Walking On Sunshine

And a happy Halloween/Samhain/end of October, everyone! To end the month of Illuminations, let's talk about getting back on our feet.

Injuries to the spinal cord have been seen as major, life-changing issues that can't be overcome. There have been some limited successes in specific situations, but not many and not often.

Cue scientists and EES. The technique is still in process and has a ways to go, but it represents a huge leap forward in treating spinal-cord injuries. In the small study done earlier this year, several of the patients were able to move - and walk - with assistance after as little as a few days' treatment. The treatments, which involve implanting electrodes that allow electrical impulses to bypass the injured portions of the spinal cord, have proven to be effective in animals, but they've been difficult to get just right for humans. The combination of the treatment itself and the additional knowledge of the human nervous system researchers developed are going to lead to bigger and better things across the board.

And on that note, that is day 31 of the month of Illuminations! This has been an eye-opening, exciting, exhausting month, and I think I've got a better handle on how I want to move forward and what I can offer. November starts the month of craziness that is NaNoWriMo, which will be its own kind of entertaining, but I want to keep doing the Illuminations - just not every day. I'm committing to two Illuminations a week, and hope to have some kind of Nano update at least once a week for November.

At any rate, thanks for reading.

Nanowrimo Day 28

Current word count: 15,917
Goal word count: 50,000
What's happening: The ~mysterious~ final contestant is revealed, and she and Maxine have...history. The judge also makes his first appearance, and smarms all over everything. Now onto the show!

You know, at this point, if I manage to make it somehow, it'll be pretty danged impressive. If, as is significantly more likely, I don't make it, I'm still pretty happy with what I've got, and I'll want to finish the story up. Next month, however, will be the beginning of Crochet All the Baby Blankets (No Seriously, All Of Them). It'll be a nice break, I think.

Nanowrimo Day 25

Current word count: 12,016
Goal word count: 50,000
What's happening: Literary Fiction Dude gets a little whiny about the fact that no one really knows (or cares) who he is, as opposed to the genre fiction folks. People have made their way through the makeup and wardrobe machines, and a ~mysterious~ final contestant is about to be revealed. Then maybe we can finally, I don't know, DO something?

I really wish I were able to write things out of order, because then I would skip things like all the introductions and go straight into people fighting each other with words and imaginary warriors. However, I don't enjoy outlining things down to the details, and I like discovering things as I write, which means I generally have to write them in order to learn what the devil happens next.

Happy Friday, all! If you decided to brave the Black Friday stores, I hope you all managed to get what you needed without causing or receiving injury. Meanwhile, I'll be over here, shopping online and avoiding people.

Nanowrimo Day 21

Current word count: 10,442
Goal word count: 50,000
What's happening: The altercation between the literary critic and the romance novelist is broken up, much to Maxine and Oscar's disappointment. Our next contestant, Genre Fiction Perky Goth, is introduced, and we discover that Maxine really hates being called Max. Also we just barely meet our fifth contestant, Literary Fiction Dude (who's not nearly as intimidating or boring as he seems).

I broke 10K, woo! We'll just have to see how things pan out, but everyone's interacting with each other (mostly) nicely, so I think the sandbox is going to be a lot of fun.

Nanowrimo Day 18

Current word count: 8,644
Goal word count: 50,000
What's happening: The second novelist (the first-ever fanfiction writer in the Wars) makes their appearance and confuses everyone, then is whisked away to wardrobe. The third novelist, a literary critic who's certain he can write better than all of the drivel he's seen win the show, is confronted by the first novelist, who is the reigning champion and best-selling romance novelist. Maxine and Oscar look for popcorn for this particular fireworks show.

I don't really know why I'm so optimistic about this. Even though I'm only writing a few hundred words a day, I'm still writing every day, and I like where things are going. I'm refusing to throw in the towel on this, but I don't think I'll be too upset if/when I don't win Nano this year. I guess it's nice to be optimistic about something right now, given the current climate of gloom and doom surrounding the country. Stay safe, my friends.

Nanowrimo Day 14

Current word count: 6,541
Goal word count: 50,000
What's happening: The introduction to the format is explained, and Oscar gets to meet the first of the novelists, and fanboys all over her. The second novelist is about to make their entrance, and nobody really knows what to do with them yet.

Behind or not, I've managed to write every day. Even with last week being scary and rough (in addition to the election, a couple of anniversaries also happened to be that week, so that was less than fun). I keep having parts of Sia's song "Alive" running through my head, and I think I'm going to put together a "Not Yet Dead, Dammit" playlist for when I need it. I've the feeling I may need it a lot in coming days (weeks, months...)

Nanowrimo Day 11

Current word count: 5,301
Goal word count: 50,000
What's happening: Finally, Maxine and Oscar get around to filming the introduction of Novel Wars, thus spelling out for the home audience (and readers) just what the devil is going on. Also, the director hates the producer, so that should be fun.

Still behind, naturally, but I'm feeling a little better about where I'm going. This week has been rough for a number of reasons, but I need to stay on target and keep going. After all, now is the time to...

Nanowrimo Day 7

Current word count: 3,752
Goal word count: 50,000
What's happening: Our main character (and host), Maxine, meets the newest member of the on-screen cast, a kid named Oscar. We see the new set, and are getting ready to film the introduction of the show and the contestants.

OK, so I'm behind, obviously. At the same time, I'm liking where things are going. My main character is a cross between Elle Woods and Megyn Kelly, with a bit of Effie Trinket for fun. The set is essentially a series of cells where the novelists will have to write to a specific challenge, and the warriors they create will fight in a separate stadium. That, I'm looking forward to.

Nanowrimo Day 4

Just a quick update that I'm not dead, and neither is my Nano. Currently I'm sitting at 1,347 words. According to the Nanowrimo website, I should be at 6,666 words for today. So, it's a bit of a slow start.

I'm enjoying what I'm writing, though, so that helps. It's called Novel Wars, and it's sort of a cross between the Hunger Games and Cutthroat Kitchen. Thank heavens for my writers' group at work, as they helped me bounce ideas for the contestants and the sabotages they'll have to deal with. (I keep being reminded of a quote from WorldCon this year, that writers "create fictional people and then torture them," and I can't help but giggle maniacally.)

Anywho, I'll be getting back to it shortly. I'm going to a write-in tomorrow, so with luck having several hours set aside to do nothing but write will help get the momentum going. After that, well, I'll probably be avoiding the internet entirely on November 8-9, because while I'm thrilled that this dumpster fire of an election is finally going to be over, I don't particularly relish the idea of watching the backlash, regardless of which way it goes. I may spend the 9th with my Kindle and my little writing machine, disconnected from the internet and cuddling the cats.

Happy Friday, all!

October Round-Up

Happy Halloween to those who celebrate, and happy last day before NaNoWriMo for those of us who are attempting it this year! Let's see how I did this month.

Words written YTD: 43,109 on two and a half projects (Paranormal Investigations novels, a prequel short story that didn't really go where I wanted it to, and my outline for Nano) - a small bump in preparation for, well, tomorrow.

Writer-ly things accomplished: First pass editing of Paranormal Investigations is done, yay! I'm getting out of that world for a bit, as I've been there for a really long time, and starting something new for Nano.

New books read: Once Broken Faith, Dreams and Slumbers, Rat-Catcher (more from the October Daye series, which means I'm pretty well caught up; Lightspeed Magazine January 2016 (...I may be a bit behind on my magazines); Feedback (Newsflesh book 4, otherwise known as "Why must you tear my heart out, Seanan/Mira? Why?")

Old books re-read: Jingo (one of my favorite Discworld books); Deadline and Blackout (Newsflesh books 2-3); Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (*sniffle*); Artemis Fowl (because I needed something light after all that darkness).

All in all, not a bad month. Onwards to November!

Editing complete! Ish.

The first pass on draft zero of Paranormal Investigations is complete! *throws confetti* I realized that I ended it at sort of a weird stopping place, which is something I'll fix in post, but for now, I'm looking ahead to outlining for Nanowrimo.

While originally I was planning to work on Act 2/Book 2 of Paranormal Investigations, I'm contemplating taking a break from that world and going somewhere else. I'm not sure where that somewhere else is yet, but I have the weekend and Monday to figure something out. Optimism! That's what I need here.

Either way, I made a milestone, and I'm proud of it. Next stop is to write more, and see what comes of it.

Happy Friday!

Editing, First Pass

I've been working on taking a first go-through of what is currently draft zero of Paranormal Investigations, Inc., and it's been an experience. For the most part, I'm looking through what I've written and seeing what's changed in the...three? four? years that I've been drafting this thing. Clearly, some major changes have taken place - I mention in the first few pages that Alison didn't want to move back in with her parents after college, which is good, because her parents are, y'know, dead and all, and have been since she was about 8...oh, and she moved back in with her grandfather instead.

Still, it's nice to take a look at some of this and realize it's not all as awful as I was expecting it to be. I tend to be my own harshest critic, so I usually cringe at the idea of reading my own writing, as I'm convinced it's horrible and hardly makes any sense. And true, there are some things in here that need updating or removing entirely - this is draft zero, after all, also known as "GET WORDS ON PAGE!", so some things aren't making as much sense as they could.

Still and all, I'm finding that I'm enjoying the story. I'm a little surprised by that. I'm also looking ahead to what I can do for Nanowrimo this year, so I can be ready to start on November 1 with some idea of where I'm going. It would be nice to have a plan beyond, well, "get words on page".

A WINNER IS ME!

That is all. :)

Day 29 of Camp Nanowrimo

Current word count: 14,469
Goal word count: 15,000
What's happening: Gramps and Veronica have a brief chat about Alison's lack of friends, which Alison doesn't take too kindly to; Alison and Veronica arrive at the big boss' office, and encounter a secretary/doorkeeper of mysterious powers and a killer wardrobe.

So close! SO CLOSE. If I weren't drowning in day-job work, I'd be getting the rest of this written right now; however, it will have to wait until later today or tomorrow morning. Victory is in sight!

Day 25 of Camp Nanowrimo

Current word count: 12,468
Goal word count: 15,000
What's happening: The mysterious strangers have departed after leaving some cryptic information about how Alison really, REALLY needs to get to the big boss ASAP. Veronica and Gramps talk for a bit, and we see a little more about Alison's backstory.

This took a weird detour, but I think it's working out pretty well. I have until the end of the week to write about 2500 words, and I'm feeling cautiously optimistic.

Day 22 of Camp Nanowrimo

Current word count: 10,339
Goal word count: 15,000
What's happening: The mysterious strangers have names! They appear to be wondering why Alison didn't go straight to the Big Boss immediately upon being initiated, and why Veronica never told her to do so. Veronica is ever so slightly terrified.

Woo, I broke 10K! I'm a little bit behind on the goal word count, but I have a chance to play catch-up, and things are rolling along pretty well.

Day 18 of Camp Nanowrimo

Current word count: 9684
Goal word count: 15,000
What's happening: Did some restructuring to account for new developments. Alison and Veronica have headed to Alison's house so she can clean up before meeting with the Big Boss, and encounter two mysterious strangers who appear to be waiting for them. Who are they? Your guess is as good as mine.

Y'know, every time I think I have a handle on where things are going, and my outline is reasonably solid, something weird happens. I seriously don't know who these people are that have shown up, but they're there now, and I'm going to have to deal with them. Somehow. I've got to say, though, it is one of the things I enjoy the most about writing.

Day 15 of Camp Nanowrimo

Current word count: 8758
Goal word count: 15,000 (Yes, I dropped my goal)
What's happening: The boss has come up with a new coffee blend, and everyone is a big fan. It's almost a little too popular? Alison and Veronica are on their way to meet with the Big Boss, and Veronica is making Alison very, very nervous.

I've dropped my goal because I'm not confident that I'll be able to make the 25K this month. I've written almost every day, but after being pretty awfully sick last week, I wasn't able to write all that much. Still, progress!

Day 11 of Camp Nanowrimo

I would have word metrics and such here, but my little writing machine decided, in its infinite wisdom, to lose everything I'd written so far today. I'm not irritated, noooooo, why would you think that?*gnashing teeth* The best/worst part is that it lost it while doing the automatic save, which just seems like a level of irony I can't deal with right now.

At any rate! After nearly 90,000 words, my coffee shop finally has a name! I don't have to keep referring to it as "the coffee shop" if I don't want to! I'll take the little victories. Also, the owner of The Best Little Coffeeshop in Washington has brought in a new blend of coffee and it's having some...interesting effects on people. I'm pretty sure whatever additives are in there are of a supernatural sort, but I haven't decided on exactly what yet. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them!

Now, back to re-writing what I spent the last twenty minutes writing the first time, knowing it's never going to be as good as it was the first time...*grumble mutter*

Day 4 of Camp Nanowrimo

Current word count: 3710
Goal word count: 25,000
What's happening: Apparently, there's a head of the organization that scare the bejeesus out of everyone. I'm thinking he's a bogeyman, but we won't know that until they go see him. He's Very Upset that Alison (main character) hadn't come to him sooner. The first date went well, if ended strangely. Evidently, Alison's grandmother is not dead, but in a nursing home and not well. (Also, how did I not even think about where her other family would be until now? Seems like that should have come up before...)

We're off to a good start. Of course, work and life are conspiring to keep me from writing, but thus far, I've managed to beat them back.