Monthly Word Count

This month was very unproductive in relation to my NaNo 09 novel.  I haven’t made my goal of 500 words 6 days a week yet this month but with school starting yesterday I’ll be counting my articles and that should beef up my word count.

Last week I wrote four days on stories, all short, and three of those days I made my 500 words goal.  Yay!

Things that made me happy:

• I wrote four teeny, tiny tales for a friend’s newest family member.  In fact, writing about the little princess while she was being born was pretty inspiring.
• I don’t usually write short stories for anyone other than five year olds but two more adult themed came out and surprised me.

Things to improve:

• My grammar! 
• I’ve tried to work on my NaNo novel but I cringe whenever I open my notebook.
• Repetition, repetition, repetition.

Questions I’m wondering.  Perhaps you know?

• How short can a short story be?
• What do you do when your main characters make you sleepy?

That is all for now.  I’ll be working hard… or hardly working.

2010 Challenges: Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge

Here is another blog challenge that I just couldn't resist.  Hosted by C.B. James over at Ready When You Are, C.B. the Read the Book, See the Movie challenge is right up my alley.


Here is a bit about the challenge but check out C.B.'s site for more info and suggestions.


Select a challenge level.  Post your level in a comment on the post linked above.  I'm starting on the Double Feature: two books/movies level but think I'll be upgrading it.  

It started 1/1/10 and lasts all year.  You can count it with other challenges (great since I'm using two Jane Austen books from another challenge).  

You don't have to write a full review on both but can write a brief bit about the book or movie at the end of your full review of the other.  I'll be writing a review on the book here and a short bit of a full review I'll post on another blog, Opinionated Ant.

My list so far
1.  Pride and Prejudice/ Bride and Prejudice
2.  Persuasion

To Be Read Pile 2010

Between different challenges and going through my enormous box of regencies for a second time I thought it might be brilliant to keep track of what I read this year. That is I thought it'd be brilliant after I saw so many more savvy bloggers being so organized!

So here it is for now, that is what is front of me and what is off the top of my head.

Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen Challenge, Movies from Books)
Persuasion (Jane Austen Challenge, Movies from Books)
North and South (Movies from Books)
Jamaica Inn (Movies from Books)
Howl's Moving Castle (Movies from Books)
Alice in Wonderland (Movies from Books)
The Scarlett Pimpernel (Movies from Books)

I'll add more once my befuddled brain gets over a head cold. Achoo!

2010 Challenges: Jane Austen Challenge

This year on top of trying to write consistently I have a few blogging challenges on both my sites that I'm using to update my sites on a more regular basis.
What better way than to sigh over a great book. I found the Jane Austen Challenge over at the Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object. Check the site for all the challenges details but here are a few of the basics.

• Books by Jane Austen (at least two) and any spoofs, re-writes or the like of her works (at least two)
• It can overlap with other challenges
• You can change your level throughout the year

There are three levels and I'm starting with the Newbies. I've read her books before but am looking forward to reading them again. Plus, the two I'm reading with also serve for my other challenge, Movies from Books.

My list as it stands:

1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Persuasion
3. Suspense and Sensibility (a Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery)
4. Probably a spoof but it is hard to choose!

Can't wait to get reading!