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Once again, I've been terrible about writing. Considering that NaNoWriMo starts Wednesday (making this a perfectly good time to panic) I've not gotten into the rhythm of writing. That needs to change, and it will change. Even if it's total drek, I'm going to pump out words every day.
The nice thing is that this year I really have a feel for the book I want to write. I have an outline for the three main plots by chapter, a good list of characters, both flesh and starship, and I for once know not only where I'm beginning and ending, but where the road between those two points lies. My goal is around 2,500 words a day, which is doable if I use the tools at my command. I am using Scrivener to organize things, I have voice software so I can just say what's in my head and clean it up later, and I'm using LibreOffice as my main word processor.
The goal is 50,000 words in November. That works out to 1,613 words a day, well short of my personal goal. So as long as I'm somewhere in that range, averaging around 2,000 words each day, I'll be more than happy. I'll be exhausted, and end up with an utter mess of a book, but I'll have it done and ready for the edits and second draft.
The final goal is, of course, publishing the book, most likely through Amazon. If I sell a hundred copies, I'll be ecstatic. The dream is enough interest to prod me into the second and third books I've got wandering around my head, but let's pass this hurdle first.
But I still have some preparation to do, a little more research, a few hours with my Astrogator's Guide plotting the path home for Task Force Kirpan. It's going to happen, I can feel it.
One of the tools that will be helping me is a new FitBit Kirsten bought for me at REI yesterday. I had been wanting one that monitored sleep patterns (I can be a restless sleeper) and we saw that the Flex 2 model was pretty cheap. Among other things, it prompts me to get up and walk every hour, 250 steps. Which works out to a few laps in our driveway. That kind of break can recharge the brain and make it easier to re-engage with your work. Since I tend to get lost sitting here, having that buzz on my wrist helps.
The REI trip was only part of what has been an epic weekend for us. Friday night, we tooled on up to San Mateo for dinner at The Melting Pot. They were having a tenth-anniversary special that made the meal affordable, although I still wish I hadn't look at the check.
This location is inside the San Mateo CalTrain station, and the small booths combined with the rumbling and whistles of passing trains made it feel like we were dining on a train ourselves. We started, of course, with the cheese. It wasn't on the original special, but how can you do fondue without a cheese course? We chose a garlic and herb mix, and it was divine.
Then came the meat course, filet mignon, chicken, shrimp, and portions of ravioli. For this, we kept it simple with the "coq au vin" oil in the pot. The goodies came with some amazing dipping sauces. The best part? The special was an unending supply of this course. We devoured most of what was delivered and asked for more steak. Because meat.
The one odd part of the meal was my beer. They had Beck's NA on the menu (and had to run to the store to get some after I ordered it!) which I had never tried. Decent non-alcoholic beer, but it had this distinct apple flavor to it, which I had never encountered in any beer, regular or NA before. It wasn't bad, but odd. I mentioned to Kirsten that with all the food being consumed I could have probably had a Budweiser without much risk.
Then came the chocolate. Oh, dear Halford, the chocolate. Again, letting Kiri choose since she's a bit more into chocolate than I am, we had a dark chocolate and Bailey's Irish Cream mixture. Dead. Dead and gone to heaven. The mixture was creamy and smooth with that great little bit of the dark chocolate. Naturally, I got some in my beard. You can't take me anywhere.
Great place, check them out if you're on the Penisula and want a nice dinner.
But having consumed enough food to feed South Sudan, we needed to walk it off before heading home. A brisk walk around the train station enjoying the oddly warm evening and homeward. We can only afford to do things like that once a year or so, but it is so special when we can.
In other news, the 49ers are now 0-8, the worst start in franchise history. We knew this was going to be a rebuilding year, but this is horrid. 0-16, live the dream!
The nice thing is that this year I really have a feel for the book I want to write. I have an outline for the three main plots by chapter, a good list of characters, both flesh and starship, and I for once know not only where I'm beginning and ending, but where the road between those two points lies. My goal is around 2,500 words a day, which is doable if I use the tools at my command. I am using Scrivener to organize things, I have voice software so I can just say what's in my head and clean it up later, and I'm using LibreOffice as my main word processor.
The goal is 50,000 words in November. That works out to 1,613 words a day, well short of my personal goal. So as long as I'm somewhere in that range, averaging around 2,000 words each day, I'll be more than happy. I'll be exhausted, and end up with an utter mess of a book, but I'll have it done and ready for the edits and second draft.
The final goal is, of course, publishing the book, most likely through Amazon. If I sell a hundred copies, I'll be ecstatic. The dream is enough interest to prod me into the second and third books I've got wandering around my head, but let's pass this hurdle first.
But I still have some preparation to do, a little more research, a few hours with my Astrogator's Guide plotting the path home for Task Force Kirpan. It's going to happen, I can feel it.
One of the tools that will be helping me is a new FitBit Kirsten bought for me at REI yesterday. I had been wanting one that monitored sleep patterns (I can be a restless sleeper) and we saw that the Flex 2 model was pretty cheap. Among other things, it prompts me to get up and walk every hour, 250 steps. Which works out to a few laps in our driveway. That kind of break can recharge the brain and make it easier to re-engage with your work. Since I tend to get lost sitting here, having that buzz on my wrist helps.
The REI trip was only part of what has been an epic weekend for us. Friday night, we tooled on up to San Mateo for dinner at The Melting Pot. They were having a tenth-anniversary special that made the meal affordable, although I still wish I hadn't look at the check.
This location is inside the San Mateo CalTrain station, and the small booths combined with the rumbling and whistles of passing trains made it feel like we were dining on a train ourselves. We started, of course, with the cheese. It wasn't on the original special, but how can you do fondue without a cheese course? We chose a garlic and herb mix, and it was divine.
Then came the meat course, filet mignon, chicken, shrimp, and portions of ravioli. For this, we kept it simple with the "coq au vin" oil in the pot. The goodies came with some amazing dipping sauces. The best part? The special was an unending supply of this course. We devoured most of what was delivered and asked for more steak. Because meat.
The one odd part of the meal was my beer. They had Beck's NA on the menu (and had to run to the store to get some after I ordered it!) which I had never tried. Decent non-alcoholic beer, but it had this distinct apple flavor to it, which I had never encountered in any beer, regular or NA before. It wasn't bad, but odd. I mentioned to Kirsten that with all the food being consumed I could have probably had a Budweiser without much risk.
Then came the chocolate. Oh, dear Halford, the chocolate. Again, letting Kiri choose since she's a bit more into chocolate than I am, we had a dark chocolate and Bailey's Irish Cream mixture. Dead. Dead and gone to heaven. The mixture was creamy and smooth with that great little bit of the dark chocolate. Naturally, I got some in my beard. You can't take me anywhere.
Great place, check them out if you're on the Penisula and want a nice dinner.
But having consumed enough food to feed South Sudan, we needed to walk it off before heading home. A brisk walk around the train station enjoying the oddly warm evening and homeward. We can only afford to do things like that once a year or so, but it is so special when we can.
In other news, the 49ers are now 0-8, the worst start in franchise history. We knew this was going to be a rebuilding year, but this is horrid. 0-16, live the dream!
