Quick NaNo update

So, I actually have been working on NaNo. I'm currently at 2394 words, per the NaNo word meter. Go me! I'll have more this week.

And I've already burned a house down. Woohoo! Now I just need to start the body count. And I've even updated my NaNo account - there's a lovely exerpt up. Remember, it's really rough, but you can go check it out if you want. I'm captain_hobbes there.

This pantsing thing is kind of fun. Wonder what I'll have when I'm done?

Bed now.

And it just keeps getting better...

Dustin Pedroia named 2007 Rookie of the Year.

Go Dustin!!!!!

On being a professional writer

So, I had a lovely dinner on Sunday night with my friend Donna (who is woefully LJ-less) and the ever-awesome irysangel, and amid all the really yummy Uno's food, we talked writing. Lots of writing. And it got me thinking about writing professionally.

I try to read my LJ every day, and I see (especially in November) all the amazing word counts coming out on my flist. I have been woefully lax in posting mine, because I've been busy with a ton of other stuff. But life is finally (I hope!) starting to settle down. Within 2 weeks, I'll be switching to the 11:30 am to 8 pm shift at the day job, and I want to start concentrating on my writing again.

Technically, I guess I'm a professional writer. I've been published. I have book contracts. And yet, I don't really FEEL like a pro. No, I don't know why, but I still feel like the kid banging away on her Smith Corona typewriter (Yes, I am that old, and yes, I did start like that. It was my Papa's, and it was awesome) in her room. I have an office. (It's currently a disaster area, but it's there) I have deadlines. And yet, I don't feel like a pro.

Part of me is horrified by that. Part of me is kind of enchanted by it. We'll see which wins.

The goal is to get back to writing every day - and by writing, I mean actual story-type writing, with a plot - not just blog entries. My goal for next year is to have three books completed (not rough drafts, but completed BOOKS) by the end of next year: Dark Moon Seasons, Belladonna Dreams and Descent into Darkness. I also want to start working on plot outlines for several other books. I'm actually contemplating signing up for the 2YN at Forward Motion for 2008 to work on either Blips, Darwin's Law or Faery-Tale Princess - I think the process is still fascinating, and I've got a lot to learn about it. The class will (I hope) keep me honest and working on the book I choose.

So here's the deal. When I go to 11:30 to 8, I'm going to start going into work at 10 am three days a week. We have a great cafeteria here, with tons of plugs, so I'm going to bring my laptop or my QuickPad in every morning and write for 90 minutes before I go on the phones. I don't think I'll have my hour lunch anymore (sob!) but we'll see. If not, I'll be writing at night.

I have an hour commute, so this will be the big push for writing. I'll probably do another hour or so at night after hubby goes to bed, and in the mornings on the days I don't go in early. I want this routine established so that I can actually start producing again, rather than just angsting about it to patient friends like irysangel.

So stay tuned. We'll see what happens.