I feel like it’s been ages since I sat down to chat with you all. I know many of you probably think I’m busy beavering away writing my novel for NaNoWriMo, but alas I am not. I retired, bowed out, ran away or failed miserably,( use whichever you wish) at that writing challenge very early in the month. I could give you the many different reasons it didn’t work out for me, but I’m not sure if they really were the reason. Yes the schools went on strike the week immediately after they’d had a week off, as well as so many other unexpected trials that popped up which had to be dealt with, all which kept me from writing, however I think there was more to it.
The week I did manage to make time for writing I enjoyed, to a degree, but as I typed each word my heart lay elsewhere. I cared about the young girl I was writing about, but not as deeply as the characters in my short stories waiting to be edited. As I closed my laptop I lamented going to bed, not because I’d not finished the chapter, but because I’d got an idea for a flash fiction piece. Lying in bed it was that piece I wrote and rewrote in my head, not my novel.
So not writing for NaNoWriMo has actually been good for me. From now on when I do get time to write I am going to put it into trying to perfect my short story and flash fiction writing and even entering a few competitions.
November is a month like any other for most of you, but different for me. Next Tuesday is Daniels anniversary. As the days pass it’s hard not to travel back in time to those harrowing final days, remembering difficult, heartbreaking conversations with a great friend, a mother who was facing a nightmare beyond belief. Even though it’s been three years it’s still raw, shocking and very sad.
So bear with me while I find my way. I used to find baring my soul here worked so well, but recently I’ve had to up the number of hours I am spending writing for The Examiner as we are under pressure for Christmas deadlines. Instead of having to write a piece a week I’ve to write two pieces, in order to facilitate Christmas time off…and they have to be humorous, at a time when I’m not feeling overly funny. When evening comes I am spent.
But enough of my moaning. On a positive note after freaking out about the deadlines for the column, I then put my head down and wrote three in the past three days and having read them to himself, he laughed out loud so it looks like I did okay. And believe it or not I enjoyed the challenge once I sat down to it and I’m rather pleased with the outcome. Hopefully you will be too when I post them here.
So that’s me up to date. My apologies to my fellow NaNoWriMo writers. I hope to read your wonderful works and get back to normal blogging activity soon. Thanks to you all my friends for listening, as always.
photo credit: writer’s block – crushed and crumpled paper on notepad via photopin (license)
My thoughts on a page. 
You’re laughing loudly in the face of NaNoNanuthingiembob with your weekly articles. Take THAT, NanoNano.
Haha. Yes feck you NaNo. I’ll just have to kiss my Book Awards speech goodbye.
I’ve definitely been having a bad case of writer’s block recently, and then when I do pluck up the courage to get back to blogging, I’m worried of feeling like a failure – which is crazy, because I’ve got no reason to think that! It can be frustrating sometimes 😛
You appear very confident in your writing over on your blog so I hope that failure feeling is short lived. Remember it’s your blog, for your enjoyment and benefit. You don’t owe anyone anything from it.
I rarely have writers block, just lack of time catches me but I miss posting and interacting so thankfully I usually make my way back within a few days.
Ah, bummer, was looking forward to reading about your NaNo success, but you are having other successes. A weekly column is a challenge. Your columns are funny and enjoyable and relate-able. I am still plugging away. Procrastinating a little tonight, but I am still on track to finish with 50,000 words if I don’t finish the story earlier. I am trying to find ways to stretch it out a little. This writing is just for fun. I don’t expect it to go anywhere but here on paper and out of my head. I observed in a conversation yesterday, I wrote a book once 17 years ago and never wrote another. I just wanted to see if I had another book in me. I can safely say, that I do. And I am happy. Be happy with your successes, you are not a failure, that novel is still there waiting, who says it has to be done in a month. A little bit here, a little bit there and before you know it that story will be down on paper too.
wow Charlene that’s fantastic. I’m delighted for you.
I certainly wont say never, but definitely not now for me and I’m okay with that. I had thought I’d do it so it’s good to know what I’m really feeling and go for the writing I enjoy most at present.
I may not always respond, but I do read your posts. I have found myself picking writing projects and sadly my blog is not high on my list right now. I am so glad that you are able to combine your two writing projects together and share them with the world. You have to follow where your heart leads, that is what matters most. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
no worries at all. write what you can, when you can, for who you want and we will always be here. i am part of the ‘nononono’ crowd and we have no deadlines
Oh please can I be in your nononono group? Sounds right up my street.
i’m going to say yes, as you’ve already gone through your hazing and shown your bravery by meeting a potential serial killer last summer. )
yahoo. BTW Happy Thanksgiving.
Thinking of you, your friend and all who knew Daniel as his anniversary approaches.
That is so kind of you. Thank you so much.
Go with your soul. That is my motto when it comes to writing Tric
NaNo isn’t always good for the soul, Tric, especially if you don’t like the finished product. You certainly did spend your time more wisely. Sometimes I find that my funniest stuff comes when I’m not feeling that way myself. If I start calling myself a comedian someone had better call the doctors.