Category: NaNoWriMo

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 7

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

What’s the best way to recover from being shot by the police? Go on an all-expenses paid holiday.

Within reason, of course.

Of course, he was on holiday, not quite all expenses paid, but for the duration of the conference. Getting shot and having a prolonged stay in hospital put paid to that, but there is an upside.

The police, in exchange for silence and an indemnity, are happy to send our intrepid conference goer on a tour of Italy. There are benefits on either side, the police don’t get a lawsuit, and he gets to spend a few days touring.

Of course, Maryanne decided to tag along. She had been filling in for him at the conference, unbeknownst to him, and lined up a couple of free venues. In exchange for favourable reviews.

But what is the real reason Maryanne is along for the ride, or she might put it, ‘carry the bags’?

That saying ‘if it’s too good to be true, it probably is’ sticks in the back of his mind, but he doesn’t discourage her from coming with him.

Is he lucky, or is he cursed?

More tomorrow.

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 6

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

It’s around about now, coming to the end of the first week when we should be settling into the edit.

For the pantsers, the ideas run really well, and then the magnitude of the job kicks in, and the words dry up, and that terrible piece of paper staring at you, begging to be written on, becomes a nemesis. When editing, evidence of that shines through, because the continuity may suffer, and the writing might be disjointed. So far, it is not so evident.

But…

I’ve learned over the years that writing a 50,000-word novel needs a degree of planning, and once the day’s allocation has been written, get some ideas down for the next, or for the next few.

Any ideas, whether they fit or not, that flesh out the story in outline form. I do this at the end of the writing session most times, but, sometimes when I’m in the middle of a piece, an idea will pop into my head.

It’s a good distraction.

Unless, like me, you suddenly find yourself writing that piece because the story is pouring out like water from a tap.

Today is another good day, and I’m lost in the relationship between two of our characters, and they are sparring. He suspects she is not what she seems, and she is trying to allay his fears, each trying not to be too conspicuous about it.

I’m also getting to travel myself, even if it is in an armchair, and it’s great that I can go almost anywhere in the world, but I’m settling for some islands off Italy. One day I might actually be able to visit them in person.

…

More tomorrow.

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 11

You can’t keep a good person down

…

So, what do you do when you discover your life’s work has been hijacked, not only by people you thought you could trust but that unfortunately includes your father.

Guinevere is in charge, making changes, hiring cronies, and pandering to the passed-over celebrity who is now the face of her organisation.   An advertising campaign that cost a lot of money, salaries and benefits to the management and talent, and something else entirely for her father.

He had been waiting in the wings a long time to get in the door, and her incapacity was his one chance.  She had kept him at bay, and if it had not been for her illness, and the accident, he’d still be in Siberia.

So, what does a stranger in her own castle do?

Plot against those insidious creatures that have taken over.

This is where we discover the plans, she implemented with Howard just before she was incapacitated.  That and the investigations she had Monte the private investigator undertake on all of those now working in her organisation.

A very interesting collection of individuals, all of whom had something to hide, and because of this, a means of leverage.

Plans are drawn up, and shots are fired over the bow as a warning.  Everyone has been told, the proverbial is about to hit the fan.

…

Words today, 2,013, for a total of 20,075

“Mistaken Identity” – The Final Editor’s Draft- Day 5

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

What would you do if you were mistaken for someone else?

What if when you answer a knock on the door to your hotel room, and the police crash their way in with bullets flying everywhere in a show of unnecessary force.

Of course, the police don’t know you are not the criminal, and facing a possible disaster, do what they have to, to apprehend the man they believe is a murderer.

Our main character now has time to contemplate the ramifications of what just happened in hospital. So much for attending the conference.

Of course, he has other things to think about, the self-confessed gate crasher Maryanne. The adage, if something is too good to be true, it generally is.

Looking forward, there’s some plotting to do.

How can it be possible that our main character has a doppelganger? At the moment it’s just a case of someone who looks like him, and the police have ruled him out as the man they’re looking for.

It’s a story that’s going to play out in a few chapters’ time.

…

More tomorrow.

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 6

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

It’s around about now, coming to the end of the first week when we should be settling into the edit.

For the pantsers, the ideas run really well, and then the magnitude of the job kicks in, and the words dry up, and that terrible piece of paper staring at you, begging to be written on, becomes a nemesis. When editing, evidence of that shines through, because the continuity may suffer, and the writing might be disjointed. So far, it is not so evident.

But…

I’ve learned over the years that writing a 50,000-word novel needs a degree of planning, and once the day’s allocation has been written, get some ideas down for the next, or for the next few.

Any ideas, whether they fit or not, that flesh out the story in outline form. I do this at the end of the writing session most times, but, sometimes when I’m in the middle of a piece, an idea will pop into my head.

It’s a good distraction.

Unless, like me, you suddenly find yourself writing that piece because the story is pouring out like water from a tap.

Today is another good day, and I’m lost in the relationship between two of our characters, and they are sparring. He suspects she is not what she seems, and she is trying to allay his fears, each trying not to be too conspicuous about it.

I’m also getting to travel myself, even if it is in an armchair, and it’s great that I can go almost anywhere in the world, but I’m settling for some islands off Italy. One day I might actually be able to visit them in person.

…

More tomorrow.

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 11

You can’t keep a good person down

…

So, what do you do when you discover your life’s work has been hijacked, not only by people you thought you could trust but that unfortunately includes your father.

Guinevere is in charge, making changes, hiring cronies, and pandering to the passed-over celebrity who is now the face of her organisation.   An advertising campaign that cost a lot of money, salaries and benefits to the management and talent, and something else entirely for her father.

He had been waiting in the wings a long time to get in the door, and her incapacity was his one chance.  She had kept him at bay, and if it had not been for her illness, and the accident, he’d still be in Siberia.

So, what does a stranger in her own castle do?

Plot against those insidious creatures that have taken over.

This is where we discover the plans, she implemented with Howard just before she was incapacitated.  That and the investigations she had Monte the private investigator undertake on all of those now working in her organisation.

A very interesting collection of individuals, all of whom had something to hide, and because of this, a means of leverage.

Plans are drawn up, and shots are fired over the bow as a warning.  Everyone has been told, the proverbial is about to hit the fan.

…

Words today, 2,013, for a total of 20,075

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 6

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

It’s around about now, coming to the end of the first week when we should be settling into the edit.

For the pantsers, the ideas run really well, and then the magnitude of the job kicks in, and the words dry up, and that terrible piece of paper staring at you, begging to be written on, becomes a nemesis. When editing, evidence of that shines through, because the continuity may suffer, and the writing might be disjointed. So far, it is not so evident.

But…

I’ve learned over the years that writing a 50,000-word novel needs a degree of planning, and once the day’s allocation has been written, get some ideas down for the next, or for the next few.

Any ideas, whether they fit or not, that flesh out the story in outline form. I do this at the end of the writing session most times, but, sometimes when I’m in the middle of a piece, an idea will pop into my head.

It’s a good distraction.

Unless, like me, you suddenly find yourself writing that piece because the story is pouring out like water from a tap.

Today is another good day, and I’m lost in the relationship between two of our characters, and they are sparring. He suspects she is not what she seems, and she is trying to allay his fears, each trying not to be too conspicuous about it.

I’m also getting to travel myself, even if it is in an armchair, and it’s great that I can go almost anywhere in the world, but I’m settling for some islands off Italy. One day I might actually be able to visit them in person.

…

More tomorrow.

“Mistaken Identity” – The Final Editor’s Draft- Day 5

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

What would you do if you were mistaken for someone else?

What if when you answer a knock on the door to your hotel room, and the police crash their way in with bullets flying everywhere in a show of unnecessary force.

Of course, the police don’t know you are not the criminal, and facing a possible disaster, do what they have to, to apprehend the man they believe is a murderer.

Our main character now has time to contemplate the ramifications of what just happened in hospital. So much for attending the conference.

Of course, he has other things to think about, the self-confessed gate crasher Maryanne. The adage, if something is too good to be true, it generally is.

Looking forward, there’s some plotting to do.

How can it be possible that our main character has a doppelganger? At the moment it’s just a case of someone who looks like him, and the police have ruled him out as the man they’re looking for.

It’s a story that’s going to play out in a few chapters’ time.

…

More tomorrow.

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 10

A third of the way

…

Part one sets the scene, we are introduced to the characters, and we get some insight into the machinations of business and the underlying problem of Agatha’s health.

It could be for any number of reasons, hard living when younger, and a little bit older too, it could be the pressures of work, the pressures of motherhood, trying to find the right man knowing he doesn’t exist and worry about people trying to take your money.

Being titled and wealthy is not a benefit, it’s really a curse.  It often works to her advantage, but in others, well, it just doesn’t.

Her health issues have so far been undiagnosed.  She has seen any number of doctors, and none can find what is wrong.  Lethargy, constantly tired, often feeling nauseated, always at the mercy of common colds and viruses, the notion of taking a few months off to try and recover is not an option.

The thing is, the answer to her problems, getting qualified people to run her organisation was a good idea, and she thought she had picked the right people.  And once they start, the subtle changes begin, the little things like being left out of the loop, that sense that she is being spied on, paranoia fed by the illness, and observation, cause her to become unpredictable, then, at the height of it, after discovering what is a revelation, she is incapacitated.

In a sense, she had planned for just such an eventuality, in another, it was almost inevitable.

“Mistaken Identity” – The Final Editor’s Draft- Day 4

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

The writing proceeds at a steady rate because the ideas are there. There’s planning, but not too far into the future because, like any relationship, the one between the current two main characters must develop, or die.

I was waiting to see where their interaction takes us.

But then, our main character now must confront the notion he had a doppelganger, and not only that but he is also a criminal who just murdered someone, and his face is all over the television.

And this is an exact double as if he had a twin brother.

The thing is, as far as he’s aware, he’s an only child.

But, there’s a knock on the door, and things are about to get very hectic…

…

More tomorrow.