Camp NaNo Update

Today I wrote over 2,000 words!

Now if I can just do that for the remaining fourteen days of July, I will crawl out of this 10,000 word deficit and catapult to the finish line of 30,000. The only problem is that I literally did nothing but write today, which is not always possible nor conducive to my sanity. Sitting behind a computer screen all day makes me a little stir crazy.

What I don't understand why I can't just write every day. I mean, it shouldn't be that difficult. It is what I love doing more than anything (other than baking) and I have so many  ideas. And I'm constantly thinking about my story. I dream about it.

So on days that I am feeling less creative, I research, I visualize. The other night I created my characters using the Sims 3. It was helpful in a way, but kind of frustrating because they didn't turn out exactly how I envisioned them.

Especially since one should have floating blue hair and other horns. 

Or the fact that you can't give Sims scars or make them shorter.

However, it did spark the idea that they all had the same iridescent silver-blue eyes. In the story, they are all the offspring of the same deity, but don't know that until they all meet as adults. Having the same eyes will help them recognize each other.

So it wasn't a complete waste of time (though I am not proud of how long it actually took).

Stats Update:

• 6643 words written

• 3 of 4 main characters introduced

• 0 antagonists

• 14 days left to write 23,357 words and have somewhat of a plot going.

Woo! Sounds like a challenge. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Building Stories

 

Over the long weekend, I learned how to gut and fillet an albacore. I also shot a gun for the first time. These are the sort of adventures one has in the hidden hills of Wilits; among tall trees and coastal winds. As we went up the winding gravel driveway to the dark wooden house shaded by moss covered oak trees, all I could think about was how perfect a place it would be for writing.

After spending four days of being lulled to sleep by the songs of frogs and crickets, I found that I had spent little time writing. Instead I watched my niece learn how to mimic the sound frogs make and play with bubbles. I listened to stories of how the house was built a little at a time. I climbed across rocks and logs to explore a creek that housed little newts that looked like dragons. I learned that I was really really bad at croquet.

Even though this month is another writing challenge (and I should be pumping out 1000 words a day), I didn't feel like my time was wasted. There was so much new material being absorbed into me with every breath. Everything around me felt like there was magic hiding underneath. So okay, I only managed to squish out about 800 words, but I was invigorated.

July is my month of creativity. Absorbing the magic around me is just as important as the act of creation. Sometimes you have to spend time exploring creation (and destruction) to find inspiration. I am learning to let go of what I think the story is about. It will form naturally by pulling pieces together from my experiences and dreams.

 

My story knows where it wants to go. I just need to move aside and let it.