I Did It!
Well, sort of. I was working on one of those Sword and Sorcery Fantasy type books, the big honking ones that can go five or six hundred pages. It takes at least 100,000 words to finish off one of those, and as you can see by my statistics, I only did about half that.
I had to really push to get that much done, too, as I had neglected to do any prep work, and had no outline for any of it. From this I have learned that I really, really do need an outline even if I don’t actually intend to follow it at all. The previous book went so much better. But then, this one is a lot more involved as it is a sequel.
I have some friends who intend to do their own version of NaNo in January – which we all agree is the optimum month for that sort of thing as it doesn’t include troublesome holidays or tempting weather. My intention is to do the second half then.
Toward the end I started thinking about my Montana compatriots doing NaNo. Here’s how we fared as a collective unit:
I think the gradual arc in the first three quarters reflect those who dropped out along the way, and the little uptick at the end came from all of us who were close enough to make a desperate, last-minute effort.
It’ll be interesting to see how January goes.
Jack and Jill, Advertisers
Jack and Jill readers may not have noticed, but over the years a few advertisements have made their way into the story. Specifically, two for my Etsy store and one for a house. Check it out:
Broken Hearted featured a pair of earrings that were for sale. The ones in the store now are much better.
In Hindsight
She can’t remember the way his laughter sounded. The overwhelming tick of the clock did not wash it out her memory, though she likes to blame the passage of time. When she thinks back to their days of every color of emotion from laughter to tears, the voice she hears loudest was her own.
The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 is hosted by the G-man, a host with the most.
13 Mountains
A friend recently asked if she could swipe a picture of mountains from my blog. Gosh, I wonder why she’d think of lil old me. 😀 Since she’s willing to give me credit, I’m all for it. Maybe one of these?
1.
Suzie’s House 288 : Tracy and Bruce Practice
Reymond Ungar could hear voices coming from the band room. Though the sound was faint, it was persistent, and entirely too familiar. He stifled a groan. Apparently Tracy Martin was at it again.
The Serialists for November 28
Sorry I’m running late today. I thought I had this set to post last night and focused on my WIP instead. I should have double checked that it posted.
This week’s featured author is Old Egg with Ahu and Ahuahu. Watch for a quote from there on my Tuesday post.
This is the hub for The Serialists, a meme for people who post original, serialized fiction on their blogs. If you have one or more posts you would like for us to read, please put the direct link(s) to the post(s) in the linky. Remember to visit one another and comment. We all want to hear from our readers.
Stuffed
I don’t know about you, but I’m stuffed.
We had family over for the holiday. I really enjoyed their company, and the food was pretty good. I’ll never use goat cheese in a bean casserole again, though. Speaking of food, get a load of the legs on that turkey. I’ve never had one come out quite like that before. It was cooked all the way through, but one leg insisted on sticking up more than the other. Most peculiar.
I fell behind on my NaNo book, though. I made good progress Sunday, but still haven’t caught up yet.
How was your weekend? Did you have anything good to eat? Good company? Good progress on a project?
Home for the Holidays
Jill’s Mother: That’s right, I’m here for the entire holiday from Thanksgiving through New Years. Show your true colors, Jack. (evil laughter)
Previously in Jack and Jill: Something Old, Something New
For more posts with Colors go to Keyhole Pictures
Thanksgiving
Though she knew she would be eating alone, Theresa cooked the complete meal. The scent of nutmeg and onion filled the kitchen. The smallest turkey in the store, stuffed and skewered came out perfect, but lonely.
“Sorry we’re late! Got enough for me?”
“Me too!”
Friends, neighbors, lonely souls; the house filled. The plates filled.
Maybe she should have gotten a bigger bird.
The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 is hosted by the G-man, a host with the most.
13 Trips to the Cellar
I’m cooking right now. So far these are all the things I’ve had to go into the cellar, or the store, to get.
1. A can of crab meat. Ended up at the store for this one.
2. Cooking oil
3. Nuts
4. Baking powder
5. Baking powder. Yes, again. I couldn’t believe I really honestly didn’t have any in the house.
6. Cream of tartar, because I was in no mood to go back to the store when I’d just come back from it.
7. Cornmeal
8. A pan
9. A bigger pan. The turkey is 20 lb. this year.
10. Stupid pan, ended up at the store because there really isn’t one big enough in the house and I didn’t want to use my biggest bowl for the job. Ended up with one of those foil things.
11. Turkey platter.
12. Sage
13. Bedrolls
Suzie’s House 287 : Gene and Kate Practice
There was all this sound and motion, but Gene found practicing with Kate kind of peaceful. It shouldn’t have been. The girl was almost as twitchy as her singer friend, and her drum playing drowned him out most of the time. Maybe it was because he really didn’t care.
She fumbled and dropped a drum stick, but he kept playing. She’d catch up when she was ready.
The Serialists of Nov 21st
This week’s featured author: Altonian writing Visitors
I do believe you are overdue for a button. Got any particular graphics you’d like to see used for it?
This is the hub for The Serialists, a meme for people who post original, serialized fiction on their blogs. If you have one or more posts you would like for us to read, please put the direct link(s) to the post(s) in the linky. Remember to visit one another and comment. We all want to hear from our readers.
Lady Gosforth blushed slightly. She said in a caustic tone that fooled no one, “Mr. Delaney, I see you haven’t given up your shocking propensity to flirt with old women.”T-day Countdown
Those of you in USA, got your bird yet? Seems like I’m always late getting mine as I tend to forget I have to let the sucker thaw. I like to give it three or four days in the refrigerator, but sometimes that isn’t enough. I’ll end up poking it a bunch of times to see if it’s even close yet.
Used to be I had a great chest freezer in which I would keep a side of beef among other things. I’d hit those store sales where if you get a certain minimum in groceries, they would give you a huge discount on the bird, and do it twice. Once for Thanksgiving, and once for the freezer. It could take me most of a year to get around to using the freeze bird, so it worked out well. Now there’s too much junk piled in front of an upright freezer, so I can’t even get at it. It isn’t plugged in anyway.
So I’ve got the food to get, cleaning to do, and a book to write. This is why I wish they’d move National Novel Writing Month to January. I don’t do any special cleaning or cooking in January.
