This past few weeks have felt like they have flown past. Sadly, I can't really tell you what has happened. Part of me was at a loss for two weeks as my computer wouldn't boot, so I was stuck with only Internet and basic word processing. I didn't want to edit on just my memory stick (I insist on two back ups of everything) so I did no writing at all during that time (as long as you don't count writing out knitting patterns as writing and recreating my knitting class notes so I didn't stand around bumbling my way through a class trying to remember everything I am supposed to teach).
The good news is that my hard drive was recoverable, but now it sits as an external hard drive on my desk and squeals at me very loudly. It makes it hard to write when there is this high pitched buzzy squeak that sort of reminds one of a huge swarm of mosquitoes chasing after you as though you were an animated character running for your life. That means that I don't want to write much at the computer and my hand writing skills are slow ... slow ... slow. (And then I get bored when I transfer handwriting into word documents because I've already written that and I want to write something neeeeeewwwwww!) (I promise no more whining.)
The other good news is that in this time I have also had the ability to catch up on some reading that I have wanted to do. I finally got around to reading The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger This is one of the most amazing pieces of literature that I have read in a long time. Not because it was "the story of the century" or even because the actual writing was so dynamic (although it is a wonderful story and the writing was pretty dynamic). No, the thing that caught me about this book was the author and editor's (I'm presuming here that Niffenegger's editor had to help in some capacity) abilities in keeping the story straight and remembering how old Henry and Clare were at various times of his time travelling and remembering when he'd seen her when and what he told her. It was electrifying to think about what she went through just to be able to keep her story in order. I've written books that span decades. After reading this book I will tell you it is a piece of cake. I mean I'm at least keeping things in order in a linear fashion whereas Niffeneger's time line looked like she was following silly string sprayed by a group of adolescent boys at an unsupervised party! I am in awe.
Aside from that I also read a few knitting books (nothing much to note on that front) and re-read the J.R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood series (just for some mindless reading). (Yes, again. You got a problem with that?) Sometimes it is good just to relax into a familiar book that is comfortable and has a decent plot to keep you interested. Interesting is good. If something isn't interesting it isn't worth reading. I refuse to try to continue to drudge through books that are droll just because they are on a bestseller list.
My next read is The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. I seem to be reading quite a few "author's firsts." So far I'm enjoying it. Of course I need to get past the acknowledgements, but hey, it's a start.
I'm also gearing up for NaNoWriMo. I'm going to attempt to win again. Might be a tad challenging considering I've got a Disney vacation planned right in the middle. However, if I can pull off the eighty-three thousand I did last year and didn't start until the 7th (had to wait for the elections to be over) and write over fifty thousand earlier this year in 10 days, I think I should be able to handle it. I'll be sure to keep you posted.
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