NaNoWriMo

We all know what that means. And if you don't, you're about to figure it out. NaNoWriMo comes creeping up on me every year. Six months beforehand I think, "I'll just start outlining now, and then I'll have a whole story ready to be written by November!" Ah, yeah. So I said. Never actually happened...funny how that works.

So the goal is to get 50,000 words in one month. 30 days. 

This is my fourth year, so of course I'm going to do it. I hadn't actually written a novel since LAST NaNo, but whatever. It would work out.

We left on the 30th of last month on a trip, and we're still on that trip. My birthday happened on the 2nd. Thus, I didn't actually get started until the 4th, thousands of words behind.

Day before yesterday I had a wordcount of 2,000 words. I decided - two thousand words a day would be great.

I reached 4,000, after laboring over it for hours.

The first part of NaNo, for me, is the worst. A lot of people get stuck in the middle or trying to figure out the perfect ending. No, I have trouble getting started.

Yesterday was even worse. We were going to a meal with some friends and a conference afterwards. We got home, and Jake had to get his wordcount done. He didn't finish until late, and I had fallen asleep. I had written 500 words out of the 2000 that I needed to get done.

Today looked up! I finally got my writing down. I started out the day with some Word Wars; I managed to get 2,000 words written in 45 minutes.

This evening I shall return to the grueling effort, but there is hope there now. 

This year is by far my worst year, and my busiest. I doubt there will be any finishing early as before, but I WILL finish.

I will.

Benedict Cumberbatch

You know me, I'm always forgetting. I was supposed to post this two months ago. I saw that Benedict Cumberbatch got engaged, and that reminded me - oh! I have a drawing. :P

I'm reaallly happy with how it turned out. It took forever, though, because of all the dark shadows. And his hair. *groan*

Anyway. Ten hours of work in graphite. Size 9x12 inches. 

On another note I've set up a Redbubble account here. Benedict Cumberbatch is NOT for sale, because I couldn't get the scan to cooperate. The paper was yellower and all the pencil marks are prominent in the picture. Any suggestions?

I only have two things up on Redbubble so far, but I'll soon get more up and also set up a Facebook page! :)

Man o' War

I saw a picture of Man o' War. I was bored. So, I drew it. It only took about thirty minutes, maybe forty-five. :) Black crayon on sketchbook paper.

Audrey

A portrait I did for a friend. :) I'm really happy with how it turned out - her hair especially.

The dress was really hard, especially the elastic on the front. I had already drawn the daisy design on the rest, so I couldn't exactly fill it in black. I had to put the pattern in there. :P It turned out better than I expected it to.

And her nose. I'm notoriously bad at drawing noses, but this one worked out perfectly! It's an odd thing to say, but her nose is one of my favorite parts of the whole drawing. :D

Anyway, it's graphite on 9x12 inch Bristol paper.

Mreow!

Weeping Angel - Don't Blink!

So this was just a quick sketch. Not quite satisfied with the background - the drawing was done on plain sketchbook paper and thus warped. Those white lines? Those are reflections on the drawing, not part of it. :P Oh, well. Next time. 

Jack Russell Terrier

I saw this picture and couldn't not do it. The expression on the puppy's face is the best. ^_^ Not in love with how the body and the paws turned out, but...THE EXPRESSION. <3

Stryder

So this puppy is mine. He's been mine for a few months - I found him running around and of course I had to take him home. I was supposed to give him away, but...he attached to me and is quite the little guard dog. 

Unfortunately he doesn't listen to anyone else in my family. That doesn't help when he gets in trouble and I'm still asleep...

All the same, he's the best. And the cutest.
(And the naughtiest...)

And his name is Stryder. (: