So it's that time of year again, with everyone gearing up for Nanowrimo and getting excited about pub meets and write-ins and so forth. Everyone on El Jay is asking what we're all going to be working on, and I'm just gurning because I can't do it. I want to, every year I really want to do Nano, but I can't. It's not the word count at all. I can easily knock out 2 -3k in a couple of hours if I put my mind to it. But I can't do it consistently every day because of my bloody arm.

I've been having twinges ever since the weather turned colder, and am back to using Work Rave for rest breaks at work, which is always a bad sign. I'm also back doing all the nerve gliding exercises the physiotherapist showed me back in March. Sigh. I wish I could used voice recognition, but I hate it. I just HATE it. And I know loads of writers who swear by it, but I cannot for the life of me get my head round it. Maybe it's just that Vista has crap voice rec? Anyway, I hate it with the hatred of a thousand burning suns.

So I'm not even going to attempt Nano this year, after two years of Fail. I'm going to do picowrimo instead. Last time I did it, in 2006, I wrote a 5k short story that got published in Midnight Times ezine. This year I'm planning a slightly more ambitious target than 5k. I just can't decide what.

Edits for AFTERLIFE are due in on November 15th, but until I see what needs to be done, I can't judge how much time they'll take me. I have an idea for a short story (maybe 10 - 15k) for one of QueeredFiction's upcoming anthologies that I would love to write. I'd also like to get cracking on the sequel to AFTERLIFE (not set on a title yet, but Blood Legacy is the one I keep coming back to. Sounds very generically "sexy vampire" though).

In any case, as soon as I've decided I shall hop along to the picowrimo community and announce my target, thus creating the necessary peer pressure to make sure I actually do it. And now the inevitable: Who's doing Nano? What are you working on?

Look what Amazon recommended me! I totally want this boxset. I need it. I need these films. I mean! Octopus 1 and 2?! Why do I not already own this?!

In actual news, I've been working on the Super Sneaky Secret Side Project tonight. Not added much because my arm is sore, but I'm happy with the progress I have made.

6039 / 15000 words. 40% done!

I can't wait for my week off next week when I can really crack on with this and SILVER KISS for a few sweet, uninterrupted days. Just have to slog through a few more work days first...

Things of note:

1. I'm done with the emo thing today. I had some brilliant news yesterday that I will share asap, and that lifted me right out of my "woe is me" mood.

2. I'm off to my parents this weekend for an internet-free few days of hardcore writing on Silver Kiss. I've done a lot this week, had two very productive write-ins, and I'm determined to do a lot more before the week's over.

Which ties into my next point:

3. OMG, I woke up at 4am this morning in agony. FLAMING, SEARING AGONY. I must have fallen asleep on my bad arm. It was cramped, I had the worst pins and needles ever, I couldn't move my fingers, and from my shoulder to my elbow, everything was numb. I had a complete freak-out and leapt out of bed waving my arm around like a maniac to try and get the feeling back. But it kept going numb despite my proactive methods. I spent a good ten minutes just massaging it and stretching and eventually reduced my panic from "OMG, AM I GOING TO HAVE TO AMPUTATE IT?!" to "this is pretty damn uncomfortable."

So yeah, not great. I have overdone it this week and I've been slack at using my voice recognition, because me yelling at my laptop doesn't make for a happy, productive atmosphere for the other writers at the write-ins.

I managed a bit over 2k today before my arm gave out. I've got to start doing my exercises regularly, and not just when I'm in pain. It's harder to stay motivated without the physiotherapist checking my progress.

3338 / 60000 words. 6% done!

That's chapter one done and chapter two started. I'm now going to curl up with a book and wait for ice cream to happen to me.

Thanks to everyone who offered encouragement and support yesterday :) I definitely needed it, but now I've had my mope, it's back to work. I've got four work-free days ahead of me and I intend to use them to the max. The plan:

1. Lots of writing
2. Lots of applying for jobs
3. Visiting Gran
4. Rinse and repeat

We'll see how it works out....

In slightly-related news, I had my lasy physio session yesterday. Well, technically the last, in that Laura can't really do anything more for me, but I can ring up and scream in pain and get another appointment if need be. Basically, I've got all the tools I need to deal with my radial nerve problem, and now I need to build up the strength in my arm and keep doing the exercises. Like, forever. Because although the problem can be managed, it can't really be cured as long as I'm in a desk job. Which I probably always will be. Although not the one I'm currently in, if I can help it.

I just got back from my second physiotherapy appointment. I'm in less pain that last time, probably because I haven't been at work all day. Laura the physio thinks it was so bad last week because my arm was already aggravated from general use at work.

Anyway, she did some more tests, studied my posture and decided that it's probably my radial nerve which is causing the problem. As you can see in my scientific diagram, the radial nerve affects the whole arm. Super. She also noted that I carry a lot of tension in my shoulders and neck, and set me up with a heat pack for ten minutes, which was amazing. I need of those for at home.

She gave me a few stretches to do and packed me off. Back next Monday. I think a big step forward in combating my problems would be having a desk. I mean, I do have a desk, but there's a fish tank on it. I think if I didn't do all my writing sitting on my bed or the sofa, my back would probably be less stiff and there'd be less tension all over. I'm not sure if there's room for another desk in my bedroom though, and definitely not room in the living room. This needs careful consideration.

I hope someone told you they loved you today. But do remember that your love is not as good as Laurell K Hamilton's. For the record, nobody has yet told me they love me today, and I put this down to me not being LKH.

On the other hand, I have added 4k to Death for the Born since I started redrafting it. this continues my tradition of making my novels bigger by editing them. It's now at a respectable 77k instead of a slightly wimpy 73k, with more "editing" to be done. Yes, I hurt. Yes I'm not supposed to be typing today. But fuck you, repetitive strain injury. Fuck. You. I've got agents to query.

So I went to the physiotherapist yesterday and spent 45 minutes answering seemingly random questions. It's like, I went there because my arm hurts ALL THE FREAKING TIME, and she was asking me if I'd ever had cancer. Stuff like that just freaks me out. I'm too neurotic for it. I'm all like, "no, why? Is it arm cancer?"

Then she did a load of stretching exercises with me to try and pinpoint exactly what the problem is. Sort of moving my arm around and saying "does this hurt? Does it hurt now? How about now? More? Better? Worse?" And me going, "yes. Yes. Yes! YES! YES THAT HURTS MORE!"

She came to the conclusion that the problem crossed all my joints and it wasn't clear where the source of my pain was. Really, if she'd listened to my "it hurts everywhere" mantra, we would have saved a lot of time. I have to go back next week for more tests. Until then she's suggested I try to avoid using my wrist brace because it might lead to loss of movement in my wrist. So now I'm paranoid about getting carpal tunnel syndrome. And all the stretching we did yesterday just makes my arm ache like hell today.

If you're planning to spend four hours on Sunday evening slouched in bed typing away, with no back support, no wrist support, and you can't be bothered to use voice rec, don't be surprised if. come Monday, your back, neck, and wrist aches unbearably.

PS - The word count you achieved makes all your pain totally not worth it, too.

I can't help but worry that taking part in Nanowrimo is a bad idea when my RSI is currently at that "OHGODTHEPAIN!" stage most of the time. The rest of the time it's just the "why does my wrist keep clicking and why are my fingers numb?" stage. Trying to write 50k in 30 days seems a foolish idea, all things considered. I am on the NHS waiting list for physiotherapy, but judging from past experience, it would probably be quicker to chop my arm off and replace it with a hand-crafted wooden limb than it would be to get the NHS to do anything about it. Sadly carpentry is not amongst my talents.

However! I am determined to give it a shot. I have my wrist brace. I have a steady supply of painkillers. Most importantly, I have a reward of tasty, tasty sushi to look forward to. We shall see...

I sorted out extra accommodation for RNA. Huzzahs all round! And my stay there may be further aided by the fact that I'm having my wisdom teeth taken out the week before and will probably need a week off work after that. In theory, that means I can travel to Chichester at my leisure, swollen and bruised face notwithstanding. Sometimes Fate does provide for me. Although, I have to say, I'm kind of dubious about the whole thing. This is an approximation of the referral form I was shown at the hospital:

Reason for removal of wisdom teeth: Prevent pain, infection to gums.

Possible after-effects of removal: Pain, infection to gums.

Not promising...

On the plus side, I finally figured out what to do with Harris' mistress and it's awesome! And will involve a fight at a funeral, which will be awesome! In a grave, dignified manner, of course.