NaNoWriMo 2014

Signed up for NaNoWriMo. No one ever said it has to be deathless prose, right?

NaNoWriMo | Not Even 5000 Words

I'm still working on NaNoWriMo, and last word-count is at 4701. I'm almost 2 weeks into the project and I am not even halfway to the 10,000 mark. ARGH.

I was on the bus recently and it hit me that while I am so concerned about plausible plots and convincing characterisations with my own story, I don't seem to practice the same critical analysis when I read. Maybe I am a lazy reader.

That said, I sort of have an idea plot-wise of the "Great Evil" that will challenge our young hero and his allies. I think I am also getting a better sense of young Julian, reluctant hero. I've been throwing more supporting characters into the mix, and writing outlines of his interactions with the different characters help me "figure him out". It's amazing how we are defined by our relationships. I have also decided the fate of young Julian's much admired older brother, Hugh. Poor Hugh -- heroic, but you need to serve the plot.

To get the word-count, I have been cheating by writing short scenes that are supposed to fit into the story later. Instead of a linear progression, I skip between scenes, elaborating each scene as I feel like it. It's sort of like trying to string together different coloured beads. It's working, it's getting me to write -- but eventualy I will have to make them more coherent overall. Maybe I should worry about that in December.

I still have no idea how the young hero will eventually meet the femme fatale -- the beautiful, enigmatic vampire sorceress, Cristiane, who has her own agenda, but who will of course be absolutely irresistable to young Julian.

Of course, the One Million Dollar Question: Should Cristiane the vampire and Julian the Shadow Hunter have sex? Can I write it? How does one do research for this sort of thing? Should I attempt to write it, or just do a chapter-break between sex?

My mind is just in the gutter, isn't it?

NaNoWriMo | I Don't Care About My Characters

Barely one week into NaNoWriMo I'm already thinking of chucking what I wrote and writing something else.

Maybe it's because I spent so little time planning the story and the characters; I can accept that I'm clueless on how the plot will turn out, but right now I have no idea how to write the characters. They are new to me, I don't know them, have not decided who they are or what motivates them. This makes it hard for me to write, because when I put two antagonistic characters together, I don't know how they are supposed to react to each other.

The questions that keep popping into my head: Who is smarter? Who is more confident? Why are they fighting? Why do they hate each other? (Is it really just clan-rivalry or sexual jealousy over a woman?) In this argument, what is one character hiding from the other? As I keep making things up, I find myself going back to re-write dialogues that will illustrate these emerging conflicts and background.

It's driving me nuts, not knowing what to do.

When I was studying I used to write a little fanfiction, and some stories of the gothic/fantasy/cyber-punk/noir genre. Before I actually start writing, I spend a lot of time day-dreaming -- something I have always enjoyed on long bus-rides. (Actually, I enjoy the day-dreaming more than the writing) I usually have a chance to create a whole back-story, personality and family history for them -- so when I actually set pen to paper -- I have something to work on.

Right now I'm looking at my main protagonist, Julian: He's a spoiled younger son from a family of Shadow Hunters. He was content to allow his older brother to be the Shadow Hunter while he goes off to be a playboy, professional wakeboarder and stereotypical rich brat. He is a selfish character -- and I have no idea how I'm going to redeem him. Yet.And I'm not even sure how to develop the supporting characters.

If I'm going to change the story I have to do it as soon as possible.

I have just written more than 350 words in a ramble -- and yet I have trouble doing this kind of word-count for NaNoWriMo. This is harder than I thought.

Working on NaNoWriMo really slowly and Dailylit

I'm hoping to do a more substantial post, but alas, I'm way behind on my third day of NaNoWriMo. I have only written approximately 1,140 words in 3 days. Last I checked, Chris has clocked in about 4,000 words. I bet he has progressed further as I type this. The man is putting me to shame. ;p You go, Man!

One would think with the way I ramble, word production would be easy, yes? No. I self-edit. A lot. I keep rewriting sentences, words, scenes - which is why I am still only on two pages, with two scenes, introducing some of the major characters. They haven't actually done anything interesting yet.

So far, I have my young Shadowhunter, Julian Knight, (I am stealing from my favourite Gabriel Knight PC game for the whole Schattenjager backstory) coming into a futuristic city. The year is 2047 AD. He is a reluctant hero, having to pick up the mantle after his older brother (the previous anointed Schattenjager) went missing. His quest is somewhat self-serving, as in spite of his genuine concern for his brother, he also really want to be able to return the job of the Schattenjager to his brother.

Meanwhile, a High Vampire, the elected overlord of the same city, is murdered. This creates a power vaccuum at the highest echelon of the vampiric society. Two exiled vampire-sorcerors return to the city. A civil war between the vampire family ensures.

I just have to write it. And I have to stop re-reading what I write and then going "Oh, it sucks."

Meanwhile, I have gone and signed myself up for dailylit - where they send you books via email or RSS in installments. You get to choose if you prefer to receive them daily, on weekdays only, or alternate weekdays. You even get to pick the time to receive the installments.

I tend to do this a lot - sign up for things without really thinking about - simply out of curiosity, to find out what's the big deal. Sometimes I get myself into trouble, but sometimes I discover really fun things by acting on a whim. Anyway, it's just more emails. Book installments will certainly be more relevant than all the viagra and penis enhancement spam-ads I keep receiving.

TO IDIOTIC EMAIL SPAMMERS: I HAVE NO PENIS! GO AWAY!

Back to the subject of dailylit: I've signed up to receive Somerset Maugham's The Moon and Sixpence (in 82 installments) and Heinrich von Kleist's Penthesilea (in 35 installments). When I read the first installments in my email, to my surprise - Penthesilea is in German. Oops. Time to unsubscribe.

Anyone else is receiving books via email? Are you loving it?

NaNoWriMo | Damn

Oh damn.

NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow - and I still have no story.

NaNoWriMo Sign Up

Okay. I'm all signed up for the NaNoWriMo. I have very creatively signed up as "darkorpheus". Was taking a tour around the website and when came to the "edit profile" section. I realise I didn't know what the title of my novel will be.

Time to draft an outline, and most importantly - name the characters.