I’ve been juggling between maintaining a blog, battling my disastrous work in office, fending off bitches who try to claw me, tend to my little family, as well as writing a novel with at least 50,000 words to answer NaNoWriMo 2008 challenge til the wee hours. And at 25th November 2008, I went to validate my manuscript, and this is what I get. I know I did not get money, but I get satisfaction out of this. Okay, call me a nutcase, I don’t mind. I’m too happy to bother anyway, even though I’m still not feeling so well. I can be proud this year, because I did not cheat my word count at all. Here’s what I get:
NaNoWriMo 2008 Winner Certificate- Awarded to novelist who manage to write at least 50,000 words novel in one month time, which is from 1st November 2008-30th November 2008.
.
And since I am also a member of NaNoWriMo Young Writers program, I get another bonus certificate. Cute one at that. (I’m considered a part of NaNoWriMo YWP Program as an educator, as I have students under my charge who participate in this program)
NaNoWriMo 2008 Certificate for Young Writers Program- Certificate awarded to children and educators alike for achieving their goals to write a novel in one month time.
On top of that, I also get a couple of web badges to boast about. LOL. I had not wanted to boast, but what the hell, I went through a gruesome month, let me boast a bit. Hahaha.
And another set of badges:
And the young writers program badge winner’s badge:
Some may say that I’ve been doing a completely stupid and useless thing throughout the whole November, answering the NaNoWriMo challenge, because I will not be awarded in the form of cash or material possession, but I have learn a lot throughout the November, which is discovering a part of me that I never knew could actually exist, which is SELF DISCIPLINE. I manage to sit down at the same time each night and write an average of 2,000 words per night for my novel. This is actually a miracle for me, because I really do lack discipline. I’m not sure what actually motivates me to do so, because I know that there is no way I’ll be able to do such thing when I was in school or high school. Discipline was never my middle name. My parents would have to actually force me to sit down and study every night when I was younger. ( My father tutored me personally when I was in primary and secondary school)
I guess, when one is not forced to do something, the rebellious streak kinda fade, and such thing is made possible. Let me ask you guys a question- Why do some people read and write more when they are out of school, college or university? You see, you guys blog and read articles and google most of the time-that alone is reading and writing. Why do people crave to study when they are already adult?
I think the answer is quite simple. It’s because they are no longer being forced to do those things anymore. Adults who continued to pursue education even though they are already having a stable career do such thing because they are motivated by the environment-where the working world require them to be more educated and more skillful. They also further study knowing full well they they would no longer be judge by parents or teachers or be punished if they failed to pass their examination that they decided to take. So the kind of stress and pressure that they get when they were younger is definitely not there. It’s easier to achieve when you know that judgment would not be delivered upon you even if you failed badly. One would strive better if they do things willingly and less is expected of them.
If only our education system does not forced our children to be overachievers, I daresay that they would be easier to handled as they will be more open minded and would think outside of the box constantly. They would be more alert to their environment and enjoy learning better. Forcing children to study instead of letting them study at their own accord own accord could actually restrict them from really achieving in a full-rounded way, that, I must say. I can only wish that our education system could coax children into motivating themselves and study voluntarily so that they could achieve better.
With NaNoWriMo, I also learn to not procrastinate. Oh yes, yours truly is a Procrastination Queen. I keep deferring things that I have to do to a later time most of the time, and ended up not doing it all all. I’m very good at doing that. This November, I procrastinate less, thanks to self motivation and pep talks from professional authors all over the world.
But all is not good in NaNo World. At least, not in Malaysia. I learn that most do not really understand what is NaNoWriMo is really all about.
Most just joined in the fun so that they could join TGIO( Thank God It’s Over) Party held on 5th December every year, where they could go wild and bitch around to their heart’s content. NaNoWriMo in Malaysia is pretty much adult oriented, and I am very, very disappointed to discover that. There are lack activities for minor. Even write-ins event are done at classy place like Starbucks and shopping malls where parents would definitely won’t let their young children go without supervision. This year, TGIO party will be held at Centro, KL Central where it’s actually a restaurant/bar/club lounge. Convincing parents to let their kids on loose there alone would be a problem, so thank you very much, I’m not going and not bringing my students there.
Dissapointing to the very core really. When I asked the person in charge about this, I was told off in a rather pompous manner that they know what they are doing and was told to shut up because they are very experienced in doing whatever they are doing. They are not open to suggestion, criticisms or even mere opinion. Some newcomers are told off in a rather conceited way, but, Malaysian, being Malaysian, really do love to bootlick those who have powers and bitchy. Plagiarism is also taken very lightly in NaNoWriMo Malaysia.
I guess politics are everywhere. I’m really disgusted to see such things- with the way certain authors/novelist behave, anyone would automatically labeled all authors in Malaysia as ‘bitchy group of people’ instead the ‘creative and friendly’ type of people.
The Municipal Liaison for Malaysia region somehow succeed in making NaNoWriMo event every year a ‘classy’ and ‘high class’ event, where there would be fund-raising and parties at bars and pubs, but definitely failed to make NaNoWriMo’s ORIGINAL purpose (which is to EDUCATE) to be really known to the public as there are no attempts made to approach the media to advertise such activities. They just can’t get a grip at it that the whole thing is about encouraging people, adults, teenagers and children alike to be involved in writing line and reading more.
Cleffairy: I really do hope NaNoWriMo in Malaysia region could change for the better and stick to the original purpose which is encourage people to read and write, but I guess I am hoping too much out of Malaysians. Another thing that ‘Tak Boleh’ in Malaysia is asking people to stop bitching around and start educating and learning.
Ps: I may have won NaNoWriMo 2008 challenge, but in truth, I have not won my own challenge, which is to complete the whole novel. Hitting 50,000 words is very easy, but finishing a novel is not. Wish me luck.
And special message to Aunt Iris who is so concern for my health. Don’t worry Aunt Iris, give me a few days, and I will be as right as rain. I’m not sure if you received my second email or not, because your jaring mailbox is full. So just a short note to let you know that I’m all right. Will keep in touch with you, so you take care too.
π
Hi dear…
Omegeto!!!
Owh, glad to know that u r happy whether u seems not feeling to well.
Oh dear, take a good rest ya?
Miss ya!
OMG, Zara… missed you so much. I do hope you enjoyed your weekend trip. :-D. I’m recovering, I guess, thank you so much for your concerns, Zara. muacks… enjoy your hols, dear.
SOOOOOO PROUD os Lizzie aka Cleffairy!!!! Yeah, got ur email .. my mailbox full of JUNK these days .. clear 2-3 times a day still JUNK flowing in .. SO FED UP!!!! You will achieve your goal, my dear .. you have the right spirit. Glad to hear u r feeling better .. will write tomoro cos taking doggie for a bath this morning :b Stay well .. stay happy .. lotsa luv
OMG OMG, Aunt Iris, you’re up so early! Sleep more lah… aiyohh… humph, I also fed up with spam in my emails, but thank God I’m using gmail. Most of those junks straightaway go to gmail. LOL. Glad to know that you did receive my email, Aunt Iris, i thought it bounced back to me, cuz got failed notice. π Yeah, i do feel better than yesterday, so dun fret bout me. You take care, will be waiting for your emails… LMAO… else cannot, keep in touch thru sms if you want. Duh, dog bath… LOL… okay have fun today. π
kudos to Cleffairy aka Whatever to be, It’s up to Me, i am amazed by your tenacity and your zeal,that itself really marvels me. guess i am going to model after you,may be i should try writing a children story less than 5000 words,,iso 50000 words.
I am proud of you,,, btw take care and to take some excercise ,you’re my favourite blogger friend
congrats Cleffy on winning so many awards… big small and medium and all.. err…. did I note wrongly? LOL…
you have all the ingredients of a good writer… am sure you will succeed.. as one.. π
Congrats for being discipline and completed your work and won something! And, when it comes to discipline, I was pressured into taking exams to get more certifications so that it enhanced my career, but I always procrastinate or maybe, I’m really tired after work at night..*sigh*… Really hope to pass 1 exam next year!
Hey Congrats on all those awards – they sure look impressive! You must have worked so hard to achieve all that – kudos! So when can we read your published novel leh?
Yeah, i think i took 3 years to write that much of words in my theses. It was horrendous, but i know what you mean by discipline. Oh, the nights of work thru the night and then off to work in the morning.
Congratulations on your win, Cleif. I now know your name is Elizabeth. kekek
Congrats Cleff. This weekend beers on Eli….ha ha!
Ya…I wish I get some of your self discipline as I am in a writing “marathon” myself… but its not based on a month, only many months… ;P
Anyways, yup 50,000 words is a lot there! To compose and get it done with all those other things to do plus family…really salute you! I hope I get inspired from it…I need some 15,000 words more myself in one week plus revisions….argggggghhhhhh
Eugene, alamak, so many good words, I kembang liao. LOL.. ahahaha, thank you so much. You know, I actually like to read your articles,especially on parenting and managing your family as well as sex life. Very interesting and provide different insight. LOL, maybe you should try to write some children stories with good moral values for your boys, these days, children’s reading materials are no longer Lady Bird’s kind of books. π OMG, ask me to exercise ahh… I’ll wheeze lorr… LOL… the only sport I can do is swimming and tai-chi nia. π And really cannot find time to do it…cuz tai-chi at my place is during the time I’m working. π Swimming nonid to say, the swimming pool at my place looks like algae paradise. π
Kevin, aiyah, actually two award nia… LOL… saja put up all for fun. LMAO….those web badges, yalah, 3 different sizes, can choose either one to put up… lol… but today I nothing better to do… become liddat lorr…summore my entries are always so plain, today splash abit. LOL. π
Chris… =.= you know, if only I have this kind of discipline when I was still a school kid, I’m probably a doctor by now… huhuhuhu. Eh, I know what you mean about procrastinating…. I’m guilty of doing it all the time too- but like you, mostly because of tired. No stamina. This habit really hard to break. Hmm… you’re taking exams next year? Eh, good luck in your exam if you’re taking it next year. π We should never stop learning. π
Pureglutton… it’s only impressive because I dump everything there… LMAO… aiya, so paiseh la, I dump everything there, but since I’m not celebrating it by partying or anything, this is how I reward myself… LOL…actually, it’s not so hard… the hard part is completing it. LOL… publish it ah? Maybe not this year la, cuz it’ll take at least Rm5,000 to get it publish, and I dun think I can spare that amount of money to publish it this time around. π Economy not so good. LOL.
Amoker, the staying up at night’ is easy, because I’m actually insomniac… hahaha…everyday wake up at 3-4am, dunno what to do. But discipline is another thing… LMAO… the world wide web is so full of temptation. Blog lah, youtube la, free online movies site la… LOL… but to be honest, i really do get wistful… if only I can be as disciplined as this when i was younger, perhaps, I would have achieved more… π *grunt* I had never intend to let people know that my name is Elizabeth… they called me Lizard when I was in school, you know… ARGHHHHHHH! Anyway, thank you for your wishes. π
Pete… beer? No way! I puke at the very aroma of beer, I have no idea why(I’m not kidding, I get pretty disgusted at the smell!)…. mamak session or tong sui session, can… LMAO…. ohhh…. or ice creammmmm…. lai, Pete, bring your kids come, Auntie belanja ice cream! π
Riverra… eh? LOL… yeah, i know what you’re talking about… but, i’m lucky…I guess…. ahahaha, cuz I’m kinda nocturnal and insomniac all in one….got extra time from it. But, i wish you luck in composing 15,000 more words… π I believe you WILL be able to do it!
Congratulations Cleff! I have been wanting to comment on your blog since last entry but my laptop was down and I don’t want to log into my accounts using other pcs or laptops XD.
Congratulations again. ^^ It’s the most satisfying thing to be able to complete a goal, no? Cheers for you!
Talking about education system, reminds me of the number of school subjects, the activity hours. I think University’s subjects are easier to manage and more student-friendly.
Kilmy… ahaha, thank you for your gratz, i really appreciate it. Wah, your laptop down? Now okay already? Actually, i had wanted to go to your journal and read too, but i couldn’t even login to my own LJ account after their upgrade… I emailed em and got em fix for me a few days ago, though, now can go LJ already. Well, it’s nice to know that I am able to discipline myself without my father standing behind my back, holding some cane… ahahaha…
Yes, I’m so glad you mentioned the education system, i was hoping that someone would comment on that. It’s very hard for kids to be discipline and enjoy learning in school, because it’s not really friendly to their mind, no kidding, tonnes of subjects to take, and you have to go through it from 7.45-2pm… can die! Ask me to go back to school, I’ll be kicking and screaming. Too bad our education system is not student friendly and do not encourage students to think out of the box. Everything is so rigid. Personally, I HATE SCHOOL, but I really love uni and college. It’s more flexible and easier to manage. In uni and college, we’re treated more like a human rather than a studying machine.
Awww, the award looks cute!! I want the award too!!
And btw, can i be your student? Hehehe π
LOL… Celine… π be my student? LOL… my students all kids nia leh, half our age… π They are orphans…
Hehe… we will stick with the Fairy then instead of cicak-women. kekek.
Well, do the best with our lives and no regrets loh.
You have seen my latest angry note. Argghhh.. cannot tahan the injustice. Still cannot get over the tot that a mob can beat up a women, in KL .. in front of police.
Yes, yes, pleas stick with Clef or fairy… i dun wan to be called lizard or Cicak anymore! OMG… the horror of school days! kids are really cruel. *shudder*
LOL… Indeed I have seen your angry note, Iwas also pissed when I saw your latest entry, Amoker. But, this is Malaysia… Malaysia Boleh, even boleh beat up a woman like that in public and no action was taken against those bastards who beat em up just because she is not a Malay. But at the moment, I’m in shock with the Mumbai Massacre… I’m really aghast!
Congratulations for the Nanowrimo! π
Whoaaa… you know what? I’m always so amazed with people who can write very long… As for me, after one short paragraph, I got stuck, don’t know what to say… if you read my blog, you will find that many of my posts only showed pictures, no words, coz’ I’m lost with words though I actually want to write something… Maybe you can tips for me, pleaseeee…
Oops.. I meant sharing me some tips how to write… π
Proud of ya sis!! =)
Selba….*waves* Thank you so much for your grats, writing lengthily has always been my err… specialty, not because I am good at writing, but because I am a very nosy busybody. In other words, I am a kaypo queen. LOL… I dun really have tips to give you on writing, but all I can say is, write from the heart, and you’ll do great. Dun treat your heart lightly, it have a lot to say. π
It’s okay if your blog have more pictures than words, sometimes, a picture worth a thousand words… look at me, i’m not a very graphic person. My blog is always plain. π
Seng…. huwaaaaaa…. my didi finally here… woots… miss ya… hohohoho… ur bday coming soon, big boi liao… huhuhu *wipes tears*
Congrats Cleffairy! You made it. I am now at 42k. I will finish it by tomorrow morning. Will be up all night trying to cross the finishing line.
Too bad you ain’t going to the TGIO party. I was hoping to see you there. Guess not.
But anyway…. Congrats again!
Dreamkid, thanks for the wishes. LOL… yeah, I finally made it, but the novel is not even close to finish. π Looks like I’ll be spending my December trying to finish it and editing it. π Damn. hey Hey, keep it up… 8k more words to go, you’re almost there.
I’m definitely not going, there’s too many issue there. Couldn’t possibly go alone when I have 9 kids under my charge who are just in primary school who participated in NaNoWriMo YWP Program…getting approval for them is already a problem especially at a place that sell alcoholic beverage. Then there is financial problem since it’s a strictly buy your own food>points to Centro Bar, the price points skyward. Those children under my charge are orphans, they cannot even afford to eat McD or KFC at whims, how the hell am I suppose to tell them to buy their own food? Dun look at me, I cannot afford to treat all of them at the same time. Will suck my savings dry. LOL.
Then my husband won’t be approving such party either. Write ins at Starbucks is fine with me, but not such party. π not my cuppa tea.
Authors party should be stay like what it should.
Celebrating it with alcohol when there is kids involve is something unacceptable.
And I hate when those person who in charge just think about them self and never think of other people, this is called misuse of power.
Authors party should be a party where authors having a peaceful place to discuss/exchange their ideas, relax while still stick to authoring topics.
But the person in charge of nanowrimo Malaysia is so damn selfish and didn’t even think of other people and plus, she didn’t even treat this as an author party. It looks like she is using this as an excuse to hold an adult party. Since she is going to hold an adult party just for fun, what for she say it is children friendly?
When I go and read in the nanowrimo forum for Malaysia region, I found that there is a lot bitches over there defending this bitch. No wonder oversea’s people think that Malaysian are full of bitches and dog. These kind of people is spoiling Malaysian’s reputation.
walaue!!!! i hope it’s not to late to congratulate on your achievements. i was on hiatus lately. clearing my mind on stuff. got rid of all garbage already. now my mind’s clear as hell. anyways, congrats again. pray you’ll receive heaps of similar awards or better still, be published and get recognized. by that time, dont forget me ya. hehehehe…..cheers and god bless.
Garfield, she’s using TGIO as an excuse to party only. Did you know that she’s not active as an ML throughout nanowrimo month? When I stopped my tongue lashing at her and stopped being active in the forum, she disappeared too. When i was active, I made sure the forumer get engaged in discussion about writing, but I really cannot help it over there, too many bitches, they get on my nerves!
Calvin, you went to ‘brain-wash’ your brain ah? LMAO… can clear from rubbish wan. For me, I cannot do that, my mind is always full of rubbish. thank you for the grats, but my novel is far from over. i just write this entry one for fun la, to reward myself for being disciplined throughout Nov(and hopefully will be a habit after this). LOL… if only I was as discipline as this when i was in high school, my dad would be the happiest man alive! publish ah? *sigh* Publishing it in Malaysia would be a bit of a problem. you know la… THEY WILL BLOODY CENSOR MY WRITING! Neh, let’s say one day I’m famous or something(which I highly doubt), I won’t forget everyone here. Friends when you’re famous, doesn’t mean that they are your real true friends., Right? π