NaNoWriMo

For those of you who have been living in a cave (raises shield in defense), November is "National Novel Writing Month". A.K.A. NaNoWriMo. Last year I was a cave dweller like yourself and was finally introduced to this wonderful month long contest.

A contest, you say? 
(Peeks out over shield)

Yes, dear reader, a contest. During the 30 days of November, it is your duty, nay your challenge should you wish to accept: 

To write 50,000 word novel

Holy wowzers, I know. The first time I read that, part of me cringed inside while the other half jumped up and down. It's a lot, to say the least. Sometimes I can't get any words onto paper - let alone 1,667 (50,000 divided by 30). 

Last year, I charged into battle blindly and without abandon. It was my first time, and I was unprepared to say the least. This year, I am preparing an entire month early to give myself a fighting chance at writing those 50,000 words of glory. 

Now, last year for NaNoWriMo I decided to write an entirely new novel that I had created in my head the day before November 1st. Bad idea. Maybe some people can win this way, but I cannot. This year I am going to be working on my current WIP. However, I am going to only count the words I write during the month of November towards my NaNoWriMo goal. 

In preparation for that I am: 

Determining My Writing Schedule

I am lucky enough to work from home for a company back in Portland, OR. I work from 9:00am - 6:00pm (CST), 7:00 - 4:00pm (PST). My plan is to get up early to set aside two hours every morning for my writing. I am going to test out this theory next week to see if it will actually work. If not, I'll have to come up with another plan. 

Outlining My Story

If I outline the story now, I have a road map to where its going. That way, if i get stuck on one of the outline points, I can just skip to the next. No excuses! 

Forewarning Family Members

You can't do this mission without support. I'm letting my loved ones know ahead of time about the quest I've undertaken. This way, I can have someone to cheer me on as I stare at the computer screen, slumped shoulders, drooling out of the side of my mouth and glossed over eyeballs. ;) 

Upcoming Artwork & Blog Redesign

I am excited to announce that I've got some exciting things on the way! 

Character Artwork
I've got someone working on character artwork for my WIP. I cannot explain how excited I am to have the characters brought to life with pen and pencil. I will probably be jumping up and down as soon as I see the first draft! 

Map Building
I'm working on sketching out the map for my world. I've been reading some tutorials online and watching how others go about bringing their worlds to life. I never really understood how hard map making is until you go to sketch it out. What seemed clear in my head, is missing a bunch of pieces on paper. I'm also learning that it takes a lot of measuring to keep items to scale! 

Blog Redesign
The current design for this blog is simple and not exactly Fantasy and/or Writing orientated. It's really a band-aid for making it look decent until I can get the items above completed and share my work with you all :).

Stay tuned! I hope to have new stuff very soon. 

151 Words of Glory

I WROTE TODAY! I just want to scream it from the top of my lungs. It's been a rough few weeks, and I finally got something out. Here are the 151 words that came out of my fingertips today...

Emma wedged herself in the slot of the parapet wall, her feet dangling over the edge. The little crow cawed next to her, taking her in with one beady black eye. She broke off a piece of bread, holding it out with a flat palm as the hard beak struck against her hand. While he was preoccupied with his meal, Emma stroked his soft feathers with the back of her fingers.

“Hungry little thing, aren't you?” She cooed softly, breaking off another piece. She heard the soft crunch of footsteps behind her, the bird flinching in response and letting out an irritated caw. She turned around, smiling as her eyes took in her brother. The crow strutted away, hopping intermittently, as Lance approached.

“Do you have to feed those things? I should of known you were feeding the crows.”

Emma scowled at him, dusting her hands of crumbs. “They’re my favorite.”



What about you? What did you write today?

Hunkering Down for the Storm

So, last weekend I didn't get any writing done with the weather being as beautiful as it was. For the first time in weeks it was not over 100 degrees with 50% humidity. Good ol' Florida for you. 

Here's what my weekend looked like:

Blue skies, white sand, and a wonderful 80 degree weather with a breeze. The water was warm and the dotted clouds along the skyline kept you from frying like a lobster. Rough life, I am telling you. 

Well, it looks like my dreams have gone down the drain now that this weekend is approaching. We're currently on Hurricane Watch and I can hear the rain pelting against the side of the apartment. 

I guess this means I should hunker down and get some actual work done. :)

Writing Boot Camp: Day 3

Mystery Cookie

For the past three months I've come into work and low and behold there is a cookie sitting on a napkin, on top of my keyboard. Not just any cookie, mind you. Oh no, one bite of this delicious morsel and your mouth is watering as it savors every last soft, buttery bite. I'm exaggerating, you say? Oh no - every last word is true, let me tell you. 

So imagine my disappointment when I come to work and there, where there has been for the last 90 some days, there is NO cookie. At first, I think "well, maybe it's been placed somewhere else." But no, the only thing on my keyboard is a slip of folded paper and a ticket stub of some kind. "Alright, who stole my cookie?" I glare over at the nearest coworker, staring her down in her freshly pressed suit that's a size 0. I inspect her jacket for cookie crumbs, but don't see any from this distance.  She looks away from my intense gaze, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, her eyes downcast. 

She looks guilty.

I reach down and unfold the piece of paper. 

Meet me at Hollington Station. 6:05pm. Tonight.

The ticket stub is for the MAX train, just up the street. I look back over at my coworker, who is now clickity-clacking on her keyboard. She still looks guilty. Very suspicious. 

Writing Boot Camp: Day 2

Screen shot of Writing Boot Camp from Writer's Digets

         The door of the cafe swung open, the little gold bell at the top of the doorway chiming with over exuberance. Audrey stirred her coffee, engrossed in the book she was holding. The new pair of feet scrubbed themselves against the mat in an attempt to dislodge some of the rain. They pattered towards the cash register, squeaking as they went, then faltered. They turned, the heel complaining, the footsteps growing louder. A figure entered her view, the brown trench coat pressing against the edge of the table. She pointedly ignored them, hoping the person would see her disinterest and disappear. 

         "Audrey? Is that you?" 

          Shit. 

          Audrey lay the book down, tilting her head down and her gaze upwards to look over the pair of red reading glasses. 

          Double shit. 

          Her body tensed as she removed her glasses and looked up the man standing before her. His dark curls were just as she remembered them, his lips in a playful smirk that made the memories of where those lips had been raise the hair on her arms and send warm shivers down her spin.

         "Gary?" The smile took over her lips before she could think otherwise, and the giddy feeling washed through her like a warm and pungent shot of whiskey. 

         

Boot Camp Writing

Today, I am going to start the two week Writing Boot Camp from Writer's Digest. If you want to join my quest, you can get a copy here. 

Day 1 is "Breaking Up With Writers Block". I am supposed to write a letter to Writer's Block (they have given me the first sentence) and go from there... 

So without further adieu, here it is! 

Dear Writer's Block,

It's not you, it's me. You see, I've decided that I deserve more. More than a life staring at blank pages. More than a life stressing about the fact that the words won't fill my veins and travel to the tips of my waiting fingers. My fingers that ache to type away at the keyboard, but find they are paralyzed with fear. Fear that what comes out of these hands of mine will not be good enough. That the words, when they do come, will be inadequate and lifeless. 

You have sat there, obstructing my path to glorious unhindered creativity, like a dark, ugly boulder. The longer I stare at you, the smaller I feel. But I will wait no more! I am going to write, and I am going to share my story with the world. I am going to take every reader by the hand and pull them deep into my world to show them the wonders that I have seen. The scenes that play out in my head, so vivid and real I know my characters better than I know myself.

I hope you understand. There are so many other writers in the world you could be with - but I am not one of them. It's time to break up, Writer's Block. For good this time.

-Brittany