while I wait

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 Have I told you that NaNoWriMo is nearly here?

It's true! Just today; then tomorrow; then the annual writing frenzy begins. At the end of tomorrow. Or maybe it's better to say it's at the cusp where Halloween is over and November begins.

I'm ready - which, for me, means I've made time in my schedule to write. That I'm excited. That my laptop is charged for the big launch because I won't be getting to the write-in site until 11:30 and all of the plug-ins may be in use - but I'll be fine because I have an extended battery - which I didn't buy for NaNo, but when the battery needed replacing I did consider the month of November and the times I may be without an outlet so a long-life battery would be nice to have.

"Ready" to me doesn't mean I have a plot of characters or an outline. Ah, no. I am what they call a "pantser." I am not a plotter. I'm sure you get the picture: by the seat of my pants? Yes - I absolutely understand those who want a plot and to know where the story is going. But that's not my style - and doesn't seem to be my characters style, either. I have no argument.

This year I do have a working title and a setting. The setting is based on a real place and, yes, I've been there. The title and location came from a quickwrite I did in my online writing group.

So, while I wait these final few days, I've done a few other things to prepare. I bought a hot air popcorn popper. Quick, easy, and a much healthier snack than the microwave - besides, I can pour in the kernels and continue to write while it pops: no need to pay attention, shake, smell, etc - waiting for that terrible burn smell. It's obvious when it's done and it won't burn. I bought a whiteboard : the store had 11x17 side on sale, along with thin colored pens - beautiful! Quick notes, reusable - now I just need to get it up before midnight: I haven't decided where, but I will. I bought and hard-boiled two dozen eggs - it's a start! I have my writing dates set up. My laundry is done - I'll need to do more later (duh), but I'm set for the start-up of intensive writing.

And - tada - I made my own desktop calendar! I've used desktop calendars that others have created the last couple years. Some beautiful ones, some fun ones. Then yesterday as I started my search through others' offerings, I was wishing I knew how to make one myself. Then, there it was. One of the designers had put up a template. Aha, I thought! Yes!

There were no instructions. But I still figured it out. It's not as shiny, professional as some - but it's mine. I wanted one to go with my theme, which lets me know where my word count is in comparison to the daily average needed to make it to the finish line as a winner (with 50,000 words). A visual reminder. This year I'm really into visuals. So, here is what I made. If anyone wants to use it - you can. It's free. The photograph is not mine - it's from someone's vacation (I'll go search out where it came from). It's nothing fancy - but it's where my story takes place. And *I* made it. *smile*

The quote at the bottom right of the inset calendar is from Margaret Atwood. I didn't put that information on my copy, since it was only for me and only on my computer. But you need to know that "A word after a word after a word is power" was written by Margaret Atwood, not me! 

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A Warning

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I planned to post something entirely different for today - but here it goes. Check back in tomorrow for what I was originally going to write about today: physical movement and writing.

Today's topic is part rant and part warning for my followers, those whose blogs I follow, and those who may randomly come across this post when searching for a related topic.

It happened again today when I clicked on a link in my reader to go to one of the blogs I follow. The work computer blocked access to the site. The reason? It was determined that the website belongs to the category of "Social Networking." Oh, no. Of course they don't want us on Facebook or MySpace or Twitter while we're working. I get that. But I got this same message last week two times when I tried to connect to a friend's writing blog. My friend's blog is not at all a "social networking" site. She does a weekly "Word of the Day" piece of writing, she sometimes has guest writers; that's all it is: a writer's website.

What I realized when I went to her website later from home is that it was probably blocked because of the big "Follow me on Twitter" link. But it's just a link to Twitter - it is not Twitter. It's not Facebook. It's not "let's be friends and post all kinds of stuff" here : it's a blog with good writing and resources for writers. Grrr.

One isolated incident. I was going to send my friend an FYI but forgot later. (Sorry, C!)

Today at work I clicked on the website of another writer. Not a friend, but a published writer's blog; and I do remember seeing a little Twitter link last time I was there. Which was about two weeks ago from this very same computer at work. And the name of the writer whose whose blog is now being blocked as a site in the category "social networking"? Margaret Atwood - her Year of the Flood blog. 

photo of Decorative Songbird statue,
Blue Bird
from The Carver's Bench,.

Come to think of  it, I'm not sure that it is the Twitter link that is causing the problem. Although that is still a good suspect. It may also be that Wordpress is the culprit. I think I'll see who else I can find with Wordpress and check it out. But I'm guessing it's the Twitter link. I haven't had any problems with Blogger blogs. So far.

This is even more irritating than the time - on my break - that I tried to get to the website of my new favorite bra, to see what other styles they have. It was blocked as belonging to the category of "Offensive Material and Porn."

Big Brother Is Watching.

We have to be careful of the writers and bra manufacturers.

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authors in conversation

PORTLAND ARTS & LECTURES 

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Margaret Atwood & Ursula K. Le Guin

Together In Conversation
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Margaret Atwood is the acclaimed author of over 30 books, including The Handmaid’s Tale, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin and The Year of the Flood. The Washington Post calls her “Canada’s greatest living novelist.”

Ursula K. Le Guin is one of Oregon’s preeminent writers. She is the author of over 40 books and is revered by readers and critics in almost every genre, including science fiction, fantasy, poetry, children’s books and literary criticism.

There are some other great writers in this series - but this one really caught my attention. This series generally sells out - so, if you're local or will be in town, get the tickets while you can. I suspect this season will sell quickly.