until the sea drowned the sun

November is probably too far off for most people to be thinking about yet, but for me, this is prime time to think of November.

If you recall, November is National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo or just NaNo) in which doomed souls partake in the challenge to write a 50k word novel in 30 days or less. Until last week, I had no plots or even ideas, that is until I stole one... But don't worry! I stole it from my best friend with her permission. Originally, the idea had been for a fake movie meme that filtered through tumblr a few months ago in which you take a few celebrities, a song from shuffle, and make up a plot with these. It's quite fun.

So I stole it and am in the process of plotting out the novel. So far I've got about seven pages of character development but no plot... haha. Typical. Quelle surprise. But here, have the (newly redesigned) fake movie poster!

The coloring in the title got a little screwed up on here, but that's okay. So... when my novel is made into a movie guess who should play the title roles? Haha.

Alas! Earwax.

The last post was about Harry Potter and being unemployed. This one is about writing and being unemployed. Two things that you'd think would go hand in hand, but alas do not.

This month is something new: Camp NaNoWriMo.

You may remember last November when I attempted to write a 50k word novel. Well, what happened was I got to 50k words and then stopped. Just plain stopped writing despite the fact that the plot was only a third of the way in. I don't know why I stopped exactly. I reached the dreaded "middle section" in which things have to actually get done. Plots have to advance, you can no longer describe characters in long-winded details, there have to be hopes and dreams and regrets. My characters seem to have those, but they're having problems actually making them into something.

So what is Camp NaNo? It's a spin-off of the original in November, this time set in the balmy summer months of July and August (if you should so choose) in which you attempt another 50k word noveling experience. I had the brilliant thought that I should use whatever motivation this would give me to actually finish last year's novel (which hasn't been looked at since December. I am ashamed).

Well, it's day three of July and for the first time in seven months, I actually typed something into that document. It's difficult getting back into the story and the characters after so long, not to mention I've been working on a screenplay for the last two weeks, and getting out of screenwriter mode is extremely difficult.

I suppose what I'm getting at here is that I'm procrastinating writing... by writing this blog. Seriously. Worst writer ever.

In other news, yesterday I dreamt about French cheeses. I am going crazy.

i want this second chance

Hey, woah, you! Yeah, you. Over there, the one cautiously avoiding my eyes...

You can now buy my book on Kindle!

Yes, that's right. The book that has been out for two years is now on Kindle, which I hope means something more than I just wasted a weekend. I really do need to get around to editing the rest of my crappy novels. There could be at least one gem hidden amongst the rubble, but it needs a ton of polishing to get it anywhere near good enough to put out for people to actually read.

However, this one is currently decent enough that I don't cringe at the thought of people reading it, so hey, got a kindle? go buy it! Don't have one? You can still buy it on amazon.com. seriously.

Oh, Also, New official authoring website: http://elyceg.wordpress.com

yep :D

hobbies are hobbies too

I had a dream last night that I was yelling at my bad class. They weren't listening, as per usual, and I woke myself up in the middle of yelling, "QUIET!" I swear I half said the word before I was awake and thinking, "Did I almost say that out loud?" Considering how little I dream, I'm surprised I had this at all.

You know that feeling you get after you finish something that has taken a long time? Like reading a long book series or writing a long story or finishing a television series? Like something is missing and you don't quite know what to do with yourself? I don't like that feeling. It's sort of depressing in a way. Try watching all three Lord of the Rings movies in a row and you'll understand the feeling. The feeling that things are over and there won't be anymore.

I spent the last week watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, which I will recommend as an amazing show even though it's animated and intended for age 8-10. Granted, it's only three seasons long and it ended about 3 years ago. I did watch a few episodes 5 years ago when I was in college and a friend liked it, but for some reason I just didn't get into it. Probably because I saw a few episodes in the middle. Starting from the beginning is a much better idea.

Basically, I'm in love with Zuko and if he was real, I'd marry him. Of course, the same goes for Sokka, and for Dmitre from Anastasia. The point is, after I finished the series (yesterday - I watched 8 episodes in a row, couldn't stop myself), I was left with that empty feeling again.

My hobbies are not vast or really varied. And a lot of them are combined. I like to knit, but I do it while watching TV shows. I like to cook but I need the right kitchen setup to really feel comfortable doing it. And oven would be helpful too. My interest in animals is pretty much caput at the moment considering I can't have a pet here. I've forgotten half the things I used to know from 4-H. Writing is an interest, but it's something that takes an idea and if you don't feel like writing, you don't feel like writing. I do need to finish my NaNoWriMo, but.... my motivation went *poof* when November ended.

Lately, I've also been in that strange mood where you just want to delete all social network profiles and vanish from the internet, which is, of course, impossible in this day and age. In the past two years, I've deleted 2 livejournals, 2 twitters, insanejournal, dreamwidth, myspace, bebo (did not remember i even had this), buzznet, 1 blog, and I really should delete my tumblr too. I can't delete my facebook and I like my facebook. Living abroad without facebook is really hard as I found out last year when I went 3 months without it in China until I just couldn't take it and got a VPN.

Pointless post is pointless.

And on a parting note, eight year olds are the devil. Next time I'll take down all their names and give them all a punishment.

I challenge you to a duel!

The gauntlet has been thrown. The proverbial glove has come off the hand and been smacked across a cheek, leaving a smarting red print behind. The flags have been flown. And only one can come in the winner.

I have been challenged by a friend to the Battle of NaNoWriMo 2010.

I accept this challenge.

50k Words. 30 Days. 1 Insane Month.

This will be my fourth year participating in National Novel Writing Month. Last year I wrote two novels. The year before, I self-published my novel. This year... people have placed very high expectations on my head. I'm not sure I can meet them all.

Last night was the official NaNoWriMo kick-off party at La Cantine in Paris. It lasted from 8PM on October 31st, noveling beginning precisely at midnight, and ended at 8AM November 1st. In that span of eight hours of noveling, I wrote a whopping two thousand words. Not a very impressive start. However, it has long been proven that I do my best writing during the mid-afternoon.

As to the Battle of NaNoWriMo, no set prizes have been designated yet. But I have been officially slapped with the white, silk glove. That's not to say I don't fully expect my other NaNo buddies to keep up with me as well as my challenger. Those I have dragged into NaNo with me over the years should do well to remember that it is I who holds the glove now, and a challenge could be waiting to smack you just around the corner.