What is my writing purpose?

This is the most recent question posted by the website Velvet Verbosity. Since I'm trying to start posting to my blog again, I figured it would be apropos to answer it with a blog post.

I think I actually have a couple different purposes for writing. The first one is to share information, especially with my family. I have my writing blog, my homeschooling blog, and a blog that highlights my digital scrapbooking. It's a great way to attempt to keep people in the loop, even if they don't always get looked at. (I can put the food on the table, but it's up to them to eat, right?)

The other reason, however, is probably the same reason many people read fiction: escapism. By telling my stories on virtual paper, I am able to get away for just a little bit, while at the same time getting things off my mind. Sometimes, once I've written something that's been in my head forever, it finally leaves me alone.

Well, with 8 days 15 hours left until the start of NaNoWriMo, my current project is beginning to take shape. Murphy's Chaos has been a simple idea in my head for a couple years now, so I'm really excited that it is going to become a reality. I have the story fleshed out a bit in my head, but I have yet to get it down in Scrivener as a workable outline. That's what I'm planning on using to get me through the next 8 days 15 hours!

Creativity Updates

Well, upon winning NaNo 2010, I was on a writing high. I was convinced I would have a finished first draft by the end of December. But then life took over. Here it is Christmas Eve, and I'm still sitting at 57,313 words. Now that does mean I've written about 6,000 words since NaNo's completion, but that's not really a lot for 24 days.

However, other things have fallen into place a little more, so it hasn't been an entirely unproductive month in terms of writing.

First of all, I have done a lot of research into the ePublishing industry, and this is something that I am strongly considering for my first series. Should I choose this path, my goal is to make an online presence for myself while I continue honing my writing skills. Then, when I gain some confidence in my writing, I'll submit something to a traditional publishing house. (Also, there are two traditional publishing houses that I have pegged as good fits for my first series, and neither of them are currently taking submissions.)

While I have been working toward the finalization of the first draft of the second book in my series, Ethan, I have simultaneously been working on finishing up what I hope is the final edit of my first book, Katie. I am two-thirds of the way through the edit, but as I'm editing a print copy, I still have to put my myriad changes into Scrivener. I have currently completed the first seven chapters of that tedious task, and have sent those chapters to a chosen few who I trust to give me their unbiased opinions. (And to my mother, who I'm pretty sure will just love it because she's my mother!)

Also, I have come up with a title and subtitle for the next book that I will attempt to write when my Finding Yourself series is complete. However, I'm not ready to put that up on my blog just yet. It's still a surprise!

Where has this month gone?

I cannot believe that it is already the week of Thanksgiving! The time is just flying by, almost faster than my fingers trying to keep up with the pace required to reach 50,000 words in a mere 30 days. So, with having reached last week's goal and surpassing it by only two words, it's time to start on this week's goal. The personal goal I have set this week is a bit lower due to the holiday. I would like to write 12,500 words this week. That will put me at 48,368 words. Wow! It's hard to believe that with a little hard work I could be over 48,000 words a week from now! No wonder some well-published authors put out several books a year! Well, I'm off to start on that goal!

Sundays

Well, it has just become Sunday, and I have just under 24 hours to write another 4,024 words to be at my weekly goal. This scares me, because if you look at my progress calendar, I seem to be working in a pattern. Saturdays tend to be good days for me, which today was with over 3,000 words written, while Sundays I usually underproduce. So, for now I'm going to go to bed and get the rest I need to crank out 4,000+ words by this time tomorrow. Wish me luck!

This Week's Goal

Well, I finished the week off at 21,285 words. Not too bad! I'm past where I told myself I should be. This week will be the challenging week, however, as I have set the goal of writing 14,581 words this week. If all goes as planned, that will put my project at 35,866 words by next Sunday!

Weekly Goal

Well, at 20,643 words, I have just reached my goal for the week a day early!

And now I'm all out of words...