Monday, September 28, 2009

Faulkner Paper Progress 9

Finished the third draft but only after a week of writer neurosis. And after I thought I had a handle on those, I still needed hand-holding to get the draft done. Luckily, I had a friend willing to take on that role.

Fiction is so much easier. So much easier. 2010 will be such a relief to only have fiction to worry over.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Faulkner Paper Progress 8

Well, my meeting got canceled after I already took today off to deal with SLU stuff. So I get to deal with house and SLU stuff but not paper. Next draft deadline is Sept. 28th.

My professor emailed me his critique. I'm not arguing with anything he pointed out, but yet AGAIN I get told that my quotations are not explained. And by again, I mean EVERY paper I have turned in since my first as a freshman has gotten this complaint and I can't get a professor to tell me how I'm doing it wrong! *HEADDESK*

This is why I HATE nonfiction papers that tear literature apart. I know I'm doing something wrong, but what? And this was supposed to be easier than doing a thesis project? *Gnaws on desk*

He hates my thesis for the paper, which doesn't hurt my feelings because I find it an unwieldy mess too, but it was pulling teeth to get that! *headdesk* I have no idea how to approach this material, I don't want to approach this material, and I'm afraid it is coming through my writing because he said it wouldn't hurt his feelings if switched projects and professors. I HAVE NO TIME TO DO THAT NOW! Maybe if it had been suggested back in the last week of August... *whimper*

I'm stressed about this and I'm stressed about my budget and my house needs cleaning. I won't bet on it, but I bet I get further on house cleaning than anything else. :p

Friday, September 04, 2009

New toy!

Feath's Tarot Card Reading

Just using the major arcana, but it's to help loosen the thinking machine when writing. Some suggested uses:
  • Quick "yes" or "no" answers.
  • Ask the question as if it was your character asking it.
  • Use it for character development.
  • Use it for plot development.
  • Add unexpected plot twists
  • Use the picture as a visual prompt
  • Get a quick heads up on how your day is going to go
I think this is going to be oodles of fun with the right project.

Goals for 2010

Too soon to start planning? It is never too early to plan! Hopefully, I can remember said plans. Hmm, can I put up a big huge link in the sidebar?

1000 words a day x 365 days = 365,000 words for the year.

I lost track of keeping track back in April during 2009. I'd like to not do that next year. Course I also have a fantasy of actually completing all my Big Rocks in a week and that hasn't happened yet.

Still I noticed I kept track of the daily word count best by project and during NaNo in 2008. Now I'm not proposing to do 50,000 words each month. And looking at the success other people are having with pushing a mini-marathon to get ahead in their novels, I'm considering treating every month as a mini-marathon. As the way to keep myself motivated to track the progress.

January = 31 x 1000 = 31,000
February = 28 x 1000 = 28,000
March = 31 x 1000 = 31,000
April = 30 x 1000 = 30,000
May = 31 x 1000 = 31,000
June = 30 x 1000 = 30,000
July = 31 x 1000 = 31,000
August = 31 x 1000 = 31,000
September = 30 x 1000 = 30,000
October 31 x 1000 = 31,000
November = 30 x 1000 = 30,000
December = 31 x 1000 = 31,000

Hey a couple of months spent on one project should add up to a nice-sized manuscript. I'm tired of my writing health being such a pendulum of extremes. I want to sit down for the 1000 words every day or an hour of meditation, whichever comes.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Faulkner Paper Progress 7

Untitled Faulkner Comps. Paper

Progress Bar from Writertopia

The first draft clocked in at 20 pages. Now I'm waiting to see what the edits will need to be. I'm pretty sure there will be edits; my transitions are non-existent in most spots.