NaNo Day Seventeen Word Count:

NaNo Stats: 14,103 [@ approx. 7:44 p.m.]

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Yes! I've been down and out. More on that later. I'm working to break at least 15K tonight.

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Surrender

As promised, my Mini Halloween Contest entry.

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I worked with this piece in a few of the 2008 Muse Online Writer's Conference workshops.

But, one of my organizational goals for the week following the conference was to submit a piece

to the above-mentioned contest. Though some of you will recognize it, I've reworked it just a bit.

And, as I'll more than likely submit Walks with the Moon, under the nom de plume of,

Willa Rawlings, I'm posting the following snippet under my own name.
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Surrender

an excerpt from Walks with the Moon

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The near full moon shone bright in the clear night sky. Juniper, sage, and sweet grass lilted upon the cool autumnal breeze as Sophie Lahey walked up the steps and onto front porch of the isolated mountain cabin. Just as her knuckles struck the cedar planking the door eased away, and a faint light echoed from deep inside.
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“Hello!” Sophie hesitated and then called, “Conall?”

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When a wave of melancholy drenched her senses, Sophie drew in and blew out a hard-drawn breath. She summoned her courage, pushed upon the door, and raised her voice, “Conall!”
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“Miss Lahey?”

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A quick sigh escaped her lips. Startled by the unfamiliar voice, Sophie closed her eyes and took a moment to collect her wits. Her heart raced as she craned her neck through the opening. An old Indian, bathed in the harsh lighting of the old miner’s lantern--held down past his waist--walked in silent footfalls through an unearthly dark.

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Soothed by his demeanor Sophie answered, “Yes.”

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“I am Calvin. I do not believe my grandson was expecting you.” He motioned with his free hand to welcome her inside.

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“No.” Sophie said as she crossed over the doorsill. “He wasn’t.”

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The flickering light glistened and danced in the elder’s compassionate eyes. But Sophie couldn’t rid or disconnect herself from the desolation that permeated the shadows of the room.

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“I, on the other hand, have waited a very long time for you.”

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Sophie stood agape; with not the first word in response.

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“His sorrow was never mine to heal. My love cannot reach far enough inside to touch the agony that chases him.”

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Sophie then sensed the presence of a spirit guide. Deer reiterated its lesson in healing, matching the old man's words when a guttural howl pierced the silence. The old man stood motionless, unaffected. When a chill rippled up her spine, Sophie knew-- it was Conall.

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She feared the question forming. Calvin said nothing. Deer offered nothing. Sophie breathed deep and shook her head; refusing to give it voice.

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“What haunts my grandson now haunts you.” Calvin closed the distance between him and his grandson’s salvation.

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Sophie stood inert, shaking her head. Unwilling to accept what she felt. And from whom it came.

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“You know these things are real.” Calvin said.

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Chains thrashed and the clang of steel resounded in the dark. With yet another howl, a vehement rage swept through Sophie’s entirety.

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“You think you came here by chance?”

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Sophie shook in the night air. Tears welled and spilled over her cold cheeks. Her heart surged in her chest, and she began to back away; one laborious footstep at a time.

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“Reach for his love. I know you have felt it.”

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Calvin lowered the lantern to the floor and rushed to grab her forearms. “Touch his soul, Sophie. Temper what you feel now with your love. It is greater than his rage.”

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Sophie fought to calm her breath and heart.

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“You know it is there. See beyond what you hear and feel and reach for the love he refuses to surrender to.”

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Copyright 2008, L.L. Abbott Soul Echoes & Quill of the Heart.All Rights Reserved

NaNo Day Six Word Count:

NaNo Stats: 11,184 [@ approx. 9:52 p.m.]

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Not bad considering I was in recovery mode most of day after accomplishing only a couple of errands, and didn't key the first word yesterday. Plus I had a very slow start this morning, along with finishing up and recovering the rest of my errands. I didn't get back up here to work until some time after 3:30 p.m. Though Chapter Five is not quite complete, my goal was to reach 10K by Friday. So, I am still ahead of my game plan.

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For that-- here I am,

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History in the Making

NaNo Stats: 8419 words [& holding…..]

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Well, first off-- I would be remiss by not mentioning the historical aspects of this new morning. Let us trust this day does indeed usher in the change we are so desperate to know.

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Yesterday’s 30 Tips for 30 Days: Discovering what techniques work. For me that’s knowing I simply cannot follow, what is for many, a normal day’s process. [whine]When I took that break yesterday morning [part of that had to do with not having any coffee. Caffine is a no-no for fibromyalgia, so I'm trying not to live on the darn stuff!], it ended up being another nap, and I didn’t get back up here until around 1:30 p.m. This also means I bumped up my vitamin intake.[/whine]

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Today's 30 for 30: Getting and staying ahead of the pace. It felt quite good to reach 8K yesterday, even though it took me all day to do it. It also means absolutely nothing else got done. I have several errands to run today, and this means I may not be as productive with my NaNo Stats.

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Regardless, this little WriMo is on to Chapter Five ~ Holding Back

Which Way to Go

Writing Tip of the Day: Nov. 5, 2008

Every writing project competes in the marketplace.

It's important to know your competition.

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I had a good look at my competition the other day [those two Mini Halloween finalists], and it didn't take long to know it's just not were I want Walks with the Moon. Not that I begrudge having found the idea at TWRP. Not at all. And I've no intention of changing my storyline. I like the characters and the way it's progressing.

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But! I did a little research Tuesday and decided to switch my intended audience. It's more a matter of directing it toward Urban Fantasy, and knowing that's where it belongs; where I belong.

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Now! Might I change my mind later? That's an excellent possibility. I am female of the species, and we do hold to the prerogative of mind changing. It seems to be part of our DNA. For now, though-- Walks with the Moon, is goin' Urban.

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Antagonist Awakened!

This is going to be another brief post. I need all my energy [which is already waning] for Chapter Four ~ The Amethystine Chamber.

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I am so pleased with my breakthrough this week. I discovered my Antagonist. Though I’ve yet to determine how Anders worms [Okay, — I've no doubt he’d say "charms"] his way into meeting Sophie, just this morning I determined how he, along with his family, interacts to Conall. It is Anders’s family who brought the old world curse to America.

Special note: The contest finalists were posted the other day, and no, my entry: Surrender, was not among them. I believe there is another win in store.

NaNo Day Four Word Count:

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NaNo Stats: 8419 words [@ approx. 10:50 p.m.]

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I will update the word count throughout the day. Unfortunately, the day has barely begun and I need to take a break already. Where is that darn heating pad?

NaNo Day Three Word Count:

Just a quick update.

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Today's 30 Tips for 30 Days: Send the internal editor packing; on vacation. Yeah! We've already wrangled with each other, and she's puttin' up a fuss! For now, let's just chalk it up to not buying the perfectionist in me a ticket as well.

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NaNo Stats: 5385 words [@ approx. 7:50 p.m.]

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I made it through Chapter Three ~ What Not to Tell, and worked on the Walks with the Moon storyline as well. I have my Antagonist!

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This is it for me today, though. My body's ready to crash.

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NaNo Day Two Word Count:

Since I'm unable to even log in today, I'll post my progress here.

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NaNo Stats: 3164 words

Not a Bad First Day

It's a beautiful November morning! I'll take the warmth, though I know it should be colder. But that's a whole other Oprah Show and blog.

I'm almost at a lack for words to say how thrilled I was to hear Clan Chickadee singing at the feeders today. They’ve been somewhat MIA of late. When I peered out through the upstairs window, I delighted in the sight of an entire herd fluttering in and around my humble little pine tree. They are truly an expression of cheer, and I welcome Chickadee as my Guide today.

The cupboards and refrigerator are finally restocked. I managed to get out to the grocery this morning; very early so as to avoid crowded checkout lanes. My treats for the coming week? Homemade berries, bananas, and cream smoothies. Yes! I bought some carrots too. I’ll churn up a few carrots and apples into smoothies as well. I also bought some fresh sage for a pot or three of tea. I have found nothing more soothing than the first swallow of sage tea.

And oh what Joy! On my way to and from the store, I marveled that the price of gasoline is now $1.97. That’s ONE DOLLAR and 97 cents. I've read where some believe the recent drop in price is nothing more than a tactic to buy our vote for Senator McCain. Can't say that's what I'll be thinking on when I head back out to fill up my tank.

No Mini Halloween contest winner announced yet. No matter. Moving on!

Now, to the essence of the post. As regards Day One? All in all it was not a bad first day effort. What surprised me was just how impossible it is to maneuver NaNoWriMo.org. OMG! I logged in yesterday [after half a dozen tries], and could see my profile. But entering my word count was absolute frustration. I couldn’t get into the forums, the word count widgets aren’t working— I’ll end my rant there. UGH!!!! Though I managed to eventually upload 2102 words to my NaNo Stats, I ended the day with 2127.

Since I uploaded the current draft of book one's Prologue onto a hidden page of my Chronicles website, and I believe I have Chapter One saved on a disc, I started yesterday with Chapter Two ~ A Mother's Touch. I’m pleased to state a fair amount of what I keyed is new; a more in depth POV of the mother and narrator. I also have a working Word.doc file up at all times, to note anything not necessarily revelent to the subject matter at hand. I have another one specifically relating to potential research.

And, during Muse2008, I signed up for Linda Jo Martin’s, Perspectives of Writing. I thought I’d share her beautiful November 1st post, A NaNoWriMo Moment: Stillness Speaks. I trust you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

I’m off now, to begin Day Two. I’m off to monitor my blood pressure, smudge and cleanse the energy, light incense at my alter of creativity, and to meditate on my chakras [as they are in desperate need of attention!]. And then? Well, there's a huge mug of coffee to savor first. Then! To write. To Create. To NaNo!

Blessings to you all,

And So It Begins!

Good November Morn!
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Yes. I didn't wake up from that nap yesterday, until around 8 p.m. And I felt just about as tired as before I laid myself back down. If it’s what my body needs right now, I intend to allow it. But! I awoke again, around 1 a.m., and seeing as how I’d intended to start at midnight, I came up here, set myself down and eventually logged in 257 NaNoWords. That was about all my brain could handle. [whine]It’s all just part of my challenge![/whine.]
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Before this current bout of fatigue set in, I shopped for and ordered my new programmable moist heat heating pad, and I am merely waiting for the site-to-store pickup notice. It should be here early next week.
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The winner of that Mini Halloween Contest will be announced today. It’s not like there’s a contract is in the offing, but— I’d like to believe I wrote something worthy of a win. We shall see. Regardless, I’ll post either a link or the snippet here and let the judging begin.
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Now, to focus on NaNoWriMo.

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Yesterday morning I managed to create a little NaNo graphic. And, as I thought on how to proceed today I am reminded of the tip, earlier in the week, about one’s writing not being set in stone. I wrote that I sometimes tend to leave things unsaid. Right now, I believe erring on the side of overdoing it would be of benefit. If I take nothing for granted, I can always edit out or rework a scene and weave descriptions into action or to flow with dialog in a subsequent edit.
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There's also the confusion over opposing critiques--too much description versus leave it to the their imagination--which also has me at odds. Not every reader will know the experience of hiking a mountain trail. It’s my responsibility to share what it’s like.

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Regardless the thinking process, music is a must today. When the moving-in-reverse beep-beep-BEEP! sounded outside and startled my girls from their respective windows this morning, I looked out to find that my next door neighbors are moving. Drowning out their goings-on is a necessity.

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As regards 30 Tips for 30 Days? Day One: Words on Paper!

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Ok! I fixed a good breakfast, took my meds and vitamins, and now I'm off to Tim Horton’s, for a large Cappuccino. Then? Back here to NaNo my quota for the day.

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