Word Drips

A few times in the last week, the boys’ bathroom floor has been soaked.  I blamed it on Oldest, who showers there.  I thought he wasn’t tucking the shower curtain into the tub and water was pouring onto the floor.  You know, Lazy Teenager Syndrom.

DH believed the shower curtain was old and defunct.  His version of the soaked floor was that water ran through the shower curtain, down the side of the tub and onto the floor.

Whatever the reason, it was a whole lot of frustrating.  Some mornings the floor was wet and others, bone dry.

Last night we learned it was the toilet.  Apparantly it needed a little attention.  So, we wrapped a towel around it to save us from yet another morning mop job.  It wasn’t enough.  The towel was drenched and a huge puddle covered the entire floor.  Last night was no little leak.  Not like before.  It was a whole flood of water–of the clean kind, thankfully.

Often times writers discuss their daily writing goals.  How many words?  How many pages?  A chapter?  A scene?

Some writers just try to write, while others try to reach a certain level before calling it a day.  I’m from the write ANYTHING camp.  After all, doesn’t even one sentence a day make your novel/project a handful of words longer?

The only exception to this rule of mine is during NaNo.  There I write my required 1,667 words to reach my 50,000 word goal in thirty days.  Other than that, I write my little word drips down as they come.  Sometimes they arrive in a tiny dribble and other times by flood. 

Yet these words keep adding up.  One by one, line by line, page by page.  Eventually a manuscript is finished and I can begin filling my  new manuscript with words. 

Because, really, even a flood starts with one tiny drop. 

How do you write?  What makes your writing day feel complete? 

~Cat

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Word for the Year

Tis the season for resolutions.  In the past I have made them, yet I never seem to stick to them.  Maybe because I’ve never really taken myself them seriously.  Two years ago, a fellow scribe and great cyber friend introduced me to the concept of a word of the year.  Last year I gave it a try, along with taking the NaNoWriMo Big, Fun and Scary Challenge.

I finished the year a lot more satisfied with myself as a person and a lot closer to my goals as a writer, a mother, a wife, a sister and friend. 

My word was No.  It forced me to consciously deliberate every committment I was asked to make.  “Can you…?”  No.  “Can you…?”  No.  “Can you…?”  Yes.  Before it was one yes after another and a tired and cranky, over-extended me.  I have been much more effective this year at my extracurricular projects and a lot less stressed.

That little word freed up time for me to write and be a better person.  I shall forever remain fond of the journey it took me on and hope I never forget the power of just saying NO.  It makes YES so much sweeter.

My 2009 Goals were as follows:

BIG
1. Learn to say no! (See, it was so powerful it actaully made my list.)  I am thankful to have allowed it into my vocabulary.
2. Restructure business to maximize income and minimize time. Puts less stress on DH- prolonging lifespan.  Still working hard at balancing my love for my job and my effectiveness in terms of time and finances.  I hate that BIG is not easy. 

FUN
1. Visit out of state sibs at least once this year.  I did visit my sister, but failed to travel to my baby brother’s home.  However, both of them, along with my nephews and my little sis came for a visit this summer so I consider it a success.  Josh, I know you won’t.  Hopefully I’ll get to Atlanta in 2010.
2. Submit 2 mss/week. Yikes! With time off for good behavior/crisis, this will total 100.  I learned a lot by failing at this goal, which ended up being deliberate halfway through the year.  For many writer friends, sheer quantity of submissions seems to be the norm.  It’s a numbers game.  I believed that, too, until I started submitting.  Then I realized it was a quality game.  I am much more deliberate and thoughtful about submissions than I have ever been.  I hope the agents and editors thank me for not innundating their mailboxes with inappropriate manuscripts.  Condolences to those I have.
3. Reclaim 17yr old body. AKA bikini ready by summer. 5 lbs. Lots of toning.  Yes, then no, now back to working on it again.  Darn holidays are so hard on the rear end.  Not to mention the extra padding is nice in the winter.

SCARY
1. Start a website or blog. Uber scary for the technotard.  Success.  One I was petrified to attempt and one I now love with a deep passion.
2. Organize my closets- again. And again. And again.  The again implies an ongoing process that never ends.  I guess that’s what happens when you have four kids, a hubby and a dog.  Not to mention that I’m a serious closet pig.  Out of sight and all that jazz.  Yes.  Yes.  And yes.  Sadly, I will spend the next three weeks doing it yet again!

So there you have it.  My 2009 in a nutshell. 

I am currently deliberating between two new words for the year and am seriously considering the Big, Fun and Scary Challenge.  I would like one writing goal and one personal goal in each category with a word that ties the essence of my year together.  It’s a lot to contemplate in a short time, but I still have a day to figure it out.

Maybe your comments can shake something loose.

If you partake in goal setting, resolutions or words, please share them with the rest of us.  If you don’t, I’d like to hear why not.  I love hearing different perspectives and learning everything I can from each one. 

Please have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve.  I want nothing more than to share another year with you all!

cheers and warm fuzzies~ cat