Chrisonomicon

Thursday, November 1, 2001

(Updates continued below)

     Nanowrimo started today. I had been ignoring it, not really deciding either way about doing it, and this morning I just started writing. I've already got almost 3,000 words down. That's a pretty good count, considering my goal is to write 2,200 words every weekday (I'm taking weekends off). "So, where's the plot going?" you may ask. I have no idea. So far, my characters are:

• Stuyvesant: 27-year-old, gay journalist and playwright. A six-foot-tall, Buddhist/minimalist who is forgetful and looking for something to set on fire.

• Janine: 30-year-old television producer who is helping Stuy with his on-the-side play "Who Killed The Canary?" Outspoken, high-speed, and dirty-mouthed.

• Brad: 35-year-old, senior editor of the local newspaper and Stuy's boss. Also, Stuy's ex-boyfriend. A dapper professional with a passion for lawn darts.

• Gracie: 26-year-old waitress- cum-actress who plays the part of the canary in Stuy's play. Red-head, air-head, gives-good-head.

• Penelope: Female character who has no depth, but appears in the story to convey random, miscellaneous insights to life and other characters.

That's about it. I'm considering posting periodical updates to keep myself motivated and on track, not to mention it will be fun to document the journey since this is my first "novel." If you want to participate (read "help me out"), feel free to send me random thoughts, character and plot ideas, cards, money, flowers, or food (I'm addicted to S.N.A.F.U. by Ben & Jerry's).

Update - November 4, 2001
     Word count: 7504. Plot-twists: 1 (automobile accident). Plot-twist Setups: 7. New characters: 3 (Todd, Todd #2, and Nina). Hours spent: 7. Auditory motivation: Dionne Farris' "Hopeless" (thanks, George). Visual Motivation: FFX wallpapers

Update - November 6, 2001
     Word Count: 10,227. This book is all I can think about, lately. It's with me from the moment I get up in the morning to my dreams at night. I'm not really sure I know where I'm going with the plot and I'd like to read what I've written to get a feel for the direction, but Nanowrimo tips say don't reread. Just write. Although the book is always on my mind, it's difficult to keep the continuity between days. Coffee has really been helping. I nixed Penelope and am focusing mainly on Stuy, Nina, Janine and Brad, in that order. I'm starting to really dislike my main character. He's turning out to be a real ass. Somehow, though, I think he'll find a way to redeem himself. Tip for other writers: Exercise does wonders for your creativity.

Update - November 8, 2001
     Word Count: 20,526. Okay. So, wow. In just two days, I've doubled my word count, which goes against every preconception I had about this activity being a horrible experiment in reviving my age-old writer's block. I had never been able to get past three or four pages in any writing activity (besides my thesis and school papers) and now I'm staring at the tool bar which reads "36/36." Thirty-six, 8" x 11.5" freakin' pages. That's a formidable stack. Probably thick enough to hit someone with and do major damage. The amazing thing is, I'm only about a third through the story I want to tell, and I still have 3/5ths of my limit to go. Amazing.
     I'm a little worried about the direction the plot is going. It's turned rather dark, my characters are starting to reveal their Hyde personalities, and steering the plot back onto the road I had originally intended is--I'm discovering--a delicate process. Almost like trying to control a vehicle speeding at 120 MPH down the freeway. Janine is turning into Fran Drescher, Brad is the good guy, Stuy is a spineless weakling, and Nina is now a pathological liar. Gently insisting that these traits are merely secondary aspects of each character is becoming quickly impossible as they dig themselves deeper into a hole with every chapter.
     Well, they still have 30,000 words in which to redeem themselves. Will it work? Only time will tell.

Update - November 12, 2001
     Word count: 39,589. So tired. Quick update: Woke up midnight, Saturday. Everything fell into place. Characters have redeemed themselves. There is a new love interest. The main theme of the novel has made itself painfully obvious. Got out of bed and wrote the entire rest of the book down in the form of scribbles that I'm still trying to discern. It's almost as if someone else wrote them. I can't stop writing. It has taken over my body and my mind. Must sleep now.

Update - November 14, 2001
     Word count: 48,651. Only two thousand more words, and the worst has happened. I've hit writer's block. I know how I want to end the thing, but I just can't get it out. It keeps turning out the same, dull way. I erase and rewrite, erase and rewrite, but to no avail. I'm sure it will come out. Perhaps I'm just out of creative energy and need to get a little more rest. So close, but it feels so out of reach right now. It's incredibly frustrating.

Update - November 16, 2001
     Word count: 50,201. Finished! Whew. Actually, I finished yesterday, but I've been revising with the help of Dianna and Cale. Thanks guys. I figure since I have 15 days left until it's due, I can afford to go back and polish it up a little. Time to get something to eat!