anachred

This is the part of the process where I realize nothing has happened, and seek desperately to fix that. I wouldn't say it was this far into the word-count on most novels, or even that it happens every time I try to write a novel.
When it doesn't, it's because I make a conscious effort to prevent it, though.

Word-count wise, though, it's going good!

42559 (59224) 2600 today, since I worked hard to get a main plot-point well underway...




Which involves taxis by evening, candle rituals, and a Very Big Press Conference. (Cleverly, I've managed to not make the press conference the actual plot point. This is not just because I know nothing about press conferences, much less ones for entertainer-types.)

Today we touched upon poisoned darts, metallic sneakers, gum-wrapper communication, and a love of airbrushing.

Freedom fears she is a sell-out, but if they're going to make posters of her face, touch-ups are a godsend. She mentions this in a self-introduction. I think this book has more introducing sequences than any book should have, but we'll fix that L8R.
Besides, the point is this is sort of a drill...

Today: 2148 words
NaNo: 33255
Total: 49894

I got to ask my brother a firearms question this morning which turned up info to change what I'd been doing into something cooler. Apparently, they really can shoot darts from an M-16 (the gun I put a picture of last time). It involves blanks, which would still have panic-inducing loudness, and an attachment. It also would kick less so a 17 y.o. girl wouldn't have so much trouble. PERFECT.




You probably already know this, but Linkin Park has some pretty skiffy music videos.
"Leave Out All the Rest" here is straight-up SF, if a bit space-opera.
I mean, these guys are astronauts getting caught in a solar flare or something. Have you seen it?

Up over 30,000 words, the latest section of which includes an emergency escape swing-set, doubling as a Korean boy-band, and intimidating fake weaponry.

Here's a snippet, where Freedom talks with some of the people who are interning at their school. Under the man who maintains and constantly updates the trap-filled Wood behind the gym. (Joey, Chelsea and Sienna are fellow students.)
_________________

“I don't know when I'm going to have the next chance to walk through your little wonderland," I said, "but the bits of it I could process the last time had me very impressed. Is the rain system permanent?”

“Oh yes,” said Clive. “That was here long before I arrived, anyway.”

“What about the Breadbox? We were in that one for a while...”

“We dug for that one,” said John. “And then planted the masking grass and so on. I was surprised it worked, though, with the first trigger, then the second trapping of two people. Glee knows his stuff all right.”

“You'll have to see if the veterans get fooled,” I said. “We're the perfect suckers for any of them. If it was a barb-wire fence I'd get right over it, but my trap sense is not so good yet.”

“Y'all from farm country?” Clive asked with a grin.

“You betcha,” I said, in my best redneck accent.

“Hey, you eat up, girl,” he said, apparently adopting me for my bob-wire skillz. “No use in exercising if it don't give you license to eat hearty.”

“Once I'm used to the exercise maybe it won't be so hard.”

Chelsea was looking unhappy. Maybe it was something personal, but Sienna also had an eyebrow raised.

“Sorry, did I come interrupt a conversation?” I asked.

“Not really,” said Joey.

“You're doing your job well,” Chelsea told me. “Filling the awkward silences.”

“Apparently, all those years keeping my stupid comments to myself were a mistake.”

John the Earnest laughed at this, and the other guys smiled.

“Maybe just a different one than you're making now,” Sienna muttered.

I've reached the point of this book where I have room in my head for other stories to fit.
This is also the point where one is throwing cues around and hoping for an exit strategy... The significant lack of plot is going to be fixed soon, though. I just have to wait until the time zones align and then--WHAMMO.

Freedom's problems go nuclear mutant.

This is, in any case, the theory.


Today there is climbing of trees, and silver headbands. Also, reappearance of eyeliner angst.

Nano Count: 23802 (total MS count: 40387)


The greatest thing about this book is that it's full of girls--they talk all the time!
The worst thing about this book is that it's full of girls, and...

Right now, the Backlash Girls are discovering the delights of the Danger Wood training ground at their new school which include:
a fort, trip-wires, and menacing ponds.

I'm particularly proud of that trip-wire image--despite the fact that it was sheer luck I came across it. Man, I love autumn colors...


The Facts Are...
I have no neuroses to report today, nor any particular triumphs. I was up to almost
14,000 words
new since NaNo started, though. (As of yesterday.) That makes the novel a little over
30,000.
I think it's a little fat, but this is a voice-driven YA superhero story. Whatcha gonna do? She's just *talking*...


The Big Question:
To bring to writer's group or not to bring?

This is a meme; it was more interesting this time around. It's partly that I'm doing better with opening lines, especially for short stories, and partly that I've been doing a lot of short stories.


List the first lines of your last twenty stories. See if you find any patterns. (And flist, I'd love your opinions on patterns you notice.)

1) Harry hated to run away from anything, but he would have made an exception for this garden party. {The Enchanting Miss Tetley}

 

( 2-20, if you're interested. )

Also: My Raven King yarn is done! Come look at it...
 

I dug out my Spiderman poster to put on my door. (I actually received 2 the year I was 18, an undeserved reward for being annoying about that particular fangirl phase.)

Back to the Superhero Research!



Sky High may be awesome, but it's really just fodder for Backlash Girls. However much I may be whole-heartedly indulging avoidance behaviors toward writing, it's really got my attention right now.

I even stripped the walls of most of the pictures I had up for "Charming" (librarian glam story) since the visuals are turning out different anyway.



Wanna hear a bit?

The Lamest Powervillain EVAR

“I have a bad feeling about this,” I said at the mirror. My Han impression wasn't stellar, since for one, I have a definite girl voice (I envy those altos) and for two, I was looking at myself in the mirror. Not the best context for sounding cocky, if fearful.

My Zombie Boyfriend T-shirt (brains over beauty, yesh) is a little too stretched over significant areas, since I've gained a little more weight, and I didn't like my face without the frames Ena gave me. Stupid Carter had stepped on them. Even my gamer-chick look wasn't at its best.

Also, I had calculated that since Teddy hadn't been at the gamer coven last time, it wasn't basketball season, and the newest Halo had hit the Game-Stop shelves he was sure to be there tonight. Doesn't that sound dangerously neat? “What could go wrong?” says the heroine.

But no matter what Ena and Chelsea would be there, so it would be fun.

See how you jinx yourself?

 

 

( How it All Begins )

And yes, the post title is a later quote.