@ aileth.

I'm rather jealous of both of you. Despite deciding to do a half-NaNo this year (50K words over November & December), I've actually had to halve it again to 25K. And even then I'm not sure I'll make it. What can I say - whoever decided to have NaNo be at the end of the year hates us all. (As for my attempt at a blog.... it's best not to look at what year I last posted in....) But, at least I got my writing juices flowing. Too much, unfortunately - now I want to write a whole bunch of things that I don't have time for....

Christmas preparations are going fairly well for me this year. It's very strange to not be seeing my family's tree and playing our classic Christmas CDs this year, but at least I'll still be celebrating Christmas Day itself with the family. We opted to switch to each of us buying one present for one other person, rather than everyone trading gifts, just to avoid some of the Christmas insanity. It's really helped with my stress level this year - I already have my person's Christmas present bought, wrapped, and under the tree. My nephew and niece (5 and just under 2 respectively) are exempt from all this, so I still want to get them a gift, but that's about all the Christmas shopping I still have to do.

It's hard to believe Christmas is only a week away! Where has this year gone?

In what is becoming the new normal in my family, I'm visiting relatives in the Pacific Northwest for the holidays, making the proverbial White Christmas less likely (though Seattle did get a surprising amount of snow last December by local standards). It's nice to see my brother and his family again, as well as my mother, who now lives out here. We're planning Christmas dinner to be at his house again this year.

Unfortunately my best writing time starts at 9:30 pm--sheer desperation?

Same here. It's a terrible thing when you give yourself an entire day to write and don't accomplish anything until then.

The nice thing about NaNo is that it's outside pressure to complete the story, because otherwise I end up around two-thirds of the way through and dithering over the ending. This way, I at least HAVE an ending to edit and improve.

I don't know where the rest of the year went, gazer, but I certainly agree that December went by fast! There's been a whirl of holiday activities: attending a Christmas cantata, the church program, baking cookies with friends, caroling at the nursing home... With all the stuff going on, I haven't even started a gift for our family gift exchange.

My best writing time seems to be when I'm working. In all seriousness, though, it does sometimes seem like taking those minutes... or hours... of staring at your document trying to figure out how to get through your block is about the only way it's going to happen. At this point, I'm just glad that writer's momentum works both ways - once it gets going, it REALLY gets going. It'd just be nice if life, sleep, etc. could take a break when that happens so you can keep it up.

I have such mixed feelings on NaNo. On the one hand, I definitely agree that having a bad draft is better than no draft at all. On the other hand, I have never once finished a NaNo when it was for a project I was already working on, and if it was a new idea, even if I finish, I have yet to come back to it. I know NaNo is supposed to be more of a tool or exercise than a way to get a book written, but it's a bit disheartening to get all the way to the end and not have something really usable.

I'd hope for a White Christmas for you, stargazer, but I suspect that snow is less welcome in Seattle than it is in Minnesota. But I'm glad you get to see your family for Christmas.

I'd like to know who hit the fast forward button sometime in 2014 and hasn't turned it off yet. How is Christmas less than a week away now?? Good luck getting your gift done on time, Mel! (It sounds like a crafting project of some kind? ) Every year, I keep telling myself that this is the year when I'll actually formulate a Christmas card list... or that I'll finish all my shopping well in advance... or.... Well, there's always 2018.

I got to babysit my sister's kids last night when their parents went to go see The Last Jedi. My nephew, who just turned 5, at one point mentioned Santa and actually looked out the window to see if he could find him. Which was adorable, but it's just so weird to think that he's now of the age to know who Santa is... and not yet know that Santa isn't real. My family never did Santa, which is an added level of weird.

My best writing time seems to be when I'm working. In all seriousness, though, it does sometimes seem like taking those minutes... or hours... of staring at your document trying to figure out how to get through your block is about the only way it's going to happen. At this point, I'm just glad that writer's momentum works both ways - once it gets going, it REALLY gets going. It'd just be nice if life, sleep, etc. could take a break when that happens so you can keep it up.

That would be last night--2300 words. I've been writing for 49 straight days now, though production rate dropped dramatically after Nov 30. Sometimes it's only 50 words a day, but I'm bound and determined to finish off this pesky (short) story I'm working on. I'm the same--when I'm not working I don't have enough structure and routine to make myself write. It's maddening!

I have such mixed feelings on NaNo. On the one hand, I definitely agree that having a bad draft is better than no draft at all. On the other hand, I have never once finished a NaNo when it was for a project I was already working on, and if it was a new idea, even if I finish, I have yet to come back to it. I know NaNo is supposed to be more of a tool or exercise than a way to get a book written, but it's a bit disheartening to get all the way to the end and not have something really usable.

Uh-huh. In spite of their advice to turn off the inner editor, and all that, it doesn't seem to work for me. So I end up with a fairly readable first draft. Maybe because I've had it in my head for years, sometimes, and have worked out most of the plot ahead of time. Of course, there's always a bit of tidying up necessary, but it's only rarely that I have large chunks to redo. Could be that it's all trash, and I just don't recognize it, but the few people who have read them seem to enjoy them (or else are just really kind )

My first book (not a NaNo) could use a bit of help structurally. Don't know when (or if) I'll ever get around to fixing it up. Before I publish, hopefully (and that would be about 2049, most likely).

Merry Christmas, all! We have the white stuff in moderation, and the sun has come out for the first time in days. Lovely!

I have such mixed feelings on NaNo. On the one hand, I definitely agree that having a bad draft is better than no draft at all. On the other hand, I have never once finished a NaNo when it was for a project I was already working on, and if it was a new idea, even if I finish, I have yet to come back to it. I know NaNo is supposed to be more of a tool or exercise than a way to get a book written, but it's a bit disheartening to get all the way to the end and not have something really usable.

I totally agree that never going back to a story may feel like it's unusable... but for me, since I tend to write in a very linear fashion, I have LOTS of practice with beginnings. (I even like to think some of them are very good. ) But since I don't always go through to the end, I lack practice in that area. Thus, writing endings is the only way to improve that point and if I have a bunch of bad endings before I actually write a good one, well, that's all part of the learning process.

So I end up with a fairly readable first draft. Maybe because I've had it in my head for years, sometimes, and have worked out most of the plot ahead of time. Of course, there's always a bit of tidying up necessary, but it's only rarely that I have large chunks to redo. Could be that it's all trash, and I just don't recognize it, but the few people who have read them seem to enjoy them (or else are just really kind )

I read through a bunch of the stories on your blog a little while ago and really enjoyed them. You have such a lovely, relaxed, storytelling voice. (Alas, even though I know I should have commented on each of the stories individually, I was too interested in reading the next one to stop. )

Good luck getting your gift done on time, Mel! (It sounds like a crafting project of some kind? )

It usually is, yes. I think this year it's going to be a cloak since the recipient has been complaining his last one is now more of a cape... but I really ought to get on that sewing it bit.

That would be last night--2300 words. I've been writing for 49 straight days now, though production rate dropped dramatically after Nov 30. Sometimes it's only 50 words a day, but I'm bound and determined to finish off this pesky (short) story I'm working on. I'm the same--when I'm not working I don't have enough structure and routine to make myself write. It's maddening!

You can do it!! (I wanted pom-poms, but that's close enough. : ) 50 words a day is nothing to sneeze at, and 2,300 in a night is awesome!! How close are you to the end, do you think?

Uh-huh. In spite of their advice to turn off the inner editor, and all that, it doesn't seem to work for me. So I end up with a fairly readable first draft. Maybe because I've had it in my head for years, sometimes, and have worked out most of the plot ahead of time.

Lucky! Granted, I have a pretty critical inner editor, but even when i'm not doing NaNo, I never consider my first drafts to be readable. I've heard that C.S. Lewis was pretty good at just writing a good first draft, so you're in good company, it seems.

I totally agree that never going back to a story may feel like it's unusable... but for me, since I tend to write in a very linear fashion, I have LOTS of practice with beginnings. (I even like to think some of them are very good. ) But since I don't always go through to the end, I lack practice in that area. Thus, writing endings is the only way to improve that point and if I have a bunch of bad endings before I actually write a good one, well, that's all part of the learning process.

I used to write wherever I felt like it, then I started forcing myself to do it linearly... and now I'm going back to writing whatever I want to. I hate beginning and I still do, despite all the practice I've gotten. Plus, I feel like once I've gotten everything established, I quickly run out of ideas for how to get from point A to point B. Sometimes, I don't even know what Point B is.

Good luck getting your gift done on time, Mel! (It sounds like a crafting project of some kind? )

It usually is, yes. I think this year it's going to be a cloak since the recipient has been complaining his last one is now more of a cape... but I really ought to get on that sewing it bit

I'm a bit jealous of your recipient now. Well, you still have... 4 days?! *Checks calendar to make sure no one has been cutting days out*

Things have been very slow at work lately. I work in mortgage, so slowdowns during the winter are expected, but this is my third winter here and it's the most dead I've ever seen. We're not worried about job security, though, because I know they'll need us come summer. My boss is trying to take advantage of the slow times in order to take care of some quality control and retraining.... HALLELUJAH. (My job comes after the initial pass by my co-workers, so I'm directly affected by mistakes.
)

But I am also grateful for the opportunity to get a little bit of non-work stuff done at my desk when we're dead. I keep a notebook nearby to jot down ideas I have when I have nothing else to do. One of my characters has been getting a lot of attention lately for that reason....

You can do it!! (I wanted pom-poms, but that's close enough. : ) 50 words a day is nothing to sneeze at, and 2,300 in a night is awesome!! How close are you to the end, do you think?

*Weeks later* Today is day 100, and I'm working on my third story. The first one I finished a few days after you asked; it wasn't exactly a short story, as it weighed in at ~18,000 words. The current story is heading for the same territory as far as length is concerned. I keep setting myself a limit ("I'll stop at one hundred days" "Okay, maybe 125--that's a third of a year"). The flow is there: though I'm sick of writing every day, the actual writing is going so well that I'm reluctant to end. Aaarrrggghh!

I read through a bunch of the stories on your blog a little while ago and really enjoyed them. You have such a lovely, relaxed, storytelling voice. (Alas, even though I know I should have commented on each of the stories individually, I was too interested in reading the next one to stop.

That's not all bad; it means that they're not 100% rubbish. But I know the feeling; I always mean to comment on stuff, and rarely do. Sometimes it's because I would have to log in first, and that puts me off, other times it's simply inertia.

The fun thing about the birthday stories is that they were written to tease specific children, with lots of references and in-jokes. Some I was happy with; others I felt missed the mark just a little. But hey, it was a challenge, and a good one. And with a quick turnover rate. Now, what I don't know is whether the novels/long stories have the same quality, or if they lose that sense.

And on that note, I'd better get my nose back to the grindstone. Can't make stories without grist, you know!

* very gently herds aileth over to the new event in the Inn *

I'm envious of your consistency (although I do identify with being a weakly blogger). Once upon a time I would write nearly every day...and then there was college...and work...and more college...and more work...and I didn't really get back to it. I should, though. Not likely to, unfortunately.

Mel-y, I can also commiserate with the lack of sewing...although I have a good excuse! My sewing room floor is in the process of being replaced! Now, if I can only finish that, and arrange the room properly, I'll be in business. I hope to do so soon. My fingers have been itching to do some work with the fabric I bought in South Korea, and it's been sitting in a bin, sorrowfully neglected. At this rate, I'll be back in Korea before I make anything from it, and I had so many good plans.

Lady A If you get a chance to see the full eclipse in 2024, take it!

I'm actually hoping to be able to see one of the South American ones! Lunar or solar...at this point, I'm not picky. There's a chance my company will get a contract in South America, and, more specifically, Chile. If they do, I'm fairly sure they will just need my assistance for a few weeks. * cough *

My herb garden has decreased significantly from its glory days, but I currently (well, as of last growing season) grow sage, oregano, and rosemary. We've tried cilantro before, but there's a very limited amount of sand here, so it hasn't done so well. I will intermittently (aka, when it finds me) gather/forage stinging nettle and dandelion (not sure if those count as herbs, but they're useful!). I'm hoping to add thyme back into the mix this year, since it's more "bushy".

If you're career-ing in plants, remind me to never argue the finer points of plants with you. I just get along with them. I've never tried caring for succulents, despite living in a seasonal desert, although several of my friends are just wild about them. I've always thought having an aloe plant would be nice, though.

Honestly, not much of interest has happened since Christmas, yet I find myself constantly busy (and often behind schedule). How can I be so busy, yet have so little to do?

Hello, I don't remember when I last ventured on here.
I'm now living in England, looking forward to the end of winter (whenever that is). I came here hoping to get some work in film/stage, and am listed with an agency that lists Little People. England has more film possibilities in the fantasy area - better opportunities than I had back home.
Meanwhile I am doing temporary jobs in office work, to cover rent, food and transport, and the occasional luxury like theatre plays, movies, and clothes.
And when the weather is a bit drier, I want to go out hiking, particularly in the countryside, and in nearby Yorkshire.
Some of my cousins live near where Georgie Henley comes from, a beautiful area with plenty of good walks and historic looking buildings.

I have time for writing, but the only thing I commit to doing is a weekly blog, which journals my time and experiences here. Sometimes it's more internal thoughts, but at other times I share where I have been and what I have done. Slowly I have begun to love the city I live in. I think that giving up an earlier job and getting over a bad cold have helped!

Coracle, you'll have to let us know if you get cast in a film or something else we can view long-distance. I haven't been as active in theatre as I have been in the past. I did a show that lasted all summer (which is a rare season in the American north) and so afterwards I decided to take a break so I could enjoy the following summer, instead of just going from work to more work. (Unfortunately, I spent that summer mainly sitting indoors watching television, but it was nice to enjoy entertainment for a change instead of providing it. I did get out for a few walks.)

I'd like to know who hit the fast forward button sometime in 2014 and hasn't turned it off yet. How is Christmas less than a week away now??

Yes, and 2018 is even faster! How is it almost March already? I'm both looking forward to spring and wishing time would... take its time.

I haven't hardly written anything since I graduated from college honestly. I remember thinking very seriously that I would be a writer at some point in my life, but now that seems ridiculous to me. I just don't like writing enough to put in the 10,000 hours it takes to gain mastery. Honestly, gardening, where I'm up and moving around and watching green things grow is much easier for me to invest time in. I don't have to force myself.

Good luck to all you aspiring writers out there though. I don't have your ambition.

* very gently herds aileth over to the new event in the Inn *

I did throw a quick, very uninspired story into the ring, mostly because staying under 1000 words was freeing. It didn't take much time and couldn't spiral out of control. I'll try and enter the next one as well.

I'm actually hoping to be able to see one of the South American ones! Lunar or solar...at this point, I'm not picky. There's a chance my company will get a contract in South America, and, more specifically, Chile. If they do, I'm fairly sure they will just need my assistance for a few weeks. * cough *

Good luck with the solar eclipse! And good luck with your garden. I don't claim to be an expert on everything regarding plants. There are just so many species and varieties, and the conditions throughout the country, heck, the world are so different that the same variety of plant will do different things and need different care everywhere. That being said, Aloe vera is very easy to grow. I've had okay luck with it inside and great luck with it outside in a shady spot during the summer. It can take some sun but doesn't seem to mind shade. Just don't drown it with water.

Coracle good to see you! I didn't know you'd moved to England. I hope you get a part, or two, or ten! I ditto Movie Aristotle's request that you let us know if you're cast in anything.

And Aristotle it's good to see you around Ditto Town too! Welcome if I haven't already said something.

So my husband and I are watching Full Metal Alchemist, Brotherhood right now. I think it was first suggested to me on this site years ago. I was so freaked out by the first season of the original anime that I didn't watch FMAB for years. Now I have my husband's hand to squeeze when people are doing monstrous things to each other, and I'm really enjoying the pacing and characters. It's much better than the original from what I remember. Rya I know western animation is your forte, but I think you'd like it. It reminds me of Avatar, the Last Airbender, but a lot darker. We just started season 3 though so I don't know if it stays good.

That would be awesome, Lady Arwen, if you were able to see the South American eclipse next year. The center line passes about 250 miles north of Santiago with the sun sinking in the west-northwest.

aileth and Aravanna, I quite enjoyed your entries into the Ditto Town flash fiction challenge. Good work!

. I remember thinking very seriously that I would be a writer at some point in my life, but now that seems ridiculous to me. I just don't like writing enough to put in the 10,000 hours it takes to gain mastery. Honestly, gardening, where I'm up and moving around and watching green things grow is much easier for me to invest time in. I don't have to force myself.

I can relate to this. I enjoy writing as an informal hobby but don't have any intention to get published. The hobbies I enjoy most (astronomy and camping) are both out-of-doors as well, and I usually find it easy to find the time and desire to commit to those.

Speaking of astronomy, the moon is approaching its full phase (March 1) and its bright light sparkling on all the fresh, clean white snow we received over the weekend is really quite pretty.

I'm glad to see so many people doing the flash fiction thing. I hope we can continue to keep the writing going on here. It's fun. I do plenty of writing elsewise, but coming back here gives me a reason to write the VF, which after so long is like playing with an old toy. And it's a bit like fanfic, where I don't have to worry about a larger picture or anything and it's okay if I make mistakes or change my mind about something later. And since the VF is very much my own avatar--which, IIRC, pretty much all the early primary DT characters were--it's a little bit fantasy role-play too. It was fun to have this virtual space where everyone could hang out and be cooler, more interesting versions of ourselves. It hearkens back to the sort of carefree make-believe that kids play, and I think it's good not to lose that just because we get older.

Strikingly quiet here in Ditto Town Square.

Feeling nostalgic for those days over 10 years ago. Good times.