I love how you can do terrain maps, street maps, or the aerial photo maps.

Anyway, if you haven’t given it a shot, go for it. Even if you don’t use it for research, it’s fun to play with.

That said, I’ve got a new novel in the works. If you popped over to my blog, you’ll notice I mentioned it. If you didn’t, well then you suck and I’m not talking to you anyway. (Kidding!) 

When I entertained the notion of writing a novel for NaNo, I had a story in mind. The characters just kind of came along for the ride, and it didn’t go very far. I was fairly excited about the story, and had a vague notion of who was in it.

When I wrote my actual novel, it started with Claire. She showed up in my head and badgered me mercilessly until I wrote her novel. Of course, the story was there, too, and I was excited about it, but looking back, I realize that I was excited about Claire IN the story. Without the story, Claire might have done something else, I’m not sure. But without Claire, the story was nothing, because it was her story.

That’s what happened to Jericho Road. Yes, Natalie’s a nice girl and all, but I was excited about the story, period. Natalie was more of an afterthought, an insertion into the story, someone who would fit nicely and do a good job, but she was… weak.

Let me explain. She’s not a weak character. I think she’ll be a fine character, someday. But she just kind of stood on the edges of my imagination, asking, “Now what do I do?” Claire told me what she was doing and I dictated.

(This all makes me sound rather insane, doesn’t it??)

Jericho Road is a good story. Does Natalie have to be in it? Nope. It could be Natalie… or Jane or Beth or Marianne. And apparently, that doesn’t work for me. Which means I have to wait until Jane or Beth or Marianne shows up and tells me how Jericho Road is going to go… or Natalie has to be a little more assertive and tell me her story, whatever it may be.

Moving along to this one, I have Cairo Montgomery. She showed up in my head, pestering me. As I did with Claire, I listened a bit and then started to get really excited. Cairo is amazing, I could listen to her for days. In fact, I have. Weeks, even. Cairo’s story is awesome and I’m excited about the combination.

See, with Claire and with Cairo, there was no substituting anything. It had to be Claire in her story. And now, it has to be Cairo in her story. It’s their story.

All of this leads me to believe even more that none of my stories are really my stories. So what does that mean in terms of my responsibility to tell these stories? If these characters – these people – are so real and demanding, does that mean I am essentially murdering them by keeping them silent?

I realize that all sounds rather bizzare, so I hope you all have noisy, pushy characters so you understand just what I’m saying. I always thought it was the story that I had to write. And I thought I could put my characters in a story and write it. Now I don’t think that’s the case. I think that, for me, maybe it’s a matter of getting a specific character in a specific story at just the right time. It’s weird.

I wasn’t so confident about Jericho Road. I rather expected that I might fail, but I thought it was because of time constraints and responsibilities. Now I’m thinking I knew it just wasn’t right because I was trying to put Natalie in a story she didn’t belong in, and trying to put a character into Jericho Road that didn’t belong there. I love the story, so it’ll remain on the back burner until the right character shows up and claims it. I also rather like Natalie. Maybe in a few months or years, she’ll show up and announce her story.

Anyway, like with Claire, Cairo’s story has no title yet, and I suspect it will be generic when it does come, like The Cabin. The title seems like such a minor thing… I know some writers sneer and insist you must have a title before you begin… eh, screw the notion that you must do anything to be “right”, let’s move on to another topic.

I’m feeling really good about this book. So many things are paralleling (is that a word??) to how things went with Claire, and that makes me very, very happy. And very confident that the outcome will be similar – a finished book. (Let’s not discuss the editing stage. I consider it a finished book when I wrote “The End”, if not a polished, publishable book.)

So there you have it. While my writing is far less of a priority due to my life, I think it’s more a matter of having the right story.

- That Carrie has her own independent blog?  (Well, I didn’t, until today when she showed me, because nobody tells me nothin’.)

- And that *I* have my own independent blog? Well, I didn’t really have anything more than a test bed until today, when I realized I could bring all my long-winded gibberish posts over there, and post without feeling guilty about burying Carrie’s occasional post (apparently, she’s much more active on her blog than this one anyway).

- Somebody’s going to say that we are Now Divorced, but only in a bloggeral sense, because WE ARE NOT MARRIED AND NEVER WERE, thank you.

- I would quite like a cup of tea, and about a week in the middle of nowhere with nothing but some paper and some pens. Er, and a fountain of tea.

…

Anyway, I know Lori’s updated the Commune blogroll to reflect the blog changey thingie. So now you know. I can’t maintain a personal blog, and CarrPeeDiem, so I might just switch over there. Although it’s a hellluva lot harder to abbreviate “Tzinski” than it is to casually say “CPD” in conversation.

Now you have all my wordly links.

Anyway, I need to work. So I may be absent. (I always say that. We’ll see.)

Meanwhile, some wise advice.

John Kenneth Galbraith:

“All writers know that on some golden mornings they are touched by the wand—are on intimate terms with poetry and cosmic truth. I have experienced those moments myself. Their lesson is simple: It’s a total illusion. And the danger in the illusion is that you will wait for those moments. Such is the horror of having to face the typewriter that you will spend all your time waiting. I am persuaded that most writers, like most shoemakers, are about as good one day as the next (a point which Trollope made), hangovers apart. The difference is the result of euphoria, alcohol, or imagination. The meaning is that one had better go to his or her typewriter every morning and stay there regardless of the seeming result. It will be much the same.” 

“Well, you see this bit here, on your bathtub? It’s what stops the water from overflowing from the tub.”

“Sure. The sink has one too. Most things do.”

“Right. Well, it looks like it got twisted upward, and the screw came a little loose, and water got into the plumber’s putty and ate through, and was leaking out of the pipe and downstairs. Easy fix.”

“Oh. Er. Good.”

And Mssr. Maintenance Man does not notice, in his busyness, the curious chargrined nature of the Master of the House, who has suddenly gotten much less chatty, and who is admitting only gently to the possibility that this was all his fault, since he figured out after first moving in that if he rotated that thing upward, he could get another two inches of water or so into his bath, which was very nice. But he is not going to tell anyone else about this, except for his wife, to whom he told the clever story of a vicious Giant who came in and fiddled with the tub while we were all away.

And the Master of the House forbids you to make fun of him for it, and hopes that it will come off as endearing, instead of twit-headed.

“Er. Why? I don’t have anything broken, that I know of.”

“You have a leak in your master bathroom’s plumbing.”

“What? I do. Er. How do you know?”

“It’s leaking through the ceiling into the empty apartment below you.”

“Oh. Right.”

So cheerfully, a man with tools is coming by in a couple of hours. He declared, entirely nonchalant about it, that he’d need to “get inside the wall,” which I guess I knew (I watch Holmes on Homes obsessively, after all) but was hoping against. So while I’m sitting in my soundproofed little closet office, writing away, he’ll be a wall away from me, working on making it rather less than a wall away from me, if you see what I mean. I have no idea what he’s going to do, or how long it’ll take.

While I’m killing time and waiting for him to show up, I have a screaming baby (he’s got to move out eventually), and a headache and none of the mental clarity, or at least operational ability to write. So you get a miscellaneous blog post, instead.

…

Let’s see. I hope I’ve plugged it here before, but Fast Forward TV is the finest television show, of sorts, on science fiction going. I spend more time watching what are really terrific interviews with all manner of really fine authors. In particular, I recently showed off their Dr. Brian Jacques interview to Lori and Kristine, because he’s a delight to watch and listen to. Even if you don’t enjoy the Redwall books (you don’t? you must be mad), then you can’t help but be utterly charmed by him.

Tom Schaad conducts the interviews, and he does a marvelous job of being intelligent and insightful all by himself, whether he’s asking questions of Neil Gaiman or Gene Wolfe, or inserting brief questions into the slow drawl of Bill Gibson as he slowly, slowly, talks about the world and gets it all right.

Go there. Watch all the interviews. Feel pretty good about being a writer. I don’t mind telling you that if I wind up on that show, long-watching and the intellect of Tom Schaad will result in me being too intimidated to answer questions usefully. But what a great place to be unable to answer questions. So it’s either an aspiration, or a fear.

…

There. By the magic of the internet, it’s now twenty minutes later. I have a screaming baby on my lap, but no tea, so I’m not sure I’ve come out ahead of those twenty minutes at all.

…

I was utterly miserable staring at the Nondescript, which again seemed to be stretching on away from me. Then I fixed the problem, just that easily. I realized I was trying to expand little scenes that didn’t need it, and as a result, I was failing to move from point to point on my sheet of “scenes between now and the end of the novel,” and wasn’t getting anywhere. So I crunched up a scene (which was stumping me anyway, because I didn’t really have anything for it) and got on with my story. So now it’s rolling again. There’s still so much to do, but we’re about to find out who Charley is, and then we’ll meet Charley, and that really gets things properly accelerating toward my ending.

The other nice thing I’m noticing is that there are scenes missing and themes that are poorly constructed…but I’ve made notes of them in another sheet of paper, for my editing stage (not really a second draft, though I guess you can call it that. I really don’t second-draft much). It’s nice, I like having things mapped out for the edit stage. Add in those scenes, tighten up one theme and one character, and I think we’ll have a pretty decent book, if I do say so myself.

I’ve started writing The Neon God on paper, because I switched the Nondescript back to the computer (I think I mentioned that). Neon God is going okay. Not very fast, because I always stall out in the first chapter while I figure out 1) where the first chapter is going 2) where my entry point is 3) what I’m trying to say. So while I’m probably in no danger of cleaning up in the Penman Shipwreck, at least I’m getting some forward motion. That’s got to count for something. It’s just gotta…!

…

Word counts are the devil. I need to go into greater length on that topic, but it’s probably an article all by itself. Word counts are the absolute devil. Trust me.

…

Fried chicken for breakfast, although it doesn’t seem like it at first, is also the devil. And I don’t expect any sympathy here, probably just a chorus of “duh.”

…

That’s it. I’m out of stuff. Time for some tea, some breakfast, maybe an hour’s quiet before the kid gets woken up, and then maybe sometime this afternoon, I’ll try that writing lark for a bit.

…

How are you?

So: I am typing the Nondescript rapidly. Making good progress. I am using DarkRoom, which I’ve had on this computer for some time, but haven’t been keen on until now. I fiddled and managed to widen the text, so that it’s not such a narrow column down the center of the screen. And I changed it to a nice shade of blue, instead of the green. I have no nostalgia for an old Apple II computer that I need bright green type for. It’s a wonderful writing environment. My mini-Napster player sits unobtrusively in the corner, and otherwise the screen is blank, but for the novel.

The novel goes very well.

I’m still in the Shipwreck, though. In another notebook, I’ve begun writing The Neon God, and am enjoying writing science fiction. This is going to be a good book, I think. I say that at the beginning of all books. I’ve just met Brother Simon Ellis Doyle, who I knew was a monk, but whose personality I had no idea would be like this. I am just about to meet the Reverend Mister Isaac, and my detective, and then the novel gets rolling. It’ll be fun.

I am reading Spook Country by William Gibson. And I am reading Changeling, by Roger Zelazny, one of the two Zelazny novels which I own, but have not read (I have been saving them, like little gifts to myself, because sadly, we will see no more Zelazny novels, and they should be rationed).

All of which is rather more than I came on to tell you. I came on to tell you that this is the greatest LoLCatz picture ever, and it made me very happy to see, and now I have to share it with the world. (It just makes me want to write a story.)

And now, it’s back into the 1940′s. We’re just about to find out who Charley is.

I’ll report in. Be seeing you.

But I got this article, earlier this morning. An article on non-reading, talking about the subject with approval, which, as someone who advocates reading in the strongest sense, is one of those subjects that should make me shouty.

But it didn’t. Mostly, I read it and waffled back and forth between grumpy at it, disagreeing, and thinking about it with an inclination toward taking them to be right. And then I got to this bit:

Bayard’s approach is Derridean: a focus on the relation between objects and the systems that support these. He perceives books themselves as a ‘system’, important only in so far as they are received within society: the gossip that they generate; the ideas that they spawn; the conflicts that they provoke. ‘Relations among ideas are far more important than the ideas themselves,’ he insists. Thus, it is only ever necessary to get a rough sense of what any particular book is about – and where to place it in the ‘collective library’.

(The bold is for emphasis)

And it’s very interesting, and something that I’m puzzling over, to no real end. It’s interesting to perceive books as a system, and the value of each book is only measurable by what they generate as fallout, such as the gossip, the ideas, the conflicts. I go back and forth on whether or not I agree on the idea of it all (“Books are good for just sheer joy and entertainment, too,” says one voice in my head. “Well, yes,” says another, “But what good is a book that is fluffy entertainment but doesn’t leave you with anything at all, not an idea, a view, a thought process, not anything?”)

Anyway, it’s an interesting article.

…

I have mentioned Jeremy, my friend down the hall, on this blog before. A few weeks ago, when we were all out to dinner, he mentioned in passing that he’d enjoy getting to read a little, again. He read when he was younger, when he was twelve, or younger still, but life and school and the general mess of the world put an end to that. His interests shifted, he never really got back into it. I suggested that maybe I’d try to turn something out of my library of books that he’d like, and he said it was a good idea.

So I stewed for several days. I put a helluva lot of thought into it. You would think I was trying to solve the riddle of the origin of the species, or what the hell sort of language the Nubian empire spoke (have you ever read about the Nubian empire? You should. It’s astonishing. But I digress.) Anyway, I finally settled on a book.

I got Neil Gaiman’s Fragile Things down off the shelf. I thought short stories would be the perfect reintroduction to someone who hasn’t read in while. And Neil Gaiman is good, because he writes in a clear, approachable style. I’m hesitant to say that, because it almost sounds like I was trying to pick “easy,” or “simple” writing for Jeremy, which is far from the truth. He is quite a lot smarter than I am, there’s no question of him needing to read “simple.” But at the same time, if you’re trying to come back into reading for pleasure again, perhaps you don’t want to start off with Gene Wolfe, with Colleen McCollough’s several-thousand-page-epics, you see? I waffled for a bit between Gaiman and Stephen King, who also has fine short story collections, and then settled on Gaiman.

I went through the book and picked stories that I thought were good starting points. Even Neil sometimes gets a little more oblique than can be casually read (though, once figured out, they are a delight). For example, A Study in Emerald works if you’ve read Sherlock Holmes, OR it works if you’ve read Cthulu mythos stories. But if you haven’t read either one, the story still works on a pure detective level, but you won’t see what the fuss is about, you see?

So I picked stories and wrote them down. The deeply, deeply disturbing Feeders and Eaters, and the delightful Sunbird, and even the poem The Day the Saucers Came. And, because Jeremy has a strong punk-music-culture background, How to Talk to Girls At Parties, which is such a fun story.

He read ‘em. He liked ‘em. It made me happier than anything else in the previous two weeks. (Which is probably going to weird him out if he chances across this blog entry, but I don’t care, I am delighted. Some things are worth doing straight off, and that was one of them.)

Now, I have to decide what ELSE to attack him with. There’s always Neil’s other short story collection, Smoke & Mirrors. And there’s either Anansi Boys or American Gods or…now that I just start thinking about it…I wonder what he’d think of Good Omens.

…

I have to finish The Nondescript. Saying “I need the money from it,” is a chump thing to say, down there with “I bought the magazine subscriptions, and I may already be a winner,” or even dumber phrases like, “Hi, I’m Bono from U2.” But I’m saying it anyway. And besides, I need to finish The Nondescript, because my next novel, a SF work called The Neon God has turned itself into a ready project in my head, and I want to get started on it. I’m looking forward to that one. It’s got a lot of things in it that I have long thought, but never said properly. Sharp-eyed readers (who are probably reading something better than my stuff) will see thematic similarities between  The Neon God, and my robot series, God in the Machine. Or at least they would, if I’d ever gotten far enough into God in the Machine for the themes to start appearing.

Anyway, the point is, I need to finish writing some things. It does me no good sitting around and talking, and discussing writing, when I’m doing diddly.

So I’m heading offline. I’ll sporadically check my e-mail, because I can’t divest myself of that entirely (people I know rely on it), and I am available by phone, and my physical letter sent through the post, but that’s it. I at least need The Nondescript done before I feel worthwhile about being out in the world again.

I may be a little bit of time.

906 Responses to “The Great Tea Debacle”

1. carrieinpa Says:
   October 16, 2007 at 6:17 pm eWhere’s this compilation? What’s the holdup?????
2. MidnightMuse Says:
   October 16, 2007 at 7:29 pm eHey, this WordPress thingie let’s you put that cool, nifty-knee-toe bar at the top? With catagories? Dang, I’m so behind on this webbie stuff. And I used to be so savvy!
3. Lori Says:
   October 17, 2007 at 10:42 am eYes. I think I’m going to have to watch and learn from Pete and maybe move The Commune over here before it gets completely entrenched over there.
4. Pete Tzinski Says:
   October 17, 2007 at 10:44 am eI first used WordPress for BBT, and then for God in the Machine. I’d been considering building a personal web-site through wordpress and just shifting there, but I like the crowd and the history of CPD, so we moved this here instead. Plus, if you have other people on the blog — I have Carrie, in theory — WordPress allows them complete access behind the scenes, which you can’t do with blogger.

   I’m a big wordpress fan.

   Plus, this is WIDER, so I feel less bad about typing too much.

   This Tea Debacle is going to ROCK.

5. sanremoave Says:
   October 17, 2007 at 1:11 pm eOh, dear. The “Flashing Fiction” competition. I’d successfully suppressed that memory, dern it.

   How the heck did you find out about that?

6. Pete Tzinski Says:
   October 17, 2007 at 1:16 pm eYou ran into me during the run. I’m still in therapy.
7. Shadow Ferret Says:
   October 17, 2007 at 1:57 pm eWhat is this tea debacle of which you speak?
8. Pete Tzinski Says:
   October 17, 2007 at 2:01 pm eWhat, this? It’s a writing race, between the people listed above. It’s from November 1st to November 30th, we see who can write the most and whoever does wins a pot of prizes (no pun intended, since many of the prizes are teas which go in pots ha ha!). I haven’t finished posting all the details.
9. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
   October 17, 2007 at 3:00 pm eSo, I forget. Were you running toward me or away from me?

   Um… nevermind. I’d rather not know.

10. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 3:04 pm eYOU were running. I was minding my own business on a public street corner! It’s painful to think about.
11. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 4:06 pm eWe need to convince the Ferret to join the Great Tea Debacle – before “they” outnumber “us” ! WordPress is kinda nifty, I do get annoyed at the thinness of Blogger – it makes my posts look longwinded!
12. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 4:52 pm eWho is “they?”
13. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 5:06 pm eI agree. Who is “they” and “us” here? Must be “good looking” and “uglies”
14. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 5:53 pm eAh, so me and Kristine are the good lookings and you and…

    I’ll stop now.

15. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 6:14 pm eJoin us, Ferret!
16. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 7:28 pm eAnd I am sexyback. (Which means my back is sexy. Let me show you it. Never mind.)
17. carrieinpa Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 8:04 pm eCommmmmmmme, Ferret, my furry little friend!. Join us over here on the dark side. We have tea!
18. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 8:05 pm eI’ll have to see if I can massage him into submission
19. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 17, 2007 at 8:33 pm eMassage? So what is it? Like our own personal NANUNANU? Rules are, first to 50,000 in November? I’d be lucky to make 2500.
20. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 7:08 am eIt’s most words written in November. You can do it!

    Shazbat!

21. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 7:17 am eSo I can just work on something I’ve already started? Even if it has 2000 or 10000 words, I just count that as Zero? And start counting upwards from that? I guess I could do that.

    Mainly, ya’ll need someone to be simply awful so everyone else looks good. I’m used to being the last one picked.

22. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 7:23 am eWait’ll we play dodgeball.

    Lori’s competing with her novel, which has a whole big buncha words in it. So yeah, what you start at is “zero” regardless, and work on from that.

23. Cath Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 7:38 am eI’m in if you’re still open for competitors. As mentioned on Lori’s blog, I have a killer Earl Grey Tea-Cake recipe to add to the prized (certified arsenic free).
24. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 7:43 am eOoooh. Someone told you I have a weakness for tea cakes. (and Earl Grey). Sure, you’re in. Expect an e-mail momentarily.
25. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 8:02 am eYay! More tea for me.
26. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 8:04 am eWhy? Are you going to go buy some tea as a consolation prize? That’s a good idea.
27. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 9:33 am eOh goody, Cath is in. I love a good tea cake. If we can get a few more competitors, I may not need to buy tea again for a whole year.
28. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 9:34 am eC’mon, Shadow, join the fun! You’ve got nothing to lose, but lots of shiny new words to gain for your ms!
29. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 9:51 am eThe Shadow’s in. I just talked all techy on my blog for him – he thinks I’m sexy when I talk techie
30. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 10:36 am e….EW.

    Damn it, now I have to go modify my bar chart AGAIN…

31. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 11:05 am eI am just going to wait to properly update the graph itself until October 31st. It’s just easier.

    Shadow, your e-mail vanished in the cluttering death of my PM box on AW. But you have my e-mail. Can you answer the questions listed above by all the other members, then send it along to me? That way I can get you up there in lights, baby, lights!

32. The Great Tea Debacle | blog@cathsmith.com Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 11:22 am e[…] You can follow my progress on the CarrPeeDiem’s page:The Great Tea Debacle. […]
33. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 1:41 pm ePete, will do.

    I hate doing biographies. Can I do it over the weekend over a 6 pack?

    And hey! WTF? Why did it jump to 100,000 words?

34. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 1:49 pm eBecause I wanted a nice high back limit. The black bars are irrelevant. In front of those, you’ll see orange bars that’ll climb to mark each person’s progress. Since my novel is 100k — this one I’m competing with — I figured I’d put the limit up there. It’s arbitrary. If someone finishes the month by writing 120k, then I’ll change the graph as they get up there to a higher amount. (and report them for drug usage)
35. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 3:18 pm eadded another five pages to my outline today. 35 pages of ammunition.
36. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 3:26 pm eSorry, you’re disqualified for using outlines. Big Louie will be by later.

    *whimpers quietly in the corner until he feels better*

37. carrieinpa Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 3:32 pm eHooray! Shadow’s in!!! And Cath!
38. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 3:49 pm eBwhaHAhahaha! Outlines Smoutlines! We don’t need no stinkin’ outlines!

    *opens desk drawer in search of fresh undies*

39. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 5:09 pm eI never use outlines. I prefer inlines. Although my ankles aren’t very strong and I sort of ride on the sides of the skates.
40. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 5:45 pm e35 pages. Holy, schmoly, Mary!

    *studies own outline and quietly gnaws nails to the 1st knuckle*

41. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 6:07 pm eI haven’t outlined ANYTHING. Nor shall I have done so when we begin this thing. I’d like to officially state that.
42. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 7:57 pm eWhat? You people think I’ll use the outline to help write?

    Pffft. It’s a foot rest. I want to be comfortable when I NaNo. Two more pages and I’ll have the perfect height.

43. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 18, 2007 at 8:18 pm eOh, I have a question on word counts. Some people have “to be listed November 1st.” What exactly are you looking for? Us to predict how many words we’re going to finish with?

    *runs off to look up linear and non-linear as it applies to writing*

44. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:36 am eEr. Mostly, all that means is that I couldn’t be bothered to mess with that question, so I told everyone not to answer it. On November 1st, I intend to put down the number of words people have previously done in their story, you see? So it’ll look like this:

    LORI

    WORD COUNT: (beginning) 29,563 (current)31,232 (gain) 1,669

    But I think I’m probably just going to erase it (especially after typing out this pain in the ass made up number) since it was put there before I got the graph working up top. It’s not really needed.

    You don’t have to worry about linear or non-linear either, if you want. That’s entirely up to you, whether you put a line there or not. Mostly, I just want STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, and PREVIOUS COMPETITIONS (real and, if you want to, make sumfin up)

45. Cath Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 7:24 am eWhat? We’re allowed to make stuff up for our previous competitions? If I’d known that I coulda had some real fun.

    I’m working on a cunning plan for my nano right now. When I’m not procrastinating by posting on here that is. Y’all better be ready to hand over that tea!

46. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 7:29 am eAll thee cunning plans shall not save thee, for lo! I have prepared a great weapon in secrecy and shall use it upon this competition and all who hath stood against me shall be rendered low in the dust, beseeching mine street address that they made placate me with offerings of tea.

    (If you want to make something weird-o up, I’ll add it to your previous competitions happily enough)

47. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 8:14 am e20 lbs of Starbucks Dark French Roast: $42.95
    5 boxes of leftover Halloween sugar: $32.75
    2GB RAM upgrade so the laptop can keep up: $159.00
    Knowing all of you will soon be mailing me Tea: Priceless.
48. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 8:18 am eThe moral of the story is: It’s nice to have hopes and dreams.
49. Cath Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 9:52 am eOne of these days I’ll learn that sarcasm really doesn’t translate well online.

    And oi! That’s my tea!

50. Lori Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 10:46 am eDate: November 1st. *Lori settles in and starts writing, steadily, surely, while the remainder of the competitors continue with their posturing.*

    Date: December 1st. *All the other competitors mail tea and hot chocolate to Lori*

51. Lori Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 12:35 pm eUm, when you e-mail me updates, I’d like beginning word count and current word count. Please and thank you.
52. mscelina Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 2:56 pm e*evil grin*

    I’ll play if you want more willing cannon fodder.

53. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 3:01 pm eAren’t the mods so cute? They think one of them will win. Meanwhile, the non-mods plot to have our compatriots run amok and cause great havoc on the boards necessitating round the clock modding.

    Bwahahahahaha!

    Ready to loose the dogs or war, Muse?

54. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 3:05 pm eYanno what they say: If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch! Oh dear, I think I just opened the kennel holding the Hounds of Hell, instead of the Dogs ‘o war!
55. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 3:24 pm eMwahahaha! And YAY! Welcome, Celina! Oh this will be fun!
56. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 3:27 pm eWhile you folks are busy having Dogs of Kennel Hell o’ War, or whatever, I’ll just be over here writing my way past all’a you.
57. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 5:03 pm e:pats cute little mod on the head:

    I think I’ll start a couple of threads in the Novel forum on Nov. 1st.: 1 person present tense: Genius or Heresy. Then I’ll start a thread on outlines vs. pantzers. Next, I’ll pose the important question: is it stealing to download stuff without permission. I’m sure those won’t cause any flame wars for you to deal with.

58. Lori Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 5:32 pm eNotice they’re only plotting to mess with you, Pete? I tell you, you have to get a no-nonsense reputation quick in this modding game. They know if they mess with me, I’ll ban ‘em and just keep writing.

    {Soccer Mom, I’ll e-mail you a couple of other threads you can have others start in Novels.}

59. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 5:44 pm eOooh –good one, Mary!

    Let me know if you need a distraction, cause maybe I can entice Mr GJ Geist for a lil visit.

    muahhahhahahaahahaha

60. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 5:51 pm eWait a minute. Wait one dadgummed minute! I have to send Pete tea? No one said I had to mail tea.
61. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 5:55 pm eThey’re assuming I won’t just delete Novels for a month.
62. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:01 pm eOf course you won’t have to send Pete tea. You’ll send it to me when I win and I’ll try to figure out how to use it ’cause I’m used to the kind from Lipton’s what comes in a bag.
63. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:03 pm eLipton is a terrorist shell company. I’m convinced. No one believes me, but I’ve been talking to the Smoking Gun. THEY know!
64. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:08 pm eUh huh. Sure it wasn’t The Onion?

    Or maybe it was the onion eyed girl? I heard she likes to drink iced tea with sacchrine sweetener. Yum.

65. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:35 pm e*adds to list of seekret plots: send the onion-eyed girl to visit PeeDee in the daytime too. Maybe under his desk. Just when he opens his document, leaving his ankles exposed and unprotected…*
66. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:39 pm eOFFICIAL BOSSY NOTE:

    Ed! And Celina! What are you guys contributing to the Victory Pot?

    Also, don’t forget, I need answers to those questions posted above. Or else death shall befall your camels!

67. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:44 pm eDid I say my outline was done at 36 pages? I lied. I added five more pages. It’s 41 pages now.

    OFFICIAL SORT OF QUESTION: What if I finish this project and I need to keep going? It’s a possibility. The WIP stands at 62K and some change. What if I finish it and it’s only 40K? Do I complete another project? Start a new project? I have an idea for a sequel to this book. Should I plow ahead into book two? That’s how I’m leaning, but what is the official verdict if you finish you novel and have writing time left?

68. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:53 pm e*wanders off to think about it*
69. Lori Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 6:55 pm eVery early in this Debacle, I had the same question, Mary, because I’m only 30-35K from the end of my current WIP. There was discussion about it then, but in no ways an “official” position. At that time, this whole debacle wasn’t quite as big and as official as it’s become. Kristine, Pete, and I are discussing questions like this now and will let you know.
70. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 7:47 pm e“Ed! And Celina! What are you guys contributing to the Victory Pot?”

    Oh. You’re serious?

    How did I get roped into this?

71. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 19, 2007 at 7:53 pm eEither you wanted you join, or someone chloroformed you. I deny any allegations in half of these options.
72. Cath Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 5:58 am eWoo hoo. More people. More tea for me.
73. carrieinpa Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 9:22 am e“Kristine, Pete, and I are discussing questions like this now and will let you know.”

    *subtle cough*

    My own two cents is that it’s words for the month. So if you finish your project and start work on a second project, those words count. I would assume that only major projects count… posts on AW and emails are out. D I don’t plan on counting the words for my column, for instance.

74. Cath Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 9:31 am eThat sounds fair to me, Carrie.
75. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 10:05 am eIf we include AW posts, then I already won.
76. Lori Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 10:50 am eIf you get to include AW posts, I get to include academic writings. I really don’t think you want to go there. Not if you want to even have a chance at winning.

    My WIP may not advance as fast as I’d like it to, but combined with all my other non-goof off writing, I’d blow you out of the water.

77. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 2:29 pm eSorry, ma’am, fiction only.

    (”but you said AW posts?”

    (”exactly.”)

    

78. carrieinpa Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 7:32 pm eI’m adding a new prize to the pot! Since some of the prizes are loose leaf tea, I procured a nifty tea ball, so that when I kick all your sorry asses, I’ll have a way to make this loose tea into a cup of tea without reading my fortune at the end. I’ll officially put it into the kitty, but that’s mere formality.
79. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 7:40 pm eYou will lose. And your friends, on the Endor moon, are walking into a trap! As is your rebel fleet!

    Sorry, I got my bad guy lines mixed up there.

80. carrieinpa Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 7:41 pm eThat would explain the Ewoks…
81. Lori Says:
    October 20, 2007 at 8:40 pm eThey’re mixed up bad guys?
82. tjwriter Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 7:49 am eI saw this thingie at Walmart yesterday that brews a nice little pot of tea from either bags or loose leaf. It made me think of Pete. Every time I see anything involving tea reminds me of Pete.

    I’m tempted to join your little Debacle (that’s getting quite big) and put up the little pot o’ tea brewer as my contribution. What say you?

83. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 8:03 am eI think in tandem with Carrie’s tea ball (I use both the ball and the machine you’re talking about) it’s a terrific idea.
84. mscelina Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 12:07 pm eA prize, eh? Okay how about this:

    I will provide a bona fide antique book of classic literature of fine/near fine condition worth at least $50 from my shop to the winner…from a list I will provide obviously. No one’s getting my personal collections….grr….

    I’ll ask the winner a few questions to determine their taste and provide a list for their perusal–and they will get to decide which book they want.

    How’s that?

85. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 12:35 pm eUnless someone else has an objection to that (i.e., is insane) then I think that’s pretty freaking cool.

    *reflects on how weirdly big this thing has gotten*

86. mscelina Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 12:41 pm eLMAO–best reflect a bit more quickly, Pete. The gauntlet has been SMACKED DOWN over in AW.

    *goes back to reading Adverbs For Dummies*

87. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 1:46 pm eHuh whu? It has? Link, ma’am! Where is thee smackdown!?
88. carrieinpa Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 2:11 pm eROLL CALL, PLEASE!

    Carrie
    Lori
    Pete
    Kristine
    Mary
    Melissa
    Cath
    Celina

    TJ?
    Ed?

    Am I missing anyone?

89. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 2:15 pm eJen,
    Ed,
    and TJ

    are all the ones I need official “Yes, I am in” notes from. Then I can work it out from there.

90. Shadow Ferret Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 2:31 pm ePete,
    I do not have your email. I sent my questionnaire info to you using the AW “send message by email.”
91. tjwriter Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 3:45 pm ePut me in. I’m going to lose horribly, but someone will be receiving a nice shiny tea brewer thingie-me-uncle-bob.
92. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 6:05 pm eDon’t be so hard on yourself – you could lose well Nothing says you have to lose horribly. My blog will be available to motivate everyone – I’ll continue to post motivational tips and cheering pieces to keep you all pumped.
93. carrieinpa Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 6:12 pm e“HAHAHAHAHA SUCKERS!!!” doesn’t count as a motivational tip.
94. Soccer Mom Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 6:58 pm eOh my, but his has spiraled out of control.

    I accept no responsibility.

95. Arachne Jericho Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 7:48 pm eI’d like to join in if that’s okay. I’m NaNo-ing.
96. Lori Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 8:28 pm eAnd this lack of responsibility is supposed to surprise us how?
97. MidnightMuse Says:
    October 21, 2007 at 9:02 pm eI’ll have you know I’ve pre-written several motivational posts that I can put up during The First Great Tea Debacle, without taking time away from my winning novel.

    In fact, I’ve posted one this evening, designed to gear you all up for the exciting finish we all look forward to.

98. Pete Tzinski Says:
    October 22, 2007 at 6:51 am eTJ, Arachne, you’re both in. email me at p.tzinski(at)gmail.com, so I can keep track of you, and get stats. Thanks.

    Sign up is now closed.

99. carrieinpa Says:
    October 22, 2007 at 7:52 am eI just did a little online shopping and procured a variety of 7 different teas to go to the winner, along with the tea ball.

    I’ll be sure to let you all know how tasty they are when I win and get to keep them.

100. Soccer Mom Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 8:04 am eoooh, I see I’m going to have to up my prize offering. Since I’m keeping it, it needs to be good. And preferably edible.

     hmmm….

     ETA: No surprises, Lori. I accept no responsiblity for any of my mischief. That’s part of my charm.

101. Lori Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 9:57 am eI’m surrounded by charming yet insane people.

     You guys who keep adding to the pot are making me feel self-conscious about my own modest donation.

102. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 10:00 am eWell, while I have no intention of parting with any of my beloved old books, I’m going to be purchasing more than just one type of tea. Yanno, for my own enjoyment
103. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 11:30 am eI would up my pot, but I am “poor” and so I won’t.

     Okay, I’ll include a book.

104. tjwriter Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 12:40 pm eI’ll send you my information tonight, Pete, after I get home from work. Then, maybe I’ll see about finding some other wonderful thing to add to the pot.
105. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 1:01 pm eAs an added incentive *for me* to win, I’ve created an award the winner *I* can put on their *my* web page or blog, to declare their *my* victory.
106. mscelina Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 1:46 pm esuh-weet! That’ll look so good next to my still-ticking countdown clock which shows me how far behind I am….
107. carrieinpa Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 3:51 pm eNooooo, my whole contribution barely tops out at $10, seriously. I found an awesome site that sells tea by the ounce, which was really inexpensive. I’ll share the website after I win.
108. Lori Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 9:11 pm eCarrie, in all seriousness, that does make me feel better. I don’t know what my contribution costs, because I haven’t gone shopping yet, but I figure it will be in the $10-20 range plus shipping & handling.
109. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 9:43 pm eAnd Carrie, you already have my address, so you can ship it whenever you like. If you don’t want to wait until December, that’s fine.
110. mscelina Says:
     October 22, 2007 at 10:05 pm eLOL I came up with the book idea because that’s basically what I do: I sell rare books. No need to raise your contributions to my fabulous cabinet. Since I have all of my inventory at hand, it’s just a heck of a lot easier for me to raid it than to go out shopping for something that would stay here anyway.

     Besides, we’re writers. Writers like books.

111. tjwriter Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 4:38 am eI emailed you, Pete. I hope you got it.
112. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 7:38 am eI got yours, TJ, I got yours, Arachne, I got yours, Ed. I’m practically on the ball. I’ll update this page in a bit. I need to eat some tea first.
113. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:12 am eOkay, so I updated what I had to update. We have (until Jeanne gives me her information and is officially in) (when the hell did this become big enough to need the word “officially?”) eleven people. I really thought we had more. I may be missing people. Assume that it’s not because you’re unmemorable and I don’t like you, it’s because I’m tired and don’t like you.

     Anyway, my e-mail is p.tzinski(at)gmail.com, so if someone’s in where I said they were in, e-mail me and get me straightened out.

     We may really only have twelve people. It’s possible enough. Even if that’s the case and I have gotten everyone on the list properly, I’m not reopening it for another three people.

114. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:13 am eUPDATE: Ahh, crap. I just went back to update the graph bar and discovered that it only goes up to ten. Off to find another option for the graph….
115. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:22 am eUPDATE UPDATE: The page just blew up. All the formatting went to pot when I tried to use a new graph. Your lives may be graph free in November. Excuse me, I have to go fix a silly page.
116. tjwriter Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:39 am eGet to fixin’ then. Or can you do two graphs? Like one on one line and a second on a second line?

     PS I eat coffee the way you eat tea.

     PSS Can you linky me name to my blog? I might post some time and someone might be interested.

     PSSS When will we see more pics of your cute baby?

     PSSSS When you say PSSS, it sounds naughty.

117. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:43 am eI have links to your blog, Ed’s blog, Arachne’s page, etc. I just haven’t added them yet. QUIT PRESSURING ME! ALL YOU PEOPLE WANT IS MORE! MORE! MORE!

     …

     Doing two graphs is incredibly goofy. I tried that first. It looked so strange. I’ll keep a-fiddlin’.

118. tjwriter Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:53 am e*Looks around for a whip or sticks or something to keep the pressure on Pete*

     Take your time. There’s no pressure. Though I do feel the pressure to go buy one of those tea brewers before they sell out. And I feel pressure to write. And I need backup my PC and reload the whole pain in the rear from scratch, but first I have to back up the old computer because it requires a different file format. And I have pressure to spend time with the husband.

     I feel lots of pressure.

     *Goes somewhere to quietly implode.*

119. Lori Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 9:11 am ePete, do you have Excel? Would there be a way to upload a graph from there as an image?
120. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 9:12 am eI’ve had some version or another of excel since the dawn of time.

     Much like Microsoft Outlook, I’ve given it about ten minutes every two years or so, and it always ends with swearing and closing. So I would have no idea what to do with Excel.

     (but I can always experiment)

121. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 9:28 am eIf a graph won’t work, you could always put up side by side by side bars, like you have for Rome. I have one on my blog, empty so far since we haven’t started yet.
122. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 9:30 am eThat’s what I did in the first place, before I went off looking for Rome. The mess it made was astonishing. But if worse comes to worse, I have an idea on that front too.
123. Lori Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 3:22 pm eI’m collecting brief summaries of everyone’s projects to post. You know, if anyone like cares. *shuffles out of the thread*
124. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 3:24 pm eOh! I saw that! I just forgot to hit send on my e-mail. Shuffler.
125. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 3:27 pm eOh wow! We’ve got a 150+k writer in the leagues!

     Guess I’ll have to think about a SECOND book to write after I finish the first one.

     (Assuming I finish the first one.)

126. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 3:46 pm eI wrote one, just a paragraph, but I have to let it steep for at least another hour – then I’ll email it over It’s kinda frufru right now, and likely will stay that way to lull my competitors into thinking I’m a complete ninny.
127. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 3:47 pm eYou going to let every paragraph throughout November steep for an hour?

     It’s a good idea.

     (ninny)

128. Lori Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 3:54 pm eYou all realize that your posturing is going to do nothing for you, don’t you? I’m still going to win.
129. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 4:00 pm eHA! hahaha – you guys just slay me
130. Lori Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 4:12 pm eThat is the idea.
131. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 4:31 pm eI can handle the Excel chart if you want, Pete, then send you a jpg you can simply imbed. Since my paying job is in marketing I can graph and powerpoint you basically unto death.

     But if you get your other thingie going, no big deal.

     PS I now have a nice outline with all significant plot holes filled. Now I’m just doing some fancy spakling and greasing the keyboard for Nov 1st.

     BTW, anyone planning to stay up and start at midnight, or do you think you’ll wait until daylight to get going?

132. Lori Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 5:29 pm eI’ll be up at midnight. I’m almost always up at midnight.
133. Shadow Ferret Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 5:43 pm eLori wants what? A summary of our story? It hasn’t been written yet. The story, I mean, ergo no summary. (Even though I’m about 8k into it, I still have no clue what I’m doing.)
134. Lori Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 5:46 pm eShadow’s summary – The characters won’t tell him what it’s about.

     If no one minds, I think about once a week I’ll ask everyone a question and post the answers over at The Commune.

135. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 5:57 pm eThat way, once a week, Ed can be a grouch.

     Melissa: Lori sent me, this afternoon, a pretty dandy Excel spreadsheet. There’ll be a chart every Sunday. It shouldn’t be a problem. But thanks.

136. Cath Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:17 pm eWait, we’re supposed to be planning this?

     Oh shoot.

137. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:20 pm eI can hear them quaking in their little fleece booties.
138. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:20 pm eLori, I love the idea of a question once a week.
139. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:28 pm eHoly moly, did anyone read Jeanne’s bio? She already cranks out 100k book in a month? Dang. That’s just… just… hey, you’re bamming me, aren’tcha? Well, I’ll have you know that I don’t fall for these tricks… for long… hardly ever…

     *grumble, grumble, wimper, hide*

140. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 8:31 pm e“Don’t step out from between parked cars or you will get some mars.”

     LOL

     Ed, that’s great! “…get some mars.” ROFL

141. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 9:22 pm eJeanne’s a powerhouse.

     Pete, can you adjust my word count target for November up? Two 80,000 word projects. I gave the itty bitty summaries to Lori already.

     If by some random chance I do win, I look forwards to all that Lapsang Souchong!

142. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 9:33 pm eNO.

     Loser.

     (yeah, yeah, first thing in the morning, I’m off the clock)

143. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 23, 2007 at 9:33 pm e(by which I mean I’m in bed, although still wearing pants, so we’re all clear)
144. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 7:21 am estretchy pants, I’m guessing?
145. Lori Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 7:29 am eJust in case people are coming straight here and not stopping to read Pete & Carrie’s blog (geez, how rude ), he made a post last night about prizes being shipped. It’s important. Seriously. Please go to his home page and read “Tea Debacle: FYI”.
146. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 7:31 am eI get, on average, about two hundred and eighty-one people here every day. I have a niggling suspicion I do not have two hundred and eighty-one people reading my blog and my innermost feelings every day. *sniffle*
147. Lori Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 7:40 am eAnd you were whining about how popular The Commune was when I first started in comparison to CarrPeeDiem? Unless my counting software really sucks, your blog is much more loved than mine. Geez.
148. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 7:44 am eYeah, but yours will stay steady and mine will vanish come December 1st. You just watch. I’ll be baring my innermost feelings to no one. My SOUL and my HEART will be ignored. Sob.
149. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 8:26 am eOh stop whining, silly tea boy ! MY blog was already a big draw With crayons and everything. I suspect after this Great Tea Debacle I shall achieve godhood.

     Or somethin’.

     Maybe just a stalker.

150. Soccer Mom Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 11:20 am eBegins stalking Muse

     I’ve been toying with a summary of my story, but it sucks. Have I mentioned yet how much I hate synopsis writing? Gack!

     I’ll turn it into…something…and send it to Lori tonight.

151. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 11:24 am eDon’t stress too much, I think mine was reduced to basically two sentences. I like to keep y’all guessin’ and assumin’ I’m a ninny
152. Lori Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 12:27 pm eI’m of the firm belief that synopses and summaries should always be written by someone else. I will add chapter-by-chapter outlines to that list too. Can you say “Gah!”? I knew you could.
153. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 4:22 pm eLori, have you seen how some of the likely-non-writer-originating synopses turned out?

     If I’m going to put words on my book….

154. Lori Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 4:54 pm eI’m not advocating giving them to non-writers, but having writers swap and trade out amongst themselves. It’s far easier for me to summarize someone else’s book than my own. Ask Pete or That Barb Person. I can get marvelous starts on their summaries and synopses, but when it came time to do my own, much teeth gnashing was heard.
155. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 5:34 pm eI think those were my teeth. I know we all have to do our own, but I find it easier to do others – and would love someone else to do mine. Luckily, I have a great dental plan.
156. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 5:58 pm eI like that idea. “Summary Swap”!
157. tjwriter Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 7:14 pm eI finally updated my blog, and managed to mention this monstrosity of an event.
158. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 8:05 pm eSummary swap, and query swap, a brilliant idea and frankly one of the best barter systems I can imagine. For my last novel, Lori wrote the query letter for it. The good one. I wrote the bad one. For her latest outline, she would bounce her sentences off me and occasionally, I’d be able to chop ‘em down. It’s a great idea.
159. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 24, 2007 at 8:12 pm eOoh . . . maybe next time instead of Tea, the winner gets 12 queries written by 12 people for 1 new novel
160. Cath Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 7:43 am eSo, I guess since it’s not listed, this means I don’t have to provide a prize.

     I’m gonna have to stick with tea-cake recipe, tho folks, I take broke to a whole new level.

161. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 8:08 am eBam, you’re listed! Hah!

     (I know what you mean about being broke. man o man, huh?)

162. tjwriter Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 8:50 am eI think I shall also add a copy of one of my most favoritist books ever to my prize. This one left me thinking about it for a very long time. Well written story. Your choice of paperback or hardback. I might throw in some surprises too since I like giving stuff to people. That’s my favorite part of Christmas, you know.
163. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 9:01 am eHow cool. I love getting books!

     You won’t tell us what book it is, will you?

164. tjwriter Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 9:05 am eHow does that make it a surprise? It’s wonderful fantasy tale. A second book in the same world should come out in ‘08 or ‘09. Wonderful writing.
165. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 9:11 am e….*really wants to know now*

     Well, I’ll add it to your pot, up there.

166. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 9:16 am eWhen I finish my first draft of this ms everyone’s getting a treat in celebration. It’ll be my first full ms.

     No doubt it’s not enough words to win this Debacle, but it’ll be a HUGE win for me. I think this contest might just do the trick.

167. tjwriter Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 9:21 am eFine, Pete.

     It’s Talyn by Holly Lisle. I have four (4) frikkin’ copies of the book. Two in paperback and two in hardback. One of them is signed, but only over my dead body will it part from my hands. I love the story though. It’s a long story how I came into possession of that many.

     Hawkspar should be coming out at some point, and though it will be a huge book, I’ll adore every bit of the writing.

168. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 9:25 am eI haven’t read it. I’ll happily read it, when I win. It’ll give me something to read while sipping my tea.

     May I just say, gushingly for a moment, how happy I am with this thing? I”m glad the people who joined, joined, and I’m glad it’s turned into this really fun little contest. This isn’t a big New York 5k marathon like NaNo, it’s a dozen people or so with rickety go-carts at the top of a hill, drinking and egging each other on. This is the coolest thing ever.

169. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 9:53 am eI second that !
170. tjwriter Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:21 am eThis is going to be great. Considering I’ve yet to finish a novel, I’m hoping I’ll get a good lead on this one. Of course, I could work on my WIP, which is a completely different story.

     I need some opinions here…

171. Cath Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:29 am eIs your WIP a novel? If so, I’d finish that – especially if you’ve never finished one before. And with any luck, you can get a start on the second one too.
172. tjwriter Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:32 am eI have at a minimum 70,000k on my current WIP. Probably more, as it is a huge, ginormous story. This other one is probably a smaller work as it’s a YA fantasy.
173. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:32 am eOpinions are what we’re made for, Tori. Ask away. Barring that, e-mail us or something.

     I hope this contest leads to some people finishing novels, especially if they never have before. It’s a delight.

174. tjwriter Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:33 am eThat’s supposed to a minimum of 70k left to write.

     Can I please make sense sometime today?

175. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:36 am eI haven’t made sense at any point in the past two days and I’m happier here. Embrace your incoherency.
176. Jeanne Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:37 am eSo, did I read that right and Arachne is going for 2 books in 1 month? Do we have to up goals or are we focused on the final word counts no matter what? (Competition…it’s what’s for dinner.) Is there somewhere to go that tells me just what I’m in for? Oh, and do I have to sign up on the NaNo site to do this? ‘Cause I haven’t…
177. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:39 am eSome people ar edoing two books, sort of, because they are finishing up one manuscript and want to keep adding words to the competition, so they start another book.

     (For example: I’m going to do the last fifty thousand words of my Rome novel, then start on my next novel with the rest of my time, you see?)

     WE have goals, but mostly it’s because we just do. DO whatever you like. The winner is the person with the most words written, that’s all.

     There’s nowhere really to go. There’s this page, there’s some info on Lori’s blog and some general hate on Kristine’s blog.

     You don’t have to sign up for NaNo unless you want to. This is independent.

178. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:40 am eIt’s worth emphasizing that this isn’t hugely formal, so don’t worry too much, Jeanne. It’s just a group of people betting things and seeing who can write the most words. Easy! (to understand, not to win, bwahahahaaa)
179. Jeanne Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:42 am eWorks for me! I’m GREAT with “simple”. *cracks knuckles* And, you know, who knows? It looks like I’ll have Book 2 done before the end of October…so, heh, maybe I can finish Book 3 and start Book 4 during the competition.
180. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:47 am eCath #171: Yes, my current WIP a novel. I still have quite a ways to go. Decided to keep working on it since I still feel really great about where it’s headed, then when I finish it, I’ll start on my next story for which I already have a basic outline.

     I’m looking forward to announcing somewhere in the midst of crazy November that celebratory suprises will be forthcoming and I must get busy working on book #2

181. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 11:57 am eThat’s fantastic ! Use The Great Tea Debacle to get that big novel finished, then go ahead and start the next one, it’s a combined total word count that wins – as Pete said, some of us are finishing one and starting a second, and some of us are simply writing the one because we already know we have a long way to go before The End.

     Nano is completely seperate – I did sign up there, before we started this, just because I wanted to Nano for a second time, and I like having those little certificates to show for my numbed tuckus and raw fingers – but this is “other than” Nano. Besides, Nano doesn’t win you Tea !

     What bigger praise could we hope for than to find out The Great Tea Debacle was the tool in which a writer completed a full-length novel for the very first time? And had fun doing it!

182. tjwriter Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:06 pm eI’m chock full of stupid today. Wouldn’t anyone like for me to share?

     I think I am going to start with my WIP, and then move onto that next story. I don’t think it’s really had enough time to percolate in my head anyway.

     I’ll have to send you a new description thingie, Lori.

183. Jeanne Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:13 pm eUmm…am I supposed to be sending Lori something for this competition, or is what Tjwriter’s talking about something completely separate? (Praying for “completely separate” response. )
184. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:15 pm eLori’s doing a thing on her blog (hop over and read about it) where each Sunday, she’ll post answers to a different question, starting this Sunday and running through November. If you don’t do it, YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED!!!!

     I kid.

185. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:19 pm eYou forgot about the $50 Amazon gift certificate I was going to throw in the pot, Pete

     Two books — yes, I’m aiming for two. I might finish one up early, and I want (as in am dying to) get into the second one. The second book is one that I had to gut on the operating table when I admitted that I had no clue who the main character was, and it would take another book (the first one here!) to figure it out and start from the top.

     I doubt I will get both done but it’s the only way to ratchet up my word count in a sane manner. I’m writing semi-mysteries; mysteries in general don’t do well above the 90k mark.

186. Lori Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:28 pm eAbout the only thing we’ve said with regards to this is that you need to be working on a book-length project, be it a novel or non-fiction or whatever. Just book-length. As to starting something new, please don’t feel you have to do that. My starting project is Child of Fate and, as I post this, the word count stands at 33,196. My personal goal is to finish it in November.

     When we start, the scales will be calibrated and my 33,196 will become my 0, my starting point, for The Great Tea Debacle. What matters is how much I write in the project for the month of November, not how long the project is at the end.

     That word count was down with MSWord’s word count feature, btw. To the best of my knowledge, that’s the method we’ll be using to measure progress and word counts throughout this little adventure.

187. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:30 pm eI didn’t forget! It’s right there!

     *shuffles off*

     Yeah, whatever your program of choice’s Word Counter is, is fine by me.

188. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:31 pm eYes, I’m using a WIP that stands right now around 2,134 words, which will be my ZERO, and it has a long way to go before The End so it’ll be my project. And I’m using Word, and it’s Word Count function as my only word count method.
189. Lori Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:33 pm eUmm…am I supposed to be sending Lori something for this competition, or is what Tjwriter’s talking about something completely separate? (Praying for “completely separate” response. )

     Each week, I’m going to post a question at The Commune for everyone participating in TGTD. It’s something that just happened (much like TGTD) this week. Questions will be posted on Wednesdays (this week’s was posted on Tuesday, because I hadn’t thought it through yet). People will e-mail me their responses and I’ll post the answers on Sundays. It’s just one of those Fun Extra things, so isn’t mandatory by any means.

     Everyone should look on the sides of Pete’s, Kristine’s, and my blog’s too. We’ve each added links telling you where to go for what information.

     Anything that I post that has your guys’ names in it will also have a link to your blogs. The descriptions of the contestants listed on the stats page also has links to everyone’s different blogs. Click. Enjoy. Have fun. That and writing lots are the main purposes of this thing.

190. tjwriter Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:54 pm eIf you read reply 123, Lori asks nicely for a summary of the project(s) you are using, if you know that much.
191. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 12:56 pm eI didn’t see it, because I’m only reading even-numbered comments. It’s too much work otherwise.
192. Shadow Ferret Says:
     October 25, 2007 at 8:24 pm eMan you guys blabber a lot. 192 posts? This thread alone is becoming a fulltime job just to read.
193. Mridu Khullar » Blog Archive » “Make Tea, Not War” Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 1:42 am e[…] Writing is a lonely profession. It doesn’t have to be. Here are how some writers are having fun, challenging each other and getting articles, essays and books written. . The Great Tea Debacle “It started as a couple of writers egging each other to race during National Novel Writing Month and then betting each other things. Then, it just got out of hand. Now there’s a number of writers, there’s a scary betting pool, and it’s an honest to god race.” http://carrpeediem.wordpress.com/debacle/ . […]
194. tjwriter Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 7:33 am eI never did make it to blogging last night, and now Lori has tagged me, so I’m going to have my hands full.

     I’ve decided that I’ll never get both computers all reformatted and stuff before Nov. 1, so I’m hurriedly downloading the updates to get my main computer back up to par. It’s a load of fun. There’s only something like a hundred updates that I need.

     So, I’ll try my hand at all these things, remember to email Carrie and Lori, and enjoy a glass of wine this evening.

195. tjwriter Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:06 am eWhere are you people today?
196. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:07 am e*crickets crickets*

     I’m sitting here with a headache hoping you all keep it down.

     (actually, I’m just getting a real slow start today)

     Everyone else has abandoned us. We are unloved!

197. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:07 am ePlotting your downfall ! BwhaHAhahaha*cough* *hack!*
198. tjwriter Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:14 am eI don’t think anybody wanted to get up and motivated today. I keep spacing out and thinking about all kinds of interesting things. But I actually have a lot of work at work today. Imagine that!

     Need to do some brainstorming and thinking now that I’ve shifted my focus. Interesting work that brainstorming is, and interesting thoughts.

199. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:16 am eI keep staring at this cup of tea and failing to take Head Pills and have gotten no writing done today at all, nor am I getting any cleaning done. I *did* send flowers in an embarrassing fashion to my wife’s job, since today’s her birthday. I feel I’m ahead of the game there. Also, I remembered to feed my son.

     I may as well be lazy now. I’ll be owning you all in November, so I’ll make up for it.

200. tjwriter Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:19 am eMy sinuses are acting up a little too. Must be this lovely weather. Then I decided today would be one of the days I would wear my glasses and the extra pressure is lovely.

     That’s cool about the flowers. I’ve received flowers only a few times. He’s just not that type.

     Wish your wife a Happy, Happy Birthday!

201. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:20 am e*takes notes: TJ is zoning out, Pete is finally feeling the effects of that virus I emailed him . . . *
202. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:23 am ekin’t recon’ ya’ would try t’infect me wid de Eubonics virus! Right on! Dat be a low waaay down and dirty trick, chick! Right on! But it won’t matter, cuz’ Eubonics o’ no Eubonics, ah’ gots’ta win dis competishun! Right on!
203. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:32 am eDang – I’m a victim of my own spelling error . . . I wonder who got the Ebola?
204. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:34 am eHuh? It’s not YOUR spelling error! YOU can’t have credit! Damn it. I’ve been substituting “Eubonics” for “Bubonic Plague” for ages now, much to the annoyance and bewilderment of everyone around me. It’s mine! *bursts into tears*
205. Cath Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:41 am eYanno, reading about Pete’s wife’s birthday just made me remember something that might get in the way of Nano this year. It’s only our tenth wedding anniversary. **ahem** Nope, didn’t forget about it. Not really. I mean, I remembered before it happened, didn’t I?

     **slinks away to a corner**

206. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 10:44 am eNovember’s an empty month for me. No birthdays, no anniversaries, I’m relatively certain my son was born in July-ish, no worries.

     But you have fun! Why not take a long trip for your anniversary?

207. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 11:22 am eYeah, Cath, you should do somethin’ REEEEALY special, like book a week in a fancy-dancy hotel. Or go on a cruise.

     Yeah, a cruise. One of those month-long ones.

208. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 11:25 am eI agree! I think that’s a fantastic idea! It’s important to remember and properly celebrate anniversaries and birthdays and stuff, so you can’t slack off on it! Why not go somewhere scenic in Africa? Like the Sahara?
209. Cath Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 11:35 am eNow I like the idea of a cruise. A month-long cruise on a boat with no internet and plenty to keep hubby entertained. Just as long as I could take the laptop.
210. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 11:47 am eThey aren’t allowed on cruise ships anymore. But I can send you a ballpoint pen and maybe you can steal some napkins? That should be fine.
211. tjwriter Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 11:56 am eAs Pete and I’ve discussed before somewhere, writing by hand is a very powerful tool, imho. I really enjoy it.

     I have no idea which method I shall use more in TGTD. Wait and see, my friend. Wait and see.

212. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 11:59 am eI recommend the stick-in-sand approach. Bummer if high tide creeps in, though
213. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 12:04 pm eThat reminds me of a fantastic Ray Bradbury story, about a man who comes across Picasso, drawing beautiful works of art in the sand, which are always destroyed by the waves. Really great story.
214. Cath Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 1:29 pm eWriting by hand is only viable if you can read your own handwriting.

     Weird thing is, I can write calligraphy like a pro. It’s just a little too slow for my brain to keep pace.

     **Heads out to hunt up Ray Bradbury story**

215. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 1:33 pm eI am relatively certain it’s called “The Picasso Summer,” but I can’t find the book at the moment. It should be in the Bradbury 100 Stories collection.
216. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 2:10 pm eI think I’m the one who got the Ebola…. I’m pretty sick. Not that this will stop me from doubling the page count of my outline, currently at 25 pages, looking for 50 tonight.

     Cath, you should have fun! I mean, 10th anniversaries don’t come around again. (Well they can do. But it takes a lawyer and some date trapping and then another decade after that.)

     I have written by hand before, and it’s a nice way to get unblocked. I print neatly in a courier new kind of way, so it’s pretty readable (cursive has gotten unreadable over the years). However, because of the pain in my wrists, I can only do it for a little while; this has always affected me, and trust me, is a real pain for a loooong time when you spent a lot of your life Luddite. There doesn’t seem to be the equivalent of a vertical split keyboard for writing, otherwise I think I would do it more.

     But only on the ‘puter do I really feel free to unleash the inner hack.

217. tjwriter Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 2:14 pm eIs the grand sum of contenders in our competition the number eleven?
218. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 2:17 pm eUnless I forgot someone and they didn’t come forward to tell me, yeah, it’s eleven. I cut it off and then went and counted to see how many people we had signed up. Eleven it seems to be.
219. tjwriter Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 2:23 pm eI’m thinking of maybe something I can get for everyone, and I wanted to make sure I had the proper number of people in my head. For price calculations and such.

     I’ve started giving and I can’t stop. Don’t we wish that everyone had that problem.

220. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 2:28 pm eNope, it should just be eleven.

     I’m glad you’re doing that, though. I think that’s cool. It means no matter if you win or lose, you at least get something from Carrie and Tori, and the odds are decent that one of them won’t send you a pipe bomb.

221. tjwriter Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 2:33 pm eLOL

     You’re one of my favorite odd lil fellas, Pete.

     I was thinking a book. I’ve seen some good lookin’ books on clearance (or bargain if you must get all technical) at B&N lately.

222. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 2:39 pm eTJ, don’t forget to stop by my blog and pick up your Participant Icon 11 Writers Enter, 1 Drinks Tea (and gets that nifty knee-toe winners icon)
223. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 3:25 pm eI made a little blogroll code thingy based on MidnightMuse’s tea icon! Live demo on my blog!

     Please comment on any corrections that should be made. I used the links and stuff in the original article above… waaay above.

     http://www.arachnejericho.com/2007/10/tea-debacle-blogroll.html

224. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 3:34 pm eThat’s really cool. It doesn’t work so well through WordPress (because WordPress, for all its neat features, does not play well with others), but that’s a terrific list for the Blogspotters among us.
225. Cath Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 3:56 pm eI’ll give it a shot on mine, but I’m not sure it will work.

     Arachne – could you include my blog link – it’s http://cathsmith.madaboutkites.com (although hopefully I’ll get my proper domain back this weekend and fingers crossed it’ll be http://blog.cathsmith.com by Monday!).

226. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 5:00 pm eCath, I’ve updated the blogroll! Hope it works on LiveJournal. I’ve not had much luck on getting these things to work there, but it’s been a while.

     Also, I added Jeanne’s LJ blog, and a link back to this page through the icon!

     Updated: http://www.arachnejericho.com/2007/10/tea-debacle-blogroll.html

227. Cath Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 6:54 pm eThank you!

     (Nope, doesn’t work on my wordpress blog. Or it does, but not well.)

228. Lori Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 7:05 pm eGuys, there are TWELVE people in the Debacle. It’s TWELVE writers enter and ONE leaves. You can’t forget to count yourself when doing a total count.

     1. Arachne. 2. Carrie. 3. Cath. 4. Celina. 5. Ed. 6. Jeanne. 7. Kristine. 8. Lori. 9. Mary. 10. Melissa. 11. Pete. 12. Tori.

     Although I understand for consolation prize considerations, you will only need eleven, because one gets tea. I also think the consolation/participation prizes are a real neat and generous idea. That way, even I will get something.

229. carrieinpa Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 7:27 pm eI’m having a little trouble with TJ = Tori. I just have “TJ” so firmly entrenched in my brain… It took me months to come to grips that Sanremoave = Melissa. And I didn’t get that Birol was LoriB backwards until it was pointed out to me. And who the hell is Ed and what has he done with Shadow Ferret?!?!

     BTW, I still need addresses from Ed, Mary, Celina and TJ Tori if you guys want the participation goodie.

230. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 7:33 pm eThis weekend I’ll get the blogroll filled out on my blog, and I got tagged for that 90-second story! I’ll do that this weekend, too.
231. carrieinpa Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 8:06 pm eMmmmmmmmm. Someone is going to be a lucky little camper come the end of November. I’m sitting here sipping a huge mug of one of the varities of tea I ordered for the GTD, and it is soooooooo good. (No, I’m not jumping the gun, I bought my OWN, thankyouverymuch! ) It’s delicious yummy awesome.

     It’s got bits of caramel (!!!) in it that melt and flavor the whole cup of tea. Seriously, guys, Yum. I’m going to have to order more of this stuff. Mmmmm.

232. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 8:23 pm eI’m going to play around with a WordPress version.

     And… man… I wish I knew what the caramel tea was… heh. It sounds like a real dessert tea, which there seem so few of.

233. arachnejericho Says:
     October 26, 2007 at 11:32 pm eUpdated the Great Tea Debacle blog roll (for blogger) again, with Celina’s blog addy!

     http://www.arachnejericho.com/2007/10/tea-debacle-blogroll.html

     As for WordPress, whether it works for you or not depends on the theme of the blog, it appears…

234. tjwriter Says:
     October 27, 2007 at 6:34 am eCarrie, Just call me Tori Jean and the TJ fits. It’s an old nickname from when I was little.

     Of course, now that I think about it, you call all just call me Momma. Pip’s (What she has nicknamed herself) is hollering it across the because, you know, we’re four feet apart and stuff.

235. Lori Says:
     October 27, 2007 at 7:53 am eSTORY SUMMARIES

     As of this writing I have project descriptions from everyone except Jeanne and Ed. However, I have stolen a response Ed made in some comment chain, so everyone except Jeanne has a response listed.

     The answers will be posted tomorrow which, in my world, is any time after midnight central time tonight.

     That is all. Carry on.

236. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 27, 2007 at 11:05 am eMy local Nano group is meeting tonight at a cool little place called The Alley. It’s an art gallery/gathering place. $5 for all-you-can-drink coffee or tea and they sell pie! And the couple who own the place are writers themselves.

     Plotting, plotting, planning, planning and psychin’ up for November. heh heh heh.

     I’m so ready to get started!

237. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 27, 2007 at 11:23 am eIf we all lived near each other, we could get together for tea. Actually, this would be a fascinating race to do with weekly meetings. You guys need to move closer to me.
238. Cath Says:
     October 27, 2007 at 3:59 pm eI don’t suppose any of you are in Ohio, are ya?

     A bit of tweaking on my blog, Arachne, and your blogroll’s working like a dream now. Thanks!

239. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 27, 2007 at 4:03 pm eNo kidding, that would be fun. Ever tried Skype? I haven’t but have heard some good stuff about it for internet tele/video phoning. I think it’s FREE if the parties are using the software.

     But no way am I moving that far north. Brrrrrrr!

240. Shadow Ferret Says:
     October 27, 2007 at 4:27 pm eFive hours isn’t close enough, Pete?
241. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 27, 2007 at 10:00 pm eCath, yay, it’s working for you!

     Where are we all, anyways? Maybe we want to make one of those personalized Google maps just for the Great Tea Debacle?

242. tjwriter Says:
     October 28, 2007 at 6:33 am eI’ll agree with you, Pete. I keep thinking how cool it would be to be to sit around drinking tea and chatting with you fine folks, too. Maybe we could vacation somewhere somtime and meet someone.

     We’re (as in my family) are in Indiana, Cath, so we’re not that far away.

243. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 28, 2007 at 4:56 pm eYou can all move out here to Seattle to be closer to me. This is the center of the universe, after all.
244. Soccer Mom Says:
     October 28, 2007 at 5:19 pm eNot unless I can take some of my Texas sunshine up there. And the Cowboys. No way I’m rooting for a bunch of ball greasers.
245. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 28, 2007 at 5:47 pm eHA! Hahahahaha!!!
246. tjwriter Says:
     October 29, 2007 at 9:47 am eI have a real honest Tea Debacle question. I promise.

     For those of us that enjoy or need to do writing by hand, do we have a couple of days into December to get it all typed up or do we have to have to completely typed in and counted for? No new content, just typing what’s been written.

     I am not counting the words without the assistance of the lovely computing machine, so into the computer it must go.

     Just wondering because I feel I will be writing a bunch by hand while I am not home, and I’m wondering if I will be having many lates nights to type it all in.

247. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 29, 2007 at 1:51 pm eSigh. I thought I’d answered it, actually. Sorry. I answered it more gooder in my head.

     We talked it over, and I think it’s only fair to end it all, Midnight, November 30th, typed or handwritten. I went back and forth on it, because I do a great deal of handwriting myself and I like the idea, but Lori and Kristine thought otherwise, and I wound up agreeing.

     So I guess you and I will be spending late nights typing it in…

248. Cath Says:
     October 29, 2007 at 5:15 pm eI’ll confess, I splurged and bought a whole ounce of Lavender Grey tea to add to my part of the prize. So whoever beats the snot out of me next month will have that and the tea cake recipe to look forward to!
249. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 29, 2007 at 6:33 pm eLavender Grey tea is delicious. I’ll enjoy it with my Earl Grey cakes.
250. Jeanne Says:
     October 29, 2007 at 8:44 pm eGeez, I’m so behind. That’s what a 5 day migraine and writing 50K+ words in a week will do to you, I guess. Thanks to Arachne for doing whatever you did with my blog. LOL!

     I’m in Hell’s Orientation Area, aka, Phoenix, Arizona. We have the “fun” next month of figuring out where we sit again in the time zones as Daylight Savings does its “whatever” and we, who do not change time, have to adjust ourselves to all of YOU again.

     No matter, I’ll be hard at work on Book 3 and won’t even notice…:-D

     In fact, Book 2 finished so fast (under a month) that I’m thinking I could even get Book 3 done and Book 4 started during November…

251. tjwriter Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 4:30 am eThanks for the answer, Pete. One could hope, ya know. And, as I often tell people, go ahead and ask because the worst you can be told is NO.

     Oh, well. Typing it all in is the way, then. Cheers to long nights.

     And Jeanne scares me with all this talk of how fast she finishes books, btw…

252. carrieinpa Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 5:45 am eTori – I don’t think you *have* to type it all, you’ll just have to count it by hand then by 11/30.
253. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 7:01 am eTori,

     Here’s what I do when Jeanne starts talking about writing a novel o’week…

     lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala
     lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalaican’thearyoulalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala
     lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala

     Works every time.

     

254. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 7:02 am eHoly heck, Pete! Didn’t know your new blogware would let it run off at the right margin like that!

     Unfortunately, there’s no edit function for me to fix it. Sorry ’bout that!

255. tjwriter Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 7:32 am eAh, Carrie, I shall let you count my pages by hand then.

     I could count by hand, but there is no guarantee of the accurarcy, nor can I think of a better way to spend my time.

256. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 7:47 am eYou broke my blog. YOU MADE MY BLOG MARGIN DIE!

     I can edit it, once I’m something like human again.

     Jeanne’s talk about fast novel writing is so cute, isn’t it? Such a nice imagination she has.

     Tori: accommodating handwriting is something I’m stewing on for the next Debacle, in six months, because I’ve already figured that next time around, I plan to do all handwriting. Ve zhall zee!

257. tjwriter Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 9:32 am eWell, Pete, with my preferred notebook, I know that I average somewhere between 175 – 200 words per page. I did word count at the beginning and ending of each page as I typed it in mostly because I like statistics and I’m nosy.

     Alas, it makes no difference, but I do feel joy in my heart to hear about other Debacles in the future. I had hoped that

258. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 11:20 am eyou had hoped that…?

     I think I do about 250 words per page. When I really concentrate — which doesn’t always work — I wind up doing close to 300 words a page. That’s more rare, though. I like doing around 250.

259. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 11:25 am eSo for the Handwritten Smack Down, we’ll all get mailed a numbered notebook with a specific number of pages, and the first one to fill it up with a handwritten novel and get it postmarked back, wins?

     I’d definitely have to mail Tea in that one!

260. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 11:58 am eWell, then it’s fairly simple to count the words for handwritten stuff then. It would be the same way one would count typewritten stuff before computers came around.

     So no biggie.

261. Arachne Jericho Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 12:01 pm eHey! Who has a Librarian in their story?

     I have a Librarian. He’s a secondary character in book 1 and a primary character in book 2. He plays an important role in both!

     I know Tori’s got a Librarian. Who else has got Librarian awesomeness in their plot?

262. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 12:13 pm eKristine, that’s brilliant. I desperately wanna do that now…! Aaaah!
263. tjwriter Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 12:32 pm ePete’s right, Kristine, that’s just an awesome idea. And something for you to work toward, right? Six months is a lot of time for therapy.

     The only problem with counting them the same way as ye olde typewriter method (Hush, Pete!), Arachne, is that it’s just an estimate. It’s just a guess. I write in a non-standard sized notebook. It’s something close to an 5 1/2 X 8 1/2, I think. So it holds less words unless I microprint. I estimate the words to average close to 200 words a page, but it’s not exact and varies by a lot of factors each time I sit down to write.

264. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 12:51 pm eWell, as Designated Loser in that one, I could always be the Officiator
265. tjwriter Says:
     October 30, 2007 at 1:54 pm eOnly I get to be Designated Loser this time!
266. Cath Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 1:22 pm eWell that killed the conversation.

     So, are you all ready?

     I’m not!

267. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 1:39 pm eI left my USB memory stick at home, so I’m completely lost and wandering in circles. If this happens in November, I’m doomed!!!!!
268. Lori Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 2:13 pm e*Makes note to bribe Kristine’s sister to hide the memory stick from her at random times in November.*

     8 hours 48 minutes remaining.

     All that’s left to do is jack up on Halloween sugar and start writing. Oh, and to e-mail your beginning word counts if you haven’t done that yet.

269. tjwriter Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 2:23 pm ePfffffffffft!! Ready? Who needs to be ready?

     We’re taking Piper out trick-or-treating for the first time tonight. I’ll be sure to take pictures.

     The husband will probably have to work on Sunday as well, so that means I’ll get time to myself for writing. He’s talking about being gone all day Saturday, too. I wonder if he even really likes me?

270. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 2:28 pm eJust remember to pop over to my blog for your pre-start massage. Yanno, after I get HOME and find my file on my stick.

     stupidstupidstupid

271. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 3:28 pm eNot ready and under some major deadlines at work. Must have stuff done this week for a big conference next week (hence my profile comment above). I’ll be off to a sllllooooow start, but hope to catch up after that (and taking vacation time, so bonus!)

     Don’t know yet if I’ll start at midnight. We’ll see if I collapse from work exhaustion before then.

272. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 3:31 pm eI’m counting on a total of 6 days of annual leave to really burst ahead
273. Cath Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 3:57 pm eI was going to say, suddenly I hate you Kristine, then I remembered I don’t work at all. Yet, anyway.

     Now, I wonder how many words I can get done tomorrow. I’m aiming for 5,000 minimum…

     **giggles**

274. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 4:57 pm eI’m having a crisis, because tonight from 8-2am, there’s the Ghost Hunters Live investigation, which I watched last year and we wanna watch this year. Will I write? Will I watch? Will I even be conscious?

     >>>REMEMBER TO E-MAIL ME YOUR STARTING WORD COUNTS BEFORE YOU START WRITING FOR THE COMPETITION<<<

     I think we’ve gotten a load of details worked out for how the handwriting version of the contest will work. But we’ll talk about that more later.

     You guys ready to RUMBLE? About six hours to go…!

275. Shadow Ferret Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:10 pm eOh, I forgot to add in my weaknesses that I don’t do weekends. That will include the 4 day weekend for Thanksgiving.

     So while the rest of you have 30 days of writing, I will only have 20.

     I think my words per day should be prorated over that time.

276. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:12 pm ePfft. C’mon, be a weekend warrior, Ed.
277. Shadow Ferret Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:23 pm eNope, ain’t gonna do it. And I’ll be emailing you my word count, but I’ll also be emailing you something to forward to Lori. In my flightiness, I didn’t write her addy down.

     And I’ll be watching Ghost Hunters, too. No writing tonight.

278. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:24 pm eGhost Hunters Live last year wasn’t particularly good, but I have hopes this year. They’re in a more interesting location this time around.
279. Shadow Ferret Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:26 pm eWaverly is just cool. They even made an awful awful simply awful movie called Death Tunnel based on it.
280. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:27 pm eWaverly Sanatorium. I couldn’t remember the name immediately. My wife and I are watching re-runs of old Ghost Hunters episodes right now.
281. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:43 pm eYou can gets a massage now, whilst you watch those hunters of ghosts.

     Those of us who aren’t staying up till midnight to start, or have to accomidate “life” while writing, will simply WOW the others with our abilities ! I have a few days off sprinkled around the month that I plan to use as surge-ahead points.

282. MidnightMuse Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:44 pm eOh yeah, there will be, as Pete hinted, a handwritten version of this debacle – details after we sip tea . . . in HELL !!!
283. Cath Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 5:52 pm eWell, my current word count on this novel is 0, so I can mail that you ya if you really want…
284. mscelina Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 9:47 pm eI’m watching Ghost Hunters too. I love that show.

     Well kids—fifteen minutes to go. Hope you’re all ready to mail me that tea.

     Best of luck, everyone!

285. Jeanne Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 9:54 pm eGood LORD. Decided to break down and join the official NaNo thing. Is that the slowest site on the PLANET?

     And, I’ve still got 3 hours to kill before it turns midnight here, so, while NaNo inches along for me, I guess I’ll try to find and answer Lori’s questions. I am soooo confused.

     But not about Book 3. Book 3 is shining like a beacon, eagerly waiting for midnight so I can hammer out a few thousand words before bed. (Did I mention I’m a night owl AND have been learning to live without sleep these past couple of months? And that I love tea?)

     I already sent Pete my word count when I signed up. (Polishes apple)

286. Pete Tzinski Says:
     October 31, 2007 at 11:03 pm eYou’re all sending word counts to a dying man. Fools.

     *collapses in bed*

287. Jeanne Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 12:29 am eI’m sorry you feel bad, Pete. (Pssss…Celina…we got Pete! That’s Pete and Ed down…who’s next? Who looks shaky? Hmmmm….)

     BTW, what’s everyone’s names on the official NaNo thing? I found Pete, Carrie, Mary, Celina and (I’m pretty sure) Melissa. But can’t find anyone else.

288. Cath Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 5:29 am eI’m Russus over there, which is probably why you can’t find me.
289. Cath Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 5:30 am eOh, and Kristine goes by the nick Legend.
290. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 7:34 am e“Nick Legend” is also her stage name. But don’t ask.

     (urk, that was a bad joke)

291. Cath Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 7:46 am eAre you procrastinating, by any chance, sir?

     Nice chart by the way.

     Cath, who has just eaten her first 1,000 word cookie.

292. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 7:48 am eYes. Because I’m barely coherent. So poo on you.
293. Cath Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 7:50 am eCharming.

     Or should that be Charmin?

294. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 7:55 am eWell I had to send my Ebola somewhere – I was through with it ! I found Kahlua and soy ice cream to be the bestest cure. That and sleeping with Kleenex shoved up my nostrils.
295. Jeanne Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 8:42 am eI stopped after an hour last night with 1,074 words. How often and how are we supposed to update our numbers?
296. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 8:45 am eAs often as you like, here or on your own blog, or what-have-you. But officially, I need to know your new word counts (if you started with 33,000, then on Sunday-ish, you’d send me 34074 as a word count) and I plug THAT into the graph above, and it makes bars.
297. Jeanne Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 9:05 am eOkey dokey. And I started at zero, because my brain can’t handle writing AND math at the same time.
298. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 9:25 am eI know. I made up a number. DUH!
299. tjwriter Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 9:32 am eShouldn’t you be writing so that you win all the tea, Pete?
300. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 9:33 am eI am waiting for my medication to kick in. I’m not very coherent right now. And my nose keeps dripping, so I’m scared to lean over page or keyboard…

     This afternoon, I’ll rock out. Which is a melodramatic way of saying “write really fast,”

301. tjwriter Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 9:42 am eKristine has the right idea. I don’t how many times I’ve had to twist off the corner of a tissue and stick up my nose so that Niagara Falls would quit running down my face.

     I’ve handwritten a little, but this weekend should be a good time for me to really get some work done.

302. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 9:51 am eI currently have tissue up my nose, so that I look like I’ve been doing cocaine or something and needed to stem the bleeding. Sigh.

     But I’m writing. Look out, world.

303. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 10:04 am eI just bought a spiral notebook! What this has to do with anything is beyond me, but it made me grin like a silly foolish woman who just bought a spiral notebook.

     Now I can keep writing when I’m in the tub. Or the potty. Or at the bar. Or . . .

304. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 10:32 am eTub and potty time should be READING and THINKING time. It recharges the batteries.
305. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 11:18 am eWell, normally potty time is for pulling out the dictionary and randomly reading it. Bath time is usually “think” time, and breaking up fights between my two cats who each think THEY should sit on the toilet and stare at me whilst I soak.
306. tjwriter Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 12:12 pm eThat sounds like so much fun. Much like the three dogs that think they all need to pile in the teeny bathroom to watch you pee. The 55lb beast with tiny feet thinks he needs to sit in your lap sometimes.
307. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 12:14 pm e…This conversation took a dangerous turn somewhere. I’m going to go sit on the couch and NOT PEE and write instead.
308. tjwriter Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 12:22 pm eIt’s just pee. But alas, I will turn the second wheel of my mind to churning on my story.
309. tjwriter Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 1:25 pm eI am going to and die now. What a nice time for extreme nerve pain to show up.

     Somebody please save me.

310. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 1:37 pm eHm. I may need to write a potty scene now. Or, rather, a chamber pot story since mine era is before indoor waste lines.
311. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 1:48 pm eTJ – No !! Do you have any (good) drugs?? I keep an emergency supply of vicoden on hand for kidney stones and severe nerve pain and family events and helping my mother with her computer and spending holidays with my oldest sister and those nights when I’m stuck on a chapter and . . .well, Feel Better !
312. tjwriter Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 2:00 pm eI have no good drugs, and normal drugs do not affect this. I shall suffer in silence or take a hot bath when I return home.
313. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 2:58 pm eI’m off to Yoga for a little relaxation, mind clearing and back stretching. Then I head over to the local Nano write-in. Will catch back up with you sometime tomorrow!

     Hope you’re all feeling better tomorrow –not that I want you especially productive (I’m no glutton for punishment and I’m going to be spanked pretty badly already in this contest), but it sux feeling awful and sicky.

314. carrieinpa Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 3:31 pm eWhew! I used a vacation day today and logged almost 9,500 words. Too bad I only have 7 more vacation days to use up…
315. tjwriter Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 3:37 pm e*Falls over dead after realizing how badly she’s going to lose.*
316. carrieinpa Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 3:53 pm ePssssst… that was a blatant lie.
317. tjwriter Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 5:13 pm eWell, one could make the assumption that you are like Jeanne, in which case that’s not only possible but rather probable.
318. Jeanne Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 5:33 pm e*yawn* Just got up from a 2 hour nap, restarted both computers…and downed an energy drink. *cracks knuckles* Let’s really get to work, shall we boys and girls?
319. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 6:42 pm eaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!

     Got back from Yoga and decided to try writing a lil bit. Started to get on a bit of a roll, then my hubby stuck his head in the computer room.

     “I know you’re writing and all, but are you going over to The Alley with your writer friends?”

     “Maybe not,” I say because I’m starting to get into a scene and frankly don’t want to ruin it all by packing up my stuff and going to a new location, plugging in and hoping to recapture the vibe.

     “Oh. I thought I might go with you and meet my buddy over there.”

     “I’m ok.”

     “I know you’re writing and all but maybe you’re ready for a break or something. I mean I don’t want to, you know, interrupt you in you’re in a groove or something with your writing, but I thought you might like to go over and meet with your buddies and I could visit with my friend and drink coffee and eat pie.”

     Since he’s already broken my rhythm I stop and look at him.

     “Hon,” I say. “It’s not a social visit. It’s a writing session. I would be doing the exact same thing over there that I’m doing right now.”

     “You mean you were going over there to write?” (He looks comically horror stricken.)

     Sigh. “Yes.”

     “Why, you won’t get any writing done over there! There’s too much noise and too much distraction!” I’m beginning to think it might actually be quieter than my computer room is at the moment. “But you could go anyway with me for a little bit and just check things out.”

     “What’s a little bit?”

     “A couple of hours. Cause if you have coffee and pie, you have to have a couple of cups of coffee. It’s bottomless.” He’s forgetting about his ulcer again, and thinks he can have gallons of coffee at 9pm at night. “Unless, of course, you’re actually getting some writing done here.” Now he’s starting to get the picture. “In which case I’m probably bugging you, huh?”

     God, I love that man, but I gotta lock the door to the computer room from now on when I’m writing.

320. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 7:12 pm eOkay, I have a question which I’m sure has been answered but you have to speak slowly and with little words or I go off chasing shiny things and don’t pay attention.

     How often do we update our wordcounts and how do we do it? Daily? Weekly? Do we email Lori? Do we load our words on the NaNo site?

     Please type your answer very slowly and remember the little words thing.

     Thanks.

321. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 7:24 pm eEvery. Sunday. You. Email. Your. Word – Count. To. Pete.

     

     Just email your word counts to Pete – he’s gonna plug them into the fancy knee-toe chart that Lori built so they show up on the top of this page.

322. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 8:43 pm e*throws shiny pennies on the floor!!!!!!*

     Dat chart? It’s da bees knees, tell you whut!

     Melissa, your husband sounds wonderful, except during writing sessions. Then it sounds like a Seinfeld joke…

     Why don’t places serve bottomless cups of tea?

     Man, I could go for some PIE, though (Pete = Bottomless Stomach)

323. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 8:57 pm eSame place sell bottomless cups of tea, too. $5 all you can drink. That’s why I was going to go in the first place (I don’t like coffee much –blech). You’d love it.

     Yep, my husband is an absolutely delightful and sensitive man. I think it was the curiosity of it all, since he knows it Nano (which he wants to call Nona) and Debacle time. *shrug*

324. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 9:05 pm eThanks Muse for answering oh look Melissa’s husband is shiny pennies on the floor I can haz pennies? Kthxbai.
325. Lori Says:
     November 1, 2007 at 10:40 pm eI have a sign on my writing door that has a picture of an exasperated angel on it. (It’s actually one of the cemetery angels with her head lying on a stone as she grieves, but That Barb Person sent it to me and said it was my guardian angel and she was exasperated.) It also says, “Do Not Disturb.” When that’s displayed, I’m only allowed to be interrupted if something is happening in the house that might damage the computer — like a flood or a fire.
326. mscelina Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 1:04 am eokay, let’s see what input I have for this.

     TJ–nerve pain. severe nerve pain. I have it (at the moment even) so I feel your pain(literally). If it’s chronic neurological pain (as in sciatica which is what I deal with) ask your doctor about a drug called Lyrica. It helps ohmygodyes it helps. It’s expensive though. Worth checking into. It was originally designed to treat diabetic nerve pain and shingles and I have to say it’s the only thing that helps that hot icepick running down the back of my leg to my big toe.

     sinuses/cold. Vicks Metholatum in a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head. works all the time. so does Goldschlager. Just sayin’…

     as for the rest: you can keep my share of the pennies, hope you guys feel better soon, and I’m off to try and get some more words in before I go to bed. Cheers!

327. tjwriter Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 7:39 am eHonestly, I don’t know what type of pain it is, as I’ve never seen the doctor about it. It all started after I got pregnant with Piper, so I’m guess it’s related to the sciatic nerve as is most common in prenancy. I tromped around in my work shoes all Halloween night, so now I get to pay the price, but it feels better, so I’ll manage.

     So, how does everyone feel after their first day? I didn’t get as much done as I hoped, but I did get something.

328. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 7:53 am eOh, my wife had trouble with the Sciatic Nerve while she was pregnant with Zach, and then after too (and before, now I think about it). Her job, being a groomer, involves being on her feet and lifting things all day. I’ll talk to her, see what the doctor suggested there.

     …

     My first day, I got very little done. I stopped writing knowing that even if I wasn’t producing crap, I wasn’t equipped to write the scene with any flavor and was doing myself a disservice. Around 5am, I woke up in utter agony as my headache ratcheted up into a full-boar migraine (a bad one: I used to have these migraines as a kid that would shut me down, and I still get them once in awhile. I can’t handle light, or sound, or motion. I can only hope I’m telepathically communicating with something, or it’s a total bust) and all sorts of congestion issues that were painful.

     The upshot is, I’ve discovered that the combination of Robitussen (how the hell do you spell that?) and ibuprofen (who names these things) taken together seems to combat all the worst of it. So I’m sitting here pain-free and clear-headed, but weak and shaky.

     I’m definitely off to a very poor start in this competition.:)

329. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 8:10 am eWell I had a good day yesterday, until the checkout lady at the store asked: How’s your day? when she was ringing up my Midol, pads, 5 types of dark chocolate and a bottle of wine. So last night, while I had the laptop on with the file right there staring at me, I wrote only one sentence.

     But today I’m hopped up on the bean (venti soy latte) and ready to go! Tonight I’ll pass out on the couch again, and the weekend will be a challenge, but I’m amped. My sister expects many words out of me, and fully expects me to write during every free moment. And I’m really happy right now with where this novel is going. I also, isn’t this always the way, got a fantastic idea for the next novel. Gonna hand write that one in a notebook, but I got the bestest plot planned out of the blue.

     Now to put that on the back burner until after November !!!

330. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 8:37 am eI’m working on Rome on the computer, but I really want to just hand-write the entirety of Nondescript, I think that’d be terrific.

     All I bought at the store was chicken noodle soup. And the kid didn’t say anything to me, because Cheerio (what we call him) is afraid of girls and my wife was with me.

331. tjwriter Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 9:54 am eAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!

     I’m having one of those kind of days. I’ll be glad to get home and write. I have some exciting ideas for my story.

332. mscelina Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 11:56 am eWell, I spent about two hours last night after I got home from work doing a quick tighten of what I’ve written so far. It’s usually how I work: I cut loose and write the bare bones of the story, then do a quick edit/fleshing out of details to strengthen the piece. I have an adverb addiction regrettably(–SEE? What did I tell you?)so I try address that as soon as possible.

     Then I fell asleep at the keyboard about 7:30 this morning.

     Now I’m back at it. *shrug* We’ll see. The conflicts in my plot are going to be hard to pull off. I have to make certain I have the background right before I try it.

333. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 3:03 pm eRaise your hand if you just go so into your new novel that you completely forgot (for a second) that we’re competing for TEA ! *raises hand*. Oh, I remembered again – it’s just that, I’ve reached a point in this novel where the really interesting complex bits are taking shape, laying a groundwork for the major stuff, and I fell into that “zone” where you can write and write and not even hear the phone ring.

     And now I’m in “sit back, eyelids lowered slightly, tapping your lip with a finger whilst contemplating the perfect way to shape this next, very important paragraph.”

     But never fear, the lithium will kick in again and I’ll be runnin’ full speed. And all your tea shall be mine!

334. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 3:11 pm elol

     I love that feeling. I love it when I’m writing as fast as I can and I feel slightly light-headed and my eyes aren’t fully open, and it’s almost trance-like, and you can write no wrong. You look up when your arm starts throbbing and realize you did six thousand words.

     MY problem is, I desperately want to start writing “The NonDescript,” but am trying to get through the tricky bits in Rome before I do. So I’m just jealous of you…

335. Jeanne Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 4:20 pm eSick people — have a couple of shots of good single malt whiskey or good tequila. It clears almost everything right up. (Geez, it’s like being at the old folk’s home around here…the ailments are incredible, and you’re all writers so GREAT with the descriptions. In a word — ICK)

     I am, clearly, the weirdest writer in the world. I write best with chaos all around me. Music blaring, family nearby to interrupt constantly, pets bounding in for their lovies, chatting on IMs, working, you name it, I write through and with it.

     BTW, I’m very happy with where my Book 3 is headed.

     Oh! And the agent I’m hoping to land with this series wants all of Book 1 mid-month. So, I still have to finish my final read-through. But, you know, it’s worth it. LOL.

336. Cath Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 4:22 pm eWell, I’ve spent all day reinstalling and reconfiguring Windows on hubby’s PC since he insists on using the darned thing. November isn’t turning out to be quite the writing haven I’d originally planned.

     Ah well, if I can knock out another couple of thousand words tonight, I might find the interesting bit somewhere.

337. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 7:19 pm eOr, alternately, knock out your husband . . .

     I kid! I jest !

338. Cath Says:
     November 2, 2007 at 7:26 pm eHmmm. I wonder…

     Ah, I’m happy, I got another 2500 words today. All unpublishable, but that’s what revision is for, right?

339. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 7:50 am eExcuse me. When do we send the word counts? I can send mine now since it’s the weekend and have no intention of doing any more writing until Monday.
340. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 8:03 am eThat’s when you send it. I want to be able to post the updated graph on Sundays, so sending me things on Saturday or Sunday is best.
341. Jeanne Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 12:38 pm ePete, how late on Sunday can we send the totals to you?
342. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 12:43 pm eLate as you need to. It’s hardly set in stone, all this. If I go to bed on Sunday, I will sleep the sleep of the guilt-free and just do it in the morning. Sunday’s just the deadline I want to try and maintain, mostly because I don’t want to get to Tuesday and discover that I have to chase people down.

     When you’re done writing on Sunday, send it to me. If it’s 11:59, Sunday night, then stop and send me the word count and then at 12:00 Monday morning, that begins your next week, you see?

343. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 12:44 pm eAnyway, I don’t WANT your numbers, because right now on the graph, I have Ed’s number and my number, and it looks pretty competitive. Your number is going to skyscraper above us, and I’ll wind up a sad grumpy lump in the corner of the kitchen…
344. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 1:22 pm eUm. I know I need to see the eye doctor, but I don’t see our numbers up there, Pete.
345. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 1:27 pm eI haven’t updated it yet, silly. I won’t until I’ve gotten all (or as many as I can) of the numbers in. I just plugged your number and one of my numbers into the Excel document sitting open on my computer, so I could look at the pretty graph.
346. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 5:16 pm eI’ll be sending mine late morning Sunday. As bravely as I’d like to say “I’ll write during the football game!” I really know better
347. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 5:27 pm eSince all I have to watch are the “We love technicalities!” Vikings, I can go ahead and write during the game.
348. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 6:28 pm eHehehe. I’m told we’ll walk all over the Browns, so mayhaps I can write after all !
349. Jeanne Says:
     November 3, 2007 at 11:37 pm eI’m in Arizona. We have the Cardinals.

     I’ll be writing.

     And congrats on the easy win to whoever’s playing the Cards.

350. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 1:52 pm eAw, I feel sorry for ya’ll. I’m a fan of the greatest team in the history of American football, one of the oldest teams, a team that is community owned — we don’t have some greedy owner — has the richest history, best traditions, and most championships.

     I’ve been a fan since I was born and if you cut me I bleed green and gold.

     This is my religion, Vince Lombardi is my patron saint, and Lambeau Field is my church. Write during a Packers game? Blasphemy.

351. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 3:32 pm eWell the Seahawks are in Cincinatti (sp) right now, and it’s bugging me how QUIET these fans are ! Our fans are so loud, you KNOW you’re watching a football game !

     But get this – last night, my sister and I found some soy eggnog (don’t gag) and she warmed up two mug-fills, then put some dark rum and soy whipped cream on top. So we both have that right before bed, and I was a little stuffy, not much, but figured I’d best take something. All we had was Sudafed – which keeps you awake – but I thought the rum would counter it.

     It didn’t. I was wide awake ALL NIGHT LONG. Not awake enough to write, because the rum gave me a bit of a headache, so all I could do was lay (lie) there and think about Ageless Sky. There’s a point coming up that I wasn’t sure how to resolve, a technical issue of this man having to make a discovery, only the chapter before I’d said something that kinda threw a wrench in the deal. So as I’m wide awake, mulling it all over in my brain, some time around 5:00 a.m. it hit me ! The perfect solution.

     I’m a happy camper now. I just love when that happens.

352. Jeanne Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 3:34 pm eI keep on trying to find a new team. When I was young and living in SoCal the Rams were my team. Lost interest when Youngblood and the rest of the greats retired. Then, became a 49ers fan. Ah, those were the days. The days of Joe “Greatest Quarterback to EVER Play the Game” Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott, and all the rest of my best beloveds of football. I maintained during the Young years, but couldn’t hold on.

     We moved to AZ and I thought, great chance to pick a new “home team”! That was over 12 years ago…I have no team! Because only the insane or the pathologically depressed choose the Cardinals.

     Every year some team tries to gain my undying love. I thought Tampa Bay would achieve, then the Bears were gonna do it, or the Packers, or the Colts, or the Patriots. The Saints or the Chargers. But, I just can’t do it.

     I’m a football girl without a country! *sob*

     Back to the bills, the chores, the errands, and the writing. At least I have things to occupy my time while football goes on around me and I can’t bring myself to care. Oh, the humanity!

353. Lori Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 4:52 pm eCardinals? Aren’t they a baseball team? The one that everyone in this area either roots for or detests?
354. Cath Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 5:35 pm eWell, I never got into American Football. Possibly because my local team is the Browns. And they lose everything.

     And baseball season is over, so there’s nothing to disturb my Sunday afternoons.

355. Jeanne Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 6:00 pm eThe St. Louis Cardinals are the baseball team. They won the World Series recently.

     The Arizona Cardinals are the football team. They never win anything, ever. In their entire history. And they and the Bears are the two oldest teams in football.

356. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 6:35 pm eThe Packers in that list of first teams. In fact, the Bears originally were the Decatur Staleys before they became the Bears. So technically, the Packers are the oldest team with their original name and in their original city. Green Bay was formed in 1919 (same year as the Staleys) and went 10-1 that year. The league organized the next year but Green Bay couldn’t get up the money for a franchise license until 1921. So technically Green Bay existed BEFORE the league did.

     Cath, the Browns have a great history though. You can’t overlook that (unless you consider that weird hicough several years ago where the Browns became the Ravens or something and then the Browns were recreated a few years alter).

357. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 6:55 pm eTHE BROWNS CAN KISS MY – - – I mean, they won.

     Dagnabbit.

358. Jeanne Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 7:15 pm eI can’t believe the Patriots beat the Colts on their home turf.

     *goes back to seriously considering picking “her” team based soley on QB “hotness”…Tom Brady or Tony Romo…oh, it’s a tough choice…*

359. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 8:17 pm eMy favorite team is the San Antonio Crankers! I still remember that time that the Running QuarterPounder Todd McFarlane ran a triple home base past the bogey! Man, did the fans go wild! The other team, the Boston Orioles were sooo mad! Ha ha!
360. Jeanne Says:
     November 4, 2007 at 8:30 pm eTodd McFarlane lives in Phoenix. He donated a lot of Spawn and (go figure) Kiss toys to a fund raiser I ran a few years ago. Sadly, only I and a couple of others in the know were excited (to, uh, the point of orgasm) about it.
361. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 8:50 am eTom Brady or Tony Romo? Seriously? No choice.

     TonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTony
     TonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTony
     TonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTony
     TonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTony
     TonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTony
     TonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTonyTony

     Muse–that was the one time I wanted the friggin Seahags to win. Gah!

362. Jeanne Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:09 am eI’d pick Tom Brady but he’s a dawg (for ditching the preggers GF). Tony Romo’s got the edge, I must say. It just goes against a lifetime’s loathing to love the Cowboys (but I have a feeling I’m gonna).

     BTW, can anyone else see the graph? As in, does it show numbers? I only see our original zero stats.

363. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:45 am eI don’t think Pete has had time to get it up yet. The chart, people.

     The chart !

364. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:51 am eChart’s up!
365. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:52 am eAND I fixed the whacky margins caused by SOMEBODY’s chanting of “lalalala” and SOMEBODY ELSE’S chanting of “TonyTonyTony”

     

366. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:54 am eI think next time we should have the competition without the ones who apparently have no lives.

     Then the competition would be … well, competitive.

367. mscelina Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 12:32 pm eHey! I have a life!

     Just think of what my numbers would have been if I hadn’t had to take TWO days off in a row. *grumble, grumble*

     Of course, I have evilly arranged it so that my life only occurs on two days out of the week…hmmm…..maybe I’ll take a week off after the Ohio State-Michigan game. If Wisconsin can send me to the emergency room for a pain shot, I may be hospitalized after THAT game. Dang.

368. Jeanne Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 12:42 pm eAwesome chart, Pete!

     Oh, and Ed? I have a life. I have a BUSY life. I also have this particular series flowing out of me. And the strong desire to catch up to AJ. STRONG desire (at 26,205 as I type this).

     Competition does amazing things for my drive. I’m an alpha, high stress, highly competitive type, what can I say?

369. Jeanne Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 12:43 pm eOh, and the competition IS competitive. I mean, look at the numbers for me, AJ and Celina. All close, close, close. And, you know, there’s still time for the rest of you to catch us. (I said that with a straight face, I want you to know!)
370. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 12:52 pm eJeanne, Ava, Celina: As the highest-number rollers this week, I’d love it if — either here, or on your blogs — you took a few minutes to talk about how you write, what you do, what produces the high numbers. You don’t HAVE to, but I know I’d find it interesting, even if no one else does…
371. mscelina Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 12:55 pm eI’ll address it on my blog just as soon as I hit 30k. *grin* in an hour or so.

     just kidding. I meant to blog about it anyway. I either need some clarification of why it works or a psychological evaluation. If it keeps up, I’ll need a housekeeper too.

372. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 1:08 pm eI’m finding it a little easier right now (as in, this very minute) to think of my output in pages typed – ignoring the Word Count feature until Sunday. If I tell myself: Okay, self, go from page 42 to page 47 before the end of the working day, that’s all. Just do 5 pages before you leave work. You can do it. Just type 5 pages before 3:30. That’s 2500 word approximate.

     Then go home, check your page count, and set a goal for tonight.

     One – Day – At – A – Time.

     Forward motion.

     Forward. Motion.

     Think only in terms of Forward Motion.

373. Jeanne Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 2:01 pm eI’d rather do it here, since my goal with my blog is all humor-based, so I don’t want to post things that aren’t at least going for the funny.

     In this series, of which I’m on a book a month schedule, with editing time included, I’ve just shut up and let my subconscious do the work. I keep the story in line, but most of it just flows out. I always rejoice when a character takes over; in this case, an entire book took over. Sometimes it gets off track. I let it, I cut out whatever doesn’t work, and I fix it back up and keep on going. I love writing, and I love what I write, particularly when I feel like it’s firing on all cylinders.

     If I analyze it, which I have, it’s just that I’ve finally written enough words in enough different genres and lengths, to have it all gell together. The books are consistent in voice, they’re light and frothy but have substance, and they’re coming in EXACTLY within the word count range they need to. Much of that is because I do regularly check my word count. I can tell if I will be able to work in a subplot or additional supporting character and still have time to finish or not. Or if I need to add in same in order to hit the minimum count.

     The other thing I’ve done is I just don’t let the other stuff stop me. I tend to work and write in chaos — I work from home, it’s a small house, we have 3 big, noisy dogs, 2 loud, demanding cats, and a teenaged daughter. I belong to several organizations, our daughter’s in her senior year of high school and is uber involved, and we have a lot of normal life stuff going on. My husband works from home, too, so there’s always someone else right next to me (our “separate offices” are my Cage, a 6×9 room, and the dining area that my Cage used to be a part of). If I face the front of the house, I’m writing. If I face to the left, I’m working. But I’m good with chaos — I’m the only writer I know who doesn’t think writing is a solitary pursuit. I have music going, the family dropping in constantly to see how things are going and interrupt my flow, movies on in the living room, animals making noise or demanding attention, etc. I don’t care. I don’t let it bother me. And I don’t let it stop me.

     I just sit down and write. If I’m stuck, I change the music I’m listening to, play a little mah jong or Bejewelled, read a couple of AW posts or post something myself, etc. I don’t let the wandering go too long. Usually the small break is enough to get me back on track. Same with little interruptions, they work as a break for me. And I always, always, re-read what I’ve done, sometimes going back thousands of words. I re-read every single day. (I’m also a fast reader.) It keeps me in the voice, identifies plot inconsistencies, and gets me back into the flow of writing.

     Bottom line — I’m a Nike ad. I just do it.

374. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 3:02 pm eI didn’t realize we could write about that.

     Here’s the more philosophical side of how I did it: http://www.arachnejericho.com/2007/11/why-i-write.html

     The practical side is here: http://www.arachnejericho.com/2007/11/nanowrimo-fueled-by-tea.html

     I owe a large part of the word count to hanging out with you guys. Writing is so lonely, and in real life it’s very difficult for me to make friends. Knowing you guys, even just online, is a real kick for me in almost every way.

375. carrieinpa Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 4:21 pm eWell, shit, I might as well pack it up now.
376. tjwriter Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 4:42 pm eDo we have a consolation prize for the littlest winner? Face it, we’re all winning by writing, right?

     P.S. I can’t see the graph at work. It doesn’t come through. I’m kinda scared to see it when I get home. I feel a quiver of fear in my heart. I’m in last place aren’t I?

377. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 4:45 pm eActually, there IS a consolation prize, remember? Carrie’s sending something to everyone, regardless of how if you win, lose, or suck (viz., are named Pete this month).

     You’re actually not in last place, Tori.

     Arachne: THAT’s what I was looking forward to reading! I’m off to read and think and be generally gleeful and energized about writing.

378. tjwriter Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 4:56 pm eI want to write. Feel the need to write, but my mind is stuck in other places today. Has been all day. Weird other places. Weird thoughts. I feel odd all over.

     I need to go lay down now, but I can’t, so I won’t.

379. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 5:04 pm eWow, TJ, I first read your post as “is there a prize for the littlest WHINER” and I thought, well heck, she’s been whining the least, hasn’t she?

     Don’t worry about having a bad day – I hit a bad place today and turned into Ms. Grumpy Pants. It’s going away now.

380. tjwriter Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 6:13 pm eNot so much bad, as weird. And weirder. And strange. Odd, even.

     I can’t give details as it’s not something I talk about loudly in public. And I consider the internet to be screaming your business in public, so I try not to talk about things that would make me blush, you know?

381. tjwriter Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 6:14 pm eOh, and I’d be the biggest whiner. All I do is whine. You folks will hate me one of these days. And I expect the brutal honesty that comes from one saying, “Shut the hell up, will ya?”
382. mscelina Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 7:11 pm ehmm….we might need a bigger chart…. just sayin’….
383. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 7:28 pm ePete, I don’t know if my angst is particularly energizing. If I liked Wagner, I would play him quite a bit.

     Forget a bigger chart. We need a logarithmic scale.

384. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 7:29 pm eIf only I could put some people on ignore here, too.
385. tjwriter Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 8:18 pm eWell heck, I pull the chart up at home and you can’t even see me. I see a T and the edge of my bar, but that’s it.

     And why do you want to ignore me, SF?

386. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 8:41 pm eNever you, TJ.
387. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 8:48 pm enever fear, my fine ferreted friend – soon that chart will do a funky dip, and whilst the Cocaine Debacle writers take off upward, we’ll see ourselves, sipping tea, in a sort of inverted chart of our very own !
388. Cath Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 8:59 pm eThat’s when Mary, Melissa, and I will shine through, you know. Not the fast out of the posts folk, or the sprint to the finish line guys, just solid, steading, writing whenever there’s a moment sustained all the way through.
389. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 9:00 pm eYou do quite a lot more than whine, Tori.

     And I agree that the internet’s about as public as you can get. It always weirds me out when I stumble on someone’s blog and they’re revealing their deepest and innermost souls — usually pathetic — on the internet. It’s like writing your journal in spray paint on the subway walls. Weeeeird.

390. Jeanne Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:16 pm eThis is a serious question about the chart — since it seems kind of obvious that, short of thermonuclear war, AJ, Celina and I are going to pass up the 30K mark (point of fact, I did today already), and then are likely to pass the 50K mark, will you be able to expand the charting to show the bigger numbers?

     Oh, and my dark secret? I like the chart. I’m also pretty incapable of creating them myself, so I am doubly impressed by those who can.

391. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:19 pm eThe beauty of the excel chart — which I take no credit for, Lori created it all and gave me something I just have to plug numbers into — is that when I add higher numbers, the chart expands itself to accomodate. When I just had lower numbers on it, the chart only went to ten. And then to twenty. And then to thirty, with you lunatics. It’ll go high as it needs to.

     Lori made Excel dance. I can barely make Excel open. She did a helluva job.

392. Jeanne Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:21 pm eAwesome! Thanks, Lori! (And Pete, for the posting and the explanation)

     Freak Girl out…well, not so much, just back to the WIP…I mean, why stop at 34K tonight?

393. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:26 pm e…Because you are a just and merciful writer and you don’t want me to hang myself over my word count, maybe?
394. Jeanne Says:
     November 5, 2007 at 11:53 pm eUmmm…just? Merciful? Erm…*cough*…competitive and driven might be more accurate…and manic…definitely gotten manic in the last few months…manic is good, I have no depressive, just manic. LOL

     If it helps, I just beta’d the first 3 chapters of a friend’s middle grade book. Before I go back to writing on mine. So I did take a break.

395. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 12:02 am eThat helps absolutely not at all. Ah well. I’m getting my rhythm and my speed back up properly. I am unafraid. (I probably should be afraid instead).
396. Jeanne Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 2:28 am e37,175. And now, off to bed. Pity I’m not tired, but my hands are. LOL
397. tjwriter Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 5:36 am eJeanne will kill us all, makes me jealous.

     Since I didn’t get home til 7:45 or something, and it was the busiest day at work for the month, I took a day off.

     I shall tackle my words again during lunch today. Handwriting, as I bought my husband a giant air compressor instead of a nice little laptop for me. But I will have one, one of these days. My dad warned and warned me when I bought my giant XPS gaming machine. That sucker weighs 58lbs. But I was playing EverQuest all the time then, so it made since to me.

     P.S. I’m glad you don’t want to ignore me, SF. I’ve been reading your blog and it’s plenty funny in a good way. And easy to relate to.

398. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 8:38 am eThanks, TJ. It seems that’s the only writing I’m doing. I’m still at zero as far as what I’ve done since that chart went up.
399. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 9:10 am eChins up, peeps. Chins up. I fell short of my yesterday-goal because of work, and a mood, but today’s another day. I’m still happy with what I’ve written so far, and pleased with the direction this story is taking, even if it’s moving forward in second gear. I’ll hit more walls before it’s over, but I’ll just keep pushing through them and wiping off the dust.
400. Jeanne Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 12:22 pm eLori, serious question. Do we have another prompt for the blog update and, if so, what is it? I can’t find wherever it is you post the questions.
401. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 1:06 pm eShe’s been posting them on her blog, here: http://loribasiewicz.blogspot.com/ I think every Tuesday or so, as her schedule allows. There isn’t a new one up just yet. . .
402. Lori Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 1:46 pm eWhat Muse said, except I post them on Wednesdays, which means the next one will go up tonight, sometime after midnight Central time (which would make it very late Tuesday for the Muse.)

     The next one is an easy one. Not really a question at all.

403. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 2:32 pm eI’m behind my personal goal because I took Sunday off to play Speed Racer. I’ve been doing an extra 1K a day to make up for it and it’s kicking my butt. Blech.

     :still ignores the bad kitteh Jeanne:

404. Jeanne Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 2:37 pm e*walks in front of Cute Little Doggie Person with tail in air*

     38,390…but who’s counting?

405. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 3:32 pm e:chuckles behind Jeanne:
406. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 3:36 pm eBelinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
     And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
     Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
     But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
407. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 3:49 pm eI just realized it isn’t necessary for this contest for me to come here and read someone’s impossible word counts.

     So I won’t.

     Email me if anything important pops up.

408. Jeanne Says:
     November 6, 2007 at 4:07 pm eBitterness is such an unattractive trait, Ed.
409. tjwriter Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 8:26 am e*Gives out mass hugs to everyone.*

     Remember, it’s a friendly competition that is marked by the fact that it gets you to write, and build relationships with other writers, which helps a bunch if you have no friends.

     In other news, I’ve had no time to write this week, but I have a great political rant in my head, a la Pete. Thanks, dude. At some point, it will appear my blog.

410. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 8:29 am eIt’s my mission in life to cause people to rant. Just ask my wife.
411. tjwriter Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 8:39 am eI’m sure it’s just cause for you, and your wife wholly agrees.

     It (the strike post) just got me thinking, and then yesterday was Election Day, so I got a whole tangent in my head, and it seems I’m a rather unforgiving hardass.

412. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 8:46 am eGod bless unforgiving hardasses?

     Yesterday was election day? Really? Boy, shows how much I know. Ah well.

413. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 8:53 am eYeah, it was. I know because my sister voted like a good citizen. I’m a bad citizen, I admit.
414. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 8:54 am eThe Presidential election…? Or what? I’m a clueless citizen.

     (A mostly apathetic citizen too: I won’t be voting. There’s nobody running for anything ever who’s in favor of the things I’m in favor of.)

415. tjwriter Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 9:39 am eMostly local. Presidential is next year.

     If the same ol’ types of people weren’t running, I might bother, but alas the apathy bug got me. The whole country needs to change its elected underpants.

416. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 9:48 am eSometimes it scares me no-end to realize an entire nation, one with it’s finger on the pulse of the nuclear booboo, is ruled by a used car salesman.
417. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 9:48 am eScares me more than my constant misuse of it’s and its.
418. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 9:50 am eAnd that scares us pretty bad.
419. tjwriter Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 9:56 am eBest Bumper Sticker Ever:

     2008: The end of an error

420. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 10:22 am eOr the beginning of one.

     *wonders if he only dreamt he posted a response to Jeanne*

421. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 10:26 am eMeet the new boss, same as the old boss.

     It doesn’t matter which one we get, honestly.

422. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 10:31 am eNope. They’re all in it for:

     1) Themselves
     2) Their party

     We, the people, come in a distant third.

     And anyone who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves.

423. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 10:35 am eEvery four years, or so, I check to see if anyone is in favor of less censorship and doing actual useful things for ecology and the species of animals of the world. And I check to see who actually plans to push forward the space program with a vigor unseen since the Russians tried to race us into space.

     After I come up empty, I go do something else.

424. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 10:47 am eI laugh sadly at the commercial with kids saying: I’ll vote for the candidate who keeps his promises. I keep thinking – well hell, kid, if any of them did, we’d all vote for them!

     sigh.

     The founders never meant for politics to become a profession. I wonder what things would have been like if that were true. Too bad I suck at speculative fiction!

425. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 10:50 am eI quietly hold my belief that the world needs to just be ruled by Winston Churchill. That’s all .
426. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 11:13 am eDown Periscope! In case anyone’s wondering, I’ve asked Mac to ban me from AW at least for the duration of November. I tried self-bannination, and I am a failure in that department *hangs head in shame*. So my Tea Debacle smacking will be confined to the blogosphere, which is appropriate, since that’s where it all began.

     I am a leaf on the wind. Watch me drink tea

427. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 11:17 am eWeinie.
428. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 11:18 am e*I* wanted to use a Firefly quote! *whine*
429. Jeanne Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 1:10 pm eEd — you dreamed your response. So, what was it? Were you riding a unicyle naked while responding? Inquiring minds want to know!

     And, agree with the political sentiments. Of course Churchill wasn’t considered great until later in his career. His biography is fascinating (read it when I was 10 or 11, I think). Just a truly great man, with faults like everyone else. He just believed that one should never, ever quit. *sniff*

     *goes off to stroke the Churchill bios before heading back to the writing*

430. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 1:14 pm eHe was a stunning example of a human being, and a towering intellect. I have a volume of his speeches, and they are sheer poetry. He could argue aggressively and passionately with you…and then still go out to dinner without a single ill feeling. He spoke his mind, held no grudges. I read his biography when I was 11 too, and it was one of the most important things I’ve ever read.

     And he wrote really, really good fiction. Not a lot of people know that, sadly.

431. Lori Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 1:24 pm eYou both know what happened to the leaf on the wind in Firefly.
432. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 1:44 pm e:O
433. tjwriter Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 2:37 pm eIf you all elect me, I will cause a ruckus because I refuse to be self-centered and stupid.

     We need more people to put their foot down for things that are right, not for popularity. And to make common sense common again.

     I’ve never read a bio on Winston Churchill. Perhaps I should.

434. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 2:41 pm eJeanne. Its better left unsaid.
435. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 2:48 pm eHow bizarre – I was just forced to spend my lunch half-hour WRITING instead of staring at the interwebbie. One of my characters is trying to throw a curve ball at me, and I believe Lori put him up to it. Or maybe it was the Soccer Mom herself. Gotta watch out for those “quiet” ones!
436. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 2:50 pm eGo! Go! Write! Yes!
437. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 3:53 pm eBy the by, if anyone needs to email me and that feature in AW won’t work because of my bannination, I can be reached at: Kristine (at) wavecable.com
438. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 4:04 pm eEveryone should have my e-mail. It’s around here, too. If you ask nicely, I’ll send you the BlessedHerbs page which Kristine was so pleased to receive earlier today.
439. tjwriter Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 4:40 pm eAny of you can have my email if you want, since we handing out our addresses.

     So who is ready to go home and slave over dinner, put a Funky Toddler to bed, then not get write a lick because of Fuming-Why-Don’t-You-Sit-In-Here-And-Watch-TV-Shows-You-Don’t-Want-To-With-Me Husband? Who is game, huh?

440. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 4:50 pm eWow, that sounds really tempting . . . but I’m gonna pass Why don’t you counter with Fuming-Why-Don’t-You-Sit-In-Here-And-Watch-Me-Write ?
441. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 4:51 pm eWell, I was going to make dinner, feed Funky Infant, then not write and sit with My-God-You-Would-Not-Believe-How-Bad-Those-Dogs-Were-Today-And-I-Can-Still-Smell-Them Wife…
442. tjwriter Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 4:59 pm eLOL! Both of you.

     Kristine, I’ve told him that when I get my laptop, I can sit in the living room doing my thing while he watches whatever. He responded with, well I don’t want to hear the keyboard clakkity-clack-clacking.

443. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 5:06 pm eDid you reassure him that the sound of his fuming will far out-decible the sound of a laptop keyboard? Silly man. Laptop keyboards are the quietest ones around. I bet he’ll sit and keep looking sidways to see what you’re doing. It’s a screen, with lights, he won’t be able to NOT look.
444. Jeanne Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 6:02 pm eI have a really supportive spouse. I am extremely lucky that way. Mine is happy when I am happy, and I am happiest one of two places — one is writing, the other makes him happy, too.
445. tjwriter Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 6:57 pm eI’ll take back all the moaning about the husband now. He had dinner going when I got home. Something he usually doesn’t do. All I asked was that he set the partially thawed out steaks to thaw some more.

     We are finished eating and it’s not even 7 yet. That’s like a miracle.

446. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 7:13 pm eDo spouses massage feet?

     That sounds good about now.

     I wish I had a spouse. But you can’t buy them on Amazon.

447. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 9:12 pm eI think the foot massage is a great urban myth. Couples, romantic though they occasionally are, are also just relaxed around each other. I think that’s a good thing. So if I say “rub my feet?” my wife will say, in a loving way, “Your feet are gross from running around all day. Go take a shower. When was the last time you showered? You didn’t shower yesterday.” etc.

     It’s terrific.

     (And I’ll keep my hygiene talk to myself in the future. Hmph.)

     (…I’m home all day! I leave maybe once a week! I don’t have to shower every day if I don’t want to. I barely ever shave. And I don’t feel bad about it, damn it!)

     (*gets huffy and leaves*)

448. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 7, 2007 at 10:12 pm eThat’s funny, ’cause my sister and I – living together as we do – we remind ourselves of married couples sometimes. She can stay at home on the weekend and just throw on sweats after brushing her teeth, and stay that way all day. If I’m home, even if I have a raging flu, I don’t feel human unless I wash my hair, and start out the day in jeans and a sweat shirt. I can move to sweat pants later, but it just feels “wrong” to start the day that way.

     We’re all freaks, aren’t we?

449. Jeanne Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 12:42 am eLOL, yes. But we are all freaks together, and that makes us strong. And the majority.
450. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 8:16 am eUnfortunately, we’re a majority that won’t do anything because…we’re freaks.

     Actually, the only thing that’s really gone out the window since I started staying at home is brushing my hair. I just forget now, now I don’t have to go to a job every day. So I wind up with interesting author hair. It’s so cliche.

451. tjwriter Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 8:42 am eYou are just one big cliche, Pete!
452. tjwriter Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 10:37 am eDo you ever read stuff that just breaks your heart?

     I read this article: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/nov/08/for-family-everyday-life-is-a-struggle/

     I’m going to be thinking of this all day long. It’s a horrible situation for any family to be in.

453. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 11:04 am eIt’s nearly a Charles Dickens story. However, the good news is: people are aware of their problem and working to help, and the gist I got from the article is that things are going to be looking up. I mean, they won’t look up for Michael — and that’s awful — but things will get better before the end. Sometimes, that’s enough.
454. tjwriter Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 11:26 am eI’ve found my heart gets involved a lot more often now that I’m a parent. I can hardly not cry at stuff like this. Just odd.

     More fodder for writing in the end.

455. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 11:58 am eI don’t have kids, but I’ve always had this terrible habit of empathecally putting myself in their shoes – makes me cry every time. And people going through this sort of trial always have more bravery in their little finger then I do in my whole head.
456. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 3:22 pm eI guess I’m still very much a kid (I never got creeped out by Coraline, though I’m told most adults usually do).

     Because I think most about the stuff that got stolen. Video games and toys. I mean, yes, stuff is just physical, but in situations like that… you know. When you’re a kid, that’s horrible. And they can’t be replaced in this situation.

     Dying is kind of abstract when you’re very young. Stuff getting stolen or broken, on the other hand, is very real. Pain is very real, too.

     I would feel better if he could get a Nintendo DS or something. Yes, that’s kind of shallow.

     But you know. An’ all that.

457. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 3:23 pm eIt’s weird you talk about Coraline. I discussed that book on this blog, not too long ago. A post called “Bags, Bones & Heartstrings,” and if I could be bothered to go dig out a link, I would.

     But I see what you mean, and I agree. I know how crushed I was as a kid whenever I irrevocably lost a toy. Dying is tough to grasp properly even when you’re an adult (although it becomes less difficult the older you get).

     Poor kid, all the way around.

458. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 4:08 pm eYou mean this one?

     http://carrpeediem.wordpress.com/2007/06/04/bags-bones-and-heartstrings/

     It be a good one

459. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 9:48 pm eThat would be the one. And I’m glad you liked it. I’m a bit proud of it. (It was when I first started blogging on CPD again and decided that I would talk honestly and seriously and at length and if that meant I had no audience, then I would at least feel okay about what I was writing).
460. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 10:09 pm eI always blog about little things. Long tirades are tiresome. For me, little snippets every day seems to keep blogging fun–and updated, even if comments and discussion are light.
461. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 10:16 pm eWell, I’m sorry I’m tiresome. I’ll blog in shorter sentences from now on.
462. Jeanne Says:
     November 8, 2007 at 10:52 pm eOne. Word. Sentences. Please. Pete.
463. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 12:33 am eIf a participle dangled in the forest, and there was no one there to correct it, would the grammar still be wrong?
464. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:50 am eWell, I’m sorry I’m tiresome. I’ll blog in shorter sentences from now on.

     LOL! You are not tiresome. I am tiresome. Also when I write them, I tire me out.

     I like my blog to be popcorn. Other people should be better courses than mine.

465. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:51 am e:too tired to think about particles:

     :brain sizzles:

466. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:52 am e r even participles:
     :particles being an actual grammar term in Japanese:
467. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 4:18 am eYes! You are light and fluffy popcorn! But *I*…. I am a full course…er..well, honestly, I’m probably just greasy nachos.
468. tjwriter Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 5:26 am eBut there’s nothing wrong with greasy nachos if you’re in to that sort of thing. Or popcorn. Or a full course.

     My moods vary widely by day, so I’m all over the map.

469. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 12:01 pm eSpeaking of greasy nachos – I spent two hours in the garage yesterday drilling rocks and ruminating my plot. It needed a side dish, some veggies, maybe a bowl of jello to go along with the meat of the plot. While drilling, my mind drifts away to wherever I want it to go, and it served me well – asking all manner of questions about the story.

     But no sub plot.

     No side dish.

     So after a quick break, I had to drive to my Mother’s house to feed her dog – and it hit me. Halfway to her house, driving along with my brain on autopilot, it hit me and made me a very happy writer person.

     Funny how driving can do that. I get so many of my story ideas driving to work in the morning, or lying in bed not even consciously thinking about writing. When my mind hits that relaxed, natural state of working on auto pilot, my auto pilot is a writer.

470. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 12:06 pm eI don’t drive and I barely leave the house, but I get a lot of those same ideas doing boring crap that requires physical activity (sitting still does nothing for me). I’ll do laundry, or pick up the living room, or dishes, or just hopping around like a crazy person with my son.

     At least you didn’t shout “THAT’S IT!!” and start clapping and steer into a tree.

471. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 12:18 pm eI’ve done the “THAT’S IT!” and the clapping, followed by what must be the silliest grin on my face that could possibly be there, all while sitting in traffic waiting for those fools who cheat and rush ahead to merge into my lane because theirs comes to an end a mile up the road and they know full well by God!

     Oh, sorry. But yea, that’s the only time I can have A-ha moments while sitting – is in the car. Otherwise, as you say, I have to be folding laundry or washing dishes (we have no dishwasher to mindlessly unload) or mowing the lawn. Mowing the lawn is a big one for me.

472. tjwriter Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 12:26 pm eMowing the lawn works really well for Holly Lisle as well.

     There’s something to be said for doing physical activities and blood flow for a productive brain.

473. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 12:29 pm eAbsolutely. I think that’s why I love going to places like a crowded holiday mall. It makes me feel ALIVE. And if I can sit down and write there? Terrific. Even if I just write afterward, I get a lot done. Gets the brain pumping.

     Physical activity is the best.

     Er. Except exercising early in the morning. Turns out that burpies hurt like hell, after a bit. Oooog.

474. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:23 pm eSubplots are for better writers than me.

     I write like a train. Going downhill. After the engineer has been killed by poisonous snakes. And the bridge is out. And lava is flowing under the bridge. And a serial killer is loose on the train. And aliens have taken out the rest of the world, so there is no one available to stop said train. And flesh-eating zombies have broken out from the cattle car. Did I mention there are kids on that train?

475. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:25 pm e…and after all that, I have NO idea how you write, but a definite urge to never set foot on a train of any sort with you, ever, in my life, thanks.
476. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:27 pm eSubplots just come out of me most of the time. I’ll be toddling right along with my characters and situations, and without even realizing it, as they’re moving from point A to point B, these little side trips pop up. They always have something to do with point B and/or character development and fleshing out – but they always come up. That’s why I’m always prone to writing sequels. More side trips and interesting bits whilst traveling from another A to another B.

     That, and I tend to fall in love with really nice characters – the ones who start writing the story for you after just the first chapter. The ones who don’t shut up and want to go do more things and find more stuff. I love those. They come to life and take over in such a nice way, I can write and write and basically end up just watching the words appear on the screen.

477. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:33 pm eI’m envious of that, too. One of the things I’ve had to learn when writing novels is the ability to wander a little more. With short stories, I don’t wander at all. It’s point A to point B. With serials, I got good at weaving sub-plots in, but that skill abandoned me when I moved to novels. It’s only really recently (Okay, it’s only The Nondescript,) that I’ve actually started maybe getting a handle on having sub-plots.
478. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:35 pm eI think that’s exactly why I can’t write shorts, no matter how hard I’ve tried. There’s no room for all that natural wandering that I can’t keep from doing. I envy those who can cut to the action and write shorts. But, I’ve had to just accept the fact that I can’t write them, and stick with my long-windedness
479. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:39 pm eI’m just saying that I don’t use subplots because I haven’t got the experience (and it’s difficult to do subplots in first person POV, perhaps; I already have enough problems dealing with first person POV. My third-person POV stories are a walk in the park). I have one plot line, and I pile many complications on top of it.

     Kind of like the train that’s on one track carrying all the characters to their ultimate doom, innocents, serial killer, and zombies alike.

480. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:39 pm eNow we just need to mix and match slightly, and we’ll be two perfect writers.
481. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:40 pm eOh, I didn’t think ti was because of a lack of experience. I have plenty of experience and also tend not to use subplots until just recently. Some writers are built to witter, and some don’t seem to be.
482. Jeanne Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:46 pm eI get most of my “aha” moments in the shower. I get my main ideas from dreams or songs or just turning around and looking at something differently. But my “ahas” or “so THAT’S where this story is going!” moments almost all happen in the shower.
483. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 1:54 pm eMaking you the most hygienic writer ever.
484. tjwriter Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 2:02 pm eKristine, I tend to view shorts as one event in the big novel of life. Then I write about that event. Granted my shorts tend to be really short, but that’s how I do it.

     Little bits of stuff keep popping up in my WIP that I didn’t expect, like some sexual tension and the elements that brings. Or the fact that the thief is good at thievin’ because he has a small amount of innate magic. Of course, I just realized that the whole world is going to be turned upside down by the return of magic they no longer believe in.

485. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 2:32 pm eI think writing shorts is an art.

     And how silly is it that I’m looking forward to this weekend, having no computer to write with, being forced to bring along a pen and notepad? I’m going to get very few words actually written this weekend, and that’s okay ’cause I had a pretty satisfactory week this time. And I know I’ll only be able to pen in spurts. And the handwriting will be terrible. But it’ll be my chance to begin practicing. The only way to continue writing this weekend, and a whole lot of fun, I think.

     These art shows are funny – crowds come in spurts, lots of people watching, sprinkled with brain-numbingly dull moments. I’ll write during those.

486. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 2:37 pm eWhat *I* would do is use my short story brain there. I would get a typewriter and, at my art table, I would hammer out a short story. When each page is done, I’d tape it to the table, facing outward. And I’d write the whole short story and tape it down for everyone to read.

     I think that’d be fun. It might not hurt business, neither. I’ll come do that at your table, if you find a typewriter (er. except I’m not in your vicinity)

487. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 3:15 pm eEven moe fun if the short stories are vinettes about the customers wandering around!
488. mscelina Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 4:57 pm eSubplots for me are accidental. This is usually how I find them:

     I’m reading what I wrote the day before. All of a sudden, I yell, “Damnit!” and throw the specially placed beanie baby that I stole from a random small child at the wall. Oh no! There’s SOMETHING ELSE in the story, something I didn’t plan. I analyze it; I reread it several times. Then, the evil grin starts and my muse starts to whisper, “You know, if you pull that out just a little bit more, you might be able to…”

     And I’m off, adding yet another sheet of butcher paper to my study wall.

489. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 4:59 pm eButcher paper on your study wall? What?

     (should I be alarmed?)

490. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 5:23 pm eI hope it’s not there to soak up the blood.
491. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 6:48 pm eTo distract… um… I mean, get interesting answers from you, I put up a little question post here:

     http://www.arachnejericho.com/2007/11/question-for-great-tea-debaclers-when.html

     Back to outlining. Or at least general laying out of sentences. Plot has really gone to the cleaners.

492. Jeanne Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 8:26 pm eOMG, anyone who hasn’t checked out the last couple of pages of the Tea thread over at AW has to right away. Soccer Mom’s gone to town, and the kitteh pics are IN! (Still laughing, Mary, still laughing!)
493. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 10:13 pm eSOME of us are banned, fool!
494. Jeanne Says:
     November 9, 2007 at 10:56 pm eSOME of us ASKED to be banned because they were distracted by shiny objects. I’m not banned. I like the shiny distractions.

     (Pete, your cat is hilarious. Pity you can’t see it.)

495. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 4:02 am eAnd wouldn’t that be precisely the shiny I strove to divest myself of?
496. mscelina Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 7:20 am e*grin*

     oh it IS funny. Mine is just accurate.

497. Jeanne Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 11:18 am eYeah, I thought the one for me and AJ was awesome and accurate too. LOL! (But we do it with love, right AJ? )
498. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 11:21 am eLots of love!

     I’m still at the wordcount on my blog by the way, Jeanne. I plan to write as much as I can and hope to aim for 80k by midnight this Sunday.

     Outline is out the window at this point. We will land back onto it by about 10k in or something. I don’t know how long denouements should go past the climax of the plot, but this thing needs a denouement.

     I suspect the answer is “one chapter”. Which means about 3k – 4k for me.

499. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 11:22 am e10k in -> 10k from the end.
500. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 12:24 pm eHeck, denouement can be half the book if it needs to, if it’s interesting.
501. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 12:54 pm eIt’s interesting. Or at least I just found out so. Showers = good for writing.
502. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 12:55 pm ePete? What book has a 1/2 book denouement?
503. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 12:56 pm eShowers = great for writing. When I’m frustrated, I take a shower or I go for a walk. When I’m puzzled, I just do whatever needs doing around the house.

     When talking about denouements — such a long and writerly word — I keep thinking about American Gods, where there was the climax and then there was quite a lot of stuff which happened afterward, all of it delightful. That’s a great way to do it.

504. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 1:00 pm eOh, you’re right! That was a nice denouement. I love that book. It’s very hard for me to reread though–like my blog, I like popcorn. Anansi Boys is about right for me. American Gods is something I read once or twice in my life and get signed by Neil Gaiman.

     :loves Neil Gaiman:

505. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 1:02 pm eAnansi Boys is a stunning book, but I re-read American Gods just as freely. Even with Anansi Boys, the depth is all there, it’s just hidden beneath the charming voice of the narrator (who, you ask me, is Anansi himself).
506. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 1:11 pm eI agree about the depth of Anansi Boys.

     I think about Pratchett’s novels too when it comes to hidden depths… especially Night Watch.

     There’s a lot to be said for charming. I have never thought about the identity of the narrator for Anansi boys, and don’t know if I would think it was Anansi. Just a narrator for me, until next I read it. That’s an interesting idea….

507. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 1:25 pm eThe narrator is definitely present in Anansi Boys. Now, when I spot it’s Mister Nancy himself, it’s at the beginning of the book when Neil tells an Anansi legend story. And it starts out “NOw, probably you know some ANansi stories. Probably, everyone in the world knows some Anansi Stories,” and I thought oh, that’s the little spider talking.

     Anansi’s telling the story of his son. Go through and read it with that thought in mind, see how it suddenly works like that. Better yet, listen to Lenny Henry read it, listen to how he uses his voice.

508. Lori Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 3:10 pm eBattlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard has at least three climaxes and denouement’s in it. It feels like the book should end and then it keeps going.

     I also thought Soccer Mom’s lolcat of me was spot on.

509. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 7:50 pm eI’m going to stick to one of each. I have no wish to be like _Battlefield Earth_.

     Soccer Mom is LOLcat Queen!

510. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 10, 2007 at 8:00 pm eI feel, in my writing career, that so long as I stay as far away as possible from writing like Battlefield Earth, then I’m succeeding. In fact, if I manage to stay away from being like L. Ron Hubbard, then I am succeeding in life.
511. Cath Says:
     November 11, 2007 at 5:31 pm ePhew, I needed a day like today. I’m sending my current total to you just now, Pete.
512. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 11, 2007 at 10:37 pm eSent my current total to ya Pete.

     Off to eat a dinner that too long to get.

513. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 11, 2007 at 11:07 pm eIt sends me its word counts. It e-mails them to me. It does what it is told, or it gets the hose again!

     

514. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 12:27 am eI’m happy to be as far from any comparison to L. Ron Hubbard as possible. And in fact, being alive makes me the polar opposite of him.
515. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 6:49 am eDenouement? Isn’t that what a bride’s father gives to the groom?

     I haven’t read any of those books or authors, so I have no idea what you’re talking about.

     Somedays I think I should have actually paid attention during English.

516. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 8:18 am eHubbard I can understand, but you haven’t read Neil Gaiman? Terry Pratchett? Really??

     I have learned more about English since being out of school than I ever did in it. Likewise, history, science, but not math, because that’s just incomprehensible.

517. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 9:04 am e*Thinks sweet thoughts of coffee and tea. And a rather nice looking man saving her from all the stress.*
518. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 9:04 am eI like math. Terribly excellent at algebra.
519. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 9:24 am eYou and my wife both. Me? I’m practically a vegetable when it comes to ‘rithmetic.
520. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 9:28 am eStrangely, my father is good at math and science. My mother at social studies and English. Me? I inherited it all. Left my poor brother with nothing, bless him. He had no knack for school at all. Of course, he is a charismatic little thing, a skill I only possess in random spurts.
521. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 9:43 am eI”m functionally illiterate in mathematics. It makes no sense to me.

     Soccer Dad does numbers all day long. He mangles the English language beyond recognition. My eldest son has inherited his father’s ability. He’s making near perfect scores in math with little effort. And he’s failing “Language Arts.” Sigh.

522. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 10:14 am eWell, at least there is something he can do with little effort.

     P.S. My feather kitteh was so cute. Does that feather clean the house for me?

523. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 10:23 am eI think we’ve had this discussion, Pete. I’ve always regarded Neil Gaiman as a comic book writer. Not sure if he was a real writer first or a comic book writer first, but I’ve always had the impression he was a comic book writer, so no, I’ve never read anything by him.

     And again, no on Prachett. I’m the one at AW who started the What should I start with if I want to read Prachett thread. I still haven’t decided which one to start with so again, no I haven’t read him.

524. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 11:07 am e*keeps refreshing page for graph*
525. Lori Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 11:12 am eNeil Gaiman is one of those writers who make you go, “Why can’t I write like that?” and makes you feel small and insignificant by comparison. He has a piece of flash fiction called “Baby Cakes” that is one of the most horrifying and disturbing things you’ll ever read. If you’re only regarding him as a comic book, or graphic novel, writer, Ed, then you’re seriously missing the bigger picture.

     I’m not saying you’d like his writing, because everyone’s tastes are different, but he’s a writer who crosses genres and mediums very well. He’s a writer. Period.

526. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 11:40 am eNot sure I need to add to that list of “Writers who made me feel small and insignificant.”
527. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 11:46 am eHow about “writers that inspire me”?
528. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 11:55 am eI like Gaiman’s novels, but it is his short fiction that makes me feel both wonderful and envious. If anyone has avoided his “M is for Magic” because it has been promoted as being “for children”, let me assure you that it is not for children and has stories that are as wonderful as anything I’ve ever read. There was one that I adored to the point that I felt bereft when I finished. I didn’t want it to stop. I wanted more. Then I saw that the short was really just the start of a larger work that will soon be published and I became extremely happy.

     Really good writers don’t discourage me. They make me want to push myself to do more. I dream of someday being able to write like that. Why shouldn’t I dream it? Maybe if I keep pushing myself I can. Why not me? Why not you, Ed? Maybe someday we’ll all be bragging that we knew you well enough to call you “Ferret.”

529. Jeanne Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 12:37 pm ePete, I had email trouble last night. Did you get a zillion emails from me from different id’s, or nothing from me at all?
530. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 12:41 pm e*Ponders if she’s going to go crazy or not.*

     This response is brought to you by Random Thought of the Day.

531. Jeanne Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 12:52 pm eI’m not crazy, but I do drive the bus to Crazy Town.
532. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 1:01 pm e:sprinkles crazy like confetti over everybody:
533. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 1:01 pm eI just feel a massive venting rant coming on. Just hoping I’ll have the time to do it justice on me blog.
534. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 2:25 pm eBada-boom, graph’s up.

     Neil Gaiman’s a god among comic writers and writers of fiction novels AND fiction short stories. (I didn’t by M is for Magic, only because I owned the vast majority of the stories in his other three-ish short story collections)

535. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 2:35 pm eBada-blech!
536. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 2:43 pm eTHAT was fast.
537. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 2:54 pm eI’ll have to enjoy it for the week, since this week shows little signs of such good fortune repeating! Ahh, but next week – next week I’m off work the whole lovely week . . . I see much writing in my future. Several late night sessions. *rubs hands together* *ignores those two oddly tall spikes in the graph*
538. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 3:10 pm eNext Debacle, I am so taking vacation. So we will need to plan that a month or two in advance so I can request time off and be ready. kthxbye.
539. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 3:16 pm eSheesh. This isn’t even fun any more. Next time lets do it without the ringers.
540. Jeanne Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 3:56 pm eHey, the “ringers” are typing our fingers to the bone! AJ and I are just willing to, you know, never eat, never sleep, never do anything other than write. (Well, not totally true, but…LOL)
541. mscelina Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 3:59 pm ewhoops. Doing an online driveby and realized I forgot to send my numbers. *sigh*

     Um…

     yeah. better email them. my line looks so small…

542. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 4:17 pm eI only do this well because I’m too stupid to know fear.
543. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 4:24 pm eEd, c’mon, stop that. It’s their hard work against your hard work. Seriously. You’re a good friend, but I really wish you would be a sport about this, to be blunt. It’s a competition. Where people compete. I know that late nights and long hours and, frankly, a staggering amount of discipline are being used by some of the competitors. If they have high numbers to show for it…then they have high numbers.

     I worked exhaustively hard this week and am MILES below them. But I’m happy with every word I wrote, and I know that I could have stayed up later, written harder, fed Zach less….

     Celina, I got your numbers, but I won’t be updating the graph until tonight. I’m only partially on the computer right now.

544. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 4:32 pm eI know I shall never win, but it’s the fun of writing with other writers that makes it something I want to do. Companionship and like minds. That type of thing. Nothing about winning. I’ve known from the beginning that I would not have a hope or a prayer, but I joined up anyway, and I’m so happy that I did.

     My main goal was to do something with other writers and get some words down on this WIP. Nothing more, nothing less.

545. mscelina Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 4:37 pm eThanks, Pete. Sorry I was late with them. If my real life would just leave me alone for A SINGLE FRICKING DAY I might have a chance to make up some ground.

     And so far, I’ve had a blast in TGTD. I think, in the end, we’re all winning something here.

546. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 4:40 pm e “My main goal was to do something with other writers and get some words down on this WIP. Nothing more, nothing less.”

     Well said, Tori. That’s the main goal and purpose of the Debacle. If there were a charter, that would be it.

547. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 4:55 pm eI must say, while I had a good week this time, I know this week I’ll have sad numbers, and next week better ones – but I’m having a great tiem, too. Yes, I’m going to lose. Yes, I’m going to continue to declare my Tea superiority on my blog !!!

     But the biggest thing for ME is that I’ve been writing EVERY DAY thanks to this! I haven’t take time off, I haven’t found other things to do I haven’t sat and stared with an open mouth at the interwebbies. I’ve been writing ! Daily! No excuses. I keep telling myself “Okay, crap, you’re gonna fail here, but by GOD you’re gonna fail with impressive numbers!” More importantly, and I say this with all humility, I’ve been writing really good words. I’m proud of my numbers, but I’m more proud of my accomplishments.

548. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 5:14 pm eThe best thing I’ve gotten out of TGTD is camaraderie with fellow writers. Writing is a lonely business, and I lead a lonely life–perhaps far more lonely than I can really express to other people without going into unfortunate detail.

     Previous to this month, I strove and strove and so many days I didn’t know what I was striving for. It’s not writer’s block for me, it’s writer’s despair.

     This has been one of the few months when I’ve felt truly productive and truly happy and truly connected. I feel like I could conquer mountains.

     So… GTD means a lot to me. But winning in the strict sense isn’t the main one or even close.

     Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t do my best to compete…. because writing is about pushing yourself to do better. GTD and NaNo focus that (GTD much more, I think ). And that is also a valuable thing I take away.

549. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 5:31 pm eAnd on a slightly related note: This coming Saturday my sister wants to take me PEN shopping !! She adores pens, and can spend hours trying them all out – she wants to take me shopping for pens.
550. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 5:45 pm eAnd on a happy note: I typed THE END on The First Ghost today. For me, that’s what it’s been about. I’m diligently working on the outline for Second Sight (my sucky title for the follow up book.) I have confirmed what I’ve always suspected: I’m an outliner. The more I’ve outlined, the happier I am writing. My outline is a complete framework for my book. I’m going to include this new outline in my daily word count because A) I’m writing it during TGTD and B) It actually contains long sections of text and dialogue.
551. carrieinpa Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 6:41 pm eWell, I didn’t write a single damn word all week. I’ve had so much going on with Son’s school stuff that it’s not even funny. And people are so effing stupid it’s a wonder they can even breathe and/or walk without my help. I was off today for Veterans’ Day and busted my ass around the house and to relax I made a cute Christmas ornament.

     Oh, and we adopted a new kitten that got dumped off in front of our house. (His name is Poe and he’s freaking adorable.)

     So my numbers are dismal, and will likely remain so throughout the month, but I’m ok with that. I may not be getting words down in November, but my story is marinating and growing, and that falls under my definition of “progress”.

552. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 6:44 pm eGood enough for me, Carrie. I was just beginning to wonder if you were still alive. I have so few friends. *sniffle* YOU CAN’T VANISH! Cause I’ll fiiiiiind you! Ha ha! (I am so tired and creepy)

     We must see pictures of Poe. You need to blog kitty pictures!

     And Mary?

     CONGRATULATIONS!!!

553. carrieinpa Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 6:53 pm eLOL Pete, I just posted a pic on the front page.

     And yes, Mary! CONGRATS! That’s awesome!!!!

554. tjwriter Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:01 pm eCongrats on that novel finish. I wanna do that some day.

     And I feel you Carrie. I finally said screw it today and got a bit of writing done during lunch at work.

555. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:04 pm eOn the front page of what? The blog? I don’t read the blog. *snooty*

     

556. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:04 pm eThat’s the spirit, Tori, just screw it and write! If only Carrie had your drive and ambition!

     *is fleet of foot away from here!*

557. carrieinpa Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:12 pm e*gives Pete the finger* :p
558. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:20 pm eWith flirting like THAT, people are going to start thinking that we’re married to each other, again…

     (”again” as in “thinking it again,” not “we’re married again,” and please don’t go spreading the rumor that we done got back together. Pleeeeease. People are JUST NOW starting to consider that maybe we aren’t married to each other WHICH WE ARE NOT!)

559. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:29 pm eHe he he he. Oh, dang, I’m not on AW this month – I can’t run around spreading stuff !
560. carrieinpa Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:31 pm eWHAAAAAAT?? THIS is how I find out?? HOW COULD YOU?!

     *stomps off*

561. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:39 pm eCarrie, it just…it wasn’t meant to be. You’re a porch, and I’m a gazebo. It doesn’t work.

     You can keep the curtains and the dishes. *I* am taking Poe, or I’ll see you in court.

562. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:43 pm eGo Soccer Mom!

     I think Second Sight is a perfectly fine title for this series.

563. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:50 pm ethis series -> the second book in this series

     *still doolally from the weekend writing*

564. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:51 pm eClearly doolally, since you’re using words like “doolally,” which is about as coherent as saying “After this weekend, I ’twas brillig! No slithy toves, though.”
565. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 7:53 pm eAh the words, they vex me so!
566. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 9:06 pm eCarrie! You live! Pete said he had dropped you off across state lines. Hahahahaha! I’m just kidding. I’d never start rumors while Pete has banned himself. That would be wrong. Hahahahahaha.

     brb.

567. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 9:17 pm eThere’s nothing to see about Pete and Carrie in the smackdown thread at AW. Nothing at all.
568. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 10:18 pm eEspecially if you’re banned like me, there isn’t. Like I care. SOME of us are busy writing, lady.

     (okay, some of us are busy eating tuna fish sandwiches and watching Kingdom of Heaven, but nevermind)

569. mscelina Says:
     November 12, 2007 at 10:53 pm e*looks around innocently*

     Something about Pete and Carrie? never saw it…

     in other news, if I keep my productivity going until my meds hit I may garner 13k for the day. I’m feeling reasonably pleased so far. I’m just trying to figure out before I get there how I can have my god realize that SHE is the god she’s been preaching against. I had some cockamaney idea about having her go through a trial and execution (have to have the messianic line I’m thinking) and have the execution NOT work. Any thoughts?

570. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:55 am eHmmm. I like your story, Celina, it brings up very cool questions

     Like, what does enlightenment do to an atheist god?

     How long do you want it to take her to understand? I could see building up to it–strange signs that may or may not be indications of fate/divinity, getting more and more improbable as mere chance, but she denies it all the way–and then committing some miracle. Not necessarily a trial and execution. Committing some miracle leaves a lot of possibilities and open situations that it could happen in.

571. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 7:16 am eI’m free! To do what I want. Any old time.
572. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 8:31 am eYou ain’t free till your name comes down, boy! Fetch me some TEA!

     Celina: If you haven’t looked into Hindu mythology, I’d do so. Whether you realize it or not, your book idea and some of your problems — like this one — draw heavily on influences in Hindu myth. It was always important, for example, that the Hindu gods died, just like men.

     And in Norse myth, although the gods died, they were replaced instantly by a God who was exactly the same as them, in many ways. Also consider: What makes your god a god? Is she just a god, just because she is and that’s it? Is she a god who was called into existence because people believed in her (an idea from both mythology and fiction alike)? Is she a free-floating god, like Zeus and some of the others, or is she a god with a purpose, like Vischnu, and Shiva?

     All of these questions tie into what happens when she realizes her self, and also tie into what happens when she is executed, if you try to do it that way. Sitting here typing this, I’ve run fifteen or sixteen plots through my head that I like.

573. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:19 am eHmmm, my recollection is that Celina’s god created the world she resides in, but forgot along the way. I like the idea of inadvertant miracles. While trial and execution is very Judeo-Christian, miracles as proof of divinity is pretty universal.

     Perhaps a cataclysmic event forces her to commit a staggering miracle, one that she can’t deny came from her own power to shape the world.

574. mscelina Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:49 am eThe idea for my god came from the similarity/identical nature of the flood mythologies that grew up independently all across the world. (I thought it was kind of like there HAD once been a single god or goddess, but that they’d forgotten who they were.) She created Terella in her infancy, and people the world with dolls that she made up stories for. But, when she decided to force her way out of the primordial sea of her origin, she manifested upon the world she’d created–with no idea that she was the god. As she travels through Terella, she is confused and disgusted by the different forms of worship for the goddess Anante. After a while, she preaches a form of atheism and travels through the kingdoms, gathering followers to her while she is pursued by the tyrannical king of Vegoia, whose sone and heir Ugarit is her staunchest supporter and protector. Eventually…

     ..and there I lose it. Dang. My thought at the moment (and trust me Pete, I have a lot of Hindu and Norse mythology around the house–any kind of mythology, as a matter of fact) is that Ugarit gets killed and while she’s grieving, she is captured by the King and charged with his murder. After a stint in prison (deprivation, in the dark, nice and wet kind of like *oh I don’t know!* the primordial oceans of her origin) she’s brought to trial, not for the crime of killing the Prince but for the crime of atheism. The temple condemns her to death. So they set the scene in the plaza in the middle of the capital–high noon, vendors selling candy, people jostling for position…

     I’m kind of sold on the George Bernard Shaw Joan of Arc-esque kind of ending. And somehow, an execution scene turns into the intellectual birth of a goddess…and she is PISSED.

     Make sense? I’m going to ponder some more and write a fairly nifty battle scene that’s right on the edges on my fingertips.

575. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 10:08 am eI am somehow reminded of the climax of Terry Pratchett’s _Small Gods_, although this turn would be different of course.
576. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 10:10 am eActually, it’s a myth that the Norse Gods died. It’s also a myth that the Aesir killed Ymir and used his bones for the earth, his blood for the oceans, and his skull as the sky. It’s all a myth. And that’s the basis for my WIP. The 4 Guardians of Iceland are actually guarding the hiding place of Ymir to prevent him from being released and creating a real Rognarok. And some goofy magician is capturing the Guardians for his own ends, not realizing the consequences.

     As far as the flood myths, that’s all explained in my first book (also why there are pyramids in many cultures that never met and why they all have dragons, too). ;p

577. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 10:12 am eYou get to write a neat battle scene… I get to write a scene of a man trying to find a job when his only skills are “assassin for hire.”

     “I’m afraid there are no openings, sir.”

     “What, not even temp positions?”

     “Sorry, sir.”

     “I can also just do enforcement.”

     :headshake:

     “Maimings and beatings. Two for one?”

     :headshake:

     “… I could, you know, just show up and scare someone _really badly_.”

     “Can you drive?”

     … hmmm, no license… but still… “Yes?”

     “There are any number of positions with the Sitar Water Taxi company….”

578. mscelina Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 10:47 am eI love writing battle scenes. I get to dig out my Caesar and Herodotus and pore over them to find nifty bits to steal…er….adapt….er…inspire me.

     Myths involving the resurrection gods are always fun, I think. Adonis is one of my favorites and plays a huge part in the Asphodel saga; I go into the replacement god cycles in Darkshifters, mostly because I found the concept of an apotheosis fascinating. I’m trying to something a little different with Terella (i.e.–stand alone book for a change oy vey!) with the creation and revelation of a ‘new’ god all in the same book. I have yet to decide whether, once she knows who she is, she destroys her creation.

     Which if you think about it, would let me write Armageddon too. Oh, the choices!

579. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 11:11 am eDestruction, creation, what’s the difference?
580. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 11:24 am eCelina’s using big words again!
581. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 11:41 am eBest battle scene I ever saw in a movie was in Kingdom of Heaven. I’ve brought this up before. It’s the big climactic battle, the armies are rushing to clash in a breach in the wall, our hero raises his sword and the camera pulls up and we see him rushing headlong into the enemy army, and….it fades to black, and comes back after the battle.

     Terry Pratchett does likewise. He always writes about before the battle, and he writes about the battle afterward, but he rarely writes the battle itself. Very wise.

     Just a thought, however you take it.

     I have no further suggestions for the goddess situation, I’m afraid.

582. mscelina Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 11:49 am eI usually write snippets of a battle. There’s only so many ways you can write about sword fighting after all and I’m not a play-by-play announcer. I just find the strategies fascinating: the ground a good commander chooses, fortifications, integrating cavalry and infantry (and Harpies–can’t forget those!). I like weapons too and how they work. It’s like when I found out that longbows are fashioned from two different types of wood and that the heartwood gives the bow strength, or the deficiencies of gut strings in bad weather…

     *sighs happily*

     Sorry, got distracted. Anyhoo, suffice it to say that I’m REALLY not happy unless I have one good opportunity to kill characters in the grisliest manner possible on a field of battle. In the last book of Asphodel, I bawled like a baby when I killed off my favorite character. The death scene even had THEME music. Then I decided that I’d enjoyed it SO much I figured out a way to kill him again. *grin*

     My editor was so pissed. It was fun though.

583. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:07 pm eI once tried to write a fist fight blow by blow, then realized – as I was struggling to pen the thing – that it’s best to put the character into a fight, then pick him up after the fight. One can add a few bits here and there, but to write blow by blow like a movie is – well, it’s a movie, not a book.

     Sometimes less is more.

584. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:12 pm eAbsolutely, and a book is at its best when it remembers that it’s a book. It’s sort of like the swan thinking its a duckling.
585. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:15 pm eIndividual fights tend to be over very quickly anyways. Unless we’re talking sumo wrestling, which is an interesting time to be looking inside people’s heads because the action is occaisonal and slow, like the moving of continents.

     In fact, I think I like slow, suspenseful fights…. which is basically long intervals of sneaking around and trying not to get caught in gunfire, then very very short instances of actual gunfire.

586. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:17 pm eAgreed, I’m fond of those too. Or else, I find that the battle is just a backdrop for whatever’s happening to our characters.

     For example, in the huge clash in my Rome novel, I had no desire to write battle…which was a problem, since I’d been leading up to it, I was all set to have them charge and I couldn’t have cared less. I had nothing to do but fight. I didn’t want to write it. THEN, I brought in an old plotline I’d never worked in anywhere else. I wrote that, with the battle happening around it. It worked nicely (or, decently, anyway)

587. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:17 pm eI had a huge battle that lasted several years in one novel. I always showed the battle from the view of individual combatants and how it effected each. Sometimes the person was an “expendable crewman,” just shown so you could see the horrors of war as he died.

     But the fighting was always shown at groundlevel, from a personal POV, never as a large mass struggling against another large mass.

588. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:24 pm e“Captain, over here! It’s–”

     “Ensign?”

     “He’s gone, Captain. Something vaporized him.”

     “Spock, between you and me, how many more did we bring on this trip?”

     “Not enough, Captain. Never enough.”

     “Right. Scotty! Beam us up.”

589. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:34 pm eWell, it was a little more involved than that. One character was around for a whole chapter. He was a messenger, sent back to the castle with news on the war. Had a run-in with some of his friends who were on duty at the castle, they poked fun of him because of (I forget) some personal flaw. He delivered the message. Had time to be with his wife before returning to the front. He got back to the front. Delivered the new message. And then died in an arrow volley.
590. tjwriter Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:36 pm eHmmm. In a crappy novel I’ve abandoned, I did a small fight scene between two people. Never showed it to anyone, so I’ve no idea how it turned out as I’ve never shown it to anyone.

     I don’t know that I will have any fight scenes in this novel, mostly just evasion.

591. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:43 pm eI’ve never had occasion for a massive battle scene. But now, my fights (when they’re called for) are dramatically short. My favorite, and so far the best one I’ve written, was hardly a fight. There were threats between the MC and the Antag. It was assumed these threats would end in both walking away as they had in the past. Then suddenly, without even asking me first, the MC pulled a gun and blew the Antag away.

     One shot, neat as you please.

     Of course the ramifications for all characters involved was dramatic, but the “fight” was short, sweet, and to the point.

592. tjwriter Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 12:53 pm eBoy, I should pay attention to what I’m writing today, huh?
593. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 1:21 pm eNaaaaaaah.
594. Lori Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 1:59 pm eI like to make my readers really care about the characters, to get to know them, relate to them, understand and empathize with their hopes and dreams. And then I kill them. (The characters, not the readers.)
595. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 2:10 pm eDamn, I’ve had it backwards all this time!
596. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 2:14 pm eYanno, the one thing I don’t like about WordPress is, when I’m typing a comment, if I glance up it shows my name, and then my email, and the phrase: Will not be published.

     Kinda like a kick in the nuts, if I had nuts.

597. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 2:17 pm eQuick show of hands: quick deaths or long, agonizing ones?

     :raises hand for quick deaths to move plot along faster:

598. Jeanne Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 2:25 pm eI do fight scenes all the time. I get compliments on them, so apparently I do them well. I tend to write kick-ass heroines, and kick-ass heroines get into kick-ass fights. Not all the time, but there’s a time for talking and a time to kick butt and take names. At least in my writing.
599. tjwriter Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 2:25 pm eLong, agonizing ones to make your readers cry.
600. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 2:38 pm eDepends on the character. If its a much-loved character that the reader has known through most of the book and is probably upset that the character is dying, then I make it long and drawn out and agonizing.

     Otherwise my expendable crewman are just a quick sword thrust to the heart.

601. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 2:42 pm eI like quick and unexpected deaths. I treasure the shock value, which can induce crying later when everything has settled down in reaction.
602. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 3:08 pm eI think I’d go for the short death, for a popular character. Justfor the shock value afterward. The long drawn out “Ack! You got me! Tell my wife….I….love….her….ack…” sort of death has to have a real useful value, it has to have something to say, before I’ll use it.

     Ultimately, it depends on the character and what they call for.

603. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 3:17 pm eI’ve only killed a much-loved character once, and I only killed him because it was the best way to tell the story. There was no warning, no foreshadow. While standing very near a cliff having a conversation with the MC he simply turned and stepped off.
604. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 3:32 pm eHmmm, I kill a lot of people in my books. Of course, the are murder mysteries. In Second Sight I have (checks ms) over 200 dead people so far. But most of them died in a single action, so I don’t know if that counts.

     Sometimes a really good slug it out fight is fun to write and read, but I have difficulty not injecting humor in at even the most intense moments.

     This is from First Ghost. My MC is trapped in a cabin in the middle of nowehere without phone or electricity and there is a crazed killer outside. Fortunately, he’s drunk.

     There was fog on the window. A circle of light appeared. He had a flashlight.

     “I can see you,” he called. “I’m gonna get in there. Just you wait. I got a key and soon as I remember what I did with it, you are one dead bitch.”

     Thank God for the booze. That was a mark in my favor. I left the kitchen to search for a better weapon, but hung onto the frying pan, just in case.

605. mscelina Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 4:17 pm eOh, no humor for me. There are plenty of (dare I say it?) smartass moments in my stories. But when He *sniff* bit the dust *sniff sniff* it was a very solemn moment.

     Yeah, okay, I cried.

     It wasn’t a long death, in the end, but it was a futile death and that’s what made it so much fun…because in first person POV, when your main character actually says, “What is he doing? The idiot will get himself killed!” and then watches helplessly from a distance as he does…

     *shivers in delight*

     Ain’t nothing greater than long distance angst.

606. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 4:32 pm eAh yes, I do love lots of good angst….
607. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 4:32 pm e(The problem with web-sites is the lack of sarcasm feature. Sigh.)
608. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 4:39 pm eWow, I’m a saint compared to you guys. I only killed off a few million in an attempt to wipe the galaxy clean of Humans once, but it was a plague. Clean, quick, neat and tidy!
609. tjwriter Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 4:41 pm eI’ve been thinking about whether any of my characters need to die. There is one who death would fit perfectly with, so I’ll see if the story takes me there.
610. Lori Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 4:43 pm eI honestly don’t know what the body count was in Long Way From Tomorrow.
611. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 4:47 pm eI know exactly how many people die in The Nondescript.

     But I’m not telling. :p

612. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 4:57 pm eOh, lookie there – now that I have a word press account, it says I’m logged in, instead of that: Will not be published kick in the nutters!
613. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 5:13 pm e1.5k into second book, maybe 30 people dead from what the MC can tell. Implied perhaps 120 dead in all that he didn’t see. He didn’t bother to do an accurate count because he was busy getting the hell out of there for 4k.

     :loves second book better than first, where nobody died until 20k in, and then it was just one person:

614. mscelina Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 5:20 pm ehmmm….not too shabby. 36k in two days and it’s only 6 o’clock. You girls better hold on to your skirts ’cause I’m ready to flip them up and give Pete a thrill.

     mwahahahaha….

     My goal for the week is somewhere in between 60 and 75k. If the story keeps going like this, it will be done on Thursday.

     Happy writing!

615. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 5:24 pm e…

     …….

     *hurries out of the room before skirts are flipped, what with being married and all*

     *but sneaks back in later*

616. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 5:26 pm e:looks at all the peoples catching up:
     :looks at schedule for @#$@# convention she must attend for five days:
     :decides to set modest goal for reaching 130k total this week:
617. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 5:27 pm e:dances the can can at Pete and hopes he gets a serious nose bleed:
618. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 6:03 pm e:simply sits back, cracks open a beer, and relaxes and watches all the rest type their fingers to the bone:

     Oh, and by drawn out death I didn’t mean giving him time to say goodbye, I meant a long painful drawn out slowly being stretched on the rack as the torturer cuts little slivers of flesh off of him and says, “So, are you going to talk now?”

619. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 6:09 pm eAh, torture. That’s a whole ‘nother topic.

     Personally I am fond of George RR Martin’s torture scenes. I still remember the nipple thing on whoever it was… some minor character. That was just horrid.

620. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 6:18 pm eNo! Not the nipple thing! I’ve got a nipple thing! Granted it’s my trunk novel, but it’s a great nipple thing!
621. carrieinpa Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 6:28 pm eEd, that falls under the heading of “Too Much Information”. I’m sure your nipples are nice, but still…
622. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 6:31 pm eEw. I thought we were discussing death tolls. Not Ed’s nipple in the trunk again.
623. tjwriter Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 7:21 pm eHey Kristine, the only bad thing about being signed in to your wordpress account is that it doesn’t link to your blog, even if you set a wordpress blog. There’s just no linkie, which is bad for word of mouth, if you ask me.
624. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 7:49 pm eYes, but after I wins all the tea, I’ll be moving my blog to wordpress, so that should work out okay. I’m still trying to figure out how the thing works, tho!
625. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 8:48 pm eOh, sure, I go to blogger and now you’re threatening to move.

     I just started my blog! I’m not abandoning it!

626. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:00 pm eI’ve used various blogging software in the past, from MoveableType and Graymatter, to Blosxom and its various ilk, to Blogger cut 1 and Google’s Blogger Beta (now no longer beta), to JRoller, to WordPress and Drupal and etc.

     Even wrote two of my own (PHP and postgresql, my own rolled perl and BDBs), complete with templates and the minimal blogging benefits–including tags and nested categories. (I was always hot for nested categories, but unfortunately that doesn’t get implemented often. Storing a tree in a flat table tends to piss developers off. Wusses.)

     Basically, it’s a matter of finding the blog that, for your needs, sucks least.

     Blogger right now tends to carry over all my needs with minimal maintenance or concern.

627. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:18 pm eBlogger had minimal maintenance or concern, like you said. Ultimately, I’ve found the WordPress layout just to be more comfortable. And I like being able to add pages to the site, and I REALLY like the “Click here to read more” feature, for when I write really long blog posts.

     That said, WordPress absolutely responds HORRIBLY to HTML code, whereas it was a cinch with Blogger. So. Like you say, pick the one that sucks least. And I’m not talking about Ed’s nipples. (Oh snap! Oh, I went there!)

628. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:19 pm eSilly Ferret ! No need to worry, I’ll still be haunting your blog, and I can still leave comments since I’ll still have a blogger ID. And you can still haunt mine, as well. Our very own Soccer Mom has to pick which site she wants her debut blog to sit on.
629. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:20 pm eI’m still learning, so we’ll see which I find easier. Back in the day, I could write html until I was blue in the face, but writing CSS is harder – so I’m limted to themes they already have. But some are customizable.
630. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:24 pm eCSS makes my head hurt. Man oh man.
631. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:25 pm eCSS 1 versus CSS 2 versus browser incompatibilities is fun. I hear CSS 3 is coming. What fun.
632. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:26 pm eI like CSS a lot but then again I was always a bit of a web head.
633. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:28 pm eI have a programmer friend who’s just fine with CSS. He explains things to me now and then, and it just hurts my head. (To get back at him, I give him long winded explanations on why or why not to use adverbs, or gerunds, or things). Ugh. And yet, it’s still more comprehendable than C++. No wonder I’m just a writer… My web skills maxed out back when we all thought it was cool to have a little page on GeoCities or Tripod or something…
634. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 9:31 pm eMy website ambitions always outweight my website talents. I just pray the same doesn’t hold true forever in my writing!
635. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 11:19 pm eYou’re all making me cry with this scary blog talk. Go back to Ed’s nipple.

     Or not.

636. Jeanne Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 11:41 pm eI’m with Soccer Mom. I was a lot clearer on Ed’s nipple fetish. I could have joined in that conversation. CSS? CSI? NCICS? Whaaaaa?

     Geez…a conversation turns to nice, normal BDSM stuff, and some people have to make it go all icky.

637. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 11:58 pm eCascading Style Sheets. Hypertext Markup Language.

     Tight buns.

638. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 13, 2007 at 11:59 pm eThat post makes me feel like I need a therapist.

     ALEX TREBEK: And it’s your board, Mister Connory.

     SEAN CONNORY: I’ll take The Rapists for four hundred.

     ALEX TREBEK: That’s…therapists…

     (second best one, right behind “anal bum cover” )

639. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:17 am e“And now back to Todd.”

     “Thank you, Randy. Today, on a small farm in Lexington Kenntucky, two bulls Black Ang and Gus broke free of their–”

     “Excuse me, Todd – did you say Ang and Guss?”

     “Yes, I believe that’s what it says here.”

     “Are you sure that’s not Black Angus?”

     “Um . . . And now to Fiona, with weather.”

640. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:29 am e“Our breaking story of the night: A cow was found by the side of the road, dead, this morning. It had been killed with two small porcelain statues which had been jammed up its nose. Police are calling this the first-ever case of knick knack patty whack.”
641. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:32 am e:gives a dog a bone, because she is more comfortable with the acronymns. Can we go back to those?:
642. Jeanne Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 1:17 am eCan we go back to BDSM? It covers Ed’s nipple fetish AND acronyms! (Hey, just trying to bring us all together, so to speak.)
643. carrieinpa Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 6:38 am eI’m with Jeanne. I’m not much of a fan of CSI or NCIS or Law & Order SVU. Although I would like to have an SUV someday.

     Now back to TMI with Ed’s nipples!

     *pounding on table while chanting*

     PHO-TOS!
     PHO-TOS!
     PHO-TOS!

644. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 6:59 am eFirst, it’s not a nipple fetish!

     Well, OK, yeah, maybe, sometimes. I’ll admit it. But I was talking about my trunk novel where the lady-in-waiting is a spy, sent to keep track of the secret goings on of the usurper king and his equally venomous queen. They discover the lady-in-waiting and because the king and queen have these little Caligula sexcapades, she is invited into one. During the lovemaking the king bites off her…. um, yeah, and spits it across the room and then rages in her face about how she would dare spy on them. Of course, she’s fainted. However, when she awakens its to find she’s in his personal dungeon looking forward to all manner of torture.

     I thought CSS was like an HTML template. A style sheet, nothing more. That’s what I used it for, has it’s meaning changed in the last 5 years?

     And I’m glad blogger takes to HTML, I have some audio I want to post for my latest blogs. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do that.

645. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 8:52 am eWordPress lets you load audio, though I haven’t experimented much yet in my day and a quarter, I did see that option for uploading.
646. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:06 am eBlogger definitely is HTML friendly. And yeah, CSS is just a style sheet. Nothing more or less complex than that.

     I don’t care what TV shows you guys watch, so there.

647. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:15 am eI swear that if this desk chair doesn’t quit squeaking I’m going to throw it out a window. It’s getting on my everlovin’ last nerve.
648. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:32 am eI swear if blogger doesn’t straighten up I’m gonna toss a fit ! I couldn’t even comment on my own blog, let alone the Commune. Friggin’ technology crap.
649. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:36 am eBlogger was a mess yesterday, I couldn’t even get ON the Commune, or anyone else’s blog at all, if they were on Blogger. My e-mail was weird too, so I think it was just something with Google sites.
650. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:42 am eSomethin’s fubar, that’s for sure! I finally got on to blogger, but I can’t get my home email via web this morning. Some days I truly hate the electronic world.
651. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:47 am eI’d like to point out, innocently, that my pen and my sheets of paper are all working perfectly. As they have been, for years and years now.

     (He says, but it’s ironic, because just last night he found another fountain pen of his around the house and discovered that it was very clogged AND destroyed a perfectly good ink cartridge finding that out, sigh…)

652. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:55 am eOh, that reminds me I have a sample of my handwriting and my sister’s handwriting I need to scan and post today. I was trying hard to be legible, and she wasn’t trying at all. The difference is something!
653. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:59 am eLOL, Pete. Even pens can have their issues, eh?
654. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 10:04 am eUsually the pens are fine, it’s my hand that has an issue. The other day, I got up wrong from the ground — I was working out, as I do every morning — and I sprained my thumb. Hurt all damn day. Miserable to write, because the pen is held with exactly those muscles.

     Kristine, when you post your samples, compare them against that handwriting site you posted, and maybe against other handwriting sites you can findl. If you were “trying hard to be legible,” then you would have had muscle tension, because of the conscious effort, and that’ll tell you a wealth of things about your writing.

655. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 10:37 am eI am starving already and today is passing by so quickly. Yay for Hump Day!

     

656. Jeanne Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 10:39 am e*cough* Ed, dude, untrunk that puppy. There’s a market for that stuff. (And, uh, you know, a little more on the excerpts would be fine.)

     I was so into the discussion…right before we went back to code and archaic methods of getting words onto paper. (You will take my PC from me when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers. I typ 70WPM no errors, faster if I know I’m going to go back and correct in a couple of hours. Pens, while I love them for a variety of reasons, are not for creative writing. A keyboard is for creative writing. *pets PC* there, there, ignore those terrible people trying to make you feel badly, my precious.)

657. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 10:48 am eJeanne’s going to make Pete rant again… *Sits back and enjoys the popcorn.*

     There’s nothing wrong with a computer if you can freely type without having to pause to think. Pen and paper is great for those times you need to think. I think the sentiments of that statement have been expressed around here at some point, and the more I pondered it, the more I thought it true. When I’m unsure of what direction I need to go in, writing by hand is a godsend.

658. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 10:53 am eYou guys ever watch Max Headroom?

     If I lived in that time, I’d have been a Blank. And happily so!

659. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 10:59 am eI don’t need to rant. I can smile condescendingly and say “Well, I recognize a rationalization when I see one,” and then move on to say “I have never seen Max Headroom, does that make me a bad person?”
660. Jeanne Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 11:04 am eNever saw Headroom. Like pens, like to have pens, covet pens. I’m sure it’s phallic.

     However, I cut and move and cut and save and go back and add in a sentence or rearrange a sentence all the time. I think fast and write fast and type fast. I can’t write by hand as fast as I can type by hand.

     Handwriting thank you notes or letters to family — fine. I do it less and less because it takes time and my time is given to a lot of things. Writing, creative writing, I do on the PC. I barely like doing it on my Palm Keyboard, because it’s slower than my PC.

     What can I say? I feel the need, the need for speed.

661. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 11:22 am eHere is my argument:

     Computers are Lipton instant tea. Handwriting, done properly, is finest loose leaf tea.

     All the same pros and cons apply, to handwriting and to tea.

     That’s the sum total of it.

662. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 11:25 am eIn Max Headroom – a land of no OFF switch on the TV and constant, steady computer use and Big Brother crawling up your spine – a Blank was someone living off the grid. Someone who had no records to track, no files to read. Someone for whom no computer could trace.
663. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 11:26 am eSort of the Book Tribe, from the end of Fahrenheit 451.

     Perhaps I am the only one who finds such appealing romance in the idea of your Blank. Not out of paranoia at Big Brother, or anything of the sort…just the idea of being a Blank itself is…enticing. I cannot entirely tell you why.

664. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:19 pm eNo, you’re not the only one…
665. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:24 pm eHandwriting is like wall paintings.

     Computer is well the lastest in technology.

     If you like to cave paint, more power to you. I’m sure it’s pretty and it tells a story, but I type at over 75wpm and my thought process is even faster.

     I write at about 15wpm and my hand cramps up fairly quickly and I have on many occasions lost my train of thought because I couldn’t keep up. There is nothing NOTHING more upsetting than losing your train, even just a caboose.

     Therefore, I choose the faster process. And really, I don’t give a damn if you handwrite and I won’t desparage that. Please, give me the same consideration.

     As far as the tea argument, I hate all tea so there. :p

666. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:27 pm eSpeaking of “which one of you is the writer again?” I posted a sample of my “handwriting” alongside a sample of my sister’s handwriting – which is friggin’ gorgeous!!

     I can’t get Booger to work this morning, so I put it here: http://mymidnightmuse.wordpress.com/

667. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:34 pm eI wasn’t trying to convert you, Ed. I could frankly care less how you write. The only part that bugs me, in any of this, is the lack of interest in writerly minds of experimenting, stretching, trying new things. That part, I just don’t understand.

     (Don’t explain it to me, please.)

     Anyway, onto a different subject, please. Go look at Kristine’s handwriting sample. Were that my handwriting was as legible as either of theirs. Alas.

668. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:40 pm eWasn’t as bad as I’ve seen elsewhere. My husband writes this tiny, scrunched up stuff. Almost impossible to read with prior experience. That’s fun.
669. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:43 pm eMy dad’s handwriting sort of looks like someone is attacking him, during an earthquake, while he’s trying to write. Scary stuff.
670. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 12:52 pm eI always thought my father’s handwriting was terrible, and figured that’s where I got it from, but last week I got a postcard from my stepmother and could barely read it !
671. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 1:21 pm eKristine’s handwriting is beautiful compared to my scrawl. Even I can’t read what I’ve written.

     “The only part that bugs me, in any of this, is the lack of interest in writerly minds of experimenting, stretching, trying new things. That part, I just don’t understand.”

     Not sure what you mean by this, Pete. I thought I WAS experimenting when I went to the computer. You should have heard the diatribes I launched at my English teachers when they FORCED us to have to compose on the word processing equipment in the computer lab.

     I think I’ve made steady progression as a writer and have experimented. I started with pencil. Moved to pen. Discovered the manual typewriter. Moved to the electric. Even used a teletype. And now I’m on computer. When the next thing — direct USB links to your brain — comes along I’ll be willing to experiment with that.

672. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 1:38 pm eI’ve explained this bit before,and I’d just quote myself, but I can’t find the exact wording at the moment, so I’ll paraphrase.

     I’m not trying to mindlessly convert everyone to handwriting. I think I was talking to AJ when I made this point: If you are writing on the computer, fast and without hesitation or concern on a consistent basis and producing work with whihc you are confident and comfortable…then you have no need of any of the handwriting talk I am going on about.

     But there are authors — buckets of them, we’ve both spoken to on AW, over the years — who hesitantly tap out on the computer, are loaded up with doubt, do not write their best work, are unsure of where their story is going, etc, etc, etc. And a lot of them would be benefited greatly by sitting down with pen and paper and learning to write that way. And the rest of my talk comes into play when they say “Oh, I can’t do that, I can ONLY write on a computer.” THAT crutch alarms me, when used in those terms.

     That’s how all this works.

673. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 1:39 pm eI’m standing in line for Writing by Osmosis. Wherein I can fall asleep on a notepad, and wake up with the words all typed out.

     It’s okay, I brought a chair and some snacks while I wait. And in the meantime, I keep trying new things and relearning old ones.

674. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 1:41 pm eFor everyone who isn’t in the category I described above, handwriting and perhaps using a typewriter is just fun. I don’t NEED to handwrite. I just do it because I like it. But I do think there are some writers who do NEED to d it, but probably won’t.*shrug*
675. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 1:53 pm eYou know Actually – Honestly – if writing by osmosis were viable, I don’t think I’d enjoy it. That would make it easier for any ‘ol hack to write, as opposed to us more qualified hacks who work hard at it. And it would take the joy of labor from the work.

     Kinda like . . . if someone came along and said: “I can wave a magic wand and make you published. You’ll never have to lift a finger or hunt for an agent.” Sure, I might jump at the chance – I’m human. But it wouldn’t taste as sweet – wouldn’t have that same soul-satisfying feeling as having to do all the hard work, all the grunt work, all the thankless, brain-numbing, I-get-no-respect work myself.

     The hard way.

     Winnig without having to train, sweat and race is a hollow win. Training, racing, sweating, struggling, then failing as at the very least, a Good Death. An Honorable Death. There is no shame in this. (must-watch-Serenity-again)

676. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 1:55 pm eHmm, winnig. Yeah, that’s great, Kristine. You’ll get published with spelling like that!
677. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 1:56 pm eA video game tends to lose its interest or value, once you enter the cheat codes and finish the whole thing up too quickly, I’ve always observed. It’d be the same thing.
678. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 2:14 pm eActually, Kristine, writing by osmosis would not make it easier for any old hack to write, at least not any easier than the Internet has made it.

     And just because someone could write by osmosis, there is still the need to write WELL by osmosis.

     To me the physical act of writing has always encumbered my actual output. I get no joy from the process and in fact, hate it. If I could instantly transfer my thoughts to the computer, by the USB connection I suggested, I think I’d have something like 50 novels finished.

     Today.

     But the process is what stymies the whole creation process because I have literally dozens of ideas all vying for attention and when I concentrate on one, all the others sort of whither away. Sometimes they return at a later date, other times they never return and I feel saddened by their loss.

679. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 2:17 pm eI have always held the opinion that ideas are a dime a dozen. The good ones, the really memorable ones, stick around. Others come and go. I just had a novel idea, ten minutes ago, and I like it. If I have it tomorrow, cool. If I have it the day after and am thinking more and more about it, then maybe there’s something there worth exploring. But even if I forgot it, I know there will be other ideas along in a minute.
680. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 2:25 pm eI’ve had ideas take the long dirt nap, and it can be annoying, but there’s always another five or six that stayed in line – which makes me believe the ones that died weren’t strong enough to cut it. The only issue I have with the limitations of the physical aspect of writing come with my own limitations of skill, wherein I have in my mind’s eye a detailed, woven, complicated thing with subplots and layers upon layers and all manner of twists and loveliness that my internal restrictions seem to muffle.

     In my haste to reach The End, I’ll often forget the lovely details. Or believe myself incapable of bringing them to life. But I keep working. And working.

     Some days I’m all Ego, others, I’m all Id.

681. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 2:40 pm eThat too. The stuff that gets lost. That seemed so grand. That if you happen to think of it again, you try to weave it in because it’s still good. I do that.
682. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 2:48 pm eP.S. Somebody save me. Please.
683. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 2:51 pm eHuhwhu? What are we saving you from?
684. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 2:53 pm eThis place that I go to spend long hours away from home every day. I. Can’t. Take. It.
685. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 2:58 pm eYou mean, Life?

     

686. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 3:02 pm e“I have always held the opinion that ideas are a dime a dozen. The good ones, the really memorable ones, stick around.”

     You’re still young, Pete. Get to my age and you’re forgetting your kids’ names, your phone number, and where I parked.

     I’ve forgotten if I’ve even had any good ideas lately and that scares me. Having someway to preserve each and every one so I can come back later and take a weedwacker to them as needed would be wonderful.

687. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 3:03 pm eThe 8-to-5 with a one hour lunch.

     *Falls over.*

688. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 3:06 pm eI can beat that, Tori: 7-3:30 with half-hour lunch! Okay, so I don’t have a kid or spouse to get home to . . .but . . . All right, you win.
689. tjwriter Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 3:08 pm eIt’s not just the time, but I’m not going to go into detail right now. It’s a lot of things combined. Frankly, I’d prefer 7:00 for those family reasons.
690. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 3:37 pm eI work 8 to 4 without a lunch.
691. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 4:56 pm eSo let me ask you all – when you’re working happily away at your WIP, then hit a point where you suddenly realize this particular WIP ain’t got a chance in hades of selling, do you keep ploughing forward, knowing there’s no possible way you can determine what may or might not happen in the future – or do you flip out, scrap it, and try another, regardless of how much fun you’re having penning the WIP you’re in?

     This is just a general question – I’m not, like, feeling moody or anythin’.

692. Jeanne Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 4:58 pm eI have no concept of what will or won’t sell. That’s for others to decide. I have no concept of what will or won’t be a hit. That’s for others to decide.

     My job, to me, as a writer, is to write the stories I see in my head, offer them up, and see if anyone else agrees with me that they’re interesting or not.

     I’m really one with Gertrude Stein on this whole issue.

693. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 5:40 pm eWell, let’s see… for longer works, at least, all the ones I’ve done before I took ages to complete 20k of, much less anywhere near “finished”, and I dropped 100% of them. This month… the first one is obviously bad BUT with work and love, I think can be publishable. The second one has more promise if only because I have more of a clue.

     I’m so inexperienced…. it’s kind of sad.

     I am starting to having ideas all over the place, though. Before I could only find it in music. These days I find them just sitting in a freaking airport, watching people. Nowadays when I watch things like House or read even the most fluffy Sherlock Holmes story, I get ideas. And now I’m just letting them stream in and brainstorming the heck out for a while, because my outline just 24 hours ago has almost no resemblance to the new and very quick outline of right now.

     By the by, my job has no clear beginning or ending hours. As far as things go, especially for the next three months, I am ALWAYS on the job. Means I have a lot of time to do whatever it is I’m doing, but also means that I might get called into an issue at 3am and need to work on it until it’s fixed, which is usually several hours but potentially can go into days of straight work. Even government holidays are up on the chopping block, so to speak.

     It gets a bit messy when you try to figure out “Where does work end and my life begin?”

     Yeah.

694. carrieinpa Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 5:46 pm eI don’t handwrite and don’t feel the need to. I’m with Ed on that one – it slows me down and hampers my creativity, and he’s right, it sucks to have a great idea or line *right there* and it vanishes because you were too slow to get to it.

     I think it may also be different for those of us who didn’t grow up with/around computers. We’ve spent our whole lives handwriting, so we know whereof we speak when we say it sucks. P Then again, maybe it’s just a case of different strokes for different folks.

     To Kristine’s question… If I realized my WIP was unsaleable (is that word??), it wouldn’t make a difference to me. Then again, I’m not writing with publishing in mind, not really. It would be nice, sure, but my goal is to get a book written, and odds are slim I’ll ever actually put forth the effort required to *get* published.

695. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 6:21 pm eI don’t think it’s growing up with or without computers. I came to computer very late in my life. It was handwriting and typewriters for quite a long time. And even when we DID have the computer, I didn’t equate writing with it.

     Anyway, sheesh, you guys don’t want to handwrite, don’t handwrite, easy as that.

     If I realized a book were difficult to sell, I’d keep writing it. BUT, if I realize the book is broken, or I have changed enough that I can no longer write it as I was — such as my Rome novel — then I will abandon it and move on without much hesitation. But that has nothing to do with sales. And all the ideas and thoughts and characters are still there, and I assume it’s not a total loss and that I’ll come back to them some day. Whether or not I will is, again, no concern of mine; if they reappear, they reappear. If not, then I’ve found something better.

     Ideas which stick are perhaps more valuable than fly-by-moment ideas…but none of them are THAT valuable. Honest.

696. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 6:42 pm eThat’s basically been my feeling, regardless of marketability, if I’m having a good time and the story is still there, I keep moving forward with it. Even a trunked novel can eventually be reworked or found a home. But if I get completely stalled out, or totally frustrated, that’s when I’ll set it aside and play with another one.
697. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 6:44 pm eThat said, if the novel is EASILY marketable (Nondescript is a lot more marketable than an alternative-history Roman novel, it’s a boost while writing, to know that it’ll probably find a home.
698. carrieinpa Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 6:44 pm eOh, yeah, that’s a different story. If it just plain runs into a brick wall or I don’t feel the love, onto the back burner it goes and I work on something else.
699. Lori Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:06 pm eBlogger was a mess yesterday, I couldn’t even get ON the Commune, or anyone else’s blog at all, if they were on Blogger. My e-mail was weird too, so I think it was just something with Google sites.

     You couldn’t get on The Commune yesterday? That’s weird.

     I’m standing in line for Writing by Osmosis. Wherein I can fall asleep on a notepad, and wake up with the words all typed out.

     I’ve fallen asleep and kept writing before. It’s happened on both the typewriter and the notebook. What comes out is… interesting to say the least.

700. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:08 pm eGoogle’s been doing some revamping, updating, etc. That means they break everything and then rebuild it. The Commune, Kristine’s site, and my e-mail were all haphazard for the past couple of days. Likewise, Neil Gaiman’s blog, which runs on a variant of Blogger, as far as I know (it always has). It was very frustrating. You don’t realize how large a chunk of your internet time Google owns until it gets sketchy.
701. Lori Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:34 pm eIt’s just funny because yesterday, I had my 2nd highest number of page views and 2nd highest number of unique visitors. The only day higher was Monday.
702. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 14, 2007 at 9:47 pm eI’m with Jeanne in regards to Kristine’s question. I have no idea what is or isn’t a marketable work. I keep working on it until it’s finished and it’s the best piece it can be then I submit it and let others decide if they think it’s marketable.
703. Cath Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 6:06 am eI’m sorry guys, I’m out. I’m strung as tight as a violin at the moment, and something has to give – this is honestly the only thing that can.

     Best wishes and happy writing to you all – and don’t forget to tell me where to send the tea!

704. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 6:15 am eBut…but…I loved you!

     (da na dun..dun..dun…another one bits the dust…da na dun..dun..dun…and another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust…hey, I’m gonna get you too (AJ), another one bites the dust!)

705. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 7:06 am e“I’m sorry guys, I’m out. I’m strung as tight as a violin at the moment, and something has to give – this is honestly the only thing that can.”

     You can come and join me on the porch swing and watch the fun.

706. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 9:01 am eAww man! Well, as much as I enjoy violin music (prefer the fiddle) you’ll still hang out with us Cool Kids, yes?
707. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 10:47 am eBummer. But I understand, Cath. I hope you’ll still keep writing, but without any pressure.

     Yesterday was a cruddy day. Killer headache, sucky day at work, and I barely managed to squeak out a thousand words. But today, my day has opened up and I had an acceptance for a short story waiting in my inbox. Yay! And I have 3 days off next week for Thanksgiving. I may take a fourth off or just work a half day. Helloooooooo word count!

     I hope everyone is finding what they need in TGTD. I’m finding out a lot about myself as I writer and how I work best. I’ve finished my book and I have a clearer idea of where I want my writing to go. This makes TGTD a great success for me whether I get tea or not.

708. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 10:52 am eThe Tea Debacle has been the best, most momentous occasion of my life. And if that sounds over-dramatic…well, maybe it is. But it was the catalyst of a lot of stuff that had been happening in my head: I am, as of this moment, an entirely separate person than who I was in October, in terms of how I think, how I write, how I read, everything. Everything’s changed. So this has been terrific.
709. tjwriter Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 11:06 am eSo long as you enjoy your change.
710. tjwriter Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 11:18 am ePerhaps I should add that this has been one of those Really Good experiences for me too. I’ve met people I would like to continue to have discussions with, as I find them really cool and interesting. People I would care to meet or meet and actually get to speak with if your name is Lori.
711. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 11:27 am eIt has helped me find a way to, metaphorically speaking, pull hard on that massive steering well and get this ship finally turned in a new, better direction. And it’s helping me free up my brain from the interwebbies and focus more on the writing. Banning myself from AW was a big step, in an odd way. I both love and loath that place, and feel better for some perspective.
712. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 2:24 pm eOh, noes! Cath & Ed are both out. Hope you stop by to visit from time to time!

     I know I’ve been a bit scarce, but I ain’t done. In fact, I’m just now getting re-engaged (after my conference and nightmare week of getting caught up). BUT, I have next week scheduled for vacation, so –watch out! I realize I have a ways to go, but I’m still in the game!

     Scotty! Prepare for warp speed!

     

713. Lori Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 2:25 pm eConfession? I’ll make it here since it’ll quickly get lost and buried. I’m always surprised when people online look forward to meeting me in the flesh and indicate they think I’m “interesting” or that they like my comments and discussions. The reason I talked to the people I did at NASFic was basically they talked to me first or else someone introduced us. When NASFic ended and people on AW posted, “Oh, I didn’t get a chance to speak to Lori. I saw her, but…” I was a bit taken aback and felt bad that I never thought that people would want to meet me.
714. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 2:35 pm eI’m never surprised when people online indicate no interest in meeting me.

     *hops on big wheel and peddles loudly down the sidewalk*

715. tjwriter Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 2:41 pm eI wanna talk to all of you!

     Nasfic was surprisingly big, so I didn’t talk to as many people as I’d hoped. Of course, it would have helped if I could have arrived earlier than Sat. morning.

     Once again next year it’s scheduled for a bad weekend for me.

716. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 2:44 pm eWell, it’s not that I don’t want to talk to you people in real life, it’s just that…

     ok, I lied, it’s exactly that. :p

717. Cath Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 2:45 pm eYou lot are nuts. (I mean that as a compliment!). I’d love to meet any and all of you.

     Yeah, I’ll stick around, and I’m going to keep writing the novel, but I can’t push any harder at the moment, I’m a wreck.

718. Jeanne Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 3:31 pm eErm…what’s Nasfic?

     And, I think I’m a letdown in person, because I am in person exactly like I am online.

719. tjwriter Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 3:37 pm eIt’s a convention in St. Louis.

     And I really meant that our AW group at the con was surprisingly big. There’s a thread in the Meet & Great section of the AW boards.

720. Lori Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 4:11 pm eNASFic is the North American Science Fiction Convention and it’s held in North America whenever WorldCon is not. Both WorldCon and NASFic use another, established con as “hosts.” This year, NASFic was hosted by ArchCon in Collinsville, IL, just outside St. Louis. [/pedantic]
721. tjwriter Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 4:45 pm eYeah, whatever she said. The archon site is blocked by work, so I can’t get the official info. It’s pretty nifty to go and check out all the cool stuff.
722. carrieinpa Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 6:02 pm eI still need Ed’s address for the goodie I’m sending everyone. They’re having “stocking issues” *grrrrrrrrrrrr* but I’m supposedly going to have them in my hands before the end of the month.
723. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 15, 2007 at 10:45 pm e(da na dun..dun..dun…another one bits the dust…da na dun..dun..dun…and another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust…hey, I’m gonna get you too (AJ), another one bites the dust!)

     Uh-huh. I’m writing and I’m at a convention for the hobby that was the former love of my life. Not so many hours to write, but I’m not terribly worried.

     I did technically get what I wanted to get out of GTD–to get serious about writing.

     Back to teh Amrikun novl.

724. Jeanne Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 10:53 am eBook 3 is demanding to go over 110K. I figure I’ll let it and cut it down in line edits…you know, after NaNo and TGTD are over. Book 4 is impatiently tapping its foot, rarin’ to go. On the plus side, I have a lot of time open today to get caught up on all my work so I have the weekend clear. On the other side, I have to spend much time in markets, since I don’t have our turkey ordered yet…ah well, it’s the stressful insanity that makes my life what it is. Whatever that may be…
725. Shadow_Ferret Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 12:02 pm eCarrie,
     I dropped out of the race and can’t in good conscience accept any gifts.
     Thank you,
     Ed
726. tjwriter Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 12:25 pm eOh, Ed, we still love you. It’s a participation gift. You participated. ‘nough said.

     It’s so quiet out here in the blogosphere today. I miss Pete!

727. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 1:25 pm e*sniffle*

     Lori, should we order onions to go with our chopped liver ?

     

728. tjwriter Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 2:21 pm eI like you and Lori, Kristine. Sheesh! You’re ruining my plan to make Pete feel guilty and bring him back to the distraction of the blogosphere.
729. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 2:27 pm eOh, he’s distracted. *rubs hands together laughing* He’s definitely distracted.
730. carrieinpa Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 4:27 pm eIt’s not a gift. There will be an invoice in the envelope. Promise.
731. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 4:38 pm eWith the proper 240% markup, yes?
     
732. Jeanne Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 5:27 pm eSo, by my count…only Pete, Lori and Kristine are NOT chopped liver.

     No worries. The rest of us will be over at the deli, getting eaten. So to speak…

733. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 16, 2007 at 9:46 pm eDice me up. I enjoy it. I’m still just puttering along at my own pace. Pete? Did there used to be a Pete around here? Dunno that I remember any such person.
734. tjwriter Says:
     November 17, 2007 at 7:26 am eYep, Jeanne, you got right.

     I like all you folks, so there.

735. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 17, 2007 at 9:40 am eYou mean you like all the folks here not named Pete, right Tori? Cause there is no Pete. Never was a Pete. I’ve never even heard of such a name before.
736. mscelina Says:
     November 17, 2007 at 8:03 pm e*crankin’ crankin’ crankin’*

     Just thought you ought to know. Terella’s in rewrites. *grin*

737. mscelina Says:
     November 17, 2007 at 8:04 pm eoh and by the way *sniffle* my little line still looks so….well….little

     no number from last week. dang. oh well. my number tomorrow should make up for it.

738. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 17, 2007 at 9:37 pm eMine will be pitiful in comparison, but bigger than it is now. It’s all good.
739. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 17, 2007 at 9:47 pm eMy numbers won’t impress from this week, but I have great plans for next week.

     And I bought a new pen!

740. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 18, 2007 at 3:07 pm eYay for the new pen. I bought a donkey.

     And no, I”m not kidding. Actually I bought him last week and you’d know all about that if you hadn’t banned yourself, Kristine. He’s an 8 mo old mini and cuuuuuuuuuuute.

741. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 18, 2007 at 4:05 pm eAwww! When we set up your blog in December, you can post photos of him And I’m getting good with WordPress, so you can pick either WordPress (more features and prettier) or Blogger.
742. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 18, 2007 at 5:08 pm eFeatures are only good if you can use them. Whichever one is more user friendly is the one for me. Remember that I’m an idiot about technology.
743. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 18, 2007 at 6:14 pm eYou’ll be a pro in no time! Probably blogger to start, it’s easiest for the unfamiliar, then we can always morph you over to word press.
744. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 18, 2007 at 7:31 pm eBlogger it is. Wait until you see pics of my little guy. He’s only about 30 inches tall. And he now hee haws to welcome me anytime I go outside. He’s too cute.
745. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 19, 2007 at 12:20 am eDefinitely Blogger. I still use Blogger, and I’m a techie. Albeit one that no longer wants to worry about server space, or at least not again for a while.

     My numbers suck hard for this week. Hope to make it up over the next few days. I dropped five thousand words that didn’t work for the new book because I screwed up the new main character’s personality (despite having written an entire book earlier to work it out)–and am not counting them. Back to a little over 10,000 in the new book as of tonight. Not that great, barely breaking even.

746. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 19, 2007 at 7:51 am eGraph updated, folks.
747. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 19, 2007 at 12:41 pm eWow! Everyone’s doing so well! Will be interesting to see the next update, since a couple of folks have finished their WIP.

     Will they choose to polish their prose or plunge into the next story???

     

748. mscelina Says:
     November 19, 2007 at 4:51 pm eI’m a dork. I’m a dork. I’m a dork.

     Mea culpa. Sorry.

     122k.

749. Jeanne Says:
     November 19, 2007 at 4:58 pm eBook 3 is done! Book 3 is done! Read-through tonight/tomorrow morning, Book 4 begins…uh…shortly because it’s standing there, shouting, “Just start me! You know you want to! We have the opening! Start me, start meeeeeeeeee!” And, you know, I can only take so much whining before I cave.
750. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 19, 2007 at 9:18 pm eDecember is for polish. November is for writing.

     Good go Celina and Jeanne!

751. Jeanne Says:
     November 20, 2007 at 7:50 pm e*cough* Master WIP does not agree. Finished the read-through on Book 3 today; it’s ending up at 130,155 before beta and line edit. Happy with the way it moved, so all’s well and I can get back to insane numbers. Book 4’s already started *sigh*.
752. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 21, 2007 at 2:29 am e:points at Lori’s blog where the new question for the week has appeared:

     http://loribasiewicz.blogspot.com/

753. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 21, 2007 at 11:26 am eJust one? A favorite sentence. Hmmmm. Gonna have to think on that. I have favorite moments and favorite scenes. But to pluck out a sentence is hard.
754. Jeanne Says:
     November 21, 2007 at 12:04 pm eYeah, um…I have a LOT of favorite lines. Geez…why is Lori making us THINK? Is it her subtle ploy to slow us down and make us trip it up? Huh…yeah…sneaky…

     I’ll ponder that while I clean my house…

755. Ed Pahule Says:
     November 21, 2007 at 12:10 pm eWow. I sure am glad I dropped out. I have no favorite lines. From ANYTHING I’ve ever written.
756. Lori Says:
     November 21, 2007 at 12:16 pm eIt doesn’t have to be a single line. An exchange, a scene, a moment… They’re all good. I’m using three paragraphs that are a mix of dialogue and action. Together, the three paragraphs total about 90 words.
757. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 21, 2007 at 7:57 pm eOh cool. I can do a snippet. Now I have something to ponder over Thanksgiving dinner.
758. Lori Says:
     November 21, 2007 at 10:02 pm eI have no favorite lines. From ANYTHING I’ve ever written.

     Ed, if this is true, it’s really, really sad.

759. Jeanne Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 1:41 am eHappy Thanksgiving to all!
760. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 8:21 am eHappy Turkey Day!
761. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 11:35 am eHappy Thankgiving, everyone.

     And Lori?

     It wasn’t a sad thing. I don’t mean it like I have no good lines, I meant it like I don’t think that way. I couldn’t name a favorite line from anything. I guess I don’t break things down like that. I have favorite scenes, favorite passages, but a line? No. I can’t recognize good lines and only notice them when other’s point them out. If I went to a movie, I’d come out enjoying the movie as a whole whereas others would come out quoting catch phrases and I’d be like, “That was in the movie?”

     *shrugs*

762. Jeanne Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 2:42 pm eI’m all over the catchprahses, but I’m also sort of with Ed. My theory is that if I don’t like a line the third time I read it, the line needs to go or be changed. Not saying every line I write is just brilliant, stop you dead sort of stuff, but it had better do its job well or it gets relegated to the “deleted scenes” document and another, better line takes its place.
763. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 3:01 pm eYou can always define “favorite line” a little more loosely. A favorite dialogue exchange. A joke. A witty rejoinder. Easy. For example:

     “Ain’t nothin’ twixt’d my nethers all year wasn’t run on batteries.”

     “Oh God! I can’t know that!”

     “…I could stand to hear a bit more…”

     See? Three random lines from Serenity (it’s easy when you’re quoting Joss Whedon).

     “Didn’t we have an intricate plan on how they was gonna be NOT here anymore?”

     Easy peasy. Just pick something you’re proud of, that you think reads enjoyably on its own. Barring that, just pick some random words. Barring THAT…um…Well, go write something witty and pretend it came from your manuscript.

764. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 3:01 pm e(for five dollars, I’ll do a witty exchange for anyone who needs it.)
765. Lori Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 8:11 pm eSee, you guys are looking at it from a writer standpoint. You’re being too technical and analytical with the question (and for me to say someone else is being too analytical is really saying something.) For me, favorite lines are about the exchanges that might not be “key” to the story, but show the characters just being themselves. Their guards are down. They’ve forgotten they may not be completely able to trust everyone around them. They’re not thinking. They’re not planning or strategizing or manipulating anyone. They’re just living in the moment. They’re the lines that make me smile every time I read them, despite the fact that I’m the one who wrote them, and make me say, “Man, I really like these people.” (Not characters, but people.) They are the lines that real and true at a level beyond Story.
766. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 8:25 pm eAh, the favorite lines that we really had fun writing.

     I had a “serious favorite couple lines” from the first book, which is rather philosophical in nature (though that didn’t come out until later, as a result of which the rewrite will be way better than the first draft).

     And then I had a somewhat long (for a short excerpt) exchange from the second book, which is more along the lines of fun action. Character development lines, which please me very much.

767. Jeanne Says:
     November 22, 2007 at 11:25 pm eI just had trouble picking a favorite exchange that wasn’t overly long and didn’t require some kind of explanation to make sense if read out of nowhere. I also had to pick fast, because I ended up re-reading vast passages going, “Oh, love this. Love this. This was great. Yeah, excellent.” And so on.

     *shrugs* What can I say? I follow the Gertrude Stein method and write for me, first, ergo, I pretty much like everything I write.

768. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 9:11 am eI guess I have trouble recognizing something that will stand alone. I can’t remove context. Because, the lines I do like need the context of the entire book to be understood. They don’t stand alone, and if I said, “Different windows,” that has tons of meaning in context, but none to anyone who hasn’t read my book, which at this point is everyone but me and JC.
769. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 12:19 pm eThere is nothing wrong with non-sequitar quotes.

     “Now, there are two ways we can go about this,” he said, as calmly as if we were discussing something entirely normal and everyday. “You could struggle, and I would kill you. Or you can come with me without struggling, and I won’t kill you just yet. Which option do you want?”

     I stopped struggling.

     He leaned over me, and smiled. “Ah, the smart option.”

     There is obviously context missing here–why does he want to kill the POV character? It doesn’t matter on an amusement level though.

     Damn. He would be smug about that, too, which seemed worse than getting clocked by a beautiful woman.

     Smug about what? Doesn’t matter.

     “Oh, I think we’ll do better than that,” she said, and stuck her hand into her cleavage, and revealed a couple of 500 dollar bills. When she saw my face, she said, “I’m an assassin for a shadow operation, Vance. Sometimes I have to bribe a higher level of administrator than _that_.

     Lack of context alters what that meant, but it’s still funny. I’m willing to let the finer meaning go.

     Introspective moments are wonderful areas for mining, because they tend to be about the human condition; yadda yadda yadda.

     I thought back to a time, before her affair, when staying with her had been a sort of delicate torture, seeing her and feeling her constantly by my side. My mind would ache after a night with her, spent breathless between the sheets, my love for her filling my soul until it spilled over. That state of happy pain was one I had gladly escaped from every morning, but one I had to return to every night–reluctant, but not _too_ reluctant. I tried to recapture those moments of breathless anticipation as I ran to the AirTrain station, the giddiness that made me smile at the light-pocketed night outside the window, eagerness that made me hurry home under the starlight-shadow of the trees. Opening the door, seeing her….

     And then that world in my head, warm and full of light, broke like a glass toy in my hand, giving way to a growingly familiar desperation and despair.

     I thought all the lines in my drafts were too dependent, until I thought about how I would quote from other books, then just applied the principles to mine.

770. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 12:25 pm eOf course his mind ached after a night spent with her. He was breathless! That makes my head hurt. He’s lucky he didn’t have brain damage. That must have been some dame between the sheets.

     She was a looker, that one, and I mean she looked all right. She was a talker too, but that’s easy to stop, you just gotta kiss ‘em right. And in the night, when the lights are down and the city sleeps, neither of those things matter, ’cause that’s when you find out if she’s a mover and a shaker too. An’ she was both. Like an iron lung with a bag spark plug, that dame left me breathless. I fell for her hard, an’ like a car with a bad muffler, it made my plans backfire.

     Of course, the easiest way out of the problem is just to randomly make up an interesting piece of text.

771. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 2:22 pm e:thwacks Pete over the head for using dialect markers:

     At least, “an’” is unforgiveable, and also inconsistently used.

     Anyways, I thought you were isolating from the net or whatnot for the purposes of writing Huge Amounts of Words to Frighten Us All.

772. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 2:23 pm eI didn’t have no trouble findin’ a piece to send in. I had trouble findin’ ONE to send, but the one I did send is special because it speaks to the relationship these two MC’s have developed between themselves over the years. And they can be read without any knowledge of what happend before or what takes place after. Either that, or I’m an idiot.

     That was NOT multiple choice, people!

773. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 2:29 pm eOh, save me from using an unforgivable “an.” Oh! Oh!
774. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 3:14 pm eI only picked one from each work for the question, and they aren’t here.

     :thwacks Pete again:

     Twice an an’!

     You like it, don’t you?

775. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 5:24 pm eIn dialect, EVERYTHING is inconsistently used. I hate it when someone very methodically says “runnin’” in every sentence. People don’t speak consistently, not least of all when less educated, or with accents that change depending on the sentence. So an “an’” one place and an “and” another place is fine.

     Like dialog, some people do it differently. Unless you were quoting one of those ironclad writing rules at me, and you know I’m just going to give you a look.

776. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 6:01 pm eI’m quite aware that dialect is loose and inconsistent, because people tend not to be, but the ear for dialect is a difficult thing. And really, it’s the “an’” that does it for me.

     I can stand a lot of things apart from “an’”. I’m pretty sure people put in a full ‘and’, as much as it can be with such a soft ‘d’ most of the time, even in the most cultured of speakers. You might as well write soft ands most of the time for *everybody*.

     I think it’s a fake marker, pretty much; decorative, but not much else. There are plenty of other ways to say “lower level of education” without resorting to untrue markers.

     Ironclad rule of writing? I’m not referring to any, because there aren’t any. I am, however, just pointing out that the ear for dialect rings false and annoys me.

     Then again, I like language too frickin’ much.

777. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 6:08 pm eI do, however, forgive dialect wherever Terry Pratchett and Nac Mac Feegles are concerned.

     Glasgowegian… a whole ‘nother frickin’ language.

778. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 10:33 pm eWell, I’m sorry you didn’t like it, I guess. There is a world of difference between the use of “and” and the use of “an’.” That said, it’s worth remembering that the “dialect” I was going for up there was “bad 20’s and 30’s pulp writer,” and not an actual dialect. So I’d really not worry about it. It was a joke, after all.

     Anyway, moving on.

779. Lori Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 11:15 pm eThe idea that dialect is inconsistent really isn’t true. There are patterns, as there is in much of nature. While individuals may not always drop a ‘d’ or a ‘g’ at the end of a word, the times when they will or do are pretty much consistent. If it is not done all the time, it will normally be done after a certain other sound or after certain other markers. This is what makes a dialect recognizable as a dialect. There are internal rules and structure that the speakers follow, whether they realize it or not. “Rules,” as such, do not have to be written, “officially” correct, or taught in a classroom in order to be valid.

     Arachne, while the pronunciation of “an’” may not be accurate in your experience, that does not mean in other contexts, regions, or areas it is never used. Additionally, Pete may be trying to create a general atmosphere or a feeling, regardless of historical accuracy. In that case, the question is, “Does it work for the story he is telling?” In the excerpt posted, it seems to, although this may not be the best place to critique and judge each other’s work, especially given the relatively small sampling posted.

780. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 23, 2007 at 11:42 pm eCertainly there are rules and consistencies, and I am aware of them in a given dialog that I use. I can look at the past buncha-thousand words of Nondescript and say that I know exactly what I’m doing with each dialect I’m using. And I’m using a lot of them.

     But sometimes dropping a “d,” but it gives me a tone of voice, a rhythm of word, which are vitally important. They are the same reason, for example, that the sentence structure of that piece I wrote above is the way it is. There’s a pattern to it.

     People talk how they talk. It’s interesting to figure out, and it’s a delight to mimic correctly, but it’s pretty far away from the rules of language. They don’t apply. Or rather, perverted versions of them apply.

     Anyway, it was just a joke paragraph, that above. It was as accurate and meant to be taken seriously as the film noir piece I wrote on Lori’s blog in the “Time to Concede” post. It’s just me making fun of those great Crime Noir pulp writers, or those terrific old movies full of men with mustaches and suits and fedoras and “dames.” It’s the same culture and tone which Frank Miller mocks, lovingly, in Sin City. That’s it.

781. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 12:29 am eJoking around on my part doesn’t communicate well over the net does it….

     I knew it was a joke paragraph, hence the friendly thwacks, smilies, and allusions to S&M. I wouldn’t have trotted out the twitch on dialect if it weren’t a joke paragraph.

     And I got to puzzle out my dislike of “an’”, which I never thought out before, and added the frickin’ (twice) and the Pratchett/Nac Mac Feegle references for humor.

     Sorry about the insensitivity… I’ll work on it some more.

782. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 4:57 am eNo, it’s too late, I’m irrevocably damaged for life. Everyone I write now will sound like E.B. White.
783. Jeanne Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 11:15 am enot e.b. white, pete! no, do not go there!

     *Note: Love E.B. White, at least, I did as a kid. If I’m thinking of the correct author when I say that. I haven’t had a full cup of coffee yet, so accurate thinking is in no way a given.

784. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 11:51 am eIn fact, the E.B. White I suspect you’re talking about is the same one I’m talking about. We’re just talking about different books. E.B. White wrote “The Elements of Style,” (or at least, expanded the original little book written by William Strunk), one of the only books on writing that a writer should read and pay attention to. However, E.B. White was ALSO well known for his children’s books, which included “Charlotte’s Web” and “Stuart Little.”

     So we’re both accurate.

785. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 12:58 pm eE.B. White also wrote non-fiction books, lots of great essays, and poetry. One of the virtuosos.

     Not sure why, but Zinsser’s _On Writing Well_ has an introduction that amuses me so:

     One of the pictures hanging in my office in mid-Manhattan is a photograph of the writer E.B. White. It was taken by Jill Krementz when White was 77 years old, at his home in North Brooklin, Maine. A white-haired man is sitting on a plain wooden bench at a plain wooden table–three boards nailed to four legs–in a small boathouse. The window is open to a view across the water. White is typing on a manual typewriter, and the only other objects are an ashtray and a nail keg. The keg, I don’t have to be told, is his wastebasket.

     Many people from many corners of life–writers and aspiring writers, students and former students–have seen that picture. They come to talk through a writing problem or to catch me up on their lives. But usually it doesn’t take more than a few minutes for their eye to be drawn to the old man sitting at the typewriter. What gets their attention is the simplicity of the process. White has everything he needs: a writing implement, a piece of paper, and a receptacle for all the sentences that didn’t come out the way he wanted them to.

     There are some interesting quotes from White in _The Courage to Write_, too.

     I like him as a writer and also…as a writer.

786. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 5:24 pm eOne other aspect of dialog and dialect I like to incorporate is based on my own – in that, I’ll begin to speak less correctly as I get tired. If I’ve had a busy day, especially if that day involved an overly large amount of time spent talking, by the evening my own diction has deteriorated and I’ll start using a personal slang that basically only my sister can comprehend. I have one MC who will do that on occasions when he’s extremely exhausted, he’ll lose the ability to speak full sentences, so his friend begins to finish them for him.
787. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 7:44 pm eDialect can be very situational. I speak differently when I’m in the court room addressing a jury than I would sitting outside trying to get information from a long haul trucker about how an accident happened.

     We speak differently with those we are closest too. Everyone forms their own version of shorthand.

     Dialect isn’t just about words or catchphrases, it’s rhythm and flow, the way the words fit together. It is consistent, but the consistency isn’t always apparent.

     My .02

788. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 7:46 pm eI have a bad habit with regards to dialect, in person.

     I tend to slip into different dialects. Not just because I’m making a joke, but because I simply feel like talking differently for a while. Sometimes I won’t have noticed that I’ve fallen from one into another, often without regard for whether I’m tired or not, whether the subject is difficult or not, whether I’m explaining a work thing or a hobby thing, etc. There isn’t any pattern or rule I apply except for “I feel like doing this for a while”, although I’m fairly consistent within any one dialect.

     This ranges as anything from cultured with only a slight Midwestern twang, to slightly foreign (French or Asian), to slack-jawed gal from the farming districts, to any other dialects I manage to pick up from people and get fond of. I stay away from Italian, and I have never managed to accidentally fall into being English or over-pronouncing non-existent H’s.

     I will spend hours one way or the other. Just Because.

     It seems different from what other people do. I listen to word usage even if I don’t always listen-listen.

789. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 7:46 pm eExactly so! Gold star for Mary.
790. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 7:48 pm eAnd I agree with Mary about the rhythm and flow. Word choice and placement is what distinguishes dialect from dialect, and what moves it away from merely “accent”.
791. Jeanne Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 8:30 pm eI, and a couple of good friends of mine, have “ears” for dialect. I can be with someone about 3 minutes and I start talking just like them. I sound like a native speaker of whatever dialect or accent in about 5 minutes, tops.

     This was GREAT when I was a telemarketer selling around the U.S. I had the best numbers in the South for anyone in my Los Angeles-based company.

     This is NOT so great now that I work for Corporate America and routinely talk to people all over the world, who KNOW I’m an American from the Southwest and therefore feel, should I slip into it, that I’m mocking them. I’m not, I just do it unconsciously.

     Had to learn how to NOT do this unconsciously. But, the plus side is that I can understand a lot of different accents if I have myself on mute (on phone calls) and talk back to them. In about 3-5 minutes, less if it’s a French accent, I know what they’re saying.

     Humans. We are always interesting, in our own odd little ways.

792. Lori Says:
     November 24, 2007 at 10:35 pm eThere are studies by linguists about the way people learn and acclimate to different regional ways of speaking. The first part of a person’s speech pattern that will change is their word choice. Frex: Skillet, pan, or frying pan; soda, pop, sodie, sodie pop, or coke. Pronunciation shifts, rhythms, different patterns, come later.

     It all comes down to our desire to communicate and be understood by others.

793. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 25, 2007 at 7:52 pm eI studied sociolinguistics in college and was smitten. If I wasn’t about to graduate and go to law school, I probably would delved heavily into the area. I highly recommend taking classes in that area if the opportunity ever arises.

     Word choices are easy to change. Look how easily we can assimilate new words into our lexicon. A few years ago, I would never have used words like “texting” and “googling” and yet now they are so common that my mother uses them–and she has never been on the internet in her life.

     Pronunciation is more difficult but is achieved with time. My mother is from Maine, but has lived in Texas for long enough that she hass a Texas twang to some of her words.

     But the rhythms and patterns of her speech are still Mainiac. She’s never lost them. They tend to be so embedded in our subconcious that we aren’t aware of them.

794. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 5:41 pm e:pokes the graph:
795. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 5:56 pm eThat didn’t seem to work, Arachne. Hm.

     *bangs graph with fist*

796. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 6:02 pm e*TILT*
797. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 6:22 pm eJackpot!

     

     Thanks, Pete

798. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 7:22 pm e*TILT. TILT. TILT. TILT.*

     Bad Command or File name.>

     Abort, Retry, Fail?>

799. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 7:35 pm eError. Error. Does not compute.

     “SELECT * FROM users WHERE clue > 0″

800. Jeanne Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 8:03 pm ePete killed the graph!
801. Lori Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 8:40 pm eI hope Pete has a saved version somewhere.
802. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 8:42 pm eOh noes!

     F A I L!

803. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:15 pm eYo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate’s life for me . . .
804. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:19 pm eWe pillage, we plunder, we rifle, we loot,
     Drink up, me hearties, yo ho.
805. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:20 pm eWe kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot,
     Drink up, me hearties, yo ho.
806. Lori Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:26 pm eFIRST pillage THEN burn.
807. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:30 pm eI have a graph program, but I don’t have the numbers for anybody but me and an approximately one for Jeanne.

     Let me know if you need an alternate, Pete. http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph is very nice.

808. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:34 pm eNo, AJ, it’s no use. All is lost. “Castle Debacle” has swept all asunder & we shall perish under the crushing waves upon the rocks. O! but if we were in a boat, truly wouldst we face a “Shipwreck” upon hither shores. Nay, fair maiden, thee with flaxen locks, pale as rosy-fingered dawn, I beseech thee: Turn not your face from this page, for lo! shall a graph & further tiding appear, yonder on Frey’s day.
809. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:35 pm eOh, I see. Suspense.
810. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:39 pm eAnd really bad eggs.
811. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:42 pm eBad eggs can be good.
812. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:44 pm eNot according to that dude on the Food Network who eats weird stuff.

     I am equally horrified, having seen how they’re made. Bleh!

813. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:47 pm eI do not like Green Eggs and Ham.
814. Lori Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:53 pm eThat gives a whole new meaning to Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham and makes me think of the NF piece that must be coming out in Coyote Wild’s next issue, since I don’t see it in the current issue or in the archives.
815. Lori Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 9:53 pm eMelissa: Jinx.
816. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:01 pm eThey’re not as bad as Balut.

     (No link provided. You google it, it’s not my fault.)

817. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:04 pm eI don’t need to Google. I know what that is. *WHAP*
818. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:06 pm eWe need some good music all up in here.
819. Jeanne Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:08 pm eI think this is Pete’s clever ploy to avoid paying the winner their duly won tea. The graph is fine, he’s just kidnapped it and locked it away in a high tower, waiting for Sir Lancelot to come save it.

     (I’d sing the “He’s going to tell” song now, but I think that would mess up the pirate theme.)

     Why is the rum always gone?

820. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:12 pm eJeanne is very astute.

     She’s wrong, but she’s very astute.

     (Er. That makes her Not Very Astute, doesn’t it?)

821. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:21 pm eWhy does Jeanne’s ass toot? :wonders off pondering and swigging from the last bottle of rum:
822. Lori Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:25 pm eThe word of Montague her joys did overthrow,
     And straight instead of happy hope, despair began to grow.
     ‘What hap have I,’ quoth she, ‘to love my father’s foe?’
     What, am I weary of my weal? What, do I wish my woe?’
     But though her grievous pains distrain’d her tender heart,
     Yet with an outward show of joy she cloaked inward smart,
     And of the courtlike dames her leave so courtly took
     That none did guess the sudden change by changing of her looks….
823. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:36 pm eAh good. Shakesbirol is here to raise the brow level.
824. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:48 pm e

     Someone needs to rewrite the Pirates of the Caribbean dialogue in iambic pentameter!

825. Lori Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:48 pm eYeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Can I help it that I’m reading 16th century poetry at 11 o’clock at night? I’m having to make notes of words to look up because the meanings have shifted after five centuries or the words themselves have gone out of favor.

     It’s fascinating, but so is most writing.

     That’s actually not Shakespeare. It’s really amazing how close the poem written by the other guy and Shakespeare’s play do parallel one another.

     Um… I’ve gotten pedantic again, haven’t I? Okay, back to reading and making notes.

826. Jeanne Says:
     November 26, 2007 at 10:49 pm eS’Mom? My ass doesn’t toot.

     It sings, baby.

827. MidnightMuse Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 12:18 am eWhat do you do with a drunken writer.
     What do you do with a drunken writer.
     What do you do with a drunken writer.
     Earl-y in the mornin’.
828. Jeanne Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 1:31 am eYo, ho, give ‘em pencils,
     Yo, ho, give ‘em pencils,
     Yo, ho, give ‘em pencils,
     So they can write something.
829. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 2:00 am ehttp://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/11/pencils2mediamoguls.html
830. tjwriter Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 8:36 am eMorning, writers!

     I forgot my vitamins at home today, and I have a rather awesome headache. How are you all doing?

831. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 9:30 am e*rum hangover*

     To heck with vitamins. Who has aspirin?

832. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 9:49 am eTo heck with the aspirin, who has some more rum!?
833. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 9:53 am eMyrum. MYrum!! *tucks bottle under shirt, runs for exit*
834. Lori Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 10:00 am eI’m not telling you where the unopened bottle of rum I won in a writing race last November is stashed!
835. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 10:10 am eUNopened? *fans self* The only place I’ve ever seen one ‘o them was right thar in the Rum store!
836. tjwriter Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 10:37 am eYou lot and your rum.

     I’m taking a nice dose of ibuprofen as this headache is a doozy. Or I’m a floozy. Or something. Whatever.

837. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 10:50 am eI suggest Ginseng tea. It might as well be called Every Vitamin B and Other Antioxidants Tea.
838. carrieinpa Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 11:02 am eRed rum! Red rum! reeeedruuummmm!!!

     *looks around*

     Oh.

     Nevermind…

839. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 11:12 am eFloozy? Someone’s a floozy?

     I’m hungry for waffles all of a sudden.

840. Jeanne Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 11:32 am eWhy is the rum always gone?

     Oh.

     That’s why.

841. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 2:05 pm eRedrum? Why is Jack Nicholson here and what has he done with all of the red rum?
842. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 2:15 pm eSo is Castle Debacle a competing writing competition? And they’re interfering with our own competition? Is that what I’m seeing here?
843. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 2:17 pm eOnly the Shadow knows!
     
844. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 3:15 pm eCastle Debacle invaded and stole all the words, but we took their rum while their backs were turned. I call that a more than fair trade.

     Will write for rum!

845. carrieinpa Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 4:34 pm eCount von DeBacle is going to be pissed when he discovers his rum is missing.
846. tjwriter Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 4:41 pm eThat’s what happens when you let drunk monkeys into your castle. He brought it on himself.
847. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 27, 2007 at 6:36 pm eKeep an eye out for Major Fiasco. I understand he’s hot on the trail of smuggled rum.

     If he asks, you haven’t seen me, k?

     *peals out in Miami Vice ferrari with tags that read ‘RM RNR’*

848. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 5:07 am eIt’s so quiet around here. Like someone has a sick baby and people are sleeping. Sheesh! The nerve.
849. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 8:16 am eSleeping. Hahahahaha! At 5:07AM when you posted that, I was feeding Zach and trying not to fall asleep in the process. Sleep! SLEEP! HAHA! *goes mad*

     *has tea*

     I’m much better now.

850. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 8:32 am eMe? I was sleeping. Sleeping like a baby. Like a log. Like a baby log. Like a little lamb.

     :zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:

851. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 8:50 am eI used to do that, Pete. Prop the baby in your lap with a pillow so there is no falling, and do this leaning over dozing thing until the little one falls asleep or complains that the bottle is empty.

     I slept pretty solid last night. Yay!

852. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 8:54 am eThat’s how he sits and drinks. But instead of dozing and falling asleep while on top of him, I do the next best thing while mostly not conscious: I boot up the computer and answer a couple of e-mails.
853. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 8:56 am eIt’s good to have hobbies one can accomplish while sleeping soundly! I’m hoping to stay up really really late tonight getting some writing done, but I might need a quick nap on the couch after work in order to accomplish THAT !
854. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 9:01 am eThat’s why I was so sleepy. I tried staying up late to get some writing done. These days, it’s that “staying up late,” part that does me in. And Lapsang Souchon didn’t help. It betrayed me in my hour of dire need!
855. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 10:09 am ePete’s…complaining…about…tea?!

     *Faints*

856. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 10:12 am eIt was a minor tiff. Lapsang and I made up this morning.
857. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 10:19 am eI guess it happens to the best of the tea lovers.
858. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 10:19 am eSoccer mom slept like a baby?

     You mean she woke up every few hours crying, wanting a bottle, and having to be changed because she peed and pooed on herself?

     Ew.

859. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 10:24 am eJust to enforce the cliche, *MY* son eats at 10:00 in the evening, while I’m reading. Then, he goes to sleep. He wakes up, usually around 7:00-8:00 the next morning (when I’ve already been up for an hour) and I feed and change him.

     Hooray cliches!

860. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 10:38 am eLOL! I miss those quiet days. Now, I have a banshee. She’s been something else lately. I think part of it is that she’s outgrown her toys. It’s only a month until Christmas, so she’s not getting any new toys. We’re just all hanging on.
861. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 10:39 am eLOL! I miss those quiet days. Now, I have a banshee. She’s been something else lately. I think part of it is that she’s outgrown her toys. It’s only a month until Christmas, so she’s not getting any new toys. We’re just all hanging on.
862. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 10:51 am eWhich cliche? Sleeping like a baby, meaning you slept well? Or sleeping like a baby, meaning they wake up every couple of hours?

     Because my sons woke up every couple of hours when they were babies. That was if they ever fell asleep in the first place. Both of them were collicky and spent the evening from about 7pm until 1am crying uncontrollably. Or they’d wake up every few hours and I’d have to do the drive around at 2am in the car until they fell back asleep.

     I was so glad the day I discovered the sound of static. Something about white noise not only helped them fall asleep. Unfortunately, now I can’t watch an automobile race because the drone of the cars puts me immediately to sleep.

863. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:03 am eThe CLICHE of babies sleeping well, as opposed to the REAL LIFE ACCURACY of, er, your children, Ed.

     The only real problem we have right now is, Zach’s very aware and interested in my wife and I. That means that if he’s in the crib and is not actually sound asleep, we can’t be in the room. He wants to be with us, even if it’s just sitting propped up on a pillow next to me, watching TV. Being across the room from us drives him nuts. We’re also just now realizing that, when he gets in a bad mood and starts fussing and crying, (and if nothing else seems to be wrong), then the best thing we can do is put him in his crib and shut the door to the room. He cries and is really upset, sure, but a couple of minutes later, he’s sound asleep. He gets too stimulated, gets tired, but won’t go to sleep if we’re around. It drives my wife nuts, putting him crying in the other room and just leaving. But it works.

     Kids, huh? Sheesh.

864. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:09 am eBabies are high maintenance, but toddlers are a whole nother thing. It’s like the difference in dating Nikki Hilton (high maintenance) and Brittany Spears (high maintenance, unstable and completely cuckoo).

     Hang in there, Tori.

865. Jeanne Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:11 am eI can remember the days you’re all talking about if I squeeze my eyes tight and press my temples.

     I have a teenager. The plus side is they rarely wake up in the middle of the night. The reality is, you have to drag them out of bed every morning, after you’ve heard their alarm go off for an hour. Mine was a less picky eater when she was a baby than she is now, too. And “Mommy/Daddy watch me watch me” never goes out of style, they just do it in a different way as they get older.

866. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:11 am eI’m…not sure how it applies to the baby part of the metaphor, but I’m holding out for Rebecca Romijn.
867. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:14 am eI plan to go on book tour when Zach turns 13, and come back when he’s about 22.
868. Jeanne Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:22 am eActually, Veronica is MUCH easier for me to deal with as a teenager than she ever was as a baby/toddler/little girl. My husband handled the early stage like a total pro, I handle the teenage stage like a total pro, good division of labor. I’m getting ready to miss my teenager — she starts college next year. (How DID I get so OLD?) Hoping we did our jobs right and she becomes a young adult we both can be proud of and enjoy. So far, it’s looking pretty good.
869. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:31 am eWe’re also just now realizing that, when he gets in a bad mood and starts fussing and crying, (and if nothing else seems to be wrong), then the best thing we can do is put him in his crib and shut the door to the room. He cries and is really upset, sure, but a couple of minutes later, he’s sound asleep. He gets too stimulated, gets tired, but won’t go to sleep if we’re around. It drives my wife nuts, putting him crying in the other room and just leaving. But it works.

     We started having to do this with Piper when she was several months old. She just didn’t want to miss a thing but would fall asleep in less than five minutes usually. And I know how your wife feels. I cringed when it happened, but usually I could tell the difference between cries that would indicate that she was going to be asleep in the next few minutes and the times where there’s no way in heck that she’s going to sleep right now. We still sorta do that now. She fights it so hard. Just like her momma.

870. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:34 am eAww, he gets overstimulated and blows up, like when his daddy has too much ‘net and runs away screamin’
871. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 11:37 am e….damn effing internet…

     It’s a mom thing. They don’t want to hear their widdle baby in pain, or sadness, or something. My wife wants to climb the walls sometimes. It’s heartless, but I can just ignore it. If he’s fed, and changed and he doesn’t have gas and he’s screaming, then I shut him off and turn on music or something. I’m such a bad dad.

872. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 12:15 pm eThe good news is that teenage boys are –IMHO– much easier than girls. As long as they have sports/video games/graphic novels and tons of food in the fridge, they are happy and on your couch. Driving is the thing that scares me. Andrew drives anything and everything. I shudder in fear at the day he is old enough for a driver’s license.

     But they never grow out of the “Hey, look at me!”

873. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 12:21 pm eIt’s a mom thing. They don’t want to hear their widdle baby in pain, or sadness, or something.

     Just so you know, a baby’s crying triggers a hormonal response in a new mother. Or an old one even. I still feel that surge every once in awhile.

874. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 12:25 pm eAnd in those of us non-moms, it triggers this little anerism in the back of our brains that threatens to BURST if the baby isn’t quieted down!
875. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 12:26 pm eAneurysm, perhaps? And that’s the same one that’s triggered in dads. Also, our hair turns gray. Sigh.
876. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 1:25 pm eAnd yet people (most people) don’t seem to regret having kids (in a way that really counts)….
877. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 1:45 pm e I wanted a parrot. I don’t regret having a kid. Of course, the times I say that are usually when he’s asleep in the other room, or sitting silently on my wife’s lap. Once he starts occupying time and making it Not Writing Time, we’ll see.
878. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 1:46 pm eHey! You there, boy! You gall-durn kid, get offa my lawn this minute! Dang kids these days, ‘gonna cause me to have one o’them thar anerisms.
879. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 1:47 pm eI love my kids. They are great people and I would like being around them even if they weren’t mine. True cute kid stories. My eldest is Andrew and youngest is Alex.

     We are sitting on the couch watching “Dirty Jobs” and laughing uproariously at Mike Rowe being repeatedly bitten by non-venomous snakes.

     Me: I shouldn’t be laughing. I got bitten by a pet snake once and it really hurt.

     Andrew: I guess I’m lucky. I’ve never been bitten by any animal. :beat: Except for Alex.

     Alex: (sits up and looks at us. Considers. Then shrugs) It’s true.

     They were both so serious! Mwahahahah. Love my kids.

880. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 1:48 pm eOkay, that’s pretty cool. Also, that was a great episode of Dirty Jobs.
881. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 1:55 pm eSee? Kids get fun to hang with as they get older. They really do.
882. tjwriter Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 2:00 pm eKids are grand. Piper is so funny and so cool right now. But then she drives me crazy, but that’s really just human nature. You can’t love everyone all the time.

     Right now I am about to sip some Lipton Bavarian Wild Berry tea which has real pieces of fruit. It’s in one of those nifty pyramid tea bags. Actually really good. I like the light berry flavor, and I don’t add as much sugar as I normally do. Berries are da bomb, baby!

883. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 2:08 pm eMmmm. When I get home, I want a nice cup of Cinnamon Stick. It’s nothing more than black tea infused with cinnamon, but it’s a lovely afternoon tea and very mild when my tummy gets upset.
884. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 2:14 pm eThat’s an idea. I have these soft peppermint sticks at home that are EFFIN’ strong! I had one last night and could have restored the polar ice caps with my breath. Mayhaps I shall stir some black tea with one, see what comes of it.
885. Shadow Ferret Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 3:03 pm eOddly enough, I must be the only one WITH kids who feels as Midnight does.
886. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 4:05 pm eI have this coworker. He gets sick a lot. He still comes into work after everyone including our manager says “please don’t.” End result is that everybody in the team has gotten sick multiple times in the past several weeks.

     I made the mistake of coming into work this week.

     I need to stay home from work to be healthy, apparently. I must have “health days”. On the other hand, this means that I get the rest I’ve been missing out on, and of the two places I can write, in bed is fairly productive.

     (Writing. Better than sex.)

887. Jeanne Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 4:52 pm eAJ, NOTHING is better than sex. But writing comes darned close.

     Oh, and I got a package from Carrie today! TOO COOL! Many hugs and thanks, what a neat memento! (Did everyone else get theirs yet?)

888. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 5:38 pm e No goodie yet.

     But I do have a thingymablog.

889. carrieinpa Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 5:59 pm eHoly crap that was fast! Hopefully everyone else gets theirs before the end of the month!
890. Jeanne Says:
     November 28, 2007 at 6:00 pm eAnd totally cool! Thanks again, Carrie!
891. Arachne Jericho Says:
     November 29, 2007 at 5:15 am eA question for you all: How about a regular Friday thing?

     Honestly, this isn’t meant to distract my competition at all.

892. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 29, 2007 at 8:04 am eYour competition is indistracti
893. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 29, 2007 at 9:21 am eoooh! shiny, shiny!
894. Melissa (sanremoave) Says:
     November 29, 2007 at 3:39 pm eHey, Carrie,

     Got my package today –thank you so very much!!! Love them!

895. tjwriter Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 8:40 am eI can’t believe it’s almost over…
896. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 8:42 am e Who said anything about “over?” I know…
897. Soccer Mom Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 8:46 am e:sniffles: Still no package.

     Turn out the lights?

898. Pete Tzinski Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 8:47 am eNo package on my end either. Alas, Horatio…
899. mymidnightmuse Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 9:14 am eIt’s almost time to turn out the lights, then flip the switch
900. tjwriter Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 9:14 am eThe husband didn’t pick up the mail yesterday, so I have no idea if I have a package or not.

     I’d really like to have the time to plan one of the debacles way in advance so I can schedule some time off. Then I can really do some writing. I like my story, we just don’t get together that often.

901. Lori Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 9:27 am e::whistles innocently::
902. Jeanne Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 9:28 am eIt’s not over yet…there are HOURS left to go!
903. tjwriter Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 9:32 am e*Bangs head violently on desk in frustration from work.*
904. Lori Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 9:55 am e*slips pillow under Tori’s head*

     Stop that.

905. tjwriter Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 10:32 am e*Wishes for some Calgon to come take her away.*
906. Jeanne Says:
     November 30, 2007 at 10:53 am e*tosses Tori some virtual Calgon. And a virtual Uzi.*