Wow, are those things perfect for research or what?! I’m contemplating a trip abroad in my novel, and since I just can’t jump on a plane to go do some research, I did the next best thing and hopped on to Google Maps, punched in what I want and *poof* there it is, a perfect satellite image of the entire city. Awesome, awesome, awesome.

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.

First of all, Mary knew I had my own blog. So there. Since writing related stuff isn’t near the top of my priority list right now, I figured I’d go back to my lame little non-writing-related blog to post non-writing-related stuff.

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.

Did you know…

- 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.

I need to finish the Nondescript, really, really badly. Not least because the Neon God just got smooshed by a huge, mind-boggling idea for a universe full of stories that suddenly built itself in my head last night. I barely slept. When I did sleep, I dreamt about it. I’ve been struggling to get down the shape of it all day. I am elated.

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.” 

“So what’s the problem?” I ask.

“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.

“Hello, this is maintenance. I’ll need to come by your place tomorrow, for repairs.”

“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?

I’m not here, I’m in the Nondescript. Running headlong toward the end of the Nondescript, which I’m now writing on the computer. It needs to get done, and it can’t wait for me to handwrite it to completion, via the Penman Shipwreck.

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.

Occasionally, people send me articles because they think it’s amusing when I read something stupid and turn into Mr. Shouty and yell at the world quite a lot about the utter bunk that I’ve just read. You can imagine the nonsense I got when people started touting The Truth Behind Da Vinnie Code, by Dan Whodat. Those have faded, blessedly.

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.

This is just a gathering-up of the comments from the Tea Debacle page that appeared on this site, but is about to be deleted. I wanted to save the comments. Do you people realize that there are around 45,000 words of commentary here? I mean…good grief.

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: