I’ve blogged before through two journeys of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) – which involves writing 50,000 words in one month. For most writers, this isn’t really that unreasonable, but it’s a fair stretch for me with a full-time day job and such. So as I dive into this next month with the goal of 40,000 words (announced to the world now, thanks to this blog), I’m both excited and terrified. Summers are usually a bit quieter and full of stable routines—but this summer isn’t shaping up to follow past years. Still, I’m going onward with my goal and will try to do about 2,000 words a day/6 days a...
Calling all Writers (in the Pacific NW)
The summer is pressing onward (despite the weather saying otherwise.) One of the highlights of the summer around these parts? The Oregon Christian Writers Summer Coaching Conference (August 15-18). I discovered this group two years ago and now have an agent because of it! Another reason this conference is the one to check out (if you’re within the area, of course) is the addition of Caleb Breakey to the faculty. Caleb (small world – I actually know him from college and working on the college paper together) is a fabulous writer with a popular website that coaches and encourages teen writers. He’s offering a class at the OCW conference that...
Tools of the Trade
Hello, my name is Nicole, and I’m addicted to office supplies. [You say, “Hi, Nicole.”] Okay, in all seriousness, I’ve always been a connoisseur of all things office-supplies: pens, notebooks, binders, folders, Sharpies (don’t get me started on Sharpies.) I love the feel of paper under my fingers and the smooth feel of a perfect pen as I run it dry. My best ideas and best writing comes from long hand drafting and notes. Not that I can’t sit down and crank out a novel in a month (I’ve done it twice.) But even then I utilized a classic notebook and pen to get the bare bones on the page....
Movement all around
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the people coming and going in our lives—those who come and go but never leave. I have a dear friend in them midst of her dissertation in England, due to return to the Pacific Northwest in September. Another friend is traveling to England to visit and tour Europe as well. One of my “Diamond Girls” is leaving to teach English in China for a year. The other “Diamond Girl” is thriving in her job in Texas but able to visit Portland every now and then. People are constantly moving and changing. But I’m so grateful for the internet and applications like Skype, Facebook, Twitter and...