Writing in Mixed Genre

15 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Tuesday, October 30, 2007 about 11:45 AM PDT

This is a mixed genre blog, which reflects my writing style. I write poetry, science fiction and fantasy. My poetry covers a wide range of subjects from mystic to what ever inspires me. Lately I've experimented with different styles and putting subheadings in my blog entries. I'm not sure how this is working.

I think what I'll do from now on is put subheadings in some entries and leave them out in others. I'm also going to check my links. I have another blog on blogger.com and both blogs have the same links. I'm going to change the links so both don't have identical links.

Poet 999 - A Butterfly Emerges from her Cocoon

The theme for this blog is transformation and spirituality. Therefore the links in it will go to blogs and web sites with similar themes. I'll cross link both blogs so that there is access to each without searching.

Poet 999's Thoughts about Writing and Other Stuff

This is a mixed genre blog. The links I'll include have writing themes and interesting web sites that I post in the entries. I think having different links in each blog is much better. I also think it's time I rewrote my introduction and changed the picture included in the introduction.

NaNoWriMo begins on Thursday

14 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Monday, October 29, 2007 about 12:00 AM PDT



NaNoWriMo begins on Thursday, November 1. Thirty days to write a 50,000 word novel, which comes to about 1,667 words a day.

Completed Outline

I've completed my outline for the novel. I've complete the character Sketches of the main characters. I'm ready to start on Thursday. I logged into the NaNoWriMo web site and I remembered my password. While I was on the site, I uploaded a picture of myself. It's the one I have on this blog.

My NaNoWriMo Novel

I'm as prepared for this years Novel Writing month as possible. On Thursday I begin the novel and then I'll decide on the names of the chapters. I'm looking forward to this years novel. It's the first time I've written a novel with an outline. This is going to be fun.

This is where you make Hotel Reservation

Hotel Reservations



Be sure to Bookmark this site.

This is a great site to get hotel reservations. The instant you see it you know that it's easy to navigate. You can chose your language and country. You can search by amenities and zip code. This site lets you search by hotel, vacation rentals, where you want to pickup a car or air destination and departure. There is a road trip search and a cruise search. It has the guarantee lowest rates and you can save up to 70% off hotels, motels and resorts.

There is a section for Bed and Breakfast, Condos and Club discounts. What more could you want of an online reservation site?

Book Online or via Phone

You can book your reservations online or via phone for the United States, Canada and Europe. There are even phone numbers to book group tours and vacation packages. This is the first place to look when traveling in the United State or Europe. I know this the place I'm going to use when I begin planning my vacation overseas next year.

Guaranteed Lowest Rates

There is a price guarantee form that must be submitted within 24 hours of confirmation, but the form is on line and easy to fill out. In addition, there are no fees for change or conciliation. After all emergencies do come up and choices have to be made.

Easy to Navigate

This site is easy to navigate and friendly to use. It has great discounts and a choice of vacation destinations all across the world. It has low prices, with o change or conciliation fees. I'm looking forward to using this site when I make my vacation plans.

Destination Guide

This site has a destination guide that you can use to plan your trip. The guide shows destinations across the world such as Israel and India, bot places I would like to go. In fact, I'm going to use the guide myself to plan my trip to Israel next year. Included is a phone number you can call to make worldwide reservations.




This post is sponsored by HotelReservations.com

I Took a Day Off Blogging

13 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Sunday, October 28, 2007 about 8:46 AM PDT

I didn't blog at all on Saturday and I think the strategy worked. I felt myself on the Verge of blogger's block. I couldn't think of a topic. I'm better now and have about four topics for this week.

Upcoming Subjects

1. October 31 is both Halloween and Nevada Day
2. November 1 NaNoWriMo begins
3. November 3 is the Feast of Qudrat
4. This is the last week of Day Light Savings Time for 2007
5. My washing machine is unbalanced

That's just a clue to what all is coming up in the next week. I haven't even checked out the writing exercises yet.

I wrote my first Garland Cinquain

11 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Friday, October 26, 2007 about 4:44 PM PDT

I wrote my first Garland Cinquain this week. A cinquain is a poem of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2 syllable lines. A garland cinquain is constructed of 6 stanzas. One line from each of the first five stanzas is in the last stanza.

Theme of the Poem

The theme of the poem was my favorite season. I wrote about spring. The poem called Happy New Year, is in my writing.com port. I named it that because spring is when I celebrate a New Year. I celebrate Naw-Ruz, which means New Day, as the new year on March 21,

I signed up for PayPerPost

get paid to blog


I signed up for PayPerPost because I have to stay home with my eighty-six mother, who has been ill and I needed to make some extra money. I find that I enjoy looking for opportunities and then writing about them. I'm a writer and this gives me a chance to practice my skill and the time to work on getting my stories and poetry rewritten and published.

What am I going to do with the money?

The first thing I'm going to do is get a wireless keyboard and mouse. My mouse quite on me a couple of weeks ago and I'm using the mouse keys to move the cursor. The problem is I'm so use to using a mouse that I keep reaching for it

Looking forward to making friends

My blog was accepted a few days ago so I haven't been here very long. However, I'm looking forward to making lots of new friends. I'm also looking forward to investigating the blogs of the other people on this site.

What have I learned?

I've learned that I can still improve my writing skills and that I could use a refresher course on HTML. I'm discovering a lot of interesting web sites,with intriguing products, that I wouldn't find any other way. In addition I feel I'm serving humanity by letting other people know about the products and the opportunities.




This post is sponsored by PayPerPost.com.

Thankful Thursday and My Gratitude Journal

10 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Thursday, October 25, 2007 about 5:36 PM PDT

It's near sunset here in Las Vegas and I can see a slightly pink and blue sky above my garage. There's no wind so the limbs of the stone pine tree don't move. It's been a long and interesting day Thankful Thursday.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday refers to the Thursday prompt for the Yahoo Journal Group I'm in. Every Thursday you write ten things you're thankful for and post it. I usually put in in my gratitude journal as well. I have five things so far, but haven't decided on the other five yet. I need to post an entry today because I haven't posted to that group this week.

My Gratitude Journal

My gratitude journal's name is Glory. Every entry is address Dear Glory and then at the end I sign my name. I've made several entries in this journal the past week, but I only post Gratitude Journal entries on Thursday. I think one thing I'll be thankful for today is the sunset.

Clean out the Garage

garage storage system
The garage is a huge part of your house, shouldn't you use it to its full potential?

Fall is here and it's the time of year most of us want to put our cars in the garage at night. The problem is that during the summer months we have put all sorts of stuff in the garage and now their is no room for the car. It is time to start uncluttering, sorting and storing, but how do we do begin the process. One way is to install a garage storage system.

Why a Garage Storage System

A storage system allows us to use the garage to its fullest potential. It makes the garage a place to put those items that we use on a seasonal basis. It lets us park the car in the garage and store Christmas decorations in summer and lawn furniture in winter. It organizes everything so it we can find those seasonal items easily.

If you need a garage storage system, we've got it. What do you store in your garage that is in need of a system to keep it organized?

This post is sponsored by garage storage system

My Cursor Pointer Keeps Disappearing

9 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Wednesday, October 24, 2007 about 11:12 AM PDT

My cursor pointer (or is it my mouse pointer) keeps disappearing. This isn't a technical problem, I just forget where I left it and when I go to use the MouseKeys I have to look all over the screen for the pointer. This can be a nuisance especially when I'm writing and need to copy and paste or count a flash fiction story.

I need a New Mouse

My mouse died last week and I need a new one. Right now I'm using the mouse keys, but a new mouse would make life so much simpler. I think the next time I get one I'll just get the wireless mouse and keyboard. I think I can buy them as a pair someplace in Las Vegas, so I'll price a couple of places.

The Keyboard gave me a fright

The keyboard gave me a fright last Thursday, it went out and I couldn't get into the computer or on line. Turned out I'd left the dead mouse connect and its presence was confusing the striker program. I unplugged the mouse and my keyboard works fine now. One good results of that was the keyboard got cleaned out. However, I did get a few keys back on upside down. Now that my keyboard is back to normal I can catch up on writing and on line work.

Good News, I Think

The Next Wind Event

I just received the latest weather report in my e-mail box. According to John Fredericks (one of the Channel 3 weather persons), the next "wind event" will be Friday. This means it might be safe for me to take the trash out tonight rather than waiting for tomorrow morning. Taking the trash to the curb the night before it's picked up is always good. Because, unless I'm doing an "all nighter" at the computer, I don't get up until about 6:00 or 6:30 AM and trash pick up is at 7:00 AM.

Trash Pick Up

The first problem with taking trash out on the morning of pick up is not getting all the cans to the curb. The second is a muse attack, my muse waits until I have chores that must be done. On Wednesday or Saturday morning, in the middle of writing I glance down at the clock on my computer and realize that I didn't take out the trash. Or even worse, I hear the garbage trucks and realize have three or four cans of trash to take out. I only have four trash cans in the garage. That's why I like taking trash out the night before pick up day.

A Windy Solar Day

8 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Monday, October 22, 2007 about 9:57 PM PDT

This morning I went onto the patio and found everything in scattered. It's a good thing my patio is enclosed because otherwise the stuff would be scattered across my backyard and the neighbors' yards. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a windy day now and then, but we've gotten some "Reno Zephyrs" lately. Although since this is Las Vegas maybe I should call them Las Vegas Zephyrs (sorry Mr. Twain).

Reno Zephyrs

Mark Twain described "Reno Zephyrs" in one of his book. They aren't quite the Santa Anna's, but they're close. We get them here in Las Vegas this time of year. They are a poet's dream muse because one can use them to describe anything from a torrid love affair to wild party.

A Windy Solar Day

Nice title isn't it. I think it will make a great title for either a poem or a piece of flash fiction. I haven't decided which yet. Sometimes I get the title to a piece before anything else. Sometimes I find a character and then look for a story. Sometimes the plot and a plot point generates a story. This title looks like either a science fiction piece or a spiritual piece.

A Multitude of Bruises

7 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Sunday, October 21, 2007 about 8:25 PM PDT

Daily writing Practice Prompt for October 21, 2007

Write about a bruise.

A Multitude of Bruises

There are many kinds of bruises. Bruises that turn black and blue when you first get them and then fade to a light brown or tan as they heal. There are bruised feelings which occur at various times through out one's life. Some bruises are forgotten almost as soon as they are heal. Some bruises you don't remember how you got them. Some bruises remain with you forever.

Two of the worst bruises I ever had occurred several years apart. One was the results of closing my finger in a car door. I still don't have any feeling in the tip of that finger. The other was the results of stepping on a nail when I was chasing a chicken. Actually, I think it was a rooster I was chasing. Anyway I drove myself to the hospital ER and got a shot.

Driving One's Self to the Hospital

Yes, I drove myself. It was my right foot that I stepped on the nail. So driving myself the few blocks to the hospital was an exercise in pain. I've know two other people who drove themselves to the hospital ER after hurting themselves and both were women. One was my mother, who (several years ago) cut her hand with a broken glass while washing dishes. The other was a friend who broke her leg when she feel on the golf course and drove herself to the ER.

That sounds like an interesting event to include in a story. The character drives herself to the hospital after getting hurt. Maybe a flash fiction, written from the main character's point f view and describing her feelings.

Technical Difficulties

6 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Sunday, October 21, 2007 about 11:00 AM PDT

Don't you just love the phrases Technical Difficulties, The Network is Down or The Network is Slow. I've experienced all three within since Thursday evening. First, my network consist of one computer connected to the Internet over a telephone line. This encourages slow downloads, but I've learned to live with this problem. Second, my mouse died last week, which probably contributed to my network being down Thursday and Friday.

The Network Is Down

Thursday night my keyboard went out. The message I got said something like "Striker.exe is experiences technical difficulties" (probably not the exact error message, but close enough). Rebooted the computer and found that I was locked out because the keyboard wouldn't work and I couldn't type in my password. I decided my keyboard needed cleaning so I took the keys off and cleaned out under them. My keyboard did need cleaning, but that wasn't my problem.

I put the keyboard back together and still couldn't get into the system. I took Mom to the doctor and left things as they were. Got back home from the doctor, eat and left to celebrate the Birth of the Bab. Saturday morning the thought occurred to me that maybe the dead mouse (which was still connected to the computer) was the problem. I unplugged the mouse and was able to type in my password.

Technical Difficulties

The technical difficulties with the computer concerns the keyboard. When I was putting the keys back on I put four on upside down, I'll fix that when I get back to the house this afternoon. I have a meeting at the Baha'i Center at 2:00 PM. I'm coming home from that and not going anyplace else this evening. I have writing assignments to catch up on because of the network being down for about two days.

Another technical difficulty concerns my garbage disposal. There is something caught in it and I can't use the dishwasher. Actually, I'm afraid to use the dishwasher because it backs up if the garbage disposal doesn't work properly. So I'm stuck doing dishes the old fashion way until I get the disposal fixed.

The third technical difficulty has to do with my attitude lately. I think I've been a bit depressed over a number of different things. I'm coming out of the darkness now, but as a results I have writing assignments to catch up and rewrites to work on. When I'm in a dark mood I have difficulty writing or for that matter doing anything else.

Take The Internet Back

As a writer, I'm always looking for new and interesting ways to bring in a little extra money. I encounter this site by accident while I was doing a search for "extra income" or something like that. I check it out and found that I liked the look of the site and the the way they do business.

Reading Targeted E-mails

I joined and now I've found out something else. I like reading e-mail adds that are targeted specifically for me. This is something new, because until I became affiliated with "Take the Internet Back" I didn't enjoy reading adds. I'm including my affiliate site http://www.taketheinternetback.com/index.php?refId=114337, so check it out and see what you think.

Free Downloads

There are also about seven pages of free downloads for affiliates. I've downloaded only one e-book so far. I'll probably download more, but, with other things I have to read, one is enough for new. I don't like to feel I'm overloading myself with reading material. Check it out and have fun while you're doing it.

Theme for this Blog My Thoughts on Writing and Other Stuff

2 'Ilm 164 B.E. - Wednesday, October 17, 2007 about 12 Midnight PDT

The theme for this blog can cover a multitude of subjects. I changed the blogs name a while back because of changes that occurred in my life. Originally the theme was spiritual poetry. I write spiritual poetry, but I also write other things and I wanted this blog to reflect the various forms my writing takes.

Different Subjects

This blog will cover a lot of different subjects because my writing and my thoughts cover a wide range of topics. Some of those topics have spiritual themes and some don't. However, most of those subjects have a spiritual components. The reason for this is that as a human being, I am a spiritual being. So there are spiritual components to my writing.

As I get older the spiritual components becomes more important. I'm not sure whether it has to do with age or what, but the spiritual side of human nature interest me, therefor I write and think about t.

Other subjects covered in this blog have to do with stuff I do or intriguing web sites I encounter. In most cases I probably won't mention a spiritual component unless the specific web site has to do with a spiritual subject. The reason I cover different subject is that a writer can't limit herself to one subject or stagnation occurs.

The Writer and the Environment

Have you ever considered the environment around or within your house? Look out your living room or bedroom window and study the surroundings. What type of trees, bushes, flowers or weeds are in your yard? What type of bugs and insects inhabit the ecosystem around and within your house? What effect do you have on the ecosystem you are inhabiting? These are some of the questions a science fiction or fantasy writer have to answer when planning a story.

Every planet and plain of existence has its own environment, its own ecosystem. An author has to look at this when planning a story or novel. What effect does the culture of the inhabits of a planet have on the flora and fauna? What effect does an individual character have on his or her surroundings? Does magic effect the plants and animals that live in the ecosystem in which the spells are used? What effect does a star ship putting down on a planet have on the creature of that planet? Do the germs and parasites that inhabit the bodies of the invaders effect the plants and animals of the planet? Do the germs and parasites of the planet effect the invaders?

Remember War of the Worlds and what the germs on Earth did to the Invaders from Mars. A writer has to consider these things when writing about life on other planets. I'm not sure how many writers do consider the environment and the effect it has on the characters or the characters have on the environment. I'm not sure how much I thought about it myself until I started to consider this blog entry today.

However, now that I think about it I'm going to look closely at the novel I'm rewriting. The reason for this is the actions of some of the farmers in the novel do effect the environment. Since I didn't begin with a plan or that novel I'm not sure how it came about concerning the effect of the farmers' actions on the environment. This will help rewriting that novel because now I have something to look at while rewriting.

Now consider what effect we humans have on the environment of Earth. Humanity evolved on Earth, we are as much a part of the ecosystem of the planet as a one celled creature. We effect the environment of Earth and that environment in turn effect us. As long as a balance exist everything works the way its supposed to, but once an imbalance occurs then the whole system is effected.

My Mouse Died

19 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Sunday, October 14, 2007 about 10:58 PM PDT

My mouse died, it finally gave up the ghost. It's been acting up for several days and quitting in the middle of documents. I turn the mousekeys on a few days ago and am using them right now. I may be using them for quite a while since I can afford a new mouse until at least the end of October. Oddly enough I'm not upset or even worried about the mouse. The only disadvantage is the inability to use the numeric keypad and that isn't actually a disadvantage.

It's slow going sometimes without the mouse, but it's an interesting experience. Especially since I'm not using my reading glasses right now. I'm wearing the glasses I use to drive with, my reading glasses are hidden somewhere in the house. All right, maybe hidden isn't the right word, I took them off and laid them down, now I can't find them. I'll run across them in a day or so, but in the mean time I'm not going to use that as an excuse not to write.

The last eight months have been stressful. The stress is finally catching up with me, so I'm going to have to relax and stop obsessing over things going on. I say obsessing because that what I do rather than worry. I just need to learn to relax and not to sweat the small stuff. I think what I need is a vacation or at least to get out of Vegas for a day.

I Need a Schedule

18 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Sunday, October 14, 2007 about 4:14 PM PDT

I'm going to put myself on a schedule in 'Ilm (October 16 to November 3). I can't seem to get everything done in a day so I've decided I have to do two thing prioritize and put myself on a schedule. Prioritizing shouldn't be difficult, but the schedule may be a bit of a problem.

The basic problem is I don't want to stop a job when the appoint time ends. I want to continue until I've finished it. All right with some things (like doing dishes) that's a good idea. If you stop washing dishes before the finished you just have more to do when you come back to the sink and they're more difficult to get clean. However, with other things a break is a good idea.

Writing is one of those "jobs" that taking a break makes sense. Write for the appointed time them stop and go back to it later. If you want to keep an idea book or pen and paper journal with you while you do other chores to jot down ideas then do it. The thing to remember when working on a time schedule is Do Not Complain, no matter how little you get done. complaining takes time and energy both of which can be used to accomplish "chores".

The incidents that caused me to put myself on a time schedule occurred Friday and Saturday, both of which I feel were lost days. Days I didn't get a lot of writing accomplished. I still have to set up my priority list of A, B, and C. C items can be put off if I find I'm running behind and haven't achieved all the writing goals. A items have to be done in a specific 24-hour period and can't be put off. B items are those thing that can be put off if something more important comes up.

Now that I stated my definitions for A, B, and C priorities. I should say something about the time schedule itself. Household chores (despite the fact that my Grandmother did some of them in the middle of the night) are day time jobs. Basically because I don't have enough light in the house to do a good job mopping in the middle of the night. When I mop at night and look at the floor the next day I find places I missed. Most housework is like mopping you need to do it in good light to do a good job.

Writing on the other hand can be done early of a morning and late at night. I use a computer so it has it's own built in light and it doesn't matter if there are appropriately placed lights or not. Then there are the "jobs" a person can multitask. There aren't very many chores that you can multitask well. One job that makes a good multitasking item is laundry. Laundry can be done while the dishes are being washed, while the floor is being mopped and while you're writing.

Lost Days

16 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Friday, October 12, 2007 about 6:57 AM PDT

It's been a couple of days since I made an entry and I feel like those days were lost. Not that I didn't get anything accomplished. I achieve a lot, but just not anything written except a couple of poems and gratitude journal entries. I think the blog entries are now my warming up writing exercises. If I don't make an entry I can't seem to write much else. I think the blogging works for my muse like coffee works for my body and prayers work for my soul. A blog entry wakes up my muse and gets her going in the morning or any other time of day.

I just looked out my living room window and saw the morning sun reflecting off the olive and the stone pine trees. This time of year the first rays of dawn transform the leaves of the olive tree and bark of the pine tree to gold. It's a beautiful sight to wake up to. Perhaps that's why I turn off the alarm of a morning and sit on the couch to doze for a while. The view out of my bedroom window isn't as spectacular; it's just the sky and a few oleander limbs.

Good News Served Daily

13 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Monday, October 8, 2007 about 6:50 PM PDT

I got tired of hearing bad news all the time. The T.V., newspaper, radio, etc. all blasting with bad news, it's enough to depress anyone and make them sceptical of humanity's future. Therefore, I decided to do something about it. No I didn't stop looking at the T.V. news, if I did that I wouldn't be able to see my favorite weather man. Instead I subscribed to an e-mail news letter that delivers good new to my mail box every day.

A writer needs something other then bad news to keep the muse happy. My muse can work with bad news, but she also likes to hear good news once in a while. The newsletter is called Gimundo. Today's subject line was very intriguing. The good new headline for Columbus Day 2007 is Come On, Get Happy! The main article was about a woman who did a Happiness Project for an entire year. Other features in today's news letter were More Thoughts on Happiness, Dog Discovers Mammoth Bone, and Walk the... Goat? For more information on this wonderful little newsletter click on the title of this blog and you will be redirected to it.

I've even came up with the title and beginning of a poem.

A Year of Happiness

In a year of happiness
life changes from the dreary
daily grind of survival
into living blossoms and fruit.

Labeling My Posts

12 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Sunday, October 7, 2007 about 7:56 PM PDT

I've decided to start labeling my post on this and all my other blog. I don't think I have very many blogs myself, but that's a personal opinion. This is only one I'm attempting to make daily posts in during October and probably November. The others I'll make every other day or every few days. Lately I've have a bit of a problem with time, blog block, and my short term memory. The last takes a little explaining, I've joined about three or four on line social groups and I forgot my passwords. I don't think that has a lot to do with labeling my post, except that labeling makes individual and groups of posts easier to find.

They are easier that is if I can remember the labels. The labels will make it easier to find entries that are writing exercises, story ideas, poem ideas, etc. I'm attempting to unclutter my life, my house and my writing. Labeling a post helps in grouping the different subjects together. The writing exercises will all have the label exercise or writing exercise in them. The rest I'll figure out as I go along. This is the first post I'm going to label so I'll use label as one of the labels (All right not very creative, but it'll work). In the next several posts I'll discuss the different groups I've joined and put in links so that any one can check them out.

Color Quiz Personality test

11 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Saturday, October 6, 2007 about 10:50 PM PDT

Poet+999 took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Sets herself idealistic but illusory goals. Has be..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

This is an interesting test and fun. Take the test youself and see what you think. I'll probably take it again for one of my other blogs in a week or two.

Poet 999

High Wind Warning

9 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Friday, October 5, 2007 about 4:20 AM PDT

I just found out the National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for three counties in Nevada. One of those counties is Clark County. I should have know that the way my Internet connection has acted up all night. It randomly disconnects in the wind this is something I thought I'd learned to live with, but I'm not sure now. I think I'm going to get DSL or something similar.

I've found myself getting a bit irritated lately because of the problem. However, short of getting DSL, which is a little more expensive there is nothing I can do about it. I'll just have to live with it until I can afford DSL. It does disconnect at other times, but the wind is the worst.

The wind should make the day interesting, to say the least. I have to go out later this morning or this afternoon. I'm going to go to the bank, so maybe I'll wait until after the mail goes. I also have to go to pay my Internet provider. That's why I like having a local provide, I can go into their office to make the payments.

Waiting and Writing

8 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Wednesday, October 3, 2007 about 8:56 PM PDT

I spent over two hours waiting for my mother in the doctor's office today. She went in for a colonscope, while I sit in the waiting room reading, sleeping and meditating. Those were hours well spent. I didn't have a computer with me or a pin but I didn't need them. While I sit I came up with a twist for the NaNoWriMo novel I'm planning. The twist had to do with one of the main characters and her opposition to the lead character.

The character had given me problems when I came up with her the night before. I realized while I was writing about the lead character that I needed some opposition and a twist. I'd come up with the opposition character, but not the twist. The twist came to me while I was in the doctor's waiting room.

I've know for a long time that when I have a problem with a story or poem that I need to get away from the computer and think. This just goes to show what can happen when I get away instead of butting my head against a wall of writers' block. I still have to come up with incidents for chapters two and beyond, but the incidents for chapter 1 are ready to put down. I have until October 31 to complete the plan. That will give me plenty of time to come up with the scenes for the other chapters and decide if ten chapters is enough to tell the story in or if more would be better.

I considered 19 chapters when I first thought about the novel, but then decided that I'd plan the first 10. I may need to add chapters or something, but right now the planning is coming along find and I'd as soon not have too many chapters to work with; lust enough to get 50,000 words and complete the novel.

In the cool of the evening

Evening has arrived in Las Vegas and I can see part of the western sky from my living room window. The sun has set, the sky is pale almost gray-white. One solar day is ending and another beginning. That seems to be the way life is one phase ends and another begins. That's really what life is all about beginnings and endings.



Right now I'm having difficulty with an ending, I have Earth colonist on a planet in another galaxy. Have only two groups to get onto the planet. That's the problem I don't know what to do with one of the groups or where to put them. OK, so this is my own fault. I didn't begin the novel with a plan, instead I just started writing. That method didn't work very well this time. Actually this method only worked once.



In 2005 I joined NaNoWriMo for the first time. I completed the 50,000-word novel. I didn't have a plan, but I did have insomnia. I think that's why I completed the novel in thirty days without a plan. It's amazing what a write can do when she can't sleep. The problem with that novel is the rewrite. I didn't have a plan, I didn't start out with the proper chapter. The rewrite is giving me fits.



I have a lot more going on in my life than in 2005. It's amazing what a different just two years will make. I think the best solution with the unfinished novel is to start writing and not stop until I get the colonist onto the planet. I'll have to concentrate on it, maybe give it a single day without any interruptions. The problem is I don't have a day without any interruptions any more. I also don't have insomnia and drinking coffee doesn't keep me awake at all.



I'm planning the 2007 novel. I set up my planning document today on writing.com, but I set the access to group only. I'm a member of the writing.com group NaNoWriMists. They are the only ones who can see my outline. I'm going to get back on in a few minutes and add some more to the plan. I found the notes I made on the idea I'm working on for this novel. Most of the notes have to do with the main character, but I can work from that. Her motives are clear and that's what's important.

The Countdown Has Begun

6 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Tuesday, October 2, 2007 about 8:35 AM PDT

The countdown has begun. Sign-up for NaNoWriMo stated late Monday (October 1) evening. I finally got logged in, after having to reset my password again. You would think that I could remember my password, but I forgot it again this year. I tried to log in early in September and had to reset my password. Then last night (or maybe early this morning) I tried to log in again and found I'd forgot the password. Anyway I got on line and put in a new password.

The next thing I want to do on the NaNoWriMo website is to upload a photo of myself. I have two photos to choose from. One of the photos is the one I use in this blog, which I'm considering up dating. The other is a more recent picture of me reading at a poetry meeting. I think I'll probably use the one at the poetry meeting.

NaNoWriMo sign ups continue until October 31, which by the way is Halloween. October 31 is also the anniversary of my joining writing.com. I joined writing.com in 2002 and I began participating in NaNoWriMo in 2005. This year I'm outlining the novel rather than just writing it like I did in 2005. I completed 50,000 words in 2005, but not in 2006. I'm looking forward to see how I do this year.