11.11.11 and NaNoWriMo Update

What with all that talk about the great sequence date, I decided to title this post with it. It is significant after all, considering we won’t see it again any time soon. At least not in my lifetime. Looks rather nice, doesn’t it?

While people the world over are planning to make this date memorable by getting married, having babies or doing important things, I chug on, as usual. My internet still sucks. It has not magically corrected itself and neither can the ISP resolve it, as of now. Talking of the great sequence date, the next great sequence will be 12.12.12 next year, after which we’ll have to wait a century for the next one. Unless they discover month thirteen the following year. Ha, ha.

Nevertheless, life does go on, as it is wont to do. One major thing I did manage to do was clear out my mailbox, which in itself is a mammoth task. Although I planned to do a little at a time, I found that once I got started, I couldn’t let it go until I was through with it. Oh, the relief of trashing stuff that belongs there and then one click, and voila! clean space. If only clearing up my house was that easy. But I’ll get there, eventually. Of that I am confident.

In the meantime…

Writing, as part of the NaNoWriMo challenge is turning out to be a beautiful experience for me. One might think, since I work as a Freelance Writer anyway, it really shouldn’t be all that much of a big deal, right? While it is true that writing is what I now do for a living, writing for myself because I want to is a completely different story. I can’t believe the speed at which it is going, so far. So we’re only at November 11, but that’s eleven days of discipline and a wee bit over one thirds of thirty days!. I sincerely hope I am able to finish all that I’ve planned for this month.

What am I working on?

My plan was to work on an eBook, content for a site and some how-to blog posts. I am almost at the end of a section of the eBook I had planned. But while writing it, I got a better idea. You know how ideas are! I’ve decided to extend it and write a complete reference guide for women that includes topics such as health, nutrition, pregnancy, menopause, fitness after forty, and a section on home remedies. I’ll write it in such a way that it can be split into stand-alone books later. This is going to continue well after the NaNoWriMo because a guide like this cannot be packed up in a month.

I might sneak in a couple of short stories that have been going around in my head. This is purely thanks to Terri who posted an intriguing excerpt from the novel she’s writing. Terri writes fabulously – just read her articles for The Examiner. You’ll know what I mean.

Besides this, I have my bread, butter and flavored cheese to think of in my life outside NaNoWriMo. Then there’s the usual routine of life that involves family, home and my second job. But considering everything, I am amazed to find myself rather cool and calm, because I expected myself to feel a wee bit harassed about the pressure on my time. But I am trying my best to stick to the plan I listed. I am not one hundred per cent there, but so far, so good. I’ve also got to factor in all the unexpected intrusions that cannot avoid.

Still, I love the way I wake up each morning, eager to start the day, with my head filled with all the things I want to do. My list-making habit helps in a big way (Thank you, Mom)

I am immensely grateful to my clients who, very sweetly, keep track of my NaNoWriMo progress by actually asking me frequently “how is it going?”

And of course I love it when Kim from My Inner Chick (love that title) says such lovely things. Also, thank you Betsy, Angela, Sheila. You have no idea how strong and resolved you make me feel with your encouraging words.

What word count?

My son, when he returns from school looks at me and asks, “How much?” and expects me to tell him the word count point I am at. I keep telling him the word count is only to keep track. Oh, but it is still very gratifying to think yay, I did it for today.

Sury returns home from work and asks Vidur, “hey, you know how many words?” To which Vidur will answer, “What, daddy, what words?” And then, it dawns on him – after all, he’s got a million other things to think about…and he says, “oh yeah, she’s on track.” Not how many words, mind you – but nicely ambiguous.

I found I hadn’t visited the NaNoWriMo site for a while and when I did, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could update my word count there. Now – really no big deal, but I did update it, and felt rather encouraged. Cute.

Hoping to achieve my goal and working hard at it.