What Glenn Writes

I enjoy writing. I have always enjoyed writing. I was not always understood when I wrote, but that never stopped me from writing. I am reminded of some homework assignments in grade school where the teacher just missed the whole point of the assignment… at least, that was the way I saw it. There was a misunderstanding.

I also find my writing can be misunderstood today, just as it was when I was in grade school. Although some might argue this point, I do believe I am a little more mature. Yet still there are those emails going out to my co-workers and the IM’s (instant messenger) where someone reads something completely different than I intended to write. I think it boils down to others trying to read between the lines. I always think my writing is clear – straight forward – nothing hidden. I don’t write with a hidden agenda, I state it as clear as I can to avoid being misunderstood. Doesn’t work.

I have learned when I am writing in programs or macros, I need to take my CAPS LOCK off when I switch to IM or email. If I use all caps in IM or emails, I come across as yelling or shouting. Who came up with that? I’m not shouting or yelling, I’m writing an email and trying to communicate an idea to someone. There must be a misunderstanding.

Some of my coworkers use the shortcuts in IM and emails, such as “r u there” instead of “Are you there?” Call me old fashion, but I prefer to spell things out the way I write my novels. Unfortunately, this comes across wrong to some people because I’m taking too long to write. I should write shorter and abbreviate. Hmmm… no way that would cause any misunderstandings.

So then I come to the question: Whom do I write for? If I write a novel, a note, an email, or an IM, what it my purpose to write? Ok, one purpose is to communicate, though the underlining purpose is always my love to write. No matter what I am writing, be it a greeting card or a grocery list, I like to see the flow of words and the letters. If you do not know this love, then you will most likely misunderstand it.

Now, left to my own misunderstandings, I can only turn to my Creator to guide me and illuminate the path for me. He is the One who made me this way and gave me the love to write. He also gave me a warning, telling me that because of Him, the world would misunderstand me.

I can look at being misunderstood as a distraction, a burden, and frustrating. Or, I can look as being misunderstood as a blessing, a freedom, and a gift, for I know there is One who does understand me and everything I write. To Him who understands and made me who I am, I give thanks.

This is my first year completing the NaNoWriMo challenge. I am enjoying the contest, but I have to wonder how the other contestants manage their time. There is direction by the NaNoWriMo website to team up with others, socialize, and encourage one another.

How do they find time to socialize with one another and get their writing done?

I spotted a few writers in scanning the website writing 9,000 words a day, cramming tons of words into small packets of time, and seeming to accomplish much. If these writers can really get their writing completed in these short bursts of time, my hat is off to them. For me, I found the only way is plodding along each day, marking off my word count each day to keep my pace.

However, I am confused by the emails sent from the website for what they call ‘word count tricks’. It is suggested by them, you can reach your word count goals by having your characters recite song lyrics, like ‘American Pie’ or read a telephone book.

Hmmm… I hope the true writers of the contest are not subjecting their writing to such tricks. Would there be integrity in such tactics? Are these tricks just really a method of cheating?

If the goal of the contest is to get procrastinating writers, such as yours truly, to get out of their slumps and start writing, how is copying the telephone book achieving that goal?

I am not out to judge these writers. I am hoping to encourage them to be true to their writing. Copying the telephone book is doing just that, copying the telephone book – it is not writing. While having a character recite the lyrics from ‘American Pie’ or any other song may add words to your story, do you think a reader will read through each line of the lyrics for the song? Why would you write something no one will read?

If we accomplish the goals of this contest, we win nothing other than the knowledge we accomplished the goal. If we cheat, whom are we cheating?

Ourselves.

I encourage you, if you are writing for the NaNoWriMo contest or just writing, be true to yourself and your writing.

- Glenn

I thought I would post a quick shot on integrity. I think mine is being tested this month.

I spoke at a men’s retreat recently regarding the subject of integrity. Per my own words, I summed it up by saying integrity is doing the right thing whether or not anyone will ever know and no matter how difficult it may be for you.

Now I find myself writing a novel in a month per the NaNoWriMo challenge, where writers have 30 days to write 50,000 words. Working from home, this does not pose as much of a challenge as if I were working an hour away and lost time during my commute. However, it is still a struggle to dedicate the time required to write an average of 1,667 words each night - I say average, because there are nights when I haven’t written, so I needed to make up for it on other days.

Where the question of integrity comes in is when I write - is it ok to write when I am supposed to be working for my employer. Something in me answers this question with a resounding NO, but there is that other part wanting to justify the indescretion by comparing the overtime spent and time way from family when traveling for work. But isn’t that just what it is: justifying a wrong? If integrity is doing what is right whether anyone will ever know or not, and no matter how difficult, then the right thing must still be done.

Otherwise, my integrity is lost.

Just posted my NaNoWriMo stats: 26,687 words, which is over half way to meeting the goals of the NaNoWriMo. The challenge: write a novel in 30 days, or at least 50,000 words. I’m well on my way there.

This is exciting. I love the characters in this novel, and I have reached the point where I am writing to find out what happens. I was talking about the novel to my family, and my youngest daughter said, “You are talking about your writing as if you can’t wait to see what happens next.” There is so much truth to this statement, yet it is hard to express. Just like with my first novel, I am at a point where I write events happening to the characters and I’m sometimes as surprised as the characters. And, the characters themselves have become friends, in a weird sense.

No, I’m not a lonely old man needing to create friends because I have none. However, I challenge you to create really great characters and then spend as much time as I have spent in the past two weeks getting to know them, understand them, jumping in their heads and feeling their emotions, and then see how you refer to your characters.

So goes the strange road of the writer, and this strange writer is tired. going to bed.

- Glenn

I’m just finishing the night with 23,773 words on the NaNoWriMo contest. I am two days ahead of schedule, but two days can slip by way too fast.

The plan is to write 50,000 words in 30 days, from Nov 1 through Nov 30. For those of us without the PHD in mathematics, that works out to 1,667 words per day.

Can I write that many words in one day? Sure, in just a few hours, really. The challenge is to do this every day, along with work, keeping up with the family, friends, etc. Life tends to get in the way, but a passion is a passion, and this challenge has opened a door for me to get back to my writing.

I’ve been away for awhile. It is good to be back.