The Art of Taking a Break: Slow Ride

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

steamboat-mississippi

Welcome everyone!  To most sane people it would seem like the intense challenge of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) would be the last thing anybody who desperately needs to decompress should add to their endless pile of stress.  However, it seems to be the monumental distraction that I needed.

For anyone who is participating in NaNoWriMo along with me, here’s a song to keep us chugging along.

I’m trying hard not to let my woefully inadequate word count bother me.  The Delta Pearl is an old-time paddle-wheel riverboat.  It’s only fitting that the creation of the novel should be a slow ride.

Since I had not planned to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, I had no story in mind.  So I asked everyone to send me three random things, to move the riverboat along.  The response was great, and so were your “things.”  I’ve been using them.  This week things from author and translator Olga Núñez Miret added to the story. (Olga’s Amazon author page here.)  She sent “Ace of Hearts, Small Pistol, Camera” which made me think of the inventor character I had recently created…  My narrator already found him appealing, but Ace of Hearts?  Look out Émeraude! audio-collection-olga

Olga has a sensational collection of her own books, so be sure to click over and take a look.  She is also promoting a multi-author event (details here) for audio books!  Specials run from November 20 — 22, 2016.

Now back to my slow ride on what is supposed to be a NaNoWriMo whirlwind…
Mega hugs!

delta-pearl-cover-1

 

Copyright © 2016 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

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47 thoughts on “The Art of Taking a Break: Slow Ride”

  1. You’re quite right that it is fitting that the writing be slow to suit the story. I think you’re awesome for even attempting the November writing challenge! I’ve never done it (shrinks into corner to hide) 😉 Love you!

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    1. Well, Christy — I keep reminding myself that I’m not “in it to win it” this year — But I sure would like to meet the 50,000 word goal. Mostly because that means I will have a good draft. I’m still far behind. Thank you from my heart for your kind encouraging words. Love & hugs.

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    1. What a beautiful, lyrical comment, Hugh. You’ve made my Monday. Thank you, my friend. I think I actually had another dream of being on the Delta Pearl last night… bud I couldn’t remember it. The plot is beginning to take shape — finally, and that’s a relief. Wishing you the very best with “Glimpses.” Mega hugs right back! 😀

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    1. Hi Lavinia, I’m so happy to see you! And there is no such thing as late here. Thank you very much for your encouragement. I really appreciate you (and everyone who) have stuck around even though I’ve stopped giving episodes of novels each week. The comments and encouragement mean the world to me.

      I never tried to keep track from year to year, but I think I set a personal best with my word count today! 😀 (Although even that doesn’t compare with the amount some people write on any given day. But for me…)
      Wishing you well. Light and hugs.

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    1. Haha! Thank you Tina. Actually this morning as I lay in bed, trying to convince myself to get up and face the day (dread of Monday kicks in on Saturday nights) I thought of 2 scenes for the Delta Pearl, and one element to develop a secondary character — and managed to make notes before I forgot anythings! LOL there’s the real trick!
      So, time to catch the riverboat! Thanks so much for taking time to visit today. Mega hugs!

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  5. Girl, you clearly do not know the meaning of “taking a break”, I think, dear friend, you might even be worse than me at taking a break and that’s saying something! Every time I see the words, “The Delta Pearl” I think of a deck of cards but each card has little mechanical legs that walk the cards across the gaming table and little alarms if someone tries to cheat – yes, you know how much I love steampunk and read a lot about steamboats at one point, Canada has quite a history with steamboats too, years ago because of the gold rush and the fish industry. I’ve even imagined the P.S. (paddle steamer) having mechanical legs to walk out of the water across land and the engineers having various mechanical body parts. You have sparked my imagination, Teagan, but maybe the lyrics to “Slow Ride” – “take it easy”, could help you. I’m sure even if your word count is low, you have tons of ideas just ready to burst out, after all, I’ve read your work and your brilliant book, “Atonement, Tennessee”, I know how you weave a magic spell with your words. 🙂
    I wish Olga the best with her books, she’s such a lovely person.
    Off to share and try to get the song “Slow Ride” out of my head. Ha, good luck.
    Mega I wish you less or even no stress and an overflow of words hugs, dear Teagan xoxox

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    1. Haha! I admit to the failing (taking a break) Donna. But re the NaNoWriMo, it’s about the distraction. You know how sometimes a “vacation” can leave one exhausted, but it was still a break…
      It delights me (your comment) when I see that anyone’s imagination has kept working beyond the words of my stories. You have my heartfelt thanks for your comment.
      Some actual *plot* pieces have fallen into place. So hopefully the PS will pick up steam now. Yes, that’s the most frightening thing about “pantsering” a story — when you don’t even know the plot! o_O
      Thanks for the reminder about Canada and steamboats. I should have had more of that in my head, since I enjoy the Murdoch Mysteries on Netflix.

      Sorry about the Foghat ear-worm. 🙂 Sally gave me the ear-worm for next week, when she spoke of Proud Mary in reblogging this post. Wishing you a wonder-filled week, my friend. Mega hugs.

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      1. It’s not a bad earworm as they go, I like it, reminds me of parties in basements, spin the bottle, and giggling (lots and lots of giggling) lol 😉
        I love Murdoch Mysteries – another weird Canadian fact, Yannick Bisson who plays Murdoch also hosts as a children’s program here in Canada called The Adventures of Napkin Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99CAFHI46-Q
        Keep going, dear Teagan, I know your brain is just whirling and whirling, but you can do it, but I totally, I mean totally get the distraction thing…my book and I are like ships that pass in the night at this point, but I’ve scheduled myself some writing time and I’m determined to keep to it.
        Mega plot pieces falling into place all over the place hugs xoxox

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        1. Excellent. I’m sure it will be great. We’ve had such nice weather here the past 2 weeks. But something just blew in this afternoon with very high winds, and forecasted nasty weather tomorrow. Autumn is always so brief.
          Have a sensational Sunday. More hugs

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    1. Hi Diana. Thanks for the encouraging word. Yes, I know… It’s just that I would like to end the month with the expectation of finishing out the “draft”… If I don’t get more done, that might never happen. I have so many waiting on the shelf as it is.
      But I remind myself again — I’m doing this for the distraction. Whatever it takes to get my mind off the other things.
      Mega hugs. 🙂

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      1. I’ll admit it does feel good to achieve milestones. I’m almost 60, and when I feel the pressure of writing deadlines, I tell myself that I probably have another 25 years! Not guaranteed, so no slagging off, but time enough in the grand scheme of life not to get stressed. 🙂

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  10. As soon as I saw the title of your post, I googled that Foghat song, Teagan. Great minds, I’d say. Take you time, slow and steady, and all that. I’m looking forward to someday seeing the results. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Hi Dan. Thanks for encouraging me to slow down, because every time I look at the “Date” on my computer I feel a little freaked out about my oh so low word count.
      I don’t think I really feel “stressed” about it though. I have enough of the big stress to know the difference. Yes… slow down — at least the mindset. Though it would be nice if I were writing faster. I’ve just made a hypocrite of myself, haven’t I? LOL. Mega hugs!

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    1. Hi Barbara. Thanks for taking a moment to visit.
      Now I’ve put enough work into the story that I sure would like to “win it” and get 50,000 words by November 30th… We’ll see…
      Wishing you a wonder-filled weekend. Mega hugs right back. 😀

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      1. I can’t imagine writing so many words in 30 days, and I commend you for giving it a go! Best wishes and just from the little snippets you’ve mentioned of your story, it sounds so interesting! 🙂 xoxo

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        1. You’re so kind, Barbara. Sadly I’m a lot better at starting stories than finishing them… Actually that’s why I did my first NaNoWriMo — I hoped it would let me teach myself how to finish a novel (without taking years and years to do so). And it produced Atonement, Tennessee! But I haven’t had as much success with the subsequent years… Crossing my fingers for a big burst of inspired writing! More hugs. 🙂

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      1. Thanks, Teagan. As it’s a giveaway I very much doubt it, but hopefully people will feel intrigued enough to buy some later. I hadn’t realised how late is the grand reveal for me, so I doubt I’ll manage to be awake for it, but…

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