again -- is just strange. We really have to do something to change this. I'm just going nuts here lately. I don't know if it's the change in the season or if I've just spent far too much time alone.
It's late. I need to get some sleep!
September 21, 2008
Edmond
Yeah, so my cats are spoiled. Does this really shock anyone? Edmond wanted to be held. I pulled the shirt up over him to keep him in place while I typed. He was a very happy little cat. Hard to get that picture, though!
In the good news department, I reached 500,000 words today. In the bad news... that's a bit late in the year if I want to make 1,000,000 -- but still better than I could have hoped for before this. In fact, I stopped at exactly 500k, which was kind of funny. Probably the most amusing part of the day, really.
I think I'll be done with the dreaded book tomorrow or the next day. I've been working a little bit on the outlines for NaNo tonight because I had some ideas I wanted to get down. I'm starting to get fired up about it now. I have one outline that is virtually done, though I'll probably add a few pieces here and there on it. And I worked on a second one tonight and got it moving pretty well.
And there is a storm
blowing in tonight! I can hear thunder already. I doubt it will be much
of anything, but it's nice to have a little rain. It's been dry for a
while here.
And that's it. That's all I have to say for the night.
September 22, 2008
Bright colors
I had an excellent writing day. 7062 words! I finished one outline, finished the fantasy book, and started the rewrite of an sf book. And worked on another outline. So... doing pretty well here, really. I think I might even end up with 100k this month, if I can keep up at this rate. We'll see!
Nothing else to report today, though. Just writing, writing, writing. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm going back to it now!
Have fun!
September 23, 2008
The changing colors
Walked this morning. Slept. Wrote. Doing pretty well, all in all!
The new book is a joy to work on. I really like the characters, even the woman who has a knack for saying the wrong thing at the right time and annoying the hell out of everyone. She also has a knack for seeing problems.
The outline is going well, too. I am about half way through it, I think. Everything is going to hell for the characters, of course. Always a lot of fun!
Nothing more to say tonight. I'm going to do a little work tonight and then rest!
September 24, 2008
Sunrise over cornfield
Oh am I tired tonight. Just completely worn out and tired and it's not even midnight yet. I'm going to go crawl off to bed soon, I think.
I'm getting writing done. Lots of writing done, really, even though I am exhausted tonight. I'm trying to get a little bit more done on the outline. I'm right at the middle of the storyline, and not entirely certain what horrible things to drop in here.
I'll get it figured out.
But right now... tired. Time to get a few things done and then go rest.
September 25, 2008
Ringed Turtle Dove
I've never seen a Ringed Turtle Dove in my yard before. I always like seeing something new!
I'm dead tired. I got quite a bit written. I'm not quite done with the DAZ Newsletter, but I hope to do it early tomorrow.
That's it.
Off to bed.
September 26, 2008
Lovely colors
The best I can say for today is that I got things done. Not all the things I wanted to get done, but more than I expected, considering the headache I fought off for most of the day. I finally got the newsletter done. I got the 2YN stuff posted. I did writing. I even posted in my Joyously Prolific Blog.
So... pretty good really. I'm having a good time with the book, at least. The outline for Broken Journey is going along pretty well, too. I still have a month until I have to make a final decision, at least, on what story I'm going to write for NaNo. Right now, Broken Journey looks good -- but I still have a couple more outlines to work on, so you never know.
I want to get a little art work done this weekend. I haven't done any in a while, and I kind of miss it.
But right now... it's late and I need some sleep!
October 27, 2008
Pretty
Oh headache. Yes, this would be a headache, and a pretty good one, too. Combination of things, including sinus (sneeze, sniff) and stress. I'm going to take something tonight that will likely knock me out for a while.
Writing is going okay, but not spectacular. I'll settle for okay on a day like this.
And, as usual, that's about it with news. I'd like to say I have something exciting to report, but that's just not happening lately!
Russ should be home in about ten days, though. I wish it was sooner and for longer, because I'm just getting really worn down.
September 28, 2008
Preparing for Winter
The temperature around here is starting the drop, along with the leaves on many of the trees. It's getting pretty out there, really. But I can tell some of the animals are starting to get that worried look. Another month and we could have snow.
Really, I'm not going to think about that right now. Last winter was bad enough. I think this one will be worse.
What else? Writing is going well. The novel is at about 20k. The outline is moving forward and I'm getting a lot of interesting stuff for the background. Just introduced squirrels to the world. That might be fun!
But that's about it for me tonight. I'm wearing down fast now!
September 29, 2008
The boys sleeping where they shouldn't
Good thing I really like those two little guys. And they look so cute!
I'm working away, of course. Trying to get all kinds of things done before the end of the month. Which... this is it, right? I have Tuesday and then it's October.
Eeek.
But I'm getting stuff done. I'll get there. Eventually. Really.
The new novel is moving along really well. I am so pleased! And it's so much fun to work on, too. I think I like these characters enough that I'm going to do another book with them later.
I am not going to think about that now. I have other outlines for NaNo. I don't need to think about yet another one for it!
I am trying to get things done. I can't believe how close we are to the end of the year. Must work more! Must get things done!
Must go crawl off to bed now...
October 30, 2008
Well, this was a better month than I've had all year, as far as writing went... but I still feel as though I'm not doing well. I'm getting there, though. Slowly. I just can't seem to stay focused long enough to make any real progress, which says bad things for NaNo this year.
We'll see.
Must get outlines done, though. Not a lot of time left!
But this is the end of the month. Time to start thinking about October!