NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month Options

[haute ecole rider]

mALX, it is running like a rip tide right now!

Acadian, that course correction saved me from the shoals!

And Olen, I'm proud to report I'm now up to 22,705 words.

I don't regret my decision to scrap the first attempt. The main character in that one just wasn't speaking to me. But the three in this one certainly are!

On reflection, I realize that I've always written romances - they're just disguised as historical/adventure/sci fi/etc. But I always end up with the main characters falling in love with each other.

So this one is proudly a straight up romance with no pretenses at being anything else. It's contemporary, and I decided to try setting it in a foreign country (ROK), though I've never traveled outside the lower 48 myself. I've been studying South Korean culture, history and life for a few months now, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm trying to avoid the clichés that make me groan the rare times I do pick up a romance novel (look at this for a hilarious discussion), but there's always one or two that creeps in (the bad boy, the smooth operator, the feisty heroine - yeah, it's a love triangle!). So the challenge for me now is to keep the clichés from being too, well, clicky!

Already my main characters are doing their own thing, which tells me this is a hot one! The smooth operator was supposed to be the kind, gentle man, but instead he turns into a manipulative SOB. The bad boy was supposed to be a tortured artist type, but no, he's an impatient, self-absorbed a-hole. He even introduced himself two chapters early and made quite the dramatic impression on the feisty heroine by literally jumping onto the boat and promptly falling on her! Not quite the way to impress this lady! And she is supposed to be recovering from a really bad relationship years ago, and her encounter with Mr. Smooth Operator didn't help her recovery, and now Mr. Bad Boy just confirms her private opinion that all men are British boats.

Does it sound like I'm having fun with this? No? How about this - I'm at a point in the story now where the fireworks are going to start between Ms. Feisty and Mr. Bad Boy. She has been scrimping and saving for three years to buy her deceased grandfather's home (abandoned by the succeeding owner and loaded down with back taxes), she figures she has a year left to go before she has enough $$ But she finds out the lawyer who is supposedly helping her has absconded with the money, and now she is about to find out Mr. Bad Boy actually bought the house (paid in full, so Mr Slick Attorney has now absconded with 1.75 times the value of the house). Ms. Feisty is telling me she will not take this lying down. She won't be meek and submissive like so many romance heroines are. I'm afraid she's going to start swearing like a sailor. Oh no, I know she will!

So I'm almost halfway there, and my fingers are still hotter than this laptop! But I'm stopping for the night. I'll pick up tomorrow. And yes, I'm ahead of the curve right now. Yay!

[Acadian]

I'm so pleased that you are making good progess and seem to be enjoying it! Thanks for the updates, and good luck!

[treydog]

You know, I think that may be part of the concept- to get you to latch on to an idea that really works. In any event, I am still cheering you on to the finish line, Haute.

[haute ecole rider]

Thanks, Acadian!

And treydog, I think the concept is to get us to ignore our inner editors, as Destri and I were discussing. There is actually a thread somewhere where people describe their inner editors. Right now this month mine (a male - I'm very straight ) is in a gimp getup (leather harness, chains, handcuffs, gag, and full face mask) and I'm the one holding the leash! Usually it's the other way around, though I don't make a very good sub. Come to think of it, HE'S not being a very good gimp, either, but tough luck, bud.

No, BDSM is not my thing. But there are times when I feel like my relationship with my inner editor is right out of those dom/sub slash mags!

Oh, and I'm over 30,000 words now, and still have one more chapter (probably another 2000 - 2500) to write before I'm done for the night.

Guess I feel like bragging to someone who cares. One of the folks on the NaNo forums has over 168,000 words already! Yikes, did she ever sleep?

[Acadian]

Yay! Well over half way there! You go, girl! Team Rider!

Thanks for keeping us updated. I'm delighted that it is going so well. I find myself quite chuckling along with you over your mental antics and enthusiasm.

[treydog]

Um actually I think the person who started talking about telling the monitor function to shut up in that other thread was... me. I don't believe I described it in such--- vivid--- terms, however.

Regardless, keep smacking the gimp around- it's good for him. One of my favorite quotes to paraphrase is from Barbara Hamby- one of her characters said, "To be a mage, you must be a mage." So you can substitute any avocation for "mage," including "writer."

I am quite impressed by your continued productivity- I think the most I have ever been able to sustain in one session was around 5000-6000 words. And then I had to go lie down...

[Linara]

Congrats Rider, sounds like you're doing great! I found out about NaNoWriMo a few days ago, so maybe next year...Anyways, good luck and keep it up!

[mALX]

GAAAAAAAH!!!!! I have an old habit and it's dying hard...er... I mean, it's hardly dying...er... DRAT NANO!!! It took our Naughty Haute away!!! (although her inner editor sounds quite naughty as well)

[haute ecole rider]

VICTORY!!!!


Just finished Chapter 22 and I'm at 50,080 words! As the two main characters haven't even kissed yet (though they got verrrry close in Chs 20 - 22), it looks good for another 50,000! At least!

Not bad for ten days' work, huh?

And I'm off to write Chapter 23! Thanks for the support, everyone!

Oh, and I think Julian is enjoying this one too much to tell me the rest of her adventures. Like me, she is a closet romantic.

And the gimp is still sulking. Too bad.

This post has been edited by haute ecole rider: Nov 16 2010, 10:25 PM

[Olen]

Wow...

That's a lot of words produced fast. Excellent work, certainly a productive ten days! Congratulations, I think you have every right to be proud of that achievement.

There's still another two weeks too, looks like you'll have written an actual full length novel by then!

And though I didn't comment I laughed rather hard at your... unusual... imagery involving the internal editor

Seriously though that's some impressive work.

[mALX]

You did it! Congratulations, you should be very proud of your achievement. Very impressive !!!

[Acadian]

I'm proud of you also, Rider. Not only did you meet your target, but it is clear that you are thoroughly enjoying yourself. Please say hi to dear Julian. I hope you two are enjoying your break from OHDH, and I am anticipating Julian's return.

This post has been edited by Acadian: Nov 17 2010, 02:10 AM

[Linara]

50,000 words in 10 days! I wish I could write that fast...Congrats Rider, sounds like you're having fun

[Destri Melarg]

VICTORY!!!!

*Destri threw his own PC out of a window.*

And the woman who finished 168,000 words needs to be taken outside and severely beaten!

CONGRATS hautee!!!

[treydog]

Outstanding, haute! So Julian has a hidden weakness for "bodice-rippers"? (The novels- not the would-be rapists- I have a feeling they would find themselves, ah- "unequipped" to try their trade ever again if they accosted a certain Redguard).

[haute ecole rider]

Trey,

I'm not sure Julian cares so much for the 'bodice-ripper' romances. She's just a bit strait-laced that way. Heck, she's still blushing over my description of my inner editor!

As for the rapists, well, I'm sure they'd take one look at our Julian and run as fast as they can in the opposite direction! It's that hard glint in her eye - it takes a man with real balls not to quail at that.

Speaking of internal editors, Olen, I'm glad I could brighten your day!

Thanks to every one else for your encouragement!

I may not update this again until the end of the month, but if anyone wants to keep an eye on my word count, feel free to do so! Oh, and the partial synopsis and the second chapter under the novel information chapter.

[mALX]

Trey,

I'm not sure Julian cares so much for the 'bodice-ripper' romances. She's just a bit strait-laced that way. Heck, she's still blushing over my description of my inner editor!

I may not update this again until the end of the month, but if anyone wants to keep an eye on my word count, feel free to do so! Oh, and the partial synopsis and the second chapter under the novel information chapter.

I'm still blushing over your description of your inner editor!!!


I liked what I see so far. Kang Jin is becoming an interesting character, and Han Min and Jae Won seem total opposites! - GAAAH!!! It ended! When do we get to see the rest? ARGH !!!

Do we get to read the novel when you are done? ARGH !!!


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Nov 27 2010, 08:54 PM

[haute ecole rider]

Okay, here's the eleventh hour announcement (yes, it's literally the eleventh hour - 11:10 pm my time to be exact).

I not only broke 100K this evening, but I also went on to complete the novel. 104,189 words to be exact. Forty-five chapters in all. And a pretty good feeling about this entire venture.

I am actually considering editing this story with an eye for potential publication.

Julian and I are also talking about picking up OHDH once again. Maybe in the next week or so . . .

I've gotten used to keeping my inner editor as my gimp, but he's going to be so relieved to get out of his ridiculous getup. Maybe he'll be more sympathetic to me in the future - nah.

[Destri Melarg]

I not only broke 100K this evening, but I also went on to complete the novel. 104,189 words to be exact. Forty-five chapters in all. And a pretty good feeling about this entire venture.

*That sound you just heard was Destri's computer hitting the sidewalk*

Congratulations, hautee! 100k words in (less than) thirty days is amazing!! Especially when you consider that you scratched a novel after the first week ! Knowing the quality of your work, I have no doubt that it will find a publisher.

[mALX]

Holy crap !!! How many keyboards did you go through? I hope we get a peek at it!!! (more than the cliffhanging teensy bit on the NaNo site, too !!!! )