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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Birth of a Novel: First Update

It's time for the first update of my insanity in doing NaNo and blogging about the progress. Just a quick housekeeping note, if you want to join the Birth of a Novel blog chain, the details are here. It's not too late! We can add your name to the list any time!

Now, some introduction.


My novel is called Zombie Road Trip, and the title is pretty self explanatory. It's about the main character Lilah taking a road trip to off beat tourist attractions during the zombie apocalypse, in order to learn how to control her power over the zombies.


I wrote about 34K of this novel a year or so ago and then ran out of steam. I've resurrected it, reworked some of the plot holes, and started writing from scratch. For me, NaNo isn't about making the word count at all costs. I do write fast, but 1666 words a day isn't really a stretch. I like to use NaNo to give me a kick in the pants and have some writing buddies suffer write along with me while I am in the midst of a first draft. I plan to keep writing into December, as long as it takes me to first the first draft.

Because I am a nerd, I stayed up until midnight last night to start my novel. I was hopped up on sugar by that point so I wasn't tired then. Today I still feel half asleep, but at least I slept well. 

It's always hard for me to start writing. I feel like I've left the oven on, like I've forgotten something really important. I get all excited at the thought of starting, but once I actually do my brain panics a little and does this:


.........................................................................................


It took me a little while to get into the flow of the scene, and to be completely honest, it's not all there yet. I have some logistical things to work out in my head (You know, like when you're thinking: Character has to be here with this item by this time, but the scene before that she doesn't have those things, so how do I get her from Point A to Point B without making things too complicated?) before I think it will all gel together.


But that's okay. The beginnings are always a little bumpy for me. I am still stoked about this book and I love the character's voice.

Don't forget to check out what the other people in the blog chain are up to. You can click on the sidebar or just check out their progress here:

 

6 comments:

  1. LOL, I almost stayed up. Got really close--11:45pm, but remembered I get up at 4:30am and decided that wasn't a good idea.

    Point A to Point B--yep, sometimes a doosy. I have the problem of starting something in the dialogue and then not being able to finish it for a page or two. Then my brain says, "But wait! here she said "Carter better have some answers" and then Ryanne completely ignored that until after they did C, D, and E." *head smack*

    That's what revisions are for, right?

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  2. I didn't stay up till midnight, but I was excited to get started early this morning. I'm up to 4,350 words, and I think I'm spent for the day. Every day won't be like this, but it was a good first day.

    Good luck with the Zombie road trip.

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  3. Charity: YES that's what revision is for. I am trying not to over think it. It helps that the zombies are coming soon.

    Miranda: YAAAAAY! That was a great day! I am not quite there yet, but I feel like I have a better handle on the next scene so we'll see!

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  5. The beginnings suck for me. I'm too excited for the good parts, the juicy parts, the action packed parts. The intro, even if you do love the characters is kind of boring for me to write. Though, I do know the process of rewriting something already started. I know of something I have written (a novel that was never complete) about four times now, first it was first person, then I switched it to third person. Then I wanted to adjust something making the story a little different but it was something that was already weaved throughout (so I might as well start it over again) and then it got a whole overhaul with a completely different love interest. Yeah...I must have too much time on my hands...

    Anyhoo! I wish you luck in revised book!
    (I have to learn to use the "preview" button)

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  6. Yayyyyyyy zombiessssss! *CRAZY DANCE*

    I almost stayed up too but then I fell asleep so it was kind of a non event. Haha.

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