I did it!

Wow, 50,000 words in one month. The story isn't finished, but the word count is. A bit of rest, and then to complete the tale.

Projects

I'm up to 41,000 words on my NaNo. I'm still afraid I'm going to run out of plot before I get to 50,000 words, but things keep moving along. If it was just to write, it wouldn't matter. I'll keep plugging along and see where it end. Hopefully it is with enough words, though. Writing has been a very organic process. I went into it with a plot, but it didn't last long. Things are happening that I didn't anticipate and I'm only figuring out now how to resolve what had looked like gaping plot loopholes.

The way I'm writing is affecting how I view art and how it gets 'done'. I tend to work organically with my art work, but I think it will be even more so now, less 'plot' and more surprise. I've been working on an art quilt as well and it is almost ready for binding. It is densely quilted, so it had taken forever. Here is a peek at the quilting.



There are spots where the background doesn't lie flat because of the silk shifting possibly in the applique process and possibly in the quilting process. Ah well, off to write another 1,600 words. Before tonight's dinner and live music at the cafe. Well actually, before 3pm when I have a meeting with the other NaNo's.

Community Connection & Dance

Hedy and I had a conversation about tango connection--the one we have with our community and how it affects our dance. We were in agreement that in Buenos Aires there is a different form of connection. We decided that on a crowded floor, there is a bit more anonymity. This allows leads especially to access the passion of tango. She told me that Brent had commented that he missed watching men cry on the dance floor.

I couldn't help but wonder if this is part of what we are missing in our community. We have a wonderful group of dancers, but some of the heart I've felt in other communities is missing. Here, we have fewer members, and less dedication to excellence. Hedy is lucky, she has a lead with a sense of dedication and a willingness to experience that passion.

For the last while, I've closed myself off to the heart of our community (for various reasons) and I miss it. Last night, I cried because I feel that sense of loss deeply. I've considered giving up tango. Without the passion and heart it has felt meaningless. But I'm not ready to quit this dance. Instead, I'm going to give myself a swift kick in the rear end, put my heart back into this dance and see what happens.

Over the Hump

With twelve days left, I've completed 30,735 words of 50,000. Impressive, I suppose. My fear though is that I'll peter out and although the story will wrap up neatly, the word count will fall short. So I'm blathering. Ah well, guess I'll just wander in hopeless circles and edit ruthlessly later.

Feet

Yesterday at work I was sitting at my desk, quietly minding my own business imputing stuff into the gift recommendations, answering the phone, the usual. A client of our sales guy walks in. Usual stuff.

"Nice shoe" he says, pointing at a note pad holder in the shape of a shoe—gee, wonder what something like that is doing on my desk.

"Thanks, I have a shoe fetish," I tell him. Things are going swimming up to this point.

"Cool. I have a foot fetish myself." He responds. Oh. My. God. I'm at work here! Cute, okay, attractive. And a foot fetish. Perfect opening line. Except I was at work. Swell. Hope he does lots of advertising! And needs to come in to office.

The Great Canadian Urban Fantasy

Word count is at the side. I lost over 1,000 words the other day and had a full on panic attack when I had to rewrite them. That wasn't fun at all. One character has now taken on a major roll when I thought she'd only be a photograph. I have no idea where I'm going. I've been know to yell at my computer things like:

"Just what are you doing:

1. Here,
2. That for,
3. With him/her.

Hopefully they will tell me eventually where I'm headed.

Word Count

Day Five

Present word count: 7,039
Words needed by the end of today: 8,333.33

So far, I've been on track for daily word count. I'm staying a bit ahead each day and managing to keep up with other tasks as well. Yesterday, in addition to writing, I met with other NaNoWriMo's, did laundry, worked on an art quilt, and went to tango. And didn't fall behind in my writing.

My plot has gone out the window, my characters are taking over my book and I haven't got a clue where they are going from here. And I'm using perfectly good words in my blog.