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Noveling Action Plan, Revised May 20,2013

April Camp NaNo -

Novels awaiting completion:

  • Sima Garo Provides -Rough draft completed at ~110,000 words. Target attained!
  • Blood and Breath – WIP Rough draft – 86,072 of ~100,000 words. Complete by June 1. On target.
  • To Be or Not to Be – WIP Rough draft – 110,019 of ~200,000 words (double novel). Complete by June 30. On Target.

Here’s what will happen.

In May:

Read through A to Z stories. On target.

  • I have read the first four stories, in alphabetical order.
  • Once all stories are properly filed, I will read the Spock and Niaan arcs separately. 

Move to Scrivener and revise. On target.

  • I have highlighted each story for later revision as I move them to their Scrivener files.
  • 4 of 26 stories in Scrivener.

Create rough plans for the rest of Spock and Niaan’s Trueborn Warp and Weft Genesis novels. Pending.

  • …these should carry both through the moment of truth when they choose their own destiny, by means of an act that cannot be revoked….killing Kaitiiraan, and accepting appointment to Starfleet Academy.

Complete Blood and Breath. On target- see above.

Continue To Be or Not to Be. On target -see above.

In June:

Reread and create To-Do lists for:

  • Chameleon’s Dish
  • Bounded by a Nutshell

Once the lists are complete for these three, begin prioritizing the lists, so that August and September can be used for mass editing runs….with lots of focus available.

Finish/polish plans for Trueborn Genesis novels.

  • Complete by June 30, for July Camp NaNo.

In July:

Sign up for Camp NaNo,

Write Trueborn Genesis novels.

  • Goal- 100,000 words during the month (remembering that things may slow down during Rock the Campground).

In August and September:

Edit using To Do lists – in this priority:

  • Chameleon’s Dish 
  • Bounded by a Nutshell

In October:

Create a timeline if not already done, and note gaps for late 2013 and 2014 work.

  • Virtual and physical timelines for entire scope of both series.

Also create a plan (idea to plan) for King of Shreds and Patches (the ST:TMP to STII:TWOK Spock storyline which partners with Sima Garo Provides).

  • Prepare this for NaNo.

Sign up for NaNo, and, if time permits, explore the gaps, and consider further the Kirana/Andrew and Tisira/Henry storylines….

In November:

  • COMPLETE a draft of King of Shreds and Patches….remember that it must fit around and through Sima Garo Provides. Goal: 100,000 words.

In December:

Wrap up editing runs (To-Do lists) for:

  • Chameleon’s Dish
  • Bounded by a Nutshell 

Begin canvassing for beta readers for these.

  • Try to place each with five beta readers by March 31, 2014
  • Possibly rejoin Critters (a good place for Chameleon?)

Sketch out plans for first half of 2014, which will include:

Beta readings of:

  • Chameleon’s Dish
  • Bounded by a Nutshell

Editing To Do Lists for:

  • Sima Garo Provides
  • King of Shreds and Patches
  • Blood and Breath – plan for partner novel. 
  • To Be or Not to Be – split into Spock/Niaan volumes.
  • Trueborn Genesis -Niaan
  • Trueborn Genesis-Spock

Flesh out explorations/ play with flash fiction for remaining “gap” novels.

  • Begin shaping into plans for 2014 NaNo drafts.

Rough schedule for the rest of 2014.

  • Note NaNo months, and be prepared with planned novels.
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Coffee and Conversation: Eating Jeeps and Other Big Ideas

Grab a cuppa and a comfy chair, and let’s chat a while!

When I was six, my family was driving on an interstate highway late at night. Streaks of headlights and taillights painted the dark. For the first time, I truly realized that each of those cars held people – people living their lives, lives as important to them as mine was to me.

I wanted to see what those lives were, and to share my own…

Here, each Monday, I strive to reach that understanding through offering ideas and tidbits from my life, …won’t you settle in for a while, and share something of yours?

 M*A*S*H is one of my favorite shows, and one of the constants of its first several years was Maxwell Q Klinger’s Big Idea. He wanted a Section 8 Discharge – to get out of the Army he’d never chosen to be in.

Now, the thing about Klinger is that he gave himself wholly to his Big Idea. When one thing didn’t work, he came up with another, and another, and another…it didn’t matter whether the idea was feasible – he gave all he had to the current scheme.

Corporal Klinger. Photo via Wikipedia Commons.

He pursued that goal relentlessly, and often hilariously:

  • He made a hang glider

  • tried voodoo

  • sat on a flagpole

  • wore a fur coat and rubber suit in a heat wave

  • dressed only in women’s clothes

  • pretended to be a murderer;

  • a dead body;

  • that he had an invisible camel;

  • amnesia;

  • that he was pregnant;

  • and that he was going to immolate himself.

Once, he decided to eat a Jeep. And, being Klinger, when he decided to eat a Jeep, he went at it all the way. He set up a picnic, with oil dipping sauce, and assorted parts laid out on a red gingham tablecloth, and then he sat in the motor pool, windshield wiper in hand…

And then he started to chow down.

Okay, so maybe eating a Jeep wasn’t the best idea….or maybe, trying to eat so much of it, all at once, got in the way. Klinger ended up with a bellyful of trouble – and a stint in post-op.

Hoping to get closer to Toledo. Photo via Wikipedia Commons.

But still, he had a big Idea. He was still recovering when he kissed a Navy Admiral on the lips, and, when that didn’t work, he tried again, and again, and again…

Klinger worked as hard at reaching his goal as he did at his duties. As soon as the wounded began to roll in, Klinger would drop the current ploy, and get to work, until he wasn’t needed – and then, he was right back to his Big Idea.

I’m thinking that maybe I can take a lesson or two from Klinger.

How I approach our largest, wildest dreams – whether I even allow myself to have a large and wild dream, to begin with – might have something to do with my willingness to embrace it, strive toward it, give the time and energy needed to allow my imagination and energy to flow toward achieving it.

Am I willing to dedicate myself to my dreams, embrace them, know that I am worthy of having and achieving them?

It also may have a lot to do with whether I realize when I am gobbling too much, too fast, like Klinger with the Jeep.

Sometimes I get a Big Idea in my head, and overwhelm myself with how big, wonderful, and scary it is. I feel like maybe these are things that only happen for other people, and not me. I talk myself out of trying, because I might not be up to the task.

Other times, I dive into those plans so fast and hard that everything else disappears, and I try to devour that entire Jeep in one ravenous bite. That way lies exhaustion, guilt, and a bellyful of burnout as painful as Klinger’s automobile feast.

When I have a Big Dream, can I be as dedicated, fearless, and inventive as Klinger?

Sometimes, can I also slow down, look at the goal, and do just a little something to move forward, while tending to the rest of life, rather than ending up overwhelmed and doubled over around too much Jeep, all at once, unable to do anything at all.

I’m going to try to embrace my Big Ideas, and not to try to gobble the Jeep all in one bite, but instead to spread it out on the picnic blanket – and then savor each bite fully, in a balanced meal.

How about you? Have you ever shied away from a Big Idea, because it was scary, or you felt somehow unworthy of it? Have you ever given yourself over, trying to get there in one giant leap? Have you found a workable balance between the two?

Want to join the conversation? Drop your comment in the receptacle, and help yourself to another cuppa, and maybe a cookie!

Taking his Big Idea – and his duty – seriously. Photo via Wikipedia Commons.

 

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Try a Little…Artful Focus: ROW80 Update, May 19, 2013

Curious? Click here!

It’s been a different type of session, filled with new things and potential frustrations that I managed to turn into positives….it’s been fruitful, although not in the way I had intended.

Sometimes life’s like that.

On Wednesday, I joined #WIPpet Wednesday for the first time. It seems like the perfect way to post regularly to Trueborn Jottings, and get feedback on WIPs at the same time.

On Thursday, the children and I met friends at The Albany Institute of History and Art. It was our first trip, and we enjoyed it. On the way home, the strut that needed replacing gave up the ghost. Fortunately, we were close enough to limp home.

Then, I realized that I had erased several days’ worth of word processing, including many links for Sunday Sampler, and Annalise’s report. ACK!

Instead of freaking out, I took a couple of deep breaths, and decided to begin again, and get the reports done and submitted this weekend. I have many links, and,while I am sorry to have lost some, there will be others, I know.

All in all, a productive, if unexpected, session.

It’s Spring -even in the mall windows!

And now, a look at what I’ve done:

Noveling:

Complete To Be or Not to Be (double volume) by June 30.

  • (Will net two complete WIPs, once sorted).
  • Planned Chapter Twenty-Eight.
  • No new writing; kids’ reports took priority.
  • Pending.

A to Z post stories -Complete by June 30.

Brain and brain! What is brain?

Place stories into Scrivener files as expandable scenes.

  • Files created for both novels.
  • A-D stories placed, and highlighted for rough revision.
  • Pending.

Reread both; create to-do lists.

  • Rereading individual stories as I move them.
  • Will reread cohesively once all are placed and rough-revised.
  • Pending.

Blogging:

This session’s posts:

Continue throughout round:

Sharing posts from all blogs.

  • The sharing continues!
  • Target Attained!

Commenting according to my posted schedules.

  • Mostly. Laps into the overnight hours when I am nocturnal.
  • Pending.

Minecraft style!

Completed by May 15:

Create resource lists for all features, and add to them in an organic and ongoing way.

  • Templates have been created for all days except Thursday.
  • Dedicated resource files for Thursday – Sunday features.
  • Running a little late, but moving along.
  • Pending.

Completed by June 1:

Build scheduled posts two weeks ahead for each feature.

  • I have next week’s Saturday’s Share scheduled.
  • Monday-Friday posts are in various stages of completion.
  • Two more Saturday posts in progress, as well.
  • Making often sideways progress on this one!
  • Pending.

Networking:

Continue throughout round:

ROW80 updates and sponsor visits

  • Target attained!

Check weekly updates for blogs I follow, two Mondays each month.

  • Many blogs saved; some finding their way to various features.
  • Target attained!

Check WANA Facebook Group each Wednesday.

  • I remembered this – on Saturday!
  • Many links explored; some shared and/or saved for features.
  • Target attained – albeit a little late!

Comment on posts and share as inspired.

  • Yes and yes.
  • Target attained!

Use in features where appropriate.

  • Again, check. So much fun to share this way! =)
  • Target attained!

Create discussions around new thoughts.

  • Did this with several Facebook and Twitter items.
  • Target attained!

Zebra girl!

Facebook and Facebook Groups :

I fell away from my groups over the last months. Reconnect, participate, share.

  • Only minimal participation, as reports took precedence.
  • Still, I was present.
  • Target attained!

Twitter:

Visit each day; read, share, tweet, comment.

  • Not everyday – yet. I remembered on Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Tweetdeck is feeling more natural, and easier to navigate.
  • Pending.

Google +, LinkedIn, and Pinterest -

Visit each weekly for May, then evaluate by June 1.

  • I made it to Google +!
  • This feels like a HUGE accomplishment!
  • Pending.

Have fun with these – and, if not, let them go! =)

  • Google + was disorienting, but I could see it becoming fun!
  • Pending.

Real-life:

Continue participating in activities and connecting with friends. This tends to slide during busy writing times; take advantage of natural lulls to feed my social spirit.

  • Reconnected with Eden Mabee and her son. We all enjoyed a visit to a local art museum the kids and I hadn’t visited yet. Lovely art, and mummies, too! Photos pending.
  • Potential plans to meet another friend.
  • Annalise and I are planning a girls-only movie date to see Epic.
  • Target attained!

Anatomy of the human heart….

Return to WANATribe – by May 10:

Check back on WANA113 and Writing Moms class groups.

  • Downloaded all my missed lessons.
  • Read all of the WANA113 lessons.
  • Pending.

Explore other groups I have joined there.

  • A quick peek. Getting my toes damp.
  • Pending.

Other Writing:

Children’s Third-Quarter Homeschooling Reports: Due on June 1.

(Submit to district by May 25.)

  • Completed both reports.
  • They need proofing, and will be submitted before school opens on Monday.
  • Pending.

Revise three flash fiction WIPs using Sarah Selecky’s Deep Revisions exercises: (Complete all by end of round.)

  • Assessed where I am in each story.
  • Pending.

Queen of My Infinite Spaces (poetry volume):

Revise poems and end matter by end of this round.

  • Highlighting for future revision: 13 of 31 poems.
  • Pending.

My most recent fortnightly (or so) long term goals evaluation.

Progress on my Blogging Action Plan (updating Sunday night)

Progress on my Noveling Action Plan (updating Sunday night)

It’s a ROW80 BLOG HOP!

Heaven on Earth, Annalise style!

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Sunday Sampler for May 19, 2003

Assorted lovelies for your reading and viewing pleasure….offered up weekly on a pretty blog platter!

I love learning and stretching my perspective; I love sharing what I find with others, and learning and stretching more in the process.

I offer up this virtual Sunday paper, filled with things I have read and enjoyed recently, in the spirit of learning and sharing.

And now, this week’s buffet of ideas….

Creating:

 

Learning:

 

Relating:

Inspiration:

Hows and Whys:

Smiles and Laughter:

Share your opinions, editorials, and ideas for future topics or articles in the comment receptacle below…

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Saturday’s Share: Cobra Heads!

Yes, these were once live cobras!

That’s right. These heads were once attached to poisonous hooded cobras.  Now, they adorn the crowns of walking sticks, instead.

For Annalise, at age 5, when we saw these at the Sterling Renaissance Festival, they were magical.  She has had, throughout her life, a fascination with dangerous and venomous wildlife,  and she was instantly in full-blown child lust for these beauties.

Unfortunately, the price tag on these was over $300 – approximately  our budget for the entire day trip for our family of four. So, in my best resourceful mom fashion, I snapped this picture, so that at least she could later remember them.

It’s funny.  Before I had children, I might have looked at these quickly, then moved on, without taking the time to linger, to explore the details, feel the emotions that they inspired -for me, a combination of horror (that something as regal as a cobra would end existence decapitated and jammed onto the end of a stick to become someone’s possession) and fascination (I can still feel the life in these snakes, and the heads felt just like a snake when I touched them.  Even as I recoiled at the indignity, I found myself  admiring the quality of the preservation).

Now, I see details I once would have missed, moments of grace and wonder and beauty I never would have  thought to capture, even had I noticed them.

Some of this is due to the advent of  digital cameras, which allow me to snap to my heart’s content.

More, though, I think it is living with these children in a way that embraces and makes time for their passions.  It’s living a life that has slowed to accommodate exploration and appreciation for things like cobra head walking sticks – the endless tiny details that weave richness and texture into our learning – and our lives.

Often, these are my favorite pictures – these sudden surprises in life I would have missed if my focus were not on my children’s faces, and the way they light up at things that were once beneath my notice.

Have your children -or pets – led you to discover and appreciate things you might have otherwise missed?  I would love to hear and share your stories – just drop ‘em into that little comment receptacle below! =)

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Friday Frolic: Minecraft Parodies!

Did you see THAT?!

It’s time for our weekly visit to Youtube, to see what wonders we can find to kick the weekend off right….let’s see….yup!

This week, I offer you….

MINECRAFT PARODIES!

Minecraft is the fascination at our house, these days.  Both children are actively engaged in creating multiple virtual worlds, and the learning that goes with them has been diverse and intense.

My 11 year old son loves to research his passions, and recently began finding thee amazing parody videos.  And so, today, I offer laughs and amazement – and yes, you can dance to it (I mean, really, if these blocky Steve-dudes can, surely we can, too, right?).

Are you ready to mine?  Then, let’s go – daylight’s wastin’! =)

Like an Enderman:

I’ll Play Minecraft:

Don’t Mine at Night:

This is My Biome:

Creative:

Gangnam Style vs. Minecraft Style: 

Want more Minecraft?  Less? None (Although that’s not happening, here!)? Something completely different?

Drop your comments into the receptacle below, and maybe we’ll be delighting in YOUR Minecraft videos, soon! 

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Thursday’s Treat: Baby kangaroo is ready to go!

Thursdays can be tricky…well into the week, too far from the weekend…so, as a public service, I’ve reserved this space for interesting tidbits and snippets I’ve picked up around the Internet….

This Thursday’s Treat comes from The Meta Picture, and is in honor of my daughter, who loves nature in all its forms, and in particular evolutionarily unique fauna….

Besides, baby kangaroos and pouches just kinda have that Thursday feeling, don’t they?  I wonder if this little critter is going to snuggle in until the weekend?

Wishing you all a hoppingly good Thursday!   - and, if you’ve got a comment or a link to share, hop it on down to that comment receptacle!

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