Ah, home sweet home. It’s nice to have the feeling that you are where you belong and in a safe, warm bed every night…

UNTIL YOU HAVE TO LEAVE FOR CALIFORNIA TOMORROW.

I was really looking forward to settling down and getting some good writing done in the final days of Camp NaNoWriMo, but it looks like I only have move in day, yesterday, and today at my new place. Tomorrow morning I have to get up early and catch a flight to San Jose, bus into Milpitas, and then road trip down to LA. I say “have to” but honestly I couldn’t be more excited! My old boyfriend (and still best friend) wants to rethink our relationship. After five months of breathing time, (what my sport-nut Uncle affectionately referred to as a “heat check”) it seems like that boy and I are both of the opinion we would be happier together. However, I’m living my own life up heard in Portland now, so we’re going to take things slow and figure out what exactly it will mean for us to be “together.” Everything is golden though, and I have high hopes since we have never had anything but fun…whether we were friends, a couple, or even ex-s. The idea of getting Indian food at my favorite place for chai tea, taking one of our lovely little road trips, and going to see one of our favorite people perform at The Magic Castle in Hollywood sounds like the best and longest weekend I could imagine.

With my personal life in so much flux, I’ve ended up writing a lot of poetry and even some philosophical musings. I decided early on that for Camp NaNoWriMo anything I wrote would count toward my word count goal, except for my journalling. I journal sometimes up to a thousand words a day, and no on ever sees those private thoughts, so I feel like that would be an awful inflation if I counted that toward my 20,000 word goal. I’ve still got about four thousand words to write before Saturday, but I’m optimistic that I will be able to win. I’ve pulled myself out of bigger holes. I didn’t really get any good short stories written, except for the ones I turned in for work, but that’s alright. I had a minor poetry blitz, and that makes me happy. If I take the next three days to finish the two short stories I started, I’m sure I will feel that the month has been productive. I also have a column to write for the next issue of Miracle, so if I get that drafted soon, my rough draft will count toward my NaNoWriMo goal, too.

I think I’ve finally figured out the short story I need to write, one that I feel passionate about and will reflect the artistic vision I want to take into an MFA program. It hits a little close to home, but maybe that will help even things out in my head right now anyways. I kind of like how real and close to heart I write my literary fiction. I want to do another story in the style of The Immaculate Memory of Megan Reed. I think that will best reflect my desire and passion for writing as it exists now. I don’t know what to think of this sudden and strange draw to “literary” fiction after years of speculative fiction. As always, I’m just going to go with the flow and see where my writing takes me.

I find Portland a very inspiring city. It will be interesting to see what becomes of my August here, and where I am going when my little mini lease runs out in September. I have no doubt that everything will work out beautifully.