Quick Check-in

Yesterday I wrote 660 words. It wasn't much but It was good for me to write anything at all.

I have been listening to "The Secrets" podcast by Michael Stackpole and he talks about this. He encourages people to write down anything every day even if it only ends up being a sentence because eventually you will have a finished work.

I am running with that concept. Perhaps I will make it my personal motto. I may not have reached my 1,000 word a day goal, but I did get the end of one scene written and an entire scene following it finished as well. They didn't turn out quite like I had anticipated them to; they turned out better.

How exciting to watch my characters coming to life as my fingers punch the keys. One day at a time.

Later,
Ammon

Didn't write, but Bekah took pics of the kids!

Here are a few really amazing pics of our kids. Bekah took these last week and they are AWESOME! Anyone who needs pictures taken would be smart to let her do the work. Heck, I trust her taking pics of my family :)

Enjoy!

Ammon

I wrote & officially join NaNoWriMo!

Yesterday I put down 900 words. I know that it's not a lot. For me its like starting physical therapy. Slow at first, but slow progress is still progress.

I am pretty excited about it since I finished a crucial scene; one that I had started just before my car wreck. It was really cool to see how it finished. I really hadn't known where it was going but I am really happy with the payoff. It also leaves enough unwritten that anyone who reads that scene is going to be chocked full of desire to read more. (At least I am)

So, Check-in time. I have written exactly 21,950 words as of yesterday.

I have also been preparing for NaNoWriMo. I have loads of new ideas and great information from several podcasts that I have been steeping in. I'm SUPER excited about that. Though I have discovered that I am going to have to do all my NaNoWriMo work after the fam is in bed which is going to be super tough. But, many a person has written a novel in the late evenings. I believe that Stephen King is one of them (Writing Carrie). If they can do it, I can get it done that way to. Also, noteworthy is my particpant badge for joining NaNoWriMo. Enjoy!

Other than that I don't have a lot going on other than being a full time father, and working at work. Talk to you all soon!

Ammon

"I wrote yesterday."
"It's about time!" says someone in the vast audience.
"Yeah, I know." I reply.

:) Anyway, I just have a few things that I wanted to communicate to the vast audience. *chirp, chirp*

First, I have found a few more writing podcasts that are FANTASTIC! They are as follows:

• The Odyssey SF/F Writing Workshop Podcast. This is a podcast of about thirty lectures given to aspiring writers who attend Odyssey. Odyssey is a very small and prestigious annual workshop. Only sixteen people are selected to attend and the workshop runs for six weeks. I WOULD LOVE TO SOMEDAY ATTEND. Perhaps this is a new long term goal :)

• The Secrets Podcast for Writers. This is produced by Michael A. Stackpole. I haven't listened to much but I did hear some stuff that was fantastic. Unfortunately in the background of his "lecture" is this terribly annoying and repetitive plucky guitar rhythm that repeats about every ten seconds or so. Regardless, I have very high hopes that this will be good. Also, it is a highly recommended podcast from several authors and pod-casters that I respect.

Other than that I have been preparing my 1000 word short short in my mind. I will be writing a rough draft sometime this weekend or early next week. I am very excited about the ideas that I have been dreaming up as I have ruminated on the plot and arcs of my storyline.

One of the biggest decisions that I have made in regard to my short is to write it in first person perspective. I have not done this before but as I have pondered this mini project it became clear that this was right. I have toyed around with the opening sentence and found that I with my limit of 1000 words I need to establish a LOT of character, situation and setting information SUPER quick! The best way that I can do that is to approach this short from first person. As I have played out segments of the story in my mind I have felt a thrill from the prospect of writing this particular story this way.

Well, I better get going. I am attaching a few pics of my little man Parker below. We enjoyed the web-cam on my computer and took some neat pics with a program called Photo Booth (on Mac). Enjoy!
Ammon

Some new goals!

Hi! I know, I know... I have been a bit spaced out lately. But I have some good news. I am finally feeling some much needed relief from the pain in my neck and arms (from the accident). It is really nice to be able to turn my head without lightning bolts running down my arms! I am still having lots of issues with my middle back and the doctor said injuries like this usually take 7-9 months of work to get better. Yikes! :)

Regardless, I am keeping an open mind and a positive attitude. Accompanying that attempted attitude I find that I have changed a lot. My thought process is changing and my ability to think has been enhanced. Some of my interests have changed. And, within the limited space between my ears ideas have been percolating. Now they have morphed into something new and suddenly I find myself on the verge of some crazy place. All of this kinda makes me happy:)

So, here are a few of my thoughts, dreams and goals. Not in that order.

1. I am considering entering the 10th annual Writers Digest Short Story Competition. I have my own personal feelings about competitions but regardless, I feel strongly about entering this one. I have the perfect story in mind to write and it is only 1000 words. The deadline is December 1, 2009 so that gives me about seven weeks to write and polish the story. Sounds like fun to me!
2. I want to participate in NaNoWriMo (just sound it out). Unbeknown to most Americans, November is National Novel Writing Month. You can visit their website at http://www.nanowrimo.org/. The goal is to write a novel (at least 50,000 words) in 30 days. It is quite a challenge and everyone that I have heard talk about this, both, suggests it and truly enjoy it. Well, this year I want in! I am planning on using my current manuscript (I am approximately 21,000 words) and adding 50,000 more in November. That would take way past 50% of the first draft. You might recall that my end goal is 120,000 words. So, I am going to see if I can make this work, then I will join the NaNoWriMo community for this incredible experience.
   
3. I am seriously considering starting a writing podcast. I LOVE Mur Lafferty's "I should be writing" podcast. Just this past week she had her 4th anniversary (or birthday?) and talked about the huge change that it has made in life and her career. I have been searching for additional podcasts that are good on writing, but alas there are few. So, why not produce one? Perhaps this idea will turn into something great.
4. I had another one, but it has dissipated. Perhaps it will return...

I have had lots of new story ideas growing in my head recently. More ideas than I have time to write. I gotta do something to move these onto paper faster. But that is the challenge isn't it. The craft takes time. LOTS of time. My wife rightly recommended that I cut more media from my life. She is right, she usually is (don't rub this in my face later, Love). This will be hard. Wish me luck.
Ammon