Is saying “I don’t know what to…(fill in the blank)” really an invitation for others to chime in? I actually called my mother for some advice/sympathy on this one. She’s an artist, so I thought she might have gotten unasked for advice on what to paint. I have heard her many times declare that she didn’t know what to do with a canvas. I can’t say that I have ever given any ideas. Like I have any.

So why is being a writer any different. It seems that everywhere I turn someone wants to provide “helpful” suggestions to my “I don’t know what to write next.” I don’t remember asking for help or advice or ideas. Why would I use someone else’s ideas? Even when I talk about what I’m writing and I get to that point where I’m not sure where the story is going, I get unsolicited help. Again, did I invite you into my story? Did I ask for collaboration? No. And, definitely no. Perhaps I should write about an author who is plagued by helpful friends whenever the author’s work comes up in conversation.

The only solution I have to this problem is to not talk about my work. In fact, I do try to avoid talking about my storyline with anyone while I’m writing. Everyone’s a critic.

It arrived. I signed. It’s sent. The request for a critique has been made.

It seems I have been lazy about posting. I recently sent out a synopsis of my NaNoWriMo novel to a literary agency. They liked the synopsis and asked for my manuscript. They liked that too. So now I’m waiting for some referrals for editors who do critiques and a contract. How cool is that? I had no idea at the time that within two weeks of sending out a synopsis I would have an agent. I’m sure I will find out who I will be working with soon as well. I’ll keep you posted.

For anyone who wonders how this happens… I would have never written novels if it hadn’t been for a course I took in February 2006. I tried. I failed. A lot. I never felt like I had a good idea. Now the words just flow–once I get an idea. I’m currently probing for novel ideas. To write 93,000+ words in a month seems impossible to most. Even rarer, I have a good chance at getting it published. My dream come true! It seemed so far away at one point in my life, yet it seems to have happened so easily. I have worked hard at finding a job as a chemist. this whole thing makes me wonder if I have been working hard at something that doesn’t really suit me. I truly loved the entire month of November when I was writing. I love chemistry too, but many, many months of searching for a job in chemistry has come to nothing.

So back to this course… Actually it was probably several courses and declaring that I’m a writer that made this happen. I got free of the inner voice that critiqued, criticized and generally made me feel like crap. I was my own worst enemy, and I had no idea how much my thoughts were holding me back. Well maybe I did, but I had no idea how to get past them. I did.

No, not the tests you’re probably thinking of. I spent some time on Sunday helping an ex with his deck, along with two of his other friends. He brought up how the current girl (he’s not really dating her since she lives on another continent) passed his tests. Obviously I didn’t pass. He claimed that everyone has tests. Women especially. “Every time a woman opens her mouth it’s a test.”

I disagree. I can’t even say that I have tests for a relationship. Of course, I have things I want and don’t want. When I was much younger, I did test guys. I wanted to see how much they would put up with. But for the past 10 years, I haven’t seen the need for relationship tests. He claimed that I tested him, but when asked for an example, he couldn’t give one. He said my question was a test. One of his friends agreed with me–that not everyone tests.

However, if people are running around testing their loved ones, how in the world can one pass? You’re not even aware that a particular event or incident is a test. I know my ex tested me. I can even give examples that were obvious tests. It’s stupid though. Instead how about creating what you want in a relationship and having it show up. Viola! No tests necessary. No need to have a checklist with pass or fail. No need to tally the passes and fails. What kind of measure is that of a relationship? Isn’t it supposed to be do you enjoy the other person’s company or not? Simple.

If people are running around giving secret elaborate tests, how does anyone pass? How does anyone stay together? If that is what is happening, it’s no wonder that I’m single. No matter what, you’re bound to fail. It’s a setup. Win-Lose.

So far this week has been full of movie watching. I have seen two new movies, plus ones recently relased on DVD. The timing is perfect snce I will be participating in ScriptFrenzy again this year. It starts on April 1. I’m still working out an idea. I had a beginning come to me out of nowhere last week, but I don’t know if I will go with that.

This week’s movies:

Watchmen (surprisingly good, not one I would have picked)

I Love You, Man (hilarious, I picked this one.)

Milk (wonderful, moving; Penn deserved the Oscar)

Role Models (funny, but not as funny as I Love You, Man–by the way, is Paul Rudd in every movie?)

Religulous (funny, poignant, thought-provoking)

Body of Lies (good, worth seeing)

And it’s only Tuesday…gotta go…more movies to see…

I haven’t posted for a while. I’m still working on my novel. I plan to finish the plot by the end of the month. Today is the first day I could be declared an official winner. I will be keeping the word count banner in the sidebar until November 30.

I have been writing–a lot. I have also been job hunting. It’s not going quite the way I want. The hunt also doesn’t move at the pace I want. In the meantime, I immerse myself in the world I have created. I have been dreaming about my novel. I have never done that before. I have dreamt about creative projects before but not writing. It’s interesting to have this second world so unlike my own.

Yes, I reached 50,000 words today at 1:41 pm. I have lots more to go to finish the story. My plan is to write the entire novel without skipping scenes or writing “The End” before I reach the end.

Last year, I reached 50,000 words on November 25. Five days before the deadline. This year I reached the goal by November 13, 17 days before the deadline.

Anyone else looking forward to seeing this movie? I enjoyed that last one for the dialogue and tension between Bond and Vesper. Where do those female names come from anyway?

I’ve been busy working on my novel. I plan to reach 50,000 words today. I hardly slept last night, so I don’t know if I’ll be seeing the movie tonight. My weekend is booked, so I may be waiting until next week.

The rodent catching has died down a bit. Although I did find my dog with a mouse yesterday. I suspect he caught it.

The rodents haven’t made it into my novel. Thank God. I was a little worried. It’s not unusual for the novel to shift according to whatever is happening in my life or with what I watch. My current word count is in the sidebar. I’ve beenwriting quite a bit each day. Today was probably the most difficult. I wrote a lot of dialogue, which takes time and space but few words.