NaNo, Genre and Writing

NaNo:

Even though I reached the 50K goal on November 21st, today was the last day to get my final certified word count in on NaNo. I finished 64,868 words in a month of glorious, terrifying and angst-filled moments. I am nearly two-thirds of the way to finishing my novel, and hope to get it done in December, take a break, then do revision and rewrite in the new year. I am really pleased, not only with the way my story is unfolding, but because I've completed a daunting task that I didn't think for a minute I could finish. Just goes to show, doesn't it?


Genre and Writing:

So, what kind of book am I writing? I would have to classify it in the Paranormal Romance genre, though it's also an action/suspense/mystery. Leave it to me to write a book that doesn't easily fit into any specific cubicle. I would prefer a different designation for this genre (leaving out that pesky romance word), though for now there isn't one.  I don't read romance novels, and yet here I am, supposedly writing one..!!

Paranormal is a type of speculative fiction involving humans interacting with the supernatural: vampires, ghosts, shapeshifters, mythological beings, and creatures like fairies, dwarves, etc. It's roots are in Gothic fiction, though I think those roots have grown into a very large tree that encompasses a much broader scope nowadays.

Living in Scotland, I am surrounded by myth and legend, so I brought one of my favorite legends to life.  And, no, I'm not going to tell you which one.  You'll just have to read the book.  Though, if you're really clever and know your mythology, you might figure it out from the brief synopsis below.

My main man, Alex, meets a human woman, Rowan, under dire circumstances. The story takes place in Scotland, in the Highlands. There's a mysterious book, a really nasty bad guy, fist fights, murder and mayhem. Oh, and the thirteen Sacred Trees who are characters in their own right. I've done loads of research on these factual and historic trees; ancient ones with their own mythology, their own personalities and attitudes.

As far as the romance bit goes, yes, there's sex. I mean, come on. Two people meet, whether over coffee at Starbucks, or in the forest running from killers, make a connection, and eventually fall for each other. What usually happens next, in real life or not? Yep, sex. I managed to hold them off until Chapter 14, but wow, did they make up for lost time.  Seriously, I had no control over these two, so don't blame me if the pages are scorched.

My book is not a bodice-ripper romance. It's a mystery based on ancient legends, the coming together of different worlds, and two people trying to solve the mystery while they struggle to overcome the odds against them. Maybe I should call it a Paranormal Mystery...with sex.

Official Notice

I've just downloaded my novel to the NaNo website for the official word count, and I won with 55,818 words, and before the November 30th deadline. If you look off to the right there, you will see my winning web badge, plus I got a real certificate (printed on paper, not just to view online).

I also get to say, and mean it, that "I've been there, done that, and have the tee shirt to prove it."  The tee shirt will look just like the web badge...the one on the right there...yeah, that one...the one that says WINNER..!!!

This year there were 170,000 participants (highest number of people to date), and I have now joined the ranks of the less than 3% who have actually crossed the 50K finish line--though the exact percentage won't be known until after November 30th.

Okay, okay. Sorry, sorry. Bear with me a little. It's just my overwhelming sense of accomplishment that I've done this wondrous thing that's making the tooting of my own horn so loud. 

One more blast on the trumpet, then I'll shut up:  I DID IT...!!!

National Novel Writing Month

Last month I stumbled across this strange thing called NaNoWriMo (or in long-hand, National Novel Writing Month). I go to the website and discover that for the month of November, would-be novelists, professional writers, or anyone who wants to, can sign up to write their novel, or 50,000 words of it, between November 1-30.

I dink around the website, thinking what an odd idea this is, and man, how daunting to put yourself under that kind of pressure. Cripes. 50,000 words?? In just a month??

I find out this concept started about 10 years ago in San Francisco and has grown from just a few hundred intrepid folks, to over 120,000 participants in 2008. It's now an international November thing, with most countries of the world represented. Wow. How cool is that?

I read on. The success rate is astronomically bad. Last year, for instance, of the 120,000 or so people who signed on, less than 15,000 actually accomplished the goal. Holy Lost the Plot, Batman!!

I mull this over for a week or so, half of that time wondering if I'm insane to even be thinking what it appears I'm thinking. I've just spent two months laboring over the house and all the DIY crap. Can I commit myself to another month of angst? Isn't it time I relaxed, got back to reading that pile of books I have stacked next to the bed?

Finally, one day while walking Oz, I mention this whole thing to Alan. He says I should do it, why not, I've been talking about writing a book for ages, didn't I say I even had a plot bouncing around in my head? I say there's no bloody way I could do 50,000 words in just 30 days. I'll be mortified if I sign up and can't do it. He says, who cares? All you can do is try.

October 26th I go on the NaNo website. I have butterflies. I can't believe what I'm going to do. I will be humiliated when I fail. Fighting my inner demons, I sign up. I get my notification that I am now an "Official Participant in NaNoWriMo 2009." I nearly throw up.

November 1st, Sunday. I don't even have the plot worked out. I only have a vague idea of my two main characters. I stare at the blank page (okay, the blank computer screen). I'm a total loser the first day. I have to write 1,667 words each and every day to reach 50K by the end of the month. I am doomed.

Then suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue, the first sentence comes to me, then the first paragraph. Oh.My.God. I write like the Furies are breathing down my neck, the words flying out of my head, filling page after page. When I finish the first day, my word count is 4,400. I am exhausted, but also elated. As the week goes on, I feel good, positive. Maybe I can pull this off after all.

Week Two hits. I can't remember my name, let alone the frigging plot of this stinking, worthless novel. What was I thinking? I can't write, and what I do write is crap. The mind parasites have crawled in and are eating my brain with voracious appetites. My word count is lower than a five year old's IQ.

Walking Oz, I tell Alan I'm quitting. Shocked, he says I most certainly am NOT quitting. Just write something, anything, to get the ball rolling again. That same day I get an email from the NaNo people. It's a pep talk about the Dreaded Week Two. Everything I am feeling is normal and happening to everybody else, all over the world. I should feel better that I'm not alone in this. I don't.

I take the day off to think things through. Late in that afternoon I suddenly remember where I was going with the plot. I tentatively sit down at the computer, I read the previous chapter to get myself back into the mindset. I tell my mind parasites to leave me alone, I'm writing. And I do.

Today, the end of Week Three, I wrote my 52,518th word. I reached the goal with more than a week to spare. I am filled with euphoria at my achievement. I am exhausted from using my brain so hard for so many days running. I'm only halfway to a full novel, but that's okay. I made it this far, what's another 50,000.

November day...

I won't be posting too much this month as I'm working on a project.  And no, I won't talk about it.  If I don't accomplish my goal, you won't hear another word on the subject, so just never mind.  If I do accomplish my goal, you'll hear the shrieks.  So, now that I've said WAY more than I intended to, I will now share some cool photos I took last weekend.

This is a shot of the River Almond, down the hill from our house.  It was a bitter, cold Sunday, but with the winding river and Fall-colored trees, it made the walk bearable.

Further down the river, there is a calm, placid section, just before the water hits the Forth, and the sea.  The water was very still and the reflection was just incredible.  Rather than show any of the trees hanging over the water, I just concentrated on the reflection.  I love this photo.  At first it seems upside down, doesn't it..??

As you come out of the woods by the river, looking West up the Forth, off in the distance is Barnbougle Castle.  Alan and I talked to a guy, not too long ago, who knew the family many years ago.  Apparently, the only remaining family member is a 97-year old woman.  Her husband is gone, and both sons died in WWII.  She lives there alone.  Can you imagine..??

Every morning, as we finish our Ozzy walk, we take a break at the Cramond Kirk.  Ozzy gets his water and treats, and in the peace and quiet of the cemetery, Alan and I plan out the day, and believe me, sitting on a bench in a graveyard makes you very conscious of each passing moment..!!  Over time, 3 crows have latched on to us, waiting for Ozzy to finish his treats, then they swoop down and eat the crumbs.  This is the main one, who always arrives first.  The other two are usually behind us, on the Kirk roof, cawing for Ozzy to hurry up.

And, here's Wussy Boy.  I keep his "rain" towels over the radiator in the kitchen, so as soon as we get back from a walk, I can dry Ozzy off and he can't track crap all over the house.  By the time we get back from an hour walk, the towels are very warm and toasty. After a really cold walk, like it was Sunday, he just revels in the heat, collapses as soon as I throw the towel over him, and won't move.  It's pretty funny, really.  I don't know what His Highness will do if we ever move and don't have hot towels at his disposal.  Cripes.

That about does it for this post.  I'll be busy this month, but will try to blog here and there as the month goes along.

A cool Scottish thing...

I know it's 4 days past Halloween, but I have to mention this very cool thing about what happens here in Scotland. I don't know about the rest of Great Britain, but this is what they do here. 

When we got our Trick-or-Treaters, they did stuff to earn their treats..!! Seriously, it is one of the most entertaining things. A big group of kids came, maybe 10 or so, and one girl did this gymnastic flipping act, which apparently covered all the kids, because no one else did anything. Still, it was great. Then, there were the singing duo, who were adorable, but slightly off-key, and the kid who told a Knock, Knock joke. But, my most favorite of the whole night was this boy. with his violin, who played a Scottish jig. Honestly, standing on our porch, belting out this perfect Scottish jig, with no effort at all. I wanted to give him the whole bowl of candy, I was so impressed. 

Too bad Halloween kids in other parts of the world don't have this wonderful Scottish concept of actually earning what they are given.