New Toy for Joy...

A funny thing happened on my way to buy a CD at Best Buy, I ended up getting a new netbook. A tiny little laptop in a fabulous shade of red...just in time for NanoWrimo. It all started when I was reading a book that one of my work friends gave me about writing spaces.

I have a good writing space, so much so that I have been leaving my laptop there in hopes of just sitting down at my writing desk to write whenever I want. Problem is...it is pain to unhook all the things when I want to take it on the road or to another location in the house. I liked the idea of having something raring to go and stationary. The book was talking about all kinds of strategies for creating and protecting your writing space. It really resonated. It made me think about getting another smaller laptop that I could use outside of my writing space. I swear...I'm not justifying my recent purchase...well...maybe I am...just a little bit. ;)

It also talked about something important that I hadn't ever really thought about before. The things that you will never do, occassionaly do, and always do in your writing space. I thought I would share the list with you.

Things I will not do in my writing space:

* Office Work

Things I will occassionaly do in my writing space:

* Email
* Facebook

Things I will always do in my writing space:

* Writing
* Blogging
* Planning and Plotting
* Researching

It made me feel good to finally declare my writing space as just that. As only that. And now...there will be a cute pink laptop ready for me to create on...whenever I desire in my writing space. This feels really good.

NanoWrimo Preparation...

Hours away now from embarking upon a new noveling journey and I am so freaking excited!! I have not done any planning so I really don't know what is going to happen at the stroke of midnight tonight. That is what I love the most. I'll be at my writing desk with my writing totems around me and all will be right with the world. My happy place...with a pink cocktail perhaps. ;)

Thought I would share a list of some of things I have been doing this afternoon to prepare:

* Charging my old ipod nano

* Charging my newer ipod nano

* Downloading some new writing tunes - Kid Cudi, Death by Sunrise, Pete Yorn, Owl City, and some dance/electronic remixes to keep the rave going. I'm so ecletic.

* Doing some research on PTAs

* Thinking of character names - Ruby, Twyla, Cricket. Still no names for the boy hero character I am dreaming up. There will be two...of course...but only one will win. Did I mention that one of them was inspired by Chester of Lincoln Park (and lead singer of Death by Sunrise)?

* Dusting the Knight of Armor that is on my writing desk. Well Duh...every goofy, hopeless romantic writer needs one of those.

* Writing down some thoughts in my cute Owl notebook...it is my NanoWrimo 09 think zone.

* Wondering if this will be the year that I write one of my favorite lines that I have been carrying around in my head for years - "I fell in love with the wrong boy from Ohio..."

It is funny how I think of October 31 as the day before NanoWrimo and not Halloween. Can't wait to get started...seriously...I am so amped!!!

Thursday 13 - Novel Writing Here I Come!!!

I am in need of an escape and there is no escape better than writing. It is perfect timing that November is right around the corner...and that means...National Novel Writing Month (NanoWrimo) will be in full swing. I can't wait to feel the excitement as I open up my laptop to a blank word document on Sunday at 12AM and see where things go. For today's Thursday 13, I thought I would write about the 13 things I am excited about as the NanoWrimo 2009 journey begins.

1) Adding the word count gadget to my blog.

2) Seeing how much more fun it will be to report my word counts not only on my blog but in Facebook Status Updates too.

3) Getting together with my writing friends on a Friday for some writing and chatting and maybe some food and then more writing.

4) Keeping my work friends entertained with my word count increases and worries about whether or not I will finish. Each year they just roll their eyes... ;)

5) Knowing what it feels like to win five years in a row.

6) Seeing if I can do more than the required 50,000 words and if I can do more than the 80,000 words I did last november. Is 100,000 words in a month too much to shoot for?

7) Write-Ins!!!! Getting some good quality time with MPB and Vix and others...as we do sprints and things...and eat Panera goodies....ummm....and coffee too!!!

8) Hopefully reaching 50,000 with NanoWrimo Buddies at Panera like last year. It was such an amazing feeling...and did I mention that it happened on November 15? Only half way through the month? See #6 above.

9) Seeing how my story will take unexpected turns because my characters will take over and I will no longer be in control. (That is the true writer's high by the way)

10) Late nights at my writing desk...with a lovely cocktail by my side and my writing totem near by.

11) My writing totem...My Precious!!! My cute pink twilly Hermes scarf!!!

12) Wearing NanoWrimo Tee-Shirts for the first time ever...I got two this year.

13) Printing and Bindering my completed 2009 NanoWrimo Novel and putting it into a Vera Bradley binder. I am behind...I haven't printed or bindered my 2008 novel yet.

If you would like to check out other Thursday 13's...have at it by clicking here!!!

A Song to Match My Mood...

This weekend has been one of thinking about things. I haven't really stopped to do that much. I haven't had the time. I think I am closing in on something...and this song seems to be the anthem.

Both Sides Now
Joni Mitchell

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
Clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show
And you leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love
Really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way

Oh but now old friends they're acting strange
And they shake their heads
And they tell me that I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained
In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life
I really don't know life at all