This is a post of random stuff on my mind. I feel like posting, but I have no set theme in mind. So I figure, why not just ramble and see what happens? LOL
1. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
I’m NOT doing this this year. In its place, I’m taking the 60 Days Writing Challenge created by Stephannie Beman. My goal for that is 70,000 words. So far I’m at 22,620 words. 😀 I’m happy with my progress. Some of that is writing 100-200 words in stories like Runaway Bride, His Abducted Bride, and The Write Husband. I focus most of my writing efforts on A Most Unsuitable Earl and Mitch’s Win.
2. Taking a break on Wagon Trail Bride
I had started Wagon Trail Bride (only two chapters in), but I had to stop because I didn’t like the direction it was going in. It was going way too dark. I’ve done serious and all, but this is not what I want for Richard Larson and Amanda. I don’t mind it being in similar to Eye of the Beholder or His Redeeming Bride (in terms of the tender overtone to the book and how serious those were), but there’s a fine line between serious and dark. That book is on hold until I decide how to get Richard to marry Amanda when he’s in love with someone else. There has to be a good reason. I know something bad happened to her and that he took her out of New York to save her, but the key is the “what”. In the meantime, I have five other books I’m working on, so don’t worry. I won’t get bored while I wait for inspiration to strike on that story. 😀
3. What would you like to see for the Sunday Sample this week?
My mind is somewhat blank on what to post for the Sunday Sample. Anyone got any books I’ve published that you’ve always wondered where I got the inspiration of it from? Any scenes that have stuck with you that made you wonder, “Where did she get that idea?” If not, then I’ll see what I can come up with on Sunday.
Ruth Ann Nordin's Author Blog 
I stopped doing NaNo when Kait Nolan started ROW80. It’s much less rigid, and you can do editing or whatever point you are in your work. There’s not a word count except what you set for yourself. NaNo is WAY too stressful. I did finish two years in a row, but my husband didn’t like me during November. LOL
You always have so many things going, I can see why you might have to take a break from one or two of them. Sometimes you have to step back and let a book percolate for awhile. 🙂
No clue. You know your books better than anyone.
November’s a hard month to do heavy writing anyway. But 50,000 is hard to do in any month, even when there are no holidays. I’ve decided I’d rather take two months to write 70,000 words I’ll keep than write 50,000 words in one month and throw out half of them.
Yep, sometimes a break is necessary. I’ve finally given myself permission to take the break when I need to. 😀
I’m hoping someone will give me something to do for a Sunday Sample, but if not, I can probably force something in my brain to click. LOL
How about your “Return of the Aliens” Series? Lotsa hugs, DorothyPaula 🙂
Sure. Is there a particular scene you want me to discuss or do you want an overview of the book?
An overview – what inspired you to write it – even a brief epilogue as to what you believe happened to the surviving main characters after the story ended. Of course, whatever you are comfortable with, and enjoy writing. Thanks. 🙂
I’ll see what I can come up with. 😀
RE: NaNo Last year was the first (and only) year I participated. I kept a log on my blog and at first I started really steady, doing great, but then mid-month came and I had 100 other things pop up. When I realized that in order to finish on track I ended up writing like a madwoman to reach my goal (averaging 6-7K words a day) only to throw about 35K out the window when December came. Granted I did set my goal much higher than the 50K that is standard (I think I wanted to get 90K done and had 14K starting out, so that came up to 76K I had to write), but once upon a time, I wrote two entire 100K novels in the span of one month so I didn’t think it was so unrealistic. But back then I didn’t have nearly as many other things to focus on. I think the key to a successful NaNo is not having other responsibilities, including not already having other books published or trying to juggle the other aspects of being a writer. For someone who writes as a hobby or who hasn’t actually written a book yet but wants to try their hand, it’s great. I think it just gets a little harder when you have so many other writer related demands pushing on you.
Maybe not for this Sample Sunday but for one in the future you could focus on Loving Eliza and your inspiration (and challenges) for writing a hero who is mute.
“I wrote two entire 100K novels in the span of one month” I think you told me this before, and it still boggles my mind that someone can write that much in one month. 😀
I agree. It’s much easier to do NaNo if you have very little else to do but write. I’d say managing the business side of writing is the most unexpected time suck. Overall, I love the whole thing, but it is more challenging to get the writing in than it was before. I can’t say the kids were a big distraction or even the housework since I managed all that before and did NaNo without any problems. But for the last two years, it was like pulling teeth, and last year I didn’t get the goal. I would have cried if I had to throw out 35K words. I hate throwing out a couple thousand, though I’ve done it. These days, I slow down and work on something else until inspiration strikes again.
I love the idea of featuring Loving Eliza. Thanks for the idea!