NaNoWriMo Update

National Novel Writing Month Update
As we're heading into the second week, I've hit 10k words written on a historical mystery (as opposed to a hysterical mystery) Hidden Aspects. It's going pretty well, but it's an uphill battle now where I have to fight for each word, the reason being that we are moving into the "laying down of clues" arena where things have to make sense and build the mystery.

All threads are pointing to one suspect at the moment. This person was originally intended to be my killer, but I've since started to wonder if I shouldn't shift that role to someone else. This person just looks too guilty early on, if you know what I mean.

Of course, there's always the handy Agatha Christie Murder on the Orient Express technique of just making everyone guilty. LOL

Must rethink....
Or must not...because all this writing is making my brain feverish and I'm having trouble turning it off to sleep at night. Which I suppose could be a good thing if it weren't for the fact I have a day job and can't walk around fuzzy all day.

On another front, I'm starting to sweat about writing 50k because we're now destined to have a guest over the Thanksgiving holidays. So instead of sitting down and churning out another 20k words or so over the last week (and finish!) I may have to do other things, instead. Like clean house. And shop. And actually cook something. And entertain a guest, which we're ill-equipped to do since we live out in the country where, unless you like to birdwatch, hunt, fish, or do some other outdoor activity, there's not a lot to do. We don't have things like "wiis" or "X-box" or whatever those things are that you hook up to a TV. And we're about 60 miles away from the nearest mall. Not to mention that I'd rather sit naked in a pit of rattlesnakes than go shopping.

We'll just have to see what we can do.

Then there's the cooking, thing. I usually only cook one meal a day. Take it or leave it. Don't get me wrong, I almost enjoy cooking, particularly when I don't have to. In fact, I cooked a pot roast last night and it was good. And is now gone because it was so good. There was one tiny piece left but hubby ate that for breakfast, meaning I have to cook again tonight! I was hoping for leftovers...but never fear, I believe a Mexican Lasagne is in order as that should provide enough for two nights. (Yes, we're piglets, but it was a very small pot roast and the lasagne isn't all that big, either.)

Anyway, I've got to get back to work, but I just wanted to do a quick update.

Nearing The End Of Week 1: NaNoWriMo

We're closing in on the weekend and the end of the first week of National Novel Writing Month, or more affectionately known as: NaNoWriMo. The Internet ether is churning with reports of NaNoWriMo wracking up thousands of words. It's exciting and astounding to watch.

How am I doing?

Not too bad, although having to work overtime last night knocked me back by a thousand words from my goal. So far, I've got 6,300 words written. I need to write 50,000 by the end of November to step into the winners circle.

Will I make it? Yes.
At least, I think so. Assuming I don't have to work a lot more overtime like I did last night. The prospects don't look good, though. My hubby and I were looking at our respective schedules and November is a bad month all around. I'm holding the fort while he's gone, he's holding the fort while I'm gone and we're very, very busy.

In a number of ways, I wish they'd move NaNoWriMo to a month like January. We'd get one more day to reach 50,000 and what else are you going to do when you can't get out of the house because the door is frozen shut? Not to mention that you'd start out the new year right by writing a brand, spanking new book that you can maul and work over for the rest of the year.

Sigh.

But we have to work with what we've got. I'm a little worried about productivity tonight because I haven't quite decided which subplot to start working into the story. Since it's a mystery, there are several subplots which are my "red herring" threads. One is already started. I can't decide which of the other two I want to start weaving in now.

And no, I'm not going to describe them. LOL. If, by chance, I should manage to get this book published, I don't want even the slightest possibility of divulging any secrets ahead of time. Assuming that the red herrings aren't so blatent that within five minutes of hearing about the clues, you dismiss them.

Then there's characterization. That's more challenging. I need to give my characters challenges while not making them appear to be complete idiots. It's harder than it sounds.

Back to work and mulling over red herrings. After dinner tonight, I need to settle in and write at least 2,000 words. That's the goal.

In the meantime, did I mention that A Rose Before Dying is on sale? Check it out at your favorite ebook store.

The first victim was Sir Edward’s ex-mistress, a woman who threw him over for a younger man. After receiving a mysterious rose, she dies while alone with Sir Edward. Then a second rose is delivered and a deadly game commences, where roses are the only clues to save the next victim.


However, Charles Vance, Earl of Castlemoor, refuses to believe his uncle, Sir Edward, could commit the murders, even when the renowned head of the Second Sons Inquiry Agency warns him there may be some truth behind the rumors. "The roses are Sir Edward’s attempt to cast suspicion elsewhere." "Misdirection." Or so the whispers say.


Convinced he can prove his uncle’s innocence, Vance enlists the aide of notable rosarian, Ariadne Wellfleet, little realizing his actions will involve the Wellfleet household in the killer’s game.


Before the week is out, another rose is delivered.


And someone else is missing.

Christmas Spirit has also been released, the perfect holiday historical mystery novella to curl up with next to the fire.
Enjoy!

National Novel Writing Month

The first day of NaNoWriMo is over!
Phew.
I wrote 2,014 words, roughly 8 double-spaced pages, last night on my WIP (work in progress) Hidden Aspects. It will be the third story in the Second Sons mystery series and features Prudence Barnard and Knighton Gaunt from the first book, The Vital Principle.

And while I'm constantly telling people, "If you want to be a writer, write," I haven't been so good at following that advice. My writing goes in spurts, in part due to necessity. I spend a few months writing a first draft, set that aside, and work on editing some other book. There are only so many hours in the day, and I have a day job, so when I'm writing, I'm writing. When I'm editing, I'm editing. Sigh.

However, what that has meant was that I'll go for long stretches without doing much in the way of new writing. Which is bad. Often, I'll learn a thing or two while industriously writing during NaNoWriMo, but instead of continuing to write when the book is done and cementing what I've learned, I go back to another book and start editing it. Not good. Must rethink.

And on a side note, even spiders write. In fact here is a writing spider. Isn't he pretty?

I've been doing so much editing recently that my mind has gone into hibernation on the creativity front. In fact, I was starting to worry that after I manage to write the next three or four books that I have ideas for, I may run out of creative juice.

Which brings me back to NaNoWriMo and why writers must write. Constantly.
Because last night, not only did I get those 2,014 words written, but I got a bunch of side benefits!

• While I was writing the chapter, I thought of a twist for the story that hadn't even occurred to me before. My goal tonight is to write another 2,000 words to incorporate that cool twist.
• The germs of two more books occurred to me. I wrote them down. So maybe the creative juices haven't quite run out. Yet. LOL

So you see? The more you write, the more your skills improve and the more you tap into your hidden well of creativity.

If you want to be a writer, then write!

I love NaNoWriMo (even if it scares me half to death with visions of falling mid-month into a writing-induced coma).

Join the madness! It's not too late!