I wasn't planning on doing NaNo this year. It wasn't because I didn't want to--oh, no--it was because my computer, in the heat of the moment, had a complete mental breakdown and decided to just... quit. But then, right on November first, my dad was gracious enough to let me use his laptop (meaning that I took it because, technically, it's my laptop that I just let him use since I got a new one). On the first, I wrote about 2,000 words (somewhere around 1980), and I outlined a bit of my novel (yes, I'm editing while I write. Don't judge me).
Yesterday, I got up to about 5,000 and outlined further. It's a great start, considering now that I'm nearly two days ahead on my word count (at around 8,000 words).
I'm writing Smoke Season, and here's the cover:
Beautiful, isn't it? Of course it is. It was a last-minute type-deal; I can't stand looking at my NaNo stats, which I do quite often, and not having a cover there. The ones I make are nothing official, and most certainly aren't completely made by me. I find an image on google, open GIMP, and do a little editing and then presto! Beautiful, totally professional-looking cover.
The story is about a post-apocalyptic Grand Canyon; there are three tribes: the Boneheads, the Lurkers, and the Redmen. The story follows three people, one from each tribe: Joshua Grey, Sequoia, and North respectively. Here's my NaNo summary:
So, yeah. Needless to say, my story is pretty awesome. My only qualm is that with a war story comes quite a bit of action, and when I write action I write it like it's an action movie, not an action book. I've never actually read a whole lot of action in a book before. Maybe that's because action is more of a visual thing, like the awesome round-house kicks and the epic fly-across-the-room-and-kick-him-out-the-window type things. Again, needless to say, I suck at writing action.
I've got a good feeling about NaNo this year though. I know I haven't been blogging a lot; I mainly like having this so if I have any bouts of writing inspiration I can come here and type as if I were talking to an actual person, since my friends hold more interest in nerdy things that do not pertain to literature.
It's really cool, though, because when I write, I write. Like, I remember my past NaNoWriMos; all months, I was in the freaking zone. I would get all set up at my desk and arrange my things in a zen sorta way and I'd light a candle or incense and then I'd go to town on that draft. It's like a pattern; when I'm in a good writing grove, my room always smells like burning biotic matter and my computer's usually super hot. Also, I sleep and eat A LOT when I write (except when I get one of those 2AM moods where I feel like building a house and waging and winning a war on Russia).
The cool thing about writing a story that has three different narrators is that I have so much time and essence to find different ways to describe scenes, to explore the human mind and, best of all, to get to know my characters more. It gives me a bit of extra freedom and some filler. Like, it's cool that I can describe one situation one way, but describe it a bit differently through the eyes of another character. It kinda foretells that thing where people notice what they want to, and some notice certain details while others don't really notice anything. It's quite interesting.
I'll see you guys soon!
Yesterday, I got up to about 5,000 and outlined further. It's a great start, considering now that I'm nearly two days ahead on my word count (at around 8,000 words).
I'm writing Smoke Season, and here's the cover:
The story is about a post-apocalyptic Grand Canyon; there are three tribes: the Boneheads, the Lurkers, and the Redmen. The story follows three people, one from each tribe: Joshua Grey, Sequoia, and North respectively. Here's my NaNo summary:
A prophecy foretells that every seven years will be a "Smoke Season;"
and all the tribes that reside in the Grand Canyon shall war, and when
that war is over, there will be peace, until the next season comes.
During the last season, one tribe was reduced to nearly nothing, and
another was forced to live in the night. The third prospers, larger than
ever, and thirsty for power.
Joshua Grey is not happy with his past, and he is determined to restore his tribe to its former glory.
Sequoia does not want to rekindle old flames, and wishes to avoid her former lover at all costs, even if it means to kill him.
North was caught in the middle of the beginning of the season, as the son of the royal family. He didn't want to be here, but now he wants revenge.
Joshua Grey is not happy with his past, and he is determined to restore his tribe to its former glory.
Sequoia does not want to rekindle old flames, and wishes to avoid her former lover at all costs, even if it means to kill him.
North was caught in the middle of the beginning of the season, as the son of the royal family. He didn't want to be here, but now he wants revenge.
So, yeah. Needless to say, my story is pretty awesome. My only qualm is that with a war story comes quite a bit of action, and when I write action I write it like it's an action movie, not an action book. I've never actually read a whole lot of action in a book before. Maybe that's because action is more of a visual thing, like the awesome round-house kicks and the epic fly-across-the-room-and-kick-him-out-the-window type things. Again, needless to say, I suck at writing action.
I've got a good feeling about NaNo this year though. I know I haven't been blogging a lot; I mainly like having this so if I have any bouts of writing inspiration I can come here and type as if I were talking to an actual person, since my friends hold more interest in nerdy things that do not pertain to literature.
It's really cool, though, because when I write, I write. Like, I remember my past NaNoWriMos; all months, I was in the freaking zone. I would get all set up at my desk and arrange my things in a zen sorta way and I'd light a candle or incense and then I'd go to town on that draft. It's like a pattern; when I'm in a good writing grove, my room always smells like burning biotic matter and my computer's usually super hot. Also, I sleep and eat A LOT when I write (except when I get one of those 2AM moods where I feel like building a house and waging and winning a war on Russia).
The cool thing about writing a story that has three different narrators is that I have so much time and essence to find different ways to describe scenes, to explore the human mind and, best of all, to get to know my characters more. It gives me a bit of extra freedom and some filler. Like, it's cool that I can describe one situation one way, but describe it a bit differently through the eyes of another character. It kinda foretells that thing where people notice what they want to, and some notice certain details while others don't really notice anything. It's quite interesting.
I'll see you guys soon!
