Takes a deep breath ...

[essayel]

I've signed up for Nanowrimo. Having acted as cheerleader for many people who had attempted it I know how utterly awful heartbreaking and ultimately unrewarding it can be. But I also know that some people succeed brilliantly and are pleased with what they achieve.

Someone - I'm looking at you bitchy_brat - pointed out to me that if I don't have a bash at it I won't know whether I can do it or not, which is very sound advice. I've tried far sillier things for much less valid reasons. Also I have a story asking to be written and I think 60K words might just about do it.

Also I have more time on my hands and have been spending it dozing in front of the fire and giving myself brain damage by watching TV. I need to get out of that habit and a definite project is a much better idea. This feels like a decent project to aim at and I can write the first draft for the joy of it in Nanowrimo, and worry about getting the details right later.

Novel Title: On a Lee Shore

Short blurb: It's 1716 and Lt. Kit Penrose, in disgrace and out of work, accepts a job looking after an elderly diplomat en route to His Majesty's holdings in the Caribbean. Foremost among the many dangers are pirates, and especially La Griffe, a rapacious buccaneer with a particular hatred of the English. Historical fantasy with a dash of romance and gunpowder, written along the principles of Sellars and Yeatman.

So - is anyone else on my flist doing it this year?

Comments

[beckyblack]

Me! Feel free to buddy me over there - name is junkfoodmonkey as it is most places!

I've done it four times now and it's such a great event to do. It energises me. The deadline and the whiff of competition makes me write faster than usual, so I'm happy to harness the effect!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm Essayel - on the principle that if it works why change it.

I've been a cheerleader on several occasions, and provided a sympathetic ear or an absorbent shoulder, but only once made an unofficial collaborative attempt - and that was because I was drunk when the other writer suggested it. This time I'm on my own and that is SCARY. I figure I'll be using Write Or Die a lot and playing merry hell with historical accuracy!

[aunty_marion]

I'm not - never could! - but I'll cheerlead where necessary!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

It's a big commitment *wibbles* but I'd like to try and who knows, I might even finish the story.

[charss.livejournal.com]

I'm always tempted, but I'm not sure if I dare. I might do it unofficially and aim for a half-nano.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I did a half one year writing with metallumai. It was good fun. Might finish the story one day :)

You've probably got quite a lot on your plate between your studies and Milliways. The only reason I'm chancing it is because the RP has died off to a large extent.

[charss.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's why I haven't signed up. It'll only happen on slow days between tags, rather than taking up any additional time.

Most of my RP is spontaneous or planned out only on the tube the day before.

[bg-thomas.livejournal.com]

I want to!

And it has been SO damned long since I've tried, I can't remember how. HELP!

I have a publisher very interested in a short novel and they have even secured the rights to the photo I wanted as a cover. NaNoWriMo would be the perfect incentive to keep me writing the long thing!

I can't wait to read your pirate story!

And I will be betaing some of your stuff, right?

Now! I must get busy on that damned vampire story!

[essayel.livejournal.com]

:D go to www.nanowrimo.org and register, then buddy Essayel and we'll see each other through it. 1600 words a day is a scary lot but I figure it's better to TRY than not bother. Even if i don't succeed at least I'll have a bunch of words I wouldn't have had otherwise.

I sent back Valentine's Ball and there didn't seem much to me to do to it. Just a few typos and bits that needed tweaking. Nice story, though Steve needed a smack for being obtuse :D If you have time to beta, or just read through for feasibility, that would be grand. I have one thing almost finished. It just needs another scene or two inserted to break it up a bit. Meanwhile, I'm ready to sort your vamp out when he's finished. I have a window box full of garlic.

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

Wonderful - good luck with your novel! It sounds intriguing.

I'm over there, but I plan to break the rules and use NaNoWriMo to advance my current story a bit.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Cool, I buddied you, I hope that's okay.

Is this the pseudo-Scythian story? *hopes*

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

I added you right back!

Is this the pseudo-Scythian story?

Let's rather call it the story that includes Gorta, the not-quite-dead pseudo-Scythian, among other people. So far, he has done very little (except for looking menacing in one chapter and stumbling around half-awake in another while trying to keep his unruly pet griffins in check).

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Ooh griffins! That sounds a very intriguing story. Are you going to post excerpts?

I have a griffin too but it's a ship!

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

Your griffin does not sound bad, either.

But I might translate a few excerpts at some point.

[yakalskovich]

I'm not, but yay for you trying! Go you!

**cheers**

[essayel.livejournal.com]

*crosses fingers* here's hoping it's not too cold in the mornings. I should be able to do about half before I go out if I start early enough.

*hugs* I'll set aside time in the evening so I can tag the plots I need to tag though.

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

want a beta? :D

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Probably in December if that's okay? I'm going to concentrate on cranking out the words with a strictly no editing policy during November because I know how much time I waste by reading and reading and tweaking and fiddling.

I was reading The Signs That Command, changing Jadis to Xanthe. We'll finish it when Gabe starts school! *nods*

[bitchy-brat.livejournal.com]

I've attempted it unofficially, but between studies and children and house chores I failed miserably! However, I do plan to add to my work on fictionpress during the month. It can be another unofficial challenge since I doubt job and chores and children will give much further leeway than previous.

Good luck hun and will cheer for you as well. *hugs*

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have been able to attempt it while Jen was at home using me as a taxi.

If you're going to have a bash unofficially why not use some of these little tools (http://www.writertopia.com/toolbox/meters) to show us how you're getting on?

[cweb.livejournal.com]

Your novel sounds like a lot of fun. I'm thinking about giving it a go, but not sure if I can think of something in time...

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Have a bash - it doesn't cost anything other than a bit of time and I'll be the last person to give you a hard time if you can't do it. I'm never going to manage 50K words myself. I just don't type fast enough.

[zomg-its-stace.livejournal.com]

As always, I'm doing it. <3 I think my name is staceywacey. I'll have to log in this weekend and check. <3333

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I can't see staceywacey on there, but I may have put in a _ or something. Good luck with it <3