Tag: NaNoWriMo

AllWriting

NaNoWriMo 2019 Wrap-Up!!

Posted on by J.W. Martin

Okay! This post has been a long time coming (too lazy to write it) and publicly demanded (by no one) to talk about gargantuan NaNoWriMo efforts (sitting at a keyboard) and explain why I didn’t blog for a month (which no one noticed).

November is always a tough month for me when it comes to spare time. Having a full-time job and kids that are into their own extra-curricular stuff means “spare time” is already hard to find. Now imagine taking that small amount of time and cramming 1,667 words of writing into it. Let me just say some sleep was sacrificed.

 

I felt bad that I wasn’t blogging during that time, but I just couldn’t fit it in. Could barely even think about it. Even my reading time suffered, which was one of biggest struggles of all.

However, despite all the hardships (oh, poor baby) I WON! 50,000 words in November!

The story I was writing, which I think will end up being about 100K all in, is about a group of detectives trying to catch a serial killer in a smallish town. What I found to be interesting is that the chapters from the perspective of the killer were way easier to write than the ones from the side of the law. I obviously know more about being a serial killer than I do about being in law enforcement (Quick! Someone call the cops!)

Now I’m faced with a particularly annoying quandary. I have 3 projects all begging for my attention.

  1. This NaNo project is going to need another 30-50K to be complete.
  2. A first draft from last year needs some attention and a new draft.
  3. A BRAND NEW story that popped into my head last week has taken over my every waking thought. It just walked up to me, slapped me in the mouth and dared me to do something about.

As desperately as I want to write the brand new idea, I know myself. If I don’t finish that first draft on number 1, I might never finish it. It might remain abandoned forever. What to do, what to do…

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Fun fact about this post: Does anyone else hear a random voice shouting insults, or is that in my head?

 

Book TagWriting

The NaNoWriMo 20 Questions Tag!

Posted on by J.W. Martin

The NaNoWriMo 20 Questions Tag!

NaNoWriMo is just around the corner, and I’m SO excited. Coming off of last year’s “win”, I’m also feeling quite optimistic about it. And thanks to Sophie @ Sophie’s Corner I can let a little of that excitement leak out with this tag. Enjoy!

Rules

  1. Thank the awesome blogger who tagged you!
  2. Link back to the creator of this tag, Sophie @ Sophie’s Corner. (I want to hear about your NaNo novels!!)
  3. Feel free to use the NaNoWriMo 20 Questions Tag graphics!
  4. Answer the questions.
  5. Tag some friends who are also doing NaNo this year.
  6. And have fun!!!

Tell me about your NaNoWriMo project this year! Give me a blurb!

Hmmm. I usually don’t come up with the blurb until the end, but let’s give this a shot.

A serial killer is loose in a small town and his motive goes far beyond riches, fame, or revenge. The Darwin Killer picks victims with weak genes. Defects, genetic time bombs, and any kind of disease that can spread biologically or socially. There’s no line this monster won’t cross and it’s up to Special Agent Miles Wallace to catch the killer or only the strongest will survive.

What’s the genre?

Crime/thriller.

Describe your MC in three words.

Expert, confrontational, grieving. 

Without spoilers, describe your villain in three words.

Self-righteous, brilliant, monstrous.

What is your goal? (the traditional 50K? 20K? 5K? or……. 100K?)

The classic 50k!

Is this your first draft? Second? Third?

Blank page, draft 1. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the first draft of something! (probably about a year)

Are you starting a new project (or draft), or continuing an existing one?

Brand new. The idea has been with me for a while, but I’ve never written anything beyond the outline.

What is your favourite time to write in the day?

I’m a night owl. I’ve tried getting up early and I just can’t function, let alone put a sentence together.

Where are you going to write?

Probably at my kitchen table. Maybe on the couch (yes, in front of the TV) if I’m ahead of my word count.

Computer or paper?

Computer all the way. I used to outline on paper, but found so many good ideas hit me when I least suspected and moved everything to digital formats.

NaNoWriMo is a huge commitment!! How are you going to make time to write?

Less sleep. lol. Seriously. Once the kids are in bed, the dog is walked, and lunches are packed, that’s when I’ll sit down to write.

Are you going to participate in local or online NaNoWriMo events? (e.g. kick-off parties in your city, write-ins, virtual writing sprints…)

Probably not. I always say I’m going to, and I really do want to, but the timing just never seems to work out.

Do you write from beginning to end or skip around?

I’m very linear. I can write a scene knowing it might move to another place in the book, but I can’t jump around much more than that.

Planner or pantser? (or plantser?)

Planner. That doesn’t mean unplanned scenes won’t pop up or that I won’t follow one of my characters down a rabbit hole. That usually happens at least a few times. (does that make me a plantser?)

What will be your go-to NaNoWriMo snack?

Left over halloween candy. My wife and I buy always buy WAY TOO MUCH knowing that we’ll need the sugar boost for all those late nights.

Choice of caffeine? (or no caffeine?)

Pepsi or Dr. Pepper.

Any rewards for milestone achievements? For finishing NaNoWriMo?

No. I just get pumped about having a big word count. I usually tell myself I’ll buy a winner’s t-shirt, but I’ve only bought one out of the three times I “won.”

Share a tip for other NaNo-ers!

Just do a little every day. Even if you don’t have time to hit your daily target, write every single day. Even if it’s just a little.

How are you feeling about NaNoWriMo? (Excited?! Nervous!? Terrified?!)

Excited! I’m always pumped this time of year. I wish I could write 50K every month!

Share an aesthetic for your NaNoWriMo novel!

If you’re doing NaNoWriMo this year and you want to give this tag a try, consider yourself tagged!!

Fun fact about this post: Normally, I’m not a fan of these types of novels, but I can’t get this story out of my head!
AllLifeWriting

Writing on Wednesday… but on a Friday!

Posted on by J.W. Martin

Let me be 100 with you all for a minute. There’s been a lot of slacking since November ended as far as my writing goes. A lot of slacking. I need to put an end to that. So allow me to share a few goals for the first quarter of the year, and maybe I’ll feel a little more accountable to get these goals done.

Send out more query letters for Vicarious

REJECTED!

I sent a few around early November, but then I started reading articles about when NOT to send query letters. A lot people were saying the end of November is a bad time because of how many first draft NaNoWriMo projects are being lobbed at literary agents everywhere. They said the end of the year was bad because every one kind of checks out early for the holidays. And they said January is bad because everyone is trying to get back into the swing of things after the new year. I don’t know if ANY of that is true, but I’ll start querying again some time in February!

Finish writing first draft of Evolution

Evolution was my NaNoWriMo project. I had about 30k words done pre-nano and nano itself added another 50k. With somewhere between 10 – 20k remaining, I should end up about 100 all-in. 

Write first draft for stage play Out of Order

I’ve acted in a few plays, both comedies. It’s great fun if you ever get the chance. I’d also like to write one. Again, a comedy. This idea would take place in an apartment building lobby, where one of the elevators isn’t working (hence my not-so-clever title!) If the play turns out well, maybe the troupe I frequent will even perform it!

Write some of short stories bouncing around in my head 

Troglodyte – a struggle of a species trying to make the from water animal to land animal.

Zombie – a man dies, but remains in his body unable to move on. But instead of trying to eat the brains of the living he can only lament why he’s still here. 

AcetaminaPhil – a man is able to take pain away from others just by being near them.

Humans and the Things They Do When Standing on a Mine – a hunter steps on a mine and freezes in place. He thinks help has arrived when another man promptly comes along, but this new man is more interested in studying the hunter than helping him.

I have even more ideas rolling around up there, but these are the ones that I  feel have had the proper marination time. 

There it is. Hopefully by the second quarter I’ll be ready to take on a second draft of some of these projects, but that would require getting the first draft finished!

Fun fact about this post: writing it on my phone while lying in bed. 🙃
AllWriting

The End of My Hiatus & NaNoWriMo

Posted on by J.W. Martin

I’m BACK!

A few weeks ago I was trying to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge. I was desperately falling behind and decided to put aside blogging (as well as reading and just about everything else besides working and breathing!)

I’m pleased to tell you all that all the extra time allowed me to catch up, get back on target, and I did it! 30 days. 50,000 words. My story is nowhere near complete. There’s about 30,000 words written previously, and I’m guessing there’s another 10,000 in the story. So we’re maybe looking at 90K total.

Here’s a small sample from one of my favourite scenes:

The whole experience made Micah understand why the town got together every so often to beat the hell out of each other. With all the work he had been doing he felt so damn tough. Like he could take on the world.

And though it had taken longer than with Kai and Coak, the people of the community grew to accept and even like Micah. It was surprising to admit to himself, but he liked them too. Which was good since Kai spent nearly every spare moment with Sarina and Coak still wasn’t really talking to him. Even though she was a grounder, she held a grudge with the same intensity that a flier woman did.

Micah head seen her around town a few times with the giant Elias. He didn’t think he was capable of jealousy, but when he saw her with the huge man, he felt it. Probably for the first time ever.

Others in town claimed that Elias had been asking for a commitment. Some said he just wanted something exclusive, others said he asked her to live with him at his house, and a select few claimed that he tried to give her a ring.

It was a lot of rumour but whether or not any of them were true, or if all of them were true, she hadn’t accepted anything.

Micah joined in on the applause for the two latest fighters, who were leaving the circle with arms around each other. Then, as if Micah’s own thoughts had summoned the man, Elias entered the circle. Cheers erupted from the already applauding crowd. Micah didn’t cheer. In fact, he stopped clapping all together.

As Elias walked around the circle, basking in the praise from nearly everyone around the circle. It quickly became obvious that no one was going to step in to challenge him. A few people looked to Sarina, but she and Kai were snuggled up in that lovesick way that made people avoid them. Unless 2-on-1 became an option, they weren’t moving.

Micah sneered. He was big, but he didn’t look that tough. He spent his days cutting meat, the blade doing all the work. Micah spent his days working the land. With the brain Micah was born with, and his recently acquired brawn, Elias didn’t stand a chance.

He made his way through the crowd, people around him recognizing him and then giving him a pat on the back as he took another step closer.

Then the familiar gasp of the crowd as a new fighter entered the circle. He raised an eyebrow and looked down. He was still a step away from entering the circle.

Fun fact about this post: I’M BAAAAAAAAAACK!!
AllWriting

NaNoWriMonday 2018 | Week 3 | The New Is Not Good…

Posted on by J.W. Martin

The struggle is real, and it continues.

I’m still more than 5,000 words behind. However, I’m also still determined to keep going until the end of November, whether 50,000 looks achievable or not. That being said, I may put myself on hiatus from blogging for the rest of the month. Not sure about that yet. We’ll see.

However, I wanted to post another snippet this week:

“Hello?”

No answer. Like everyone else, Nannie had work to do during the day. He could find plenty of things to do right there in the house without ever having to pick up a shovel.

He grabbed his jetpack and the meagre tools he had access to and sat down at the kitchen table. Quickly popping off the case, he examined the components underneath. He didn’t really know what he was doing, but he had looked inside the cases of jetpacks hundreds of times. If something was missing, or damaged, odds were good that he’d recognize that. Whether or not he could fix that problem would be another questions all together.

While he worked, he re-considered Coak’s question from the previous night. Could Micah make this little community his new home? Anything was possible, but the place had a lot going against it.

The physical labour, first and foremost. When Micah woke that morning, he felt just like the dirt he had spent an entire day working out. Everything hurt. He didn’t feel like a person anymore. It was more like a bunch of pieces that were barely holding together.

Behind that would be the lack of luxuries. In times of hunger, everything tasted rich. But if he had to eat the same thing night after night, he would grow very bored, very quickly.

Coak had mentioned the acceptance of the people. That was probably the least important thing to him, but it would be easier to get what he wanted if people knew him and liked him.

The question that was in Micah’s mind was what he would lose if he decided to leave. It wasn’t meat and potatoes, and physical labour. It was Coak. And Kai. Never before did he have people in his life that he wasn’t willing to walk away from. Coak and Kai were getting dangerously close to becoming the first two. That in itself might have been the strongest reason to leave.

“Hiding from the fields?”

Micah’s head snapped around to look at the hallway, leading to more rooms, and the woman who stood there watching him. Nannie.

“I… I…,” Micah put on his best smile as his mind reached for an acceptable reason.

“It’s fine,” she said. “I won’t tell.”

Nannie was different. Obviously, her age didn’t change, but she didn’t act the same. She seemed less doting. Less innocent somehow.

She walked into the kitchen, past Micah and grabbed a bottle of dark red and a pair of glasses. She put the glasses down on the table and poured some of the dark red liquid into each.

Micah took a glass and put it up to his nose, taking in a deep sniff. The strong mark of scotch, mixed with the scents of cherry, and chocolate, and…

“Leather?”

Nannie smiled. “You’ve got a good nose. Figured you for a man who liked the finer things.”

“Odd colour.”

“That’s the cherries. I make it myself. Like to experiment with different flavours. This combination is one of my favourites.”

Micah put the glass to his mouth and tipped it just enough to let the liquor touch his lips. He swirled the scotch in his glass while he let his taste buds experience all the flavours Nannie’s scotch had to offer. It wasn’t quite the best he had ever had, but it was close.

While he was still basking in the flavour, Nannie slid the jetpack over to sit in front of her. Micah was about to explain what it was and what each component was responsible for. It was probably the first jetpack she had ever seen.

To his shock, she produced a tool kit, that had a wider range of tools that he had.

“You’ve seen a jetpack before?” Micah asked.

Nannie shook her head as she worked. “I’ve seen many, many jetpacks. Repaired a fair number of them, too. Haven’t seen many as bad off as this one, though.”

Micah took another drink of the scotch and watched Nannie as she worked.

“You’re not from here originally, are you?” he asked.

“Depends how you look at it. I was part of the group that started this little town. But, no, this isn’t where I started out. I was born in a land far from here. A place you’ve never even heard of.”

“But you did spend a little time in the crucible.”

Nannie smiled and nodded. “Very astute. I spent a number of years in the crucible.”

“Doing what?”

“Living. Every race is represented there. That included us. We were looked down on since day one. Hated. I mean, everyone hates everyone in the crucible, but we were hated the most.”

Fun fact about this post: Just about to spend the rest of my lunch break writing as many words as possible.
AllWriting

NaNoWriMonday 2018 | Week 2

Posted on by J.W. Martin

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!
AllWriting

NaNoWriMonday 2018 | Week 1

Posted on by J.W. Martin

It’s the first week of NaNoWriMo and I have to say, I’m having a blast. I’ve been in editing land for so long that finally being back at the first draft of something is just a whole lot of fun.

Seriously! It’s been so long that I kind of forgot how to first draft. I’m an outliner. Always have been. And while I don’t put down every detail in my outlines, I’m not usually vague. But I’ve run into a few spots where I’ve written a point like, “they travel to the city.”

I was like, “Thanks, past-me, but present-me would like a little more detail. Than that.” But it’s been fun. A little bit of pantsing in the middle of my outline.

As of the writing of this post (Sunday evening) I’m supposed to be at 6,666 words. And I’m happy to report that I’m at 6,825! I’d like to be a little further ahead, but the fact that I’m ahead at all is good with me! A week from now, I’m to be at 18,333. I’m hoping to be closer to 25K, but we’ll see!!

Fun fact about this post: I wrote 0 words on Saturday, and then had to write double the words on Sunday!
AllWriting

NaNoWriMonday 2018 | The Final Pre-NaNo Post

Posted on by J.W. Martin

Recently, I posted a few options that I was considering pursuing for this year’s NaNo. Only seems fair that I follow up and tell you that I chose to do…

EVOLUTION

(definitely a working title)

A collective breath (that no one was holding) is finally released. So what’s the deal with this awfully-titled book? In the previous post, I said:

The human race lives on in the form of several sub-species. Fliers, Swimmers, Brains, Mountain Men, and Relics. Three young people from three different subs are forced to work together, despite their hate for each other, to steal a treasure from each of their respective people. The job leads down a path that ends with them being deemed criminals by nearly every species across the land.

This week, I thought I’d give you a bit more and maybe sate my own excitement. Our main characters in this sci-fi/fantasy heist are Kai, Micah, and Coak (pronounced Coke).

Coak and her people, (mountain men)  live in an actual mountain. They evolved with great strength and survivability. Their bodies are dense enough to stand up to incredible levels of pressure and they can see in near darkness. Leaders here are chosen by strength, leadership changes often being decided in a fight.

Micah is a flier. He lives on a city that floats through some form of magic, or technology, or both. His people have evolved to be very aerodynamic, lighter, and with a great sense of balance. With jetpacks that they’ve developed, they can cover long distances faster than most other animals. Fliers are ruled by a ‘royal family’ of sorts.

Kai is a swimmer. His people evolved with enhanced water abilities. They swim fast and can hold their breath for ridiculous amounts of time. His commune is a series of docks that hosts a number of boats and barges that people live on. The population is always changing due to people’s ability to sail away at a moment’s notice. Those who can’t afford a vessel live in submerged living spaces. Most people call them bricks because they’re rectangular, made of stone, and because they sink to the bottom of the water, never to go anywhere again. Yup. You guessed it. Kai and his mother live in a brick.

After an event that ends up with Kai, Micah, and Coak being jailed, the three are given a proposition. Put aside the animosities of their respective people’s and steal something from each of their leaders. Failure could mean life behind bars. Success could mean something so much worse!

So that’s it! I’m already 27K in (is that cheating by NaNo standards?) So if I succeed in the challenge, I’ll be at 77K by Dec 1.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Anything sound really interesting? Boring? AM I cheating?

Fun fact about this post: Coak gets her name from the mining term, coke. Micah’s is based off of MCA a common flight term for Minimum Control Speed Air. Kai just came to me. *shrug*
AllWriting

I need your votes! | NaNoWriMonday

Posted on by J.W. Martin

Another November grows near and another NaNoWriMo causes scribblers all over the world to prep and scramble.

For anyone who’s never heard of NaNoWriMo, it’s a writing challenge that takes place over the 30 days of November. The goal is to write 50,000 words of a novel before midnight on the 30th. That equals out to be roughly 1,667 words per day. Might sound daunting to some, but its a great challenge that many writers look forward to every year. For some it’s a good way to get back in the habit of daily writing. For others, it’s the only month they’ll write all year long. It’s a challenge of personal growth and triumph.

I can’t remember the first year I tried NaNoWriMo, but 2018 will be at least my 9th year competing, and I’m hoping it’ll be my 3rd time winning.

What I’d like to ask you is… what the heck I should write?

No, I’m not going to ask you to hand me a plot. I have too many ideas as is. But I’ve narrowed it down to 2 solid ideas and I’m having a hell of time deciding which one to pursue.

The first, I call ‘Evolution’ (not a final title, but good enough for now)

The human race lives on in the form of several sub-species. Fliers, Swimmers, Brains, Mountain Men, and Relics. Three young people from three different subs are forced to work together, despite their hate for each other, to steal a treasure from each of their respective people. The job leads down a path that ends with them being deemed criminals by nearly every species across the land.

The second has a working title of ‘Outer Demon’

A young woman in ancient Korea has an unexplained curse. Whenever she feels love for a man, a massive demon shows up and slaughters the man of her affection. A common thief, who yearns to be a man of honour but can’t stop taking the easy way out, is stricken by the young woman’s beauty. And a plot is rising against the kingdom’s cruel Emperor who believes his power to be absolute.

I love both of these ideas. Each time I feel like I’m leaning toward one, I’m disappointed about not doing the other. The reality is: I will eventually do both. But which one do I do NOW?!?

Would love to hear your input. So please leave a comment, even if it’s just ‘Evolution’ or ‘Outer Demon.’

Fun fact about this post: I’ve already written 27K words in Evolution, so NaNoWriMo would potentially complete the project!
Writing

Spectacular Failure – NaNoWriMonday – Week 3

Posted on by J.W. Martin

This might be the end for me, I’m afraid.

There are very few free hours in my average day, once the kids are in bed and the housework taken care of. That means pedal to the metal all. the. time. No time off.

My last few weeks in October were much the same. I was finishing up an edit on a different manuscript. I literary finished it on Nov 1st. Normally, after something like that, I’d take a week off and kind of veg out. This time it was right for one project to another.

I was already a little behind this week, and then my wife and I took the night off to go see Justice League. It felt so good to have a night off, but now my deficit is even bigger. Over 7K, big!

Maybe this isn’t the end. ‘Win’ or ‘Lose’ this whole NaNo thing, I’m going to keep going for November, and beyond. Whatever I have by Dec 1st will serve as a great jumping off point for this book. Hell, it might even be half finished by then!

Fun fact about this post: In the first draft of this post, I wrote that I was done writing NaNo for the year. Then I changed my mind.