I did it! And it's not even the end of the month yet!!

I am officially a NaNoWriMo 2013 winner!



For the first time since I've started trying (approximately 7 years now) I actually finished a 50,000 word "novel" in 30 days.  And I actually did it in 29.

Now, I'm not going to start claiming that what I've written is even remotely publishable.  But it's got enough words, and it's somewhat, remotely cohesive, so it could at some point in the future, if I put some effort into it, be an actual logical, readable story.  Maybe.

I'm just happy to have actually finished it.  Yey me!

Show 'Em What You're Made Of

Halfway point

Still on track halfway through NaNoWriMo.   It's been tough.  Some days are a struggle to hit the full number of words I need.  But I'm still working my way through.  There's not a lot of coherence, and I'll definitely not end up with a completed novel at the end, but that's not really the expectation anyway.  I just want to feel like I can still write, like I can do this.  Even if what I end up with is just a whole bunch of random stuff that might never actually be a novel, I know that I've written some scenes and created some characters, and that's good.  It's been a while since I've managed to do a decent job at that.

And now I go back to saving my words for NaNo.

Remix

Because it's so much fun!

Tiny update

Not to jinx it or anything, because we're only 4 days in, but for the first time EVER I am actually on track for NaNoWriMo.  Still.  Usually I've already had a day that's put me totally behind, but if I write as much as I've written these four days I could be done by November 28!  That's impressive for me.  Usually it's telling me I'll be done in March.  Then I get frustrated and I quit.

So yey!

We'll see where I am in another week.

It's that time again...

It's November.  You know what that means?

It's time for me to again say that I'm going to do Nanowrimo.

And for me to get about halfway through (if I'm lucky) and give up, because that's what I always do.

BUT

This year I'm already ahead.  By noon today, I already had more words than I needed for the day.  And I kind of feel like I might have another thousand or so in me today.  And it's the weekend, so I'm hoping I can get a ways ahead.  Something is different with my inner censor.  She seems to have gone on vacation, so I'm just typing a whole lot of stuff that kind of applies, and not worrying about how good it is.  That's what Nano's supposed to be about, but I've never been able to do that before.

So this year, might just be the year, when I actually get more than halfway finished!

How's that for a goal?!?

Back to blog part 3 - Backstreet's Back, Alright!

Nick & AJ at sound check

And to round out the vacation, the Boys came to Toronto with the "In a World Like This" tour (August 7, Molson Amphitheatre).  My friend  decided to do the soundcheck, and I caved as well, mainly because I'd never been to soundcheck with Kevin as a part of the group.  It was a long and disorganized wait for soundcheck but it was awesome to see all five of them back together again.

Five Boys together again

Our seats for the show were far from the best we'd ever had, but hope for a second leg of the tour makes it all better.  (Plus a really good camera.)

Kevin

I had wondered how they'd deal with the songs Kevin hadn't been a part of.  Unfortunately, the answer to that was to not do any of those songs.  I missed a few of them, but it was really kind of a celebration of their longevity as a group.  They're 20th Anniversary.  I can get over the loss of a few songs.

Set List:

The Call

Don't Want you Back

Incomplete

Permanent Stain

All I Have to Give

As Long as You Love Me

Show 'Em (What You're Made of)

Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely

Breathe

I'll Never Break Your Heart

We've Got it Goin' On

Safest Place to Hide

10,000 Promises (Accoustic)

Madeleine (Accoustic)

Quit Playing Games with My Heart (Accoustic)

The One

Love Somebody

More Than That

In A World Like This

I Want it That Way

Encore:

Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

Larger than Life

It was really nice to see the chemistry and interaction of all five is still the same, even through separation and so many other things have happened in all of their lives.

Post script: I have, since the concert, read Nick Carter's book "Facing the Music, and Living to Talk About it".  The book was interesting from a fan perspective because it shed light on some some timing of events, and relationships in the group.   Seeing all five of the members together at the concert, and having a better perspective of what they've been through together, makes it mean that much more.  If I were to never see them perform together again, I could be okay with that.  It would be really disappointing, but this concert could be a good closer.

Jesse McCartney

Post Post Script: Jesse McCartney was the Opening Act.  He's fun.  And I probably wouldn't have appreciated his set had he opened for the Boys any sooner than now.