Just a quick update, I guess.

I let my mum and dad read my synopsis. My dad says it's "grim", but my mum likes it. :)

I have a quick question though; I already asked this on Twitter and I got one reply which gave me a bit of hope, but I'm kinda hoping to get a wee bit more insight on here (140 characters on Twitter doesn't leave much room for thought, eh?)

So, here's my questions;

1. Should I write my novel in 1st or 3rd person? With some aspects of it I can see it being better written in first person, but in other aspects, I see it being better written in third. Which you prefer?

2. Taking the above into account, how would other people feel about reading a novel where the first chapter is in 1st person, second chapter in 3rd, third chapter in 1st, fourth chapter in 3rd, and so on? Think about it for any kind of novel - not just mine (or not even mine, if you like). How would you, as a reader, feel about reading a novel set like that? Do you think it would be confusing, or would it add to the story?

So yeah, if any of you amazing guys could get back to me on that one, I'd much appreciate it :)

Thanks!

-Panda-
x<3x

The Loss of a Great Man, and Awful Dreams.

I'm just going to get straight to the point; when I heard Steve Jobs had died yesterday, I felt really, genuinely sad about it. I'm not overly sure why, I just felt incredibly saddened by the news of his death. I remember watching Apple conferences with my Dad (a huge Apple fan) and watching Steve Jobs wandering about the stage, talking about all of the new exciting pieces of technology being brought to the world in the next year or so.

Nobody can deny that Steve Jobs changed the world. I mean, who goes out nowadays without saying something like "I can't go out without my iPod!"? Even those die-hard Windows fans can't deny that Steve Jobs did so much for technology (my boyfriend is having an affair with Windows 7 - and even he admits that Jobs did a lot for technology). I learnt last night that the Westboro Baptist Church intend on picketing at his funeral. I genuinely hope there are some die-hard Apple fans lingering about to give the WBC a good slap. The best thing is? The WBC updated this on twitter (or facebook.. I can't remember which), and under that update, clear as day, "Updated using iPhone" .... I'm clearly missing something, but I genuinely do hope that there are people attending his funeral that will batter the absolute living shit out of WBC if they decide to be retarded and picket. It's disgusting.

But that's another topic. In short; RIP Steve Jobs. He changed the world, and thanks to his creativity and innovation, Apple will continue to change and update technology in a far more sophisticated manner than Microsoft could dream of.

Anyway, back on subject, I had an absolutely horrific dream last night! I had a dream that I entered my NaNo plot synopsis into a school competition (despite the fact I'm 21, nearly 22, and have been out of school for 5 years..) and I won, I got an awesome certificate and my parents were clapping, tears in their eyes, and I felt awesome. Then November 1st came round and I eagerly started tappy tap tapping away on my keyboard, only to find.... I got completely stuck at a ridiculous 300 words.

Yes, 300 words.


And every single day in November, I opened that Word doc and stared at those 300 words and just could not do anything with it.

It was horrific. I woke up this morning seriously doubting my plot and characters, despite the fact I know they're strong. I now have the insurmountable task of attempting to gain as much faith in my synopsis, plot and characters as I had 7 hours ago before I went to sleep. :(

Anyone else ever had a NaNo dream that really threw them off course? Just out of curiosity..

-Panda-

28 Days to Go

I finally wrote up the very basics of my main character! And I mean, the VERY basics. But at least I finally have a NAME for him! That makes me so incredibly happy.

So I've been browsing (read: lurking) the NaNoWriMo forums lately, especially the writing buddies/newbies topics, because I'm desperate to find other writers writing ANYTHING along the same lines as me (psychological, thriller, anything mental health related etc) but alas, I've yet to find a single person :( On the one hand, it sucks, because I don't really have anyone I can relate to right now, I don't have someone that can help me or critique. But on the other hand, that must mean that my idea is at least somewhat original and unique, I hope.

Well, nobody else is doing it.....

That's if my idea even all comes together before November 1st. I have my MC lined out and I know him, but I'm not even sure how many other characters I need in total. I haven't even began to think about individual chapter outlines yet.

I feel I'm a little behind, NaNoers. A slight cause for concern, but I'm not going to get too flitzy ditzy about it all just yet....

30 Days to Go

30 Days to go. 30.

That's........... 768 hours.

I still have not done ANY character outlines. ANY plot outline. Nothing.

I feel like I am seriously behind.

But I have some pretty good ideas.

Today I went out and bought Sharpies

and A6 coloured pieces of card.

Bright card.

The idea is to type up everything. from character outlines to plots to chapter outlines and everything else,

then write the basics for each and every different thing on different pieces of card

and stick them up on my wall in front of my bed where I write.

That way, it's bright, so it's easy to see

and it keeps me on top of things.

I'm also super excited.

The Glasgow Municipal Liason e-mailed me the recent e-mail for all West of Scotland Nanoers.

There's a kick-off meet-up on the 27th October in Glasgow.

I'm super nervous, but really excited.

Also, I told her I'm extremely enthusiastic to help out with fundraising, NaNo awareness and PR & media. I don't have any experience in the latter, but I've written a ton of promotional articles for other companies, so I don't know if that's any use.... we'll see!

But I really am extremely enthusiastic and eager to get involved ASAP.

Anyone else getting involved with "behind the scenes" NaNo this year?

Where do you all find the time?

I want to know; where do you all find the time to write?

I'm not saying I'm by any means a busy person - in fact, I lead quite a lazy life right now. I don't work (often - I'm self-employed), I'm only in college 2 days a week right now, I don't have children or other people to look after, I don't go to groups or anything like that - I just never can seem to find the time to write these days. And I don't know why. Because I do nothing.

From about November onwards (Just as NaNo starts... great) I'm going to be in college 2 days a week and a college placement 2 days a week. The thought TERRIFIES me. I really want to succeed at NaNo and I'm scared by two days more of extra "doing stuff". It's stupid! There are people doing NaNo, and even best-selling authors, who hold down a full time job, look after the kids, make dinners left right and centre, tidy the house daily, attend a night class, and STILL find the time to bang out a cracking amount of words a day. How do you do it?

Between sleeping, eating, occasional college work and showering, I just can't seem to find the time.

Maybe it has something to do with my other half.

You see, I have a problem. I spend a LOT of time with my other half, at his house. Well, technically speaking, his parents' house.

I cannot, for any amount of money, write a single sentence when there are other people in the room. Yes, even someone I trust and love as much as my other half. He's my everything, my rock, my baba, but I just cannot write with him about.

Does anyone else have this problem?

So, MY problem is that I spend too much time with my other half to find the time to write. Sure, easy to solve, just stop spending so much time together, right? WRONG. I'm quite happy to spend time apart, but my other half, he constantly wants me to be with him. And I don't mind that, I really don't. But if I so much as hint at going home for the night to do some work, the huff that ensues just... isn't worth dealing with 90% of the time.

Is it time I just suck it up and let him get on with his little huff-puffs?

I'm going to have to if I want any chance at succeeding with NaNo.

Advice please? :(

35 Days To Go

This blog is pretty much dedicated to NaNoWriMo 2011 :)

I originally made a Tumblr blog, but it seems the vast majority of people partaking in NaNo have a blogspot blog, so I decided to come over here instead in order to keep up with how other people are doing!

Okay so... With just over a month left to prepare, this is the extent of my planning so far;

I have a list of possible titles, and a list of possible character names.

Yep. That's it. No outline, no character descriptions, no definitive plot, nothing. So, I should probably get my ass into gear, for lack of better words.

I am, what most would call, a "pantser". I really do write by the seat of my pants. I'm the most disorganised person I've ever met.

But for my first NaNo, I want to organise it. I want to organise SOMETHING in my life, for once. I want everything to have it's own designated piece of paper, it's own thorough outline as to what is supposed to happen, when, why, and how.

But that's easier said than done. Like my blog title says; I'm just your average procrastinating author...

I would love to find some buddies to cheer me on. Of course, I'll do the same back. That's the whole point of this blog; to keep up with other people and how they're coming along, and for them to (hopefully) return the favour.

I was given a good piece of advice last night though on Twitter; "Don't use the blog as a reason to procrastinate, because in the last week or so of NaNo, you will want to find any reason at all not to write another 2000 words a day".

I'm determined not to do that.

So yeah, I'm going to go find people I can add to my list of followers on here.

If anyone has Twitter, my name is @Pandrawr

Take care! <3