UhOhNaNo, Sioux's Brazilian Butt-Lift, Back-of-the-Book Blurb #34 and More

          Uh oh. My NaNo word count, at this moment, is 9,763, far below the 13 million it's supposed to be at this point. However, I'm going to a writing retreat this weekend, and I hope to get lots of writing done.

        Many of my students have surpassed the 2,000 mark. One student (a friend of Linda' O'Connell's grandson) said, "Dialogue is a way to really increase my word count." I told him it's also a way to make the story come alive. This young man invariably sits next to me when we write, and watches what I do, as I cut and paste bits of articles so I can paraphrase (and then I delete the article snippet)... as I make a note about characters and time frame at the beginning of my piece (so I don't go astray). I'm really proud of the steam they're building up.

       I'm also proud of my country... but not so proud of some of the decisions the voters made. However, perhaps this is what I need to prod me into becoming more active. If I'm worried that some of our rights might disappear, perhaps I need to become fiercer and more involved.

       And if you want a cheap Brazilian butt-lift, tear your meniscus (a muscle in your knee) and be forced to do lots of physical therapy on your leg (and with some of the same exercises, your rear end). I swear I think my rear is becoming firmer (not smaller or less broad, unfortunately) as my leg muscles around my knee are getting stronger.

      But it could be my imagination... runnin' (or hobbling) away with me.

      And now onto back-of-the-book blurb fun... 

The Chicken Man       

Jethro was known as the “Chicken Man.” He had over a hundred chickens that lived in his house. He also had a coop full of fowl… fowl that he rented out.

       The Chicken Man discovered an organization called GAP--Green Acres People--rabid fans of Eddie Albert and whatever-Gabor-sister-that was. They like to reenact the show, and having real live chickens fluttering and pooping and pecking around them is one easy step they can take. Jethro also found that some people love fresh eggs. Renting out a coop from the Chicken Man gets them fresh eggs every day.

        But then the Chicken Man adopts a black puppy. Jethro names him Nujo. Nujo’s fur is dull… until some of the eggs start disappearing, and then Nujo’s fur starts looking lustrous.

        What is happening with the eggs? What is responsible for Nujo’s fur getting glossy-looking? Read this book to solve the mystery... (148 words)

And for those writers who want to work ahead, here is the photo for next week:

UhOhNaNo

            I'm doing NaNoWriMo. My students are flying along. All of them met their first goal (1,250 by the first week). They're finding things that work for them. They're going back and weaving in bits of storyline as they create it. They're listening to really loud music on their headphones. They're using name generators.

          I suggested cutting and pasting in bits of research so they can draw from it... and then they can delete it. I'm not sure anybody has tried it out yet, but it's working for me.

         My word count goal, at the end of today, is supposed to be 12,800 and some change (maybe a lot of change). What I have right now is only 6,014 words... which makes me a loser.

       However, after reading Pat Wahler's post, I feel muuuuch better about my pathetic word count.

       Has NaNoWriMo gotten me to begin a writing piece I might not otherwise take on?

       Check.

       Has NaNoWriMo prodded me forward, pushing me to write puddles and small ponds of words?

       Check.

       Has NaoNaWriMo energized me about what--for me--is a challenging project?

       Check.

       So, at the end of November, I hope both Pat and I are losers. By the time we have eaten too much on Thanksgiving and are recovering from a carb-overload, I hope we will be able to look back at the daily writing we did and be happy... happy we kept plodding forward. Happy that we didn't give up. Happy that we have more words down on paper than if we had said "NoNoNaNo."

       'Cause if we were willing to take the risk and write, we're winners...