Albums, Camp NaNo July, and Where I Was All This Time

Really, I was right here. I just skipped the last few days of Camp April and didn't come back until now because of finishing up school, speaking at graduation, prepping for college courses, and setting up work schedules.

So I'm back for a moment.

In order of the title...

Albums. Music albums, that is. I realized that lately I've been putting together playlists for novels, and most of them consist of songs from the same albums. (For instance, my gritty sci-fi is using 'Meteora' from Linkin Park, and my high fantasy (although it's really low fantasy) novel is using both 'The Heart of Everything' and 'The Unforgiving' from Within Temptation).
And it makes sense. I realized that keeping the same style songs inspires the same style scenes in a single style book. I mean, really. The almost too-heavy guitar from Linkin Park coupled with the singer's occasional screaming makes for some epic fight scenes - but some slower songs and instrumentals also mean I can do in-between segments as well.
Which isn't to say that's all I listen to. In the same playlist for the sci-fi novel I also have some music from Inception, and a couple other random instrumentals from here and there.
But it still makes sense.

So anyhoo.

Camp NaNo July. EEEEEEEEE! This makes me happy. I have been planning this (technically) since March, which is when the villain made his first appearance in my mind. Since then he's become the novel's own motive, its main theme, and has been drawn way more times than any other villain I've done. I have yet to write him in something canon, but srsly. Srsly giys.
It's taking place (surprise) in Kingdom Forever, my epic kingdom of fantasy-ness. The book's name is 'Eden', it's the fourth in the series, and that's all I'm telling you.
Lol.

Ahem.

So.... I'm going to be at work most of the summer (I'm a camp service staff team leader/program assistant) so I won't be around much until late August/September.

UNTIL THEN. TOOTLEOO.

~Silvermist

Day 25

Well I didn't write anything this morning (even though my novel isn't finished yet)  but I did validate my novel at 68,000 words. (Not bad for 24 days). I do plan to try and finish the book before the month is over though.

I don't want April to end... it's... too good. Far too good for me to take. When I have to go back to my old life... *sigh*

My next big hope is July. And even then, things will be different.

Looking at some pretty big life changes, people. :'(

~Silvermist

Days 23 and 24

Yesterday, I had lost all hope that I was a decent writer, that my works were rubbish, and that I'd wasted my whole April writing a novel that was never going to get anywhere (and featured flat, uninteresting characters). I was wallowing in despair and bordering depression because I swore I'd never be famous by trying hard.

Today, I just about peed myself writing the climax because it was so intense. I think I cried a little because 1) the climax isn't done yet and 2) it's just so ding dong darn danged SAD. My characters are suddenly uber-dynamic because the villain and the MC have a past but it takes a cliche and turns it wildly on its head with some graphic domestic violence.

Yeaaaah. Welcome to the life of a writer.

~Silvermist

Day 22

I had a bit of a slow morning, writing-wise. I thought I could get the last 5k under my belt but instead I did a little over 2k and now I'm stuck at another 2k or so until I win... so, tomorrow will probably do it.

Other than slowness in general, I think I know why it's taking so long. I'm stalling. Yes, my brain is trying to keep me from finishing the book. It's too afraid, especially since I'm about to dive into the climax, and things are about to start HAPPENING.

*SCREAM*

My subconscious is worried for the characters. I am worried for the characters. I haven't freaked out this much about characters since... well, the last book I wrote, and honestly I freaked out more so for that book than for this one.

But still.

Cross yer fingers!

~Silvermist

Day 20

Have we really come to the end of the 3rd week?!

Although now I'm at 60,000 words, which means that I've averaged at 20,000 words a week thus far! WOO!

Off to work on overdue school. @_@

But the book goes amazingly well! Still not quite at the climax yet, although as soon as this flashback ends, things are going straight into the boss fight.

5k left til I meet my goal!

OK OK off to do school

~Silvermist

Day 19

Well, I was going to stop writing early today so that I could draw, but I ended up writing a half hour overtime and drew a half hour into school time. (oops).

At any rate, the picture is fan art of my Camp 'WriMo August '12 novel, "The Truth" and is quite sad. If I decide to upload it to DeviantART, I'll show you all.

(and by "you all" of course I mean nobody, because nobody ever reads this blog)

[Oh I'm talking to myself, wheee!]

Ahem. The novel goes well. I broke 56k today, as it seems my daily average is about 3,000 words. I'm 8k away from my goal of 65,000 words total... I think I'm about to start going into the climax. *EEEEEEEEEEEE BOOM* But never fear, there is still plenty of story to go around!

For instance there is one more flashback for a main supporting character that needs to be done, and there is the final of three flashbacks for the main character, which reveals the EBIL PLOT TWIST OF DOOM! MAHAHAHAHAHA!

Plus there needs to be the boss fight. Which takes place in a circus tent. Booyah.

Then there's the falling action, the sad almost-end, and the REALLY sad end. *SOB*

Who knows, maybe my characters will do something rash. I'm certainly not in control. They are.

~Silvermist

Days 17 & 18

This gets harder as the month goes on.

Keeping track of it, that is.

In clarifying terms, posting here.

The novel itself is at 54,000+ words now. I'm heading for 65k.

Do I sound disjointed?

I HURT!

~Silvermist

Days 14, 15, and 16

I've been slacking, I'm sorry! But here's how it went:

Day 14: Struggle struggle struggle struggle, EXHALE die.

Day 15: I CAN DO THIS I CAN DO THIS I can't do this die.

Day 16: I DID IT WOO HOOOOOOOO!

So I  reached 50,000 words this morning, but seeing as my set goal is 65,000, I have quite a bit more work to do.

Off to do it!

Silvermist

Days 12 and 13

Whew! missed yesterday again, but let me tell you.... It was a HUGE comeback from the very stupid other day I told you about.
This morning was great as well. :D Thank you, 'The Cure'! (Best music from the '80s EVER).

~Silvermist

P.S. I'll do the week recap later.

Day 11

What a crappy writing day. I'm serious, I've never had so much trouble writing in my life.
Well, the past 3 years of writing.
Arrrrrrrgh! Hopefully tomorrow goes better...

~Silvermist

Day 10

I missed yesterday, so a quick post about how it went:

Well. I got in 2k, mostly about flashbacks that I was inspired to write at the time, instead of filler I didn't feel like writing. It was awesome. :D

~Silvermist

Day 9

So this morning I woke up early because of a mouse rooting around my floor, so I brought the cat upstairs and she caught it pretty quick. (go Gus!) But then I was tired all morning (still am).

Unfortunately, my computer decided to run like 3 automatic updates, one for Word, so I wasted 20 minutes doing nothing when I should have been writing. All in all, I got barely over 2k this morning. It was sad.

However, I am starting to get into the meatier flashbacks... and they're kinda cute. Well, one of them was friggin' sad and scary, but the other one is kinda cute. Two little British boys being all cute and friendly and brotherly... ahh, the joys of not really doing research and then just writing on a whim.  Gotta love England in the 1870s.

Well, off to catch up on math from the past month of not understanding.

~Silvermist

Day 8

Welcome back after we skipped Sunday! It's day 8 and I speed-wrote about 4,000 words this morning.

That's quite a lot, in case you were wondering.

But I breached 30,000 words! I'm so happy, but so very, very sad at the same time. See, the 30-k mark is my weakest point... it's where I have to carry the story over and get the rising action started without actually plunging into the climax too soon. (The climax comes usually at 45,000 words, but in this case I'm running for a 65,000-word goal, so it shouldn't come until 55k or later). I usually fight the Monster of Dullness throughout this time period.

Off I go to draw!

~Silvermist

Day 6

Tomorrow marks the end of week one for Camp NaNo. Since I can't post tomorrow, I'm recapping the first week now.

So where am I?

Well, the conflict is present now, in the 25,000+ words I have accumulated this first week. The conflict that will set the main character and his posse of friends spiraling into a downward journey of destruction, horror, and DEATH.

I am going to like writing the climax. Or am I going to hate it? Either or, it's going to be climatic. The villain is fairly strong, although it's not really clear why he's a villain yet. (MeheheheheHEHEHEEHEHEHEHE!)

The characterization is freaking amazing. I love everyone so much I'm going to run away with them all and hide them in a pit where no one will find them but they might drown if it rains. Oops. Still! They're taking everything in stride, and soon enough they'll each be called on to assist the main character.

Or
will
THEY?

*DUN DUN*

Crazed,
Silvermist

Day 5

Since my post yesterday was so short, I decided to make this post a bit earlier in the day.

You folks get a special treat!

An EXCERPT! *DUN DUN DUUUUN*

Here's the one I posted on my Camp NaNoWriMo page:

***

“C’mon Jillian ya French wimp-face!” Bailey shouted, snatching up two mugs as soon as they arrived. She whirled on the older woman and her ridiculous, concealing dress. “I’ll fight ya for that cute man over there, in the shirtsleeves with ‘is watch a’ hangin’ loose for somebody ta steal.”
Jillian seemed shocked at first, but when her eyes glanced at the young man drinking by himself – his pocket watch indeed, hanging by a gold chain – her eyes lit up. She turned back to the short woman and took the mug securely in one hand, tightening her grip around it and clinking it off Bailey’s.
“Victor gets to kiss him and take the watch,” she offered and Bailey grinned wickedly before bringing the glass to her lips.
“Ready?” asked Blaze, glancing over his shoulder at them, not really knowing what they were drinking over. “Go!” 
The two tipped their heads back and quickly started downing the heavy alcohol as fast as they could, gaining the attention of all the rough-and-tumble men around them, who scooted their chairs closer with eyes shining, tongues practically hanging out of their mouths as they swatted their knees and cheered the chugging lasses on. 
They went at if for almost a full twenty seconds before Jillian’s glass hit the bar a split second before Bailey’s did, both left with a frothy mark around their mouths where the beer had left it.
“I win!” Jillian cried, looking a bit tipsy already as she shoved the mug away toward the shocked bartender.
“Ya little twit!” Bailey fairly roared, wiping her lips and doting after the large-chested woman as she headed toward the lonely man, winking already. “Y’ only won ‘cause you drink wine all day over in France anyhow!”
Blaze motioned over his shoulder at them with his thumb, smiling at the bartender. “They’re my girls,” he said proudly, and the fat man behind the bar smiled wanly before turning and quietly wiping out the glasses, with nothing to say.

***

Yaaaay! A round of cotton candy slushies for all. (On the house. Whoever they are). I love all the characters so far. They're so unique and brilliant and beautiful.
Except Circles.
But we don't speak of him often.

*flits away happily to do shcool*

~Silvermist

Day 4

Must write!

20k!

~Silvermist

Day 3

Hooooooooooo...... such a long day... I wrote about 3,500 words this morning in a spurt of word wars and creativity... I'm at 16,300-something... I'm so tired...

Woke up at 5:45, dumb alarm wasn't set so I freaked out and woke up 15 minutes early. Then my friend came over for math tutoring this afternoon and there went two more hours.

Dinner had better be good...

Now I'm listening to sad Japanese music and wistfully gazing at Word while instead I search for science resources. Oh well, at least the novel goes well.

I've been thinking a lot about the villain's motive. It's not very well thought-out but it has a lot of validity behind it and if I'm very, very careful I can pull it off. Meanwhile I have to build up the connection between the minor characters with the main one intricately or else my epic climax won't be as epic as I'd hoped.

So some notes to self:

-STOP! Do NOT separate the MC from the minor MCs!
-My second favorite FMC is not in character. Change that!
-Start using flashbacks! It's never too early!
-Find more muse music, the same 9 songs are getting old.

I send my heart out to other 'WriMo's. PERSEVERE!

~Silvermist

Day 2

Yeah, forgot to mention I can't post on Sundays. Sort of a house rule.
BUT! I started the novel yesterday, and I'm at 12k today! :D

It's a little crazy. I did 10k yesterday and 2 more today...

And, like every other year, I have no reward system. I just sit here writing endlessly with no way to clap myself on the back and say, 'go for that extra 800 words!'

So sad.

BUT SO HAPPY!

~Silvermist

Camp NaNoWriMo

Well, most of us are used to seeing the words 'Camp NaNoWriMo' and thinking 'YES! I can do this because there's finally no school in the way!'

Unfortunately, this year it's in April. We still have school, and although I have the month off work, I am a senior this year and have to graduate several weeks early. A tad stressful. Just a tad.

So to make sure I don't die of stress, I'm going to make even less time for myself and be sure to make (or try to make) one blog post a day to keep basic track on... stuff. So yeah. It might be a very, very short post once a day, either tracking my word count or my frustration as a writer put through a 65,000-word count goal in less than 30 days.

(It's always less than 30 days in my house. Nobody's going to just let me write every single day. *sigh*).

SO! If anybody reads this, you get to watch me transform from an insane writer to a super-insane-and-on-the-verge-of-breakdown writer. Have fun watching me lose it!

~Silvermist

A Take on Writers

You may forget, but writers are people. We have lives, we do school, we go to work at seven o' clock at night and then stay over the weekend!!!

But that aside. Writers have this weird, dynamic angle that lets them see the same thing you do, but see it in an entirely different context than you. Much the way that humans see snow as a nuisance, and dogs see it as white fluffy cold stuff to bounce around in...

In a slightly more sympathetic instance, if you see a flower pot you see a flower pot. I, on the other hand, would automatically assume it's either a magical hotspot for those pesky mini-gremlins that infect the wall, or a misused helmet mold for the warriors of the Farway Realm of death.

Oh dear, dinner just got called. I must depart, but LET IT BE KNOWN!

WRITERS ARE PEOPLE, WE'RE JUST WEIRD!

Fail for this being a long-though-out post but being short anyway,
Silvermist

The Truth Update

The Truth < click link

Finally, after a long time! Here is the next update of 'The Truth', my August Camp 'WriMo novel 2012. :)

~Silvermist