(no subject)

[jadesfire]

How was everyone's weekend? You having fun? UK folks, did anyone get blown away? *passes anchors* Oxford was obligingly sunny while I was out and about, and only chucked it down when I got home. Whoever's been doing that rain dance for me, it's working. Apologies to everyone else...

My weekend was a happily mixed bag, in which there was stuff, herewith presented in list form. Just for a change:

#1. Have I mentioned lately how much SAD sucks? Then let me do so now. I sleepwalked my way through the week and it's not going to get any better for months yet. We're going to replace as many bulbs as we can with the daylight ones, I'm going to hopefully get a lightbox, then batten down the hatches and wait for it to go away.

#2 Speaking of ships, I keep putting John and Rodney's faces on the promo picture from 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. The one with with Jack and Will standing back to back? It's possible that I need help...

#3. We decided to risk the wrath of the weather on Saturday and go for a walk round Blenheim Palace grounds. The trees were a beautiful colour, and it was mostly sunny. Well, it didn't rain, anyway. But the best find of the afternoon was in the paper recycling bin in the car park. Someone had dumped about 50 paperbacks in there, covering pretty much everything from Jeffrey Deaver to Bill Bryson! We came away with about 25, including what look like the complete works of PG Wodehouse, Brick Lane, Chocolat, Captain Correlli's Mandolin, The Memory Keeper's Daughter and lots more. They're all the kind of books that I'd like to read, but don't want to buy or risk getting library fines on (I'm awful at returning books). And once we're done, we can pass them on to a charity shop or friends or whatever. An excellent find!

#4. I swear, this is the last post on the subject until I've actually written something. Having argued discussed this at length with both Z and the other half recently, I know that my NaNo issues are twofold. One is that I didn't think hard enough about my characters. The other is that I lack any confidence at all in my ability to do this. The second, I can't do a whole lot about. The first, I may be on my way to solving. I think I know what I want to *say* about the character, which for me, is the whole point of writing in the first place. We'll see what happens.

#5. I have a list of other fic I'm working on that runs to about ten lines. This actually helps with the NaNo, since I write best when I'm swamped. Taking my time really doesn't work for me, at all. This personality description describes me almost perfectly, and I really am happiest when juggling eight or nine different things. It means I don't get bored. To that end, watch this space for a WIP meme ;)

Speaking of writing, if you haven't been following artword, get yourselves over there now, because there's some awesome stuff coming out. My latest contribution was to Stir, where lack of time forced me to leave aesc to pick up the plot pieces (and how bouncy am I that she ran with my dropped hint? \o/), but wow. She did such an awesome job that I only feel slightly guilty. It's also written by sheafrotherdon and perspi, which I absolutely didn't call. I feel like I'm in heady company with these three wonderful writers, and the artwork is just. Wow. Go have a look!

That's quite enough from me, I think. Oh, except to say that if you're in Oxford and thinking of eating at the Mitre because it's a Beefeater and how bad can it be? Don't. Walk across town to the Wetherspoons. You will not regret this... Full saga once we've had a reply to our complaint letter.

So. That's me. How's everyone else?

Comments

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Not been blown away yet, but it was a close thing when I walked along Harbour Drive earlier...

Captain Correlli's Mandolin is brilliant. The imagery is so vivid, I felt like I was seeing the scenes, some of which are quite uncomfortable, but beautifully painted nonetheless.

Shiny co-writers you have there! I'll go check that out at some point :)

Hope the lightbulbs help - do it sooner rather than later, hmm? Take care of yourself in the meantime *hugs*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Eep. Our windows are rattling with it...*shivers*

I tend towards sci-fi and mystery normally, so it's good to have something different that doesn't cost me any money!

*grin* I nearly fell over when I saw the list of writers! I'm glad I didn't know, or I would have been much more nervous...

I'll get the lights sorted this week, I promise ;)

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

I haven't been blown away, but that's because I decided not to leave the house and stay in and write instead. Part of that is due to the fact that I would have been on my bike and not in my car and it's really too windy to be cycling much. The writing was successful too, which has made me happy.

I'm glad I don't get SAD, it sounds horrible, but then I don't think I'd cope with wanting to be surrounded by daylight constantly; I'm the person who keeps the curtains drawn as often as not to keep the light OUT. I think I was born to be a goth...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's definitely weather like this that puts me off cycling! My writing is going better too - keeping realising that I feel rotten because of the SAD not because I'm doing something wrong, definitely helps.

*grin* Could I have your daylight quota, then, please? I don't like heat, but the darkness is just too much for me right now. At least I know it'll pass. In...February...but that's only a few months, right?

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

If I could bottle it up and send it to you I would, in return for some extra dark in Summer when I'm desperate for it! I love Winter and the flicker of firelight and candlelight (OK the fire's a gas one, but it's still in a proper grate and chimney so you get the same effect) and the smell of apples and cinnamon.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Amazing find on the books!

It's a lovely cool and sunny day here, and truly autumn since we've started to have some rain. I spent a couple of hours this morning sewing, doing some mending and making a pair of flannel pajama pants for the boy. It's been a couple of years since I sewed a garment from scratch, and I was relieved that they came out looking nice.

Just from reading on LJ the past few years, I've noticed that a lot of people don't complete or even make a good stab at NaNo until they've entered and not done it two or three times. There seems to be a kind of process of working up one's nerve along with getting ideas organized.

I think what scares me to death is the idea of writing 2,000 words a day. That's the schedule Stephen King keeps (he detailed it in his book On Writing) and it takes him half a workday to do it. That's just daunting to me.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I couldn't believe the books! Although I was a bit surprised to come out of the ladies' loo and find my husband rummaging through the bins ;)

Sounds like you've been incredibly productive! I'd love to be able to make things like that, but I tend to just tie things together...

I think I just assumed it would be as easy as fanfic, and forgot to really *build* my characters before writing. Now I've gone back to start that, it feels much easier. Since I'm a sprint writer, I'm not too worried about the word count yet. I can do about 4k a day without burning out, but only for a couple of weeks. We'll see what happens...

[potatocubed.livejournal.com]

2000 words a day is pretty easy if you're just turning them out. I imagine it takes Mr. King longer because he chooses them with more care than, say, me.

The thing I noticed when I did Nano for the first time was how much time I normally just waste in a day. When you fill that time with writing you can keep up with your wordcount without sacrificing anything from the rest of your life. This may not hold if you have kids or a live-in lover, though. I wouldn't know. =/

Anyway, you should give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen?

[perspi.livejournal.com]

EEEE STIR TURNED OUT AWESOMELY! I was so excited about my beginning (I really really liked it, you know?) and I have finally finished reading it and wow is it ever fantastic! THAT is what I wanted to see--I KNEW we fandom could write that episode so much better than TPTB.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*bounces* Isn't it great? Although I totally didn't recognise you! Wonderful idea, and I feel very lucky to have had the three of you to write with *squishes you*

Yay us!

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

The other is that I lack any confidence at all in my ability to do this.

Yeah. When you figure out what to do about that one, let me know, okay?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

My theory is to just *write* and worry about it later. Coffee also helps, although I'm starting to understand why they recommend writers drink...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oooh, free books! AWESOME!

When writing, have you ever tried Dr. Wicked's Write or Die (http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html)?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The books are awesome indeed!

*g* Thanks for the link, but my problem really isn't 'I can't write this' it's more of a fundamental 'I have no idea what I *want* to write'. Once I figure out what's going on with my toys characters, I'll be fine :)

How was everything? I'm assuming you survived...did all the relatives? ;)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I tried it today just because I have all sorts of swirling ideas, but haven't known where or how to start, but with the pressure of it eating my page and making it angry I just let the story flow, not really thinking about where it was starting from, if that makes sense.

I did! *barely* OMG so tired! And everyone else did too. When I'm a little more coherent I'll make a post about it

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. Once I have some ideas, I shall give it a go! It looks scary but helpful :D

Yay you! Glad everyone survived the experience!

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

It's windy in Hong Kong too...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Good to know we're sharing weather with the world ;D

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

We've woken up to the top half of my neighbourwholivesatthebottomofmygarden's buddleia all over our garden. I told her it needs to be cut back every year to nearly ground level :D.

Also? I'm glad we hadn't got round to replacing the part of our fence we lost over the summer I think it would be gone again now...

#2 sounds pretty normal to me!

Oh, and my dog decided it was too wet and windy to go out after breakfast so he is currently sitting here with his legs crossed!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. It was pretty vicious last night, and I have much sympathy with the dog right now. If I didn't have to come to work I definitely wouldn't have set foot outside this morning.

*grin* I may have to scoot over to rent_a_fangirl to get that picture made and hopefully out of my head. It's very distracting...

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Not been blown away yet, but it was a close thing when I walked along Harbour Drive earlier...

Captain Correlli's Mandolin is brilliant. The imagery is so vivid, I felt like I was seeing the scenes, some of which are quite uncomfortable, but beautifully painted nonetheless.

Shiny co-writers you have there! I'll go check that out at some point :)

Hope the lightbulbs help - do it sooner rather than later, hmm? Take care of yourself in the meantime *hugs*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Eep. Our windows are rattling with it...*shivers*

I tend towards sci-fi and mystery normally, so it's good to have something different that doesn't cost me any money!

*grin* I nearly fell over when I saw the list of writers! I'm glad I didn't know, or I would have been much more nervous...

I'll get the lights sorted this week, I promise ;)

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

I haven't been blown away, but that's because I decided not to leave the house and stay in and write instead. Part of that is due to the fact that I would have been on my bike and not in my car and it's really too windy to be cycling much. The writing was successful too, which has made me happy.

I'm glad I don't get SAD, it sounds horrible, but then I don't think I'd cope with wanting to be surrounded by daylight constantly; I'm the person who keeps the curtains drawn as often as not to keep the light OUT. I think I was born to be a goth...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's definitely weather like this that puts me off cycling! My writing is going better too - keeping realising that I feel rotten because of the SAD not because I'm doing something wrong, definitely helps.

*grin* Could I have your daylight quota, then, please? I don't like heat, but the darkness is just too much for me right now. At least I know it'll pass. In...February...but that's only a few months, right?

[aeron-lanart.livejournal.com]

If I could bottle it up and send it to you I would, in return for some extra dark in Summer when I'm desperate for it! I love Winter and the flicker of firelight and candlelight (OK the fire's a gas one, but it's still in a proper grate and chimney so you get the same effect) and the smell of apples and cinnamon.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Amazing find on the books!

It's a lovely cool and sunny day here, and truly autumn since we've started to have some rain. I spent a couple of hours this morning sewing, doing some mending and making a pair of flannel pajama pants for the boy. It's been a couple of years since I sewed a garment from scratch, and I was relieved that they came out looking nice.

Just from reading on LJ the past few years, I've noticed that a lot of people don't complete or even make a good stab at NaNo until they've entered and not done it two or three times. There seems to be a kind of process of working up one's nerve along with getting ideas organized.

I think what scares me to death is the idea of writing 2,000 words a day. That's the schedule Stephen King keeps (he detailed it in his book On Writing) and it takes him half a workday to do it. That's just daunting to me.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I couldn't believe the books! Although I was a bit surprised to come out of the ladies' loo and find my husband rummaging through the bins ;)

Sounds like you've been incredibly productive! I'd love to be able to make things like that, but I tend to just tie things together...

I think I just assumed it would be as easy as fanfic, and forgot to really *build* my characters before writing. Now I've gone back to start that, it feels much easier. Since I'm a sprint writer, I'm not too worried about the word count yet. I can do about 4k a day without burning out, but only for a couple of weeks. We'll see what happens...

[potatocubed.livejournal.com]

2000 words a day is pretty easy if you're just turning them out. I imagine it takes Mr. King longer because he chooses them with more care than, say, me.

The thing I noticed when I did Nano for the first time was how much time I normally just waste in a day. When you fill that time with writing you can keep up with your wordcount without sacrificing anything from the rest of your life. This may not hold if you have kids or a live-in lover, though. I wouldn't know. =/

Anyway, you should give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen?

[perspi.livejournal.com]

EEEE STIR TURNED OUT AWESOMELY! I was so excited about my beginning (I really really liked it, you know?) and I have finally finished reading it and wow is it ever fantastic! THAT is what I wanted to see--I KNEW we fandom could write that episode so much better than TPTB.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*bounces* Isn't it great? Although I totally didn't recognise you! Wonderful idea, and I feel very lucky to have had the three of you to write with *squishes you*

Yay us!

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

The other is that I lack any confidence at all in my ability to do this.

Yeah. When you figure out what to do about that one, let me know, okay?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

My theory is to just *write* and worry about it later. Coffee also helps, although I'm starting to understand why they recommend writers drink...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oooh, free books! AWESOME!

When writing, have you ever tried Dr. Wicked's Write or Die (http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html)?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The books are awesome indeed!

*g* Thanks for the link, but my problem really isn't 'I can't write this' it's more of a fundamental 'I have no idea what I *want* to write'. Once I figure out what's going on with my toys characters, I'll be fine :)

How was everything? I'm assuming you survived...did all the relatives? ;)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I tried it today just because I have all sorts of swirling ideas, but haven't known where or how to start, but with the pressure of it eating my page and making it angry I just let the story flow, not really thinking about where it was starting from, if that makes sense.

I did! *barely* OMG so tired! And everyone else did too. When I'm a little more coherent I'll make a post about it

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. Once I have some ideas, I shall give it a go! It looks scary but helpful :D

Yay you! Glad everyone survived the experience!

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

It's windy in Hong Kong too...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Good to know we're sharing weather with the world ;D

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

We've woken up to the top half of my neighbourwholivesatthebottomofmygarden's buddleia all over our garden. I told her it needs to be cut back every year to nearly ground level :D.

Also? I'm glad we hadn't got round to replacing the part of our fence we lost over the summer I think it would be gone again now...

#2 sounds pretty normal to me!

Oh, and my dog decided it was too wet and windy to go out after breakfast so he is currently sitting here with his legs crossed!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. It was pretty vicious last night, and I have much sympathy with the dog right now. If I didn't have to come to work I definitely wouldn't have set foot outside this morning.

*grin* I may have to scoot over to rent_a_fangirl to get that picture made and hopefully out of my head. It's very distracting...