My post today covers two areas
- My temporary defection over to Life, Laughs & Lemmings
- A NaNoWriMo update (i.e., how to make lemonade out of lemons)
Defection (temporary, that is…)
A Kick-Arse Blog!
I’ve volunteered to sit at Sami’s table over at Life, Laughs & Lemmings today. This is quite a treat, beings that Sami is such a kick-arse friend and colleague in addition to hosting a kick-arse blog.
And, hey, if my guest post makes it even a tiny-bit easier for her to run off to Hawaii for a much-need break, all the better! So, stop over to Sami’s to read my story about swimming with the sharks and get to know her readers, too. Sami and her community are one lively group! 
Have fun in Hawaii, Sami, and get in the water for me, will ya’?
Lemonade
My writing experiment commences in T minus 14 days. Eep!
As you may have read, recently a storm battered San Francisco, which resulted in me unplugging for the day.
I paced, I wore earplugs, I got worked up, and then it hit me.
“Hey, dork, NaNoWriMo allows participants to start with an outline! Get to it! C’mon! Make lemonade out of lemons.”
(Note: I talk to myself a lot—apologies for quoting myself. It’s really me, or one of the mes anyway.)
Per the NaNoWriMo website:
“Outlines and plot notes are very much encouraged, and can be started months ahead of the actual novel-writing adventure. Previously written prose, though, is punishable by death.”
OK.
Got it.
No prose. But, outlines and plot points, yes.
Shaka that!
So, I sat down at my desk and opened a new, shiny, inspirational notebook I got for pocket change from after-school sales. Hanna Montana, anyone? Seesch! Mildy annoying, but, hey, it’s functional.
The Lemonade Notebook
I sat with my pen in hand.
Then I stared into space.
Then I fiddled with my pen.
Then I scooted my feet around.
Then I realized something. I have no story! Crap!
“Yes you do.”
“No I don’t! I’ve committed a heinous crime! I committed to NaNoWriMo without a burning story in me! They say that’s the worst thing to do!”
“You have a story. Stop it.”
“OK, whomever you are, if you want this written so bad, then why don’t you help me out here. Give me a sign. You’re the one who talked me into this! Just come out and freaking tell me what my story is!”
And you know what?
She did.
It came pouring out of me. Well, out of her, anyway.
In about two hours, I wrote a basic one-paragraph premise to my story and an outline complete with 60 bullet-point plot points in succession. There’s an unlikely hero. There’s tension. There’s a suprise resolution. Ooooh, the fun!
I could go on about the muse, all I’ve heard about inspiration, what an interesting feeling this was to ask my inner voice for help and get it. But, for now, I’ll leave it at this: even before the official start day, this NaNoWriMo has been a great experience.
Now, it’s time to turn my lemonade into something I can sink my teeth into.
T minus 14 days.
Thanks for escorting me on my spooky, yet exciting, writing journey!
My first tip from this experience:
Don’t be afraid to trust your intuition. If you have a goal and want it bad enough, you’ll figure out how to get there! Go for it! Dive in!
Have you experienced this knowing-what-you-want-and-somehow-it-appears experience? I’d love to know! Please tell me.
Create Your Day!
Like this post? There’s more on the way! Get them emailed to your inbox or via RSS.
lol, I think this is the best blog post I have read in a while. I love your sense of humor…and adventure. Congratulations on successfully channeling the muse. I can’t wait to read the story you two come up with!
.-= Jay Schryer´s last blog ..Memories Best Left Forgotten =-.
Thanks, oh wise one.
Coming from you, that means a heck of a lot! Thank you!
Well, I corralled her this time. But, she’s a feisty one and isn’t so easily reigned.
Yeah, I can’t wait to see how it comes out, too! Thanks, again, for rooting us on.
You rock!
Lori:
I enjoyed reading about this adventure of yours…sounds awesome…if your muse has a twin sister, could you send her my way?
.-= Tim´s last blog ..The Beauty of Autumn =-.
Hey Tim!
Heck yeah, I can send her twin sister to you. But even better, you can borrow her from me. She’s a little bit annoying and needs to be cajoled before she’ll help, but, if you’re patient, she’ll give you some good stuff!
Let me know when you need her and I’ll send her to you! (Have a great week!)
Go Lori go, we are all here shouting on the side line.
.-= Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Part 1. Hate making requests? You’d better get over it. They are key to having you fly. =-.
Thank you, Wilma! That means more than you know. Smoochies and hugs to you!
Hey Lori,
So, this is awesome (if not a bit intimidating for me…yikes, that’s a lot of words!). Keep on writing…you have a story to tell…and one I want to read…
It’s always so good being here in your space, I can’t help but feel uplifted and today especially – not sure if there’s a specific reason – just that it is…
.-= Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day =-.
Hi Lance,
That’s so cool, to see you twice in a day. I need to guest post more often!
You know what, Lance? When I sat down to do the calculation prior to committing to NaNoWriMo, I realized the 50,000 words breaks down to the equivalent of only about two 800-word blog posts a day. This suddenly seemed achievable!
(I also like to break things down into small pieces – just like you!)
And, Lance, thanks for the sweet words. I feel the same way when I’m at your site and when you stop by to visit. You’ve got the good vibrations.
Have a great week!
Hmmm… I never realized there were loopholes to the 30 days rule. Outlines and notes, you say? I bet people plan their “outlines and notes” way in advance.
You can totally do this. Put each character on a note card, with a brief description of what motivates them in life, then paste these all over your wall… and LIVE with them for 14 days. Become them. Once the story already exists in you, it’s just a matter of taking dictation (I hope you can type super fast!).
Coolness! I can’t wait to read it!
.-= Lisis´s last blog ..Inspiration: Nobody Trips Over Mountains =-.
Hi Lisis,
You bet! Even at the NaNoWriMo site, they actually say that writers have been known to work out their outlines/plot points a full year in advance. Dang, these folks are really into it!
That’s a great idea, Li, the character/note card idea. I’ve found that ever since I made the outline with plot points, it has given me a scaffold to be thinking about the story and it is really coming together in my head.
And, heck yeah about the dictation thing. When I was hand-writing my notes the other day, I just couldn’t write fast enough. Too true!
Thanks for your advice, Li, and for wanting to read it. But, I have a feeling that the product of NaNoWriMo will be just the dough, and it will need to rise and be baked before it’s ready for anyone’s eyes.
Hi Lori, love the muse visited you, that you asked your inner voice for help and it all flowed… awesome! Even though writing on the computer makes things easier in the long run, for me, there’s something different about writing with pen and paper that sort of opens me up to more inspiration… not sure what it is though, but it works!
.-= Miche – Serenity Hacker´s last blog ..There Is No Such Place As Stuck =-.
Hi Miche,
Thanks for visiting and reading my story. And I completely know what you mean about typing vs. handwriting.
I was fed up that day with technology (from the storm) and I just wanted my pen and a notebook to start my outline. The crazy thing was that the ideas were coming so fast that I almost couldn’t write them down fast enough, so I was tempted to start up my Mac so I could write faster.
But, that thought you mentioned occurred to me. Maybe I feel a bit more stuck sometimes because my thoughts are disconnected when I’m typing vs. hand writing?
I’d love to read a story/post about handwriting vs. typing at your blog someday, Miche. You brought up an excellent point (plus, I love your blog)!
Be well and cheers to you.
Yay, Muse! Sounds like she’s a great task master, and I’m guessing your story is going to rock!
I’ve been tempted to join NaNoWriMo for years, but always remember it sometime around November 20th…. Now that it’s ahead of time, and I actually HAVE a novel I’m supposed to start writing soon, story sort of in place and everything, I go to click on the link to the site and freeze. “Should I take on one more commitment?”
Oh, decisions, decisions!
Off to read your blog post at Sami’s house!
.-= Gayze´s last blog ..Psychic Fair =-.
Hi Gayze,
Great to see you twice in the same day! Oh the fun!
That’s sweet that you say my story will rock. Well, at least I know I will like it. And, maybe that will be enough when all is said and done. (?) Maybe it’s all about having a goal? Creating adventure in my life?
To be honest, I’ve certainly semi-freaked out a few times already realizing that Thanksgiving will take up a big chunk of my writing time, and what if I can’t finish? I really don’t need anymore stress in my life. And..and..and…
So, I think you’ve done a good thing to really, truly ask yourself if one more commitment is good for you. For me, it seems the stars have finally aligned and I’m doing my best to remove the stress from the experience.
Thanks for your comment! Cheers!
Hello Lori!
Wow! That is so cool how you sat down and your Super-Heroine self dictated the story to you!
I love the way you wrote this article, you write so well and I know your book will be so very cool.
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Overload Your Life! =-.
Hi Keith,
Yeah, that was fun! I hope she’s as giving as of Nov 1 and she doesn’t hang me out to dry!
And, wow Keith, you’re so sweet. Thanks for your kind comments here. You must know that I need all the help I can get. BTW: do you have any hints, tips, or tricks to pulling off this little experiment of mine? I’m all ears!
Enjoy your day today.
Hints, tips or tricks huh? Hmmmmmm Well, you’re already a much better writer than I am so I’m not sure how I can help.
I’d say to keep doing what you’re doing, as you’r writing is great. Of course, it will be a challenge to put down that many words in 30 days, but maybe you can think of it as back to back posting on your blog. You articles here are always so well written. When you write, just relax and be yourself for that will be more than enough to write this book, and besides, if you get under pressure and freak out your mind will go blank!
I wish I could offer more help!…but I suspect you don’t even need it
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Overload Your Life! =-.
Thanks, Keith!
I appreciate your support and kind words. Maybe you’re right, at this point, I think all I can do is just relax into it, have fun, and maybe as a bonus more than merely 50K worth of junk will come out the other end! Maybe I’ll actually produce a good first draft to start shaping for a larger audience. (lol)
Thanks a bunch an enjoy your day.
Hi Lori,
I love the lemonade notebook! Your post made me laugh and as for talking to yourself, we all do it. So no worries.
And yay for listening to your intuition. It will lead you in the right direction…to quote Jewel from her song of the same name.
Just as everyone has said, I look forward to seeing your story when it is completed. Keep having fun, my friend!
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Trouble Is A Friend: Investing In People And Not Things =-.
Hi Nadia,
I so much enjoy when you stop by here and also reading your blog. I know I say it all the time, but, for me, I just can’t say it enough. Thank you!
Oh geez, if you could hear me talk. I can almost write a book about all the dumb, crazy conversations I have in this head of mine. You’d never know these people are related and part of the same organism! ha
Like I just told Keith, I’m hoping she doesn’t desert me on Nov 1. I’m really going to need some help with this. But, I am keeping priority #1 having fun and just going with the flow.
A big difference I’ve already found with this little experiment is the shift I’ve seen in my habits. I tend to stop myself a lot knowing someone will read it or thinking about the final product. In this case, I just need to get 50,000 words down electronically. It’s a whole different arena this time.
Pretty fun!
Thank you my friend!