Progress Report

I’m writing a fiction book set in Mongolia for my National Novel Writing Month. (Yeah, like you didn’t know that already.) I’m using a lot of the things I experienced there as part of the book.

For instance, there is a scene set at the Chengus Kahn Memorial statue. There’s another that features Turtle Rock, and a couple set in UlaanBaatar. So far. I expect to have several there before I’m done. Does the airport there count as separate? The leather pouch used to ferment milk gets a mention, as does the way a ger smells.

I’ve given passing mentions to monasteries, and prayer scarves and ovoo. I’ve included a yak ride that turned into a kidnapping and a horse race. And yet, I don’t yet feel like I have in any way given life to my setting.

Mind you, I have plenty of time to fix it during revisions. At this stage, it’s more an attempt to get the basic story out as close to intact as I can. Afterward, when I’ve had a chance to clear my head, I’ll be able to fix things like how to express a culture.

Meanwhile, it’s going well. I’m pleased.

As to the word count – there are two places you can look here on my blog to see how I’m doing. If you look at the left sidebar when your on the main blog page (In other words you can’t see it right now because you’re looking at a post. Go back a notch) there is a blue box near the top that says NaNoWriMo Participant.
That red bar underneath and the numbers at the top tell you where I am. Alternatively, on my Welcome page near the bottom of the right hand side is a ticker. They don’t always match because I have to update them separately. Just assume the bigger number is right. 🙂