As months continue to dash toward the end of the year, I’m back – yet again and seemingly way too soon – with my regular report on my writer’s life. The memories of my move across the States slowly fade, and I find myself rebuilding my routines.
Writing – CampNaNoWriMo and other projects
I couldn’t resist the temptation of joining CampNaNoWriMo this month. I hoped that I could write 30,000 words in one project, and then catch up with my missing words for 365 Writing Club with other works. Needless to say, it turned out too ambitious of a goal. Especially with my keenness on working on multiple stories.
A few days in, I realized that my goal was unrealistic. I didn’t want to give up, but I also wanted something achievable for the month, so I lowered my Camp goal to 20,000 words. That turned out a good decision. Not only I managed to win the Camp, but I also wrote over 10,000 words in other projects, meeting my monthly goal. I also managed to write every day which means I haven’t missed a day since the beginning of the year!
As time goes by, though, I’m slowly realizing that I might not be able to close the gap for my yearly goal. It means that for the first time since I joined the Club, I might not be able to meet it. Time will tell. At the moment, I’m happy that I reached my half a year word count – a bit late, but I made it.
Art
Focusing on writing meant less time for other activities, and even though I did some art when I needed a break, I don’t have anything to show yet. I worked on a piece that I decided to redraw and start over. It’s in a coloring stage now, but I’m taking my time with it. I feel that if I rush it, it won’t be as good as I envisioned it.
I have few other plans and ideas, but I want to have something solid before I give any details. After all, life likes to verify the best plans… Until then, there are always the weekly Wordwitch drawings.
Life
It’s been a pleasantly quiet month. My pansies decided to ignore any sort of seasonal indications. They decided that, since they’ve been sown late, they’ll bloom in the middle of summer. They don’t seem bothered by either the heat or the regular storms in Virginia, though they grew quite wild and tall. In a way, one could say that they took after me, right? Most of them are yellow, with one or two odd purple or white ones, as if they also decided to also ignore the ‘multicolored’ printed on the seed packet. I hoped for more purple ones, but in the end, they’re the first plants I’ve grown in 15 years (if not more), so I can’t complain.
How has your July been? Is it hot over where you live? How do you cope with the heat?
Sounds like, considering you’ve been behind a lot this year because of your move, you’re catching up really very quickly indeed!
And the Pansies look gorgeous 🙂
I feel like “really very quickly” is polite British for “slowly and creating even more delays” 🙂 but yes, I’m going somewhere. It might even be forward.
Not in this instance 😀
So it _could be_ in some other instances? :>
Nah, for that I’d say, Well, you’re making progress XD
Congratulations on keeping after your goals. And pansies have such sweet faces. I love them in the garden.
Thank you! Apologies for such a late reply, but I’ve been permanently behind with everything this year.
It happens. I have found myself falling behind of late. Glad to know I am in good company.
Maybe we should start a club or something… 😉
The business of putting down roots takes time – I’m really relieved that you took the decision to lower your target when it looked as though you weren’t going to make it. Those pansies are remarkable! By rights, they shouldn’t be around at all… but they look really happy.
As for the heat – I’ve decided I simply live in the wrong part of the world. Yes, I get hot and sweaty along with everyone else, but that just makes me happy. The brightness of the sunlight and the heat that seeps right down to my bones is glorious. But I mostly don’t go on about it as the majority of my countrymen and women are clearly suffering and that would be crass. I know how they feel – when winter roars in, the cold leaves me diminished and utterly miserable…
Sounds like, indeed, you live in the wrong part of the world. Or at least your doctor should prescribe you a month vacation Somewhere Warm and Sunny during the winter time. Preferably, refunded by the NHS. 😉
I think I should suggest this to him! I’m sure he’ll prescribe me that kind of vacation (I’m thinking Bahamas…) and I’m equally sure the NHS will be THRILLED to pay allll my holiday expenses…
A writer can dream, right? 🙂
Of course… dreaming is what we all do:)
Look at those pansies! What cuties. 🙂 And even though you may be behind on your word count goal for this year, you’re still writing and still (hopefully) making progress. That counts for something, right?
This summer has been more consistently humid than usual in MA. It’s definitely not the hottest summer I can remember, but we’ve had very few dry or refreshing days. It’s been uncomfortable enough that I don’t want to spend much time outside, unfortunately.
I keep telling myself that I’m making progress, and sometimes it works!
It was very humid and rainy over here as well, but still hot (over 85 degrees most days), and we’re still not in the fall temperatures.
But at the same time, I don’t spend much time outside to begin with, so it wasn’t too bad for me.