Tag: NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo – Day 30 + 5

The novel proceeds, though not at the same pace as it did last November.

THe main thing here is that I have not just wrapped it up and put it in the bottom drawer can come back to it another time. Already done that, which is why I made it this years project, so that I could get it done.

But I underestimated the depth of tghe project, thinking I could get it finished.

The trouble is, these types of stories write themselves, and even if you are working to an outline, there’s always more to write to fiull in the gaps you couldn’t forsee when you write that outline.

Like Marigold. I forgot that, like my grand daughter, she had hidden talents and depths which never presented themselves when I first started.

Yes, she was a right royal ‘princess’ in unroyal ways, and the notion that over the quest she had to go on, that she would slowly, subtly, change from a bratty pest to a useful member of the team was envisaged, some of those new trait, thoughts, and abilities have presented themselves when least expected.

Now, she’s almost unrecognisable as the same girl who set out.

But the biggest part of the new story is her sister, Ophelia. I had not really fleshed out her character, not being too sure what she could get up to at home, but she is beginning to shine, and not in a way she might have envisioned for herself.

Perhaps adversary is a good teacher.

For the bean counters, whilst more has been written as various parts of the story proceed as ideas present, the latest word count is 3,245 words for a total so far of 94,128.

NaNoWriMo – Day 30 + 4

There ought to be a law against Christmas. OK, that makes me sound like the Grinch, and, after battling the crowds in shops and at the mall, it was better when COVID was circulating like a fire out of control.

I know that sounds bad, but I have better things to do than spend hours, first trying to find a parking spot, second, battle crowds, third, try and find a seat to get lunch, and fourth, wait forever to get out, stuck in a traffic jam – inside the shipping centre.

Just what are people thinking?

Anyway, I eventual go back home, after losing five hours of writing time, and being angry made it difficult to write. If only Chester was still her. I could vent to him, and he’d understand perfectly my annoyance.

And sage advice, why did you promise to go in the first place! Silly you!!

But eventually I got pen to paper and worked on the next part of the adventure, and mull over the legend, the one that few know the whole story of.

For the bean counters, latest word count is 3,254 for a running total of 90,883.

Memories of the conversations with my cat – 68

As some may be aware, but many not, Chester, my faithful writing assistant, mice catcher, and general pain in the neck, passed away some months ago.

Recently I was running a series based on his adventures, under the title of Past Conversations with my cat.

For those who have not had the chance to read about all of his exploits I will run the series again from Episode 1

These are the memories of our time together…

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This is Chester.  We’re both a little tired this morning.

I spent a little too much time on the next few chapters of my NaNoWriMo project and lost track of time.  It was going so well, I thought it best not to interrupt the flow of words.

But…

This morning, after getting to bed about 2:30 am, I found it hard to get out of bed.

Fortunately, as usual, I had the cat alarm clock wake me out of deep sleep to be informed that it was breakfast.

I looked at the clock and saw it was 6:30 am.

I mean to say, Chester was with me at 2:30 when I was writing, and he didn’t tell me that it was time to go to bed, much earlier than I did.

I think he enjoys torturing me like this.

So…

I get up, get him breakfast, some smelly fish food that even he turns his nose up at, and go out to the writing room with the intention of getting on with the story.

Next thing I know, there’s a gentle tapping on my forehead,

I wake up and it’s Chester.

What? I ask.  You can’t possibly want more food.

No.  I thought you were dead.

That’s amusing, he sees me asleep in bed and doesn’t think I’m dead.

How could you think that?

There are only two reasons why people become inanimate in their chair, they have suffered a heart attack or stroke, or they’re dead.

What about simply falling asleep because they’re too tired, and their faithful assistant didn’t tell them to go to bed earlier?

Look, let’s not make a beak deal out of this.  I was concerned.  Perhaps I won’t be next time.  A final glare and he jumps down off the keyboard, which left a page of endless d’s on the page I had been working on.

Perhaps he’s getting old and forgetful, or, suddenly he realises I mean more to him than just giving him food and cleaning the litter.  No, stop deluding yourself.  You’re his friend, he’s not your friend.

Oh, well, for a moment there…

Memories of the conversations with my cat – 67

As some may be aware, but many not, Chester, my faithful writing assistant, mice catcher, and general pain in the neck, passed away some months ago.

Recently I was running a series based on his adventures, under the title of Past Conversations with my cat.

For those who have not had the chance to read about all of his exploits I will run the series again from Episode 1

These are the memories of our time together…

This is Chester. He’s come down from his bed in our bedroom to see what the commotion is about.

He stops at the top of the stairs down into the lounge room and sees the TV.

I might have guessed, the Maple Leafs are playing, he says.

Yep, I say, gleefully, and they’re winning.

Its not over until you know what…

Way to be a spoilsport. Stop complaining and take a seat. It’s a new day, a new coach, and a new invigoration in the team.

He sits and does that wrap around thing with his tail that indicates irritability.

Don’t get your hopes up, he says. And shouldn’t you be out in the office working on your NaNoWriMo project.

Under control I say. It’s practically writing itself.

Is that a shake of his head?

NaNoWriMo – Day 30 + 3

Well, I’m still writing, though since the start of the grand children’s school holidays has arrived and I’m now the official child minder.

It’s just a constant job jeeping them fed, and amused (I’d like a dollar for every time they’ve said they’re bored) and it is making it difficult to write.

So, it is left to the wee small hours of the morning to get it done, and it is proceeding slowly.

Yesterday I hit a wall (not literally) and couldn’t progress any part of the story because my brain had ceased to work. That’s usually writer’s block or something like that, but it was a mental thing. I had three chapters on the go, and in writing a later one, I’d hoped it would fill in the gaps for the two prior chapters.

It did, eventually, and now it’s flowing again.

Until I get to that great white plain of nothingness, heading for the lookout.

For the bean counters, latest word count is 3,322 for a running total of 87,629.

Memories of the conversations with my cat – 66

As some may be aware, but many not, Chester, my faithful writing assistant, mice catcher, and general pain in the neck, passed away some months ago.

Recently I was running a series based on his adventures, under the title of Past Conversations with my cat.

For those who have not had the chance to read about all of his exploits I will run the series again from Episode 1

These are the memories of our time together…

This is Chester. He’s feeling very smug.

Our focus has mainly centred on getting the NaNoWriMo project done each day, but in between all of this, a number of issues have arisen.

The first, the Maple Leads, and what Chester calls my obsession with ice hockey.

He doesn’t get it. No one plays ice hockey in this country at the same level, and you can never find it mentioned anywhere, so why bother.

Besides he adds in his most cutting tone, they’re a bunch of losers.

So they’ve lost six games in a row and sacked the 50 million dollar coach, but…

To him it’s but nothing. Chester now refuses to watch the ice hockey with me, not until they win again. That 6-1 drubbing two games back was the start of the slide.

I tell him that we’re missing key players and with the newish lineup it takes time to work as a team.

Right.

So we move to God Friended Me.

What the hell is going on there. Miles and Cara are stumbling, with doubts seeded, Rakesh has just had his heart torn to shreds and the incoming Bishop is at a crossroads.

So, for a little early advice…

What’s going to happen to Miles and Cara?

Chester: I’m cynical, their the heart of the show, they won’t be forced apart. It’s all about the ratings.

What’s going to happen to Rakesh?

Chester: Draw out the angst for another 14 episodes, we’ll have to keep tuning on to see what happens.

And the bishop and his girlfriend?

Chester: Send them to another parish, they’re just a distraction we don’t need.

I’m inclined to agree with him.

Except about the Maple Leafs. They’re in Pheonix tomorrow, maybe with a new head coach they might pull off a miracle.

NaNoWriMo – Day 30 + 2

The story continues.

I have spent the last few days catching up with everything that didn’t get done during November, and find that only about half of what I wanted to do.

The in tray is about seven inches high, and daunting.

But I haven’t given up and I’m pressing forward and got another two chapters written, and a good start on another.

A direction I thought the story might go a week or so back now seems not to be the right way, and I’m outlining this and plot it’s impact on later storylines.

It’s like hitting a fork in the road, and you’re not sure which direction to take.

For the statisticians, a total of 3,141 words for the two days, making a total of 84,107.

How went my November

It went quickly. One minute it was the 1st and the next it was the 30th.

But then all NaNoWriMo Novembers seem to fly. Especially at the end when it seems you just posted the days work, and all of a sudden, it was the next day.

Because of the full commitment to the NaNo project, nothing else got done. IT didn’t mean that it wasn’t swirling around in my head, it was just there wasn’t enough time. Trying to maintain a social media presence, and write 3,000 words a day is impossible, so I had to abandon some of the social media tasks.

Now, I’m just exhausted.

Today I did something other than writing, a job that I’ve been meaning to get done for a while, finish painting the lounge room window frames. It’s not a large job, just time consuming, but it provided some relief from having to come up with new ideas for the story.

My NaNo project reached nearly 80,000 words for the month, and got to Chapter 55 of a planned 99. I had not expected it would take so many to cover the story. I am still working on it, and there will be updates throughout December.

As for everything that was on hold, work will recommence shortly.

NaNoWriMo – Day 30 +1

Yes, I know it’s over but the story isn’t.

So, while I have time before the festivities start, and I have to wrap endless presents, I’ll keep going and see how far I can get.

The story is still fresh in my mind and it would be a shame to stop.

Beside that, the bad witch is about to become really bad, and a man who thought he could trust her, discovers otherwise.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, our intrepid questers are about to find the odds are really stacked against them.

Hold that thought.

Todays words, 2,478, for a running total of 80,966.

NaNoWriMo – Day 30

It’s over, but it’s not over.

To be honest I didn’t think I’d get this far, because it takes a lot of effort to syphon time away from everything else I have on my plate.

I wish I was a full time writer.

That sounds like the title to a song, doesn’t it.

But, like everyone else who is trying to manage and juggle everything they have going on, I’m no worse of than just about ever other writer that’s not selling a million books a year.

That would be great, eh? A million books!

One day.

Maybe.

But, this story will continue after the end date, because I’ve made a promise that by the end of the year I would have at the very least a readable draft for them to read (and be critical).

Phew.

Time for some rest, and pick it up tomorrow.

For the record, todays effort produced 2,958 words, for a 30 day total of 78,488 words. That’s 57 chapters out of a planned 99.

Getting there.