I WON NANOWRIMO!!!

Just a few weeks ago, I was furiously typing on my laptop, trying my best to put down as many words as possible, worrying that I would not make my November 30th deadline. Yep, after a 3 year hiatus, I threw myself back into the madness that is NaNoWriMo. It was the first time in what seemed like forever that I finally felt like I had time to focus on speed writing my way through a novel.

This year was particularly worrisome. Because, not only did I have to deal with days where I wasn't able to write, I started with little more than a vague idea and a bucket of determination. Normally, my brainstorming sessions start in August and by the time November rolls around, the story would be pretty much fleshed out in my mind,  complete with character development a full story outline. That was not the case this time around. This year, I picked an idea or my novel at the very last minute. But try as I might, I couldn't think of a single thing that helped to expand on this idea. No characters, no plot line. October 31st came around and I completely changed what I was going to write my novel about. And I do mean completely. New setting, new genre, a new and  unknown cast of characters. Everything was being started from the beginning and I had 24 hours to figure out how this new thought and blank canvass was going to become 50,000 words.

It was an exhilarating, anxiety riddled, roller coaster of a month. I was discovering my characters as I wrote them. With nothing but a loose semblance of a plan, character personalities formed themselves in unexpected ways. Actions I had not planned made themselves fit into the story line. Pieces of dialogue that I had not expected became important conversations and pushed further insight into the drive of the main protagonists and antagonists. I know I am the one creating the story, but there is something special and riveting when I have no set path and I am following the narrative as if I were the reader and not the author.

Right at the end, I was pretty much ready to give up. I had fallen behind on my daily word count. I had no idea what I was doing with the mess of sentences that was trying to form themselves into a cohesive story. And the holidays were not helping with my fight against simply taking the loss and trying my hand at doing this again next year. But, I kept writing. Partly because I don't like losing and partly because I had people who encouraged me to keep going. So why do I keep doing this if it is so stressful? Certainly, there must be a better ways to get myself to write without putting myself through a 30 day marathon, navigating the ups and downs of this crazy process. And I suppose the answer to that is: It's fun.

There is something about putting yourself through a challenge that is invigorating. Yeah, that middle part where you have ridden the early wave inspiration and the excitement of finish line is still in the distance, sucks donkey balls. But you get through it. And if you are lucky enough to be part of a group, it forges friendships. Nothing helps make friends faster than going through the fire together. And in the end, I have a story. Something I would have agonized over for weeks, I cranked out in 30 days. Sure, it will need polish and reworking, but my story exists.

In the wee morning hours of November 1st, I typed out my last  sentence. It was not where I had planned my story ending, but that sentence was the best way to end the trip I had started at the beginning of the month. I submitted and got my NaNoWriMo win. I am glad that I started. I am glad that I finished. I am glad that I got to write with friends. And I am extremely glad that my story now exists in more than just my mind.

NaNoWriMo Day 7

I have officially made it through the first week of NaNoWriMo. Started with gusto, but the past two days have been pretty tough. It feels like I have lost that sweet spot that I had the first couple of days this event started. The smooth and quick writing, the flow of ideas, everything was coming to me with such ease. Then suddenly it feels like I am pushing a boulder along as the story just slogs onto the pages. And of course I want to edit the heck out of everything that I'm writing. I have been keeping a pretty good job of sitting on my hands, but the enjoyment factor of doing this has dwindled over the past day or so.

There are things that I want to do with my characters, development wise. I just haven't hammered out how I am supposed to be doing it. There is character that I want everyone to hate. There is a character that I want everyone to feel sorry for. There is a character that I want to pull on everyone's heart strings. And yet I feel like I am not making any of that happen. I feel like I am striving at an idea, but I'm not hitting it full on the head. And that frustrates me more than anything.

The story also feels like it is getting too long, surprising as that may sound. Like it is taking forever to get to the actual point of why this story is being told in the first place. I know, that is an editing call as well. And maybe it isn't too long, but just the fact that I am not excited about writing this part, but later parts of the story. Don't get me wrong, this part is enjoyable to write, but it is not the meat of the novel. I am still dabbling with the beginning.

So I guess this is where the real work is going to start. This is where I dig my heels in and show that I can write this novel in 30 days. This Saturday is going to be where people write all day. I think I am going to use it see if I can't get some of that beginning inspiration back and dig into my novel even more. At least I can get a nice word count padding if nothing else comes of it.

NaNoWriMo Day 1

Well, National Novel Writing Month has gone charging off for another year. I tell you, it feels really good to be a part of it. Especially since I had to skip it last year. My story got off to a pretty strong start and the online midnight write in. There are a lot of gaps in the plot that I have yet to figure out. But I'm sure it will all sort itself out when I get around to that part of the story. Or I will just leave the holes there and wait for the editing process to figure out what to do with them.

My characters are coming out a little bit different than I had planned for them to be when I first started outlining. The male MC is a bit more jovial than I wanted him to be. I was looking for him to be more distant and detached due to emotional injury. Basically, I wanted him dark, broody and broken. Right now he isn't quite reading that way. He comes across pretty normal actually. And he sounds younger than I want him to be. I wasn't quite aiming for fresh faced youth. I wanted to write someone a little more life weary. I am wondering if the coldness and unavailability I'm looking for will present itself in other ways as the story progresses. If not, then it kind of throws a wrench into the whole thing.

A plethora of minor characters came flooding in without my permission. Most of which I had not planned for. For instance, sisters of my female MC. The original plan was for her to be an only child. So yeah, these minor/secondary characters just sort of happened while I was typing. I don't know how many of them will actually stay, since muddying a story with too many characters is something that I want to avoid. But for now, I like most of them. However, giving them names is a pain.

So far, so good with keep up with the word count. Hopefully I can keep ahead like this for most of the month and get some cushion for the holidays. I think this is the first time that I have started with a lead this early in the month. But also, the other years I did this, I had a lot of things on my plate that I was juggling. Now, not so much.

That is about it so far. My word count is ahead. I like where my story is headed so far and I have gotten to talk with several local WriMos. Things have started off really well.

Oiling up the noveling machine

It is one month until NaNoWriMo starts. I am really excited this year. More excited that I have ever been. And that is probably because I wasn't able to participate last year. Also, I know several new people who are going to be jumping in this year, and my excitement for them adds to the excitement that I was already feeling for myself.  There is something about seeing fresh faces ready to go and hammer out those 50k words.

This year, I have decided that I want to something a little more on the romantic side. I have been wanting to write a romantic story for a while, so why not use this as my jumping off point? I have been brainstorming some ideas of what this story is going to be about and after tossing around a few ideas, I finally settled on something. I am most likely going to be going back to my comfort zone of a medieval/fantasy setting. I haven't figured out just how much fantasy the story is going to have. Right now, the story is just this grey formless idea that is hanging around in my brain. I have been trying to figure things out and jot down ideas to make it into something more tangible. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will have something more solid by the time November 1st comes around. If not, I'm going to be making it up as I go along.

One of the things I want is for the story to be more of a drama rather than some sap story where everyone is staring starry eyed at one another. I find dramas to be engaging and easy to immerse yourself in. Sappy stories I find..well, I can't say that I like them very much. I don't really relate all that well. I also am not interested in something that reads like a soap opera. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with soap operas, but that is not what I want this story to be.

Part of me is a bit apprehensive about doing this. While it is not that far out of my comfort zone, it is something different. And different always makes me a bit anxious. But it is a good anxious. I have been writing a bit on something else starting back in August, so my writing gears won't be entirely rusty. I was hoping to be done with that piece before November. It could still get done, but I don't see that as being likely. And once November comes, there will be no writing much of anything else.

Also, I am hoping to blog (and maybe vlog if I'm feeling ambitious) about this whole process again. Maybe I will keep up better than I did the last time.

So, back to planning. November seems like it is going to come way too fast.

Gearing up for November

Well look at that. Another NaNoWriMo is approaching. I haven't figured out if I am actually going to participate. However, I say that every year and every year I end up writing. Maybe it is a ritual that I have to make myself go through or something. I usually have a story idea by this time. Or at least a character or something. But this year, I don't really have much of anything. I thought about writing some more children's stories. I know that I probably won't hit the 50k mark doing that, but it would get more books in the series written. And having something is better than having nothing.

Honestly, I really don't feel like writing any else. What I mean by that, I don't feel like creating anything new. I feel like I have a ton of stories already done and hashed out in my head. There really isn't any reason to go and start created more from scratch. I should work on what I already have in front of me. I probably should be working on my writing more than I should anyway. I am not sure what happens. I write, write, and write and then things get laid to the side. Laid to side for too long and then they are forgotten or replaced with something new. And then nothing gets finished. I really would like to finish something.

And when I say finish, I mean something polished and presentable. Something that I would not mind others reading and passing on to others. Right now, the "finish" I have is the terrible rough drafts that I bang out during my month of furious noveling. And while that is better than nothing, I feel that I should have something presentable and polished by now.

So what is different this year that makes me think that I will not be able to participate? Well, NaNoWriMo is falling smack into application and interview season for me. I need to be focusing on that and not trying to push out 50k on children's stories. On top of that, I will still be in rotations and who knows if I will have taken my Step 2 by then. Any extra time needs to go to studying for that. But I give myself all these reason why I can't do it, but I know in my heart of hearts I am going to attempt it. I always do. And the thing this is going to push me to do it is someone telling me that it can't be done. I hate when people say that to me and something in me has to prove them wrong. Just absolutely has to. 

I have a long list of children's stories that I want to tell. Something else that got put on the back burner and never looked at for however long. We shall see what this year brings. If I win, great. If I don't, not going to beat myself up over it. It is several more books added to the series that I didn't have before.

NaNoWriMo 2011 Day 30

Well today is the last day of the noveling marathon, known as National Novel Writing Month. Today is when you hammer that keyboard like a person possessed and make sure you get that word count. Well guess what ladies and gents: I WON! I MADE IT TO 50K! Man, and to think that I was about to quit a few days ago. Winning feels so great! I actually threw my hands up in the air and cheered when I saw that winner page. I did it! I actually did it! Going to ride this high for as long as it stays around. And the winner video was so great. It made me smile.

My story stayed on course for the most part. There were introduction of characters that I didn't really think of in the beginning. And there were certain rules to magic that kept inventing themselves the longer I kept writing. And then the ending changed, drastically. Of course, it's not a perfect story just yet. There is a tremendous amount of editing that has to be done to it before it becomes something that I would fall in love with it. But there is something there. I just have to sift around through all the ideas on those pages in order to find it.

I did get out to one actual write in this year. I do believe the virtual write ins were my saving grace, however. It was a way to do word wars and feel connected with my region, even though I wasn't able to get out and see them face to face. They definitely did a lot when it came to helping me get across that finish line. There were more than a few nights when I needed some encouragement in order to get my word count for the day. And that chat was a God send.

So what are my plans for this story now that November is over? Well, I am going to let it sit and marinate for a while. I don't know if it is something that I want to publish, or something I want to peel apart and reconstruct into a different story. I'm not 100% satisfied with it the way it is. I think this is the first time that I have said something like about any work that I have written for NaNoWriMo. But this time around was different feel anyway. The idea for the story came later than usual. And it came from a thought that had been in my mind from a very long time ago. I had written on single scene and had thought of two characters. And to take a vague idea like that one and start fleshing it into a 50,000 word work, there is bound to be some areas that aren't exactly what I want them to be.

So there you have it. Didn't really give the play by play of what the month of November has been like, but hopefully a large enough peek to be entertaining and/or informative. So, I will be taking a break from writing for a bit, just to give my brain some time to recoup from the week of catching up I just did. I am very much thinking about making December an art month. We will see if it happens or not.

I want to thank everyone who left comments. And I want to thank people for reading. I do a lot of blathering about nothing on this blog. Kind of nice to know that I'm not simply talking to myself.

NaNoWriMo 2011 Day 29

So many things have gotten in the way of me writing this novel, you just don't know. I will be writing about a few of them in later blog posts. I was ready to throw in the towel yesterday. I just knew that I would never be able to finish on time. But my Nashville WriMos just weren't going to hear any of that noise. I was told to put my fingers to the keyboard and get to typing. As of right now, I'm 5k away from hitting 50,000 words. That is so doable for me. I am so glad that I didn't give up. If I accomplish this, it will be my second win. And it will be so good, because I was able to do it when people told me that I wouldn't be able to.

Is my story a huge mess? Yep. Will it need more editing than any story I have ever written? Definitely. But I did it. I finished it. I pulled it out. And really, isn't that what NaNo is about? Well this post is going to be short because I have a lot of writing to finish between now and lights out tomorrow.

Congratulations to those who have already won. And to those who are still writing, don't give up. You still have one more day left.

NaNoWriMo Day 12

So yesterday was the first day that I didn't hit word count on my NaNovel. I was tired and just couldn't get those final words on the paper. Plus I think I'm a bit hung up. I suppose I could write through it or I could sit and plot through it before actually writing it down. I have gotten to the part of the story that needs more planning, but I don't actually have the time for it. I feel like now I'm just writing pieces and wondering if it will fit or if I am going to chuck it out later. I guess I don't like the thought of entire ideas being axed out of my story. If I write it, I want it to stay. However, at this stage, I'm not sure that everything I am writing down will be part of this story or another that will come after this one.

I like my story and I like my characters, so those are always good signs. I just wish that I was a little tighter on how the story is supposed to progress. I am writing and it feels like I'm living big gaping holes to be filled in at some other time. Now I normally do that when writing, especially something lengthy. But this time around, I feel like I have a lot of holes that I have to go back and fill. And I do mean a lot. Not exactly a huge fan of having to do that.

People and places still don't have names yet. The book still doesn't have a title. But what it does have is over 17,700 words. So obviously there is a good story amidst all of that. Just going to keep hammering away at it and see what comes of it. Worst thing that could happen is that it gets sat on the shelf after I am done with it. Best thing, I could polish it into something amazing!

Probably will try and catch up to the 20,000 mark today. I'm in a bit of a creative mood.

NaNoWriMo Day 8

So it is Week 2. Right at that point where all the excitement of starting a novel slowly wanes a bit and now you have to dig in and make yourself write your 1667 words a day. I was definitely starting to feel the amount of motivation I had for this story starting to leak out a bit. Sitting and writing was becoming more of a fight than it had when I first started. So what did I do to fix it? I went to a write in.

I am very lucky to have a very active NaNo Region. We have several write ins a week and for those who can't get to the physical write in, there is a chat room where we can sit and talk while we write. We even do word wars. I forgot just how much I can get written during a word war.

So right after I got out from clinic, I took myself and my computer to the meeting spot and sat down. I saw some old faces, I saw some new faces. It just pretty great to be with people who were doing the same as me, clacking away on their computers, hammering out those stories.The chat room is pretty helpful, especially when it is later at night and I need that little spurt of energy to keep me going until I get all my words in for the day.

So how is the story going so far? Well I did hit a patch where things were starting to get boring. And if I'm bored, then I know that no one is going to want to read it. The story was just starting to become a walk through the every day school life of my MC. And really, what is the fun in that? So I was advised to start some conflict, that would bring the interest back into the story. I took that advice and ran with it. My MC has so far gotten into to verbal fights and a physical fight. I am in the process of writing another verbal. His being timid is definitely not working in his favor at this point.

One of the problems that I'm having right now is that I vaguely know what I want to happen when it comes to story progression, but I don't have it solidly pinned down just yet. And I want to write a story where clues to what is going to happen at the climax have been laced all through out the story. However, if I'm not clear on how things are going to be in the end, I can't lay down those clues. It sort of frustrates me.

Also, I don't have concrete rules on how magic works in this world. I can tell that there is a basis of it somewhere in the recesses of my brain, but it is not fully there yet. Again, something else that frustrates me. I can tell that this is going to need so much editing once this month is over. But, can't think about that now. Now, I just write and write and write some more.

50K or bust!

NaNoWriMo 2011 Day 5

So, I have made it to the weekend. Hooray for small victories. So far, I have been keeping up with word counts, even going a smidge over for some cushion. That and  the scene I am writing hasn't quite ended by the time I reach the number allotted for the day.

Already hitting a few snares in the story. First, I thought that the MC's mother was going to have more of a role in the story. However, I ended up killing her within the first few pages. So, not as much of a role as I had originally planned. And then a new character popped up, out of the blue. I don't know where she came from. The recesses of my subconscious, I suppose. Anyway, she has suddenly become integral in the beginning and I have this nagging feeling that we are going to see her again. Why and how still remains a mystery.

There are a few things going on with the story that are bugging me. First off, my inner editor is banging her tin cup on the bars of the cell that I have locked her away in for the month. There are times where it feels like it is taking every ounce of restraint I have to not go back and start editing from the beginning. Knowing I could have written that better, chosen better wording, arranged the scene better. I have to force myself to keep plodding ahead. And there are times when I want to go back and cut entire paragraphs and start over. But editing is for December.

I feel like my story is meandering around before it actually finds itself and what it is supposed to be doing. It was the same way with my 2009 NaNovel. I think I was 30 pages in before the adventure idea I had planned out actually started. It wasn't a boring story (at least I don't think it was) but it just took a while to start off on the adventure part. So does that mean I shouldn't worry, the good stuff is coming, or am I writing things that aren't needed. Again, editing.

Not sure how I feel about my MC either. I feel like I have taken every flaw and insecurity that I have and wrapped them in a nice little bow and named them Hawke. I feel like this guy would jump at the site of his own shadow. He is just awkward and timid and overly polite for no reason. I don't like it. He feels...wrong. This is not the way I wanted him to be. Yeah, I wanted him to be slightly apprehensive, but instead of just sprinkling it in, I might have knocked to the whole pepper shaker into the mix. Again, not sure how to reign that in and fix it. Maybe the more I get out on paper it will somehow right itself.

I haven't been able to make any of my regions write ins. I am hoping that things will go better the second week when it comes to that. Keeping my fingers crossed. I get so much more done when I go to a write in. And it just more fun to write. Anyway, back to the grind. Balancing writing this novel and getting a presentation together for class. Hooray, my life rocks.

NaNoWriMo 2011 Day 1

And we're off! Okay, have to admit, I had no idea how this whole story was going to start off. Definitely not the feeling you want to have when you are about to start a 50k word work. But the moment I opened up Word and wrote the first line, the story just took off and I decided to follow it. I have no idea what the title of this story is going to be called yet. I'm hoping that will come to me when I have gotten some more of this story written.

I am actually amazed at what started tumbling out on the paper. I really had no idea all of that was in my head. Seems like I have subconsciously put together a lot of story and it didn't come out until I started typing. Things like were people lived, the look of the place they lived in, the dynamics between characters, etc. I love this part of writing, when you are discovering your characters and their world. Sometimes what I write comes as surprise me, even though I have sat down and plotted out so much. And I can't wait to have more of those moments.

So what is my story about? I guess I should at least give you that if you are reading this blog. It's fantasy, because that seems to be my love when it comes to writing. Basically it's going to be a story about a boy who is found to be somewhat of a magic prodigy. He has to leave his comfort zone and slowly excel as a mage/wizard/sorcerer/whatever I'm going to call it when I get there. I want to play around with the idea of how being the best and being leader means that you are alone. And how does one deal with being set apart, especially if it was not a voluntary choice. I want to look how Hawke (main character) interacts with others when he is beyond them, thinking 5 steps ahead of everyone else. And I want to look at how others react to him.

I also want to play around with the rules and perceptions of magic. I am hoping that this will be fun little experiment and see where it goes. I do have more plans for Hawke as he gets older. Plans that will probably not be able to fit into one book. (Because I can never plan one book. I always to have to shoot for the sagas)

So that is it for tonight. I am super sleepy. I am hoping to at least do one blog a week and keep them interesting. Until then, let's keep those noveling machines going!

Pre NaNo jitters

Don't know if I'm giddy for this whole thing to kick off just yet or am I totally terrified that my story idea will unravel before it gets started. Or am I concerned that I will run out of steam before I get close to 50k words. I usually don't feel this much anxiety. Of course, I usually believe that my story idea will work. However, this year is a whole different can of worms. 

I have had an idea for this story for quite some time, spurned by a character someone made for a D&D game a few years ago. However, the more I plotted out things, the more I was seeing an eerie parallel to Harry Potter. And that is what terrifies me. I don't want to inadvertently write some Harry Potter look a like by accident. I want this to be my story, my world. And it is slowly driving me nuts.

It is just so easy to fall into that set up. Magic school, mean student, student who is the best friend, go off on some adventure. I suppose the only thing I can do is just take the formula and make it unique to me. And then I can leave the editing for December. (Or whenever I get around to it). I suppose what is going to make it my own are the rules about magic. I might do some tweaking on them before the writing frenzy starts.

So yeah, three more days...only three more days.

NaNoWriMo and GMX 2011

Well would you look at that, GMX is this weekend. I had a whole lot of fun last year and looking to have even more this year. Hopefully there will be more pictures and interaction than last year. GMX 2010 was the first con that I had ever been to, so there was a whole lot of me just trying to feel things out and figure out what does one actually do at a con. So this year I have a little bit more experience under my belt. I will probably look at more booths this year. I didn't go to any last year (except Questionable Content) because I felt like I had to buy something. But avoiding them all together probably isn't the greatest thing to do either. I will probably be posting pictures up on the USH Facebook page or something like that.

I will probably try and blog after every day like I did last year. Hopefully I will be able to keep up. A friend's birthday party is falling smack on the same weekend. I felt a little bad that I checked the schedule before I told her yay or nay about me coming. But hey, it is what it is. If I thought she would have a good time, I would just invite her to come with me. But I just have this strange feeling that I would be the only one having a good time and she would just keep giving me the sideways stare.

There is a little less than two weeks before the start of NaNoWriMo. I still haven't gotten the full plot of the story all penned out. I have been extremely busy and haven't had as much time to brainstorm as I have wanted to. Nothing has names, no one has names, I don't think I even have a solidified list of characters yet. This is probably the most behind I have ever been when it came to the start of NaNoWriMo. I'm not too worried however. I have this feeling that it will all come to me when it needs to. And if it doesn't...well, just start pulling stuff out of the sky.

Things that have happened.

Well, I have done a terrible job with trying to post this month. I blame my rotation from having evil hours. So far, I have decided that Obstetrics and Gynecology is not my calling in life. I can strike that from the list with ease. However, it has peeked my interest in Women's Health. I have always had a glimmer of an interest in that section of medicine. I really can't tell you why. Maybe because it hits close to home.

So here is some awesome news that has nothing to do with medicine. As I do every month, I wrote a Click Here For Comics article featuring the webcomic, EverBlue. Normally, I don't do this, but this time after I posted the article, I sent the link and short email to Michael Sexton (Blue-Ten) who is the creator. Well wouldn't you know it, he put the link on his site. Over night, the views more than tripled. I have never had as many views in one week on my article, ever. I have put out 16 articles and have only contacted a smattering of the creators. Sexton was the only one who actually linked my work. He did not have to do it. In fact, I wasn't expecting any type of response at all. I am still over the moon about it happening. Makes me a bit validated with what I do.

A month and a half to NaNoWriMo and I feel totally unprepared. I've got nothing this year. Going into it totally blind this year. Don't even know if I can make it to the midnight party, if there is one. I think I have an idea of what I want to write about, but I don't have a plot or anything. Just an idea for a character. I suppose I will see just how far that will carry me. And yes, if I can find the time, there will be blogs about how well (or not so well) things are going.

GMX is a month away. It is right at the end of my rotation too. I should probably go ahead and buy my ticket now. I wish I had someone to go with though. I mean, it was cool and all, but I feel like it would be more fun if I had someone to hang out with. But, I don't believe that I have any RL friends who are into that kind of thing. I won't be going in any type of costume this year, which I am fine with. However, I do want to be more interactive with what's going on. I want to make a few vids and put together a photo album. So, no more hanging around in corners and things of that nature this year.

One more thing before I wrap up, I just joined up with a DA art group called World of Warchicks. Don't know what possessed me. I had been wanting to draw several WoW centric things, but always put it off. I figured joining this group would give me incentive to draw and finally do these projects that are in my head. They take all levels of artistic ability, so that made me feel better. While I'm improving quite a bit, I still have a ways to go before I deem myself any good.  And the only way to get better is to draw more.

So I do believe that ends this blog. Hopefully I will write at least one more before the month is out. Also, thanks to Yumefilled for being the first person to post on my blog! I suppose I am not just talking to myself!

Updating ramble

So, starting my third week of rotations and the only thing I can really say about it is that I hate the hours. And going to bed as early as I do in order to get up in the morning makes me feel like an old woman. But I would much rather be doing this than being stuck studying for the Step like I was a few months ago. So complaining must be kept down to a minimum.

NaNoWriMo is in two months. I think I might have an idea of what I want to do. Not sure if it is going to pan out or not, but we will see. It is an idea that I had for a story quite a long time ago. Probably around '06 or so. I'm not sure if I can make it into a 50k story or not. But we'll see. I haven't been struck with any new ideas anyway. So I might as well use this one.

It's a fantasy story. For some reason, I have been wanting to stay away from fantasy stuff. I had been writing a lot of it for a long time, so I wanted to expand my scope by writing other things. But now that I can't think of anything to novel this year, I have gone right back to my fantasy beginnings. Not sure if that is good thing or bad thing. However, I should probably start plotting some time soon. Not sure when I'm going to have to time for that. This rotation, and it's crazy hours, doesn't end until the middle of next month. Doesn't exactly leave me a whole lot of time to work my storyline out.

The story will involve lots of magic, because for some reason I am just drawn to that kind of thing. And for some reason, I am drawn to writing male characters. I barely write female characters any more. I'm not sure why. Maybe I find it more interesting because I'm not a guy.

Speaking of writing, I tried to hammer out a story recently. I got it about halfway written. I got the idea for this story from reading something totally unrelated the subject matter. There was just a short ramble along the lines of "What if instead, this had happened?". And I thought to myself, "Huh, that would be cool. I think I will write that." I might make it a Daily Write, who knows. I just want to get it finished some time in the near future.

Penning a novel #1

Yeah, I know, it isn't November just yet. But I figured that I should write something about the preliminary process.

So instead of going full steam ahead with a single novel, I am going to be writing a collection of short children's stories. They are going to be very reminiscent of books like Magic School Bus and Bernstein Bears, because let's face it, those were some pretty great books growing up. But what came after those books? Did anything take their place? I figured why not try my hand at something like that.

Now children's books is a genre for me. I am much more immersed in fantasy/adventure writing more than anything. And I write drama with heavy doses more than I write sword duels and pistols at dawn. So this may prove to be very easy or more difficult that I thought.

So how to get to 50,000 words? Well I figured that if each story was 10k, I would have to write 5 stories and that would get my word limit. Right now I have brainstormed the cast and I want to play with some of the stereotypes, just a bit. Of course the main kids are going to be of different backgrounds. I want to shy away from names that have been overused when having someone of a certain ethnicity. (There will be no Juans in this book.) And I have decided to make the school teacher a guy. However, the principal will be a girl. (Yeah, not setting the world on fire with the whole gender role thing, but whatever).

I think the main concern is how I am going to introduce the main idea of each story. Something has to happen for the kids to want delve into the topic matter of each book. There are only so many homework assignments the teacher can give. Something to figure out between now and Nov 1.

Kick off party is next Monday. I am crazy excited!