So Here I am Once More....

Apologies to Marillion for the title.  Once a gain Nanowrimo, or write a novel in a month, or Oh I am so far behind I will never catch up, is upon us again.  I've described what it is before, but check out the linkif you're interested in learning more, or taking part. Last year ended in an epic fail.  This year may have the same unhappy ending.  True to form I have no clear idea for a story that will stretch out to the target of 50000 words.  There are a few crumbs of ideas that are floating around the cold dregs of long forgotten black coffee in the stained, cracked mug that is my imagination.  If you read this and wish to comment on which you think I should tackle I would be most grateful.  Surprised, but grateful.

Ok, easy option.  Sci-fi; an idea I've banded around my head when trying to beat insomnia.  A sort of action, thriller, who dunnit thing.  Starts off on earth, but it ends on up on a peculiar shaped agricultural planet.  There in one main protagonist who ends up on a life path he doesn't want due to the intervention of his best childhood friend who has gone a little bit cuckoo.  It might be a bit of a gore fest.

Next option: Inspired by the style of Sophies World, the main character is a middle aged man.  He is faced with a situation which challenges his views on gender.  Not quite as high brow as the journey exploring philosophy in Sophies World, but a chance to explore, and learn more about the complex issues surrounding gender identity.

I could re-write last years kidult failed attempt, or I could add endings to some of my 'wins', that hit the word count, but left the story hanging.

And finally, as my wife asks me to write every year, a dirty book.  I'm not sure if this is a goer, and it might get me in to trouble with both the obscene publications squad, and the missus when she realises just how sordid my imagination could be.

There are also still a few days to have an epiphany. Fingers crossed!

Here we go, here we go, here we go....

This years Nanowrimo or National Novel Writing Month is underway.  I completely missed yesterday, which left me playing catchup.  I have now caught up doing a little over two days targets counts in one day.  My novel is a fantasy story which gives you great scope for making stuff up without having to do too much actual research.  The main character is a boy, who has an unhappy upbringing.  No he doesn't have a zigzaggy scar, or a letter carrying owl.  I don't know quite what adventures he will get up to, but be sure they will be unrealistic, especially for a boy his age.  I don't have any doubt I will reach the designated 50k target, and with any luck I might actually draw the story to a conclusion, or at least to an acceptable cliff hanger.

Here we go again....

We've broken the back of October, which can only mean one thing.  in a couple of weeks All Saints day will be the start of a month where all wordy loving crazy people can sit, bend their brains to creating a short novel in thirty days.  Nanowrimo is nearly here.  I am doing it again this year!  There, I've said it.  It feels so good to get that out of my system. One thousand, six hundred and sixty sevenish words a day is all it takes to reach the target for this challenge.  My aim for this year is to actually finish the book, as well as reaching the target wordcount.  Wish me luck!

It’s all happening

My story isn’t progressing that quickly, but I have a gay encounter, a spurned seductress, a broken nose, and shady family history.  I do have a rough idead of where I want the story to go, but it is getting it there that will be the challenge.

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Caught up

I am ahead of schedule after falling a little behind. I was on a roll last night, and probably could have squeezed out a few more paragraphs, but I was on the laptop, and my legs were getting too warm.  I’m resisting the temptation to sneak in a few hundred words at work this year, however I might do a little during lunch, which I feel is legitimate.

So what of the story.  So far I have been mainly writing character introductions.  Only for a coupe of the main characters so far.  The others might get more of a look in on the second draft.  Oooo ‘ark at ‘im with his second draft talk.  I have just started to sketch out some of the main locations too.  There are some places I really want to get in there, but the time isn’t right.  There’s also some scenarios I want, but am resisting using them too soon.  The story will have to play out.

Fortunately the fact that the characters are developing a life of their own has made it easier to work in some useful plot devices which are far better than I could have contrived without their help.  I’m glad these guys don’t have DNA as the possibility they might get cloned is far too disturbing to contemplate.

Well, in the words of the overused phrase, Onwards and Upwards.

It is happening already

It’s early days, but already my story is wriggling, and twisting to get out of my control.  My glib ideas for my characters were not good enough for them, and they are moulding their own destinies. I still want to persue my original plot, but that might get a little more difficult as the writing goes on.  I’m ahead of the necessary daily word count to achieve the final goal, which is great as I was way behind yesterday.  I’ve stopped for the night as I need to sleep on how the story will unfold.  If I carry on writing this evening it will spiral right of of my grasp, and that might be just a little too much.

It has begun

I should be increasing my wordcount, but I wanted to announce I had started.  Nanowrimo is here again, and I nearly bottled it.  My wife Jane persuaded me to continue this year.  So with only the whisker of an idea I have started this year’s attempt at a short novel.  It starts with a dream sequence.  That’s all you need to know for now ;)