NaNoWriMo 2013

It's November which means NaNoWriMo!  I was going to write another story but I want to focus on my main one so I can get a script together and out of my brain!!  I mean, I've been working on it since last year and all...I just never really like to end my stories.

Why?

Because that means it's over!  The story is over!  The characters move on!  Who wants that?  Not me!  I love my characters - good or bad - and I want their adventures to continue!  Granted, they can't and I know that but still.

My old man hooked me up with one of his co-workers, who just so happens to be a writer, and he gave me some GREAT advice.  He also encouraged me to step away from my main writing project if I need to, just to get an emotional break, but he told me something very important: KEEP WRITING.  Whether it's a crappy idea or something I might want to pursue later, WRITE IT DOWN!!!  I knew that already but it was great to hear it from him because it proved I've been doing the right thing all along!

Meeting with him was great because, I know I've said this before but I'm going to keep pointing it out, at work, I'm very isolated.  I'm the only person in the building that does what I do - editing, animations, a specific kind of writing...so it's hard to get motivated and stay motivated when my co-workers don't "get" me, so I cherish these kinds of interactions because they really do mean a lot to me and it feels great to be surrounded by others that have the same interests as you, right?!

I'm happy to say that I'm 34 pages into my script so far and I'm right on target with the parameters he gave me, which makes me so happy that I'm getting this DONE!!!  One of the exercises he gave me was to read a script similar to mine so I could get the proper structure.  Surprise - the script I chose was none other than Blue Valentine.  It is structured kind of in the same way as mine but it's slightly different, of course.  Reading the script now, after having seen the movie forever ago, is great because I thought my mind was going to drift off to images of Ryan Gosling being super romantic and Michelle Williams being her lovely self (in the flashbacks) but really, I'm looking at it from a totally different perspective now and it's helping me maintain my momentum with my own story.  Granted, the last few weeks have been CRAZY at work but I'm getting back into it - including already having come up with a great concept that I'm going to build up, write a pretty in-depth synopsis for and pass on to my mentor to see if it's a "Yea" or "Nay" to pursue.  So far, all signs point to "Yea".  YAY!

Anyone else participating in NaNoWriMo this year??

When you're sick, sharing does NOT mean caring PLUS NaNoWriMo progress

Apparently after the Summit, my body wants to go into shut down mode so I've been home sick the last few days with a pretty bad sinus infection.  I'm back to work today for the first time since last Wednesday and let me tell you, I still feel awful.
It's no surprise that it's something I picked up at work since I've been running my body ragged the last month and all the parents I work with have been bringing germs to share with all of us!  Lucky for me, my body didn't go into shut down mode until after the main event, so...there's that.
Either way, it was a great opportunity to get cracking on my NaNoWriMo story for this year.  I'm up to 22,653!  My best and highest word count yet!  Go me!  I don't see me finishing it by the end of the month BUT this will be one story that I don't abandon.  I have a tendency to do that because since I started participating in NaNoWriMo in 2009, I've written a new story every year and every year, I tend to forget about the characters I've created for that year and by the time next year comes around, I have a new set of characters to hang out with.  This year will be different, though.  I can feel it.  The story I'm working on is really quite close to my heart and I'm hoping this will be the first story I will have ever finished.  EVER.
That's right - I've NEVER finished a story.  Sure, I've had writing assignments in school and all that but I never ended them with a solid "The End", it was always a kind of open-ended "The End...?" or maybe an unfinished extra credit script or short story here and there.   Nope, I've never been able to finish even a short story.  Why?  I have no idea but I am determined to finish this one - even though, technically, there's no ending. 
So why this one?  Why now?  One word: Closure.

Is anyone else participating in NaNoWriMo?

Short Update

It's been a busy, busy month! Well, a very busy couple of months.

*Went to NYC for Halloween and had an uh-mazing time! You can view the photos here and here. It was loads of fun with Vee and the girls and I'd love to do it again next year!

*Filming at work was crazy (as usual) but it was still lots of fun (as usual).

*Housewarming with some friends this past weekend - which was great. We were talking about the good old days at our old job together. Fun times...

*Spent some time with Nate's sister and friends this past Sunday - which was great fun. Found out Robert is engaged! Congrats!

*People around me are having babies: my friend/co-worker Jen is about to explode (her due date is 12/9), my friend Erica called me for my b-day and told me she was expecting and my other friend/co-worker Deb just announced she was preggers! Ack! So many babies! Let's just hope it's not in the water...

*I'm participating in NaNoWriMo this year for the first time ever. Double-D convinced me to do it with him, so I did. It's hard work and I know I'm not going to finish but at least I finally did it and I can do it again next year! I'm not giving up, though. I might have a 10,905 word count (the goal is 50,000 by 11/30) but I'm going to keep going, dammit!

*The Body Politik site is up and running and ready for you!!!

So, that's pretty much it for now. I'll be back for detailed updates later.
Until then, lots of love and kisses!!
Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.