Morning Pages Wake Up Call: 6.06 - a
Word Count:2473 (Total 10991)
Treats: One square of chocolate for a mid NaNo slump but didn't enjoy it all that much. A glass of wine will be very welcome
Exercise: A walk in the woods with Naughty Nell, who ran three times as much as I walked.
Word of the Day - RECONDITE (adjective) 1. dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter: a recondite treatise.
2. beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding; esoteric: recondite principles.
This is Tigsy, the matriarch of our little feline community and one of Bertie's (the large male Maremma sheepdog) best friends. I have a picture of them kissing somewhere - will dig it out. I don't know why she likes the box, but it's a cheap bed!
One of the things I've learnt over the last few weeks is how to develop a determination to write, whatever happens. As you can see from my wake up times I rise early in the hope to capture that dreamy thought time which gives me lots of ideas. It also, in theory should be the quietest time. And most importantly it is my most productive time, well in terms of quantity if not quality.
However, with the arsenal of cats and dogs that we live with, the quiet time is very short lived. I creep out of our bedroom (we have a very tiny house and live on one level) into the room which serves as our dining room and my writing room. It's not huge, but I like it. First of all the two big dogs decide they don't want to stay with Naughty Nell so bark loudly to be let out. Then she objects so starts scratching at the door until Simon entices her back to bed. Just as I get into my writing mode, the cats start to meow with a ferocity that belies their loving nature. First one, then a second until all six are demanding 'Breakfast Time!'
I ignore all these interruptions, having learnt to just tune them out, until my twenty five minutes are up. I sat back this morning feeling very chuffed with myself and was treated to the snoring duo of Simon and Nell through the bedroom door. Wouldn't have it any other way.
Ciao for Now
Morning Pages Wake Up Call: 6.02 but groggy - shouldn't have had that extra glass of wine
Word Count: 2039 - a bit of a struggle today
Chocolate: Nope, but a home-made pizza, yum
Wine: Just had to mop up 5 litres after the glass dama broke... payback
Meet Naughty Nell, our one year old Spring Spaniel. She provides a lot of inspiration for me, look at the size of that log! Things might be tough but it doesn't mean you don't do them. And that's how it's felt with my writing today. Tough.
I took an 'Artist's Date' today, part of therapy recommended in Julia Cameron's The Artists Way. I don't have many dates, I'm a bit of a home girl but today we went to the beach with Naughty Nell. As you can see it was a glorious day, around 18 degrees and a very calm sea. And when we got back I picked up my day four NaNo story and wrote another thousand words even though I really felt like having an afternoon nap, especially after that pizza! I'm glad I persevered though, I have a wonderful sense of achievement and writing those numbers on my word count is so very satisfying.
Ciao for Now
Morning Pages Wake Up Call: 6.06am (a lie in by the standard of the last few days)
Word Count: 2011! Yay
Chocolate: Not a smidgen
Wine: Well, maybe a glass or two - it's Sunday after all!
I'm kicking off this blog again on Day One of NaNoWriMo and it's also All Souls Day. This is the person behind my personal persona of Louise Charles, the girl that makes her tick. My Writer Within. It's a personal blog, about the things that make me tick.
I've been evaluating my 'job' as writer and decided I'm in this for the long term. Here I will share my motivations, the ups and the downs and at the same time remind myself of my achievements. If you want to hang around that's fine, welcome. So grab a glass, pull up a chair and settle down.
For starters, I'm not writing a novel for this month, check the next post if you want to hear more! And if you want to see my 'professional face' check out Louise Charles.
Ciao!
I've been asked by Pam Burkes, who writes novels together with her sister and are known as The Chicklit Sisters, to take part in this fun blog hop. I can thoroughly recommend their books, they are light, fun and so true to life: How to Survive Your Sisters, was particularly so as I am one of three!
I have to choose a number of favourite or desired items I'd put in a swag bag for a significant birthday including: a book, beauty product, snack food, music album and 'my choice'. So here we go...
Book: I have struggle to name only one book that I would take so I've settle for two. The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, because it is such a fantastic read and Lorna Doone by R D Blackmore, a book I've read several time since I was about eleven and never tired of the romance.
Beauty Product: As I rarely buy beauty products I would really like a luxury hamper full of luxurious body creams and unctions (to protect me from the results of weather and age), a nail care set (gardening and nails do not live well together) and a large tub of hair gel (I'm wearing my hair very short as it's easy to manage, but need to make it look a bit more 'funky'). As a hamper would be too large to fit in the bag, a voucher for one would do nicely.
Snack Food: I'm a very big fan of Maltesers but can't get them over here in Italy, so definitely a bag (or two). To balance this into a healthy snack food, I'd sneak in a tub of home-made hummus and some veggie sticks.
Music Album: Now, I don't like listening to one album full of songs by the same artist so it would definitely have to be an MP3 player (or whatever modern equivalent) with a bit of: John Legend, Jake Bugg, Caro Emerald, the Puppini Sisters, Paolo Nutini and a bit of classical.
And Finally, my own choice. Now this is not difficult. A new posh journal, preferrably hard backed A4 with a pretty cover and fresh, lined paper. And an instrument to write with, a fountain pen. Perhaps a Mont Blanc? This one is particularly pretty...
So that's my swag bag full to the brim!
I've tagged a fellow WA member, Angela Williams, to share her swag bag on Monday 7 July. Angela regular blogs over at her site the Amsterdam Oriole.
Until Later,
Last week I introduced one of the projects I’m working on. Today I've interviewed one half of the two characters, Penny.
1. What is your real, birth name? What name do you use? My father was so disappointed that I wasn't a boy he insisted I was called Phyllis and he could shorten it to Phyl. *sigh* I blame my father for a lot of things, my love of lists, my total non-interest in politics and for wanting me to wear the trousers. I've been known as Penny since the day I was teased at school about having a boy’s name.
2. Do you have a nickname? What is it, and where did you get it? George loves to call me poppet. Usually when he’s done something wrong and he’s trying to butter me up, but it never works. He sings this song about being a poppet and wishing I was small enough to put in his pocket. I know, he’s special… well he has special needs anyway.
3. What do you look like? George would say that I look like Goldie Hawn and every time I look in the mirror I close my eyes and picture myself with long blond locks, large eyes and a smile to die for. Instead I probably more resemble Mrs Brown. But George says I put myself down and who am I to argue?
4. How do you dress most of the time? I’m still wearing clothes that we bought in the UK and all of the power shoulder jackets, smart shirts and skirts that are impossible to garden in have been shredded for one use or another. Usually a pair of shorts (an old pair of George’s that are fraying at the edge) and a grubby t-shirt. Italian clothes are made for much more ‘petite’ figures. As George says I have ‘big bones’.
5. How do you "dress up?" See Answer to Question 4
6. How do you "dress down?" See Answer to Question 4
7. What do you wear when you go to sleep? See Answer to Question 4 but replace the shorts with boxers.
8. Do you wear any jewelry? What is jewelry? I wear a copper bracelet but it usually turns my skin green. Great for aching fingers tho'.
9. In your opinion, what is your best feature? My big feet, they ensure that I don’t topple over. I’m tall and would look stupid if I had small feet. My father, however, used to sing ‘Can’t love ya cos your feets too big’. See what I mean?
10. What's your real birth date? 29 February So I’m at least a quarter of the age I should be. Is that right? Never was good with maths…
11. Where do you live? In a small (very tiny) casa shared with two dogs, nine cats, a couple of chickens and the odd (tailess) lizard, courtesy of the cats.
12. Do you own a car? Erm, I think it’s silver, quite large and has a few dents in the front wing. That was not a good day, George was most cross but how is one supposed to guess where a concrete post that can’t be seen really is?
13. What is your most prized mundane possession? Why do you value it so much? A very battered Filofax from my days as a proper employed ‘executive’. I know… you wouldn't believe it would you? But it’s handy for keeping lists in. Have I told you I love lists? George on the other hand…
14. What one word best describes you? Tolerant (as long as things are done my way)
Next week we'll talk to George...
