So I just had my website/blog designed for me by Heather Goff, who did a fantastic job listening to my vague ideas and turning them into something usable. I had tried, believe me, I tried, doing a website on my own, but it didn’t work. It might have been that I aimed too high and bought the Thesis theme, based on the recommendations of many people on the interwebs. But it was so far above my ability, that I spent more time working on the site than I did, working on my writing.
Hence my search for a webdesigner, and luckily I found Heather. We’re still going to work on a few tweaks here and there, but for the most part I feel comfortable making basic updates. I’m writing down my questions and suggestions as I go, so it shouldn’t be long now before I’m up and running.
Actually I think I’m up and running already, or at least I should be. I got laid off on October 11 (a day that will live in my heart forever!), and since then I’ve been committed to writing. All day, all night, all writing. Oh, with breaks for cooking really good meals and sneaking in an episode of Teen Wolf or Stargate: Atlantis whenever I’ve been in my head too long.
I’m working on a historical fiction novel, which I actually started in 2006. I got laid off in 2007 and actually finished the first draft, and then, after a month of it sitting in the drawer, I went back and realized it was AWFUL. That’s not me being self critical, that’s because it’s the truth. I talked the story over with my friend Kathy R., and she very kindly indicated that the story I’d just written might have been the one I’d had in my head since I was much younger, and as such, lacked a critical perspective, and perhaps some good story telling skills as well. That’s not what she said, she said, “The story has been in your head for so long, right? For a long time, right? So, it probably reflects all the interests and passions you had when you were younger. You’re older now, and more experienced….so you might have to start all over again.”
It was something like that, something stern and yet at the same time, encouraging. So, I went back into the world, and tried to write, honestly I did. I got waylaid by a very fun project that entailed me writing for Pink Raygun for the next five or so years. I did a lot of writing, around 5,000 words week in and week out, as I reviewed books and movies, and a TV show called Supernatural. After four years, the show turned to crap, and I carried on for two more years writing out of my commitment to PRG. But I finally had to throw in the towel and recover from such a bad show. Then I got laid off.
And here we are.
I have a deadline of February 20th to finish the novel, the first draft of it, at least. That means I have to write 4,000 words a day. Every day, for the next 34 days. I once wrote 100,000 words in a month, but that month, I didn’t do laundry, barely ate, and never left the house. It was fun, but not very realistic. Once I get closer to finishing the draft, I’ll be looking for book designers and purchasing numbers for the versions of the books. And an editor, that’s key, even though some writers say, you don’t need an editor! Be your own editor! Yes, that’s true, and in the past, I have. But this book is key, so I’ll be on the lookout.
Now, here is my attempt at inserting a picture into a blog post. So very exciting, this!
