NaNoWriMo (2016) Update #4

Perhaps this will be my last year attempting the challenge that is NaNoWriMo, but for some reason, I have a feeling I might (attempt to) undertake this feat again next year.

After all, next year might be the year I could hit at least the halfway mark, or at most the 10,000 word mark; the total word count in the five years I’ve participated (thus far) stands at 18,150 words. Conversely, this blog has existed for about three years, and the word count (thus far) stands at 110,707 words (obviously not counting this entry).

Then again, those unedited 18,150 words were written within a (roughly) 14 week period, and the unedited 110,707 words within this blog were written within 188 week period so it’s not quite fair to compare the two.

It’s akin to comparing apples to kumquats.

The NaNoWriMo writings were pure fiction, whereas the musings from this blog were mainly quasi-rambling streams of thought, with the recent entries tinged with politics (though I’ve never been actively political in these entries, tending to stick with the geeky / dorky /nerdy fandom commentary).

Some of the NaNoWriMo offerings were attempts to actually!write the stories that will eventually (inevitably?) end up somewhere in the MASC Chronicles Universe, while others were attempts at pantsing an original story, the latter usually finding its way into the former.

I’m not quite sure how that happens, but it does. Even when pantsing, the plotting reigns supreme.

The antics of the Real World and from the Real Life Brigade have (per usual) seized attention away from the true purpose of the Land of Exposition, with its land minds and other ploys at distractions, diversions and deviations (oh my!) to derail the momentum.

Anyway.

I’m sure it’s sounding like a broken record (if anyone out there remembers what records were and what an actual broken record sounds like) but procrastination does seem to go hand in hand with plotting and pondering. Structure and order (and a quasi-decent road map) are required in world building and character development and narrative arcs and all that jazz.

The Game of Genres for the MASC Chronicles has tipped toward a hybrid of Science Fiction / Fantasy mixed with the Mystery foundation; the narration is (still) in first person, though the narrator for Series One has oscillated between the main two characters. Influences and inspiration from the Real World will continue to impact recurring themes and character relationships, as well as (probably) comment on what could be in the near future.

It’s all still in a dry-ice fog of Uncertainty, as the  concrete is still damp, with falling leaves leaving minute imprints creating a mosaic pattern which will end up looking like… something completely different.

Maybe.

The Future is (still) unknown and the fictional world is still a work in progress.

NaNoWriMo (2016) Update #3

So it’s Week Three of the (quasi-non) adventure that is NaNoWriMo, and not much forward momentum in the actual!writing has actually!happened.

Clearly, November is (still) not a good month for me, writing-wise.

The plotting and pondering marches on, albeit in a haphazard fashion, through the reactionary goings-on in the Real World and the covert shenanigans from the Real Life Brigade. As the days turn colder, and grow shorter, it seems things will get worse (quickly) before they can get better (I’m still optimistic that things will get better… eventually).

Winter is coming – though Game of Thrones and (presumably) The Winds of Winter will return next year.

Anyway.

The Mind Writer remains in the mind, as the Muses wander about and the Plot Bunnies plot the Steampunk / fantasy / alternate future world of the MASC Chronicles, the often mentioned yet rarely elaborated epic series saga that will (eventually) be my magnum opus. The (not quite) “straight from the headlines” plot idea vaguely hinted in last week’s entry is bubbling out there (in the dark) and may or may not be incorporated into the elaborate fabric that is the MASC Chronicles universe.

Meanwhile, things in the Land of Exposition have been buzzing with activity, though it’s mostly containing the aftermath of the aforementioned shenanigans, raking up all the fallen leaves and collecting acorns.

Why?

Why not?

These are uncertain times we now live in, with protests and heated words thrown about in the sphere of social media, which is all the more reason why the Arts (in all its forms) is vital. If only (most of) the worlds writers can create with their imaginations can be brought to fruition in the Real World, ones where equality is guaranteed for all, conflicts can be resolved before resorting to abuse (physical, emotional and / or verbal) and where differences can be tolerated (to a certain degree).

Then again, some fictional worlds should remain fictional, lest they become our new Reality.

Off to plot and ponder, whilst stepping off the mini soap box.

NaNoWriMo (2016) Update #2

Not so much an update on the NaNoWriMo front – the Real Life Brigade and Real World Events have left me drained, despondent and disappointed. I’m not one to be overtly political (as it’s one of the topics one cannot discuss without a tidal wave of arguments) but things happen in cycles, (lots and lots of) people voted and they chose the candidate who best represented their interests (well, perhaps the interests for a certain demographic). What’s done is done, and there’s no use arguing about it – that’s the beauty of democracy and the foundation of freedom of speech. I disagree with the values and perspectives embraced by those who supported the opposition, but they have a right to have their grievances and voice their opinions.

“Love is love is love is love is love” and will always trump hate and fear mongering. Equality should be for all, and diversity should not be demonized – America was founded on the principles of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.

The 2016 Election is over, and life (hopefully) will go as is has been before the election.

But I digress.

*hops off soapbox*

With the unexpected (real world) plot twist, a new / old idea has bubbled to the surface, one which I had hoped would not (potentially) become a reality. A variant twist on the post-apocalyptic world story archetype, without the obligatory love angle / triangle, but with hefty doses of mystery, science fiction and (non-sparkly) vampires.

Why vampires?

Why not?

Old School vampires need to take back their place as scary, charismatic (anti) heroes with complex backstories, quasi-redeeming qualities and a sensible wardrobe (to match their majestic castles).

Along with the Real World Events, the Real Life Brigade have returned to the sneaky ways within the Land of Exposition with its introduction of an automated land mind that creates complex conundrums with existential enigmas, wrapped in red velvet.

Why red?

Why not?

The Mind Writer will be shelved into the Vault of Interesting Ideas, to be revived at some future date (along with the zillions of other ideas).

If anything, I kinda wish something akin to the mind writer existed so I could churn out more tales (and make plans for the inevitable film / stage adaptation).

Life goes on, and the future is still unwritten.

Time to move onward and upward.

NaNoWriMo (2016) Update #1

So it’s a few days into November, and NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is in full swing… for a good percentage of those participating.

Though I’m not entirely sure why I decided (once again) to attempt the challenge of writing a 50,000-word novel within 30 days – I’ve yet to succeed or even make it to the halfway mark in the past four years – I’ve blogged about three of the four attempts thus far, and it’d be odd to not blog about this year. Also, while I could choose to develop and (potentially) actually!write any one of the multitude of stories contained within the MASC Chronicles, or any of the other works-in-progress bouncing about in my head, this year’s attempt is Something New.

I hope.

The origin of the (quasi?) new story came about randomly two entries ago, even though it’s been a lingering nugget of an idea, hidden (almost) in plain sight – the basic premise for the 2016 NaNoWriMo is that there’s a device (not quite sure if it’s an actual thingy, an app or something completely different) that can instantaneously extract thoughts directly from the mind and on to a Word-like program and / or on to paper (for those who are still vintage like that), and the potential chaos / hilarity that can ensue when literal thoughts are transcribed in real time. I suppose this type of story would fall under  science fiction, with perhaps a morsel of mystery, a smidgen of suspense, and (maybe) a hint of humor.

The working title for this story is The Mind Writer.

Beyond that, and the aforementioned premise, not much else has been fleshed out – the time, place and reality in which the story takes place is currently in a kind of limbo, though in a way the process and the premise take on a meta quality, as the existence of this device thingy would help enormously in the writing of the story about the existence of this device thingy and the things that might happen if this device thingy existed.

Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey. (kinda)

Clearly, the overall structure of this story is still in a nebulous state, somewhere in the ether of the Mind.

That’s about all I have thus far.