NaNoWriMonday 2018 | Week 2

Happy Monday, everyone!

No, I’m not one of those people that wakes up way too cheery and borderline annoying on a Monday morning. I’m more of the Garfield, hating Mondays and going back to bed kind of guy. However, someone has to make the donuts.

NaNoWriMo 2018 has been in full swing for a little over a week now. Writers all across the globe are reaching incredible word counts. Some are right where they’re supposed to be to nail that 50K, others are lagging way behind, and some are WAY ahead (I’m looking at you Sophie!)

At this point last week, I was a little ahead (woo hoo!) However, I had a busy weekend, and not in the way of writing. It was a good weekend. I went Christmas shopping for my kids with my wife and parents. We went out to dinner and play put on by the troupe that I’ve acted with before, and have become good friends with. And I introduced a new fun and addictive video game to my kids that we can all play together.

Like I said, it was a GOOD weekend. I just didn’t get much writing done. Now, on Monday morning, I am just under 5,000 words short of where I’m supposed to be! To give some perspective on that, when you start NaNo on November 1st, you need to write 1,667 words per day to hit 50K by November 30. Being as far behind as I am now, I’ll need to write 1,950 per day to finish.

Not a lot more on the daily. On a good day, there’s no problem writing an extra 300 words. On a bad day… I don’t want to think about it. My main concern is when other days like this weekend pop up. Days when I can’t get to the keyboard. Whatever happens, I will keep on.

Last week I mentioned possibly posting a snippet, and got a resounding YES (from one person, you know who you are!) So for those that requested it (Sam) and for those that didn’t (the rest of the universe) here’s a little something from Sunday evening. Please forgive the typos, this is first draft stuff!

Coak strolled out of the forrest, Micah following closely behind, and headed toward the main dock. She made her path obvious, and that she wasn’t headed toward Kai. Even so, the two men that were standing guard around Kai took notice, and their stances became defensive.

“They noticed us,” Micah hissed. “I think we should turn around and wait for a better opening, or come up with a better plan.”

She laughed.

“What?” he demanded.

“Oh, nothing. I just thought you were one of the males of your race. I should have known with all the feminine features.”

“I just don’t see why it has to be me.”

“You don’t?” Coak asked, smile growing wider. “It’s all about realism.”

“Oy!” one of the guards cried out when they were close enough. “What the hell do you want?”

“Delightful fellow,” Micah muttered.

It wasn’t common for a flier and mountain man to approach the Docks, but it wasn’t unheard of. These guys were on high alert.

“Just came to do a bit of trading,” Coak said.

They said noting in return, but watched them closely.

Their boots hit the first plank of the main dock and suddenly Kai’s guards were right behind them.

“Hey!” one of them said.

Coak and Micah turned slowly, forced innocence on their faces. Both guards were big, though one was a few inches taller and wider, and wore a full beard.

“You think we didn’t hear the news that this one wasn’t travelling with a winger and a mole?”

“Sorry,” Micah said. “This one?”

“Yeah,” said the bearded guard. “The criminal.” He jutted his thumb over his shoulder toward Kai.

Coak panicked on the inside. She hadn’t expected anyone figuring out who they were so quickly. Micah was the picture of calm. He scoffed and raised a dignified eyebrow.

“Sir, I’m not sure you think we might be, but I can assure you that we’ve no dealings with criminals, that one or any other. My lady and I just came looking to buy some of the finest fish for a special celebratory dinner. That’s assuming you have good fish and that you’re wiling to trade with someone like myself who has found a mate in someone like this.”

Both guards turned to look at Coak. Most of the mud had dried and flaked off, but she hadn’t bothered to try and clean herself any further, the way Micah had. Dirt still covered every inch of her body.

“Just what are you saying,” the beaded guard demanded.

“Nothing. It’s just that I know you people often aren’t progressive enough to believe that two people can find love outside of their respective species. Just because it’s not the norm does it make it wrong, sir!”

Coak knew it was all part of the act, an imaginary backstory to get what they needed, but she found her heart soaring. The impassioned speech made her feel like someone like Micah wasn’t so detestable as he often presented himself. For the first time since she was born she could see a future that included a man who wasn’t from the mountain. She knew Micah didn’t feel the same way, but then again, the entire speech had rolled off his tongue like he had rehearsed it a hundred times before.

“Look here, winger—” The bearded guard stepped forward, poking Micah in the chest, which was all he needed for the next part of their plan.

Micah flailed his arms as widely as he could and yelled, all while practically jumping off of the side of the dock. Once in the water he splashed frantically, and he was no longer acting. He was drowning.

Fun fact about this post: WRITING!