Dude, where's my planet?

---

I was tempted to cheat.



Last night at about 2230, as I limped toward 10k words, I considered uploading the 88k word novel I wrote in November of last year, rationalizing that one November is as good as another. But I didn't do it.



After all, I only signed up on the 22nd, so getting 10k words done in 8 days isn't at all bad (especially considering I didn't get to write every one of those days, nor was I in position to take days off of work to write, like some other participants did). Next year, there will be more, provided I remember in more timely fashion.



And it's not either like I would win or lose anything either way. I stuck to my guns and didn't even use the pad-your-word-count tricks suggested by other participants.



And now, like most other participants, I don't even care how much I did or didn't get done: I'm just glad it's over.

---

For years I've been intending to participate in National Novel Writer's Month activities, and every year I have managed to forget about it until January, when everyone is talking about the results of the work of November and December.



Sigh.



Not this year, though. I didn't sign up until yesterday, and I don't fully expect to have 50k words by next week. But I'm in it, and I am just ever so proud of myself for doing so.









When I signed up yesterday, I started with a story I'd begun this month; then I was inspired to retell "Sleeping Beauty" and so restarted from scratch. The point of course is to write 50k words in 30 days. But as far as that goes, I already know I can write a novel in a month, having produced an 88k word manuscript in 28 days - I just want to be in it this time. :)



And if I can get "Sleeping Beauty" done up in a week, well then I am just ever so much more spiffy for doing so.

---

We staged a revolt.



We went nowhere. We had no turkey, no yams, no cranberries. No snow, either, which is a first in my memory for the area. Also no stress, no fights, no rushing about and no long car rides.



We had pot roast and potatoes and chocolate cake. The neighborhood was deserted-quiet, a holiday treat. We lazed and laughed and enjoyed being a family.



I know I won't get off so easy on Xmess, but no doubt the memory of the successful and splendid Thanksgiving Revolt of 2007 will help me through.

---

Happy Bird Day to all, and to all a good message:



Check out http://freerice.com (no "www") for a fun way to help stop hunger and to build your brain power. By answering vocabulary-type questions correctly (multiple choice) you can help the U.N. donate rice to hungry families. Every right answer is 10 grains (not much by itself but on 11/21/07 196,957,920 grains were donated, bringing the total since Oct. 7 to 3,256,135,000 - yes, three BILLION). If you get the answer wrong, no sweat, you lose no rice and get an easier word for the next question. The only problem is - it's addictive!



(I got up past 4000 grains and was stuck at vocab level 47 of 50 - you know you want to prove you can do better.)



So help yourself and some one else! Check out the site and feel free to repost and share!

---