NaNoWrimo '12 Progress: Day Nine

 

Day: Nine

Where I should be: 15,000

Where I actually am: 16,058

Word count for today: 1757

Favourite line from today's writing: He starts strumming a winding melody, full of little intricacies that aren’t usually found in his rock style. For some reason the song makes me think of walking through a field on a summer’s day, and being surrounded by butterflies. It’s quite lovely, and very uplifting.

Experiences of the Day: Today is the first time this NaNo where I've written something, then looked back and thought is this any good. There are words, lovely words even, but do they do anything to progress the story. I fear they're all fluff and filler, and will have to be cut in revisions. Sometimes that's the trouble with NaNoWriMo, and have to write a certain amount of words in a day!

NaNoWrimo '12 Progress: Day Seven & Eight

 Day: Seven and Eight

Where I should be: 13328

Where I actually am: 14301

Word count for today: 1073 (D7) & 3180 (D8)

Favourite line from today's writing: With only my long t-shirt-come-nightdress and nickers, and his jogging bottoms separating us, things soon become heated, as I press Leto down into the couch, and straddle his lap.

Experiences of the Day: Yesterday was a struggle for me. I had some stuff going on at home, and didn't manage to write until the evening. No matter how hard I pushed myself, the words weren't coming. I finished the day tired, and behind the daily target for the first time this NaNoWriMo.

Today more than made up for it, and I wrote 3k, in large thanks to word wars with Kyra Lennon. Competing really brings out the best in me, and I stop myself from procrastinating. All in all, I'm happy with my progress, where the story is heading, and am looking forwards to the rest of NaNo.

I'd just like to say thanks for all the supportive comments on these entries, and on the 'I’m Thankful For My Readers Bloghop!' and today's earlier post. I am trying to reply to all of them, it's just taking me a little longer than usual. I do really appreciate your support though.

NaNoWrimo '12 Progress: Day Five

Day: Five

Where I should be: 8330

Where I actually am: 10048

Word count for today: 2184

Favourite line from today's writing: In the back of my mind, late at night when my insecurities are worst, I still question our differences and wonder if he’d be better suited to someone he has more in common with.

Experiences of the Day: I had another crisis today. The first scene I wrote for NaNo hasn't actually happened yet chronologically, so when I was writing scenes in the 'present' characters were referencing something that hasn't actually happened to them yet, leaving me with an odd mix of present and future events going on. Thankfully, I managed to move around the scenes, meaning I've lost nothing. I don't think I'll be writing out of order again though; my head can't keep up!  

Thanks to everyone who has been reading my NaNo updates and commenting on them; they're greatly appreciated. I am trying to reply to all comments, but if I'm a little slow, please don't think it's because I'm ignoring you. 

NaNoWrimo '12 Progress: Day Four

 

Day: Four

Where I should be: 6664

Where I actually am: 7864

Word count for today: 1845

Favourite line from today's writing: My high is soon deflated when I take my break, and see a girl in her early twenties, with glossy blonde hair and perky breasts, being interviewed to take over my position come Friday. Great, I’m being replaced by friggin’ Barbie!

Experiences of the Day: Didn't get a chance to write until this evening today, but thankfully managed almost 2k in two hours. Nothing major has happened, but the story is ticking along nicely. Had fun trying to think of a pseudonym for my antagonist, Abraxas. Thought Sax Arab might be a little obvious! Finally settled on Byron Saxton – and yes, I know it's the name of a guy in WWE developmental, and I'll have to change it in edits. But damn, I love that name!

How is everyone else getting on?

NaNoWriMo '12 Progress: Day Three

Day: Three

Where I should be: 4998

Where I actually am: 6019

Word count for today: 2331

Favourite line from today's writing: Heightened by our mutual declarations of love, our usual frantic ‘rip each other’s clothes off and shag our brains out’ rhythm is replaced by a gentler one; full of butterfly light touches, languid caresses and deep kisses.

Experiences of the Day: I had a slow start today, and a mini crisis. I began NaNoWriMo part-way through Cupid, and decided not to write the rest of the story chronologically, but by scene that interests me. That worked well the first two days, as I was writing a Halloween masquerade ball scene I've been looking forwards to for months. But today, when I completed that scene and went to move onto something new, I had no clue what to do – I cannot write out of chronological order. So I made a scene list to give me direction, but could only think up thirteen scenes, which I wasn't sure would give me enough of a word count to make the “winning” 25k. Thankfully though, after a little time out, I boosted my scene list to 20, and that's not accounting for random, unplanned scenes that'll come from the creative flow of writing. With a bit more direction, I got my NaNo mojo back and was able to produce a word count I'm happy with. I wrote some good stuff today, especially another love scene, which has some important implications for my characters.

NaNoWriMo '12 Progress: Days One & Two

Day: One & Two

Where I should be: 3332

Where I actually am: 3688

Word count for today: 1777 (D1) & 1911 (D2)

Favourite line from today's writing: “Rules schmules. We also have rules where Cupids are taken from their parents at birth, and if they don’t meet their quota they become statues. Sometimes I think the whole Cupid logic is flawed.”

Experiences of the Day: It's been a bit of a weird start for me, especially if you consider at this point in August I'd done 12k already. Firstly, I'm starting 65k into a story, using NaNo as an effort to finish Cupid, not beginning a shiny new project I'm all excited about – that isn't to say I don't love Cupid, I still do. Also, I feel like I'm trying to keep up with a lot more regarding blogging, messaging and doing revisions on the first half of Cupid. I think I need to prioritize more, and have some days just for NaNoing or accept if I try to do everything, I'll only meet my daily target. I still haven't figured out which is best yet.

On the plus side, I had a major break through plot wise today regarding the over-all message of Cupid. During revisions my wonderful critique partner, and word wars partner Kyra Lennon, asked a question about the nature of Callie's Cupid abilities, and I tried to answer that in a scene I wrote today. It lead me to some unexplored, but fascinating areas, and Kyra and I had a deep conversation about love and destiny. I'm very excited by what I discovered, and its implications for the story. So, even though I only did 1911 words today, I feel like it was a huge success, as I have some important elements for end-game etc. sorted in my mind.

How is everyone else fairing?

Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 25

 

 Day: Twenty-five

Where I should be: 41, 650

Where I actually am: 51, 382

Word count for today: 2051

Favourite line(s) from today's writing: I traced the patterns of his tattoos.

"Which as the first one you got?"

"This one just here," he said, sitting up and pointing to a series of markings similar to the runes I'd seen in his other tattoos. "It's an Old Norse proverb my grandfather used to say to me, it means generous and brave men live the best."

Experiences of the Day: I broke through the glass ceiling, and 'won' Camp NaNoWriMo today. *throws confetti * Thanks to everyone who has supported me, and encouraged me along the way. Your kind words and comments have really kept me going! <3

It's a great feeling, and I'm looking forwards to completing the story. I've made some more headway with character development today, giving my LI Leto more personality/ back story. He and Callie have hit an important point in their relationship. Now it's time to start throwing obstacles in their way! *mwahahaha*!

Tomorrow, I'll be taking part in Six Sentence Sunday, so expect a small snippet from Callie's word around two p.m.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend, and have a wonderful time whatever you're doing! 

 

Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 23

Day: Twenty-three

Where I should be: 38, 318

Where I actually am: 49, 330 (SO close!)

Word count for today: 2738

Favourite line from today's writing: While I loved seeing the fruits of my efforts when two people got together sometimes being Cupid was just not cool. - the bolded part may very well become my tagline/ basis for my title. I love when sudden inspiration like that hits.

Experiences of the Day: Amazing myself that I can write less then 1k all day, and then it gets to the evening and I can knock out a couple of thousand words. I guess it's when inspiration hits. I was in a scene, that'll lead to another bigger and important scene, and the words just flowed out of me. I love it when that happens.

How is everyone else fairing? Let me know how you're getting on.

Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 20

 

Day: Twenty

Where I should be: 33,320

Where I actually am: 45,587

Word count for today: 3528

Favourite line from today's writing: A blood bond between two Cupids can only be broken if the Cupid who agreed to it relinquishes their life, or the one who requested the bond retracts their demand.

Experiences of the Day: The finish line is in sight, though I still have a way to go on the story. I figure I'm between half and three quarters of the way there. I am already seeing parts that will need revising. I'm a little worried the pacing is off, and I wrote a scene today that I think needs more building to. While I'm excited to be creating new stuff, I'm also looking forwards to getting to revisions and pruning where needs to, and adding meat on the bones in other places.

Camp NaNoWriMo: Day 19

Day: Nineteen

Where I should be: 31,654

Where I actually am: 42, 056

Word count for today: 1600

Favourite line from today's writing: "I'd trade all the money in the world for a little warmth from them. What have I done that's so bad that it means they regard me with indifference?"

Experiences of the Day: It's been a slow weekend, I took yesterday off, and took it easy today, but I still managed 1600 words, and I'm pleased with my progress. Introduced some new characters today, and that went well. Also had an idea to add some extra complexity to the MC's relationship with the antagonist. Will be getting to something pretty big tomorrw, a possible turning point. Looking forwards to that. 

Also remember, today is the last day to enter the giveaway to win a paperback copy of Kyra Lennon's Game On. I will announce the winner tomorrow.  

Camp NaNoWriMo Aug '12: Day Seven

Day: Seven

Where I should be: 11662

Where I actually am: 30, 405

Word count for today: 4464

Favourite line from today's writing: "Oh I did, I had those too. She-Ra rode around on Sweetheart pony, and fought Barbie who's mount was a Keeper."

Experiences of the Day: Did word wars again with Kyra Lennon (who's almost completed the first draft of her second novel). Such a great motivator, though I worry I'll never be able to write productively without word wars! LOL Also found out the Moroccan word for Tapas, mukabalatt and that there's no special name for the Hungarian Mafia. If either of these things are wrong, please correct me.

How is everyone else getting on, please let me know, I'm dying to hear all about it.

Also, I know, I've been rubbish at commenting on blogs recently, I will try to pick it up again after Camp NaNo, and I'll try to get around to as many blogs taking part in ChristineRains' What Was Your Childhood Monster? Blogfest over the next few days.

Thanks for sticking with me guys! <3

Camp NaNoWriMo Aug '12: Day Six

Day: Six

Where I should be: 9996

Where I actually am: 25, 937 (half way there, baby!)

Word count for today: 5937

Favourite line from today's writing: Damn them all, I wasn't going to stop seeing him before we'd even given our relationship a chance. I'd just have to take the risk.

Experiences of the Day: Today, I did one of my favourite writing related things, word wars. For those of you who don't know what word wars is, it's when you and a group of friends compete to see who can write the most in a set period of time. KyraLennon (I don't know how she managed to fit in writing in between her Game On blog tour) and I did three thirty minute sessions and got at least 1000 words each time. Having someone to compete against really motivates me, and knowing I can't go check FaceBook because Kyra might beat me keeps me focused.

Camp NaNoWriMo Aug '12: Day Four

 

Day: Four

Where I should be: 6664

Where I actually am: 20,001

Word count for today: 5658

Favourite line from today's writing: He left a trail of kisses down my neck and to my collarbone, each one weakening my resolve. He stopped at the dip in my t-shirt just above my cleavage, and looked up at me, lust etched into his green eyes.

Experiences of the Day: Today I learned that even when I intend for a character to do something, I don't always remember to have them do it. My MC Callie was meant to call an acquaintance and ask her to meet them at a gig. I forgot to have Callie do it, and acquaintance Dinah still showed up. I had to make a note to retcon it in edits.

Is Camp NaNo still going well for everyone else? Let me know if you've had a prolific writing weekend. I'd love to hear your favourite lines!

Camp NaNoWriMo Aug '12: Day Two

 

Day: Two

Where I should be: 3332

Where I actually am: 12167

Word count for today: 7163

Favourite line from today's writing: His whispered promise 'I will be back,' lingered in my mind. He was like a creepy version of the Terminator, only without Arnie's accent and shades. Well hasta la vista, baby. I was going to terminate him permanently, if I could.

Experiences of the Day: I had a total 'find and replace' fail today, while changing tuna to salmon, and end up with words like unforsalmontely instead of unfortunately. I've had a few more instances of having to stop myself from fixing things or researching points. I guess since I've started editing my other works in more detail, I've become more aware of stuff. I also had to stop to make some more notes, and jot down characters who've appeared since my initial brain-storming pre-NaNo. The good news is though, I've now got the ending all planned out.

How is everyone else getting on? I'd love to hear about it. 

While I'm here, I'd also like to give a shout-out to  Tess of The Framed Lady who is giving away a signed paperback copy of Kiersten White's Paranormalcy. You all know how much I love Kiersten White and the Paranormalcy - I got the final book this morning, I've only read a page, but it was epic. Can't wait to dive into the rest tonight - so hop on over there and enter. You won't regret it!

Speaking of giveways, don't forget the one I'm hosting where you could win a £15 Amazon voucher.

Camp NaNoWriMo Aug '12: Day One

Day: One

Where I should be: 1666

Where I actually am: 5004

Word count for today: 5004

Favourite line from today's writing: "You're going to look so pretty in my collection," he whispered, running a long thin finger down my throat.

Experiences of the Day: I feel like I'm off to a really positive start, and I've enjoyed writing in first person a lot more than I thought I would. I feel like I've slipped into it easily. One of the main problems I'm having is stopping myself from going back and fixing things, or checking facts. I spent a good ten minutes looking up cologne fragrances earlier. I need to keep in the NaNo mindset of no editing. I'm looking forwards to tomorrow, and making some headway on the second chapter.

How is everyone else fairing?

Sibylline Nights Edit Progress and Stylish Blogger Award

Editing Draft One of 'Sibylline Nights' :

50619 / 105831 (47.83%)

I was going to leave updating until Monday, but then I was updating my person blog with information about how I'm progressing with the editing of Sibylline Nights, and realised I hadn't mentioned my progress here for a while. 

Editing is going really well, yesterday we (Hubby and I) finished editing chapter thirty. That's 50, 619 words and 95 pages done out of an original 105, 831 words and 209 pages. So just about halfway there. Though I did realise, at this point in the story in the unedited version, it was only 40, 060 words and 77 pages, meaning I've added almost 11k words and 18 pages since I began editing! That's kind of scary, and I think once the whole thing is complete I'm going to have to go back and cut a bunch of stuff to make the novel into a publishable length. Hubby and I already started discussing some scenes near the start that could go because they don't add much to the progress of the story.

As well as editing, we also made some groundwork with some of the more fantasy elements, including defining where magic comes from in my universe and giving voices to minor characters. Exciting stuff. I love editing because I'm taking something that was just okay before, adding meat to it, and making something (that I think is) awesome. I have such a good feeling about this story, and can't wait until it's ready to start querying.

Christine Rains awarded me with the Stylish Blogger Award a few days ago. Thank you Christine!

Before I talk about my own personal style, I wanted to give credit for the layout of my blog. The original template for this blog was designed, and a modified version is used, by my Hubby on his gaming site Video Games Interactive.  Thank you, honey! ♥♥♥

My style is quite eclectic, and I can easily jump from casual to dressed up, depending on what I'm what I'm doing and my mood. I tend to favour a mixture of dark colours, with bold accents/ make up though. My favourite combinations being black and pink, or black and purple. I would say my style is bohemian, bordering on Gothic.

I think I was most stylist on my wedding day. As I mentioned in the nine facts and one fake post a few weeks ago I wore a fuschia pink wedding dress.

Hubby and I on our Wedding day.

Now I get to tag five people I think have stylish blogs. If you've received this award before don't feel obliged to do it again. I tag:

Jaybird
Kyra Lennon
Jolene Perry
Jaycee Delorenz
Laura

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend, and those in the U.K enjoy the double bank holiday for the Queen's Jubilee.

Editing: I'm Doing It Wrong?

Purely out of interest today, I did a little word count of the first nine scenes of Sibylline Nights before and after editing. I've added 4400 words!

I've only edited about ten percent of the novel so far, but if I keep going like this I could up my word count to almost 150,000! Aren't I meant to be making the story shorter to meet publishing standards? Does this mean I'll have a lot to cut?!

I know there will be some parts I cut. I can think of a large portion off the top of my head. But it still worries me that I'm going to end up with a novel that's too long and I won't know what to take out.

On the plus side, those nine scenes I've edited are good. They were a nice skeleton before, but now I feel there's meat on those bones. I think I've set up the foundation of the story and characters well. My CPs seem to agree.

Hopefully I can continue with this momentum, and get the first draft fully edited by June.

I've Finished!!

After not writing for a week - due to being worn-out from writing 15,508 words in the space of eight days! - I've finally gotten back to it today and wrote 5569 word.

And completed the first draft of Sibylline Nights at a grand total of 105,892 words and two-hundred and nine pages!!

It Seems The Closer I Am To The End Of My Novel The Further Away I get

I reached 95k on my novel yesterday, and the ending is looking ever closer. But as today's post title describes it seems the closer I get to the end, the further away I get from actually finishing the story.

While coming back from taking my son to school I was thinking of the climax of my story, and part of it didn't add up. Someone was doing (or not doing) something and my justification for it was weak. To fix the problem I needed to go back and re-write an earlier scene, and ended up changing it a lot. I added seven hundred words that weren't there before my walk back from the school run.

I then moved onto the biggest piece of exposition of the entire story. It's a character revelation that needs to happen for the story to reach the climax. That came to 2800 words, and for the first time since I began work on Sibylline Nights I shared what I had written with my husband and then we went back through and edited it to make sure the scene was as impactful as it could be.

I'm really pleased with what we produced.

And I loved working with Hubby on my story.

He's actually going to help me edit the first draft, and I cannot wait.

I just need to get the damn thing finished!!

Tonight I plan on writing the climax, and hopefully I can do it justice. Then it's just the final resolution left. I can't believe I'm so close to the end.

It's been a hell of a ride, and I'm very much looking forwards to the next part of my journey as I begin editing.

90, 000

Today my novel reached 90,000 words.

I'm so proud of myself and completely stunned that I've gotten so far. This is the longest piece of original fiction I've ever written.  At times I feared I'd never reach the end, and though I haven't quite yet, I've hung in there and now the finish line is clearly in sight.

I was aiming to finish on 100,000 words, but I don't think I can wrap everything up in just 10k. We'll see. I wouldn't be surprised if I finish up with 110,00 or more by the end of the story.

And things are still going well.  I know this is only a first draft, and a lot will have to be edited, cut and changed.  But I like how this story had progressed.  I feel once it's finished I will have something decent to work with for draft two.

Now I just have to get to the end!

I've just written big battle number one and it went very well, even if I do say so myself.  I liked the magical action I created.  I've got a shape-shifter lynx fighting a summoned wolf, and a time-traveller outsmarting someone with super speed (among other things).  There's even some zombies in there!

I have a couple of big character revelations coming up next, and possibly a declaration of love.

Then it's only the final battle, and the defeating of the big bad.

After that, I plan on tying up the loose ends and solidifying the romances, and then the book is complete.

I'll leave things here with another excerpt as I go to work on tomorrow's post for the I'm Hearing Voices! Character Blogfest.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy!