National Novel Writing Month | BulgingButtons

November 1, 2013
by BulgingButtons 3 Comments

More NaNo as Promised

Well, this morning it was a mini-freakout, but tonight it’s a reality. I really have embarked upon writing a novel in thirty days as a result of the NaNoWriMo challenge. It’s crazy. It’s ambitious. It’s ill-advised. It’s genius. Truthfully I’m not really sure how I feel about it yet, but I do know this, I’ve begun.

I recently purchased some software called “Write It Now” and so far I really like it. It helps me organize my writing by characters, ideas, chapters, whatever. I know it isn’t the only software out there for novelists, but for a beginner like me it seems to fit the bill quite nicely. My opinion may change as the month goes on, but so far, so good.

Doing some preliminary work was extremely helpful. I have been thinking about my characters for a while now, and mulling over the events of the story in my head. There are definitely some fuzzy bits (okay, lots of fuzzy bits) and some questions I need to answer before I can write certain parts, but at least I was able to jump right in and begin drafting today.

So far I’ve written about 2,300 words. Yay me. I apologize in advance if I become a bit scarce over the next 30 days, but I’ll be working on that novel. Still, I have no intention of abandoning the blog, and I will certainly check it every day. Please feel free to add me as a writing buddy if you’re playing along (bulgingbuttons is my screen name). I would love to hear from other participants, and I would be thrilled with a word of encouragement here or there along the way.

Thanks! And stay tuned for the next great American novel, you just might happen to see it here first.

November 1, 2013
by BulgingButtons 5 Comments

NaNo Nerves

OMG, It’s November First! What have I done? NaNoWriMo is here, and I’m terrified! More on that later, but first I have to go to work, then start writing a novel. EEEEEEEK!

October 20, 2013
by BulgingButtons 12 Comments

Another Award!

Can I get a woot woot?! Mama, of Reinvention of Mama, has given me a shout out with a Sunshine Award. This one is for bloggers who, “Positively and Creatively Inspire Others in the Blogosphere.” Wow, I like the sound of that! Thanks, Mama.

Blogging awards are fun, and a great way to find and follow blogs you may not have seen before. That being said, not all bloggers have the time or inclination to accept awards, and in my opinion that’s fine. They are not meant to be a burden!

If you do choose to accept, the rules for this award are:

1) Use the Sunshine Award logo in the post. 2) Link to whoever nominated you. 3) Write ten pieces of information about yourself. 4) Nominate ten fellow bloggers “who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere.” 5) Leave a comment on the nominees’ blogs to tell them of the award.

Ten pieces of information about me:

I just signed up for NaNoWriMo and I’m scared! The goal is 50,000 words in 30 days. Gulp. If you’re doing it, let’s be writing buddies!
I’m probably more excited than I ought to be about my new MacBook, just for blogging and writing. It’s actually five years old, but new to me.
When people get my name wrong they always call me Wendy.
I’ve been slacking off on exercise and it feels bad. Ew.
I like my belly dance DVD but it’s really difficult for me. Practice, practice, practice.
The State Fair simultaneously intrigues me and creeps me out.
I’m an adoptee who knows virtually nothing about the circumstances of my existence. Most days I don’t think about this, but deep down I find it somewhat unsettling and deeply unjust. I have no problem with the fact that it happened. It’s the secrets and lies that bother me.
I wish my sweet tooth had a dial on it so I could turn it down, or even off at times. The more sweets I eat, the more I crave them, and I usually cave in to the craving.
I’m still trying to figure out why some blog posts get lots of traffic and reactions and others get very little. What’s the secret?
I’m messier than I would like to be and I wish there was a little cleaning fairy who would stop by my house once in a while. She/he could also stop by my classroom now and then, too.