#ROW80 peeps:

You are welcome to scroll down to Point #3.

 

WHAT’S UP WENZDAY POINT #1: A NOTE OF CLARIFICATION —

Tomorrow is the start of NaNoWriMo. I can’t possibly be expected to pontificate on points of importance during this grave time.

 

It’s Halloween, and I said “grave” just then. Narf.

 

Seriously, I had something all quasi-planned for this section, but then I spent the entire morning outlining my novel, and it’s totally gone out of my head. I’d say I’m sorry, but maybe the reason I forgot all that shizzle is that it sucked? In which case, why be sorry?

 

See how I’m always thinking of you?

 

YOU’RE WELCOME.

 

WHAT’S UP WENZDAY POINT #2: MY HAPPINESS PROJECT—

This is the twelfth week of Andi-Roo’s Happiness Project, based on Gretchen Rubin’s blog.

 

Happiness Project Assignment #12: Quarterly Recap

This isn’t actually one of Gretchen’s Assignments, but I feel it’s time to look back and assess my progress. After all, what good is it to do weekly assignments if I’m not gauging how well I’m doing?

 

And — my friend Gina asked me a really thought-provoking question last week:

 

“Do you feel like it is making a deep enduring difference

in you and your perspective

that will continue

when you are finished with the book?”

 

That’s an extremely fair inquiry. Why bother doing the work if it’s not doing me any good?

 

My answer is this: In some ways, YES. In other ways, NO. Mixed signals much, Andi-Roo?

 

Here’s why YES — I have dedicated myself to concentrating, if only for an hour each week, on doing something positive for myself. My #1 Personal Commandment, “Happy is a Choice,” forces me to actively pursue positive messages, and this is a really easy way to schedule some time for introspective thinking.

 

Assuming I keep this up, every week, on a perpetual basis, then YES. I can see the difference because I’m being purposeful about MAKING that difference.

 

And I really look forward to the assignments. They are fun, and I have learned a bit about myself along the way. Also? I will use all the help I can get in maintaining a silver-lining, glass-half-full perspective.

 

But.

 

Here’s why NO — Because it’s not yet a habit, and something I must continue to work at, I wouldn’t say the book itself has made a particular difference.

 

Please don’t misunderstand me — my answer here is in no way meant to be snarky. Gretchen Rubin’s book, and the website from which I draw these assignments, are wonderful tools. But a hammer is only a piece of rusty junk if it isn’t used and cleaned regularly.

 

Being positive doesn’t come naturally for me, and I doubt it ever will. It’s something I struggle with on a day-to-day basis. If I stopped doing the exercises, then the Happiness Project won’t have had any impact at all. That is a reflection on me and my personality, though — not on the Project itself.

 

What I draw from this observation is that I’m going to have to stay on target (even if it means getting blown up.)

At least I’ll be blowing myself up for a good cause, right? Better that than to give in to the Dark Side of the Force.

 

I mean, the Dark Side is *grody*, you guys.

 

If you missed the first few weeks of my Happiness Project, or want to catch up on the Assignments so you can create your OWN Happiness Project, click here for a list of the first several lessons.

 

WHAT’S UP WENZDAY POINT #3: MY WIPPY-DOODLE!

The good news is that I finally heard back from that writing contest I entered like 500-krillion years ago. The great news is that I’m a finalist.

 

The bad news is that they took the top TWENTY instead of just the top TEN. While I’m exceptionally pleased to know I made the cut-off, I’m just snobby enough to wonder if I was in the top TEN of the TWENTY, if that makes any sense. Not sure why the rules changed, or how that impacts me, or when I’ll hear back on anything. It hasn’t been the most organized of efforts.

 

I added another 850 words to my outline. Most of it will likely be junked when the actual writing begins, but that is an awful lot of thinking I put in. Not to mention the index cards full of notes that are taped up on my wall, or the points I jotted down about plot and structure and pacing and scene placement.

 

Please, please, please tell me that I’m not being overly enthusiastic NOW, merely to lose interest by next week.

 

No.

 

That isn’t going to happen. I am writing a letter to Future Me in which I insist she behave properly.

 

Dear Andi-Roo from next week,

You absolutely MUST stay on target. Yes, even if you get blown up. That is the theme of your life, you see, my darling. You do what’s right and it might backfire but you get to sleep soundly at night. So you Stay on Fucking Target and get your word count in.

 

Besides, I heard a rumor (from me) that there’s a nice reward awaiting successful completion. Yes, this mug shall indeed be mine. Eyes on the prize, sweet pea.

 

With Love,

Andi-Roo from this week

 

PS. Darth Vader is really Luke’s father. And Luke got all lip smacky-smacky with his twin sister Leia. Also? Dumbledore is gay, and Iron Man is totally hot. Just in case you missed all that.

 

The future is so far away, yo.

 

WHAT’S UP WENZDAY POINT #4: BONUS MATERIAL —

 

MOVIES:

I am in the middle of BAG OF BONES, which apparently was a televised mini-series at some point in recent history. I am sad to have missed it, because it is based on the book of the same title by Stephen King. This is one of my absolute FAVES by the master of horror!

 

Sadly, the screen version doesn’t measure up to the written version. I know that’s typical of Stephen King’s works, and it always makes me unhappy. He is able to capture such a spooky feel that just can’t translate. Our own imaginations will always hold more fright than anything conjured up by someone else. Still, it’s not so very bad.

 

BOOKS:

 

• Bedside Table: Finished up NICEVILLE by Carsten Stroud. It was mostly good, but the ending was kind of meh. I was hoping for a bigger bang, but no such luck. *sigh*

 

Next up: Neither of the books on my request list arrived, so I’m quickly eating some fun YA fiction in the meantime: ENDURE, #4 in the NEED series by Carrie Jones. I can see how a tweener would enjoy this one.

 

• Living Room: SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury. Yes, still. I’m sorry, okay? I haven’t read a single page of this since last week. Not the book’s fault. Just a matter of time and priority.

 

Next up: Richard Matheson, Philip K. Dick, or more Ray Bradbury. Not sure yet.

 

• Desk: PLOT & STRUCTURE by James Scott Bell. This is part of the “Write Great Fiction” series — and it has been instrumental in helping me outline my book — along with SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder. Both have become my instant go-to resources, and I imagine I will reference them often every single time I start writing a new book henceforth.

 

Next up: Another in the “Write Great Fiction” series, CHARACTERS, EMOTION & VIEWPOINT by Nancy Kress

 

• iPod (audio book): Sookie Stackhouse #12: DEADLOCKED by Charlaine Harris, read by Johanna Parker. Just good yummy fun!

 

Next up: #4 in the Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini, INHERITANCE.

 

• With Abbie: Just finished the last chapter of THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis. Of course she has seen the movie, which made our read-a-thon much more fun. She thinks the children should have stayed in Narnia instead of returning back to the wardrobe. Can’t say I disagree!

 

Next up: #2 in The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis — PRINCE CASPIAN. This wasn’t my favorite in the series, as I recall, but I will enjoy reading it aloud to my daughter.

 

If I get too bored of Narnia, I might take it in shifts and read a chapter or two of one of my childhood stand-bys — HALF MAGIC by Edgar Eager. Such a fun book!

 

And that’s what’s up Wenzday.

Hope your Hump-Day is full of hump-ish good times.

I’d love to hear what’s up with YOUR Wenzday!

And please tell me how *YOUR* Happiness Project is coming along!