Project Threesome: 39 068 words (me), 96 092 words (all)
Project Hero: 58 502 words
On this, the last half hour of the East Australian DST NaNoWriMo, Hero sits at about 60k. It's still not finished, but it's certainly getting there; I've just got to decide on the format of the mystical gates that the heroes have to beat in order to get to the Big Bad. Once my imagination kicks into gear it'll be done. I'm just glad December is NaNoFiMo - National Novel Finishing Month. Tongue-in-cheek but very, very needed, so thank you to whoever thought that up.
As for Threesome, I'm not so sure Freo and Sin are as worried about this fast-approaching deadline that I am. I suppose the fact that NaNo is almost over has hit me because my computer has been flashing 30 November at me all day, whereas they've barely started it. Maybe they'll be frantic when they wake. Even if they are, there's not much left for them to write for us to hit our 100k goal by Freo's midnight at... I think it's 3pm my time tomorrow, but it could be 4pm or 2pm. I'll have to check that out.
Anyway, there's just under 4k left for Threesome. That's not much more than a thousand words for each of us left to write. I really hope we can do it. I'd hate to get so close and fail. It'd be like getting 99 out of 100 on an exam - you just want to scream where did I lose that last mark? I figure sleep's going to be a long time coming tonight with our goal so close.
Also, isn't it weird: I've been getting ideas for potential stories for the last week or so. I hadn't had any in a while before this month. I guess once you unblock the creative waters and kick your butt into gear, they don't stop flowing until the river's dried up. I hope my river doesn't dry up once that clock ticks over to midnight. I think I'd die. It was bad enough when I hit 50k for Hero then didn't write anything for three days. Damn achievement-of-goal blocks.
I think I'm gonna go bum around on the NaNo forums until Freo and Sin wake up. Look out for my Day 30b blog entry soon. It'll be my last one.
I really think I did well this month.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Validated! [Day 26]
Project Threesome: 33 243 words (me), 82 207 words (all)
Project Hero: 55 526 words
Just validated Hero! The winner's certificate is so shiny. Look for a more detailed entry later, I'm trying to get back into writing Snooze right now.
EDIT: Okay, now that I have written a lot /lot/ more of Snooze, I feel comfortable blogging. When I say a lot /lot/, I mean, like, four thousand words. Yay me. We're still a good three to four thousand below our target for today, but considering Freo's Day 26 has only just started, I'm confident we can get there. Or at least I'm hopeful that we can, and if there's anything Snooze has taught me, it's that hope can keep you clinging 'til the last. He's an all or nothing guy, our Snooze.
As for Hero, I haven't written any more since I validated it earlier, but right now despite it being midnight I'm waiting for my washing to finish so I can whack it in the dryer. It's raining and wet and night and I am out of underwear. Funny how things slip past your notice like that when you're just so focused on writing instead. Anyway, what I was meaning to say was that since I am awake and waiting for the washing to finish, I might have a go at wringing out another Hero chapter.
I can feel the end approaching. It's lovely when that happens.
Project Hero: 55 526 words
Just validated Hero! The winner's certificate is so shiny. Look for a more detailed entry later, I'm trying to get back into writing Snooze right now.
EDIT: Okay, now that I have written a lot /lot/ more of Snooze, I feel comfortable blogging. When I say a lot /lot/, I mean, like, four thousand words. Yay me. We're still a good three to four thousand below our target for today, but considering Freo's Day 26 has only just started, I'm confident we can get there. Or at least I'm hopeful that we can, and if there's anything Snooze has taught me, it's that hope can keep you clinging 'til the last. He's an all or nothing guy, our Snooze.
As for Hero, I haven't written any more since I validated it earlier, but right now despite it being midnight I'm waiting for my washing to finish so I can whack it in the dryer. It's raining and wet and night and I am out of underwear. Funny how things slip past your notice like that when you're just so focused on writing instead. Anyway, what I was meaning to say was that since I am awake and waiting for the washing to finish, I might have a go at wringing out another Hero chapter.
I can feel the end approaching. It's lovely when that happens.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Back on Track! [Day 23]
Project Threesome: 28 495 words (me), 73 424 words (all)
Project Hero: 52 387 words
After kicking my butt into gear with Threesome... was it last night? Yesterday some time, I think... Freo and I managed to write yet another pivotal scene together yesterday. It's the first - and probably one of the only - joint scenes that will be written. It was mainly Mouse's POV as written by Freo, but she delved into Snooze's mind with her psychics and viewed his memories; the memories were from Snooze's POV as written by me. I love having psychic abilities in stories; when handled well, they can really develop characters, as well as allow for flashbacks without actually having flashbacks.
So at 70k, Snooze's memories are finally unblurred, and we finally were able to write out why he was a murderer in the first place. Which, phew, helped develop his relationship with Mouse. I was worried it'd get stuck at tense tolerance when it's supposed to be passionate love.
Well, passionate something else first, but developing into love! You know, when they realise they can't do this whole escaping from tyrannical slave society thing alone, and when they realise that Mitz really, really, really thinks that this can work. But before the love comes the sex and it's hard enough getting to that. (Haha.)
Anyway. Enough of my plot ramblings. For Hero I finally got unblocked. I don't know what was wrong, but I suspect it had something to do with the whole OMG FIFTY THOUSAND WORDS thing, and the whole not having a reward system anymore thing. (I had to throw out the whipped cream.) Today, I baked chocolate brownies, and they are proving very effective for rewards. There are some good things about being home for the holidays then.
Let's see if I can get another chapter started before I go to bed...
Project Hero: 52 387 words
After kicking my butt into gear with Threesome... was it last night? Yesterday some time, I think... Freo and I managed to write yet another pivotal scene together yesterday. It's the first - and probably one of the only - joint scenes that will be written. It was mainly Mouse's POV as written by Freo, but she delved into Snooze's mind with her psychics and viewed his memories; the memories were from Snooze's POV as written by me. I love having psychic abilities in stories; when handled well, they can really develop characters, as well as allow for flashbacks without actually having flashbacks.
So at 70k, Snooze's memories are finally unblurred, and we finally were able to write out why he was a murderer in the first place. Which, phew, helped develop his relationship with Mouse. I was worried it'd get stuck at tense tolerance when it's supposed to be passionate love.
Well, passionate something else first, but developing into love! You know, when they realise they can't do this whole escaping from tyrannical slave society thing alone, and when they realise that Mitz really, really, really thinks that this can work. But before the love comes the sex and it's hard enough getting to that. (Haha.)
Anyway. Enough of my plot ramblings. For Hero I finally got unblocked. I don't know what was wrong, but I suspect it had something to do with the whole OMG FIFTY THOUSAND WORDS thing, and the whole not having a reward system anymore thing. (I had to throw out the whipped cream.) Today, I baked chocolate brownies, and they are proving very effective for rewards. There are some good things about being home for the holidays then.
Let's see if I can get another chapter started before I go to bed...
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Not bad... [Day 21]
Project Threesome: 27 206 words (me), 68 630 words (all)
Project Hero: 50 578 words
Despite driving over 600km today, I sat down at my computer this evening - this very very hot evening, god I hate how it doesn't cool down at night - and beat myself into writing for Threesome. We've fallen behind our required word count again, but with my butt-kicking 4 000 word session tonight I pulled us over Freo's day 20 limit, at least. Hopefully she or Sin can fill in the gap to 70 000 to cover day 21.
Also Snooze, why won't you just admit that you want them for more than just sex. It's not that hard. Come on. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease. Pleeeeeeeeease. ...okay I guess not. Maybe in another 20 000 words' time.
Project Hero: 50 578 words
Despite driving over 600km today, I sat down at my computer this evening - this very very hot evening, god I hate how it doesn't cool down at night - and beat myself into writing for Threesome. We've fallen behind our required word count again, but with my butt-kicking 4 000 word session tonight I pulled us over Freo's day 20 limit, at least. Hopefully she or Sin can fill in the gap to 70 000 to cover day 21.
Also Snooze, why won't you just admit that you want them for more than just sex. It's not that hard. Come on. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease. Pleeeeeeeeease. ...okay I guess not. Maybe in another 20 000 words' time.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
WINNER! [Day 20]
Project Threesome: 22 742 words (me), 59 748 words (all)
Project Hero: 50 001 words!
LOOK AT THAT SHINY GREEN BAR FOR HERO. LOOK AT IT. NOW COME JOIN MY PARTY.
Project Hero: 50 001 words!
LOOK AT THAT SHINY GREEN BAR FOR HERO. LOOK AT IT. NOW COME JOIN MY PARTY.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Fever [Day 19]
Project Threesome: 22 742 words (me), 59 648 words (all)
Project Hero: 46 000 words
A bunch of my friends are heading off tomorrow, so there's no way I'm going to have the Hero story done and bound and wrapped for them to take with them. That's okay. I was trying to finish it as quick as I could to give it to them before they left, but now I'm giving up on that idea. I'll take the time to make it pretty instead of make it fast.
So I saw New Moon. Bahahaha.
Project Hero is going rather excellently! (Yes that's a word.) I hit 43k yesterday, introducing the last of the main characters, the princess who's to break the ogre's curse, and the diamond merchant. I also gave my mind-broken healer's invisible friend a name. (Roger.) As for Threesome, we're sorting out some structure issues right now, trying to fit Mouse's behaviour in with the timeline. Have I mentioned how much I like the shiny green bar on the NaNo profile for that story? I really, really do. :D
Anyway. I can't think of anything else to put in this blog, I'm much too tired. Goodnight, lovely empty room.
Project Hero: 46 000 words
A bunch of my friends are heading off tomorrow, so there's no way I'm going to have the Hero story done and bound and wrapped for them to take with them. That's okay. I was trying to finish it as quick as I could to give it to them before they left, but now I'm giving up on that idea. I'll take the time to make it pretty instead of make it fast.
So I saw New Moon. Bahahaha.
Project Hero is going rather excellently! (Yes that's a word.) I hit 43k yesterday, introducing the last of the main characters, the princess who's to break the ogre's curse, and the diamond merchant. I also gave my mind-broken healer's invisible friend a name. (Roger.) As for Threesome, we're sorting out some structure issues right now, trying to fit Mouse's behaviour in with the timeline. Have I mentioned how much I like the shiny green bar on the NaNo profile for that story? I really, really do. :D
Anyway. I can't think of anything else to put in this blog, I'm much too tired. Goodnight, lovely empty room.
Monday, November 16, 2009
No Exams! [Day 17]
Project Threesome: 22 742 words (me), 58 630 words (all)
Project Hero: 36 184 words
I'm finally free of exams! That means I can write and read whatever and whenever I want, stay up as late as I want, do whatever I want. Oh my god freedom never tasted so sweet. Still, it's abominably hot right now, and I can't concentrate properly to write anything massive. I might just work on the next chapter of Hero or something.
Also, my Project Threesome account on NaNo now has a shiny green bar, all thanks to Freo's write-in on - I think it was her Saturday? She wrote 8000 words in twelve hours! We're so proud of her. She really kicked our word count up there where it should be after we all took that day off. Since then I've added about three and a half thousand, and Sin's added a good thousand. It's going well, indeed.
...Yaaay no more exams. *dances*
Project Hero: 36 184 words
I'm finally free of exams! That means I can write and read whatever and whenever I want, stay up as late as I want, do whatever I want. Oh my god freedom never tasted so sweet. Still, it's abominably hot right now, and I can't concentrate properly to write anything massive. I might just work on the next chapter of Hero or something.
Also, my Project Threesome account on NaNo now has a shiny green bar, all thanks to Freo's write-in on - I think it was her Saturday? She wrote 8000 words in twelve hours! We're so proud of her. She really kicked our word count up there where it should be after we all took that day off. Since then I've added about three and a half thousand, and Sin's added a good thousand. It's going well, indeed.
...Yaaay no more exams. *dances*
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Argh! [Day 14]
Project Threesome: 19 149 words (me), 45 113 words (all)
Project Hero: 30 080 words
As you can see, I didn't manage to write a single word today. I racked up nine hours of study and a few more chatting on my (shiny) Google Wave, and I watched the new episode of Stargate Universe (I have never wanted to hug Eli so much before now and I gotta admit, Scott is slowly growing balls, but TJ and James are far and away better than stupid Chloe), and I ate some food (college food was surprisingly good tonight). But did I write anything? No.
So with ten minutes left until midnight, I am left feeling completely guilty and yet brain dead. I need a first sentence to start writing, or the first few words, or the first word, but I can't think.
These exams are eating my braaaaaaaaaaaain. Zombie exams. Oh god. Nightmares for me tonight.
Project Hero: 30 080 words
As you can see, I didn't manage to write a single word today. I racked up nine hours of study and a few more chatting on my (shiny) Google Wave, and I watched the new episode of Stargate Universe (I have never wanted to hug Eli so much before now and I gotta admit, Scott is slowly growing balls, but TJ and James are far and away better than stupid Chloe), and I ate some food (college food was surprisingly good tonight). But did I write anything? No.
So with ten minutes left until midnight, I am left feeling completely guilty and yet brain dead. I need a first sentence to start writing, or the first few words, or the first word, but I can't think.
These exams are eating my braaaaaaaaaaaain. Zombie exams. Oh god. Nightmares for me tonight.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wow [Day 14]
Project Threesome: 19 149 words (me), 45 113 words (all)
Project Hero: 30 080 words
So today - Saturday, even if it is only barely - I finally scored an invite to Google Wave. It's pretty fantastic already and I can see myself wasting a lot of time chatting to Freo and Sin on there. I love procrastination. Well actually I hate it. Well. You know what I mean. There's a fine line and all. Also I will need to study pretty intensively over this weekend, which cuts down on the time I can write. Exams, why must you be in the middle of NaNo?
On the writing side of things, in the last couple of days as you can see I have managed to pull Hero up to 30k and all of us in Threesome have worked together to pull it up to 45k. We're almost halfway there! So exciting.
To go into details: apart from a few little snapshot scenes we're into the fuzzy side of Threesome, which is most excellent. We kind of broke Snooze so we need to fix him now. As for Hero, I threw Kyra the good witch off a bridge (but She Got Better), and created an evil playground-slash-lair for the minor bad guy. Funny thing, nobody actually knows the minor bad guy is the minor bad guy. Well they can guess from the hint of an evil overlord controlling all - er, evil - but they have no idea who the evil overlord is. But I have hidden him among them! Mwahahahacough.
So by the end of this weekend I want to be up to 35k for Hero, 50-53k for Threesome, and I want to have put in some long hours studying for this stupid Crime exam. Dammit I don't /want/ to write four short answers and an essay. Cue foot stomping. -- Also, my mum sent me sixteen pieces of lattice slice that I got on Thursday and now there's one left. Hmmm. That might be why my whipped cream is looking a little neglected...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Dragon! [Day 11]
Project Threesome: 13 530 words (me), 33 810 words (all)
Project Hero: 26 631 words
So I love dragons! Yesterday, at the end of the last chapter of Project Hero (which I am thinking of titling simply 'Hero'), I slipped in a little tidbit for the chapter ahead. Yes, that's right, I finally got to use the classic fantasy line, 'on the edge of the map were the words "Here be dragons"'. And today I got to write about the dragon!
Only, funny thing. I was at dinner with everyone - I live in residence at college - and me and my friend who the hero is based on were talking about the story. He's the only one who's reading it so far and he's keeping up with me, always eager to read the next part. Of course he's eager, the story's about him! It pays him a lot of compliments! Anyway, we were talking and I asked him if he was excited about the dragon and he was like 'absolutely! Is it a ghost dragon?'
And my first instinct was to say 'that's stupid, your weapon couldn't fight off a ghost dragon', but... well, I went with ghost dragon anyway. The idea stuck in my head! I ended up going with the idea that his weapon couldn't touch the dragon and was in fact useless, because really, the dragon's a ghost even if it can breathe fire! (Magic.) But his weapon can definitely destroy the artifact that's keeping the ghost's spirit trapped haunting the castle grounds. So. Totally just spoiled that for ya. (PS. Here is a picture I found for reference while writing the ghost dragon.)
Also the chapter ends with someone falling off a bridge. Cliffhanger ending! ...Literally!
I ended up writing over 2000 words today for Hero and nothing for Threesome, but I didn't feel too bad. Sin's getting in the mood to write again, which is excellent. It means mine and Freo's greyed out text, our next scenes which could be written and tailored to fit whatever Sin writes, can be blacked in soon. I can't wait to see what Sin comes up with.
Off to update my NaNo total now. (I love watching the graph jump up.) Then maybe I'll watch some How I Met Your Mother. I think I deserved it after totally passing my psychology exam today. Psych five! ...No? No one? Well, Barney'll psych five me.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Weird [Day 10]
Project Threesome: 13 530 words (me), 33 810 words (all)
Project Hero: 24 242 words
It is the weirdest thing, but yesterday, Monday, none of us felt like writing. Sin didn't write because she was worn out from her writing the day before (she managed to push out 1700 words despite being sick as a dog, which, come on, r-e-s-p-e-c-t), and Freo and I didn't write because... we didn't write. I had no reason, but I was just unmotivated. Nothing like last week when, when I sat down to finally write, I was able to punch out a few thousand words; when I sat down to write yesterday it was a struggle to get to 800. It took me almost all day to get that, and even then, I didn't write it for Threesome, I wrote it for Hero.
I blamed it on writing a difficult character - she is just so hard to capture on paper; I swear, the others waltzed out on the page, but not her - but really, I just didn't want to write yesterday. The Week Two Blues: they have hit me and hit me hard. I panicked today when I looked at our goal for Threesome and realised we were about four thousand words behind despite hitting 30k. Thankfully Freo and I both sat down and wrote out our next respective scenes (in grey text to show they don't fit the narrative yet) while we wait for Sin to recover a bit more, so we're only just below our goal now and technically Freo's Day 10 hasn't started yet. We'll get there.
On a more positive note: can't believe we've hit 30k. *boogies on down*
Now I am going to go and take another whack at Hero. I am going to get you down on paper, Lauren, whether your character wants to be there or not, because, dammit, I want another hit of lovely lovely sugar. Cue the cracking of knuckles.
EDIT: Finished the next chapter of Hero! Another 1900 words to my tally, booyeah. Plus I finished on a palindrome that includes the meaning of life. Twice. I think this is a good sign for my exam tomorrow.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Weekend [Day 8]
Project Threesome: 11 850 words (me), 29 006 words (all)
Project Hero: 21 452 words
As you can see, both my word counts took a rather pleasing leap forward this weekend. That would be because I stayed up all night Friday just writing, writing, writing, and didn't get to sleep until 10:30am on Saturday, and then wrote some more on Saturday night, and wrote some more today! I even skipped lunch both days. Saturday, I slept through it, but today I was awake and writing and completely missed it. It's hilarious.
...Hm. You'd think for all that time I'd have even more to show for my word count, but I tend to write in bursts. I need frequent breaks to satisfy my short attention span or else I'll get totally unmotivated and say 'screw it' and go to bed or read TVTropes.com or something like that.
For Project Threesome, I introduced Sin to Write or Die and she absolutely loves it. I can't write with something like that but I'm glad I could help her find something to make her write. Rewards systems (oh my god whipped cream is the /best/ reward ever) apparently don't work too well for her. Damn diet, as she says. As for Snooze, I'm rather pleased with the way he's settling down. We're doing quick timeskips now to get to the more interesting parts of the story, and he's not so blurry and confused anymore. Boy's got a sharp mind and I'm finally getting to use it. Mwahaha.
And for Project Hero, I introduced another character! I told my friend she would be introduced into the story about halfway through last week, and to make up for the delay I gave her a rather spectacular entrance, which pleased her to no end. Of course, her introduction's what I've been working towards this entire last week, so now I'm a bit lost for motivation. I'm sure I'll think up something else to fixate on soon. It's time for them to head to the Royal Castle, I'm fairly sure; that'll help with my motivation. I love castles.
Also I love Disney villain songs ("No mooooore Mr Nice Guy, not for me!") the end.
Project Hero: 21 452 words
As you can see, both my word counts took a rather pleasing leap forward this weekend. That would be because I stayed up all night Friday just writing, writing, writing, and didn't get to sleep until 10:30am on Saturday, and then wrote some more on Saturday night, and wrote some more today! I even skipped lunch both days. Saturday, I slept through it, but today I was awake and writing and completely missed it. It's hilarious.
...Hm. You'd think for all that time I'd have even more to show for my word count, but I tend to write in bursts. I need frequent breaks to satisfy my short attention span or else I'll get totally unmotivated and say 'screw it' and go to bed or read TVTropes.com or something like that.
For Project Threesome, I introduced Sin to Write or Die and she absolutely loves it. I can't write with something like that but I'm glad I could help her find something to make her write. Rewards systems (oh my god whipped cream is the /best/ reward ever) apparently don't work too well for her. Damn diet, as she says. As for Snooze, I'm rather pleased with the way he's settling down. We're doing quick timeskips now to get to the more interesting parts of the story, and he's not so blurry and confused anymore. Boy's got a sharp mind and I'm finally getting to use it. Mwahaha.
And for Project Hero, I introduced another character! I told my friend she would be introduced into the story about halfway through last week, and to make up for the delay I gave her a rather spectacular entrance, which pleased her to no end. Of course, her introduction's what I've been working towards this entire last week, so now I'm a bit lost for motivation. I'm sure I'll think up something else to fixate on soon. It's time for them to head to the Royal Castle, I'm fairly sure; that'll help with my motivation. I love castles.
Also I love Disney villain songs ("No mooooore Mr Nice Guy, not for me!") the end.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Exhausted And Elated [Day 7]
Project Threesome: 9 298 words (me), 21 954 words (all)
Project Hero: 17 060 words
Can't believe I've almost been NaNo-ing for a week! It feels so strange. My exams start next Wednesday, two weeks from tomorrow I'll be driving home and just over three weeks from now I'll be submitting my winning novels for validation. (Just you wait.)
And I think I ended the week in a good way. I was feeling a little write-deprived, and I figured out my reward scheme yesterday, so I decided to pull an all-nighter and get some good writing done. I ended up with another 2 500 words for Hero and just over 3 400 for Threesome, both of which are awesome totals. I'm almost up to the point where another character is to be introduced in Hero, and for Threesome, we're getting ever closer to the fuzzies. Gotta get through the walking ghost stage first, though.
My rewards scheme, in case you were interested, is a mouthful of whipped cream every time I churn out another thousand words. I gave myself another one at the end even though I didn't hit seven thousand because I only yawned twice the entire night, and I've been discussing plot pretty extensively with Freo for the last week - possibly to the extent of a few thousand words or so. Some nice stuff we'll turn into scenes, that's for sure.
Not only did I write a crapload (well, for me) last night, I also did half a semester's worth of psychology study and an end-of-semester quiz worth 10% of my overall grade. Doesn't sound like much but every bit helps. Man, was I on a roll last night. Now, though, I think I'm starting to zone. Think I'll brush my teeth and drop off for a couple of hours' sleep, have lunch, and see if I can introduce this character into Project Hero. Yay motivation, I love you!
Project Hero: 17 060 words
Can't believe I've almost been NaNo-ing for a week! It feels so strange. My exams start next Wednesday, two weeks from tomorrow I'll be driving home and just over three weeks from now I'll be submitting my winning novels for validation. (Just you wait.)
And I think I ended the week in a good way. I was feeling a little write-deprived, and I figured out my reward scheme yesterday, so I decided to pull an all-nighter and get some good writing done. I ended up with another 2 500 words for Hero and just over 3 400 for Threesome, both of which are awesome totals. I'm almost up to the point where another character is to be introduced in Hero, and for Threesome, we're getting ever closer to the fuzzies. Gotta get through the walking ghost stage first, though.
My rewards scheme, in case you were interested, is a mouthful of whipped cream every time I churn out another thousand words. I gave myself another one at the end even though I didn't hit seven thousand because I only yawned twice the entire night, and I've been discussing plot pretty extensively with Freo for the last week - possibly to the extent of a few thousand words or so. Some nice stuff we'll turn into scenes, that's for sure.
Not only did I write a crapload (well, for me) last night, I also did half a semester's worth of psychology study and an end-of-semester quiz worth 10% of my overall grade. Doesn't sound like much but every bit helps. Man, was I on a roll last night. Now, though, I think I'm starting to zone. Think I'll brush my teeth and drop off for a couple of hours' sleep, have lunch, and see if I can introduce this character into Project Hero. Yay motivation, I love you!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
T-Minus... [Day 5]
Project Threesome: 5 831 words (me), 16 044 words (all)
Project Hero: 12 838 words
I haven't managed to write a single word in either project today. Freo pushed out another four hundred words of dialogue for the next part of her scene in PT, but even she was unmotivated - the characters wouldn't emote for her, so all we've got is conversation for that part. (We'll add the rest later, I s'pose.) I don't know why none of us felt like writing today - well, Sin's injured and sick, but Freo and I are fine. It's odd that we both lose it on the same (relative) day.
Still, I got quite a bit of study done. And I found out that the ghosts in Pokemon Tower are actually kind of scary in Fire Red. "Get out... *red flashy eyes*!"
Anyway. I've still got three hours left of today. Maybe I'll stare at the screen for a bit. Let you know how it goes!
EDIT: I squeezed out just over a eleven hundred words of Project Hero in the half hour before midnight struck. (The ogre can speak now!) No punishment for me today! Which is good, because I haven't actually decided what my punishment for not writing will be. Loss of chocolate priveliges, perhaps. Now for sleep!
Project Hero: 12 838 words
I haven't managed to write a single word in either project today. Freo pushed out another four hundred words of dialogue for the next part of her scene in PT, but even she was unmotivated - the characters wouldn't emote for her, so all we've got is conversation for that part. (We'll add the rest later, I s'pose.) I don't know why none of us felt like writing today - well, Sin's injured and sick, but Freo and I are fine. It's odd that we both lose it on the same (relative) day.
Still, I got quite a bit of study done. And I found out that the ghosts in Pokemon Tower are actually kind of scary in Fire Red. "Get out... *red flashy eyes*!"
Anyway. I've still got three hours left of today. Maybe I'll stare at the screen for a bit. Let you know how it goes!
EDIT: I squeezed out just over a eleven hundred words of Project Hero in the half hour before midnight struck. (The ogre can speak now!) No punishment for me today! Which is good, because I haven't actually decided what my punishment for not writing will be. Loss of chocolate priveliges, perhaps. Now for sleep!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Flying! [Day 5]
Project Threesome: 5 831 words (me), 15 028 words (all)
Project Hero: 11 697 words
Both projects are going rather well, I'd say! Freo has been having a ton of fun with Mouse, and the political part of the story is beginning to shine through. Don't ask me why, but I find politics - in real life, and in books - to be fascinating. The interactions and the conniving and one-upmanship, I love watching it all unfold and analysing the moves as they're made. Don't get me wrong, I'd be crap at making the next move, but telling you why that guy made that move, that's what I'm good at. The Empire trilogy by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts is my absolute favourite political fantasy; the main character becomes head of her family when it's at its lowest point, and by the time she's an old woman in the third book, it's the most prominent family in the Empire. Now that's fascinating. I can only hope our political subplot will be anything like that.
Of course, the next Mitz part might be some time in coming. A week or two ago, Sin bashed her thumb against a table or something like that, and she suspected it was broken or severely sprained. However she doesn't have the funds to go to the hospital, so she's just left it. And of course it's gotten worse. She can barely type at this stage. Freo suggested Sin dictate Mitz's part to her over Skype. I hope we end up doing something like that. We need Mitz's part. He's the glue that holds Mouse and Snooze together.
As for Project Hero, that took another leap forward today. Since the characters are based on my friends (even to the extent of sharing their names, though that's just for the first draft), they seem to just waltz out onto the page with no help from me. There's a hilarious part where one of the characters thinks the main character is coming onto her, and her reaction is just so what my friend would do that I can hear her voice and see her hands on her hips in my head. It's just - excellent. I love it when that happens. When it all comes together like that. Anyway, tomorrow the hero, the ogre and the witch (what a power trio!) will visit the Swamp of the Night Lily to find their guide on the next part of their quest. Mwahahaha.
Procrastination really is the devil, though. I wrote a good three thousand words on Project Hero, then headed over to my friend (who is the main character in the story) to show him the newest parts. Then I didn't leave his block of college for another, oh, five hours. When I left I had computer pokemon and Merlin season one in my possession, and I've been playing pokemon for a good three hours. I only stopped because my wrist started to hurt. WHY AM I NOT STUDYING. If I'm not writing I should at least be studying. I have exams in a week! Procrastination is the devil, I tell you. Yikes.
Here's hoping we figure out something to get Sin back on the wagon tomorrow. I'm hankering for a nice long Mitzy exposition. But I'm also hankering for Mouse being affectionate towards Snooze and that is not happening any time soon, so. We'll see what we'll see.
Project Hero: 11 697 words
Both projects are going rather well, I'd say! Freo has been having a ton of fun with Mouse, and the political part of the story is beginning to shine through. Don't ask me why, but I find politics - in real life, and in books - to be fascinating. The interactions and the conniving and one-upmanship, I love watching it all unfold and analysing the moves as they're made. Don't get me wrong, I'd be crap at making the next move, but telling you why that guy made that move, that's what I'm good at. The Empire trilogy by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts is my absolute favourite political fantasy; the main character becomes head of her family when it's at its lowest point, and by the time she's an old woman in the third book, it's the most prominent family in the Empire. Now that's fascinating. I can only hope our political subplot will be anything like that.
Of course, the next Mitz part might be some time in coming. A week or two ago, Sin bashed her thumb against a table or something like that, and she suspected it was broken or severely sprained. However she doesn't have the funds to go to the hospital, so she's just left it. And of course it's gotten worse. She can barely type at this stage. Freo suggested Sin dictate Mitz's part to her over Skype. I hope we end up doing something like that. We need Mitz's part. He's the glue that holds Mouse and Snooze together.
As for Project Hero, that took another leap forward today. Since the characters are based on my friends (even to the extent of sharing their names, though that's just for the first draft), they seem to just waltz out onto the page with no help from me. There's a hilarious part where one of the characters thinks the main character is coming onto her, and her reaction is just so what my friend would do that I can hear her voice and see her hands on her hips in my head. It's just - excellent. I love it when that happens. When it all comes together like that. Anyway, tomorrow the hero, the ogre and the witch (what a power trio!) will visit the Swamp of the Night Lily to find their guide on the next part of their quest. Mwahahaha.
Procrastination really is the devil, though. I wrote a good three thousand words on Project Hero, then headed over to my friend (who is the main character in the story) to show him the newest parts. Then I didn't leave his block of college for another, oh, five hours. When I left I had computer pokemon and Merlin season one in my possession, and I've been playing pokemon for a good three hours. I only stopped because my wrist started to hurt. WHY AM I NOT STUDYING. If I'm not writing I should at least be studying. I have exams in a week! Procrastination is the devil, I tell you. Yikes.
Here's hoping we figure out something to get Sin back on the wagon tomorrow. I'm hankering for a nice long Mitzy exposition. But I'm also hankering for Mouse being affectionate towards Snooze and that is not happening any time soon, so. We'll see what we'll see.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
My Turn [Day 3]
Project Threesome: 5 831 words (me), 13 557 words (all)
Project Hero: 8 671 words
As you can see from the altered word counts above, Sin finished Mitz's part today, Freo wrote some of Mouse's POV and I was able to pick up with Snooze and do my part for the word count. I added over three thousand words; I'm very proud of myself. And those three thousand words, crap, what a doozy of a ride. I've drained three water bottles in my quest to write that one scene. (The more agitated I am, the more I have to step away and chug some water to cool off.) I've also had dinner, dessert, two conversations with floormates (I live on-campus; one of those conversation was about NaNo! Yay for explaining!) and I've cleaned off my desk. I am amazing at procrastination.
It's odd when you're so tied up with your character that you instinctively know what they call the toilet (Snooze calls it a lavatory, the pretentious wanker), or you get frustrated and confused because they're frustrated and confused, or you can define that their anger is not hot but cold, not bursting out of them, but creeping out. It's odd, and you just want to slap yourself and tell yourself to QUIT IT and STEP AWAY FROM THE JELLY DOUGHNUTS -- I mean, STEP AWAY FROM THE CHARACTER -- but you can't because you're really on a roll and it's being so solidly inside the character's head that's getting you there. There's moments when I could swear I am Snooze. When Mouse's insults cut at me like they would at him, if they were real.
I s'pose in a way they are real. How else would I know what Snooze calls the toilet? I certainly don't call it the lavatory.
I feel emotional and my head is still muddled. Stop it, Snooze. Seriously, his brain is so confused right now. Vague, unspoilery plot to follow. He wants to be good, but then again, he doesn't. He wants to remember things clearly, but then again, he doesn't. He wants to be punished, but then again, he doesn't. The only thing he knows for sure is that what he did was a good thing, the right thing to do - but then, it shouldn't be! Poor boy. His blurry mind'll settle down over the next few days, I hope. He'll come to the point where 'I'll be good unless I'm given a reason not to be, I'll take punishment if it's justified, I'm going to ignore the fact that I can't remember anything straight and the bad thing was the right thing to do.'
Oh please let him settle soon. I can't take this confusion for very much longer. I miss the very first part of the story where Snooze's mind was clear. It's good for plot that we blurred up his mind, but it's so not good for my sanity. I wonder what Freo and Sin will think when they wake up.
There goes another water bottle.
Project Hero: 8 671 words
As you can see from the altered word counts above, Sin finished Mitz's part today, Freo wrote some of Mouse's POV and I was able to pick up with Snooze and do my part for the word count. I added over three thousand words; I'm very proud of myself. And those three thousand words, crap, what a doozy of a ride. I've drained three water bottles in my quest to write that one scene. (The more agitated I am, the more I have to step away and chug some water to cool off.) I've also had dinner, dessert, two conversations with floormates (I live on-campus; one of those conversation was about NaNo! Yay for explaining!) and I've cleaned off my desk. I am amazing at procrastination.
It's odd when you're so tied up with your character that you instinctively know what they call the toilet (Snooze calls it a lavatory, the pretentious wanker), or you get frustrated and confused because they're frustrated and confused, or you can define that their anger is not hot but cold, not bursting out of them, but creeping out. It's odd, and you just want to slap yourself and tell yourself to QUIT IT and STEP AWAY FROM THE JELLY DOUGHNUTS -- I mean, STEP AWAY FROM THE CHARACTER -- but you can't because you're really on a roll and it's being so solidly inside the character's head that's getting you there. There's moments when I could swear I am Snooze. When Mouse's insults cut at me like they would at him, if they were real.
I s'pose in a way they are real. How else would I know what Snooze calls the toilet? I certainly don't call it the lavatory.
I feel emotional and my head is still muddled. Stop it, Snooze. Seriously, his brain is so confused right now. Vague, unspoilery plot to follow. He wants to be good, but then again, he doesn't. He wants to remember things clearly, but then again, he doesn't. He wants to be punished, but then again, he doesn't. The only thing he knows for sure is that what he did was a good thing, the right thing to do - but then, it shouldn't be! Poor boy. His blurry mind'll settle down over the next few days, I hope. He'll come to the point where 'I'll be good unless I'm given a reason not to be, I'll take punishment if it's justified, I'm going to ignore the fact that I can't remember anything straight and the bad thing was the right thing to do.'
Oh please let him settle soon. I can't take this confusion for very much longer. I miss the very first part of the story where Snooze's mind was clear. It's good for plot that we blurred up his mind, but it's so not good for my sanity. I wonder what Freo and Sin will think when they wake up.
There goes another water bottle.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Motivation. Falling. Motivation. Rising. [Day 3]
Project Threesome: 2 756 words (me), 9 659 words (all).
Project Hero: 8 646 words.
I have figured out that I either need to be not writing at all or constantly writing. This isn't a recent revelation, mind you; I've known for quite some time. I thought, though, that with this NaNo endeavour, I wouldn't get stuck at all. I mean, we're aiming for 100,000 words. Who gets stuck in the first 10,000?
Well, when it's not my turn to write, it's quite understandable that I'm stuck. -- Oop, 'scuse me, gotta capture a fly. Oh, now there's two of them. -- Okay, I'm back. I really hate flies buzzing in my room. Can't think straight when they are. Anyway. It's not my turn to write right now, and it hasn't been since the first day. I have to wait for Mitz (Sin) to speak up some more and really solidify himself as a character, before Snooze (me) can get any more screen time. Still, I'm sitting on two and a half thousand words. That covers me so far, I think.
So since I can't work on the joint-effort NaNo right now, I pulled out a project I've been playing at the last couple of weeks and really got started on it. I think I'm going to be doing two NaNo projects. Ambitious for a first-timer, aren't I.
Anyway, this new one, it's nowhere near as serious as the other. I dropped my friends in a fantasy setting with traditional fantasy roles and I'm playing with them to see how they react. It's actually really easy to set them into roles. I was surprised. And I keep giving my friends the pages to read and they seem excited about it. I mean, I'm totally insecure, so I keep thinking they could be faking it, but on the outside it seems as if they like it. Which is great. One of my friends, the main character, really, said he wants to know what happens next. That's like the greatest compliment you can give a writer.
So Day 3 brings a second project. I think I'll call the joint-effort Project Threesome and my solo effort Project Hero. Remember that.
Between the two projects my motivation and morale is fluctuating. When I woke up this morning I didn't feel like writing at all. I even tweeted about how I thought it wasn't supposed to get this bad until Week Two.
I fear I ain't seen nothin' yet.
Project Hero: 8 646 words.
I have figured out that I either need to be not writing at all or constantly writing. This isn't a recent revelation, mind you; I've known for quite some time. I thought, though, that with this NaNo endeavour, I wouldn't get stuck at all. I mean, we're aiming for 100,000 words. Who gets stuck in the first 10,000?
Well, when it's not my turn to write, it's quite understandable that I'm stuck. -- Oop, 'scuse me, gotta capture a fly. Oh, now there's two of them. -- Okay, I'm back. I really hate flies buzzing in my room. Can't think straight when they are. Anyway. It's not my turn to write right now, and it hasn't been since the first day. I have to wait for Mitz (Sin) to speak up some more and really solidify himself as a character, before Snooze (me) can get any more screen time. Still, I'm sitting on two and a half thousand words. That covers me so far, I think.
So since I can't work on the joint-effort NaNo right now, I pulled out a project I've been playing at the last couple of weeks and really got started on it. I think I'm going to be doing two NaNo projects. Ambitious for a first-timer, aren't I.
Anyway, this new one, it's nowhere near as serious as the other. I dropped my friends in a fantasy setting with traditional fantasy roles and I'm playing with them to see how they react. It's actually really easy to set them into roles. I was surprised. And I keep giving my friends the pages to read and they seem excited about it. I mean, I'm totally insecure, so I keep thinking they could be faking it, but on the outside it seems as if they like it. Which is great. One of my friends, the main character, really, said he wants to know what happens next. That's like the greatest compliment you can give a writer.
So Day 3 brings a second project. I think I'll call the joint-effort Project Threesome and my solo effort Project Hero. Remember that.
Between the two projects my motivation and morale is fluctuating. When I woke up this morning I didn't feel like writing at all. I even tweeted about how I thought it wasn't supposed to get this bad until Week Two.
I fear I ain't seen nothin' yet.
Background and Kickoff [Day 2]
Project Threesome: 2 756 words (me), 8 193 words (all).
So it's Monday the second of November, 10:40pm to be exact. My name is Noc (it's not) and I will be recording my adventures through my first ever National Novel Writing Month in this little blog. To whoever finds this: good job trawling through the muck of the internets to find me! I thought I'd never be found.
Aaaanyway. Yesterday at 3pm, my friends and I kicked off our NaNo. Why 3pm, you may ask. Well, 3pm on the east coast of Australia (except for those Queensland weirdos) is midnight in Florida. Why are we going by Florida time? That would be because we are members of the internet generation, and we don't need to be on the same continent to co-write a novel. That's right. I, Noc, am in Australia. Sin, as she will be known in this here blog, hails from Ireland. And Freo is currently residing in the sunny, oddly-shaped state of Florida, USA. The twenty-first century, huh.
So Sin, Freo and I met on Twitter. You may have heard of it. You'd think 140 characters would be restricting, limiting, but for some reason, it's... yeah, freeing. Yeah I did. We mostly started talking, back in March I think it was, because we all write. (I'm glossing a bit.)
Over the course of our chatting, we came to create these characters. We write a lot, original stuff and fanfiction, and we picked a universe and started to role-play a bit. Freo created Mouse, a real spitfire with a buttload of fear motivating her. Sin's character is the sweet guy Mitz, no confidence but lots and lots of care. And then there's my guy, Snooze, who's a real softie. You know, underneath the stoic icing and asshole sprinkles. They've all got a long way to go in terms of character development.
Which, of course, is perfect for National Novel Writing Month. You may or may not know that NaNoWriMo is when aspiring noveliers sit down and whack out 50,000 unedited words in 30 days. But since there's three of us, we're going for 100,000. Taking turns writing POV sections, it's currently day two and we're sitting on more than 8,000 words. That's 8%! Woo!
The first two days of NaNo have flown past. Freo and I have discussed more backstory in the last forty eight hours than we have in the past month. (We've purposely been avoiding the topic.) And I have discovered that I am a very, very impatient writer.
See, I've written Snooze's parts already. Two and a half thousand words in the first eight. (The other six is Mouse. Well, she's kind of important. And Freo is prolific.) And Sin has only just come online now, so Mitz's POV is only just beginning. While we have been waiting for her, I have played with an editing file (for later), a report card (for keeping track of progress), this blog (and I suck at blogs, a lot) and an entirely new NaNo that I'm going to be doing on my own. Which I have written 6000 words of already.
So when I get the writing itch, I really get it. I hope that I can keep it up all this month. I have exams and moving home and a job to get. This is gonna be good.
...Time for more How I Met Your Mother.
So it's Monday the second of November, 10:40pm to be exact. My name is Noc (it's not) and I will be recording my adventures through my first ever National Novel Writing Month in this little blog. To whoever finds this: good job trawling through the muck of the internets to find me! I thought I'd never be found.
Aaaanyway. Yesterday at 3pm, my friends and I kicked off our NaNo. Why 3pm, you may ask. Well, 3pm on the east coast of Australia (except for those Queensland weirdos) is midnight in Florida. Why are we going by Florida time? That would be because we are members of the internet generation, and we don't need to be on the same continent to co-write a novel. That's right. I, Noc, am in Australia. Sin, as she will be known in this here blog, hails from Ireland. And Freo is currently residing in the sunny, oddly-shaped state of Florida, USA. The twenty-first century, huh.
So Sin, Freo and I met on Twitter. You may have heard of it. You'd think 140 characters would be restricting, limiting, but for some reason, it's... yeah, freeing. Yeah I did. We mostly started talking, back in March I think it was, because we all write. (I'm glossing a bit.)
Over the course of our chatting, we came to create these characters. We write a lot, original stuff and fanfiction, and we picked a universe and started to role-play a bit. Freo created Mouse, a real spitfire with a buttload of fear motivating her. Sin's character is the sweet guy Mitz, no confidence but lots and lots of care. And then there's my guy, Snooze, who's a real softie. You know, underneath the stoic icing and asshole sprinkles. They've all got a long way to go in terms of character development.
Which, of course, is perfect for National Novel Writing Month. You may or may not know that NaNoWriMo is when aspiring noveliers sit down and whack out 50,000 unedited words in 30 days. But since there's three of us, we're going for 100,000. Taking turns writing POV sections, it's currently day two and we're sitting on more than 8,000 words. That's 8%! Woo!
The first two days of NaNo have flown past. Freo and I have discussed more backstory in the last forty eight hours than we have in the past month. (We've purposely been avoiding the topic.) And I have discovered that I am a very, very impatient writer.
See, I've written Snooze's parts already. Two and a half thousand words in the first eight. (The other six is Mouse. Well, she's kind of important. And Freo is prolific.) And Sin has only just come online now, so Mitz's POV is only just beginning. While we have been waiting for her, I have played with an editing file (for later), a report card (for keeping track of progress), this blog (and I suck at blogs, a lot) and an entirely new NaNo that I'm going to be doing on my own. Which I have written 6000 words of already.
So when I get the writing itch, I really get it. I hope that I can keep it up all this month. I have exams and moving home and a job to get. This is gonna be good.
...Time for more How I Met Your Mother.
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