Stephanie Gunn

Words for today: 4,886
Words for 2008: 389,469

I woke up early today.  Unusually early for me.  As a result, I had a really productive morning - I got some laundry done and had a really good writing session.  Though, to be fair, about a thousand of those words I included in today’s count were actually written late yesterday.  I’m hoping to get a second writing session in this afternoon/evening as well today if I can.

I’m wondering if I can train my brain to be able to cope with longer writing sessions.  After this morning, my brain felt like mush.  Wandering around doing mundane things helped a bit, but it’s still feeling pretty mushy in there.  Hm.  As ever, I strive for the impossible goals of being able to feel like I’m writing full time.

I spent most of today wondering when the plumber was going to get here.  Sigh.  He’s going to be here soon, which means that the power may go off and all writing efforts would have to be abandoned.

(Edited to amend word count after a second writing session)

Words for today: 2,587
Words for 2008: 384,583

Different routine today, since I’m not sure how long the power will have to be off for this afternoon.  If I get power back on, I may be back for a second writing session.  But if it’s off all afternoon, I’ll be okay with what I got this morning.

I’m wondering if I should try to rearrange my schedule so I can get writing done in the morning more often.  Usually I’m an afternoon writer (running errands and looking after house stuff in the mornings).  Change can be a good thing.

Words for today: 3,349
Words for 2008: 381,996

A much better day for writing today.  It seems that the backstory that attacked me over the weekend has acted to make this novel more interesting for me now.  Either that, or I’m finally coming out of the latest fibro flare and actually getting something of my concentration back.  Probably a combination of both.

One of the most telling things for a flare for me is that I don’t read.  I’ve hardly read anything for the last few weeks, after having a spate of reading a lot.  I’m just beginning to be able to focus on a story again now.  Thank the Gods.

I really wish there was some magical cure for lupus and fibromyalgia.  At least for the brain fog issues.

Anyway.  Tomorrow should be an interesting day - the plumber is coming to fix up our leaking pipe, and will probably be here for half the day.  During which I’m expecting to have no water or power.  I was hoping that my laptop battery would give me an hour’s writing time at least, but it appears to be dead as a doornail.  So there will be no writing most likely, or very little, dependent upon when he’s going to need the power off.  Which means that I’m going to need to amuse myself without a computer or the internet.  The horrors.

Words today: 2,024

I was attacked by a brainwave about some of the backstory of my protagonist last night.  Which involves some rewriting, but makes things work much better.  I am tired now, but I’m happy.

Words for today: 2,378
Words for 2008: 376,572

An okay day. Could have been better, but I got bogged down doing other bits and pieces. I may come back and add to that total later on.

I did manage to get some other stuff done - a bit of gardening, some house cleaning. For the first time all week I’m not plagued by brain fog and fibro aches, and it felt good to be doing something physical.

Words for today: 1,821
Total words for 2008: 374,194

Very ordinary day today, but it couldn’t be helped. Real life tends to get in the way, especially when you have leaking pipes. Spent a chunk of the afternoon waiting for the plumber, and another chunk with him here.

Still feeling a general lack of inspiration. Meh.

Words for today: 2,080
Words for 2008: 372,373

Concentration has been somewhat lacking for the last few days. I’m working, but I’m not really slipping through the page the way I like to do. Having a movie on in the background helped yesterday, so I tried it again today, with Mirrormask. It didn’t help as much.

I’m going to blame it on fibro. I feel a lot better today (in terms of pain levels, anyway) but my brain is still fuzzy. I really hate the human suit some days. I just want a couple of useful hours when I can focus, please?

I even tried working on something else - namely, making some jewellery, which I haven’t done for a while - but I couldn’t get really enthused about that either. I’m really wanting to make some new stuff, but it seems that my brain has other ideas.

Words: 2,668
Total words for 2008: 370,293

Slightly better word count today, but it would have been nice to get more. Concentration was somewhat lacking, and it took me a long time to get back into the story.

Today was a day when I needed something in the background while I was working. Today that was Orlando, which is an inordinately pretty movie. Must actually read the book one day, which is gathering dust on my shelf.

Words today: 2,183
Words for 2008: 367,625

Yeah, not a fabulous day for the word count, but I’m operating with a random headache, so I’ll take it. For some reason, the muscles in my jaws have all knotted up - I think I’ve been clenching my teeth while I sleep again. Fneh.

Anyway, today has been generally productive - cleaned the house and did two loads of laundry, so it’s been a good day despite the pain levels.

Words today: 1,704
Total words for 2008: 365,442

It’s Sunday, and I woke up wanting to do nothing but sit down and finish this chapter. I still don’t know where this enthusiasm is coming from, but I’m not complaining. It’s nice to make up some of the wasted last week.

I was debating pushing on into the next chapter, but I think my brain needs a little bit of a break. And hey, it is the weekend, after all.

So instead I’m going to wander around Absolute Write a bit. If anyone is a member over there, let me know your username? I’m very unimaginative, with the username StephanieGunn.