Interesting!

An entire month of writer’s block and in two days time I’m able to break past that. If I had to guess, I would say that in reading other novels I was able to find the words to write what I wanted without compromising the details. So I’ve started to move on to the next chapter.

Chapter nine is very interesting, because I gave the story this sort of momentum in the previous chapter and that’s not exactly something I wanted to lose in this one. Because of that, things are going much faster than previously described and I think my readers will find themselves glued to the book as they are forced through a tumbling feeling.

But don’t take this the wrong way, at the same time I don’t plan to skimp on the details. I feel that although in the previous chapters details were used to really pass pages, they were also used to really set the mood of the novel. Now that the mood is really there, I can move on with what I was really trying to do. So from chapter eight onwards the readers should feel like they are being pulled along a quick line of thought and a rush of feelings as the main character tries to solve the things happening around him. In other words, stuff starts happening and it doesn’t really let up from that point onward (Though my readers may disagree as to where the stuff starts to happen and the momentum begins to build).

I also feel as though one of my worries form the previous journals is being answered in this chapter. I know that to fully fulfill this worry of stopping my character from having a robotic appearance I might have to go back and change him. On the other hand, I give him a real relatable sense from this point onward that may help my friends who are reading bond with him and understand him even more. He has fears, he has hopes, and he has a goal... so to that extent he has a real human feel about him.

As for plot and story updates, there really is nothing new since I know exactly where I am taking him. This next chapter, which I actually named off of a title I thought of using for another book, will lead the main character right up and into the final place he visits for this installment. It also will lead him into what I hope will be the pace for the rest of the story.

Words this Month: 1,402
Total Words: 97,463

Coming Up Next

So starting tomorrow (as it is still not really tomorrow for me, I haven’t slept yet to say the least) I will be starting back up the whole words per month and total words. There isn’t exactly a goal this month except to finish the book. If I don’t do so now, then I feel like all will have been lost.

A few fears I’ve been having is that the main character maybe feels a little robotic. Like, I try to make him human with fears and goals, but to a certain extent I can’t really be sure. I do know I try and at least make him act intelligently, but that only makes me wonder if he sounds more robotic. I mean, how many people actually think things through before proceeding.

It’s fears like these that make me want to just stop and move on, but I figure if I can plow through it, at least I’ll have accomplished something. I mean, of all the fears I’ve had so far putting down this book and starting another one is just a bigger fear. I want a feeling of accomplishment, that I actually did something and that someone out there thought it to be interesting. Sure, this book probably won’t be published now or any time in the near future, but it is a nice goal to set and leave open.

At any rate, normal blog will resume tomorrow and I’m going to try and shoot the number of blogs back up to 20 or more a month again. It may be a rough road ahead, just as a fair warning, and next month may be even weirder and harder. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

December...

The final month of the year and I have several important announcements to start it.

First, I finally bought Microsoft Word 2010 and will now be able to actually write something more. I tried using 2003 and the Mac version of 2008 and 2011, but those versions all altered the text and got me off task. So really I needed to get 2010 just to keep writing and not get stuck on details like all the text being screwed up after I specifically worked on it a certain way. So there’s a plus towards me finishing it.

Second, I feel the need to write! I have ideas flowing through me again and I get up right before I’m asleep to jot down little things I’m afraid I might forget. This is a wonderful piece of news, which basically means I’m once again thinking and ready to make more ideas. So there is another plus...

...except I’ve been quickly jotting down ideas not on the story I’ve been working on, but another one from the past. I suddenly had this brainstorm about the other book my friend said she would kill me if I didn’t finish it and so now I really want to start rewriting it. That’s right happy campers (who aren’t actually that happy), I’ve been thinking about R.E.D. again and I’ve been coming up with a plot-line for the entire thing to include what I want. Amazingly, the plot is really twisted and good and the descriptions I would be heading for would be easy to do because of how well I can envision each scene. So this is kind of a plus and a minus.

Now I just need to refocus all my energy into writing again and then write. I think if I can pull myself out of this rut, finish the book, and move on to redoing R.E.D., well then most of my readers who follow this will actually be very much pleased. To them, sorry I didn’t actually get anywhere with R.E.D. or continue it for something of like 5 years now...

Off to think of working!

On another note, before I go that is, My granddad fell down again and I’ve been having serious insomnia. Woohoo!

As if There wasn't Enough Distractions Already

Thanksgiving has come and gone, Black Friday has passed, and yet there is still hope as we approach the final of the triplet holidays. The final one is known as Cyber Monday and, in the only way that can make sense, happens on this upcoming Monday. So what does this mean for everyone else out there? It means that I am once again uber-distracted by all of the awesome deals coming in.

Thanks to Facebook, I’ve become an addict to the online game Millionaire City. It’s like all the other games out there on these social networking sites. You start off small with the hopes of becoming something big and you have to watching it at least once a day to really get the full benefit of the game. Thank you Farmville for starting all of this...

BUT WAIT, there is way more than just that. As if I don’t already have enough video games to distract me, the large internet based game-center (for lack of a better term) called Steam has decided to also run a huge sale. Basically each day they will be giving out games at a huge discount (50% or more, sometimes close to 99% off) and so I’ve been watching it and collecting a large library of video games now. This has also taken both time and money from me. So, I’m having the greatest of trouble trying to get back into the whole “write stuff” thing. I have ideas, a lot of them, and they are all over the place. I’m ready to write them down too... but then I see the games and go back to that.

As far as my Holiday goes, this was definitely one of the more interesting ones. I’m not going to say it was good or bad, but it was somewhere in between for sure. Anyway, how was your holiday?

Fixing the Text

So I always forget that I just have these texts installed, because I like these texts. As such, the people reading my book may not get the full effect of the text on the page without a few updates. Granted, so far I’ve only used 1 text that needs to be downloaded from the web, but here I am to give it.

http://www.dafont.com/angryblue.font

That will lead to my all-time favorite text, which I think anyone that reads the manuscripts of these novels should probably have since I do use it so often. If there are any other texts I get that don’t come through, please reply to this and I’ll go hunt down their original locations. Like I said, I sometimes don’t remember getting these texts but I do I have them.

On another note, I just tried moving my file from my Windows side (where everything works) to my Mac side (where everything works... but differently) and found that I will not recommend this. I mean, seriously, my book increased in size and lost a ton of the formatting that I do to really give it that flare. So, if you are a Mac user, please switch to windows to read the novel because otherwise you will ruin all of the efforts I put into it.

Thank you for this service announcement...

Change of Plans

Change of plans (Gasp, didn’t see that one coming), but I may not be doing the NaNoWriMo anymore. Besides the fact that I’ve been stressed to hell and thus have not been writing, I also got torn away from Colorado to go visit my Grandmother’s grave in Connecticut. I did enjoy going to Connecticut and seeing her grave, but I did so without my computer and thus greatly lost time in the NaNoWriMo as well as lost ideas/interest in the story I had.

However, I did randomly decided to start writing something else. To what effects it might be, we’ll have to see, but I’m going to send a small portion of it to one of my friends and see what she thinks. It should be weird.

A New Story Now Named

So I know this is not the greatest of ways to start a new story, but it is a start. I have come to the conclusion on what the name of my story will be along with how the entire thing will be written (which is, of course, different than anything I have done before). As promised this is a comedy, though maybe darker than originally planned. At any rate, here is the name of my story for the NaNoWriMo.

The Deathly Letters of Collin Millstone

That’s right, its a book that of course has death involved. Because I plan to make this strangely legible yet easily findable on any aspect to the book, I’ve decided to throw in a “Index of Chapters” (also known as a table of contents). In this way the people that want to read my book will be able to quickly see when a new letter will appear along with what chapter it will appear in. All done by word of course (because I am lazy).

So its a small, short, very slow start, but it is a start. Also please note that I’ve changed the statistic from Total Chapters, which is very vague and hard to understand as to what I might mean to total chapters completed, which gives me a much more easy value to place there. As I finish them I will say so there (of which I currently have not done even one). It’s a start as I keep repeating.

Words for the Novel: 195 / 50,000
Total Chapters Completed: 0

National Novel Writing Month

So starting yesterday was the first day of the National Novel Writing Month or whatever (preferably called NaNoWriMo online, google it if you wish). Anyway, I have planned to actually try to do this challenge since it seems to be not exactly a whole lot more than what I was trying for in past months. Here’s the quick facts:

Goal: 50,000 word novel
Ends: December 1st at 12:01 AM

In other words, write a book in one month that is at least 50,000 words in length. I think I can do it and so I’ve decided to try for it. I will be putting down my other book for the time being and setting out to see if I can accomplish this task of a full book in the month’s time.

What this does not mean is that I am done with Broken Falls (the other book I’ve been working on). I made a promise that I would finish that novel by the end of the year and I plan to stick to that, with much of the final chapters works being done in the next month. So to my friends that are reading that book, do not be discouraged that it has made the shelf like anything else I have written, just know that it has been put on hold for exactly one month and then I will finish the first story in the series. Also, I don’t think I could stop writing that book since I can’t seem to get the ideas out of my head.

The rules will be much like when I started writing my other book for this new one:

1. Words only count for writing in that book
2. Chapter names count towards the total word count
3. Notes do not count towards the total
4. Friends that ask to read it may receive the piece chapter by chapter

And just for good luck, I’m playing this story out with a comedy sort of feel to everything. In other words, expect things to be strange and interesting, hopefully pulling a smile to your face. So let me set the counter to zero and get started writing!

Words for the Novel: 0 / 50,000
Total Chapters: 0

Also, I made one final graffiti that I thought I would post. Its kind of weird for me, but I like it. I don't know exactly what it was suppose to be either, but the main idea was like a plant and bubbles or something and it just didn't come out to look like anything except abstract artwork. Oh well.

Haven't Been Feeling Good

Just a quick little update. I didn't complete last month because I was upset for the entire last week. Short explanation, my Grandma has added stress to my life. Had that same stress all of the first week of this month and it has kind of carried over and just lasted the past few days.

On the other side of the stress that never ends (mainly because there are more stressful people than just my Grandma in my life), I start to get into art. So my output has been to the facebook App Graffiti. I'll post a few of them below so everyone has an idea of what I spend maybe two or three hours on in any given day.

Twilight Woods

Tree in the Blue

Radiance

As You can see, I've had a bit of time to make things like these. I like how these three have come out and all of them were started with the colors I chose in mind, but with the scene out of hand. What I mean to say is that I didn't know what I was going to draw, just that I wanted to draw something. One thing led to another and I had vibrant reds coming down from the clouds and blues lighting up the background. It's stress relieving to just start using Graffiti on facebook.

As far as writing goes, I do plan to finish the book I started (since I am SO freakin close to finishing it). I am, however, in no current rush at this point because I don't have the creativity in me to write. Some would call this writers block, but it's not really a block since I know what I want to write. I just am missing that passion I had when I started writing. I will make this promise though, I'll have that book done before the end of this year. If I don't, it'll become lost in the void of my thoughts for a very long time, and feeling so close to finishing it, I really don't want that to happen.

If I make any more graffiti artwork, I'll try to remember to do a large post here with a lot of it. Until next time (and there will be a next time :D)

One Day Off then Back to Action

I started yesterday off perfectly as far as writing for me goes, got up and was ready to write a thousand words easily. I had my coffee in hand and my computer on the table and was typing away, until I realized I had put myself into a strange hole.

I don't think I meant to bury my own thoughts in the catastrophe that had happened, but I did. I ended up writing myself into either 1 more chapter that explained too much about something I really do mean to start talking about in the second book (it's going to be a trilogy or something, remember?). So I was left with an option, continue writing and send out the eighth chapter as it was OR go back and try rethinking the whole scenario so that I didn't have to do another chapter in there. I chose to take the second option and spend all of yesterday coming up with the revision. I like what I thought of but it wasn't the easiest thing to write, so we'll just have to see what my friends think of it.

Anyway, back on the novel today and continuing as planned towards the final finish. I am only a few thousand words or so away from the end of chapter eight, I can tell from just what is happening, and then I'll send it out to be interpreted by my friends. This chapters has been fun to write and I think it really shows where I want to go with this series, too bad it is far from the end of this book. No, I think I have at least 3 or 4 chapters left before I can end this book (two of which will be devoted to a single place... or at least I think so). That means I have 30k-40k more words to write after this... which is not a good thing for a new author.

The average book length is 60k to 100k words, the reason why being that at 100k words the average paperback book hits 400 pages. If I got over 400 pages, the chances of getting the story published go WAY down. So I'm left with a few options, write a shorter novel and hope to gain popularity off of it (current plan for the month of November... along with the NaNoWriMo). So we'll see what happens.

Last, just wanted to say that I started watching a British television show called Psychoville. Oh my God, that show is amazing. It is weird enough to keep me enthusiastically watching it and crazy enough to meet my standards of interest. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. And just so I say this, it is a dark comedy that you can't find in America.... sad day...

Words for the Month: 14,995 / 40,000
Total Words: 95,054

I'm gonna go write another 5 words to make it a perfect 15k

The Time is Now Midnight!

I did it today, I accomplished writing more than ten thousand words in two days flat. That's really impressive once you consider I normally spend a week writing that many words for my story. Then again, I've felt really involved with this chapter and I've been really proud of the artwork it has become. That's right, I said artwork.

This chapter has changed so much from my original idea that if I read it to myself from ten days back, I'd have hardly known it was the same thing. The basic principle I had so many days ago is still very much present in the chapter, but what happens has become something much more grand than I could have imagined. And maybe this is all because of the process of writing, I really can't be sure, but I am pleased to say that this is by far one of the best chapters I have ever written.

The best part, the scenery is actually really simple and easy for anyone to imagine. It was what I did with the surrounding atmosphere that makes it so sophisticated. I could have written this chapter a thousand different ways, but I'm not sure I would have been as proud as I am. Not only that, but to my readers (to which has now become three people...) I hope they see all the symbolism and symbols I gone to lengths to throw into each place. I think this one might also send a few shivers up their spines.

So am I done now that ten thousand words have passed, the normal average length of my chapters. I think not and I might actually be far from it. I'm not certain that I will need another ten K to do the job, but for sure I will need a few thousand more just to finish the explanations I have ended up in. And yes, I thought about breaking this part up into two separate chapters, but the problem is that the whole thing lies in such perfect unity with itself that I thought breaking the pieces apart would only ruin and not strengthen the value anyone will find by reading it.

To tomorrow I will write more, the ideas are still flowing vibrantly through my head and I have probably enough to keep writing peacefully onward for some time. I wish I would have known how much joy I'm getting out of writing this a few days ago, but then again I probably would not have developed the ideas I have. It's that strange state where I wish I had done so sooner while at the same time it would not have been as great had it been performed before the best time. There has to be a word to describe that, someone out there probably knows it.

And for now, have a wonderful night!

Words for the Month: 12,445 / 40,000
Total Words: 92,504

Day Two of the No Video Games Program

And so I failed to make 5,000 words in my wake of what was yesterday (I don't honestly count it to be the next day until I sleep, the only exception of which being that I need the number of words completed before everyone else considers it to be the next day at midnight) and I haven't played video games yet. This of course makes me sad, because I love video games.

SO I started the program again today, 5,000 words to start playing video games. I figured that it helped me get 4,700 or something words yesterday so it wasn't a complete failure and already today I've made headway towards the final goal. Also, I might have to work a little faster if my friend calls me and wants to play and five... Anyway, it seems to be working really well so I think I'll keep this program in action. Next month I might keep it but I will lower the amount required each day so that I don't finish in the first eight days and then wait to play all month long. I'm not saying 5,000 words isn't a bit too much, just that I've gone into crisis mode and need to fix the problem that video games has caused this month

On a different note, the evolution of chapter 8 goes well. I've had a lot of interesting things to write about and kept the pace fairly forward for someone who is basically alone in the world I am describing. That's about as much as I can say, really. Actually I'm really looking forward to what happens after this chapter, there are some funny thing I want to say and some interesting points to make before the next stop on the list.

Well, gonna take a small break and then hop back on it.

Words for the Month: 9,206 / 40,000
Total Words: 89,265

Quick Update (sorta)

Just a quick update, but I wrote a little bit more before I decided to turn in for the night. Also, I noticed I haven't done many posts this month. That made me feel bad, like I was disappointing a crowd that does not exist. So now I'm trying to make at least one a day to make up for the lack of posting I've done for the previous parts of the month.

On another strange note, this month sucks compared to the last two. Yes, I've gotten lazier and lazier as I try to force myself to continue writing. And yes, I am trying to complete this month so desperately because I know that if I do I win a huge prize and get to laugh a whole lot as my ex-girlfriend wonders how I mysteriously was able to get not 1 or 2, but 3 months of meeting a strange goal I've never tried to before. That's right, I'm trying to complete this month for the fun of amazing her and seeing her reaction. Sometimes life gives you lemons, and then you laugh cause you just saw a car explode. Sure, it might have been your fault the exhaust was clogged with lemons but who would know that.

Anyway, quick update, things got done, stuff happened, more commas where used, a person talked to me, interesting things, reviews, fans, worlds of worlds, and end quick update.

Words for the Month: 7,152 / 40,000
Total Words: 87,211

Also, note that for today I never made over 5,000 words and I never got to play my games... stupid me not working harder to get video games... Also again also, I've strangely already used lemon in my labels... how did that happen?

Hmm.... it seems to get worse...

Well, this month is far from what I had planned it to be. I guess it could be worse, I could just be starting today. Oh wait, two thousand words in is close enough to starting today that I might as well as feel as if I've really made no improvements at all. Darn.

At any rate, I'm trying to pick up the pieces of the story and get back on the horse, then build a puzzle because I have the pieces. I don't recommend this, it is hard to make a puzzle while on a horse's back. If I've done my calculations right, I need to write approximately 3,500 words every damn day for the rest of the month starting tomorrow if I don't write anymore tonight. That's no good. That's no good at all...

Procrastination, something I'm known for and something I tend to do when I find myself stuck. Well, I've decided to procrastinate on my procrastination (wait, is that possible) and so I've started writing all over again. On the good side, I have about a million ideas to write about for this chapter and the next one and the one after that. Actually, some of those ideas are funny and I can't wait to get to them... to bad I still need to finish off this idea for what Chapter 8 is really about. Curse you chapter 8, with your character changing things and so romantic writing. Yea, I personally think this is about the greatest writing ever and I haven't written that much. I wonder if that means it'll really draw attention from my friends.

Anyway, I've started a new goal system where I can't play video games until I write 5,000 words that day. Does this mean I won't procrastinate? Hell no. What it does mean is that I will actually start writing some God damn words each day just for the chance of playing video games. And I'm going super strict on this rule so to my friends who play Starcraft 2 with with (and yes, I did just mention it again, hello South Koreans) sorry.

Also, just so I feel like the South Koreans get some meat with what I'm saying, I feel Starcraft 2 has been a disappointing game so far. The story was lacking and the only movie I liked in the game (which was real CGI) was the one that shows part of the plot from the last game. Sad day. On the other hand, I love playing the multiplayer even though it has nothing new to offer me. Seriously, I wish they would have spent more time evolving the multiplayer instead of just giving it a face lift and a required basic AI update. Oh well.

Now for the impressive part, look at all the work I've so far done just today...

Words for the Month: 5,541 / 40,000
Total Words: 85,600

Been Sick

I've had some sort of stomach bug or something the past few days. As such, I haven't gotten much writing done even though I know exactly what I want to write about. I'm trying push myself through all the haze and come up with the words I need, but in all honesty that's not going very well. So I haven't done as much as I would have liked by now (by now being the 16th of the month) and I fear the worst for meeting this month's goal. Then again, maybe like last month I'll find strength and make chapter after chapter without problem.

Chapter eight is an interesting one to write about, the final part of the green pool side of the story. I knew I wanted to stay in the realm I had created just long enough to explain a few of the many rules, but short enough that I could get back to him being with other people. That's one of the problems I'm encountering too, there is less to write about when everyone who I've created isn't in the same world as the main character. Oh well, one more chapter and they will start seeing one another again I guess.

I think the importance of this chapter is it drives a real difference between this story and some of the other ones out there, more importantly the series that originally inspired me to make something of this caliber. It is a simple idea, but it completely changes how everything else works in the world, the mechanics all different. I'd like to note that now.

Anyway, going to try writing more later and catching up some more, but for right now I just want to take a nap.

Words for the Month: 2,319 / 40,000
Total Words: 82,378

Chapter 7 is complete!

So I'm getting back on the fun bus and writing again (after a week long break from writing). I hope to hit this month running, but that seems to be not happening yet. Oh well, at least I'm getting back into and today is far from over yet as well!

I'm surprised that I didn't need as much as I thought I would for this chapter, but the next one is even more confusing and strange and, if I left the chapter off just right I should have yet again succeeded in pissing off my friend who hates drop endings. More things are just ahead of the main character and I've been ever so kind as to hint at what is about to happen, though we'll see if the clues are easy to pick up on.

I think the name of chapter eight can be revealed as well, since it offers no more help to my poor friends reading this. It's called The Home She Grew Up In and although I'm telling the name right now, like I said it really doesn't offer a whole lot more to them. I can easily say this will be an interesting and confusing chapter to write and the ending will, of course, leave my friend hating me (I've got this one pretty much planned out as well). Actually, I've been thinking about this story for a while now and I know exactly where I am going with it (though there are still some details I need to work on when I get there). The way the first book will end is pretty much set in stone, it answers a few of the mysteries I've opened and leaves my friend hating me for ending it that way, which is perfect.

I'm going to write more later, but at least I got started on this chapter! Also, my friend Wyatt should stop distracting me...

Words for the Month: 1,005 / 40,000
Total Words: 81,064

That Makes Two Months!

For the second month in a row (out of two total so far) I have met and surpassed my goal! That's right, I procrastinated all day long, but before the clock struck midnight based on my local area's time I was able to finish off the total words for the month. To my friends that are reading the story, I bet you all are happy that I started writing a blog about this since it has now gotten me over a hundred pages of words and double the length of my previous longest story.

On a slightly less related note, there are so many things in the next chapter that I like that I can't wait to give it to my readers. I think they will find all of the different things maybe moving a bit slower than expected, but there are really a lot of rich details in there as well. Also, I've got the next chapter planned out.

Edit: The new poll for the month is now available. It would be nice if people voted, but whatever. Last month's poll ended with a tie between let jack read it and no... which means I'm just gonna be lazy and not send it to more friends...

Words for the Month: 40,016 / 40,000
Total Words: 80,059
Months Successful: 2 / 2

An Important Achievement

So I know that this should be where I post something about how wonderfully I've achieved 80,000 words in a single story right here, I mean it is the very last day of the month and that is where I should be. However, this blog post is to actually celebrate the achievement of making 100 pages of story.

Why do I find this to be so damn important? Because I write single-spaced and with one inch margins (where words normally keeps the margins at one and a quarter on each side, so I gain half an inch). I also don't go onto the next page unless I'm at the next chapter. Well, I've filled 100 pages with words that somehow come together to make a tale of about a man's journey. That's amazing.

Let me put this into perspective. A ten page paper written for school would have been double spaced and with a title page. Now, on a double-spaced page you can normally fit about 350-450 words with a 400 word average if you don't space the top margins too much. This means for a single-spaced page my average number of words per page is 700-900 words with an average of about 800 (though I found I'm about 820). That means I've written about 200 pages worth of paper space in comparison to any of my academic friends currently writing thesis papers. And that doesn't include a title page. Make sense why I see it as an achievement now?

To my friends that are reading the book, this means that I've actually given them a somewhat decent in length read. I mean, let me be fair when I say it sucks when you book ends at about page 20 and then the damn author doesn't continue. Also, it means if they were putting all of this together in a word document (which if they were smart they could just ask me to send them the full document, though that is turning out to be a much large file with each time I'd have to send it), they would have something that causes my computer to keep saying "OVERHEAT" and then explode. Thank God the save button works so damn well... and it auto saves like every minute. (Note to readers: actual computer has never overheated and then exploded... except when playing the video game Starcraft 2).

Just one last thing, it will be at least another 2 months of dedicated writing like I have been doing for these past 2 months just to get another 100 page achievement marker. If I was doing this by pages, I'd be done for the night because I would probably go every 50 pages. My friends should be thanking me I'm doing it by words and not by pages (and also, that makes me fell more inclined to make the paragraphs longer... where as if done by pages I would chop them up to make more pages faster).

Now back to working for my other achievement, which is just over 3,000 words away. For those that don't remember me posting this a few days ago, that is somewhere between 2 hours and 4 hours of work based on how many words per minute I can write. I'm going to write just a bit more for tonight (because yes, 1 in the morning is still just getting to sleep time for me) and then I'll finish it up in the morning.

Words for the Month: 36,834 / 40,000
Total Words: 76,877

Getting Closer

I made a bad choice today of going with my Mom to a home improvement store. I forgot that those places are like the black holes of time and souls once you walk inside of them, at least for my family. We spent three hours in two home improvements stores and only bought one track light. We went in not for a track light. In truth, we went to the first store in look for a type of door, which did not exist, and then for a hook, which also did not exist. Then we went to the second store (which was not the same as the first... as in not the same company) and went looking for a medicine cabinet. They had one that was what my Mom wanted, but the package was opened and she feared it was already broken. We did not buy it. However, we did end up finding a track light that I don't want to hang but I know she is going to try and make me hang. I plan to try not hanging that piece of crap. We also searched for the imaginary hooks again, which still did not exist.

So three hours later I came back with two things. One was an idea for some stuff that will happen later in my story (and it is really cool, can't wait to write about it). I've noted it into my sticky note for this story (which I usually don't think TOO far ahead with, else I might get bored). Anyway, the second thing I brought back was a huge bag of annoyance. I didn't want to write and I didn't even want to watch TV. All I wanted to do was lay down and sleep. I chose to write though and ended up spending an hour trying to make 1,000 words make sense. I gave up and decided to play video games for a little. That seemed to help.

Anyway, just finished up writing a little bit more and I'm getting closer to making my goal for this month. Hopefully by tonight I will be within 5,000 words of the goal (and I'm hoping to be within 3,000) so that writing for tomorrow won't be too bad. I'm positive that I'm going to make it this month though. Amazing considering where I was like 10 days ago.

Words for the Month: 34,528 / 40,000
Total Words: 74,571

OH MY F***ING GOD!

Seriously, I have 3 days (including today) left to write 10,000 words and my Dad is being the MOST annoying person on the planet. He's like "go look this up for me and see if it is worth it," and then starts vacuuming in ALL of the rooms I am trying to write in. I can't even hear myself think and it is driving me crazy! For f*** sakes, I wish he would go find something better to do than vacuum the entire house!

Seriously, I'm going crazy with how much interference he is causing with my writing. Like if there is a reason I don't complete this month, it is because he won't stop annoying me. And the worst part is that he thinks I'm a problem...

On another note, I have finished chapter 6 (which was longer than expected, but that was nice because it means more words) and I am moving onto chapter 7. I think Chapter 7 will finish up this month's goal as well, though I don't know if the chapter will continue on past the goal.

Everyone pray that my Dad dies, it seems to be the only way I'll get anything done.

Words for the Month: 30,216 / 40,000
Total Words: 70,259

I'm Going For It

Four days (including today) left until the end of the month and 13,000 words to go. That was not how far I had left when I got up this morning, but after thinking everything over I decided that I really wanted to make my goal for the second month in a row.

Now, I know that it has been a strange and exhausting month filled with lots of love and a lot more yelling, but that's not why I'm doing this. I feel like if I don't accomplish this goal, then I'm wasting time with my life. And besides that, the point of starting this whole blog was just to show me that if I put in the effort, I could have a story several thousands of words later. Well, I want to feel accomplished for the second month in a row, so I'm going to put in the hours and really work to have that feeling.

No congratulations yet, but I'm gonna keep this updated on how much less I have over the remaining course. And just so we are clear, I want to have 3,000 more words done before I go to sleep tonight. That will make a startling 7,500 words for today... which is a lot for me to write especially since my concentration is... oooh what's that?

Oh right, after that I want to do 5,000 word a day until I am done. And just as was completely unplanned, I will be done on time for the second month... if all things go to plan...

I'm off to buy cleaning supplies!

Words for the Month: 27,048 / 40,000
Total Words: 67,091

Curses...

And so I really did plan to write a lot more before going to sleep, but now I'm at that stage of tired where I can't think straight. Great for writing God knows what and getting ideas, bad for writing good stuff. Oh well, at least I got more words onto the paper.

If you really wanted to know, video games distracted me yet again and then later the internet died. Both kept me up late. Stupid video games, but so much fun... I'm tired and plan to sleep now.

Words for the Month: 23,598 / 40,000
Total Words: 63,641

A Good Hour vs A Bad Hour

Today I actually texted my friend telling her I was trying to write, but I could not get the words for formulate in my head. I was having word block, which is an extent of writers block that comes not because I can't get the ideas to formulate but rather I can't get the different ideas to come together when I put them into words. In other words (ironic pun?), I have the thoughts and the want to write but I lack the wording that makes it make sense. SO I end up sitting there trying to figure out a way to make him walk across the street or think of something.

There is another type of writers block which I will call ideal block. This one is a bit less explanation heavy. To be simple, the writer can't come up with an idea to write about and so he/she/it (it being the author of Twilight...) just sits there trying to think of what the damn characters will do next. This one is actually much harder for me to end up in as I usually have the end of the story in my mind before I know the beginning. I don't know why, but I tend to think of the ending before I get there. Even for the current one I am writing, I have a sort of selected ending I'd like to reach.

Now the reason this story has gone on longer than any other I've tried to write is simple, the ending is interesting (and twisty like a lemon) but the middle is extremely creative to come up with. There is person standing on a street in this story, doing nothing for ten minutes as the bus comes (and yes I have written about that... it was colorful and I think it makes people think I might be high when I write). It is about a person diving deep into one of my favorite subjects and seeing what happens, going places where I know the scenery but I want to see what they do. So in a way, I keep myself interested by pushing the main character forward. I know, crazy but it works.

Anyway, I had word block and I was really trying hard to get to the next part even though I couldn't make it. In one hours time I wrote about 500 words. Now in the same hour length of time I was writing tonight (and I actually had to break the word block I had created last time in the book) and I ended up writing just under 1500 words. It is pretty obvious why I stopped writing earlier and did something else, where nine out of ten times it is better to stop and go find something else to do until the word block passes.

At any rate, I'm back on writing and I'm way far behind to make my goal still. Maybe if I keep writing like crazy and insert random blahs here, then I can make it. Hurray. Let's all celebrate anyway after. Also, note that I wrote this before midnight, which is unusual for me but I wanted that to be clearly stated.

Words for the Month: 22,778 / 40,000
Total Words: 62,821

PS - Stupid math making me think how I actually could possibly make this month if I tried better...

A Good Day

Today was a good day to write. I actually did really well too, I mean considering that recently I've either written a lot of stuff in a single run or absolutely nothing all day. Best part yet is that I'm just barely under the halfway point for the month. Okay, I know saying that with 7 days left (including this one) is not exactly the best of things. I'm just trying to stay positive is all.

If you want to know the math but don't want to do the math, I technically have to write approximately 3,000 words a day to finish this month. In actuality I think it is a little bit below that, but who keeps track of that. Anyway, writing that much in a single day is not that bad and especially considering that about 24 hour ago I was down 5,000 words from where I am now. I don't know... maybe if I can make another 5,000 tomorrow I'll shoot for this month too. It is definitely exciting to see this coming together.

As far as the story goes, things are starting to go further into where I really wanted to take my readers when I first came up with this idea. By this I really mean that although I have a plot to tell (one that is currently very loose and nondescript in my head), I had a major theme that I wanted to hit. This chapter really starts to open it up into that place and show off what I was heading for. Hopefully I can keep this idea going, I'm really happy with how this story is coming out.

Also, I thought I'd just say to one of my friends that I am going to finish this story and not because I have to but because I want to prove to her that she is wrong. Sure, I've started at least ten ideas since I first started sending her stories and, sure, she won't pick up this one and read it unless she knows that there is going to be an ending. Well, almost double the length of my previous longest story and still going fairly strong. Lets see who wins in my own personal writing contest. Me or shut the hell up, me. And for the record, I know that didn't make any sense.

To my other friends that are reading this, any comments?

 Words for the Month: 19,526 / 40,000
Total Words: 59,569

Hmm... this month might be too far gone now...

I'm not sure I can pull myself out of the hole this month and save the book. If only life was less stressful and I had more things that made me want to write in it. Oh well, I'm not going to give up. However, if I don't make it, should I put myself in the negative and try to get out of it next month? Just a random question I wonder...

So I started working on Chapter 6 today, much to my friend's delight, and I'm actually pushing myself to see how far I can take it before the end of the day. If everything goes as not planned, then I might actually finish it today. No fingers crossed please, but that would be amazing and put me back on track, which would be crazy. Seriously, crazy!

Words for the Month: 16,851 / 40,000
Total Words: 56,894

Chapter 5 is Done!

I finished chapter 5 as promised for my friend and I have already sent it out. So have fun reading that and enjoying all of the things that happen in the chapter. Honestly, that was probably one of the more interesting ones, but more so my friend is going to hate me because it ends on a cliff hanger yet again. Oops, didn't mean for that (yes you did, don't lie), but it happened. Also, happy birthday to one of my friends!

As far as me being behind... dang, I am so damn far behind. I fear I might not make this month, but I also blame that on my family for making this month so damn stressful. Hopefully in these last ten days I can really kick out some amazing stuff. I'd really hate to fail my own goals for the month, but it is a possibility since my family drives me crazy.

Good luck and good night... no wait that's not mine.

Words for the Month: 14,459 / 40,000
Total Words: 54,502

A Special Update just for my Friend

Well I said no more updates until Friday, but I feel like I owe my friend a special one since she is apparently really enjoying the book. Also, I'm going to admit it that the last update was kinda just a "there you go" thing for my friend and that was really mean. And I don't mean like the type of mean that is just plain satirically funny, which is not usually me anyway, but more like the type of mean someone like me shouldn't do.

First off, went and visited two of my friends in Broomfield. It was like a spa vacation that I desperately needed. Hard to believe, but my Dad sucks the energy out of people and then makes them want to vegetate all day long. So, until I went and saw my good friends in Broomfield that is what I had been doing. Which also explains the lack of updates that was going on in this blog and with the story (and also why I am so damn far behind). (random side note, ever notice how many transition words I use? I try to dodge them while writing because I do use so many) Anyway, my two friends were able to re-center me in one visit and then in the next day I was able to break out of that relaxing vacation-spa feeling. The end result was I now feel really recharged and ready to write.

And remember, if there is one thing I have been truthful with when writing this blog (besides that it is about a story I am writing), it has been the number of words I have written. I've been following my rules very strictly on how the numbering goes and even with my mom wanting to watch 30 Rock (which strangely is a show that makes me want to write... I haven't found any other that cause the same effect yet though Arrested Development might work) I have managed to get more words added from what I was previously at today. I'm not done yet, I want to finish Chapter 5 and start Chapter 6. This might be because I promised my friend Chapter 5 and I don't want to be a jerk on her birthday by not delivering the next piece I know she wants.

Also, the name of the book has changed. The series is still going to be called Broken Falls, but the first book in the series is now known as Shattered. I'm thinking I might do something with all of the books being similar except the final one where all of the twists and plots come together in an epic ending that will make my friends go Oh My God!. Still just an idea, but the new name is better than what I had.

Speaking of my Dad (wait, no I wasn't), he's back at work during the day. Hurray! I only see him after 6 PM again like things should be. Best part yet is he has to work for the next month! This means no taunts during the day I will not be trying to recover from him being negatively around me all the time and I will write more during the day. And also, I seem to have cycled on my sleep schedule because I now go to bed at 9 PM and wake up sometime between 3 AM and 5:30 AM. Whatever. And also also, my little brother is going to college soon. This means no more of him interrupting my thoughts mid thought/sentence and that I might get more done.

And now, like every time I write in this blog, I'm gonna do something besides write for a while before hopping back on to write some more. It is kinda ironic, but whatever. I hope this update was better than the last.

OH YEA, and Chapter 6 is pretty much planned out now after some crazy thinking that happened right before I fell asleep last night and when I woke up this morning and tried to get back to sleep. Crazy stuff. Crazy. And just one more for the road, Crazy McCraztastic.

Words for the Month: 11,939 / 40,000
Total Words: 51,982

To My Friend

Two days until your birthday and then I'll give you chapter 5 (to which I know you will love). Why am I so mean and making you wait, because that is what I do to make you love me so much. I know, weird.

Also, there will not be another update on here until the twentieth. This will give me more time to cool off and not tell everyone what is happening in my otherwise fairly boring life. Listen, my Dad is amazing at making me feel stressed and sucking the life out of me. This in turn makes me not want to write. This does not mean bug me until I write something, that only adds more stress, which in turn makes me want to write less. I write when I have no stress or am able to pressure myself, under no other circumstances do I actually write.

So enjoy your last update for the next few days, it leaves mystery to what is happening. Also, I'm really behind! Yay!

Words for the Month: 10,462 / 40,000
Total Words: 50,505

Chapter Five is AMAZING!

I don't like to gloat except when I think certain friends are annoying me (hint hint hint friend who wants this chapter so badly), but oh my GOD this is probably one of the best chapters I've written yet. I mean, chapter one and two were really about setting up characters and dragging my readers into the story (as I am so damn good at doing). Chapter three and four are all about moving forward with the plot, getting the main character to actually go places and do stuff that hasn't been done before and really setting things forwards. Chapter five is really the first chapter where I start to really dive in and play with the world I've now created. I mean, for the most part the reader has been given sort of a weird place and a lot of separate mysteries. Chapter five kind of stays away from making more mysteries and dives into really adding to previous ones we've already seen.

I guess what I'm saying is I really get to do some awesome stuff (artistically and literally) with the wording and really show that I have fun when I come up with things. Now I'm not saying everyone is going to love chapter five, I'm just saying that I think in comparison to what I have written already it starts to really build on everything I'm working on setting up.

I guess I'll know if I succeeded when one of my readers gives me feedback. Which this might be a hint to my readers...

Regarding other things, I will now have a monthly poll on my blog for everyone to go and click buttons on. I think this will help me with maybe directing my book a little bit more since I am creating a person and not a robot. I hate it when books make robot people who do amazing things. Also, I'm getting back into my groove of writing and so we might actually get to see 2/2 successful months for me to be proud of all I've accomplished with writing. Then September comes and we'll see what happens.

I'm not done writing yet for the night (I mean, when you are having as much fun as I am writing this out... you don't quit), but my computer is bugging me to update it. So I'm going to take a small break, get some more delicious fake coffee, maybe unload the dishwasher, and then get back to work. But even so, look how much I've written already!

Words for the Month: 9,212 / 40,000
Total Words: 49,255

Damn, almost 10,000 words in the seconds month! Cheer my friends, cheer hard.

That's What I Needed....

I haven't been writing and I've been feeling stuck in a sort of bad place. I want to write because I want to make my monthly goal, but on the other hand I'm so sick of writing that I just can't get myself to do it. So instead I sit around waiting for the words to come to me, which they don't, and go off to play video games.

Okay, okay, I know that this is nothing new. Can't write means go play games. Well the games are finally getting a little old and I'm starting to get bored again, which means a reverse in the flow of my work. I woke up a few hours ago and thought instead of playing the games I would go write. Hurray, I actually wrote some stuff and I plan to keep going after a short break.

Hopefully nothing new comes out to ruin this again, I want to get a few chapters done in time for my friends birthday. She could use an awesome present like the continuation of the story I'm forcing her to read. Let that be noted, this is her present and I probably won't be giving away the next chapter until then. I know, cruel and unusual torture because I left the last one so suspenseful.

Now, as far as the story goes, should I give it to a few other friends to read and get opinions on? I have one that wants to read it and another one that would probably read it if I asked him nicely and used his girlfriend as a warden (because he didn't even read her thesis... tut tut tut). Except the problem is that if I give it to the friend that would want to read the story, I fear she'll be mad if the ending isn't happy. I'm not saying the ending is going to be sad, because I'm going to choose the best one possible, but that doesn't exactly mean it will be happy either. See the problem. As for the other friend, it probably won't get read so why send it. Anyway, I'll open a poll and maybe do one a month for all the wonderful people that follow me on here... who ironically are all my friends anyway.

Words for the Month: 6,855 / 40,000
Total Words: 46,898
(Oh my God, so far behind...)

EDIT: After looking back at July... I am strangely almost exactly where I was on July 11th... still, I was behind all that month. Strange how that happens to me.

Well... this is getting bad...

I have got to pick up the pace on writing for this month if I don't want to write like crazy in the very last week. Hopefully now I can.

I finished chapter 4 with all of the required editing that was necessary for setting up chapter 5. I also ended chapter 4 on a bit of a cliff hanger, which means I probably should shoot to have chapter 5 done soon so my friend doesn't kill me. The fact that I take forever to write anything is probably driving her crazy, but when I leave something on a cliff hanger like that its asking for a death sentence. The only thing worse than leaving it on a cliff hanger in the middle of the book is leaving it on a cliff hanger while at the same time stopping all production completely. That would drive her insane.

I think one of the things that has been holding me back is I keep thinking the same thing I do when I'm in school. "Man, writing this isn't fun but video games are!" And then I go off and play games instead of doing work. What can I say, I'm addicted to video games (though they aren't technically addictive). That and my sleep schedule is once again screwed-up, so I don't exactly know when night is. Lets put this in retrospective, if you will. I write best about an hour or two before I go to bed. If I don't know when that is because I go to sleep at 7 AM or so, then how can I settle down to write something? The fact is I can't, and so I don't. So I need to figure out some sort of new schedule here quickly that will help with that problem too.

Anyway, gonna go back and write some more! Also, just thought I deleted this post which would have made me sad.

Words for the Month: 5,202 / 40,000
Total Words: 45,245

Woops, Lost another Night....

 I was up all night, but I spent it playing video games again. Damn me and my procrastination, that's the real reason that 40,000 words is such a challenge.

To my readers I am happy to say that chapter four is completed. Unfortunately, I also have to inform my readers that I'm not releasing it just yet. Why? Because as I got to the randomly and newly decided ending, I also decided that I needed to go back through the very last few pages and add in about a billion details that change the way the reader interprets everything. Why? Because in the long run I know that this is one of the more important scenes in the book and I don't want it to just be slashed over with words and not with the full RJ effect. Seriously, I may procrastinate a lot of the time, but I don't put things out that I'm afraid will be terrible for the sake of being terrible.

Anyway, if I'm lucky I'll have the chapter re-finished by the beginning of today. That begin said, I think I'm going to go back to writing. I made 2,000 words yesterday (yes, I added almost a thousand already while re-reading that damn ending and discovering that I really REALLY needed to reword certain parts). If all goes to plan, hurray!

Words for the Month: 2,941 / 40,000
Total Words: 42,984

Sorry for the Lack of Updates

 Life has not been too great the past few days and as such I've gotten almost nothing done. I'm actually really upset with this because I really do want to get another 40,000 words out. So let me explain a bit.

My Dad has been putting stress on my back because he doesn't like that my Mom and I have such a great relationship. As such, he makes me upset and completely destroys my mood to write. This in turn has affected how much I've been able to get done on a daily basis (which explains why I am already falling far behind). I need to get caught up now, I don't want to stop something that I enjoy, but at the same time I need him to stop pressuring me for no reason.

So stress is basically killing this right now and I'm sorry there haven't been as many updates as I would have preferred. However, I struck it a little lucky tonight because I woke up from some noise early on. unable to get back to sleep, I've started writing. Hopefully this puts out a few more words, but no promises. I think I also need a new television show to watch between ever thousand, that seems to help me get more done. Maybe I'll  just watch a show I love again.

Words for the Month: 1,749 / 40,000
Total Words: 41,792

And the New Month Begins!

So here I start on month 2 of the big idea of how I can write a book. It feels weird looking at the work I've done and thinking that I've made it so far only to have to try and do it again, but on the other side it feels great. I really know I can do it now, where as in the past I kind of flaunted around with trying to write this many words. At least I have some ideas where the story is going to go, I know what is going to at least happen all the way to the end of the chapter, and it sounds like so far my readers are enjoying the conflicts that are arising in the main character.

On other news, I've discovered that I'm really messed up as far as sleep now. For the past few weeks, to get into the writing spirit I've had to wait until 10PM or later because there was too much noise in the house. Well, I stayed up later by taking naps from 7 to 9 and now I can't seem to sleep a whole night anymore. On the bright side, I'm going to have a lot of time for writing. On the bad side, I can't sleep at night and that leaves me feeling a little messed up inside. Its like taking depression pills and I don't know why.

Other than that, I strangely felt weird not writing also. Its like somewhere in my head I want to just start talking about stuff and typing and telling stories, but I took the day off and didn't have an outlet. I didn't expect that to happen... Also, I wrote like three paragraphs or so just to feel like I had officially started this new month. Zero just sounded bad...

Words for the Month: 268 / 40,000
Total Words: 40,311

First Month Completed!

And so I somehow was able to make approximately the last 10,000 words appear on the final two days of writing. I'm really proud with myself that I actually completed this goal and doing this once honestly gives me a lot of faith that I can make it again next month. Just to remind everyone, I also made my goal this month with about one week taken out but with a little bit of a head start on the story (I didn't start this month at 0 words because I started writing the book at the beginning, so I thought they counted. That and I wanted to be fair to myself in giving myself a month, head start for the words.). And if anyone is really curious, the words that put me at 40,000 was "on." I know, I thought it was going to be more exciting too but sometimes these things happen.

As far as the next chapter goes, the last time I checked it was already 7,000 words. Honestly I'm really surprised because I didn't think I had written that much already. I have approximately 3 more things I want to write into the chapter (and on average a "thing" ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 more words) so for my faithful friends who are hopefully enjoying the story, this chapter is going to take a little longer. Also, just for their information, I kind of want a little bit of a break for now so that I can recoup my thoughts. Writing 10,000 words in two nights is wonderful for making headway into the story, but it doesn't give me a whole lot of time to think about all the things I want to say. Sure I get some as I go along, but the stuff people will remember this story for always seems to come when I've had time to think a little bit ahead.

Also, I'm going to get a poll for my blog to figure out what else I'd like to add. When that will happen, to be announced at a later time. Trying to come up with a wonderful first question first.

Words for the Month: 40,043 / 40,000
Total Words: 40,043
Months Successful: 1 / 1

Final Day of the Month

Today is the final day I can write for my book, and in less than twenty four hours I will have finished the first month with my book. I'm not done yet with this month though, I still have a few thousand words to write before I can call it achieved. I thought it just needed to be said that I am almost there and I've almost achieved something for the first time.

A little bit more than 3,000 words to go and I have a lot of stuff I want to write about. This should be easy.

I'll post again when I finish...

Words for the Month: 36,829 / 40,000
Total Words: 36,829

The Great Disappearance

Oh my god, I just completely let this blog slip for a few days. If anyone wants to know why, I would start by blaming Laurel. Anyway, whenever I last left this blog I had this big plan to just write a whole bunch and get all caught up and make everyone happy. That never happened. Instead, I went off and apartment shopped with my friend (of which we found absolutely no apartments that were under $5 per month so I could afford it. Screw you world...) and then while I was up in Boulder I decided to go see a few of my friends (like Laurel). We saw a movie and ate dinner and hung out and it definitely was [underline]NOT[/underline] a date. Seriously, we had another friend with us the whole time who just made the whole situation weirder. And yes, I know that the underline did not work there, but I felt it was important to make that note very much apparent.

Then I went and stayed at a different town in a different house all by my awesome self. It was wonderfully quiet and I probably could have written thousands of words there. Except there were a few problems. For one, I had a very large television in front of me and it was very distracting with all the 1080p high definition glory. Oh yes, I very much played video games on it and was very happy because of all the things I could see. Also, there was internet, so I played my very new video game which is for my computer.

All and all, I was distracted for the last two days or so and was completely unable to write anything. I was so distracted that for a while there my pleasure gland inside my brain said "no, don't do work, that's lame! Instead, play video games and watch awesome television and make cupcakes" (no cupcakes were ever made). It was wonderful and relaxing. It also put me VERY VERY far behind schedule. So new plan, get the F%@$caught up to date and complete this on time before I have to make weird rules and exceptions that no one will like except me. And for once I don't want to do that! SO I'm not done writing tonight (especially since its like four AM almost and tomorrow is free bagel friday. Oh I love you bagels) and I am going to try and kick out AT LEAST another 2,000 words. And by the way, that's after you see the massive amount of words I magically was able to perform tonight. Something happened, I don't know what, and it triggered a lot of writing. For instance, this ridiculously long update where I tell you absolutely nothing of interest. Hmm... maybe I'll do that now.

More plot developments, more hints and hints of hints, more stuff happens, and *gasp* someone does die... sorta... Also, I magically finished chapter 3 (unedited) and am now moving onto chapter 4 (holy cr@p my hands are failing me as I try to type all of this). Wish me good luck, though I already have some awesome and amazing stuff planned. Seriously, was going to bed last night (which was two nights ago now) when I suddenly came up with a BRILLIANT idea for what to do. Wrote it down that's how good the idea was, fans will be amazed for generations.

Also, look at how awesome the number of words I stopped at is...

Words for the Month: 34,443 / 40,000
Total Words: 34,443
Total Pages: 47

Weird Dream

So today I woke up at eight in the morning and tried typing some more for my story, but found that rather difficult with my little brother near. He won't stop talking to me. I decided that the best course of action was to go back to sleep.

I did, and I had possibly one of the strangest dreams to date. It started off simple enough, because I was in Illinois helping my parents take care of my grandparents. It was for the most part cleaning stuff and making sure their house was secure. Well, my Dad was there and he dropped the key to their house on the ground, so I picked it up and called him to tell him he did that. He told me to keep it and that it was no problem, which I thought was weird.

Then my mom finally arrived in Illinois, oddly a day after my Dad had been there. She brought a cat with her to my Grandparent's house and we were all talking while the cat played at our feet. My Mom saw I had been working on keeping the house clean and also locked-up tight, especially after I told her what my Dad had did, so apparently the Cat was my reward. That and I would have to wash all of my Grandma's cloths, which is something I never want to do.

Instead I ended up finding out a piece of information that my older brother was at a hearing by the Colorado State Courts today to solve some great mystery. Being the awesome brother that I am I did not want to go, but my Mom said it would probably be for the better if I went. So I did.

The place where the hearing was being held was a few stories up from the ground, all standing on massive steel poles. I took an elevator in the middle of the poles up to the top of the stadium thing and started wandering down rows of seats to try and find my brother. I spotted him sitting in the very first row (which was scary because we were several stories up from the ground) and he was just looking out. Now, as a reminder there were hundreds of people filling the seats behind him. So I started to wander through the crowd trying to find a seat for myself when I suddenly spotted several friends from several different parts of my life. Just to throw some names out there: Wyatt, Vicki, Kara, and then there were two other people but I can't remember who they were.

So I went over to Wyatt, Vicki, and Kara and they all had these blow-up dolls that looked slightly different from one another, but also looked very similar to me. So I started whispering to Wyatt and Vicki and they showed me a CD case big package for the blow-up doll that said Average Angry Stand-up Comedian. I laughed a little at this.

Then something happened that made me want to get closer to my brother so I could talk to him. I ended up flipping over the seats and snapping the head off of Kara's blow-up me and went down to one of the other people I know. Kara, wanting revenge decided she also wanted to get closer. Well I started to talk to this friend about Kara and my brother's relationship and then how Kara was married. It was also very weird. Then a person sitting behind us yelled at us for making a racket. Also, at the same time Vicki had plugged in an old vinyl record (plugged in by putting it on a record player attached to the seat... don't ask cause I don't know) and she had it on speaker by accident. So that started play loudly and everyone was yelling at her to turn it off, so she gave me this look that said OH MY GOD and at the same time she plugged in her headphones and switched it to personal.

Then the jury decided without a doubt that by proof of my older brother's responses that I had been telling the truth and they decided we were both A.D.D. kids that should not be contacted by the courts. So now we're on the do-not-call list for courts because we were listed for Attention Deficit Disorder.

Then I woke up. Weird dream, right?

Anyway, life gets more complicated and I'm trying to catch-up still. Hopefully I do catch-up because I feel so close to actually succeeding. Maybe start making a checklist of months I've done successfully after this?

Words for the Month: 28,580 / 40,000
Total Words: 28,580

Damn

Well, that did not go as planned. On the good side, I'm no more behind schedule than I was, I was able to break past the part that was giving me trouble, and I now have some more direction to where I'm writing. On the bad side, I'm no further caught up then I should be, I am tired as hell and lost half my day to sleep, and there is too much noise around me to write right now.

So was last night successful? Maybe, I'm not sure how to look at success right now. What I do know is I have  a lot of stuff on my mind of what I want to write which means the next few pages will go pretty quick. That should also make my friend happy because they get it a little faster too.

Words for the Month: 26,353 / 40,000
Total Words: 26,353

Gotta play catch-up

I'm having something between writers block right now and just a complete unattached feeling with the story. Its not help and I really don't need it especially in these final days of the month. But I'm going to try and work through it to play some catch-up with my story, hopefully hitting the next mark soon. To get caught up with my schedule I will need to write 4,000 words minimum. Lets see if I can pull it off.

Words for the Month: 24,267 / 40,000
Total Words: 24,267

And the Characters Continue

I'll admit that today I was extremely bugged and tired and as a result, not much writing was done. I'm hoping that a newly quieted house will help with really kicking out some more words, but no promises there. Life is strange and mysterious.

Speaking of words, I just realized that I'm coming up to the most words I've ever written in a single story. Originally this record was set by a story I started writing back some time ago, the title of that story being R.E.D. I have friends (of which all are reading this story and mad that I am taking so long...) that read what I wrote for that story and they are upset that I stopped writing that story a while ago. I do plan on some day going back to R.E.D. because it is such an interesting idea, one told with colors and images, but at the current time I am strictly sticking to my current story. Maybe when I finish this one I will revisit R.E.D. and get that re-written into a masterpiece of its own.

So I guess what I'm trying to say with all this blabber that it is really interesting to see myself actually coming up to and passing the farthest point I've ever made in a story. It's not a goal and I don't consider it an accomplishment, but it is something that kind of helps motivate me to write more. In a way, setting the record as far as possible will make writing even more fun.

Back to the current story, I am happy to announce that another interesting character has been added to the mix. Now I don't want people to think I'm going to go crazy with characters (not that right now it matters, I think I have a total of 5, maybe 6 available) and for the most part the other characters will drop off for some time to reappear. However, this character might stick around for a while. I'm not sure yet, but his personality really does offer a lot for me to play with. We'll see, the individual is now on the table. To the people who are currently reading my novel, I wonder how they will react to this guy. He is of course as unique as any of the individuals I create.

Words for the Month: 24,204 / 40,000
Total Words: 24,204
Total Pages: 33 (single spaced)

Ah Yes, the Fun of the English Language

Just to be clear on my retarded sleep schedule, I woke up at three in the afternoon today. I have slept every night on time, yet for some reason my special internal clock said that last night I should not go to sleep until after five thirty in the morning. So I didn't. Then I do get some rest and BAM, out forever.

I woke up tired (because sleeping for long periods of time, like lets say ten hours, tends to do that) and wanted to just take a nap. Instead I forced myself to get up and wonder where the hell everyone in my house was. I managed to eat something, then went back to my room and worked on email or something. About four or four thirty I found my brother and called my parents. Made dinner. Fun. Then time passed with me playing my new arcade game. (I recommend it, it's called Limbo and only available on the Xbox. Though it was short, which disappointed me.)

Well, got into the spirit of writing a little bit later (after everyone was asleep and I could focus better) and decided to write because my friend had just gotten online. She was reading the second chapter, unedited and barely finished, and I was started the next chapter. She gave me some advice, to which I gladly too most of it and made some quick changes, and then we talked about the book for a bit. That's what friends are for.

So where am I going with this ridiculous story. Well look at the time now, four in the morning and I am not tired at all. Curse you insomnia for giving me the ability to live in a 28 hour day instead of our 24.

Okay, back to what this completely strange, I-don't-know where it's going sort of blog is going. I'm going along, writing my book, when I suddenly realized that the English Language sucks. Who the hell made words that sound like other words but are spelled differently. Seriously, that stuff pisses me off and we as people should have made them different long ago. Nothing is equal, not even people, so why are words so damn hard to spell. And now I lost sight of what this blog is about.

Lets just talk about the story since I'm going off onto to many random tangents. The plot thickens, people do stuff, things happen, characters are awesome, more characters are weird, even more are evil, and then less actually turn out to be evil. There you go, update for today completed. Now I'm gonna just go back to writing because that world makes sense to me right now, even if my writing doesn't.

Words for the Month: 23,176 / 40,000
Total Words: 23,176

Well that didn't go as planned

So I was trying to get my second chapter all finished up for my friend on time, except that things kept getting in the way. For instance, I told her I would have the second chapter (unedited) ready for her by the time she was done with school today. Well, it turns out that kinda got washed out when I decided to go to bed last night. Then I was woken up this morning to do some work gardening, which included building the garden and the garden's wall, for my parents. This took forever. Long story short, I was more tired then ever and my friend did not get the chapter.

So now, feeling a little guilty, I'm up into the early morning hours just to finish up the unedited version of the second chapter. For the record, that's done. Except then I looked at my word count. 20,000 words approximately and 10 days. Perfect. At two thousand words averaged in the last few days, I just have to continue like this and I'll make my goal. hurray, I made a goal.

All I can say is I hope my friend is happy, cause I'm still tired after all that manual labor. I hate gardens.

Words for the Month: 21,391 / 40,000
Total Words: 21,391

More Problems

So besides having my little brother here to talk to me and annoy me as I try and type stuff, I have had a pretty distracted and problematic day. (Proof - my brother just called me an asshole.) Anyway, went and saw Inception today. I actually recommend the film not because it is too hard to figure out, but rather because I enjoyed thinking about it afterward. I don't want to give it away, but I'd want to see it again.

Anyway, the problematic part came in when I talked to my Dad. He's super pissed off at me for no reason (for once I actually am innocent) and I keep telling him he's going crazy and he keeps getting madder and madder at me. So he yells at me, I get upset, and then I don't feel like writing because I'm not in the mood. I haven't done anything all day now. Gotta love family, right?

Hopefully tomorrow will be better and more writing will prosper. Also, I feel bad because I promised my friend that I would have the second chapter done by now so she would stop annoying me, but that's not happening so fast. Reason why, because I discovered that last night (or would that be two nights ago now?) was the last night for my beta video game. Now I don't have that game to play with my friend for a week (which might actually help with the production of more chapter 2 stuffz). Anyway, gonna get back to work and slap my friend via instant messages.

Words for the Month: 18,863 / 40,000
Total Words: 18,863

Oh, just remembered that I also have more books to read, so that might be my new distraction for the next week. Hurray! More distractions to annoy people wanting to read what I write with!

Distractions

Short update: I'm too easily distracted. That's about all I have to say.

Okay, if you are really curious then I guess I can say that I've been playing a game online with one of my old roommates. It's just the beta for the game, but the real thing comes out in less than ten days. I'm trying not to play it too much though, cause I do take this task seriously.

Yet somehow I managed to not writing as much as I had intended last night...

Words for the Month: 16,648 / 40,000
Total Words: 16,648

Characters

Whenever I make a character that I find interesting, just the way they talk or how they act, I get really excited. I become even more so when I am the one that came up with that person. They usually feel a little bit more real, their reactions a little more unpredictable, and it makes for a fun read. Well, just finished making a character like that.

I think what I like about making characters that I tend to find interesting, not exactly the lovable type always though, is that my friends who do read these stories end up liking them as well. Its just a mysterious flavor I guess, but I seem to be good at making people that seem real, yet different from one another.

I'm trying not to give anything away with this, and from what I'm saying I've probably created more confusion than anything. Perfectly. I'd rather have an audience confused about what the hell I'm talking about then an audience who can see and understand where I might be going with this. It gives me a little bit more room to work, I personally think.

As far as writing goes, I've been feeling great these last couple of days and sort of experimenting my way through the words. There is a lot of description in trying to describe stuff (no really?) and so the details come as if out of nowhere. I guess the harshest part about describing a place I'm not sure the character will revisit is putting all this effort into making it feel real only to have in vanish into the fog of the past. On the other hand, making it feel real takes words, gets the reader more interested in the strange things I personally pick to describe, and makes it easier for a movie to be made based on the original idea I had in my head. Of course, I honestly don't plan on movies being made from my stuff (because in all cases I tend to stop writing after a week. Its a surprise I've made it more than 10 days now. I have a post a day and this is my eleventh post I think?)

Also, at the rate I am going I will be able to accomplish my monthly goal and maybe then some. I've been writing more words a day then I need to (and I keep planning on doing this, its a safety cushion). 

Words for the Month: 15,515 / 40,000
Total Words: 15,515

Much to do about interesting people.

I already like the character I made, and I feel so sad that I can't tell anyone about this person. Interesting background too, or at least there will be a well written one coming up ;)

The story seemed to be going easier now that I've found my creativity again. Seemed to have misplaced it in a shoebox under the bed, the damnedest of places. So I've been writing fairly quickly now and I have not been going back to revise. I suspect once I lose my creativity again I will return back a few pages and start re-reading to add the crucial details that make the story sound right. Not much more to say about that.

Words for the Month: 13,504 / 40,000
Total Words: 13,504

Tired

Besides staying up late for insomnia, I've also been sleeping through the day. This leaves me, of course, tired all day long when I actually do stay awake. In some ways this sort of sleep pattern is great, because I hate hot and that's what my room is. So I sleep through it.

Well today I couldn't do that, because I had to go to the bank to get my finances set up for the next period of time. That took forever, which I think should be every banks slogan now. "We'll make sure its right by taking the whole day to do something." Anyway, then I had to go out and find some flip-flops because mine exploded on me a few days ago. Yes, exploded is the correct term to use there.

Well now I'm more than tired, I haven't written what I need to for today or yesterday, and I am falling behind again. This is just so natural of me. On the bright side, I actually have very well planned what I want to write and I know where the story is going. So hopefully the next batch of words will come out fast and easier than when I am in a blocked zone.

Words for the Month: 11,047 / 40,000
Total Words: 11,047

Small Goal Met

So I set a goal that yesterday I would at least get to 10,000 words for today. After re-reading the last few pages I wrote and then writing some more new material, I was able to pass this small point. Unfortunately I am still far behind on getting this story done on time and I now realize that this will not be the first or last of the many catch-up days I will be using to get it done on time.

On another note, I finished the first chapter's rough first writing. Most of it has also received much of the needed editing I had originally wanted for it. I am also happy to say that after re-reading the entire thing from start to most of the way through (I still had not written part of it), it reads very smoothly and gives the reader a sense of flow. The details are all in place and they really help the reader understand the situation, but more importantly I think there are enough to really bring people into wanting to read more of the book. That is usually the goal of the first chapter, so success (hopefully)!

Now moving on to the second chapter. Hopefully I can kick out another ton today, though insomnia is making writing very... interesting...

Words for the Month: 10,061 / 40,000
Total Words: 10,061

Playing Catch-up

So Today I'm probably going to be playing a little bit of catch-up. Although yesterday's work on my story was for a very long period of time and we were able to add some words to the count, it didn't really meet the daily required goal to getting this done before the end of the month.

What we did manage to make yesterday was a much more smooth story with a nicely flow. What a lot of people seem to overlook is how flow in story matters. On the one hand you have the too few details sort of person, which makes for a fast pace book. This is wonderful if you write kid's books, because the pace is at the speed for them to keep interest. The other way is to have too many details, which makes the book drag on in tedious steps. This is wonderful for catching a nerd audience. However, since I'm not either a nerd or a child I need to hit the third option, which of course is to his a pace that is right in between.

And don't get me wrong, this is a very important matter. It was basically what we were working on yesterday, making sure there weren't too many details bunched together or too few details spread far apart. In this manner we were able to add words, but it also means in some instances we got rid of words. And more importantly, I had to run it by my friend while doing so to make sure that I wasn't going over something or if I was a little unsure of how to solve things she would figure it out. Also, we fixed the double word problem (the same word appearing twice in three or less sentences). The thesaurus just doesn't compare to a human.

Anyway, today will be a major writing day, hopefully to get me to 10,000 words at least.

Words for the Month: 7,608 / 40,000
Total Words: 7,608

Re-reading

So I'm sitting down with my friend/wife/husband's wife/food giver and we're going over what I've written so far, working out a few kinks and getting rid of some awful word choices. Well, the wonderful thing about doing this is we are both rolling on the floor with laughter as we read some of the more ridiculous thing I write.

But one portion that I still proclaim is ever so important is that I keep wanting to use a word that is not in the dictionary, or at least not in the manner I want to use it. To wasp, a new verb I say. It doesn't mean anything to deal with the damn animal we all hate, but rather is more an associate of the very wimpy counter-parts of to wisp or to whisk. Yet every time I go to use the word, she laughs at me and the computer thinks I'm a retard.

So just let it be known, I'm demanding that to wasp (or as I use it in my writing, wasping) be added to the damn dictionary. Here are my reasons:

1. it adds yet another way to briskly say the wind rustled the trees
2. it sounds cool, yet scary because of the animal regularly associated with word
3. It makes her want to read my blog because I go off on random tangents on wasping

As you can see, these reason alone provide without a doubt that the word should fucking exist in the dictionary. Seriously, if I can use it in common conversation, it should be something I can use in Microsoft Word without the program getting upset with me.

On another note, the writing goes well. We are currently working on making stuff work, which as you can tell from this sentence, it probably needs a lot of work. I just said work twice, that pisses me off. Six hours of sleep for the record.

Words for the Month: 7,379 / 40,000
Total Words: 7,379

No Post?

To explain the lack of a post yesterday, I just want to remind everyone that I was over at my friends for some delicious spaghetti. So I did not have time to post anything because I was on a fairly busy schedule right around the time I felt like I was going to post. That and I usually make a post after I finish writing for the night, which never came because I rolled over dead from spaghetti absorption. And yes, that is possible

As far as my story goes, I feel like I'm finally getting to the end of the first chapter (hurray) and so I want to just go back and re-read everything to make sure that the details all make sense or are in place. I might do that with one of my friends listening today to get her opinion on it as well, but I'm not sure yet.

Words for the Month: 7,088 / 40,000
Total Words: 7,088

Going to Spaghetti Sunday

So back while I was in school at Boulder, a group of friends and I started holding a bi-weekly meal meeting where we would go to my friend's how on Sunday and have spaghetti. It's not hard to understand why we would do such a thing, spaghetti is cheap and it was a convenient way for us all to get together and talk about random stuff going on in our lives. Well, since summer has started we've all been busy with our own things and the whole idea of the every other week spaghetti Sunday party has kind of been put on the line. That is, until tomorrow when we've planned to all meet again and have some more food and talk. Just kind of saying I'm just a little excited to finally have someone who's not my family to talk to in person again.

On concerning my writing I've got this to say, I was up late again last night (insomnia I suspect) when my friend started messaging me back. I asked her to be one of the verifiers for when I finish a chapter and ship it off to her and she agreed. We'll probably be seeing her comments soon, seeing as I can already see the perfect place to end the first chapter and start the next one coming up. However, the importance of why I talking to her is relevant to this comes from the fact that I realized that even in getting bored of the original plot-line I will be following there will be other ways to keep me going. Through the use of the random characters the protagonist will meet throughout the story, I am able to tell not one story but rather several. So if I ever get bored telling his story, I can kind of venture off onto one of these other characters and give them more depth.

Which leads to the next thing, if I do something like that then this would be best as a series. I know I could develop several characters in a single novel, but I think it would be better if I could have more space to write out what happens to these people as well. And more importantly, it just gives me more room to continue out and make a cast that are very vivid and interesting in their own aspects. I kind of think of it like this, imagine a 3 hour long movie versus a trilogy. In the trilogy of films you feel like you get to see the different characters grow, but in a movie you really only have that one film to see what changes happen. In my opinion, books will work the same way: where one book feels like the character was meant to make that singular change, but having more than one expresses deeper thought to each person.

As always though, we'll have to see where each month leads me. Not done writing for today, but I just felt like I wanted to get all of that out...

Words for the Month: 5,688 / 40,000
Total Words: 5,688

Am I getting Sick?

I know that the previous night I had insomnia, something that most people would classify as a disease, but for me it has become something more of second nature. I don't mind having insomnia and it barely torments my mind to think I'm not sleeping at the right hours (not that I don't get a little upset after a while of no sleep). So I don't usually pay much attention to the fact that I stayed up one night and slept through the next or that I've slept a good portion of the sunlit part of my day away. So don't think of that as a disease for me, but rather just my natural body motions when I talk about it.

However, I have noticed that although my sleeping is random and all over the place, that I've been sleeping a lot more than I should be. Like yesterday, the last entry to my blog was made early in the morning. At about seven AM my time (mountain, for those that don't know), I found myself back in bed going to sleep finally. I did not wake up until dinner that night. I had the meal, then went straight back to sleep. This is abnormal for me and it has been happening a lot recently. So I'm starting to wonder if I might be getting a little sick.

On another note, I am not letting this stop me from continuing my goal for the month, for I am already continuing on writing and hopefully I will get a lot done today. I will of course give the update as to what I am at now, but I just thought I would post this out there that I might fall asleep and get less done then expected.

What I also wanted to say is that although no one has read what I've written yet, for I am still working hard on finishing up a first chapter that is sure to grab the reader and bring them into wanting to read more (as I am told I am good at this), I have noticed something very peculiar about this novel in comparison to my many other ones. You see, I'm only about seven pages into writing it (All of which are formatted to be approximately 600-900 words a page... not your average amount for those who don't know) and I've noticed that the story plays out through what the character finds and not completely through the character. This means that my readers should very much expect that the book will consist of mountains of letters, poems, notes, and other assortments of writings that the protagonist will use to continue his journey and the first chapter will very much make this clear to whomever reads. So hopefully these side-portions of the book will be as interesting as the main characters adventure, drawing the reader to want to put them together as well as they dive into other people's lives.

One last note, my family continues to show me just how annoying they can really be...

Words for this Month: 4,678 / 40,000
Total Words: 4,678

Insomnia, a great way to start

So every now and again I fall into a small problem where I have insomnia and instead of sleeping I spend the whole night awake. It leaves me tired, bored, and mostly hungry. However, over the past few years I've developed sort of my own way for dealing with the disease. Instead of going to bed and laying there for hours, nothing getting done, I have developed a strange love to actually just stay up and work on stuff. In the end I feel a little bit more accomplished and I don't worry as much the next day when I sleep during the hours I normally would be awake.

So this is how I spent my night, awake and doing the best I can to be productive in some sort of way. For the most part, this was a failed attempt though. I think I spent a total of two hours writing and in that time did not manage to harbor as many words as I would have preferred. Why? Because I can't seem to find the words to describe the event that I want to happen and so I end up sitting there half dead and half asleep.

Ironically, it is usually through a state of insomnia that I find my way through even the hardest portions of a story, finding the clue I needed to get past a point that was trivial and acting against me. This is also what happened tonight, for although early on I have already found a portion of the book where I did not know what to write to persuade my reader into understanding that stuff was happening. Well, the insomnia kicked in and I knew exactly how to write it. It seems to be a combination of tired and bored come together to form the idea of how I should proceed.

Yet there is a catch to me finding my way through the harder parts of the novel if I do it through insomnia. The number of errors that I tend to write while in this half dead state is increase by approximately 50% (and for the most part, it is probably higher... I'm being generous to myself). Well, to counter this entire factor that I am currently out of my mind, I'm going to have to re-read everything I've written just to insure that the error rate drops and more details to really describe but I initially meant by that part are there. Usually this has proven to include complete rephrasing.

So is insomnia (which honestly was not planned for the first night) really a good thing? It is hard to say. Catch you all after some Zs.

Words for the Month: 3,634 / 40,000
Total Words: 3,634