As of 9:30 this evening (GMT) I wrote the 10,006th word of my novel. For the curious, it was “next”. (It’ll make sense in context.)

Break out the streamers! Not quite time for cake yet…20,000 words will be. (By the way, 10k is goal reached, but the story isn’t finished yet.)

At the “close” of writing on day one, I am 1,728 words in. I am enjoying watching the story unfold, and at the same time am anxious to share a synopsis of it, but I fear that I may burn out if I do so too soon. Expect a further update tomorrow, if I manage to get some writing done. I suppose I ought to continue tonight, to cushion myself in case of a meltdown on day two, but I can’t really envisage it.

This is amazing. Found it as a result of StumbleUpon- I wouldn’t normally use that, but on this occasion it was a goldmine.

As foolish as it may be, I’m going to attempt to write something a little longer than my usual short story in November. I may not get there, but I’m only aiming for a fifth of what Nanowrimo ought to be. 10,000 words, versus 50,000 words. I’m not in a position to write 50k this year, but 10 or 20k will do me.

Wish me luck!

This is my 2009 post for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is well ahead of when I managed to do it last year…the end of October is still technically Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but I wanted to get this in at the start.

Take Courage

The path you are on is hard,
But take courage.
It is not impossible,
But it will test you.

Your life will certainly be changed,
Your faith may be shaken,
But there is hope.
Take courage.

There is hope,
And there will be hope,
Until the day when you have won.
And you will win, either way.

Take courage!
Cancer cannot win,
It doesn’t know what victory is.
It doesn’t know what courage is.

Take courage!
You know what victory is,
You know what courage is.

Both are within your grasp!
Take courage, my friend, and fight!

Of course, this poem could apply to all who are engaged in a battle with any form of cancer, so please don’t just pigeonhole it for this month.  It stands also as a tribute to those who have fought and claimed a final victory in death.

I discovered this version of the song on Sunday- it’s always been one of my favourite Bob Dylan songs, although I don’t particularly care for the way he sings it. I have always loved the chorus:

I see my light come shining,

From the west unto the east

Any day now, any day now,

I shall be released.

What better expression of defiance is there? As long as you can defy a challenge, or face it head on, where it is impossible that it can be defied, there will be a release.  (The bass line is very groovy, and I like them when they’re like that.)

I have recently found great inspiration and a heightened sense of spirituality in listening to the music and talks at:

http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/radio-ananda.html

I hope you will have a listen,

Shady

I posted a few days ago about the passing of the guitar legend Les Paul, so I thought I’d better post about the song I wrote in tribute to him.

You can hear it at:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandid=791336