Thoughts about research and writing

If you don't have knowledge about your subject, the process is harder and less enjoyable. So far, no matter how many times I remind myself to read ahead and maybe jot a few notes to remind myself of important points, I still read as I'm writing. Not fun, and I haven't figured out what is my mental block.

Habits are rough to reform or eliminate. Establishing a new pattern is also hard. In yoga, it's said that 40 straight days are required to form a new habit. I think it is more like 42 to 49 days; the extra time re-enforces the new patterns and provides greater satisfaction with the process. But the trick is not stopping after the end of the cycle; I did a breathing practice for a 40-day yoga challenge two years ago and found so much freedom in my nose, but I forgot to continue the practice and the habit did not stick. I feel that 80 days are needed to give a habit a chance to establish itself in the neural pathways, so I think I have a new goal to reach.

Reflections on NaNoWriMo

I told myself last year that I would join the program, but I was chest-deep in a seminar and a writing course at the time. So it was impossible. This year, I tried it. Unfortunately, I was also in a seminar and struggling with work. Didn't make it, but I did make it to 15,000 words. So my story is well on its way to a complete first draft.

At least I discovered that I can keep writing for minutes on end. Handwritten. I don't exactly have the best handwriting in the world, but this was an excellent chance for practice. Trouble is that I didn't remember to keep to an idea that my dad suggested: not writing complete sentences to force myself to edit it later. That's the trouble with being a perfectionist.

But the website is well-designed. The counter telling how long until the program is done was a cute touch, but the emails providing encouragement were important. Now I'm preparing for next year's NaNoWriMo. I don't need an idea just yet, but I'm developing a plan so I'm ready for that round:

1. Note what else will be on the schedule for that month. In my case, I'll be in the midst of the final seminar for my graduate program.
2. Note what needs to be done - or at least have well in hand - by November 1, 2008.
3. Read a few books on writing. My focus choices will include ways to write fast, and keeping up when the muse is drying out.
4. Select an idea by mid-October. (There'll be no shortage of possibilities.)
5. Outline the story, and play with the order of the scenes to see what to focus on. That way, if I get stuck on one scene, I can skip ahead to another.
6. Block out some time on my schedule and reserve it for NaNo writing. Sure, I'll need time for school work, and perhaps for writing that might earn money.
7. Write every day. What I have to figure out in the eleven months until then is when do I do my best writing streams. Morning, afternoon, evening - I'll know by October 31st.
8. Remember that editing is for December and beyond.
   

Now, it's back to the grindstone of graduate school. Glad I'm getting to other projects as well.

Two articles I'm proud of

Both are from That Other Paper. My internship there has been one of the best things I've ever done. Certainly the most fun, which is important in any job. I've found it's necessary to have some fun on the job to keep yourself from growing bored with it. Anyway...

Free the books!, October 1, 2007
Local author whips up delicious mysteries, August 22, 2007

Next projects? Finishing the article on Evelyn Palfrey (aka Judge Evelyn McKee) and secure an interview with the owner of Pots and Plants. I want to hear how the penguins became a fixture every August.

Highlights of progress

That schedule has been pushed aside more than I had planned. It's all thanks to my week 4 paper in the second seminar of graduate school. I think this term's materials seem harder to pull good data from, but then again, historians seem to prefer tossing anecdotes than using actual data that we can perform statistical tests on. (At least in ancient history. I'm not sure how many studies have been done on modern conflicts.)

But I have seen two signs of success since the last post. I got my first check as a writer! It didn't matter that it wasn't much. I now have something to frame - after I copy it - and then deposit. What a great thing to come home to after a long day at work. And today I turned in another article for That Other Paper. It seem that we're the only Austin source to cover Banned Books Week. I thought freedom of speech was important around here! Does anyone know what the deal is?

The joys (or not) of setting a schedule

I started a new trick for getting writing done. I took my planner and put in times where I would work on a certain project and only that project. The basic idea, which I found from Chapter by Chapter, which I started reading last weekend, is that you imagine that you have to write some story or aliens will destroy you and everything that you know. And you can't write about it. You have to write it. A scene, or whatever. Just write.

Doing that, I got an extra page out of one story, and three out of a new story. And I still have one other writing project I haven't touched tonight.

If you don't count graduate work. I tell myself it's something different - and I finish it. Some weeks it is easier than others.

If you're like me, you have trouble getting a first draft down on the computer/notebook page. Something in your brain wants it to be exactly perfect, and that's impossible.

My thinking is that it's a form of fear - of the unknown. And maybe failure.

Of course, you never know until you try. I'd like to hear how you combat that inner critic who keeps you from just typing without thought.

Credit card scam to be aware of

The Holiday Season is just a little bit down the road and the bad guys are already trying to get free stuff by using your credit.

Snopes.com says this is true. See this site - http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp - This Snopes site says TRUE!!!

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "Master Card".

The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by ( name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"

You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers' that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of Master Card" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.

My dad got this from one of the neighbors. This is serious, so let everyone you know hear about it.

Useful Austin writing group; 2008 conference

I attended a Freelance Austin meeting this afternoon. I think it will be at least as useful to anyone working on breaking into the field as the Writers League of Texas - and I consider them invaluable. And for breaking into published author status, I took the leap of signing up for the 2008 Agents and Editors conference. Now the pressure's on to create two manuscripts. (I'm not limiting myself to one, even with graduate school.)