NaNoWriMo....Finale'

Well, I did it. I wrote a novel in 28 days.

O.k., so it's not War and Peace, but it's a 50,000 word (and still counting) novel.

And I wrote it!

A brief recap for those just tuning in: At the start of November I decided to take part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), an exercise in (what they call) 'literary abandon' where you write 1,666 words a day and, in 30 days, you have a small novel. Some days, I wrote more, some days I wrote less, some days I didn't write anything. Mainly,though, I wanted to see if I could do it and found out that, yes, yes I could.

Now, keep in mind that it's not complete and is still in the rough, first draft, form. It's gonna need a lot more editing, revisions, and beta readers....but, at least for me, it's something to be proud of. It shows that I can take on a project and see it through. It also proves to me something that I wasn't real sure of...that I can sit down, almost every day, and write.

And just what is my book about, you may ask? Oh, you didn't ask? O.k., well I'll tell ya, anyway...

The T.E.M.P. Agency:

An old, almost obsolete Temporal Enforcement Mobile Patrol unit is sent back to the 1930s for reasons even it doesn't know. It seems it's programming has been tampered with so it's, basically, on it's own. Relying on nothing but older programming, it learns about the time period by studying the movies. Deciding to take the name 'Templeton Bohlts', he becomes a private eye, specializing in 'strange and unusual' cases.


When a strange relic is delivered to his door, it kicks off an odd series of events that lead Templeton and his allies Madame Vadoma...a gypsy 'seer' (never call her a fortune teller)....Frank (Colly) Flouers...a hard of hearing, ex boxer with a gentle soul...and Terry Logan.....Hollywood stuntman by day, dark vigilante by night... on a search for the truth....if they can make it in time.


Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy...but it was fun to write and, I hope someday, fun for others to read.

NaNoWriMo.....Day Twenty

So, instead of the usual 'I typed this many words today and my total is this many words' NaNoWriMo  post, I've decided to add a visual dynamic. Below are a couple of shots of my 'writing space' (which also, amazingly, transforms into a spare bedroom when we have company). A place I can go (usually accompanied by our cat, Jasmine) pop in my ear buds and 'get away from it all', as they say. As you can tell, there's a definite theme to my little area....I've been a comic book fan for over thirty years. It's a good thing I have a very understanding wife  :)

Where do you go to write? Where has NaNoWriMo forced you to hole up for the month of November? Got a pic? Post a link in the comments section. I'd like to see what inspires you all.

NaNoWriMo....Day Twelve

After a -very- unproductive yesterday, I had to play catch-up today. Luckily, I didn't have much going on anything going on today so I could spend it writing.

I only managed about 200 words yesterday, so I knew I had to hustle today if I wanted to make my word count and keep up with the program. It took me all day, but I finally got 3082 words down, all while trying something different.(at least for me)

I switched the point of view from the main character to a minor character....then another one. All still in the third person, just different character perspectives.   I'm hoping it doesn't come off as confusing, but I figure I can always go back and rework it during the editing/re-writing phase if it does.

My grand total, thus far, is 20,115. Slightly over what I need, which gives me a little jump on tomorrow. I'm seeing some of my writing buddies pulling out some huge word counts and I think that's awesome. For me, though, I'll stick with the slow and steady...unless I have a burst of inspiration or the story starts taking off on it's own.

Keep at it, NaNos, we're almost to the half-way point!

NaNoWriMo...Day Nine

I figured it was bound to happen....I really struggled today to make my word count. The important thing is, though, that I did make it.

1,532 words today for a grand total of 15,043. Still on track, but the rails were a little shaky today.

I'm heading to a point, I think, where my plot is becoming a bit more convoluted and I'm feeling that my characters don't have much....well...character. Then again, I knew I'd be going into this, pretty much by the seat of my britches so I'm not surprised as much as I am wanting to make sure that the plot, at least, makes sense.

I still don't have a major villain. I have a few ideas and some sparks of motivation for the antagonist, but nothing concrete. I also don't have near as much action as I want.

Basically, things are just plodding along. I'm eeking out a word count and, at this point, that's about it. I need to dig in and make sure the plot doesn't come off like a 1930's era police procedural show.

The best thing I can do, I think, is to keep on putting something down....everyday. I realize that when it's time to edit and re-write, things can be shifted around to make more sense. I know this. I just thought things would be flowing more smoothly by now.

Today was just a down point, not rock bottom. I'm sure things will pick up.

They will pick up....right?  Of course, they will... ;)

NaNoWriMo...Day Eight

Well, I started this, my very first NaNoWriMo, on the right foot. For the first five days, I was keeping up with my word count and staying where I needed to be. I even had a buffer in case I faltered a day.....which I did. This past weekend. I was pretty much resigned to the fact that I wouldn't be able to write on Sunday, as it was our first wedding anniversary and we'd be spending the day at Disney World to celebrate. Saturday, we had a housewarming/birthday/anniversary party for my sister-in-law/nephew/us, respectively, so I figured nothing would get done that day, as well.

As it turned out, though, Saturday wasn't an 'entire evening' sort of thing, so I actually got some writing time in and made my word count for the day.

Sunday, as I figured, was a wash...which was just fine because there were more important things to tend to. I semi-struggled and managed to catch back up yesterday (Monday), which even impressed myself.

I'm still on track, but that 'skip' kind of opened my eyes to something. You see, originally, my plan was to get this huge word count built up so I could take days 'off' if I needed and still win in the end. I found out, while trying to catch up that I really -needed- to write everyday (if possible). Yesterday I was struggling to focus and putting more hours than usual into my story. For me, going along a steadier pace, sitting down to write -every day- is how I'm going to get through this.

It's all about the discipline. I read something once that said if you can do something for two weeks, then it becomes almost like a habit. That applies to me, wholeheartedly. When I was working out a lot, after a while it was like second nature and going to the gym wasn't an issue at all. I'm hoping that, by sitting down every day and hitting the keyboard, it will become almost like a habit....where I'll feel bad/guilty about not doing it and, then, get my rear in gear.

In my case, slow and steady, definitely wins the race. Of course, we all know that NaNoWriMo is all about the race...not the finish line.

Keep on running, my friends, keep on running =)

NaNoWriMo....Day Five

Not much to report on day five. I'm keeping up with my daily word count and even have a small  minuscule cushion going, just in case. Said cushion isn't near as big as I'd like, but at least it's there and I'm fairly satisfied with it.

I'm starting to see postings on G+ of folks struggling. We all know it's bound to happen...I know it will happen to me. If you're reading this and struggling, it'll be o.k. This is just the gear up, things will get smoother, just hang in there. Don't forget to take time to do other, non writing related, things. Play that video game, surf the web, go to the beach, take a walk, cook, clean, whatever....just...do stuff. If you want to use some of that time to plot and plan...all the better.

I'm very glad I decided to give this crazy NaNoWriMo thing a try. To be honest, I had my doubts that I'd even get out of the starting gate, but here it is, day five and I'm still on target and going strong. I've had some (very) minor characters start to shine and may get a bigger role than originally anticipated. I'm loosely sticking to my vague outline which will only last me until around chapter nine, then I'm flying blind. By then, though, I should have a pretty good handle on where the story is going and who's taking it there.

Well, it's late and I need to get to bed. Lots to do this weekend.

Maybe, though, I'll get to sneak some writing in here and there. =)

A quick excerpt....

After seeing others post parts of their story on my Google Plus stream, I decided to put an excerpt from my story on my NaNoWriMo profile. 

Figured I'd might as well put it here too......please keep the tomato throwing to a minimum =)

As Templeton scanned the folder, his virtual 'mind' working through hundreds of thousands of scenarios, a rap at the door triggered his 'chameleon' program....the one that helped him to blend into which ever society he ended up in. At least -that- program was working as intended.

"Look Sweetheart, cant'cha see I'm...." The big glob of shadow from behind the frosted glass loomed larger as the door swung open wide. A large man wearing a frayed looking, blue pinstripe suit had a beefy arm around Linda's throat....his free hand had an old .45 special pointed at her temple.

"O.k. Bohlts....look here ya two bit chisler....I want what's due me, see?" The larger man, a scar running down his right cheek, barked.

"Due you?"

"Yeah.....the package......gimmee!"

"Gim-you..." Templeton said slowly as if mulling over not only the gunman's demand, but his command of the English language, as well.

"Alright....look....don't do anything rash," Templeton said, bringing both his hands to rest flat on the sparkling clean desktop. The gunman jerking his chin at the movement...

"Hey, hey....watch it there, fella....just you watch it...."

"Keep calm...it's alright....it's alright..." Templeton tried to put some soothing tones to his voice while he began slowly drumming the fingers of his left hand, rhythmically, on the large, oak, desk. Glancing from the barrel of his gun to Linda's face, it appeared that she was taking this more calmly than would be expected from a temporary secretary. Still, though, her hands hand a tight grip across the large gunman's forearm as she leaned back into him.

"Alls I want is what's due me....gimmee the package and I'll let yer girlie here go." A menacing shake of his gun emphasized his point.

Templeton's steely blue eyes caught Linda's, he arched a brow...his fingers still drumming the desktop...drawing the gunman's gaze while Templeton glanced over at the highly polished, silver lamp to his right.
Fingers dumming.....thrrrump...thrrrump...thrrrump.....the larger man looking annoyed....

"Look...do I get it, or what?" he bellowed.

Templeton nodded knowingly...."Why, yes, I think you will..." and, with that, his right hand shoved the silver lamp directly into the beam of sunlight that shone down on his desk, reflecting it directly into the gunman's eyes.
In a flash, Templeton was out of his seat and vaulting over the desk. Whether he would have made it in time, they'll never know because Linda was already on the move. Bringing her left heel up, she slammed it back down into the toe of the gunman's weathered looking wingtip shoe.
A loud howl erupted from the man as the pain in his foot and bright light in the eyes forced him to loose his grip enough for Linda to scurry free. His arms flying out wide, the .45 special barking, left the larger man wide open for an extremely fast right hook. With Linda clear, the gunman spun on his heel and fell flat on his face...out cold.

"Wow, you're quick!" Linda gasped as she began pulling herself off the floor.

"They don't call me 'Bolts' for nothing.." Templeton smiled, extending his hand and helping Linda up.
"That was a pretty nifty trick with the lamp", Linda said, straightening the hat she hadn't gotten the chance to take off, "a one in a million shot."

"Actually, a one in a......ah, never mind..." Templeton stopped himself from completing that sentence and kicked the gun away from the larger man.

"Um....Mr...er, I mean...Max?"

"Yes Linda?" Templeton said as he began searching the man on his floor.

"You've been shot!" she gasped.

NaNoWriMo....Day Uno

So, my first day of attempting National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is 'in the can' as they say in the movie business...not that I really know anything about the movie business...but they do say that.

I managed a 2500 word count, so I'm already ahead of the game and hoping I can set it up where I have a cushion,in case there's a day where I don't get a chance to write.

Those first 2500 flowed fairly quickly once I got going and I'm hoping it's a pace I'll be able to keep up.

Two things have helped me out, so far.....pumpkin spice coffee and my Pure Moods CD. I've read where people create their own NaNoWriMo soundtracks and I may give that a try next year but, for now, Pure Moods is all I need...music wise.

The first day has been fun.........

.....only 29 more to go....