NaNoWriMo Little Butt Off

Word Count: 20,991 of 50, 000

Nearly finished chapter twelve, but I promised myself only to write until lunch time on work days.  I need some time to just relax and write blogs like this!  The past four days have been very invigorating.  NaNoWriMo is giving me the steam I was hoping for.

Rhiannon isn’t too excited about NaNoWriMo, but I wasn’t expecting her to be.  She knows my brain works funny, so she’s accepted WriMo…but if I end up slacking off, she’s gonna be mad!  I don’t blame her.

I’m impatient, which means I can’t work fast enough.  I write loads, then I burn myself out, and don’t write again for a month.  If there is any advice I can give from today’s day of writing it’s this:  take your time.  If you can write more than the daily word goal, great.  Be the tortoise not the hare.

Reading

An important exercise for any writer is reading.  All published authors tell we aspiring many this.  I find, even if it’s just a couple of pages, that reading fiction recharges my batteries.  In order to be a teller of stories, it’s important to be a fan of other people’s work.

I’m going to read for a bit before work.  Want to join me?

November IS NaNoWriMo

Word Count: 15,008 of 50,000

I have to say, I write a whole lot more than the minimum everyday.  Writing comes easy to me.  I love making up stories.  And I usually don’t set out with a word-count goal in mind when telling one.

Having a Plan

Setting out on something like NaNoWriMo is like getting in a dingy in a hurricane.  It’s hard to be prepared to deal with every single obstacle a writer has to overcome in writing a long piece of fiction in such a short amount of time.

Rhiannon and I spent months planning our story.  We saw that we had more than one book’s worth of ideas.  First, we found the first story, wrote a general summary of that story (about two or three pages), then we began to write.

Personally, I’ve never been a big fan of planning my writing.  our general summary was basically a list of ideas we wanted to be sure to include.  However, pre-writing is a definite phase in the planning of a novel.  So we jumped into pre-writing.

Five chapters in, we ran into a couple of snags in our plot and decided to back up a bit.  We were still finding our story at this point.  We wrote a chapter-by-chapter outline, then summaries to most of the chapters.  It was then we realized we had a detailed map of our story.  It wasn’t quite clear about everything we’d encounter in the writing–like a street-map in a brochure–a course guide to aid against getting lost.

My Expectations and Yours

From the average length of each chapter we’ve written so far, I expect we’ll be close to 100,000 words when we are done–well over the goal of this competition.  A lot of WriMos jump into November feet first.  Rhiannon and I were lucky enough to have a well planned idea (not to mention, a bit of a head-start).  I think it’s only fair that we should write more!

So those of you worried about not reaching the 50,000 word count, take it easy on yourself.  Write what you can–force it out of you.  Know that you can only do what’s best for you.  This is birth.  No child is born good or bad.  You have all the time in the world to make this story your best.  November is just for getting it out.

NaNoWriMo I Guess I Promised

Word Count: 10,482 of 50,000

Yeah, it was an insane day.  I’m tired as hell, as predicted.  Lucky me, I go back to the J. O. B. tomorrow morning.  Apparently, it hasn’t been the same without me.  Feels good, but I really can’t wait until all my days are WriMo days.

Sweet dreams, I pray thee come again!  Melatonin helps too.  How did the rest of you WriMos fair?

NaNoWriMo Jour le Deuxième

Word Count: 6,792 of 50,000

The word count above is actually as of last night.  After I finished writing my WriMo blog yesterday, I thought I’d write a couple paragraphs.  Thus help me pick up where my mind was leaving off last night.  Those few paragraphs turned into five pages–indeed, a the whole first sequence of chapter 12!

I find it exciting when things like this happen.  You lose all sense of an outside world, and the story takes over.  Time stops.  It’s more like reading than than writing the story.  Nay, it’s as if you’re watching the story happen before your very eyes!  Then, just like that, you wake up from your revelry, surprised at the late hour at which you are working, and pleased that you’ve gotten a little ahead in the game.

I did have sweet dreams last night.  Heck, I even woke up motivated to write.  I only watched ONE episode of WKRP in Cincinnati before writing this WriMo update!  If you know me, that’s pretty good.

I’m excited about writing today.  The way the vision took over last night is encouraging.  I think part of it is because we’ve reached the halfway point (chapter-wise) in the novel.  Everyone necessary has been introduced and given purpose.  All the plots are rolling, and I’m feeling pretty confident going into this next half.  I also think the WriMo energy is helping me out.  Just knowing I’m writing along-side so many others is…thrilling.

November is fast becoming my favorite month in the year.  I’ll update with my word count at the end of the day…but I can’t promise more than the word count.  I may be spent.

It’s NaNoWriMo for Pete’s Sake

NaNoWriMo

Or, National Novel Writing Month, has come around again.  I participated in this last year and finished my first novel!  Rhiannon was nice enough to tell me what a piece of crap it was, but it wasn’t a total waste of time.  NaNoWriMo helped me learn how to write.  How to press on when you have no steam.  NaNoWriMo showed me I COULD be a writer.  So, what is it?

Founding member and creator of NaNoWriMo, Chris Baty, started this exciting month dedicated to writing a novel (rough draft only) back in July of 1999 with 20 others.  They weren’t after anything noble, “No, we wanted to write novels for the same dumb reasons twentysomethings start bands.”  The only goal was to write 50,000 words in thirty days.  It didn’t matter if it was the biggest piece of trash on earth!  You had to have something to show for your month of hard work and countless cups of coffee.

NOTE ON THE WORD COUNT:  I can hear some of you seasoned readers/writers out there saying, “50,000 words is a short novel!”  I felt that way.  Then again, there are those of you who don’t write.  50,000 words is a lot.  Even for people who write a lot, 50,000 words turns out to be more than you think it is when you only have 30 days to do it.  If you find that you can write more than 50,000 words in those thirty days, by all means, you are encouraged by NaNoWriMo to do so!

Participating:  Thems ‘da Rulez

Am I encouraging you to participate in this?  Yes.  100%.  I’m participating.  Although, I’m breaking a rule this year.  Rhiannon and I have been working on this book for about a year now.  We spent five or six months in planning, then started writing the rough draft in July.  We reached the halfway point today.  You’re not supposed to use something you’ve already started.

However, I am making an exception for this.  Rhiannon and I know the story pretty well–or at least I do.  My only struggle has been forcing me into the chair to write this initial draft.  I’m hoping to use the mighty power of NaNoWriMo to get the other half of the novel out of me relatively quickly.

I’ll be posting daily progress reports with my current word counts, obstacles, and encouragement on my good days.  This should be a fun ride.

Did I mention there are rules?  They’re more like guidelines (which is why I feel only a little guilt at breaking them).  Here are a few more:

• Write a 50,000 word novel between November 1st and 30th.
• Start from scratch (Outlines and such permitted) (but we’re breaking this one this year).
• Write a novel.  Whatever YOU define a novel being.  As long it is one long work of fiction.
• Be the sole author of your novel.  (Technically we…R.J.Spinde…aren’t breaking that rule.  The way I interpret Batty here is, he wants people to write original material.  This month isn’t for fanfiction.  However, creative retellings are permitted as long as credit is given where necessary.)
• Write more than one word repeated 50,000 times.

Want to know more?  Visit the NaNoWriMo website!

Word Count: 5,721 of 50,000

An Exception

Sorry folks.  I’ve been sick the past couple of days and haven’t been on.  I’m writing this entry today, on a weekend day, as an exception and a call for ideas.

Need a Little Help From My Friends

So, I’ve never really asked you all questions before.  Being sick has given me time to think, and I need to clear stuff away.  I want to know what you want to hear from us.

Although I enjoy writing the Tarot entries, do they help any of you reading?  Do you want more entries on writing? Magic/Imagination?  What do YOU want us to write about?

We’ve been working (haphazardly) on a couple of things.  Let me give you a list.  If you don’t like anything we have planned, then give us a suggestion.  Leave it in a comment or email it to me.

Articles In the Works

How I Never Grew Up: an article on maturing without losing your imagination.

Writing With a Partner: an article on being creative with others.

The Ambiguity of Tarot: an article on how imagination is the key to reading Tarot cards.

Let Us Know What YOU Want to Read About

We really want to know.  I’m looking at producing one full article a week while we are still writing the novel.  I’ll be giving regular progress reports on that.  However, there is SO much more I want to write.  I figure, asking you what you want to know is the best way to do that.  Especially since I don’t have the time to write every article I have ideas for.

So people, give me a goal.  What do you want to read?  Let’s help each other!

Change Stalled

After I got back from that mystical place–the place I was last time I checked in with y’all–the wind died down.  I looked at my alarm clock sitting across the desk, and notice I had three hours before I had to be at work.

This is the segment in the story an author usually skims over.  Days passing days.  Nights mix together in wonderful harmonies of time passing, then you get to the next part of the story.  It’s been days since I found the next chapter in my personal Taftkan adventure.

Maybe I should try calling out to Change.  He’s really attractive; I might get lucky.  Then again, Change can be a bitch.  If anyone was bi-polar in the world, then it would be Change.

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Change Is In the Air

I was nearly finished with chapter eight.  My pen trickled ink down the front of my shirt as I scratched the story into the parchment pages of “The Taftkan Marterials”.

A wind blew the French, glass windows open.  They were behind me.  I wasn’t sitting on my bed, writing, like I was.  I was at a desk in a small office, lit only by the sun shining through these glass panes.  The book was whole again; the pages were rejoined with the leather binding.

I closed the book, the golden lettering smiled up at me.  I caressed the imprint of a Dragon–my Dragon–Forest Moon.  The wind blew again, and I could hear the tinkling of Christmas bells on it: a sign of magic calling.  I went to the open window and gazed at my garden.

I wasn’t in Taftka.  Or maybe I was, I am never sure when I come to this place.  This place just calls to me, and I am there.  I never have to think to come here, like I do with Taftka.  The doors in this place have taken me both back home and to Taftka.  Maybe this is some place in between.  It is a solitary place; I never find anyone here when I am.  There are signs of life all around the place, though.  Beds unmade, sinks full of dishes, and half finished sculptures just to name a few.

The wind was magical, I could taste it.  And the wonderful music it made as it caressed the trees.  It nipped at my nose when it flew across my face.  Destiny had called for a moment of silence.  Thankfully, I found it.

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The Neverending Story

This is my favorite cover to the book.

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

This book is one of my favorite books of all time.  This will be the seventh time I’ve read the book, and I plan on doing this article as sort of a running commentary.  This was the first real book I ever read, and I think it set the course for the rest of my reading (and writing) career.  I hope to draw inspiration from it, and heartily enjoy it yet again.  Lord knows my copy is well worn.

Prologue

In the few pages that begin this book Ende manages to sum up everything I’ve ever felt for books.  He sparks my imagination with his words, and makes me love stories even more.  I can see a lot of where my love for books comes from.  This was a great first book.  Something I look forward to coming back to again and again in my life.

I – Fantastica in Danger

I like how Ende arrives at a scene a moment before the characters who carry the scene show up.  It’s like zeroing in on this first page.

You know, if you analyze Ende’s use of Bastian in the beginning of the book from the perspective of a directer of the stage, then you have some interesting bit of information for a writer.  He has his main character fall in love with the book “The Neverending Story” within the book.  I once listened to a commentary to “Victor/Victoria,” and Julie Andrews recalls a worry about whether or not the movie’s audience would buy her “man” persona.  The director said something to the effect of: “they’ll buy it, because the other characters in the movie buy it.”  And indeed, that is how things went for “Victor/Victoria” (I recommend this movie if you haven’t seen it).  I think one of the reasons it is so easy for me to get into the story within “The Neverending Story” is due to Bastian’s excitement about it.  As a writer, I think that may be important.  Characters should be excited about their own stories.  It helps the reader’s enjoyment of the book.

It’s interesting how Ende ends this first chapter: “But that’s another story and shall be told another time.”  He ends the book that way too.  It means different things at both points though.  In this first chapter it could be translated as “But I digress.”  In the end of the book, the final line being this said same, it’s more “The end, alas, or is it?”  Poetic.  It also makes me feel like I haven’t began the real meat of the story yet.  As if the last 27 pages was a playful sketch, and now the artist is ready to begin painting.

II – Atreyu’s Mission

In chapter two, again with the thoughts of Bastian.  The book practically interprets itself!

III – Morla the Aged One

And again Ende uses the line: “But that’s another story and shall be told another time.”  Now I’m just interested in counting.

AURYN (movie version)

Oh, how I want to sob with Atreyu and Bastian!  I do love how Ende makes use of AURYN throughout the book.

The way Ende’s mesh of Bastian and Atreyu’s story interweave is stunning, and an inspiration to my style of writing.

IV – Ygramul  the Many

In the first few pages of this chapter I discover why I am so taken over by books.  If you want to think about it psychologically that is.  This book being the first real experience I’ve had with books.  Bastian decides to continue reading, because Atreyu wouldn’t give up something he started.  Very often my writing reflects something I’ve read.  I can take on styles of the writers I read.  I’ve always taken on those attributes I like in other writers.  Writers are very much like chefs.  We serve up a dinner of words and deeds and thoughts.  We share ingredients with each other – grow from each other – and sometimes we create things that are remembered.  Yet another reason I so love this book.  This is also (probably) why I can’t bare not to finish a book (unless it is exceptionally terrible).

Ende really makes the reader feel things, even in his descriptions.  I can hear the bell of the luckdragon’s voice…oh so calming.

V – The Gnomics

Engywook and Urgl are two of my favorite characters of all time.  I once had a pair of hamsters named after them.

It’s always these two who make me remember the first time I read the book.  I remember walking into the Pollard Memorial Library in Lowell.  I was eleven years old, and it was the first time I’d wandered out of the children’s section and into the stacks.  It was like going into the forbidden zone.  The only copy of the book they had was a large print, and the book was unnaturally swollen.  I was so proud of myself when I finished it.  I think it took me a couple of months.   This was a fine beginning to a noble career as a devoted devourer of books.  Yet, it wasn’t until three years later that I started taking my reading seriously – one of the few things I can legitimately thank my father for forcing on me.

VI – The Three Magic Gates

My only dilemma after reading this chapter is which of my niblings (nieces and nephews) to give this book to.  By the by, I just discovered the word “nibling.” I needed a gender neutral word, because I have only one niece and two nephews.  I love the invention of new words, and this one is still unofficial.  Use it people, it’s a good one!

VII – The Voice of Silence

I’m starting to think I AM Bastian, and Taftka is my Fantastica.  Btw, he said it again.  That makes three since the beginning of the book.

VIII – The Wind Giants

I wish the old movie had kept better faith in the book.  This chapter melts seamlessly into the next, and it’s one of my favorite chapters.  Rumor has it there will be a remake of the movie in 2012.  We’ll see how that one works out.  Of course, they may get it wrong again, but I have faith.

IX – Spook City

I am very bewitched by this story this time around.  More so than ever before.  I’m right there with Atreyu and Bastian, and I’m seeing myself reflected back at me.  I want this for my books.

How can I stop reading now? The Nothing is closing in and I have a seat on…

X – The Flight to the Ivory Tower

I’ve noticed a lot of similarities to what I am writing and this book, but there are times when I blatantly disagree with what Ende is saying.  In a lot of ways he brings me into the book, it’s chapters like this that he reminds us this is a book…that’s what I don’t believe in.

You know, I can’t say I was dragged out of the story.  I just shot through this chapter.  Loved it.  I just don’t agree with some of Ende’s explanations.  I’ve got similar things going on, but for different reasons…and different outcomes too.

XI – The Childlike Empress

This is where the movie really starts to deviate from the book, and where the book starts to get REALLY good.  When I say the “movie deviates from the book” here, I mean the movie ends here.  I remember the particularly incredulous feelings I had when I first got to this chapter.  I was so psyched the story went on…and I couldn’t help but turn the page and continue reading.  Still can’t.

XII – The Old Man of Wandering Mountain

Odd, I don’t think this character made it into the movies until movie three.  It is rather sly how the Childlike Empress convinces Bastian to give her the name.  I think I would have believed sooner though…I’m like that.

XIII – Perilin, The Night Forest

I like how they bastardized this chapter in the movie – trying to make a nice tight, feel good, Hollywood ending (no offense Hollywood).  Sorry, for a book-nerd like me, chapters like this are gold gently etched with words.

XIV – The Desert of Colors

Grograman–my favorite character, hands down.

I’ve noticed, in many ways, Ende’s characters are tragic.  Following my other analysis, this is very much akin to the kind of stories I write.  It seems I’m coming full circle, making the connections, picking up my story and bringing it to Earth, renewing Fantastica again with my Taftka.   I’m very glad I began this series on books with this book.   It’s fitting, and the book is down-right brilliant.

This book also supports one of my theories on what makes good fiction: food.  Lots and lots of food.

Awe, I always feel bad for Bastian here.  I think I figured it out right away though, the first time I read it.  Of course, some of those memories are clouded.  I can’t be sure, but I like to think I knew was was going to be the outcome of the next chapter.  Especially with a title like this:

XV – Grograman, the Many-Colored Death

Ou, I don’t think I’ve understood this chapter before.  Most exciting is it’s subject matter this time around: time.  Love the idea that time only exists when it is created.  Instant past, present and future.  Everything is always.  I <3 this book.

This chapter is most existential.  Rhiannon doesn’t like existentialism so much – at least not by it’s plain and simple definition in reality.  However, I think, put in plain words such as these (speaking of wishes, where they come from, and how they work) she understands them as truth.  It goes to show you the same truths can be lies with the wrong words.

Wow.  This chapter startlingly resembles my life.  I’ll only put it in simple terms here, maybe I’ll write a full blog about it later.  Bastian’s transformation (his wishes) are very much like mine have been.  When I was in Middle School I found some courage and came out of my shell.  Then I discovered how much people liked my stories and I wanted to be known for them, and loved because of them.  To see this happen to Bastian and me not realize it before…I’m a little frightened what the rest of this book holds.  Will it show me how to succeed over the trials of today?  Will I glimpse places I am headed?  Or am I just taken over by the spell of this book, yet again?  You decide.  I’m going to…

XVI – The Silver City of Amarganth

You know what I find amusing?  They took away Atreyu’s green skin for the movie.  If they had only known then, that the token green skin of the Wicked Witch of the West (which was ADDED for “The Wizard of Oz” movie) would turn into Elphaba – epic dark heroine to many of us – lmao.  Maybe they’ll keep him green in the remake…if they know what’s good for them.  Oh, did you guys know there’s a “Wicked” movie in the works?

There is really no use of me thinking of the movies anymore.  Even though the city made it into the movie, nothing is the same about it minus half the name (they just called it “The Silver City” in the movie).  I don’t recall a lot of the specifics from this point on.  Bastian has had an adventure with the Lion, then the Thousand Doors, now he’s had a battle, and he’s joined Atreyu and Falcor.  I hope we get a nice juicy plot that’s not soley existential (as these past few chapters have been).  However enjoyable, they are still tedious in a novel.  I’ll be fine if we get a good plot in the next chapter.  Otherwise, it’s just episodic…gosh, I hope I don’t lose interest.  I love this book.

XVII – A Dragon for Hero Hynreck

Reading Bastian’s story I discover something very much like the way I write.  Ende’s describing the process here.  I get the event, place, person (whatever) into my head – I get the idea – and then figure out how that idea relates to the plot, my characters and everything else in the story I’m writing.

Four times and counting.

XVIII – The Acharis

You know, I think Bastian realizes something about the magic in everyday life that I was trying to convey in this blog I wrote the other day.  Love it when stuff like that happens.  Little coincidences.

Bastian’s memory loss.  I disagree with this.  This is definitely a point where my writing differs from Ende.  I mean it all works very well here, and I’m compelled by the story and it’s action.  But COME ON…you give the kid ultimate power in a fantasy world and you make it cost him his mind in order to learn a lesson?  Can’t you just let the kid have fun?

As for the Acharis and Shlamoofs…I find this point a bit clouded.  Why did the wish turn out wrong?  Maybe I’m supposed to think that at this point, but I’ve been disagreeing with Ende for this whole chapter.

XIX – The Traveling Companions

In this chapter things start to pick up for me again.  Bastian gets to ride Falcor, but he’s still on about the whole memory loss thing.  At least, in this chapter, there is more of a threat.  Bastian has a purpose again.  That is what annoys me about the memory loss.  Ende still hasn’t told us the real reason Bastian is losing his memory.

In the end of this chapter a great host of creatures join Bastian’s party.  I just had to use a dictionary because this sentence lead me to a disturbing initial image:  “[...]a stag with golden antlers who walked erect and wore a Prince Albert.” Stag, erect, and Prince Albert…anyone else thinking what I’m thinking?  Hah!  In this case, a Prince Albert must be referring to a “man’s double breasted coat.”  Thanks Google, for clearing that up!

XX – The Seeing Hand

Finally, the chapter I’ve been waiting for since we left the Silver City.  I believe this is part of the second movie…the castle made it in at least.

Well, the whole cast and setting made it into the movie, but I’m sure none of this plot did.  I think I’ve realized fully what I don’t like about these chapters too.  The same thing I didn’t like in the Harry Potter books – the angst.  Bastian is very full of angst in this chapter, and I so often feel I’d have no reason to feel angst in worlds like Fantastica.  I just want to smack Bastian up side the head, because I made the mistake he just made with Atreyu and Falcor.

The End?

Well, no.  The book doesn’t end here.  I am, however, ending (and posting) this review.  I’ve grown a lot while reading this book.  I used to be the kind of person to read multiple books at a time.  Keeping up with each story was just as easy as keeping up with multiple television show plots.  Pretty easy.

For some reason, my senior year of high school, I decided I’d only read one book (all the way to the end) at a time.  I decided this because I wasn’t finishing some of the books I was reading, and I wanted to make myself.  I think this may have been a bad choice.  To go back to the television analogy:  when a show gets bad, I usually stop watching.

I believe the ultimate reason I chose to do this was out of respect for the author.  However, I no longer view reading as a chore.  I love reading.  I used to love reading more.  I want to free my reading habits, and start finding the time to get to all the books I want to read.  I have too many dry spells…too many times where I’m not reading at all.  By doing this, I will always have something interesting to read.  And the books I never finish…well, no offense to the author…it just wasn’t for me.

The end of “The Neverending Story” isn’t for me.  I’ve been complaining for a great many chapters about how much I disagree with Ende’s choices.  I hate what he puts Bastian through, and I think I always have.  My vaguest memories of the book are the final chapters.  I can never get through it.  It’s all cake up to Silver City, but soon after it all goes down south.

I still consider this one of my favorite books of all time…if not THE favorite.  I just can’t stand the end of the book!  I’ll keep a bookmark in it, just in case.  However, I think I’m moving on as well as changing my reading habits.  Thanks book!

Having It Out With Change

Despite the wondrous light in the grand foyer there were many shadows to hide in.  My eyes gazed at each, waiting for the seemingly empty room to suddenly reveal it self for what it really was.  A room with an occupant, and an important one at that.  My suspicions proved to only be nerves, when Change – in his long hooded red robe – descended the staircase in front of me.

His face looked very much like a man.  His golden hair hung straight just below his neck, and his earthy brown eyes held multiverses in their gaze.

“Your time has come,” said Change.

“So the sign said,” I answered.

“It’s waiting for you back home,” he said.

“What is?”

“Your destiny,” said Change, extending a hand.  “Come, I’ll take you to it.”

“What is my destiny?” I asked.

Change smiled, but said nothing.  He rose his hand a little higher, and I took it.  Immediately there were swirls of blackness surrounding me.  I slammed onto the carpet of my bedroom floor, knocking over my desklamp – dumping the sand in my zen garden all in my hair.

“Damnit, Change,” I said, but he wasn’t with me.

Change always hurts; one way or another… I heard in my head, and giggled despite myself.

I plopped myself down in front of my computer, and couldn’t help but noticing the stack of parchment papers on my desk.  I knew what they were instantly.  I’d written some of them myself.  They were the pages to “The Taftkan Materials” – our novel – but I had left the book in Taftka!  Rhiannon was supposed to work on it today.

Your time has come… the words reverberated in my mind.

I picked up my cell phone.  I punched 42-314 and hit call – sending magic along with the signal.

“Hello?”

“Rhiannon, I have the story,” I said.

“Oh thank GOD!” she said.  “I was scared half to death when I found all the pages missing in the book.”

“Yeah, I have them here,” I said.  “I think I need to work on the story today.”

“It makes sense that it came to you,” said Rhiannon.  “I could only vaguely see the next part.”

“But you inspired me with your notes,” I said.  “I think this is going to come out easily.”

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