Taking myself seriously

I signed up for Nanowrimo as a lark, a thing to do while unemployed, and to see if I could do it. A game/project for one month.

I didn't count on taking it seriously. I'm a third of the way through December, and wrestling with this novel and these aliens. Thinking about naming, about the appearance and habits of giant squid, about how to connect different plot threads.

Nobody told me it would be easy to write. But I thought it would be easier not to. Instead, I'm sitting here, frustrated because the words won't come--oh, LiveJournal words are flowing, but I don't know what any of my characters are going to do next--but not content to just say "the hell with it" and play nethack or work on a Turbo zine or, well, anything.

Tomorrow or the day after, I'll have to start on a paid nonfiction project. I'll probably get lots of ideas then, when the novel can be work avoidance behavior again.

Taking myself seriously

I signed up for Nanowrimo as a lark, a thing to do while unemployed, and to see if I could do it. A game/project for one month.

I didn't count on taking it seriously. I'm a third of the way through December, and wrestling with this novel and these aliens. Thinking about naming, about the appearance and habits of giant squid, about how to connect different plot threads.

Nobody told me it would be easy to write. But I thought it would be easier not to. Instead, I'm sitting here, frustrated because the words won't come--oh, LiveJournal words are flowing, but I don't know what any of my characters are going to do next--but not content to just say "the hell with it" and play nethack or work on a Turbo zine or, well, anything.

Tomorrow or the day after, I'll have to start on a paid nonfiction project. I'll probably get lots of ideas then, when the novel can be work avoidance behavior again.

damp feet

Good news: three outstanding invoices (all for work done for the person in Japan, in October and November) were paid into my Paypal account this morning. That will make things much more relaxed.

I got out of the house later than I'd planned, which meant I didn't get to the gym until almost 3:00. I had a somewhat abbreviated workout, because I couldn't find a comfortable position on the exercise bike--the same bike I used with no trouble at all plenty of times before, but my thighs were tender, or something.

( gym numbers )

This timing meant I got a late lunch (or early tea) at Amy's Bread about 4:30. The advantage of that is that their sandwiches are half-price between 4 and 6 p.m. I had tea, a sandwich, and some chocolate bread while finishing the proofs for the upcoming issue of NY Review of SF. Thence downtown in the rain to the bank, and back up (one whole subway stop) to the Flatiron Building, where Kevin and I put labels on envelopes while other people read proofs. And then home and hot chocolate and I really ought to make some pasta or something.

damp feet

Good news: three outstanding invoices (all for work done for the person in Japan, in October and November) were paid into my Paypal account this morning. That will make things much more relaxed.

I got out of the house later than I'd planned, which meant I didn't get to the gym until almost 3:00. I had a somewhat abbreviated workout, because I couldn't find a comfortable position on the exercise bike--the same bike I used with no trouble at all plenty of times before, but my thighs were tender, or something.

( gym numbers )

This timing meant I got a late lunch (or early tea) at Amy's Bread about 4:30. The advantage of that is that their sandwiches are half-price between 4 and 6 p.m. I had tea, a sandwich, and some chocolate bread while finishing the proofs for the upcoming issue of NY Review of SF. Thence downtown in the rain to the bank, and back up (one whole subway stop) to the Flatiron Building, where Kevin and I put labels on envelopes while other people read proofs. And then home and hot chocolate and I really ought to make some pasta or something.