Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sunday Salon


So this past week has been pretty busy between one thing and another, and this weekend is no different. Today I'm attending my new writing group for the first time as an active participant- that is to say, as someone whose work is up for review. Eek! They're nice people and good writers, and I know it will be fun and useful.

Speaking of writing, I'm working away on my #NaNoWriMo project. On Wednesday I sat down at the library and wrote 5,000 words. And for the rest of the week? A big fat nothing. But I've decided that's okay and while I know I won't reach 50,000 words this month, I will finish this project. My goal now is to finish the first draft by my birthday in February; I'm glad I decided to participate in NaNo but I've decided it's okay if "all" I do is use it as an opportunity to start. All the daily updating and progress-charting and tweeting and comparing-with-friends has just been stressing me out and there's no need to be stressed out by a self-imposed schedule. You just change it is all.

And finally, with the holiday season nearly upon us, I hope everyone (who celebrates it) has a wonderful Thanksgiving this week. My plans? Bake a lot, then drive two towns over to visit my inlaws and eat a lot. We have some family coming up the day after and my husband and I host a brunch every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I'll be baking a cheesecake for Thanksgiving itself, then a selection of muffins and cakes for the brunch. Yum! What are your plans?

You can read more Sunday Salon posts here.

16 comments:

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

Great post.... I really hope to join in on the NaNoWriMo next year

Blodeuedd said...

That is so cool you are writing :) I have to be part of Nano one year, it sounds like fun, and I must remember to not get hanged up on the deadline

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend, Marie! I always get hungry when I read your posts about the sweet treats you bake :)

And I hope the writing group is a great experience. So good to get feedback (gentle suggestions and positive praise!). I'm not sure where I'll end us with #nano, I'll let you know on December 1st.

JoAnn said...

I'll be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, but it will be a small crowd - just 14! We have a big family party (with my aunt, cousins, and their families) on Saturday. Can't wait!

Sounds like you've adopted a healthy attitude toward NaNo. Hope the writing group goes well, too.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I am planning on a brunch after Thanksgiving too - I am thinking of baked French Toast in addition to The Usual Suspects. I notice cupcakes are big now too - that might be fun with a variety of frostings. Lately I've been wishing I had tons of kids to help with all this! :--)

bermudaonion said...

I hope things go well at your writing group. Keep at NaNoWriMo - you can do it.

I think our Thanksgiving will be fairly simple. Vance is home from school and our nephew might come, so I won't kill myself with cooking.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

5,000 words sounds impressive to me for one sitting; congrats. Enjoy your time with family and friends. It will be 6 of us here, and no stress hopefully :)

wisteria said...

I'm baking cheesecake too!!
My cousin (the chef) is cooking, arriving from MA on Thursday am.


I noticed you are reading Wolf Hall. I bought it and can't wait to delve into it. How do you like it so far?
Can't wait for your review.
Happy Thanksgiving.Wisteria

Anonymous said...

Have fun with your writing group. I did that once and I was terrified to let them see my writing :) I did it and it went well, but still stressful.

Frances said...

Tremendous writing progress, and more kudos for you for continuing past the assigned month - with a plan even. I wish you all the best with your efforts! And a very happy holiday with friends and family. Happy reading too, of course!

bookmagic said...

Yum, cheesecake! I'm baking apple and pumpkin pies and then only have to dive less than a mile to my aunt's house
Then a weekend of reading. Have a good holiday!

Pam said...

"...there's no need to be stressed out by a self-imposed schedule. You just change it is all."

The above quote is pure wisdom. I need to make it my mantra. I'm going to add this to my quote journal.

Anonymous said...

Your Thanksgiving plans sound lovely.

I will be spending it with dear friends, and with my daughter... Sarah, son-in-law Allan, and my two grandbabes...Emily and Logan.

What more can one ask for!

Liz said...

Enjoy your holiday! And by the way, just thinking of your "boston Bibliphile" title -- I just finished the latest Spenser novel, which is, of course, set in Boston. Some day I'll get to see it...

In between comforting a daughter suffering heartache, work, and overseeing uniforms for the high school choir, I'm amazed I have any sanity left to read! On the other hand, reading is my escape and probably is contributing to my slight hold on sanity these days. Yikes. All over the place on books, including some fun non-fiction, and some good fiction. My current read, (in between picking up long-ago favorites like the Betsy-Tacy books -- comfort food for the reader!) in the fiction category is "Love Tag," by Peter Shianna, who's written some other books as well. It's kind of a family novel, I guess, with a lot of ambition, pride, revenge, unfaithfulness -- you name it. Put it this way, if you enjoyed "Ordinary People," by Judith Guest (and I did) you'll like "Love Tag."

Zibilee said...

So excited for you that you will be sharing your writing! I know it will probably make you a bit nervous, but I am sure they will be impressed. I also think that even if you don't make your daily word goal it isn't a big deal. I agree with your idea about redirecting your goals and I'm sure you will be where you want to be by your birthday. I am also going to be doing a ton of baking for the holiday. Everyone wanted something different, so I just told them I'd do it all! Good luck with your cheesecake and muffins, they sound yummy!

Kitten said...

I've thought about NaNoWriMo, but I always feel like Snoopy pacing the roof of his doghouse, unable to get past the line "It was a dark and stormy night..."

As for Thanksgiving, I'm heading back to the Cat Homestead Thursday and eating a lot and drinking a lot of good wine. And Friday...we're gonna do it all again. We love the holiday so much, we stretch it out over two days. :)