Was that November that just went whizzing past while my attention was elsewhere?
As anyone who has been reading my blog in the past few months will know, I had been looking forward to November for months, anticipating the production of The Great American Mousical at the Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT, and, indeed, my attention was mainly focused on Mousical this month. Between preparing for our trip to Connecticut, being there and seeing two performances of that delightful musical, coming back home and wishing to be back there for the final week of performances (this week, due to an extended run!) I have had trouble thinking of much else than mice on stage. For a few highlights on video from the production, click here.
I do have a few things to report on for this accountability check-in, though. Click the magic words…
For 12×12 in 2012, I actually wrote TWO picture book drafts. I could just pretend that I’m exceedingly prolific, but it happened purely because of my faulty memory. On the 27th of November, I suddenly thought, “I haven’t written a draft for 12×12 this month!” A character name presented itself, followed by a catchy title, and I proceeded to write a story to go with the character and the title. A couple of days later, I was tidying my computer desktop, and discovered the 12×12 draft I’d written in early November, on a totally different topic. (Now you see what I mean when I say my mind was almost totally focused on Mousical — so much so that I forgot what had happened in the days preceding the trip!) So with two drafts for October and two for November, I’m nicely ahead of the game, but I still plan to write one in December, in fact, it’s already percolating in the back of my mind.
However, I wasn’t as successful with PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month). Although I did come up with a few picture book ideas, and I benefited from the blog posts I had time to read, I just wasn’t able to give the challenge enough attention this year. I knew that going in, so I’m not disappointed in myself at all. That’s the way of life at times, some things must take a step back so that other things may come to the fore, and that’s what happened this month. Here’s to next year!
In my blogging, I managed to keep up fairly well to posting in November, although I haven’t been as good at responding to comments. I hope to get back in the proper swing of things soon! I also haven’t had a chance to work out the problems with the timing of post notifications with some subscriptions. I do hope to get that sorted before long.
In December on my blog, watch for a couple of chapter book reviews on Wednesday the 5th and the 19th, a celebration of 12×12 on the 12th, (there’s something else going on that day, which I’ll post about on the 10th), a special Perfect Picture Book Friday on the 14th, commemorating the United Nations Universal Children’s Day, among other posts for this last month of the year 2012.
At the end of the year, I’ll ponder my goals for the past year, and my goals for 2013, both in writing and on my blog. I *may* have something new to tell you about. Until then, here’s to December!
What does December hold in store for you?
You did well in November! 😀 I don’t have a whole November draft. I will try to finish my rhyming one this month. 🙂
Thanks, Erik! Yay for you planning to finish your rhyming draft. I keep telling myself to try to write a rhyming picture book and I keep chickening out.
I’m glad that you had a chance to see and enjoy the Mousical musical, for all the deeper meanings it held for you. You’ve done great with 12×12 and December looks to be another productive month for you.
November was a no-account month for me. Just reading. But December is a month of promoting my novel, getting some writing done on an MG project and a couple of YA projects and hoping to keep my sanity, or most of what it left of it lol!
I am so very grateful that I was able to go to Mousical. It was an experience I will never forget.
Reading is definitely not no-account — it’s very important for a writer to take time to read! Sounds as though you’re going to have a very busy December, though!
It sounds like a very busy, but a whole lot of fun November for you, Beth! I fell behind on several things last month. myself. It just seems like this time of year is an exercise in letting go of some things i order to do others. I hope you enjoyed your trip to see Mousical 🙂
I loved my trip to see Mousical! I’d do it again this week (last week of the run) if I could!
Letting go of things at this time of year is the norm — it’s the only way to make way for the special things that only happen at this time. Have a wonderful December!
Where do you find the energy to get everything done? I’m so glad you were able to make the trip to see Mousical. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in December.
Where I find the energy is by not working outside the home, and not having a family to take care of. It makes an enormous difference.
I hope you’ll enjoy what I have planned for December…
That is all wonderful, Beth. Christmas is ever sweeter with a musical and you sound very productive.
I will be singing the songs from Mousical for months to come, making every day a little sweeter, I think.
Thanks, Catherine!
It sounds like a pretty productive November, even if not everything went quite to plan. And of course, you had that amazing trip to the Mousical!!
Even if I’d done nothing other than going to Mousical, I would have considered it a wonderful month, Joanna! I’m so grateful I was able to do that.
I sure hope it tours or heads to Broadway. Have a good feeling about it. Wish it was playing while I’m in NYC, but too soon.
I hope Mousical has a life beyond this run — it’s hard to just wait and see, but that’s what we have to do!
You did awesomely in November, Beth! And I’m so glad you got to go see Mousical and enjoyed it so. December is looking to be a bit of a mad-house over in my neck of the woods, so I’m glad someone plans to stay sane 🙂
Thanks, Susanna. I don’t recall promising to stay sane, I don’t think that appears anywhere in this post, but I’ll do what I can… 😉
You accomplished quite a lot, Beth, especially writing 2 pb drafts! Congratulations!
Thanks, Tina!
That’s an impressive November!!! I didn’t get my draft done, but it’s been such a great year that I’m not disappointed in myself either :•) I would love to catch up in December & end the year with 12, but we will see.