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When words fail... Penned on Dec. 20, 2008
I haven't been much of a writer of late. My current work-in-progress, dubbed TBU, sits dismally just under 10,000, and any attempt to further the word count results in a couple paragraphs of stale writing and a plot that barely crawls along.
This is my first work to deal with a multitude of main characters, so perhaps that's part of my problem. The entire story is growing and stretching and becoming more complex before my eyes. It began as the rather simple story of a displaced, bitter prince. Now, more characters have come on board, each bringing their own history, motives, and curious plot twists. There's Jarrett, the headstrong nobleman whose patriotic fanaticism drives him mercilessly; Gavin, the crown prince who is preparing himself to make two countries one; Muriel, undoubtedly my least favorite character, and yet taking on a life of her own as a young girl carrying the burdens of her country and her family.
There is an endless stream of supporting characters at my beck and call. A few of them are begging for more prominent places in the story; some are simply fun and enjoyable to meet along the way. One in particular leaped off the page and created his own subplot. A few are still nameless, though their characters are as vibrant as a living, breathing human.
Where to go from here? The world and the characters continue to grow before my eyes, but something is lost when I go to put the words on paper. The story drags. The characters, real and living and vibrant as they are, seem content to live in my head without putting their lives on paper. The entire project has become more of a personal adventure than anything else; I don't know that TBU will ever reach a conclusive end. It is in a perpetual growth spurt. I'm not going to stifle the story for the sake of writing "The End." The whole thing has become a confusing contradiction: it is both inspiring and frustrating, enjoyable and tiring.
Maybe someday I'll learn to master this art called writing... |
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NaNoWriMo, Day 29--The End Penned on Nov. 29, 2008
After twenty-nine days of writing, sweating, procrastinating, eating chocolate, and finally writing more, I am a NaNo winner once again. I forgot how good it felt. My novel sits at 50,038. I imagine it has another 5,000 or so before it'll come to a close. But forget ending for the time being. I HAVE THE 50,000.
This year's NaNo was an entirely new experience for me. As some of you know, after writing the last post on Day 12, I lapsed into NaNo Overload Mode. There was too much happening. So I didn't write a word for a solid two weeks, and my wordcount sat at 16,000. I was resigned to my fate of just not making it this year.
Then, Monday the 24th rolled around. And suddenly, with every ounce of my being, I realized that Beth could never forgive herself for quitting NaNo.
Six days, 34,000 words. I've done it in five. I am feeling...supremely happy.
Signing out, |
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NaNoWriMo, Day 12--Priorities Penned on Nov. 12, 2008
Alas and alack, my NaNo desktop calendar informs me that today my word count should be at a victorious 20,003 words. Mine currently sits at 16,600. My plot has run amuck and my characters are revolting in more ways than one.
Still, I find myself not altogether unhappy with my progress. Over the past few days, my family was on a camping trip with friends, which was great fun and probably more worthwhile than writing 4,000 words, anyway.
The stunning fall scenery of central Texas
I've been thinking about priorities, and just how far I should push myself to make it to 50,000--because honestly, I could do it without much trouble if I had the willpower to sit and write for hours on end. I'm not sure I'd want to, though. There are so many better ways I could spend my time--school work or music or family time or outdoor fun with my dogs and my horses. Do I really want to force myself to churn out 50,000 words of writing that will in all probability never amount to anything?
I suppose this is what would be called Week Two Blues, since most Wrimos hit trouble around this time. It happened to me last year, too, and I quit writing altogether for several days before making the decision to push myself to 50k. Still, I'm not sure if it'll work out the same way this year. For the present, I'll keep writing away and try not to worry about being behind. 40k may be a more reasonable goal.
Lo and behold, there are 260 words that might have gone toward NaNo! Perhaps they could fit in as a dialogue somewhere...
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NaNoWriMo, Day 4--Procrastination Penned on Nov. 4, 2008
My NaNo novel, which was begun with such joy at 12:01 AM November 1st, now sits dismally at 8,000 words. Only 42,000 to go, I like to tell myself. Four days into the month, I have already hit the stage of unhappy writing, ridiculous conversations thrown in just for the sake of more words, and a desperate desire to procrastinate. Thanks to all my Wrimo friends, I have pressed on--slowly but surely. Tonight, I decided to come here and procrastinate before attempting to make my 10k goal for the evening.
Also, I have been favored with a lovely procrastination tool (otherwise known as a tag) from Thrill Author, and shall proceed to dawdle over it:
1. If you were to describe yourself as a color, what would it be? Hm. Either dark blue, or brown, or black.
2. What is your favorite animal? Need you ask? Horses.
3. What is your favorite musical instrument? This is an awful question. My favorite instrument to play is the viola...or the cello, or the piano. The instrument that fascinates me most is the bagpipes. The instrument I love to listen to most is... *can't decide*
4. Do you have a favorite number? Sure. 16. Why not....
5. Roller coasters or boat rides? Boat rides. *shudders at the thought of rollercoasters*
6. If you were an animal, what would you be? I'd like to be a horse, I think.
7. What coin best describes you? Probably a nickel. *giggles and wonders why that answer popped into her head*
8. Do you like tags? During NaNoWriMo, I welcome any and every tag available to me.
9. Do you wish this tag would end? No. As soon as it ends, I must go write, which means dealing with awfully boring characters who are doing absolutely nothing no matter how hard I beg them to just DO SOMETHING. They're awful. I miss Cael.
10. Morning or evening? Evenings!
11. Mugs or just plain cups? Depends on what's in it.
12. Describe yourself as a...: Geeky writer? Celtic cowgirl? Weird homeschooler? Cronic procrastinator? Blue-bellied Yankee? It's all good.
13. Fiction or non-fiction? Fiction. Unless it's the Andrews Raid.
14. Do you wish you were somewhere else? Not really.
15. Do you like candy or do you not like candy? Candy... *eats a wintergreen mint*
Hey, what happened? The tag ended!!! *is frantic* Oh, wait. I think I got the Six Random Things tag, awhile ago. Might as well do that one, too.
1. I shall not be convinced that my characters are anything but living, breathing human beings.
2. The above fact excludes Nicole, Philippe, and any other character with a French name.
3. When I was eleven, and something sparked my interest in the Civil War, I firmly believed that George Washington was a participant. (Don't any of you Southerners say I was biased, now.)
4. I have a love/hate relationship with NaNoWriMo.
5. I eat Altoids and Tic Tacs and any other breathmint like candy.
6. Several years ago I started a fantasy novel written entirely in notebooks. One day I woke up hating it, ripped every single page out, and tossed it in the trash.
7. I am being incredibly wicked by creating Question 7 on this tag, when in reality it has only 6.
8. I detest writing scenes in which nothing happens.
9. The above has been happening quite a lot during NaNo.
10. I don't touch velvet.
11. I write my A's funny.
12. I'm awful at math, particularly geometry.
13. I really don't like the thought of writing tonight...
14. ...hence the fact that this tag is continuing.
15. I can't think of anything else random.
16. I had pancakes for breakfast this morning.
17. I don't like Elsie Dinsmore.
18. I much prefer GA Henty.
19. I wish I could talk with a Scottish accent.
20. I adore riding bareback on my black Arabian, Lance.
21. I'm sick of writing 1,600 a day.
22. I can't wait for Thanksgiving.
23. I cannot delay the inevitable any longer.
Well. The time has come for me to depart--many thanks for your undying attention. Fare thee well.
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Musings Penned on Oct. 23, 2008
Well, NaNoWriMo is nearly upon all us eager young writers. I'm thrilled, excited, worried, and a bit annoyed--inspiration has struck for TBU, just in time for me to devote all my attention to my NaNo novel. Introducing....When the World was Young, a historical fiction novel set in 1500s France. 1572, to be precise. Yes, that's St. Bartholomew's Massacre--incredible time period, and it should make an interesting story. I'm looking forward to writing it.
A new character has waltzed into TBU, bringing the former plot crashing down behind him. He tells me his name is Jarrett and he wants to be in this story. Can you believe it? I listened to him! I even gave him the first chapter! Word count for TBU 5 has gone from 0 to 420, so I guess Jarrett's arrival isn't all that bad.
In other news...well, there really isn't much else. Excuse the short post. Jarrett wants me to go write.
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