There's a lot of chatter on the writing blogs I read when Nano rolls around--do you just end up with a bunch of crap? Is it actually useful? Etc. And now the blogs are asking: What did you learn this year from doing Nano?
The first year I did Nano I tried to create an actual complete story in 50 000 words. I didn't do that the next two times, because there are few books that are really that length--instead I write the first 50 000 words of a book and don't worry about getting to the end. I end up with something much more useful in the end--I end up with a dry run of my book.
The company I work for (like many) has a "pilot" period for any project it wants to roll out. I think they usually try the project in one or two stores first, and then roll it out to a larger group of pilot stores, and then roll in out in waves. And of course the point of being a pilot store is to find all the mistakes--because no matter how much you plan something out, there's no replacement for experience.
Nano is my pilot store. No matter how much I try to plot a book out, there are ideas I just can't come up with until I start writing. That's when I finally fill in the plotting holes, and try out my characters, and see who needs cutting, what scenes need revising, etc. For that reason I force myself to do zero editing on my Nano--it's a waste of time because the entire thing will get re-written.
So now I'm going to start up my "post-mortem" -- what worked, what didn't work, and how to fix. And hopefully I'll be ready for another draft in January or February.
I just took a very short "Do you have ADD?" quiz, because I know someone who may have adult ADD and I'd like to learn more about it. This question made me laugh:
Because my foot was bouncing along to Sugarland as I was reading. And that happens even when there's no music on. (I also draw imaginary patterns with my feet.) Not saying this means I have ADD... I scored 27: "You appear to experiencing some type of attention and concentration problems which are often common amongst the general population, but border on the possibility of being more severe." There are a couple things on the list that are very me, and others that are very not me. But the ones that are Very Moi might help me understand this person I know better.
The main attention deficit I have is my poor short term memory. Someone will ask me for something at 4 in the afternoon, and I'll remember it at 3 AM. I've taken to carrying elastics around in my uniform pocket, and if someone asks me for something I put the elastic on my wrist til I do it. It works most of the time. I just wish I had a elastic with some code on it, so I could add a little info to the bracelet.
Something like this, but not for eating one's vegetables (though that's pretty clever.) It would have little symbols describing common requests I might forget: "Go to the cash office." "Edit the timesheet." "Call back Jane."
Keep talking that mess, that's fine But could you walk and talk at the same time? And it's my name that's on that Jag So remove your bags let me call you a cab
Ahhh. Nanowrimo is over, work's caught up, it's the weekend. Time to check out some Christmas music.
First and foremost, the best Christmas comedy album of the year: Christmas in the Heart by Bob Dylan. Here's one review:
Think of the old Christmas records your grandparents used to play, complete with sleigh bells and sugarcoated backing vocals. Now, substitute Bing Crosby or Perry Como’s croon with Dylan’s ragged croak. If you can imagine that combination, you have Christmas in the Heart in a chestnut shell.
There's no way I'm buying it, but sometimes I go into iTunes and click on the sample of "Hark the Herald" just to give myself a smile. You can go to his web site, click choose a song, and listen for yourself. Check him out singing in Latin on Adeste Fideles. He basically sounds like a parody of himself. You know, when you make your friends laugh by saying: "Okay, now sing it Bob Dylan style! Mah hahahahah..."
______________________________________________Broadway singers doing Christmas. Absolutely nothing original here.
______________________________________________Let's see how Very Special Christmas is this year... most iTunes peeps are giving it one star, and it does indeed sound bland. But I wouldn't kick "Do You Hear What I Hear" or "Last Christmas" out of bed for eating crackers. They're cute, as far as pop renditions go.
______________________________________________This pop rock compilation is pretty forgettable except for Spirit of the West's "Christmas Eve." What I don't get is covers that just try to sound like the original. That's why I dislike most covers of "Santa Baby"--they never bring anything new. And same goes for the "Little Saint Nick" on this one. Why not just buy the Beach Boys in that case?
But... if you want your funny-punk Christmas song for the year, I vote for Third Eye Blind's "One of Those Christmas Days." Here's the entire lyrics:
I'm gonna stuff my present up your chimney And the melted snow will make it all wet Cuz it's gonna be one of those Christmas days Spent in bed I will be your little drummer boy I'll beat it till you feel no pain Cuz baby you're my Christmas joy When you're sucking on my candy cane
It's no "Fairytale of New York" but... how many songwriters can combine Christmas magic, drunks, fights, humour, a punk sensibility, and beautiful romance? (Answer: Exactly 2 people - Shane McGowan and Jem Finer.)
______________________________________________ On the topic of "Fairy Tale" there's a new cover this year from Stars. It's... pretty, but just wrong. If you're gonna call someone a scumbag and maggot you gotta sound like you mean it.
______________________________________________I decided to invest in a classic this year, Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas. I love the instrumental version of "Christmas Time is Here."
______________________________________________ I've never been a big Bocelli fan, but in the genre of Sentimental Christmas Songs, this is quite lovely--from his new Christmas album.
Then I wondered if it was a new song, or an original, and came across another "I Believe" song:
______________________________________________Now if you want spooky-wintery-feeling type holiday albums, there are a couple new ones.
Sting's If On a Wintry Night - this is "Soul Cake"
Tori Amos' Midwinter Graces - this is "Star of Wonder" (when the chorus comes, it's awesome.)
"Winter's Carol"
______________________________________________Sugarland for the country folk. Their "O Come O Come Emmanuel" (iTunes link) is really good. I don't know why they haven't posted it on their site or myspace--it's the most downloaded song. Speaking of cover songs, I just discovered Sugarland has a great live album with some cover songs.
Okay sorry, back to Christmas...
______________________________________________If you like Glee... or you like your Mission Impossible mixed with your "We Three Kings" then the new Straight No Chaser might be your thing. The album includes their viral hit from last year, "12 Days of Christmas" culminating in "Africa." "9 ladies milking, they were miiiilking just for meeee!"
______________________________________________If you like KT Tunstall she does a good job of "Baby Please Come Home" (though I still think U2 did the definitive rock version.) It's on the Now compilation this year, but is actually from 2007. Which begs the question... why is the compilation called Now?
______________________________________________ You want to know what's the #1 Christmas single, every year, on Canadian iTunes? It pretty much never leaves that spot.
______________________________________________If you want to imagine how Prince might have written a Christmas song, back in his dirty days, listen to Lady Gaga's Christmas song. Chorus: "Light me up with me on top lets falalalala lalalala." (Actually Prince did write a Christmas song called "Another Lonely Christmas" and it's about a guy's lover who died on Christmas.)
...Can it be? I think I've finished every important work thing I needed to do, in order to have a relaxed two days off, not worrying about anything. Let's hope I don't wake up in a cold sweat at 7 AM having thought of something.
I've got avocados for guacamole... fresh bread... cookies... Christmas music... I am ready to watch movies and recharge my batteries.
I am so tired. My food supplies have been restocked, but not so my sleep supplies. Although Personal Life won out over Work Life, Work Life is taking revenge! I just worked about 17 hours (12 at work, 5 at home.) And I have sooo much to do tomorrow. Mercy me. Ah well, that's Christmas in retail.
To potential future employers scoping me out: Look how hard working and dedicated I am!
