Parisian Phoenix Publishing

For the last few weeks, Parisian Phoenix had so much happening that I had blog posts scheduled a week or two out. And, I suppose in reality, we STILL have enough going on that I could do that but things have grown hectic and my time is getting stretched thin. So now I’m planning catch up, and we have some fun things to talk about.

I even attempted NaNoWriMo 2023 to draft my fifth novel, Absolution, another volume in my Fashion and Fiends series.

The NaNo Drama

Now, I must say, top of the entry, I understand there is quite the controversy and scandal happening regarding NaNoWrimo (the organization) happening right now and I have not researched it. I heard two different threads–1. that a moderator in one of the online forums had directed children to inappropriate web sites and the administration did not address it quickly enough (and some claim it was a ‘hack’) and 2. that the organization has some funding issues as well. Both are a lot. I don’t even know enough to say whether these are rumors or claims as none of my sources are reliable.

One questionable source attempting to explore the controversy explained that the site in question was an ABDL Forum. For those who don’t know, ABDL stands for “Adult Baby/Diaper Lovers” and does not necessarily include sexual behaviors. The only required behavior to belong to that realm is that 1. You like to act like a baby. OR 2. You like to wear diapers. OR 3. You like to take care of people who do the former two.

The next top hit examining the scandal comes from a Christian writing web site– and while I love my Christian writers, in this particular case, is a Christian group going to have the most unbiased information? And the web site is merely listing their members discussing about NaNo grooming children.

But both sources state that the trouble started on X, the social media formerly known as Twitter.

No organization can control everything in their electronic forums all the time. The reality is that parents have an incredible burden to protect their children from constant threats because of our every expanding world.

The moment we got internet in our home– which was 2016, before that we went to the public library around the corner and used their wifi because I had a fight with the internet provider AND I wanted control over my child’s environment– we had to start having conversations about the amount of things on the internet, the reality of things on the internet, and the subjectivity of the internet. And Porn Hub. It’s amazing how quickly kids discover Porn Hub.

My NaNo Choice

I have opted to continue with NaNoWriMo 2023.

It has not been an easy road. It took me two or three days to figure out I had to remember to refresh my web page every day to keep my stats accurate so that skewed my stats. I found myself comfortably and cockily writing 2,000 to 3,000 words a day, for about four days. Then life got busy and my cushy lead turned into a lag. And then the story started struggling. I had reached the murky middle!

Around this time I started noticing that the word count on the top of the page changed every day. It was no longer 1667 words a day. And then I realized… the counter wanted me to make up for my lag and in order to complete the challenge on time, I had to reach a new target.

I’m very intimidated because yesterday my villain broke one of the hostages’ arm. And that wasn’t supposed to happen.

As of today, and the day is young, it’s 1846 words a day. I have 146 words in and two cups of coffee in my system.

And I’m writing this. Not my novel.

But give me a break– it took me almost two years to write my last novel. I had just started a publishing company and I’m always reading and editing other people’s books.

What?

Did you just tell me to stop making excuses?

Well, yes, I did choose to do this.

And, yes, I guess there’s no life or death stakes about whether I complete it.

I realize it’s about discipline. It’s about shoving life aside and making space for your dreams. So, if any of you are struggling in the NaNo space right now, I implore you to relax about the numbers.

Yesterday, I made an outline. I scribbled it on the back of an envelope a client had sent. You know, with their payment. It doesn’t even make sense but it offers one way out of the murky middle.

After all it’s November 16. And NaNoWriMo. You’re supposed to be in the murky middle. Put on your slop boots and get the job done.

Or don’t.

The only person you owe anything to is yourself.

And maybe those imaginary friends you call characters.

I certainly owe a guy with a broken arm some sort of resolution.