Only five days left, today included, and I’m suddenly five days behind and nearly 10,000 words below today’s goal. That last week was one busy one, with lots of Thanksgiving mayhem, and I didn’t get any time to write while I was with family. Unfortunately, this week has some major assignments due for school, so it may be a few late nights if I intend to win — and I do intend to win.

Bring on the coffee!

9:32 am | Category: Nanowrimo | | 2 Comments

I know I haven’t been replying to comments, but I have been reading and enjoying them. Once Nanowrimo is done, I need to work on some php code and fix my ability to reply to comments on Wynderlon.com — it’s kind of neurotic. But thanks for the encouraging words, guys! I have taken a few breaks; last Thursday I went to bed at 8pm, I was that tired. But, since then, I’ve been sleeping. And this week, the one before Thanksgiving, isn’t going to be very difficult. I only have 3 days of classes and then a 4-day weekend! Although, at least 2 of those days will be with family, so I doubt I’ll have time to work on my word count.

I’ve gotten behind twice due to schoolwork and just not enough hours in the day, but I’ve managed to make up the word count — and get a little ahead! My goal is to get ahead enough so that I won’t have to write on Thanksgiving. I’ve really been enjoying this novel. It’s my first urban fantasy and although I’ve read quite a few of them, and a quite a few stories with vampires, werewolves, fairies, etc., I don’t think I’ve ever written a novel with those creatures in it. Not only that, but I’ve created a few fantasy creatures of my own, like the Luguse. They lived in an area that would now be in the middle east and they lived next to a river that became the foundation of their religion and culture. The river had magical properties which eventually changed their genetic makeup and now the Luguse can technically live forever (the only way to kill them is to destroy their brain); they can regenerate any body part, even if they are just a head. The whole story revolves around the Luguse, their past, and the fact that people have begun to make drugs out of their blood (it’s illegal, but when did that stop anyone?) because in humans Luguse blood creates a feeling of euphoria and calm.

Heh, listen to me gush about my plot. It’s a good sign, it means I like it. And I know that I’m probably not going to finish the story in 50,000 words — probably more like 70,000. It’s also just going to be the first book in an ongoing series. Anyway, here’s a little excerpt. Remember that this is very rough stuff, I haven’t done any editing and I think I wrote this particular part somewhere around midnight, so there may be a few grammar issues that I should have caught, but didn’t:

(more…)

12:41 pm | Category: Nanowrimo | | No Comments

So it’s day 8 and I’m somewhere in the 11k region (I’ll update the counter later today). I’ve been writing every minute I’ve had free time, and even when I technically haven’t (boring classes are a good time to get a few notes jotted down in one’s notebook). Of course this was in the middle of all the other stuff I had to do — this week was yet another brutal one, I’m praying next week will be better — and I’m pretty sure my brain is becoming unhinged. Three nights I’ve gone to sleep after 2am!

So is it surprising that when I got to class this morning and was signing in (I hate attendance — especially in college). Suddenly, I realized that I hadn’t written down my name, I’d written down my character’s name! I laughed at myself (and got a few looks because of it) and quickly crossed the name out and wrote my own. So, basically, I’ve got NANOWRIMO on the subconscious and the conscious.

4:23 pm | Category: Nanowrimo | | 3 Comments

Since the NANOWRIMO word counter seems to be on the fritz, I figure I’ll update here too. I’m at 6,612 words. I know, a little below day 4 minimum but I was having difficulties with the plot and spent most of the day free-plotting* in a notebook. Then, in frustration, I whimpered to John and he asked like 2 questions: “Whose the main character? What’s the setting?” and popped out an idea that got me back to the free-plotting and eureka, I had it. My conflict.

I gaped at him and he shrugged and said, “I have hundreds of ideas and chronic writer’s block.” I think being uninvolved in the insanity that is NANOWRIMO helps, too. I mean, how much can you write and think before your brain goes mushy? But, he’s being a dear, even asking me everyday how it’s going, and of course helping with the ideas when I’m stuck and not sure I can even write my own name anymore.

Anyway, I’m tired. Whew! This week is going to be insane. I have 2 huge tests, 3 works to critique, a job interview (and interview clothes to buy), and a lesson plan to write up. And I need to be at 15k by this weekend, too. Youch.

*Free-plotting is basically like free-writing, only it’s a little more structured and plot related. I put something I’m stuck about on the top of a notebook page. In this circumstance, “Who is the bad guy?” and then just begin listing possibilities: “virus, assassin, monster, government agency” anything. Then I web each option I like, putting the possible who, what, when, and whys down. I don’t restrict myself. It could be: “virus -> spread by ____? -> government experiment?” and just keep going with short phrases, ideas, possibilities, so on and so forth. Whatever I like, I choose and roll with it. Maybe I’ll upload my notebook page here later, if I’m feeling in a show-and-tell mood.

9:21 pm | Category: Nanowrimo | | No Comments

Well, NANO begun and it was a lot of fun going to the kick-off party. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays (although the commercialization is not appreciated. I remember when I could buy a costume for $20 tops, now as an adult I’m expected to dish out $100 for a nice-looking costume? Doesn’t seem right) and going to the kick-off party was like celebrating it. John doesn’t celebrate Halloween, so it’s usually just me figuring out what to do. The only bummer is that I didn’t do my usual Halloween tradition: see a scary movie. But then, Halloween on a weekday is always a bummer.

The kick-off party ended for me around 1am. Between 12am and 1am, I started off strong, getting about 1850 words on my novel-in-progress. Unfortunately, I have already hit one snag: I don’t know who “the bad guy” is, right now I’m just flying blind, laying down the groundworks. As usual, my story ideas always start with a character: I got the idea when imagining my main character and the other main [secondary?] character. Now I just need to figure out what The Problem will be…

Here we go! Hello November!

9:18 am | Category: Nanowrimo | | No Comments