I'm Writing, I'm Just Not Blogging

I had an absolute blast last November with NaNoWriMo. I was three months post-surgery, looking great, feeling better and I participated more with the local NaNoWriMo community. I didn't come close to my 50K word goal but I learned more and had more fun in 2010 than any previous NaNoWriMo. Earlier this year I decided (it was a New Year's Resolution) that I would try to hone my writing skills. Last Month I signed up for Writing.com. It is a user community dedicated to support aspiring writers as they develop their craft. So if you want to read my stuff, follow the link.

The Anticipation Is More Than I can Stand

Sunday is when NaNoWriMo starts and I can hardly wait. This year I have a new novel idea and I have been scribbling copious notes but I can't start writing until Sunday. I know a lot of Nanowrimos will start at Midnight but I have church Sunday and I don't do well unless I am fully rested. If I start writing in the wee hours I know I will pull an all nighter and be worthless in the morning. Not a good thing when driving a church van full of screaming kids. So I will start Sunday afternoon at the earliest but most likely after Sunday evening services. Then If I pull an all nighter I'll just fall asleep at my desk on Monday. But I have to go to work with some kind of word count (hopefully at least 1667) because the co-worker that occupies the seat next to mine is also in NaNoWriMo this year and if I have less of a word count than she does she will openly ridicule me.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things about My NaNoWriMo Novel

November 1st begins NaNoWriMo. That's National Novel Writing Month. It is an annual excercize for budding writers to crank out 50,000 words in 30 days. This will be my 4th attempt and hopefully my second successful one. I am not allowed to start writing yet but I can have an outline and some notes prepared so I thought I would share 13 things about this years novel.

1. The genre is science ficiton/fantasy. While the hero starts on modern day Earth he travels to a myriad of different worlds and eras.


2. The Character's name might be Zach. Short for Zachariah. But the character I am using as my inspiration was actually Zephaniah so he could easily be Zeph. I haven't decided.


3. Zach has gifts. Special abilities far beyond normal mortals.


4. Zach is a Prime In a universe with infinite worlds and infinite variations, there are infinites numbers of you and me. There is only 1 Zach and 1 of each of the other primes.


5. Primes can pass through shunts. Shunts are invisible dimensional portals that come and go. Only Primes can see them or pass through them.


6. When Primes are not on the world of their birth, they do not age. So if they start adventuring young, a Prime can retain their youth indefinately. But they age normally on their world of birth.


7. All Primes instantly recognize other Primes as Primes. a "feeling" that is impossible to duplicate.


8. All Primes instantly know when they are on the world of their birth. Again a feeling.


9. Shunts never appear in the same place twice. But with practice a Prime can take a shunt to any world.


10. Primes can sense shunts. Some can sense when they will appear but not where. Others know where but not when. So communication is vital.


11. Primes have established a secret organization. They have a base in the form of a "members only" club on many worlds. A Prime doorman insures only Prime enter the premises. The goal is education and adventure reporting. Some think it should be more.


12. Physical laws vary from world to world Some places magic is very powerful while othere, magic barely exists


13. Zach wants to be a superhero With his new found abilities he can make his wish come true if he survives.

The basic idea came from a Champions campaign I ran where the heroes were Primes but there were only two worlds, Earth and Terra. Identical physically in everyway, the differences were often subtle and the heroes bounced back and forth between the two. I decided for NANoWriMo I would expand on the concept.

Coming Soon! NaNoWriMo 2009!

It is that time of year again and I am planning to participate in National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo for short. I am under pressure this year to complete a novel (or novella for some of you purists) of at least 50,000 words. But I have to start it November 1st and complete it by midnight November 30th. The reason for the pressure is I completed the challenge last year so I am hopeful I can do it this year. The finished work needn't be ready for publishing and in most cases the end result requires numerous rewrites. But the object is to get the ideas out of your head and down on paper (or electronic media).

The biggest hurdles I will face this year will be depression over my economic situation, and World of Warcraft. To my credit I have gotten my toon in WoW to level 80 so as long as Cataclysm isn't released in Novemember I should be fine. Of course Blizzard could tempt me by releasing Starcraft II instead.

Last year my novel focused on a starship Captain, his android first mate and his strange collection of crew. Instead of furthering the adventures of my ensemble I have decided to change directions slightly. this year I have a new main character who has the ability to move through dimensions to different worlds. These worlds can be like modern day Earth or like Camelot or like Naboo. So it will be a blending of Sci-fi and fantasy backdrops.

I am hoping to get some support by encouraging my friends to participate this year. Wish me luck.

NaNoWriMo is Going Well. Too Well.

If you've noticed the NaNoWriMo widget in the lower sidebar, I am more or less on track with the NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth.  In fact I will probably surpass the word count I stopped at last year by Friday. I am pumped and psyched and wanting to get through this.  Some participants have already completed the 50,000 word challenge.  I just hope that I can stay on task and finish this year.

By some strange quirk of fate, the co-worker I sit next to after our department moved to a new area is also doing NaNoWriMo only she finished hers last year where I fell short. This year we can encourage each other. I think support is making all the difference this year.

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In Memoriam : Michael Crighton

Micheal Crighton, author of Jurassic Park and Andromeda Strain has died at the age of 66. He past away Tuesday after losing his battle with cancer.

"Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand," his family said in a statement.

I remember reading "The Andromedan Strain" and not being able to put it down. His imagination and writing inspired me and does to this day.



Michael Crichton dies of cancer

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