Back in the Saddle

   It feels wonderful to get back into my desk chair and focus on work. Now that things have settled down my attention can go back to my novel-in-progress. I feel like I'm getting things done and I'm not going crazy because I can't write.
   A little while ago, the Positive Brigade came over to take us out. We went to Little Italy and had a lovely night out, visiting Lake View Cemetery, taking many photographs... It was a wonderful time. My new picture on my profile was taken by Shelby, who is an incredible photographer. We had a lot of fun and will return to Little Italy one day. Especially the bakery that is there.
   I'm still keeping up with my journal. I want to try keeping a 'Morning Pages' journal too but first I have to find a notebook that isn't being used for something else. After I try it for a little while, I'll let you all know how it goes.

   My dad's going to set up my mother's desk in the room connected to mine so my mom has an office she can use. It's one of those big 'L' shape desk. My dad said he'll find a spare piece that he can set up in my room so I have an actual desk instead of using my dresser as a make-shift desk. It'll be nice to have leg room when I'm writing.
   Meanwhile, everyday I'm pushing myself to keep editing and try to get more and more done each day. Some days are good but some days are slow and editing is painful, but the more I do it the more I learn with each sentence. And I have to keep learning to improve myself as a writer.

To The New Year

   Well, it's the end of the year and time to say good bye to the old year and hello to the new one. It's also that time to make resolutions. So here's my resolutions:

• Edit my novel-in-progress
• Write two full first drafts during 2011
• Get an agent and send edited novel-in-progress out for publication
• Get rid of all negativity in my life (more as in negative people instead of negative tasks as in work)
• Join a local writing group
• Learn to drive
• Experience new things (i.e. build something, go to new places, see new things, go camping, ect, ect.)
• Read more books and keep a journal
• Protect my writing time more than I have been

   There's my list. I hope you all manage to accomplish all your new year resolutions. This will be my last blog post for 2010, so farewell 2010 and hello 2011. I hope you'll be better and full of new adventures. I look forward to the new chapters in my life and the exciting new adventures that lay ahead.
   Looking back on this year I could have accomplished so much more. I don't want that regret at the end of 2011. I want to live my life to the fullest and enjoy every moment of it-- even the hardships.

   So here's to the new year and the new adventures that are waiting~
   May it be blessed with happiness, fortune, love, and excitement.

- Siddy

Preparations for Editing

Well, NaNoWriMo has been over for 21 days, December's almost gone and I finally have my manuscript all printed out and ready my red pen for editing. Parts must be rewritten while other parts just need a good going over. Unfortunately a writing mishap happened and it didn't print in double spacing like it was supposed to... I think it was because it was opened in an internet browser and not in MS Word... But that's all right. I plan to work with it as it is since I feel I've killed enough trees today...

   And there it is. The death of a dozen trees and my novel-in-progress in it's full, rough, unpolished, and unedited glory, still untouched by the Great Red Pen. I'll probably casually go over it, switching between working on that, reading library books, and writing other works-in-progress until after New Year's and then the real work begins. After I edit this one, add in scenes, and remove other scenes, check characters to make sure they're in character, and go over my grammar again and again (not exactly in that order but you get the idea), I'll redo it on the computer and reprint everything out-- killing more trees; I feel horrible for it-- to go over the second draft.
   Why print it out? Personally, I like editing on paper. It's different from working on the computer and the bright, glaring screen. No, not all of my editing is done with paper but I, personally, find editing easier if I print out my novel-in-progress and go over it that way.
   So like so many other Wrimos on their writing adventures, I'm preparing for the long, perilous journey of editing. But for now, I'm off to check the skies once more for the 2010 lunar eclipse, be disappointed when I find the sky is thick with clouds as it always is in winter, and then fall asleep on the couch-- my lovely bed away from bed.

   Hope everyone is having a great holiday season and enjoying the winter solstice,

   - Siddy

*NaNo Happy Dance of 50k Goodness*

I am proud to announce that last night I hit the 50k mark in my NaNo Novel! This is the earliest I have ever hit it and I'm extremely pleased with myself.

But I'm not done yet! Now it's onward to 75k and then who knows from there. Of course, I had to reward myself. So I went out fishing for Lake Erie Steelheads with my grandpa. Sadly, we didn't catch any. In fact, the only thing we caught was the poor minnow that was attacked by my lure and ended up tangled-- not hooked but tangled-- in my lure's hook. I'm happy to say that it was released unharmed (physically, at least. I can't speak for his mental state. I mean, it's probably thinking "I was just attacked by a plastic-looking fish that's more than twice my size with hooks sprouting from it! Of course I'm not okay!") and will continue to swim for another day.

But now I'm off to get into my pjs and snuggle up with a blanket to write a little bit before I go to bed. I have a horrible OCD issue with the blue progress bars on my NaNo profile and I can't stand them being too close together.

Good luck to all my fellow Wrimos! Keep writing!

- Siddy

Words Have Not Forsaken Me

Ahoy readers,




   Sorry for the lack of posting and tweeting... It's been rough here. First I spent a week in Southern Ohio, then half a week in Texas for Arcane's graduation... I even got a tattoo of a male house sparrow in flight, just like I wanted. It's beautiful, and it's beautiful in Texas... Like a whole different world. Within my first night in Texas I was pinched by a crab (those things pinch as hard as budgies bite), and watched geckos run from me. Within my first day I saw wild sea turtles, jellyfish, dolphins, and all sorts of other ocean life... And the birds there are incredible. Of course, I couldn't help but be comforted when I saw the house sparrows down there acting just like the ones up here.
   In southern Ohio, I felt more at home than I had in a long time... It's been four years since I've seen many of the places down there... They were familiar in a strange Déjà Vu kind of way... My memories of those places were so faded in my mind that it felt as if I had simply seen them in a dream a long time ago and was now seeing them in real life. I had a lot of fun with Aiden and her friends, and Michi, and Sammy... The kittens were adorable. I spoiled them while I was there... Especially Toast.


   But now that I'm home it's back to the usual routine... And for some reason my dad and I ended up in a vicious fight and tore out each other's throats (figure of speech; my throat is still intact, if not a little raw from yelling so much). I don't know what to do or how to handle this situation any further, so we'll see what time holds in store for it. However, it's effecting my writing a little bit-- but I'm still trudging along and I'm happy that the words for my stories have not forsaken me yet.
   I'm ready to move out for a few weeks, though... But I would be too much of a burden to whomever would take me in, seeing as I have no job (yet) and, therefor, no money. So instead, I'm going to have to keep trudging my way through and figure things out for myself. I'm determined to graduate, thanks to Aiden and her genius but evil mind... And I'm also determined to get published this year-- or at least send one of my novels out in the mail to be considered by publishers. Those are my two goals for this year.
   Of course, I'll be happy if I finish the first draft of last year's NaNo novel by October so I can write the sequel for this year's NaNo.


   Also, we have a new edition to my flock. A blue and white budgie my youngest sister found in the backyard and saved from our dog. I named him Tomo and he's skittish but has the potential to be tamed, so I plan on working with him.
   But that's enough of an update for now. I hope next time I can talk more about my writing.






Well, keep reading, readers~




   - Siddy