It's that time of year when we reflect...........
           We think about the things that are; that were; and what might have been............
                      Then we think about where we want to go from here..........
My best advise:

• Be gentle on yourself
• Surround yourself with family & friends you love......and let them know it
• Always try to improve one area of your life............but don't make promises you can't keep to others or to yourself
• Let go of the past.........remember you are not the person you were - even yesterday - but you can decide who you are today

I wish you a safe & Happy New Year....

Kate

NaNo - No-NO

Call it whatever you like > the second week curse maybe.....
but I'm already on a break - Last year as I recall I sprinted at the end and this may be a replay.

When I came home tonight I was just not in the zone so it came down to two choices The Wrath of Khan or work on my novel - Hmmm.....guess what won out?

PS The Novel Fairy is really a myth,

Live Long & Prosper

Waiting for the Novel Fairy

I have been writing most of my life but until last year never took on a project like this.  I’ve written little articles and stories and kept many journals as I waited patiently for the Novel Fairy to arrive. 

I always thought one day she’d just show up and a great novel would pour out of me. Last year I stumbled across the NaNo website and promptly signed up.  This is as close to seeing the Novel Fairy as I’ve come and because of the time crunch most of my first novel was written over two weekends. 

It didn’t pour out nicely either it was more like cramming 5 oranges into a squeezer a little messy and painful.  Naturally I signed up again this year.  It’s day 4 and I'm still keeping with it.

Tonight I’m going to bed with a blank journal under my pillow in the hopes the Novel Fairy fills it for me.

Day Three - 5,000 Words....

Moving along at a steady rate - I ended today with 5008 words and my story is starting to take shape.  I did a lot of my writing duing lunch today and that worked out nicely.  The pictures here have nothing to do with anything except that there's been some pressure to publish the rest of the Bermuda pictures - and I like looking at the blue water. These were taken July 1st as we were leaving.

The Big Rescue............

I was very excited yesterday to start my new novel.  Today, I had to work and adding in the job makes for a whole different story.......

On my way to work I looked down at the gas tank and tried to decide if I had enough gas to get home. Thinking probably not, I reached into my purse and I realized that I had left my wallet in the bag I took yesterday on my big adventure to Panera.

  Not wanting to turn around, I took the gamble........ (this was not a smart idea)  

Word to the wise - even if you have a car like mine that states how many miles you have before you hit E, that information is not necessarily correct.  On my way home, the # of miles before you hit E was drastically reducing itself and on the Rhinecliff bridge, I lost 5 miles!  Lucky for me I have a pool of really good friends that I can call.  Tonight's blog is all about thanking my good friend Cynthia for rescuing me.  She met me on the other side of the bridge with enough money to put gas in my car so I could get home.  Kudos to you Cynthia!!!!!!

Once I got home I cooked dinner and worked on my novel - I'm at a comfortable 3457 words - day 2 over & yes this really is the month of crazy.

Day One - Conquering My Fears

Getting started.

I spent the morning and early part of the afternoon re-reading last year's novel. Partly to get me in the mood and partly because I was avoiding the one thing I should be doing - writing.

I had initially planned on going to a write-in but there was nothing in my area and I didn't feel like driving an hour in either direction.  I didn't want to waste the time so instead I wasted time at home.  I finally decided it was now or never and I thought a change of atmosphere would do me some good so I packed up my laptop and ventured out.  I also needed to get away from the leftover Halloween candy - there really is only so much of that one can eat.......

Since I wasn't headed to a specific write-in, I decided to make my own and I went to Panera.  This was huge for me.  Huge! Until this moment I could never just sit somewhere alone - NEVER but I was out to conquer this fear and as I sat in this little cafe I noticed that there were no less than five others doing the same thing as me.  This wasn't so scary after all.....and so I began and I banged out 2,000 words, not a bad start and just 48,000 to go..................

Let the Month of Crazy Begin

In about an hour it will all begin again. Yes that's right it's NaNoWriMo Time.  For those that don't know, November is National Novel Writing Month.  Last year I took the challenge to complete a 50,000 word novel in the month of November and succeeded > just barely, but I pulled it off.  At the same time I was writing the novel, I entertained anyone who cared to read my blog with my remodeling pictures.  Of course, I was having the house redone at the same time I was writing and working full time....hence the month of crazy.  This year will be no different, the freak snow storm two days ago left me with a mess on my back deck just to let me know it was writing time again.  I was lucky to get this taken care of today so maybe things will be calm.

Writing my blog also helps while I'm working on a novel so I'll be communicating through here any accomplishments or setbacks.  Last year I started my Cozy Little Mystery series.  I'm still trying to wrap up editing the first novel and am planning to submit it to a publisher (or as many as it takes) in the near future.  I'll be working on the second in the series this month  - Kelly, the star of the Cozy series is off on a new adventure - and so am I!