Randoms by Rach

Crazy November

Well. I'm actually finding myself with a few minutes to spare today. This is the first day in over a month. So I thought I'd take time to pause, and reflect through my blog.

Towards the end of October, I received the fantastic news that I have been selected for the Future Rising Stars Programme. To say I was honoured, and excited, is the biggest understatement. Me! Seriously: me! Hannah has chosen me, and is my sponsor. Fantastic news, but also a lot of work. What I love most about it is the diversity of activities. One day I'm writing and essay on Mark Twain and one of his poems; the next, I'm writing a travelogue from a hot air balloon floating over WDC. The kind of things I would never dream of writing normally, I'm getting the chance to do. It's stretching me, but I'm loving it. So, so much. I've even surprised myself with some of my work (am I allowed to say that?).

Then, we have NaNo. Dear, exhausting, crazy NaNo. I have now finished my first draft. It's 53,477 words. I've typed my fingers off. If I'm honest, I was pretty demoralised at the beginning of NaNo. Because I was writing so quickly, without correcting as I went along, when I read back over it the next day, all I found was a lot of drivel. Every day. I think I was hoping I'd learned a few things about writing since last year's NaNo. I was hoping I would write better. But that didn't happen, and I was disappointed with myself. But, as my hubby pointed out, when you write fast, you don't write good. The two don't go together. That's why it's called a first draft. The name implies there will be more. Many more, I suspect. After I realised this (about a week into it) I wrote more quickly, and really enjoyed the experience.

For the rest of this month, I must keep an eye on the Special Occasions Forum. Also, complete any further Rising Stars tasks I'm given. Review. I need to review. It would be good to write a story about Alfie's naughtiness for the Pet News Contest. Ummm, I think that's about it. Oh, I need to write the family Christmas Quiz as well. Must not forget that!