Done!! Well...You Know the Deal...Word Count = 50,691

I have won my sixth National Novel Writing Month...checking in at 50,691 words. Is the novel done? No. Is it ready to be read? No. Do I love it as much as the one I wrote last year? No. Will I ever do something with it? Well...you never really know. This year was tough for me. I was so tired. I was so worried that I was not going to finish. I was not entirely in love with my story. But I did it. I got 50,000 words and have something that I can go back and fix should I ever want to. I know that I will at somepoint go back...this one was actually a series idea that I had that I carried over from my NanoWrimo 2008 Novel. Remember Lolly Friar? She was the star of this years too. I guess I should have mentioned that at the begining of the month. ;)

After writing this year, I am totally convinced that last year's novel was very different and I think that was because I had a realy story that hangs together. And truth be told, I can't wait to get my hands back on it again. I loved the story that much!!

Purpose and Motivation...

Operating on your own is not always best...but I fall to that mode naturally because I am such an introvert. AFter meeting with the Fab Four today (my writing buddies Ellen, Lisa and Michone)and all of us agreeing to get ourselves back together on a regular basis I now have a purpose to get moving on my current work in progress. My plan is keep cranking it out to finish my very horrendous first draft and then rewrite/revise chapter by chapter as I submit said new chapters to them for review. In our heyday we would meet every other week and then with schedules (and my work obssessed nature) we couldn't keep up with the pace. It seems things are aligning so that we can get back together again...and I am so excited. I was thinking awhile back how all of us met at a writing workshop back in April 2005. I'm so glad we are still connected. I'm glad that they get me out of my introverted shell.

In other writing news, I have started a once a day writing exercise (thanks to one of my fellow Thursday 13 List Makers)where I am writing a novel day by day. It is called the Diatribing Diavista and will chronicle the life of a Type 1 Diabetic in Young Adulthood whose life passion is in cake making. Seemed like a cute kind of idea...and a bit of stretch for me. Not the diabetes part, but the cake part. I am kitchen challenged. As I have been watching my Mom and Sister in their new hobby, I thought how funny would it be if your passion was to make sugary goodies and you couldn't (or rather shouldn't) eat them. So, I decided to work on something different to guarantee that I write each and every day. See my side bar for my word count journal button/blurb...click over if you want to check it out. It is something different...

Oh yes...and if you are curious...the fabulous cake you are looking at is one of my mom and sister's creations. I know, right?? This was only the second or third cake they had ever made.

Things to be ecstatic about... (Word Count = 100,020)

I have been having great success writing each morning at Starbucks...the Vera Bradley laptop bag has proven to be a wise investment. I'm in a good writing groove and managed to reach a new word count high even though I slept in this AM. I just improvised. I wrote in the cafeteria at work before work. Genius.

There are lots of things that I'm quite overjoyed about (isn't that silly?? can i be overjoyed??) and here is a list...because I am crazy for the lists!!!

List of Things to be Overjoyed About

* Hitting 100,000 words in your current "work in progress" and 230 pages. This novel may actually be born folks!!
* Dinner with the Three J's Tonight (We are quite the Trio!!!)
* Rescheduled Birthdays only being one day away
* Four Day Weekends
* Friday AM Writing Sessions with Writing Friends
* Rescheduled Birthday Celebrations on Friday Night with your Bestest Friend
* Vera Bradley Spring/Summer Accessories - Beach Towels, Flip Flops, and Sunglasses...Oh My!!
* Thinking about scheduling a Vera Party so that my fellow Vera Addicts and I can shop...I mean browse...the new stuff that is coming out. Especially since I had to miss the one in January... :***(
* Shopaholic Movie Release - just one more day!!
* Using more than one exclamation mark...cuz that is how you roll!!!
* Hearing Head Automatica on XM Radio and remembering what a good band they are. Especially live and right up front in the front row.
* New kitchen appliances that make the most used room in the house even cozier than before. I wonder if I will even learn to cook on the new stove...or just continue to perfect my "reheating" skills?
* Cleaning up your desk at work and admiring all the Daisy Daisy Vera Bradley flair you have sprinkled around.

Welcome to my Giddiness!!! :) Do you get that I'm seriously overjoyed?? There is no container big enough to hold it all in!!! ;)

Will I Ever Get to the Finish Line? (Word Count = 97,300)

Well, here I am having increased another 1K worth of words and I am a bit lost at the moment. My characters have done that divergence thing that they tend to do...which is good...but I just keep thinking back to all the work I am going to have to do once I am "done" with this first pass. I know I should just keep pushing through and get this first draft done. Then I can go back and really write this novel.

That sounds so devestating doesn't it? I will finish this first draft and then I will have to go back and really turn it into something. I'm so scared of falling into old behaviors. Will I have the strength and tenacity to do it? No amount of Vera Bradely is going to help me to truly deliver something that people want to read. I know that I can write...but my big fear stens from the fact that I do not have much confidence in my storytelling. I'm trying not to think about this minor huge point...or the fact that I wear it like a crown. Ineptitude much?

Hi..my name is Joy and I am a writer...but I can't tell a story. Hmph...I guess I won't know unless I try right? I WILL finish this novel and clean it up for consumption by those poor souls who are willing to read it. I'm in one of those dark writer moments where a pink cocktail would really help...but it is a work night...so I'll just go to bed.

Here's to a good writing AM before work at Starbucks...with my lovely pink laptop and fabulous bag in tow.

Did I do more novel writing?? (Word Count = 95,143)

I did!! I did!! I'm 5K words away from 100K. Can you believe it? I swear...I'm a bit blown away at the moment. The fact that I am still working on the same project. The fact that I am at 219 pages. The fact that when I could have given up and put this one on the shelf with all the others I did not. I really think that this is the one. I am going to finish. I think I can. I think I can. I'm the little writer that could!!

Actually...I am not sure why I have been using the LIttle Engine That Could to describe things recently. I was using it at my meeting this week too. I kept saying that it was the little meeting that could and then someone said once we got to the end that it was the big meeting that did. I feel in some strange way the same thing for my current work in progress. Whatever the title will be...this is the one that I am going to finish. I think I can...I think I can.

Another Muse Revealed...

It most likely is not much of a surprise that I tend to be of the school that believes things happen for a reason. Or that sometimes little signs are thrown your way to tell you that you are on the right path. I find that this happens most in terms of my writing. The little slaps upside the head that should browbeat me into getting my butt in the chair and writing. I had to share the latest such happening with you…

Let’s flash back a bit to July 2, 2008 just after Lolly Friar was born in my mind and I was flirting with the idea of one of her suitors. He was going to be a doctor (because I love hospitals and they always make it into a novel I work on) and he was going to be someone who was super science smart and had a certain kind of look. Blue Eyes (of course!!). Short (huh??). Evidence of some blonde hair (say what??). Here is the line that occurred to me on the way into work many months ago.

To set the context…it is with Lolly and her very best friend Eliza as Lolly is describing "the good doctor" –

“Think ER’s Dr. Romano.”

Eliza looks at me totally gob smacked, choking a bit on her salad. It must have been a vicious piece of arugula.

“I know, right? And yet I was all a twitter.”

So on Thursday night after having collapsed finally after the highs of my meeting earlier in the week, I awoke with no reason. Upon channel surfing a bit to relax, I stumbled upon ER. I have not watched in years…and it was a truly fantastic episode. Dr. Mark Greene was back in flashback and it was poetic. And then…as if summoned to get me writing again…Dr. Robert “the rocket” Romano in all his glory appeared in the episode too. Being an ass (did I mention how much I LOVED his character back in the day??) with something a bit more hidden way, way deep beneath the whole “god complex surgeon” stuff. Well…that is at least what I believe. ;)

Check out the side bar...

Did my word count increase? By just a bit...but that means that...drumroll please...I have started back to Lolly my friends. I will not reveal my secret for how I am finding time. I'm going to keep at it and if it keeps working then I will share.

For the Car...

So to keep the novel writing going, I have put together a mix CD that I can play in the car so I can keep the inspiration going. I thought it would be fun to capture lots of the songs I have been playing while writing on a Mix CD regardless. I was going to get a car adaptor thingy for my ipod so I could just listen to my ipod in the car...but then I decided there were much more fun things to spend my $$ on. I'll have to do a separate post on that. Hint: Think Juicy Couture and cold weather accessories. ;)

Curious as to what I have been listening too while writing about Lolly Friar? Please enjoy the below list of just a few of the many songs...

Another Excerpt...

This one is a bit long...but I think Lolly really shines through. Apologies for the NanoWrimo rambling...obviously there is much to clean up. Hope you enjoy it!!!



She whizzed right by me talking on the phone. I could tell she was on the phone with her husband Peter. She did not even wave hello. I wanted to throw up. And then I heard it…just like the morning before. Natalia had thrown up for me. Ugh. I struggled with whether or not I should have called housekeeping or not. That would make it two mornings in a row. I did not want anyone to know that she may be sick.

I picked up the phone…I would just have housekeeping bring up a new bag offering some lame excuse for the need and I would change it myself. That way no one would know that she got sick again. Then it hit me. Holy Shit…Natalia must be pregnant!

Oh boy. Oh Girl. We are going to have a baby. I was excited. I was nervous. Oh my god…if it is a girl maybe she will name it after me? Oh wait…that is really conceited to think that way…but Lolly was such a great name and Natalia totally adored me…so it was in the bag. I was stupidly grinning thinking of all the cool potential baby gifts and then I started thinking about the shower I would have to throw. What should the theme be? It could something really chic with all the essentials from Burberry, Dior, and Hermes. It was going to be so perfect. For fun, I would totally have to get her mommy and me matching Vera Bradley or I could just get them a baby bag. It was all so clear to me. This was so perfect. Natalia was having a baby!

I was pretty sure I was beaming at the news but quickly reminded myself that I was not supposed to know yet. So if and when Natalia told me I had to act totally surprised. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Of course she was not mad at me…it was this news. I wonder if she was trying? Or was a total surprise? Any way I looked at I was excited about how much our worlds were going to change. Maybe I could be Auntie Lolly? This was just so outstanding.

Her door opened and I choked on my excitement. She popped her head out quickly, “We need to talk.”

I must have been thinking too loud. She knows I know and now is the moment where she is going to tell me all about it…since I already know. It was silly to keep it a secret. A secret at least from me. The fun part about my job was that I got to know a lot of things before most people did and sometimes they would never know. It was a confidential position and I was very good at not letting on to anything I knew. Natalia’s pregnancy would be no different. I would keep it under close confidence until of course it was obvious. Then all would know that we were going to have a baby. A baby!!

I settled myself down, grabbed my notebook, and headed into Natalia’s office. This was it. I would remember this moment for years to come. I would tell little Lolly…my namesake Lolly...all about it when she graduated high school or turned sixteen. I was sure she was going to love me and I was totally going to be her favorite Auntie. We could go shopping and talk about boys. It was going to be fantastic. I ramped down my animation before I made eye contact with Natalia. I closed the door behind me and waited for the news that I already knew.

“Sit.”

I sat. She did not look happy. Why didn’t she look happy? This was exciting news. We were going to remember this moment for the rest of our lives. We are having a baby! A baby!

“Look I need to let you in on what is going on because there are bound to be questions that you are not to answer. I figure if you know what is going on, you will have a better shot at being evasive in case you are grilled.”

It sounded more like an investigation or court hearing or hounding calls from the press. I could handle that. I had handled most of those before. Well, everything but the court hearing. I steeled myself. When was a pregnancy such a hush hush matter? Oh my God, was it not Peter's?

“Okay. I appreciate you wanting to keep me informed. Is everything okay? I have been worried about you.”

And then she proudly wore a grin, “I am fine. I am great. Better than I have been in a long time actually.”

I took a deep, happy breath. Okay…the news was coming. I planned how I was going to look surprised and shocked and then over the moon.

“I’m being wooed by Mass General. Can you believe it?”

“That’s…That is amazing.” That is so not what I was expecting to hear.

“I know…it is the dream job. I’m heading up to Boston this afternoon so I need you to clear my calendar on Friday. I should be back by Monday, but to be safe clear the morning. Peter and I may be celebrating.”

The shock on my face must have shown because she continued, “Oh don’t worry…I am going to take you with me.”

Here We Go!!!

Okay...going to go on a coffee run with Sis and then I will settle in for a late night, early AM writing session. I am ready to go I think and am getting excited to see how much I get done before I go to sleep (which I am assuming will be in the early, early AM). I must get to 70K...that is a must. After that...we will see. Here is to a nice hot venti coffee of the day to fuel some good wordage. I have a few thoughts on what kinds of interesting things Lolly will be up to. I'm thinking she may have a bit of fun...and by fun I mean...ahem....well you can probably guess. :)

Update: Have Coffee...Will Write!! Let the fun begin!!!

Perfect Desk Accessory...

Lolly Friar would so have a paper weight just like this one on her desk. Is it not the coolest thing you have ever seen? One of the things I love best about Lolly is that she is totally on the ball and doesn't miss a beat...but in terms of anything not work or family related she is a total spaz. This is part of the problem I have been running into. She is serious and flighty. Chick Lit stories are not serious. So, I guess I need to change her? Could I pull off something that is a mix? But that is not true to the genre...

Well, I guess I can sort that out after the first draft is done. I want her to be unique but I don't want people to yawn over her and get bored. I hope I can figure this all out. I must figure this all out. I owe it to Lolly to give her a nice clean space to live and breath and fail and succeed. I will not let laziness take hold. I will not just set her upon the shelf and let her waste away in a cute Vera Bradley binder. This time will be different. This time must be different. But...I am still afraid. Of what, I have no idea.

Going Vera Crazy.... (Word Count = 56.068)

I just banged out another 1K...so I'm just now settling back into doing another. Would be so cool to get to 60K today...but I am not sure I can do it. In other fun news, I did make some Vera Bradley purchases...

Here is journal entry on them. Check it out - - Link to My Journal Entry on Night Owl Purchases

Actually, I could just blame this purchase on needing to do Lolly Friar research. I mean...she is addicted to Vera Bradley...so you know...I needed to be sure I really understood what that is like. Ahem...it is not like I have that experience already...ahem. ;) Besides, back in October I had noted that Lolly was going to need to go shopping to make herself better and that is something on my list for writing today. See...I just needed to remind myself of what it feels like to shop for Vera and to buy it as well.

New Design and an Excerpt!!

So obviously I have been having fun jazzing up my blogspot..and not adding to my word cout. The night is still young!!

And now for a quick snip-it of Lolly at work...I hope you enjoy the following excerpt. Now...I need to get back to adding more words. Must hit 30K before hitting the rack.



“Could you not do that?”

“What?” I turned my head so that my ponytail waved in the air to him. He was so good looking.

“That. The ponytail thing. I’m holding the future of little lives in my hands and I can’t concentrate. In fact, I can not even remember how it was I ended up here.”

“You are here to see my boss so be good.” I was wondering if I was blushing. If I was it would have given away what I am sure he had already figured out. He was so deliciously good looking that I wished he could be mine. I could not ever remember feeling that way about a boy…or rather a man before. I wanted to own him.

I got up from my desk to and poked my head into Natalia’s office, “Dr. Roe Sturgeon is here for his 2:15.”

“I’ll be right with him.” She looked up to me from her computer. “Have you two gone out yet?”

If I had not been blushing before I knew I was now. “No and that is not appropriate. I mean he works here and that could get complicated.”

“What do I always say?”

“Work hard. Play hard.” My heart was beating faster at the thought of playing hard with him.

“I swear, if I made that part of your performance review you would have no choice but to get out there and find a boyfriend. I think you two would be very cute together.”

“Stop. This is a place of business and we must work hard while here.”

“True…but you can plan your play or at least find the company.”

“You are impossible.” And she was. Natalia was always giving me pep talks on how best to find a boyfriend or at the very least someone to have a bit of fun with. She could not comprehend how it was that I did not have anyone in my life. It was funny how I knew every aspect of her life inside and out…even when it was time to renew her birth control prescription. Yet, she knew nothing of my own. Which reminds me, it is time for me to renew it for her so I jotted it on my notepad while walking back to my desk.

Interminglings of Life...

So it seems to me that writing on weeknights after work is a challenge this go around, as yesterday passed by with no words. I will do some today. I have a few ideas for what I want to write next...so I am hoping to work on that tonight. As I was jotting down some thoughts that had popped into my head while I was getting my lunch in the cafeteria earlier, brussell sprouts helped perk up my writing brain.

I know...strange. But strange is good. I'm not ashamed to admit that I have no shame when it comes to fueling the old writing muse. I soak up things all the time that help me write. The brussell sprouts helped to figure out that I really needed to take some time to write about Lolly. How you ask? Because I needed to think about whether or not Lolly likes brussell sprouts.

That of course led to other brainstorming...and suddenly without planning it Lolly got herself a nickname. It was totally random but it totally fits. I described Lolly as spunky. And then that spurred a childhood memory in thinking about one of Grandpa's favorite musical artists Bob James. GP was a total music fanatic with really diverse tastes. One of my favorite albums that Grandpa used to play was Bob James' Hand's Down Album. And the first track on that album was called Spunky.

An Excerpt...

I finally took a moment to post and excerpt on the NanoWrimo Website...so I thought I would here too. Enter Stage Right...Lolly Friar!!

“Gotta Go!” I quickly hung up the phone because I hear her footsteps coming down the hall. Those quick short steps with purpose scuffing more than clacking, she dragged her heels along a bit as she walked. I was grateful for the distinctive cadence which clued me into her arrival. Although, I could usually sense when she was getting close, somehow the ding of the elevator sounded different when she was arriving. Natalia Warrick was about to start another day and I was ready for her.

For the past six years, I have been her right hand. Come to think of it, I was the left hand and perhaps a main artery as well. Of all of her past assistants I had lasted the longest and the word she frequently used to describe me on performance appraisals was simple and to the point. Perfect. It was hard to live up to during each and every moment of the day but I was used to it. The fear of living up to that expectation and the weight of never knowing for sure if it would last was much like my other most important relationship. My granddaddy had the very same expectations which kept me on my toes the other twelve hours of the day. I’ll explain more about that later.

The steps got closer and my heart rate increased, the nervousness of what the day would bring had not ever left me. No complacency or comfort was found in regularity with Natalia, there was no such thing. I pulled my crisp pink blouse straight and put on my smile. If I was smiling and seemed stressless, then she would be too.

Two Days!!!

It is hard to believe that just two days stand before the NanoWrimo 08 experience. I can't wait. I am excited to have a list of characters fleshed out. I am excited that I know what each of them wants. I am nervous that I haven't yet worked out the list of scenes given the set of ideas that hit me on Sunday. My goal is to get that done tonight. Just a list...I don't even think I am going to worry about the order of them right now. If I have time...I may do that too. Then I am just going to chill on Friday and enjoy a fun evening without the voice in my mind saying..."You should be writing!!".

I can't wait for Lolly Friar to break out on the page. She is fantastic. She is uber-organized. She is addicted to Vera Bradley (tee hee...that is for my own fun). She is a loyal worker. She is a loving granddaughter. She is always worried about everyone else. She is a snazzy dresser. She is a fan of super-smart boys. She is kind of heart. She is a giddy girl. She is out to find a "real" job. And whatever you do...do not...and I repeat...do not...use the "S" word.

What is the "S" word? Hmmm....you will have to wait and see. :)