NaBloPoMo vs NaNoWriMo

It's almost November. This is really hard for me to wrap my head around. Obviously this has to do with not having a job and staying in a warm climate, but I'm still stuck in September.  I go to bed thinking it's a Wednesday in early September and wake up to Halloween Eve.  This is the most free time I've had since my homeschooling years and I do love it, but I'm starting to feel the need for some structure. That being said, November 1st marks the beginning of two different month long writing exercises.

The first, NaNoWriMo (or National Novel Writing Month) is exactly what the name implies: write a 50,000 word (or 175 page) novel by November 30th.  This sounds like a thrilling and frustrating process and it has been my life long goal to write a book.  Not to say that what I would write in this time would be publishing material but just knowing I could write a book start to finish would be a huge step in my goals.  However, this is a big commitment and pretty overwhelming to jump right into.

The second, NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) is very popular and requires you post ever single day to your blog.  This sounds more doable and yet still valuable in forcing me to write every day.  However, posts can be short and frivolous and I'm not so sure this is the best step in my writing path.

Neither of these exercises require profound work; in fact, they emphasis the fact that much of the content will be bad.  These are quantity not quality exercises and I think that's important for writers starting out. Sometimes the hardest part about writing is just getting content onto a page.

Either way, I only have a day or so to decide in my search for more structure and inspiration.  Expect updates soon.

Advice to Live By

I'm sure most of you have seen or heard this but I feel like it is worth posting. It makes me want to cry and dance and run till I have no energy left.  It's beautiful.

I agree on the sunblock too.  It's one of the things I would tell my teenage self and am kicking myself for not doing.  More importantly, I'd tell myself that I'm not fat and I'm not ugly and that sometimes certain people and looks aren't admired in certain small towns.  I'd tell myself it gets so much better, beyond your wildest imaginations better.  

What would you tell your teenage self?

Two Wheels Move the Soul

Wojc and I flew back to Vegas from NYC last Monday ending our three-week "vacation". I had some good luck out there and was able to make some spending money through a chance offer at Microsoft.  It definitely came at the perfect time considering it has been over three months since I quit my job in New York.  Wojc and I had separate flights back to McCarren airport and I enjoyed the time alone by slowly getting sucked into season 1 of Mad Men. Yes, I am a little behind the trend in that one.  After a layover in Denver, I got to Vegas after 9 hours of travel.

Waiting for the Rivercity shuttle to Havasu

Wojc and I landed within a few minutes of each and spent the next three hours trying to entertain ourselves in the parking lot while we waited for the shuttle to Lake Havasu, AZ.  The shuttle is over three hours and by the time we got home we had been traveling for 16 hours and were exhausted to the core.  

Keeping ourselves entertained at McCarren

 Arizona in the fall is spectacular.  When we left about a month ago for New York the daily average was still about 100 degrees.  Now it's 65-75 degrees daily.  It cools down in the evening enough to make a sweater necessary and it couldn't be more perfect.  I am so thankful to be here in this beautiful environment.  Not a day goes by that I don't exclaim my happiness at being here.  The sunsets are magical with bright purples and pinks.  Truly there is something indescribable about Mohave autumns.  I think all those snow bunnies are onto something.

Back in beautiful Arizona

Besides writing and sketching and working on projects, Wojc and I have been taking little rides throughout the surrounding area to picnic and stroll.  Yesterday we rode the ducati south about 40 miles to Parker Dam.

the ducati.

 This Colorado River dam makes Lake Havasu and supplies LA with drinking water.  While I don't necessarily support damming rivers, I must admit it makes for a nice surrounding.

beginning of Lake Havasu

 Don't let these pictures fool you.  The sky was bright blue and vibrant.

 

We cruised through the rocky desert canyons and took a few back roads before heading back north.

wide open spaces

Back to Blogger

For those of you who have followed me from wordpress to here, I thank you.  While I liked wordpress quite a bit there are a few things I can do on blogger that weren't possible.

For those of you new here the gist of the story is I quit my job this past June, packed up my truck and sold everything that wouldn't fit, I got out of my lease and left New York City with my boyfriend Wojc.  I sobbed my way across the George Washington Bridge unsure of what was to come and mourning New York.  What came next was a cross country summer road trip that has extended to a wandering fall.  We traveled through the south and ended up in Arizona.  From there I flew to Oregon and traveled up and down the west coast, drove back to Arizona to stay awhile, flew to New York to house sit for my sister, flew back to Vegas, drove down to Lake Havasu now here I am, the end of October nearing and I'm finally getting serious about what will happen next.  

Thanks for joining me as I try to figure out the next step of this journey.