Sheila Rambles

 Wordcount (final): 52,176 First line of the day:  She’s asking so she can cash in on the hype while it’s still hyping. Last line of the day:  I look at the texture I’m working on, put Lenny in my pocket and go to the guest house. Bad summary: Young woman has phone conversation with art dealer. Makes sense in context:  I feel stupid the moment I ask that question.

 Word count: 51,307 (reached 50,000 on Monday) This year, I did a chapter-by-chapter outline to guide me. There are twenty-six chapters, plus an epilogue, in the outline. I am currently on chapter eighteen. No, I don't expect to finish the narrative by Thursday. There is much said in the realms of novel-writing advice about the "mushy middle", the part when you are convinced that you suck as a writer and see no way forward. The trick is to persist, persist, persist until you get closer to the end and reach firmer ground. I seem to have reached the finish line in NaNoWriMo right in the midst of the mushy middle. Everything is awful and boring and I don't know if I'll ever be able to fix it. But, I do know the cure. Which is to keep writing and worry about the mess later. I plan to keep at it all the way to the 30th for a victory lap. Maybe I'll make it to chapter nineteen. First line of the day: Lost, because I didn't post here yesterday. Last line of the d...

Word count: 48,389 I devoted the entire day, even skipping Sunday dinner with the family. Wrote all day, with ten-minute breaks each hour, and pauses for lunch and dinner. Hit 4,382 words at 10:00 PM and called it a night. I didn't get to the finish line, but I can probably cross it by tomorrow evening. My stats will be a little abbreviated accordingly. First line of the day: I have no idea. I didn't post my stats last night, so I don't know where I left off. Last line of the day:  I arranged for a meeting with Nina Saison, the producer for Hollywood and Beyond , the show that they’ll be showing the wedding footage on. Bad summary: Dude, I wrote over 4,000 words and I don't know where I started. Makes sense in context:  They’re old-fashioned-looking name tags with the words “HELLO! MY NAME WAS” on them.

 Word count: 42,585 I've worked on Black Friday for nearly a decade; why should I stop because I'm working at home? This meant my wordcount was a little limited, but I'm ahead of par and I'm hitting a fun bit where our young lovers go back to the place they met. First line of the day:  “I’ve only been in here to put up merchandise in the shops.” Last line of the day:  They harmonize quite well. Bad summary: Young woman wanders virtual world a few hours before it closes. Young man comes to join her but is thwarted by software updates. Makes sense in context:  “Wow. I didn’t really like it, but it’s cool that you made it.”

 Word count: 41,054 Didn't pull as far ahead as I hoped, even taking the day off from AI work for Thanksgiving. There were certain distractions that nipped at my heels all day. Plus, I do have to spend time with my family eating turkey and things. Almost his 2,000 words for the day, though, so not bad. First line of the day:  “Think you can do it on the flatpage. That’s how I bought the land to begin with. Think you can do in in 3-D space as well. I’ll have a look after dinner.” Last line of the day:  “Craaaaazy busy,” I reply. Bad summary: Young man gives parcel of soon-to-be-worthless virtual land to young woman. Young woman's niece asks for help shutting up people who don't think young woman is really her aunt. Young woman crafts evidence and places it in virtual installation. Young woman visits virtual world on the last day of its existence. Makes sense in context:  “That’s so many double-negatives, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

 Word court: 39,064 First line of the day:  It probably doesn’t help that we got under the covers, because we were cold on account of being nude. Last line of the day:  “Speaking of landmarks, would you be willing to incarnate as Xenix long enough to sell the Green Man Gallery plot to me? I want to set up a link to Turris Solis there.” Bad summary: Newlywed couple hosts reception for wedding party. Everybody gets along quite well. Young lady contacts charity, plays in virtual worlds, and makes dinner from the leftover reception food. Makes sense in context:  The Johnson-Reeds arrive just in time to hear Uncle Robbie laughing hysterically and emerging from the dining room waving a chicken nugget around.

 Word count: 37,244 First line of the day:  “They’re quite light,” he remarks. Last line of the day:  We don’t set an alarm, so our nap goes on for quite a while. Bad summary: Newlywed couple consummate their marriage. Makes sense in context: "You can see it if you look up close—it’s like a sponge with tiny, tiny holes."