What NaNoWriMo Taught Me About Writing

This year I participated in NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. My platform was http://nanowrimo.org. The goal is to write 50,000 words in a month. It has evolved to include different forms of expressions, but the idea is to push yourself as an artist or writer to complete something. I've joined in the fun for years now, even though I don't complete the goal every year. I learn new things each time.

>>> Writing (or creating in general) is an organic process.

>>> If you want to improve or accomplish the end goal you need to gain the habit of writing or creating everyday.

>>> As an artist, I'm still finding my voice. I'm closer now to knowing it than ever before, because I've pushed myself.

>>> You can edit it later. This may sound silly, but the inner editor will slow down or stop the writing process. Just write. The last few days of NaNoWriMo was stream of consciousness crap. 20,000+ words of utter BS. ...but I did it.

>>> Some things are better in your head. One year I had a brilliant idea. I was so excited for the event and felt ready. Then I sat down on day one and began to type...one of the most boring and slow things I've ever conjured up. The story moved along like molasses in a freezer. I had to learn what makes a story move and what makes a plot exciting.

>>> This year I ran out of plot. I learned that my mind works in short stories. Perhaps next year I'll just write a novel of short stories.

>>> My mind works in scenes. I learned that my creativity works in scenes or characters.It's not chronological. Everyone's writer mind produces differently.

>>> If you are stuck, look at art. Read poetry. Listen to music. Got out for coffee. Work out. Go for a walk. ...Or make your characters do one of those things.

>>> It's difficult to be original. You will find your mind falls into cliche traps or copy things you've read without your awareness. One way I avoid this is making a "DON'T' list - a list of things not to put into a story, like orcs or elves or hobbits.

There is Camp NaNoWriMo in April and July. If I'm not too busy I'll join in.

Words: Some Favorite Quotes

For those who don't know me...I love quotes. Today I'm keeping it simple and just sharing some of my favorite clusters of words. I've copied and pasted them from Goodreads.com, where you can find me drowning in a sea of "must read" book lists. I'm hoping to actually start posting reviews...when I catch the elusive thing called time.

Quotes to Chew On

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”

― Marcus Tullius Cicero

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”

― Robert Frost

“Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . ."”

― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt, This is My Story

“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.”

― Oscar Wilde, The Happy Prince and Other Stories

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

“All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“Never laugh at live dragons.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“Life's under no obligation to give us what we expect.”

― Margaret Mitchell

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”

― William Faulkner

“In a time of destruction, create something.”

― Maxine Hong Kingston

That is all for today.

The Struggle of Art and Silly Things People Say About It

I spend part of each day searching for fresh art. Swimming in a sea of "the usual" it is difficult to be shocked, amused, or impressed by art in today's world. This weekend I was quite impressed by some digital art I stumbled on and spent a little time researching the artist. This artist has almost nothing concerning a social presence on the internet, which is well and fine. I have a love/hate relationship with social media, so I understand if someone chooses to be without it.

Then I found a brief interview and review of the artist's work. The art is good, don't misunderstand me. It's quite good, compared to its peers, however this article made the artist sound like the next Michelangelo or Da Vinci or Pollock. This person is simply a very good digital artist. As I continued to read the article the writer explains to me how amazing, deep, and complex the artist is. How she is a mystery. She is a "true" artist because her relationship with art is unlike any other artist/art relationship ever. She doesn't make art for profit in any way, so she is a true artist.

My gut reaction is to call "bullshit".

Unless an artist is literally starving to death while making art in the middle of nowhere and none of us are hearing about it because witnessing the art is truly irrelevant...an artist is working for profit. Perhaps their profit is enough money to buy more supplies to make more art. Or maybe they make art to see their loved ones smile. Not only that, why is it a sin in the art world to make money from art? Why do I have to go hungry, not pay bills, and bum off people in order to be a true artist? Do I need an art sugar daddy to patron me while I fart around art all day? That sounds irresponsible.

Some people are fortunate enough to earn a living by creating, or have sufficient enough money to make art without fear of poverty. Most of us do not have this blessing. Plus, making art for a living isn't easy, loving it or not. Art is made with blood, sweat, and lots of tears (and copious amounts of a preferred beverage).

Guess what? The article then explained this holy artist is an illustrator by day and hopes to be selling prints of her art soon. You can imagine my expression after reading that was a cross between Dean Winchester dealing with Sam's sh*t again and Kermit the Frog having a cup of tea.

This idea of art + money = sin came once artists did not have to make art for rich people anymore. Once the camera was invented, as technology made it possible for more people to capture images more easily, the world of art changed and grew. Art could finally be pure expression of whatever you want. Hell, you could drop a piece of cheese on the highway and say it's art, if you wish. This is amazing and awesome and makes me happy. There's no reason to put boundaries on art - once you do, it's dead.

However, some artists have taken to turning their backs on artists who want to sell, calling them sell outs. Like the article I mentioned before, they seem convinced that art is only pure when it is mysterious and not for profit. (Followed by the irony that in fact the pure artist does indeed make money from art.)

I make art for money. I make art just because. I make art for friends and family. At the moment, I have several projects going...two are pet portraits for people I love, some are for profit, and some are for my own amusement. I know other artists living out their creative career the same way. Our art isn't less pure. It's true that my pet portraits and purple skulls are not ground-breaking, mind-altering, game-changing creative pieces...but not all art has to be. Does art have to be only personal expression in order to be art? I didn't finish my degree in art, but I remember that the masters made art for other people. I'm certain the Mona Lisa was a paid piece, as well as the Sistine Chapel. Some art is made for religion! The pyramids are art as well as tombs for god-kings.

Instead of trying to cultivate a world of starving, patron-seeking artists, I wish we would encourage the development of skill and the love of craft. Apprenticeships are dying and old crafts are dying. Don't worry about making "pure" art, as if there is such a thing.

Pick a craft, skill, or hobby. Learn it.
Support artists when you can.
Don't feel guilty about supporting yourself.

That's my two cents.

Falling Cold

Winter is coming. That's what everyone is saying and I'm trying to brace myself. I have a scarf, a coat, boots, and ridiculous socks. I can feel the chill creeping in every night. Leaves have already turned their colors, many have already fallen to the ground. I know it'll be more cold than I've experienced in years, but I'm excited. I haven't seen real snow in very long time.

For those wondering why I would say "real" snow, as if fake snow could appear, I'm explain. One, there is fake snow...sort of. In some place, like ski resorts, they actually make snow. Second, I say real snow, because if it flurries or there's less than an inch of snow, it doesn't count for me. Live through a few blizzards and you will say the same thing.

I've joined NaNoWriMo 2015, with a new account. They wouldn't let me change my name, so I had to make a new account! That really bothered me. All that data lost! This year had a rough start, as I started with a simple paragraph and no idea what I was writing. At this point, I have a guy going to war who doesn't want to...a veteran forced to fight. His name is Bane. My boyfriend was making me laugh suggesting names for the man's children. At first, I said, "It doesn't matter!" But he said it does. Yes, he's right...it does. The daughter's name is Fern and the son is Bae. I couldn't think of anything else!

Doing NaNoWriMo every year has taught me a few things. I've learned that part of my problem with novel writing is my multi-tasking, ADHD brain. I rotate through projects, so sitting down and only working on one project at a time til completion (and nothing else) is frustrating for me.

Another thing I learned is that I write a lot. The goal of NaNoWriMo is 50,000 words in a month, about 1670 words a day. Problem I write in journals, blogs, emails, research, and lately I've been applying to jobs everyday. By the time I'm ready to work on a novel, I've written enough to kill my motivation.

If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is...it stands for National Novel Writing Month. An online hosted, worldwide event for the month of November when people try their best to write a novel. So many novelist hopefuls never complete their goal, setting a word count and deadline helps to push the story out of you. Some people don't like it. I don't agree with their arguments. I also noticed that most of the haters have never been published. Perhaps that's a correlation and not a reason to hate on us? I find creating a deadline helps. For one, people, including myself, forget about the edit part. Write complete crap if you have to! You can always edit it afterwords.

My stories are created through destruction.

Learn about NaNoWriMo at nanowrimo.org, where there's a lot of different options to assist you into creating something. Add me as a buddy. I'm "LeesPanadaBear". Yes, I know. Silly girlfriend name...sue me.

Outside of NaNoWriMo, I have been job searching like a crazy person. I'm running out of jobs to apply for, so I'm thinking of changing my resume up again. I'm doing freelance online in the meantime, as well as looking into getting an open work visa. It doesn't sound easy, or cheap. Between searches I look up artists in Canada. I don't know as much about Canada as I would like, and I've found that art is one way to learn about a country. Art is a part of us. Art is expression. You can follow religions, spirituality, culture, politics, and history spelled out in art through history.

Enough for today, I'm off for more job searching, painting, writing, and copious amounts of coffee drinking.

Land of Canada

Report 1.0

Canada is similar enough to the States that I'm not suffering from extreme culture shock, but there are some things that are different.

THINGS IN CANADA

1. Milk in bags. Yup...milk comes in bags. I don't like touching the swishing milk in plastic bags.

2. Tim Horton's coffee. I didn't want to admit it at first, but their coffee is better and at a better price. I actually craved Tim's after my first visit to Canada.

3. So. Many. Trees. I love it! I missed having four, real seasons. Well, I'm getting the most winter-y winter and colorful fall a (pumpkin spice, white) girl could want.

4. People sound mostly like people from the States, until they say "eh".

5. I don't get trash for apologizing anymore. Actually, I need to work on my public niceness. Years in the States made me a little rude in public compared to Canadians. Funny.

* Update: The other day a stranger bumped into me and I apologized. I think I'm becoming Canadian!

6. There are black squirrels. I had never seen a black squirrel in my travels before, so it shocked me. I saw one steal a whole pear the other day. They are also larger. In fact, a lot of things are bigger. Yes, bigger than in Texas. Sorry, Texas.

I call them Trudeau Spies

7. Thanksgiving is in October! Which is nice, considering my birthday is right after the American Thanksgiving...not good timing on my part.

8. There is French everywhere. Wish I had paid more attention to my French teacher, probably would make finding a job easier. Instead I had tried Russian, then Spanish. I've spent years learning dead languages on my own...but not French.

9. There are moose and beavers everywhere!!! ;) Just kidding.

10. Canadian snacks will make me fat, because they are so good! Ketchup chips are the devil.

More updates later.