A Minor Variation

50,039 words, as of approximately 7:13 this evening. \o/

Current total wordcount: 11,920 (!)
Target total wordcount for Nov. 8: 13,336
Wordcount needed for Saturday in order to stay on track: 1,416
If things go really well and I start feeling ambitious, I can shoot for 15,003, which would put me a day ahead. I don't consider this very likely, however.

In addition to the pieces mentioned in my last post, I've sketched in the beginnings of "Right Here, Right Now" and "No Way Out" (very roughly sketched in the latter case), so in a sense the first drafts of both are complete. I also more or less finished a piece I began ages ago which I am tentatively titling "Find Your Way," mostly finished the first draft of "The Last Night of the World," and did some very broad-stroke plot summaries of "With Good Intentions" and the rewrite of "After the Storm."

Geez.

Next up... I'm not really sure. At this point I've sort of burned through all the Fresh New Ideas I had, although I do still have plenty of old ones to pick up and dust off. "Persistence of Memory" is a reasonably good bet, and I've got at least one bit of "My Heart Dances" in mind that I should get down before I forget it. If I can keep this momentum going I might be able to get into the actual original novel-length stuff I've been vaguely meaning to write for approximately forever.

For now, however, zzz.

350 words. Blame ahumblepen for suggesting "cannibal" as a prompt.

There's a terminal standing open, its casing removed and its wiring and components pulled out and spread over the floor, the guts of eviscerated machinery spilled out and exposed to the air. Half a dozen other bits of electronics lie scattered around it, broken open and recklessly scavenged for their parts to create a Frankenstein's monster of a system, bits of wire patched together and insulated with lumpy layers of electrical tape, circuit boards and components rigged in, ill-fitting and sticking out at odd angles. The mad doctor responsible for this bastard abomination of makeshift engineering sits hunched over it with a screwdriver, grimly prying out another of its vitals and dragging it into the light for inspection.

After a moment it's tossed carelessly away with a hissing sigh of dissatisfaction; it clunks a few times against the floor before it comes to rest amidst an assortment of other technological disjecta membra. "No good. Damn it, that one's shot too."

There are some moments of groping about, but a replacement part fails to conjure itself up from amidst the scattered components, and he swears again and bangs his fist against the frame. "Damn it! Piece of--" A sharp edge of the metal frame splits the skin and his voice breaks off in a snarl as he brings his hand to his mouth, tasting the tang of his own blood. "Oh no you don't," he grumbles, the words muffled around his hand. "Don't think you're going to beat me by giving me tetanus, bitch."

The quick patter of footsteps from across the way stops short. "I think maybe you've been working on that a little too long."

His head comes up and swivels toward her, and his attention fixes almost immediately on the object in her hands. "What's that?" He points.

"Just a notebook..."

"Does it work?"

"...kind of?"

"Well, give it here!" He gestures impatiently, grabbing at the air until she's come close enough that he can snatch the electronic notebook out of her hands and apply the screwdriver with determined, murderous vigor.

Oh, hey, look, it's almost October. And that means it's almost November. And that means NaNoWriMo.

As usual, I have an idea to run with for the month, but as usual, my problem is more likely to be lack of motivation than lack of ideas. So, in the interests of trying to get into the groove of writing daily, let's have a fic prompt meme.

( Read more... )

It's October, which means that next month is National Novel Writing Month. I'be been a participant since 2002, but have yet to complete the goal of 50,000 words in 30 days, something I hope to change this year.

I'll be posting my progress to my LJ on a filter, so if anyone would like to read it, please comment here and I'll add you. I'll also do my best to comment on any NaNoWriMo posts others make, in the hopes of encouraging my fellow novelists.

Things left to do before November:

Wordsplat - "Wing"
Wordsplat - "Treason"
Wordsplat - "Home"
(I think there was another one, too.) Wordsplat - "Anticipation," thank you kevasangel74
all suggested by kevasangel74.

Figure out what the hell a phoenix down looks like. Thank you, infinitepryde. For some reason I never actually think of feathers when I think "phoenix down," even though, duh, down.

Clean the study.

Put together a playlist for writing purposes.


I still plan to do memefic for those who posted thenowhere's meme, but I'm putting that on hold until after November, the better to gear up for the challenge.

Why oh why do I get fanfic ideas two days before NaNoWriMo?

Argh.