Year-long NaNo discussion
Merenwen Inglorion
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Reality of Devotion
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These are some questions/themes I want this project to deal with.For what will a man give his soul?
What you love is what binds you.
Prov. 11:19
Proverbs 18:24
Oh this sounds interesting! I still have no idea what I'm going to work on for NaNoWriMo this year. *taps chin* decisions... decisions...
Thanks. :DEvery time I've tried to do Nano, a new plot bunny comes along, like, the week before to try and distract me/get me to change my project. :P I am determined that won't happen this year. *has wabbit season gear ready*
Maybe you could decide the way I do for CampNano: pick a word/theme per story, stick it all in a hat, and draw one out.
Merenwen wrote: "Thanks. :DEvery time I've tried to do Nano, a new plot bunny comes along, like, the week before to try and distract me/get me to change my project. :P I am determined that won't happen this year...."
Haha, my problem is not that I can't of anything to write, but more that I have too many things to write. But unless I change my mind, I think I've decided on what my project will be :P
Alright, Nano has officially begun!! ^(^.^)^11-1-18
Word count: 2308
Sadly, no snippet, as I had a heck of a time figuring how to start. I kind of just rambled and then threw the MC in a crazy encounter with a sea serpent... :P
I thought it would be easy, since I have a decent outline and know the characters fairly well. Hehehe, nope. I found out that the MC (Michel) likes comparing people to animals. He compared a military guy to a turtle, a gal he's helping to a possum, and a new slave to an owl...
Also sadly no word count for today because work and I don't want to count rebellion words until later in the month. :P
11-4-18Word count: 988
Word count total: 3296 (w/ Rebellion word count, 5508)
I went off of a quote prompt, and this scene (set years and years after RoD) may or may not make it, depending on some choices made by Kallias in RoD. But I was happy with the scene...in that it came out better than I expected it to...but the scene also makes me sad...
Snippet:
“Even if the world remembers you as a villain…” Her eyes drifted shut. Kallias’ heartbeat thudded irregularly now. “…you will always be my hero.”
Kallias’ hand rested heavily on her side. “Though I lead you to the house of Jahanjir, or Enyo?”
Jahanjir, the Merdochian god of war and death. Enyo, the Khorite goddess of bloodshed. Delara tried to smile, only to find that she could hardly drawn breath. “Yes,” she managed to whisper. “Even then.”
Merenwen wrote: "11-4-18Word count: 988
Word count total: 3296 (w/ Rebellion word count, 5508)
I went off of a quote prompt, and this scene (set years and years after RoD) may or may not make it, depending on so..."
Great word count! And Ahhh!!! That snippet!!! I'm so intrigued already :D
Nicki wrote: "Merenwen wrote: "11-4-18Word count: 988
Word count total: 3296 (w/ Rebellion word count, 5508)
I went off of a quote prompt, and this scene (set years and years after RoD) may or may not make it..."
Ah, thanks. :D
As I posted, I got the feeling you'd like that excerpt. XD
11-6-18Word count: 976
Total (w/ Rebellion): 6484
Urgh, I need to pick up the pace. *growls at progress chart*
Snippet (from a dare):
Michel carefully tucked the doll into his bag. “Keep an eye out for any documents referencing this animal.”
“What should we call it?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“I’ll find an etymologist somewhere.”
“We’re in a frozen wasteland. Where in Adrostus’ name are we going to find an etymologist?”
“It’s as probable as that time you managed to wrestle a sea serpent and pinned it to the ship mast.”
Michel tilted his head. “Fair enough.”
11-7-18Word count: 490
Total (w/ Rebellion): 7556
Snippet (from a dare):
There were two racks in front of him on the counter. One held small vials containing creamy liquids and granulated sugars. The other had far more colorful options, ranging from black to red. Michel couldn’t tell what any of them said—what language was this, anyways?—but they all looked positively delicious. After some deliberation, he chose several things: two dashes of a handful of the creamy things, plus a generous dose of a dark liquid that frothed when shaken. The bottle was clear, with a green label that said, "Soy Sauce". It looked like an interesting syrup.
Word count: 1038 (handwritten)Total (w/Rebellion): 8594
I finally got in a decent word count for this story! Yay!
Snippet:
(About Michel)--He couldn't just abandon his friendship. And yet, when he sought provisions to begin the journey, his mind railed against him. Stupid! What do you owe? Foolhardy! You could lose everything!
(About Kallias)--Now he fled not only his appointed home, but his father-the King-and his enforcers as well. The sea welcomed him, brought him to a people his father could not conquer because they were not unified...Soon, he would flee from them, as well. For who can face demons in the dark?
11-10-18Word count: 634
Total (w/ Rebellion): 10216
Snippet:
Though he was shaking, and felt as if his teeth would chatter right out of his head, Michel grinned. “We’re here. We found it!”
When morning came, the mists parted. Mountains, taller than any they’d ever imagined, stretched as far as they could see. Farther than they could believe.
11-11-18Word count: 168 (handwritten)
Total (w/ Rebellion): 10384
11/12/18Word count: 692
Total (w/ Rebellion): 12327
11/14/18Word count: 576 (handwritten)
Total (w/ Rebellion): 12903
11/15/18
Word count: 432 (handwritten)
Total (w/ Rebellion): 13335
11/16/18Word count: 1725
Total (w/Rebellion): 15060
Snippet (dare):
Delara gagged each time a small blob struck the stone floor, and splattered against her bare feet. She shuddered in the cold and drew close to Kallias. She said his name softly.
Kallias sighed, leaning his head back and bracing himself for a tirade. “Yes?”
“Will you marry me?”
A blob of glowing goop spattered against his forehead. “Argh!” He jerked up, sending Delara falling into the mess. He rubbed his face with his shoulder. To his dismay, the only thing that managed to do was rub the goop into his eyes. “I’m fairly certain I misheard you,” he said, clamping his eyes shut.
Merenwen wrote: "11/16/18Word count: 1725
Total (w/Rebellion): 15060
Snippet (dare):
Delara gagged each time a small blob struck the stone floor, and splattered against her bare feet. She shuddered in the cold a..."
First of all, great work! Secondly, WHAT IS GOING ON??? Ahhh!!! Why is there glowing goop and marriage proposals and ahh!!
Ahaha, thanks. X)The dare was "have a character propose in the least romantic location possible. Bonus points if the other can name an even less romantic place."
The location is in the depths of a cave, awaiting death by starvation or being killed by whatever monster lives in the cave. I have no idea yet how they got there, though. :P
11/17/18Word count: 2304
Total (w/ Rebellion): 17364
Snippet:
Aura sighed. “I am sorry that I wasn’t there. There were other matters that occupied me, matters I am not allowed to discuss.”
“Not even if I were to order you?”
“No. Not even then. Master.” She tilted her head demurely.
Kallias saw the familiar tuck of her chin as she resisted a smile. He saw the lashes flutter as a chuckle grew within her. He saw the barely contained mirth dancing in her pale eyes. Even worse, he saw his own anger swallowed up in the mirth until it was nothing but flecks of red swirling like drops of blood in a lazy whirlpool.
11/19/18I think part of the reason the going has been so slow is because I was having a hard time writing from the close POV of older characters. So everyone's a decade or so younger now. XD
Word count: 1589
Total (w/ Rebellion): 19789
Snippet:
Michel threw his head back and laughed as he’d never laughed before. Long, loud, and as close to a straight up crow as he could manage.
Kallias clasped his shoulders. “Lie down. You’ve been in the sun too long.”
Michel batted his hands away. “No, no, don’t you see? This beast will be your ticket to everything you’ve ever wanted!”
“Since when have you cared what I wanted?”
“Since I’ve felt this…this…” Michel scoffed in frustration. “Calling, I suppose. I’m meant to help you.”
“Oh my…” Kallias rubbed his face. “Destiny? Is that what you’re trying to say?”
“Yes!”
“No. No, never use that word with me. If you feel it is your destiny to help me—and to help me like this—I want nothing to do with it. Destiny has only ever dealt me a bad hand.”
Merenwen wrote: "11/19/18I think part of the reason the going has been so slow is because I was having a hard time writing from the close POV of older characters. So everyone's a decade or so younger now. XD
Wor..."
Great word count! Haha, that was the first lesson I had to learn while writing. I tried to write adult books and then I realized that I only knew how to write YA. Great excerpt! I like this Kallias figure, seems like a very jaded character.
11/21/18Word count: 1338
Total (w/ Rebellion): 21127
Snippet (from a dare):
Resisting the urge to hum to himself, Michel deftly avoided the hazards of the first room: pressure plates, tripwires, enchanted coffins and statues. Kallias followed along behind, sometimes sighing.
“If you want to fight an undead warrior, be my guest,” Michel said blandly. “But I thought we came here for an artifact, not a fight.”
“It’s not that. It’s just…”
Michel glanced back. “Are you about to tell me about your past?”
“I’m considering it.”
“Oh!” Michel stopped in surprise. “Really?” He could never tell when the lanky Merdocian was being sarcastic, as that seemed to be his normal tone of voice. The fact that his face always had a deadpan look to it didn’t help matters.
“Yes. As soon as we find a nice picnic spot with a view of the heart of the ziguarat.”
“Sarcasm, then.”
“I’m still trying to decide."
Nicki wrote: "Merenwen wrote: "11/19/18I think part of the reason the going has been so slow is because I was having a hard time writing from the close POV of older characters. So everyone's a decade or so you..."
Yup. It's getting fun to write now, though. I only had their pasts partly mapped out, and they did things like robbed abandoned zigurats and pirated pirates. So now I'm getting to flesh that out! :D
Thanks! Yes, he is jaded. Very, very jaded...I'm just hoping he decides to stay neutral good...
11/22/18Word count: 230 (handwritten)
Total (w/ Rebellion): 23220
11/23/18
Word count: 2093
Total (w/ Rebellion): 23450
11/29/18Word count: 2234 (some handwritten)
Total (w/ Rebellion): will update later, as I have several things I wish to rebel on before the day ends
Snippet:
“If we’re going to be raiding these ancient temples more often, you should acclimate yourself to them.”
“Are you saying this is happening because I’m not used to some incense?” He sounded incredulous.
“Exactly. The incense the witches use isn’t…normal. There are many poisons and sedatives in the mixture. It’s generally not harmful, unless you spend more than an hour in the resulting fug. The witches usually have their work finished before half of the hour is gone.”
“How many poisons do they use?”
“Sometimes I wonder if they just dump their shelves into a vat and use that.”
Haven't really had time to update, but this Nano went far better than I expected. Check out this blog post for more snippets and updates! https://marlenesimonetteauthor.blogsp...
I'm hoping to join Pt. 3 of this linkup, but idk if I'll have time before it closes... :(
Michelakos Blago is a man with a sea captain’s mettle and a poet’s heart. He’ll face the world to provide for his loved ones, but lately he’s been feeling as if the world wants him to let go. It's certainly doing its best to tear his estates from him. He’s currently a respected member of the community and a candidate for the Council of Limta—a rigorous event where the city-states’ laws are decided—but shortly after he procures a new slave, a witch in training ravages the countryside. And pins the blame on Michelakos.
Kallias is shrewd. He's always doing his best to protect his childhood companion, Delara—and asking her to procure valuable items from her mother, the witch Lilith. He wants to undermine the regime that made him a eunuch and drove his mother mad, but that’s hard to do when your only allies are a half-mad woman and a rich sea captain content to meddle only in home affairs. Matters become more complicated when his employer and distant cousin, Michelakos, buys a new slave--a slave who knows Kallias' secrets.