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.

Have a Fantastic, Fantasy Christmas~ With a Pinch of Writing

   Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you all had a good Christmas with people you love. Christmas isn't Christmas unless it's spent that way.

   I received wonderful gifts from my parents-- most fantasy themed, just as I love it! One of my favorites being a silver ring with a dragon on it.

   Isn't it lovely? I also received a dragon shirt, with a lovely silver dragon perched on a cliff looking dignified and proud, another one with two dragons and their riders ready to battle. I also got a dragon egg with candy inside-- though to get the candy you have to break the egg so I won't do it, a gold Asian dragon pen, Stephen King's "On Writing", and the Writer's Market 2011. Part of my Christmas gift was my new Samsung Transform-- a phone which I'm not sure how I lived without.

   Christmas was a good day. Even my dog enjoyed it as she used my leg as a pillow, snoozing after we opened all our gifts.

   And we can't forget the warm slippers my mom bought us. A sure essential for writing in the colder months, I'm sure! My youngest sister has the pink ones on the left. Mine are the black ones on the right.

   My aunt bought me beautiful journal too. I'm very excited about writing in it.  Along with all this, I also have some cash handy and stashed away for later days.

   Once again, I hope you're all enjoying your holiday season and spent it in the company of those you hold dearest to your hearts.

Merry Christmas and Happy Yule!

- 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

Upcoming Updates?

   Hello, readers. I plan to update the blog soon with a new name and layout. Along with my own maturing I feel the blog must mature with me. So I'll update the layout and name in the future eventually. Probably shortly after New Year's if all goes well.
   But it'll be done when it's done. With any luck I might be able to get Arcane and her crazy skills to help me out with it. If I can get her to help then the blog will look amazing.
   I hope everyone's Christmas season is going well. Mine has been full of trials but what can one do? We'll see what happens and how everything goes after the holiday seasons. What do you guys all want for Christmas? I, myself, couldn't ask for much. I got everything I needed and wanted this year. I have my new netbook, Toshi, and a nifty android cell phone. I had the best NaNoWriMo of my life thus far and a first draft ready to be edited as soon as I can manage to print it out.
   It's been snowing almost nonstop here. I'm waiting for it to drop down cold enough so I can toss boiled water outside and watch it turn into powder and steam. Knowing my luck, it won't drop down that cold now that I want it to. If it does drop down that cold I'll post pictures and try to post video of it.

   I have my desk cleared and cleaned up and did some writing tonight. I'll do more before the night is over. I like how my desk looks but I can't wait until I have an actual desk so I can have leg room but for now my dresser/desk will do perfectly. Here, just to share it with you all... This is a picture I took and posted to my Twitter after a writing mishap and my light bulb busted while I was settling in to write:

   I have my sketchbooks up there too from working on Christmas gifts for my parents, so it looks a little cluttered. I was also considering getting a second lamp for the other end of my desk but we'll see what the future holds.


- Siddy

Post-NaNo Hangover

  Hoo boy, this year's NaNo hangover hit me hard. To make things worse, I won't let myself start editing until after the holidays (unless it's just organizing notes or preparing everything for editing) because my family ends up really busy around this time and my parents need all the help with the house as they can get.
   But I have other things to keep me busy, though. Like the chaos in the household and keeping on our house guest to find a job and do everything she needs to do. It's extremely tiring but it had to be done.
   I'm working on a new layout and name for the blog, so you can expect some changes soon. I've designed my own crest and with any luck and a bit of help from my dearest friend Arcane, I might be able to change everything soon.
   I would like to start posting some artwork and short stories soon too. Perhaps after the new year. And once I get my new cellphone I'll be able to post more photographs too.

Hope everyone is having a nice (and not extremely stressful!) holiday season!

- Siddy