Week Three: Dropping Out Of NaNoWriMo

This year, I made it as far as the 14th before I decided to drop out of NaNoWriMo.  It’s not because I was horribly behind or ran headlong into writer’s block, or I decided I hate the story.  I have four good reasons to stop at this point.

Reason #1:  I am working on a submission for ARTEMIS RISING.  I’m fleshing out a flash fiction piece into something longer.  I don’t have the time to rewrite it and work on the NaNoWriMo project.

Reasons #2, 3, and 4: Julius, Popsicle, and Sherbert.

Julius, Popsicle, and Sherbert, approximately 5 weeks old
Julius, Popsicle, and Sherbert, approximately 5 weeks old

Aren’t they adorable excuses?

I will be bring this trio home on Wednesday.  The last two weeks I’ve been spending time at their foster home to get to know them.  I’ve also been involved a massive cleaning of the house, as well as kitten-proofing.  I’ve been able to clean, visit the kittens, work my day job, and work for a week, but it’s not tenable for much longer.

So my plans now are to work on the ARTEMIS RISING submission, then return to working on the NaNoWriMo project.  There is an off chance I will be able to complete it, so I am leaving the calendar up.  More likely I will be moving at a slower pace and complete it by the end of the year.  But most important, I will enjoy my new kittens.  As for NaNoWriMo, there’s always next year.

10 Replies to “Week Three: Dropping Out Of NaNoWriMo

  1. I am soooo jealous. Kittens, adorable kittens. I got Mac, a 13 year old whose second owner went into a nursing home. I got so lucky, he is a nice cat except for the allergy that popped up at the end of October and has been worrying me. His personality perfectly suits mine and his only flaw is he loves my computer keyboard when I am typing up a storm…that is when he decides he needs to get between me and the keys and screen…every time. He is not a small cat…not fat..just a big, long, tall tabby. Yours are adorable. I had to get rid of all my plants, the favourites I kept when household broke up. Turns out they were all toxic to cats…who knew…and Mac is a cat who chews plants so I gifted them all away…even my bonsai.. sob. Bought a good hand vac from Black & Decker which makes keeping the kitty litter area clean. Using Swheat Scoop litter which is much nicer than the clay stuff they brought with him that leaves clay dust everywhere. I also got lucky in that the cat and Ash-Leigh ignore each other. Other than cat hair everywhere…did you know it can jam a computer keyboard…it was one of my better decisions. Speaking of writer’s block…have you ever heard of reader’s block. I am having trouble finishing books. I cannot believe that every single book I pick up bores me but I keep struggling to keep reading and end up putting the book down and going and scrubbing the floors or something equally unlikely. I am someone who once she picks up a book reads right to the end. It was not uncommon for me to read two books a day…that was focus. It is worrisome to me as I keep buying books and my to be read pile is getting awesome and scary. I am wondering if my intimidating pile of to be read books is somehow scattering my attention span from the current book. Never mind the current book, I am half way through Gift of an Enemy…never had such difficulty reading right to the end before…this is new and disturbing. Half way through one by Bartal, one by Adams, a book on Hollywood Gays, Leonard Maltin’s 2013 Movie Guide, Sir Richard Burton’s diaries, Lord of Hosts Sir Henry Chips Channon biography, Nothing is holding me and I hate it. To change one’s way of dealing with things is so hard. At my age, maybe I should learn to let go. if the book is not doing its job…get rid of it and move on. My problem is…I do not think it is the book’s fault…somehow it is me…something wrong with me and I must push on through whatever is blocking and finish those books. Too many distractions in life these days, Pinterest can eat up a day. Tumblr, Facebook and now I bought a wonderful software package and have spent days typing in all my books (read, bought, kept, given away in my entire life…I have them listed in a huge binder and would like to have them on my computer). So, I know I am fully capable of total immersion focus because when I am doing that the hours fly in fascination so it is not my mind. Not losing my marbles, still reading. It might be the cosies have worn out their welcome in my brain..

  2. Yes! The first weekend is going to be bonding time for me and Mom. Sometime in December I’ll be asking if you want to come down and meet the kids. Plus I need help moving a cat tree. 😉

  3. It’s going to be different having three fluff balls of pure energy after having a sedate 16 year old. I know I’m going to have to make a lot of adjustments. No plants in the house to worry about at least.

    I also owe you a long email. Don’t worry. It’s coming. Probably with pictures. 😉

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