Friday, February 1, 2013

NiNoWriMo - February

I'm doing this at The Writer's Dojo.


 

It's set up to be a month-to-month challenge where you can sign up to write, revise, or query - sort of like NaNoWriMo except you choose your own goal and it's open every month. Come join me if you're up for it. 

My goal is to add 10,000 words to my current WIP in February.  It feels like a realistic goal.

Graduate school is going well, but it's taking me a while to finish the reading assignments.  I'm understanding the reading - mostly literary theory so far - but apparently we have to apply the theory in a group to a poem that we've never read before on the fly.

As a former software designer, to me it's the equivalent of learning a new database or development tool or design methodology and then being asked to apply it on the fly with a group of people I've never met (and who just learned it too) without any context and then being judged on it publicly.  It's definitely challenging.  This may be the part of the class I will never master - so be it.

This week I've been overwhelmed with story ideas, completely saturated - which is all good except I'm kind of suffocating in them, so I haven't written fiction this week despite the thing where I committed to Write Despite. 

I am kind of screwed today - I have three chapters of literary theory to read.  Preschool is closed.  One child has been sick all week. 

34 comments:

  1. Ali's Ninja Dojo will motivate you!
    Theory on the fly - that does sound like a challenge.
    And sorry you have a sick kid.

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    1. Thanks. He's actually looking worse as the week goes on. I'm a little worried.

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  2. Well, we'll be cheering you on, sweetie. I remember the college days. My youngest was 2 and the oldest 12. It wan't easy but worth it.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

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  3. Oh, I like the idea of a group that motivates for monthly goals. That is how I tend to do my goals anyway, so I think I will join you. Your group project sounds like a good learning experience, though I don't necessarily endorse that literature teachers GET what the writer means... I think they over reach and most writers would be shocked to find the 'themes' they've instilled... or maybe I'm a cynic.

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    1. Yay that you will join. I do monthly goals anyway too, so it was a fit for me.

      We're studying the history of literary criticism - all the different schools - some look for intended meaning, some don't, some only look at the reader's experience, some from a gender or race or gay perspective. I think it's interesting but applying it that quickly is rough - I think it's just an exercise to see if we understand the theory, not to convince us to use it.

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  4. I like the idea of setting your own parameters for a challenge. Good luck with your goal! I think mine will be to finally finish this first draft of my current WIP :) I'll be cheering for you!!!

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    1. I would normally shoot for 20 or 25K - no way is that happening this month. Good luck on finishing!! I'm cheering back.

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  5. I'm proud of you. I know going back to school was huge for you but it sounds like you're able to juggle the commitments and still make writing goalls!!

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  6. Literary theory kind of makes me happy.

    Hope your little one is feeling better. Have a great weekend...doing homework. :)

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    1. Me too. I kind of love it as I read it, and I understand it, but then I forget the details. I'm trying to type up notes for each theory so I can get control over it.

      It's my middle one, and he's starting to worry me.

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  7. I've done the NiNoWriMo thing before. It was great; they're an excellent group of writers. Best of luck with that and the school side.

    Hope your little one feels better soon!

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  8. Bet you're glad for the weekend. Hope you get it all working for you and get back to the 'despite'

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  9. I feel pretty screwed, too, from the day job. So much to do, so many who want a piece of me, so much I want to do for myself and my goals, so much STRESS, GAAAAAAAAH!

    Ahem.

    In other words, I'm with ya, sister. Good luck with that poetry analysis!

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    1. Is that wrong that your comment made me feel better. At least we're not alone.

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  10. I've been struggling to write consistently, four days a week seems to be about right for me the past few weeks. I hope to have something done this month, but I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to it.

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    1. Four days a week is great if you're consistent with it. Do what works for you.

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  11. Love the ninja picture! Good luck with your writing. I want to try this one month, it would help me stay focused....maybe. :-)

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    1. I think it looks a lot like my 'real' picture except the part is switched. :))

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  12. Boo on sickness! :/ But NaNoWrimo in Feb? Seems like the perfect month!

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    1. It's ninja novel writing month. We are ninjas in all the months, not just November. No?

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  13. Heck....I hate doing anything in front of a group of people, especially if I'm in unfamiliar territory! Hang in there! :)

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    1. Me too. It will be worth it. Every class is 10% of the degree - it will add up very quickly.

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  14. This sounds awesome! I think I'm going to sign up, at least some months.

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  15. I get the saturation thing. So much to do, so many possibilities and idea. So many that none get acted on :/

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    1. It's probably a good position to be in compared to the opposite (been there too).

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  16. You can do it, Tonya. Your friends here are cheering for you.

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  17. Hmmm. I think I may try to do this. I know I can write 10K words in one month.

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    1. I think that's a very do-able goal for me. You can set your own though - and they have a separate challenge for querying and editing. It makes hard work fun (besides the thing where we get to make stuff up).

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