Beard Status plus a piece of NaNoWriMo history I just unearthed.

 

1. Beard Status - My beard is definitely getting fuller.  I'm not sure how long it will last beyond when I see my brother on Saturday, though.  Way more white hairs than I thought.
2. The very first set of notes for Bullets Don't Blink.  The part that I think is funny is that one of the characters is listed as "girl (dead)."  Apologies for the photo being sideways.  I thought I could rotate it after I uploaded it.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 28 Report

Can you believe NaNoWriMo is almost over?  It seems like just yesterday I was worrying about not being prepared enough.

I had big plans about printing out Bullets Don't Blink today and starting my revision but I'm a little gunshy about it.  Not to mention still tired from the earlier exertions of the month.  Well, that might be an exaggeration.  I did write a short story during my clandestine writing time today that may become the first chapter of something somewhere down the line.

I guess I feel like I need to recharge my batteries a bit before returning to Bullets Don't Blink.  Reading a few quick crime books would go a long way toward preparing me for months of editing.

On a side note, it's really hard coming back to work after four days off.

The Brief Thanksgiving Rundown

1. A yellowjacket stung the shit out of me while I was walking to a cave on my Grandpa's property with some cousins.  It did not hamper my spelunking.
2. Only 4 desserts this year, way down from 2007's 14.
3. I found out my dad comes up with an excuse to leave early ahead of time when these family gatherings come along.  That must be where I get it from.
4. My cousin that's a nurse has the best stories in the family.  Most of them are quite disgusting.
5. Beard reception was overwhelmingly positive.  Looks like I'll be hanging on to it for another couple weeks at least.
6. Since it was nice outside, there were no post-dinner comas on the couch.  This is the first time in recorded history when this happened at a family gathering.
7. My uncle dug through a bag of trash for a reason that I can no longer recall.

That's about it.  It was very fun as far as Thanksgivings go.  Make me think Christmas will also be enjoyable this year.

NaNoWriMo - Day 23 - Finished Already?

My first set of eyes emailed me today telling me she finished reading Bullets Don't Blink already.  I think it was Monday evening when I sent it to her.  Shouldn't it have taken her longer to read something that took three weeks to write?

Choice comments include:

1. What's the deal with the Yankee's hat? Garvin found it in a tree and you never mentioned it again.
2. I couldn't put it down.
3. I can't believe you made me care about a murdering ex-con.
4. Didn't see the twist at the end coming.
5. When are you writing the next one?

All good points besides me completely forgetting about the Yankee's hat after I mentioned it.  I can't decide if I'll take it out when I start editing or work it in.

Even though I wasn't planning on it, I sent it to a couple other people for feedback before I start editing.  We'll see how they feel about it.

NaNoWriMo - Day 22 - Stop reading so fast!

So last night, my friend that always gets to read my NaNoWriMo novel first, usually while it's in progress, emailed me, hinting that she needed something to read.  I sent Bullets Don't Blink to her last night and went about my business, reading and thinking about writing.

This morning, I get into work to find her 25% done already!  It probably took me five or six days to write what she read in an evening.  Not fair, if you ask me.  She's enjoying it, though.  That's good.  I think having a picture on her desk of one of the real life locations depicted in the novel has boosted her enthusiasm.  I told her to make it last but I have a feeling she'll be done when we come back from the Thanksgiving holidays.

In other news, I was reading through Sweating Bullets, my July Camp NaNoWriMo novel last night.  While I like big parts of it, I'm thinking about using the overall plot and the nuns with chainsaws and combining them with some older things of mine that I also only like parts of.  I will have to think about this for a bit more before I commit.

What would you do in this situation?

This morning, I was checking my Gold Box on Amazon like I do every morning, looking for the 5% off deal of my dreams, when I saw a flashing banner telling me I could spend my Discover Rewards points on Amazon.  Since I always forget said points exist, I went ahead and linked my account.

Imagine my surprise when I suddenly had nearly $200 to spend on Amazon.

With almost 200 bucks to spend, I could buy most of the Christmas presents I'm responsible for and still have money left over.  Or I could go hog wild and buy a few books with this sudden windfall to reward myself for NaNoWriMo and put the rest toward Christmas gifts.

I went with the second option, of course.  Although my definition of "a few" turned out to mean nine.

At least the money I spend on Christmas presents will go toward my reward points and thus continue to fuel my addiction.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 20 Report - Beard status picture

Anyone remember what I used to do in my spare time?  Aside from a trip to the grocery store, I haven't done much today other than mess around on Facebook and catch up on blogs.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 20 Report

It is finished. The murderer is buried in the cemetery in an unmarked grave beneath a marked grave.  It's complicated. The feisty bartender came out of her coma, which made me glad. I didn't want her to die.

Day #: 20
Words Written Today: 1134
Total Words Written: 70,196
Drive: Finished
Beard Status: Priceless
Estimated wordage remaining: 0.  I shall now relax until I begin editing.  Actually, I'm thinking about editing Sweating Bullets and the Pogonologist until then so I don't get out of the writing mood.

Things I need to take care of in the second draft:

1. Inconsistencies in Garvin's personality at the beginning 
2. I'm pretty sure I had Eileen Crawford come from out of town in one chapter and Burnfield in another
3. Give the Pearce brothers more time before I kill them
4. Involve Farren Cochran with the Pearce meth gang.
5. It occurred to me as I finished the final chapter that I made no further mention of the Yankee's hat Garvin found near the crime scene in chapter 2.  I'll have to work that in.

The final word count was about what I thought it would be when I started.  It'll probably be closer to 80 once I go through a few rounds of edits.

That's all I have for today.  For everyone still writing, I'm pulling for you.  You still have ten days to finish.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 19 Report

The big push to get finished is upon me.  I've written quite a bit today and am thinking of pushing even farther.  I'm a little tired at the moment.  I'm going kick back for a little while and figure out what needs to happen at the hospital.  The end is definitely in sight, though.

Day #: 19
Words Written Today: 5194
Total Words Written: 69,062
Drive: Almost there!
Beard Status: Sticking around until Christmas
Estimated wordage remaining: 1000-1500-ish.  All that's left is the bit in the hospital and some expansion of the shit that goes down at the cemetery.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 18 Report

The end is within spitting distance.  What I'd originally conceived as an orgy of violence actually has some nice character moments in it.  Between the bouts of orgying, I mean.  I'll probably take the morning off since I'll be visiting my parents.  Belle should be exhausted for the next two days so I should be able to write in peace.  I'd like to finish up tomorrow but it will likely be sometime Sunday.

Day #: 18
Words Written Today: 3260
Total Words Written: 63,868
Drive: I'm going to finish by the time I go back to work on Monday if it kills us all!
Beard Status: I may ask for a beard trimmer for Christmas in addition to my usual request for books
Estimated wordage remaining: 7500-ish.  Still one bad guy to kill, one meth lab to destroy, a Mexican standoff in the cemetery and the epilogue.  I still haven't decided if the protagonist's love interest lives or dies.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 18 NEW CHAIR Report

After going to bed with an aching back last night, getting a new chair today was a priority.  I went to Office Max and bought this marvelous chair.  It is awesome.  It was easy to put together and is very comfortable.  If it were possible for a man to marry a piece of office furniture, this would be the only chair for me.

On the writing front, I've written 2700-ish words so far today.  I'm going to write more if I have the energy after my late dinner.  I'm outlining what's left and it looks like only 3 chapters and the epilogue to go.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 17 Report

I saw a shooting star while walking the dog this morning.  That's about the only thought I can formulate at the moment other than my back hurts because my computer chair sucks.  I'm really tired.

Day #: 17
Words Written Today: 2064
Total Words Written: 60,608
Drive: almost there

Beard Status:  maybe it'll stick around a little longer
Estimated wordage remaining: 10k.  Still two main bad guys to kill, a meth lab to push on the train tracks, and the big ending.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 16 Report

I wasn't feeling it today at work and didn't think I was going to get any writing done at all this evening.  Then, there was an incident when I got home.

Belle and I were walking down the road when a pitbull-shaped missile came running out of a yard after us at top speed. I picked up Belle with my left arm and picked up the biggest rock I could find with my right.  I don't remember consciously being scared after the first moment I saw the dog charging us.  I was too pissed off after that.  What really made me mad was how nonchallant the prick whose dog it was acted when he was coming to get it.  He may have been a little scared of me since I was yelling "Come get this mother fucker, you asshole!" at the time.

Eventually he came and got the dog.  I felt a little satisfaction when he came to my door to apologize a little later and turned around without speaking when he saw the look on my face.  Anyway, I was really in the mood to write about people getting shot in the face after that.

Day #: 16
Words Written Today: 2,409
Total Words Written: 58,544
Drive: let's wrap this shit up
Beard Status:  ready to say goodbye

Estimated wordage remaining: 15,000 (three main villains left to kill, one meth lab to destroy, sweet vindication, and the epilogue.  Yes, I know I've said 15,000 for the last three days)

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 15 Report

I'm in the home stretch now.  All that's left is making sure the bad guys end up dead and throwing in a couple twists near the end.  I'm not sure how much I actually have left.  I guess it depends on how it goes when Garvin tracks them down.  I had a vision of the end of Mad Max but it'll probably take longer than that.  As of today, I think I've written the last chapter where no one dies.  Garvin has his weapons and his vehicle is on the way.  The manure starts hitting the windmill tomorrow.  Don't tell anyone but I may have shed a few silent man tears during a poignant scene in the hospital.  Yes, I'm pretty tough.

Day #: 15
Words Written Today: 2,478
Total Words Written: 56,135
Drive: mother f*ckers are going to die!
Beard Status:  not quite Fidel Castro yet

Estimated wordage remaining: 15,000 (three main villains left to kill, one meth lab to destroy, sweet vindication, and the epilogue.)

In non-NaNoWriMo news, I was recently awarded the One Lovely Blog Award by Krista M over at the Jelly Beans of Writing.  Once things are a little less hectic, I'll pass it around.



I'm also planning on posting some photos later since I'm way behind on that.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 14 Report

After my day off yesterday and my going to bed at 7:30, I managed to get back on the horse today, despite my brother's attempt to derail me.  He did advise me that an AK-47 would be a more efficient way for a bar to get shot up than a bunch of guys with shotguns so I guess he's excused.

Day #: 14
Words Written Today: 3,606
Total Words Written: 53,657
Drive: In the home stretch
Beard Status: itches like hell

Estimated wordage remaining: 15,000 (heart to heart in the hospital, three main villains left to kill, one meth lab to destroy, sweet vindication, and the epilogue.)

Thoughts from Day 14

The day goes by slowly when all you want to do is go home and write about meth dealers getting shot in the face.

Here are some thoughts I've had regarding NaNoWriMo, the Universe, and Everything:

1. With the right idea, I think that if I took two weeks off of work and went someplace without internet access and other distractions, I could probably crank out 75k of something.  Facebook and actually having to go to work were big time wasters for me during the first two weeks of NaNoWriMo this year.
2. If I treat writing like a job instead of like I hobby, I can actually get things done.  Amazing how that works.
3. The more comfortable I am with a story, the less I hate it during the second week of NaNoWriMo and beyond.  It seems pretty obvious but it's taken me four NaNoWriMos to figure it out.  I'm not as quick on the uptake as I sometimes appear.
4. Once I finish Bullets Don't Blink, I'm going to start editing Sweating Bullets, the Camp NaNoWriMo novel from July that I've been talking about editing for the past six months.
5. The next thing I write is going to be humorous or at least humorous to me.  I keep thinking of jokes while I write Bullets Don't Blink that have no place in it.
6. Under no circumstances will I attempt to write 100k in a single month.  Thank you, NaNoWriMo 2010 for that harsh lesson.
7. Raymond Chandler's advice of sending a guy into the room with a gun whenever you get stuck works wonders in a crime novel.

That's all I have for now.  I'll be back with a progress report as well as a current beard status once I get some writing done this evening.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 13 Report

And on the 13th day, I rested.  So far, anyway

Actually, the resting started shortly after I hit 50k yesterday.  Here are the non-writing activities I've enjoyed since my last post:

1. Going to see Th' Legendary Shack Shakers and Splitlip Rayfield at the Old Rock House
2. Sleeping until 8:30!
3. Reading Gigantic Death Worm by Vincent Kramer in its entirety
4. Took quite a few pictures
5. mooched a meal from my parents
6. finished reading Barbarian Beast Bitches of the Badlands

Now that I've done all that, I'm at a loss on how to spend the rest of the evening.  I'm thinking about writing. Even though I planned to take the day off, I don't really have anything else to do.  I don't want to start another book until after I finish the one I've been reading at lunch at work.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 12 Report

Dearest National Novel Writing Month,
I am writing to inform you that I passed 50,000 words several minutes ago.  The 50,000th word was "cellmate."  This makes four victories in four years.  I just want you to know that it was fun and we should definitely do this again sometime.

Sincerely,
Dangerous Dan.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 11 Report

Things continue to move forward.  So far, I haven't had the freak out that I normally have around this time.  I'd say that's a good sign.

Day #: 11
Words Written Today: 5,698
Total Words Written: 46,405
Amount to 50k Goal: 3,595
Total # of red herrings introduced: I've completely lost track
Drive: Tired but hopeful.
Beard Status: nearly full-fledged
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: drinking a couple beers, cooking dinner

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 10 Report

Things are still moving right along.  A few days ago I was worried I didn't have enough material to get much past 50k but now I think I'm going to get close to 80k. 

Day #: 10
Words Written Today: 3,509
Total Words Written: 40,707
Amount to 50k Goal: 9,293
Total # of red herrings introduced: No man can say
Drive: Just about time for people to start dropping like flies.
Beard Status: Itchy as hell
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: going to work, watching Community

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 9 Report

Still on track.  That's about all I have to report.

Day #: 9
Words Written Today: 3,054
Total Words Written: 37,198
Amount to 50k Goal: 12,802
Total # of red herrings introduced: No man can say
Drive: On track for the big push, already thinking of next story
Beard Status: recent plane crash survivor in the Andes mountains.  Little to no cannibalism as of yet.
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: going to work

Day 9 - I like this bit of dialogue I just wrote.

"Do you think Hepatitis Barbie is going to come over here or should we order at the bar?"


"She'll come over. Those guys at the bar seem to be too into the game to be drinking heavily yet."

Garvin and Katie watched as the blonde flirted with her customers, leaning down a lot more often than was necessary. Out of politeness, Garvin made an effort not to look but it was difficult.

"She's giving our profession a bad name with that outfit. It's hard enough for customers to get the idea that I'm not on the menu without her putting her boobs on display like that."

"Maybe she is on the menu," Garvin said.

"Here she comes," Katie said.

"Can I get you two anything," the blond bartender asked.

"A pitcher will be fine. Whatever you have on draught."

"Coming right up," the blond said, her fingertips brushing Garvin's arm as she walked away.

"You might be tonight's Ken if you play your cards right, Garvin."

"I'll pass. Her dreamhouse has probably seen better days."

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 8 Report

Has it been eight days already?  In some ways, it feels like NaNoWriMo just started.  In others, it feels like seven or eight ice ages.

Day #: 8
Words Written Today: 2,915
Total Words Written: 34,144
Amount to 50k Goal: 15,856
Total # of red herrings introduced: I have lost count
Drive: Back on track.  If everything goes as planned, I'm planning on making a big push to hit 50k over the weekend.
Beard Status: recently shipwreck victim
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: eating dinner

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 7 Report

Yeah, the writing was rough going today.  It was mostly motivational issues on my part.  I was feeling pretty tired.  Anyway, I thought about how I'd rather tough it out than take a night off and wish I'd spent it writing tomorrow.

Day #: 7
Words Written Today: 2,757
Total Words Written: 31,229
Amount to 50k Goal: 18,771
Total # of red herrings introduced: Since the ending has mutated a bit, some of the herrings are no longer red.
Drive: Flagging due to sinus headaches and tiredness.
Beard Status: recently homeless
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: haircut, taking a picture of a spider that crawled up on my laptop while I was writing.
 

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 6 Report

Today was a damn writing marathon for me.  In another chapter or two, I think people are going to start dying.  I'm going to be really sad if the sassy bartender Garvin befriended  has to die.  Maybe I'll just have her end up in the hospital.





Oh, and I'm really starting to hate frozen pizza.  It is no longer my NaNoWriMo food of choice.

Day #: 6
Words Written Today: 6,450
Total Words Written: 28,472
Amount to 50k Goal: 21,528
Total # of red herrings introduced: up near 10 by now
Drive: Now that I've passed the halfway mark, I'm feeling pretty confident.
Beard Status: Indiana Jones
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: photography, TV, walking the dog, eating Cheez-Its.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 5 Report

Well, I didn't hit my daily goal of 5k but I did fairly well.  I finally introduced those damned Pearce brothers and figured out a few things that are going to happen down the line.  If it turns out that feisty bartender has to die, I'm going to be sad.  Tomorrow is going to be a trip to the DMV, a conversation with the Deacon, and yet another trip to the local tavern.

Day #: 5
Words Written Today: 3,461
Total Words Written: 22,022
Amount to 50k Goal: 27,978
Total # of red herrings introduced: 4 or 5
Drive: Not as strong as yesterday.  My brain is tired and I want to watch storage wars and eat Cheez-its.
Beard Status: Razor Ramon
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: photography, TV

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 4 Report

Day 4 is swiftly coming to a close. Tomorrow marks the day where I will have introduced the majority of my characters.

Day #: 4
Words Written Today: 5,074
Total Words Written: 18,561
Amount to 50k Goal: 31,439
Total # of red herrings introduced: one more
Drive: Strong.  I'd like to have 25k by close of business on Sunday
Beard Status: Clint Eastwood at the beginning of The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: Getting my car worked on, going to the used bookstore, gratuitous dog walking, Facebook, eating dinner.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 3 Report

My eyes are tired but I'm too caffeinated to sleep.  I guess I could figure out what I'm going to write tomorrow instead.  I still don't have all of my characters introduced but it's coming along. 

Day #: 3
Words Written Today: 5,299
Total Words Written: 13,487
Amount to 50k Goal: 36,513
Total # of red herrings introduced: at least two
Drive: Making NaNoWriMo my bitch.
Beard Status: Scruffy
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: stopped to watch Community

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 2 Report

I kicked some ass today.  Not quite 5k but closer than yesterday.  Garvin's on the case and progressing nicely.  I still don't have all my characters introduced but I thought of some new wrinkles today.

Day #: 2
Words Written Today: 4513
Total Words Written: 8188
Amount to 50k Goal: 41812
Total # of Curse words: count discontinued due to impending tidal wave of cursing
Drive: Almost in high gear.  The usual NaNoWriMo enthusiasm is building.
Beard Status: A hill that's recently been deforested but is slowly recovering
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: washing dishes, doing laundry, gratuitous dog walking

NaNoWriMo 2011 - Day 1 Report

Well, I didn't hit 5k but I think I did pretty good.  I'm chalking up falling short of my goal to both myself and my dog not quite being in the swing of NaNoWriMo just yet.  I managed to introduce three of my main characters.  Tomorrow should see me introduce three or four more and get things moving along.

Day #: 1
Words Written Today: 3675
Total Words Written: 3675
Amount to 50k Goal: 46325
Total # of Curse words: 1(unless ass counts)
Drive: Not quite in the swing of things yet.  I'll try to catch up with Teralyn Rose Pilgrim tomorrow.
Beard Status: Slightly sandpapery feel
Ways I Procrastinated instead of writing: washing dishes, gratuitous dog walking

Begun this National Novel Writing Month Has...

Well, here we are again.  NaNoWriMo Day 1.  I may have secretly written a bit in my cube this morning before anyone else arrived.  Don't tell anyone.

I'm shooting for 5k today.  While officially it's so I can finish early and enjoy Thanksgiving without writing-guilt, it's also because I'm anxious to evad the beard itchiness that should be setting in around Day 10.

A few days ago, Hildred Billings, writer of enormous chapters, posted the following template for her NaNoWriMo blog posts.

Day #:

Words Written Today:
Total Words Written:
Amount to 50k Goal:
Total # of Pages:
Total # of Gratuitous Sex Scenes:
Drive:

I'll probably use a similar template for my end of the day posts, along with a photo detailing my beardification status.

Happy writing, everyone!