Yet another NaNo Meme

The Twirl and Swirl of Letters

So, I was reading Ralfast’s Sturm und Drang blog the other day and saw this meme about NaNoWriMo (created by Benjamin Solah). While I’m still kind of on the fence about participating this year (and if I do, it may or may not be PAaA), I thought the meme would get me in the writing mood.

When and how did you find out about NaNoWriMo? How did you go?

I found out about NaNo in high school, but I didn’t participate until last year.

How many times have you done NaNoWriMo?

Only once.  I’m hoping the Highlander philosophy doesn’t work with this.

How many times have you won? If you haven’t won, what was your best result?

I won last year! And man, did that book reek. I’m half proud, but mostly embarrassed by the result.

How did you go last year?

I won! But I didn’t have a plot, characters, or anything. It was a whim I decided on November first. Was it a lot of fun? Yes.

Where do you write and with what do you write?

I write on my computer or with pen and paper.  Usually I write in my room, but this year I’ll probably do some writing in the library.

How do you find time to write?

Its a wonderful procrastination tool. Really, I’d come back from class and write instead of taking my usual late morning nap. That, and I went to sleep very late at night (or early in the morning).

Are your partners, friends and family allies or enemies?

My friends mostly thought I was crazy, but in the end they supported me. This hasn’t prevented them from wanting to read my work, which I have refused. My profs who knew about it were quite supportive (I was able to write two articles for my journalism class about NaNo).

What are you strengths and what do you use to help you get to the end?

Dedication! And the thought of a job well done. Bragging rights help too.

What are you weaknesses, obstacles and challenges that hinder you from finishing?

I’m easily distracted and tend to procrastinate. Plus, I enjoy sleep.

Do you plot/outline/plan or do you write by the seat of your pants? How much do you plot or how unprepared are you?

Last year, no plot, no problem. The result was ugly. This year, if I participate, I have characters and a time line to follow. Better prepared than last year!

Do you participate in the real life community, go to write ins and meet ups in your area?

Kind of. I met up with one other NaNo-er, and meant to go to a write in but didn’t get around to it. This year, I’ve limited my extracurricular activities, so I think I might go to a write in or two.

What are your writing aids? Special snacks, music, totems, rewards or punishments?

Tea, lots of it. Music, I made a playlist of ’60s music, and also listened to a lot of Pete Townshend’s solo work.

As for punishments, failure is not an option.

Characters Without a Plot may Apply (the same is true for plots without characters)

The Twirl and Swirl of Letters

I’ve decided that I’m going to participate in NaNoWriMo this year; however, I’m not going to be working on Per Ardua ad Astra for it. This will leave me free to not feel guilty about writing parts of it now.

Lately, I’ve had a hankering to work on short stories. So? I’m going to write an anthology of shorts. At the moment, I don’t have a particular theme connecting everything. It may be a collection of spec fic shorts. Or maybe a bunch of stories about my pilots. Who knows?

As I haven’t written short stories in a long time, one may end up being a novella. The stories might be flash fiction. They might be traditional shorts. I’m getting rather excited about this. I’ve developed a character sans plot; now, perhaps he’ll get one. Or two. Maybe I’ll be uber-geeky and write a fanfic.

Bits and Pieces

The Twirl and Swirl of Letters

I am, by nature, a snippet writer. I write things out of order, with half-baked scenes thrust onto paper before I dash to another time and place. This is not without its problems. For one, character development is made a bit more difficult. My characters interact in the future the way they would in the present (if that makes sense).

For another, it makes the whole timeline a bit difficult to figure out. I have a basic idea of what I want to happen when (for example, the first MC death occurs in mid-August), but post and prior to these events are a bit shaky.

I also partially blame this habit for my inability to actually finish a manuscript. I dash here, there, and everywhere while neglecting to complete the blasted thing. Like a butterfly am I, going from story flower to story flower. Sometimes crosspollination occurs (and that works every now and then).

Hopefully, this will change with Per Ardua ad Astra (such a mouthful). I’m really trying to get things moving forward. Dedication to one story. And if I get distracted, I’ll write a short story (not start a different novel).

The Fine Art of Bookbinding

General Geekiness

While my attentions should be turned to writing my WIP, sometimes outside projects have a higher priority. I happily engaged in this one because, well…its just another step in the book process!

I crafted this WWII alphabet book by hand. It was designed using Adobe InDesign CS3.

Image/Book by Beth

Image/Book by Beth

I bound the book using a stich called Japanese Stab Stitch. Beneath the cover, the stitches make a box pattern. I didn’t think to take a picture of the book before adding the finishing ribbon (instead of book tape).

I’m looking forward to one day crafting my own journals. It was a lot of fun (if annoying to my neighbors–I had to use hammer and nails to make sufficient holes in the paper). Painful, too. I hit my fingers a few times!

In the realm of bookbinding, I intend on doing another alphabet book, this time using my own illustrations. The theme? Mythological creatures. I intend on calling in the Alphabeast.

Beginnings

The Twirl and Swirl of Letters

Last night, between hacking my lungs out and listening to my neighbors’ cheesy-awesome 1980’s tunes, I started writing Per Ardua ad Astra (bit of a mouthful, by no means is this the final title).

Beginning a story is difficult for me. I have no problem writing internal scenes, even endings, but the whole first-impression thing…I feel that if I can’t strike the right tone with the opening line, the rest of the book will suffer. Look at some of famous opening lines:

“Marley was dead to begin with.” A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

“In a hole in the ground lived a hobbit.” The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.

“Midway in our life’s journey, I went astray from the straight road and woke to find myself alone in a dark wood.” Inferno by Dante Alighieri.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.” Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling.

These opening lines capture the essence of the stories to follow. As for me, my opening line is pseudo-epic and quite frankly, reeks. It doesn’t fit with the vibe that I hope to achieve. Oh well. That’s what rewrites are for!

And I’m not going to rewrite a scene until I’m completely done. Unless I come up with a better beginning.

An Update on the WIP

The Twirl and Swirl of Letters

So, the WIP. My pet project for months, happily stewing away on the stove of my mind. A few comments on Sputnitsa’s First Draft Joys inspired me to give you all an update on how the story is coming along.

  • It now has a working title: Per Ardua ad Astra, or From Hardship to the Stars. Its the RAF motto. Not terribly original on my part.
  • The research is going. By chance, I found a handy book called The Few by Alexander Kershaw. It has many descriptions of dog fights, RAF slang, and is a captivating read. I don’t have to worry about my shotty Internet connection, either. Long live the book!
  • Characters are coming along. There are even a few female characters chucked in! And I like ’em, which is the important thing.
  • The story is beginning to take shape. A few scenes are cropping up.
  • I’ve already killed off a character. Yes, he makes an appearance in the story (and is a main character prior to his death). I shouldn’t be so bummed about his death, but I know it’s a plot point and/or experience that defines the other characters. I’m a little worried about his demise sounding forced, but I won’t know until I finish writing the first draft, eh?

Of course, things aren’t progressing as quickly as I would like them. But they are progressing. And my friends are a bit concerned about my over enthusiasm for all things WWII.

CC//flickr John Griffiths

CC//flickr John Griffiths