Hello! How Is Me Today?

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Since my laptop is no longer mobile, I use my cell to email myself writing ideas and even whole entire articles or blog posts. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with ideas for a series of short stories I began writing in September. There is one particular story which I can’t quite get the plot line nailed down. I keep coming up with alternative twists and endings. And I keep typing them out on my cell and emailing them to myself.

Until I am completely finished with this particular short story, I don’t want to misplace a single idea. So, I continue to use the first email I sent to myself, and I keep composing reply emails with every new idea I have. It suddenly hit me today that it kind of looks like I’m talking to myself. In Gmail, when you send yourself an email, it names the sender as ‘Me’. And it records the number of replies next to the sender. So far, I have 8 replies . . . to myself. If that’s not talking to oneself, I don’t know what is!

Does this qualify me as crazy now? Or is it simply a creative usage of technology in a time of need? Or does it make me a little of both? I’ll have to pass these questions on to ‘Me’ and I’ll let you know what I come up with!

 

© 2013 Amanda R. Dollak

I Am Afraid

 NaNoWriMo is only a little over a day away.  Although I am still super excited and poised on my seat, the intensity is mounting…and so are my jitters and doubts.  To try to purge myself of all the negativity, I thought I should write them all out and address each and every one of them:

I am afraid…

I am afraid that I don’t have what it takes.

I am afraid that I won’t know what to write.

I am afraid that what I have to offer won’t matter.

I am afraid that all my work will be in vain.

I am more afraid…

I am more afraid that I will die before I fulfill my dreams.

I am more afraid that the world will never hear my soul.

I am more afraid that I will disappoint myself.

I am more afraid that my life will be in vain.

This is new territory for me.  I have always dreamed big, but I’ve never set a goal this high before.  Can I stay focused, calm, and dedicated through the whole challenge?  Can I write at least 50,000 words in a month?  Can I finally finish a novel?  Only time will see.  However, may my fears, doubts, and any other roadblock vanish right now, and may I approach NaNo on November 1st with a clear mind and a strong heart.

Good luck to all my fellow NaNo participants.  May we cross the finish line together–happy, empowered, content, and confident–no matter our final word count!

© Amanda R. Dollak 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Loving Those Fall Colors

It Is Almost NaNoWriMo Time!

The minutes are ticking away fast.  The eve of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is rapidly approaching.  I’m feverishly racing the clock to finish my NaNo preparations.  Here is what I have accomplished so far:

• My NaNo profile is complete.
• I have pinpointed my novel idea.
• I wrote out a brief synopsis of the story plot.
• I selected a tentative title for my novel..
• I created my novel on the NaNo website (with some basic cover art and all).
• I’ve found some of my friends on the website and added them as writing buddies.
• I did a little spring cleaning on my computers to make everything organized.
• I’ve done plenty of bragging to my friends, loved ones, and everyone who might listen.

I am clearly off to a great start.  I am psyched and itching to get started.  I’m squirming in my seat in anticipation. However, the last three days before the NaNoWriMo challenge are going to be jammed packed.  I still have lots of preparations left to do:

• I need to finalize my writing playlist.
• My outline still isn’t complete.
• I want to create short dossiers for all the main characters.
• I must reorganize my workspace.
• I have a few personal goals to finish and get out of the way.
• I need to plan my blog post topics for November so my blogs don’t suffer.
• I should come up with more article topics to write about next month.
• Oh, and I need to do a lot more praying and crossing fingers!

Will you be taking part in NaNo this year?  If so, are you all set and ready for November 1st?  Or are you still scrambling to complete your challenge preparations?

© Amanda R. Dollak 2013

Wordless Wednesday: An Afternoon on the Farm

Photo: Copyright Amanda R. Dollak 2013