Arrived in Madison last evening, just in time for a surprise dinner with some friends (and all around wonderful people), followed by hours and hours of scintillating conversation. The city looked very pretty. Very twinkly. There’s also a new two story coffee shop / internet bar near where I used to live. Mrrrow.
Also, to all of you participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), just remember that while it might seem impossible to write an entire novel in a month, it is, in fact, quite possible to do so, and do it in a fashion that is both fun and productive (as in, producing a product that after some revisions is very sellable). I regularly write books in a month or less (although this last novel is taking a lot longer), and this is how I do it:
1. I sit down at the computer.
2. I let go. I give my mind permission to do its thing.
3. I don’t get up from the computer until a) I really have to go to the bathroom, b) the dog really has to go to the bathroom, c) I have to eat or else my stomach will eat itself, and d) it’s time to sleep.
Which is all very simplistic, but it gets the job done. Everyone is different, though—time commitments vary, as does personal commitment. It also can be difficult to put yourself in a state of mind where it’s okay to simply write. No guilt, no nagging, no worry. Just words. Being in the present, in the story, in the now. Taking that leap of faith (of sorts) that says “I can do this.”
It also helps if you love what you’re doing. I assume, though, that if you’re participating in NaNo, you do love writing—and if you don’t, you’ll find out really fast.
The state capital building near the hotel. I had a view of this building from my apartment when I was in law school. Nice way to wake up in the morning. I had a wonderful walk.