Lessons in Failure

I did not succeed in my word count goals for Camp NaNoWriMo in July. Real life simply got in the way too often, and I quickly fell behind. I spent the rest of the month writing, but it simply wasn’t enough to get the word count total back where it needed to be. With that said, I feel that I walked away from last month’s attempt with a better perspective (and more lessons learned) than I have in the past.

It’s easy to give up when you find yourself in a difficult position. When you know that the end is beyond reach, and that nothing you do will see the effort completed satisfactorily, the temptation to simply quit is very high. Yet nothing else can be gained by giving up early. By pushing through to the end of the month anyway, I was able to complete roughly 30,000 of the 50,000 planned words. This is a huge chunk of my second novel that wasn’t written at the beginning of the month. By staying true to the course, I was still able to partially realize my goals.

I also learned quite a bit about time management. I have been reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People this month as well, and it helped me to understand why my writing fell behind so early in the month. In an effort to simply tick things off my list, I was passing over the writing to complete other, less important tasks first. By doing this I ran out of time to do my actual writing. By prioritizing it at the beginning of my time, I found myself reaching the goal and exceeding it each day. I also feel that it allowed me to write more proficiently, as I didn’t feel a rush to reach some kind of arbitrary goal.

I strive to learn from mistakes and losses throughout life, because I firmly believe that we learn more in those instances than we ever can from our successes. When something doesn’t go to plan, don’t simply throw it into your past. Instead scrutinize the events that led up to the failure, so that you might be better prepared in the future to address any similar issues that arise.

Poem - R'lyeh

I've been in a Lovecraft mood lately, and wrote this poem back at the beginning of the month. Next week I will check back in, and let you know how Camp NaNoWriMo went for July. For now, enjoy some Cthulhu-inspired terror!

R’lyeh

What days are these?

I find myself

Lost on darkened seas

I cry out, but no voice

Hears my muffled pleas

So turn I will

To splintered oar

My fate not yet seal’d

There is time yet, if

Courage is tempered as steel

From deepest black

Does shadow rise

Unfathomed crack

Where he abides

Deepest terrors wrack

As shattered steel

My fate becomes

Insanity crushes real

Now left to rot in nameless void

Consumed by endless will

Randall Madden

July 1, 2015

To Say “The End”

My novel is finished.

No, I’m serious this time!

After crying wolf at least three times, I am now completely done with my novel, and plan to start sending it out to agents next week. With a little (okay, a lot!) of luck, maybe I’ll land something soon, and Dawnbringer will be on its way.

I’m constantly at war with myself between having no self-esteem at all in regards to my writing, and being a complete narcissist at the same time. I want to believe that it is good enough after each draft, yet something inside tells me to do one last round of edits. These always end up being drawn-out affairs as I add or change existing characters, and each time my narcissist side cries a little as I rip apart the beauty it created.

This time, though, the book is as good as it can be. I have confidence in my work, and while I could spend the rest of my life trimming here and adding there, I know that it will stand on its own two feet.

So wish me luck, for I’m off to the races! Prepare for a steady stream of motivational speeches about how to respond to rejection, all while secretly drying my eyes on a spare sheet of paper!

Camp NaNoWriMo - Final Thoughts

Camp NaNoWriMo has finally come to an end, and I rolled in at 50,000 words near midnight on April 30^th. I’ve continued to pluck away with the book in the week since, though at a slightly reduced pace of 1,000 words per night.

If you’re a writer and you’ve never attempted the NaNoWriMo experience, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot at least once. The pace can be somewhat frenetic if you aren’t used to it, but it will teach you a lot about holding yourself to heavy deadlines. It will also just get you in the trench each day to write, which is the best thing of all.

This nudge has finished my final rewrite, and this time, I MEAN IT! I have one last proofreading edit to do for the chapters I wrote in April, and then I am going to begin querying agents. I’d say I have about a week or so of work before I’m ready to throw down this next gauntlet in the challenge.

Wish me luck! Soon my posts will turn to the travails of finding an agent.

Progress Report – Camp NaNo Comes to an End

April has been a busy writing month for me, with hobby projects and YouTube work competing with my writing time. However, I’ve found the pace I need to finish in this last stretch of days before the competition ends.

I’m currently sitting at 37,000 words, meaning I have about 4,000 to write each day to be finished on time. That said, I have a clear outline and plan as to what comes next, and the words are flying onto the page much faster than usual. Barring some blow-up elsewhere in life between now and then, I’m almost certain that I will make the word total.

As this winds down, though, I’m also coming to the realization that I’m reaching the point in the publishing quest that is most difficult for me personally. After one quick round of edits to this new writing, which will take a day or two at most, I’m going to be moving on to an agent search. So many people have difficulties at this stage, and their manuscript remains just that because they’re unable to find their niche in selling the book.

I’m confident in my writing; I’ve put hundreds and hundreds of hours into completing this thing, along with several revisions and some difficult cutting processes. All that remains is to polish my query letter until it shines, and then I will be on my way. I expect that process to begin in the second week of May.

Time will tell!

Poem – One Chance

I have another “Randall Madden Original” for everyone this week. I’ve been reminded this week that things can end at any point, and that chasing after the financial to the exclusion of all else leaves us as little more than slaves.

As well as my words will allow, here is a poem on the subject.

One Chance

This world is not a circle

One day, it too, will end

Sun’s fire, or God’s Judgment

It’s fate simply won’t bend

And yet we scurry onward

Seek progress for its own sake

While love is growing colder

And real is becoming fake

Arts are pushed aside

No time for them, you see

We’ve got to make more money

Golden chains, no longer free

Yet willingly, necks are offered

Into financial stocks

They rage and pull to free themselves

But down have slammed the locks

So there they stand in courtyard

All our people, village fools

They call for one to free them

Yet those free all know the rules

For those who dance are poorer

Yet have the heart to leap

For their necks aren’t overburdened

And their time’s their own to keep

So the rich-robed, in chains, languish

While the ragged remnant dance

So choose gold bonds, or happy rags

For you only get one chance.

Randall Madden

April 17, 2015

Poem – On the plains of Picardy

I’ve been reading The Somme: Heroism and Horror in the First World War this week. It is a book penned by Martin Gilbert, and discusses the appalling loss of human life during the Somme campaign of World War I. Throughout, Mr. Gilbert discusses the effect it had on the troops, and showcases some of the excellent poetry that was written throughout.

One of the most human elements of this war for me came in the form of the poetry that was written. If you’ve never looked at it, you’re truly missing out on some thought-provoking pieces on the state of man, and how much harm we’re capable of doing to one another. The piece I selected to share with you today was written by Captain Hugh Stewart Smith, and was found in his pocket after he was slain in the fighting.

On the plains of Picardy

Lay a soldier, dying

Gallantly, with soul still free

Spite the rough world’s trying.

Came the Angel who keeps guard

When the fight has drifted,

‘What would you for your reward

When the clouds have lifted?’

Then the soldier through the mist

Heard the voice and rested

As a man who sees his home

When the hill is breasted –

This his answer and I vow

Nothing could be fitter –

Give me peace, a dog, a friend

And a glass of bitter!

Captain Hugh Stewart Smith

1916