Halfway there = Time for a detour

I was all prepared this year to actually suffer through a Camp NaNoWriMo. I had a great idea, even if it was just in its infancy.  I thought I had set my standards sufficiently low enough: just get to 10,000 words and call it good - just in time to finish college finals.  No one said it was a good idea, but it was mine, and I'll be the first to admit it failed.  I managed a little of 2000 words and then got lost.

I've discussed before how I feel that the obsession with "writing every day" is the best philosophy.  Trust me, I completely understand how the stress of life can eat at you from just about every direction.  However, I will say that the concept of editing a crappy page is easier than a blank one works wonders on research papers...

Anyway, I digress.  The fact of the matter is here it is May.  Finals are over.  Camp NaNoWriMo is over.  I didn't succeed, and somewhere in-between trying to start a new idea that I love and standing (or sitting) where I am now, I got lost on a detour of unfinished stories.

I've never been able to determine why some ideas stick with me like a nagging toothache - to where I can't put them aside until they are finished.  Then there are those that woke me in the middle of the night, forced me to pour out over 5000 words in a single sitting, and then sat in a corner waiting...and waiting.  With an entire summer break ahead of me, I had a plan, I was prepared to plot my way through the more completed ideas running amok in my head (even my characters are on summer break, apparently), but if there is one thing I've learned about writing, it is simply to never plan anything.  My characters all have minds of their own, and the sooner I realize that, the happier we will all be.  One can hope.  Let's hope this plan works out better than the last.

Anyone out there with a similar tale?  How many unfinished stories do you have haunting the cobwebs of your mind?  I think I'll count and get back to you.

-L.E.

Hello again, it's been awhile...

Wow, what a long while it has been.  I guess life can get away from us all, but rather than go into any rather personal details, I'll just continue on with the rather superfluous.

To start matters out on a high note, I did finally win at Camp NaNoWriMo.  Evidence below.

And I did finally create a website.  (legibler.wix.com/legibler).  Having a few hiccups with it, but I'm optimistic it'll be up and running before November.  

My list of things that I've accomplished is so small these days.  I've formatted eight books now, only have two done and ready.  Have nearly ten more to go.  Have November coming up, and a new story that is desperate to be let out into the world sooner rather than later.  I just have to hold onto my sanity a little longer and get through the weekend and everything that needs to be done before I let that particular demon out.

But a full time job, while lovely and dependable, doesn't leave much time for more than one other interest.  So, it's been something of a blessing in disguise to be plagued the last few months with back problems.  Books, therefore, have won out for the first time in my life over horses.  This might be why I finally was able to finish a Camp NaNoWriMo.  I've started several, but only November has been able to hold my attention all the way.  I have to believe I am not alone in this.

So, no one ever did respond to my previous attempts at engaging an audience.  However, I just want the great wide world to know that if anyone every identifies any of the songs I've littered throughout my very random blogs, I will hold to my bargain and send them a free book.  Keep that in mind, complete and total strangers.  

In the meantime, I hope that those who can write do. Those who can ride, do it for yourself, but do me a favor and don't tell me about it.  While I have come to terms with my current limitations, best not mention it.  I might be reduced to tears.  I think I feel a sniffle coming on...

I'll come up with something productive to say here at some point.  I'm really thinking that once I figure out how to make money publishing, I'll have to share a tip or two.  Of course, that is entirely dependent on actually making more than four dollars a month...

May we all just keep rambling on