With a certificate and everything! (Which I will be happy to show you in all it's glory if you stop by my apartment.)
And let me tell you, it was hard work to keep writing, because not only was I exhausted most nights, but I also knew that just about every word was crap. (And that is hard on the ego.)
Yay for trite and terrible prose!
I mean, really, my last 20,000 words were worse than the first 30,000. And by the end there, I was just phoning it in.
In fact, here are a few plot devices I almost included in order to increase my word count:
1. Abbott (my heroine) would be abducted by aliens. And I, of course, would have to describe every experiment they tried on her.
2. Max and Sabine (Abbott's parents) would have a dream sequence which would include a HUGE dance number a' la "Brigadoon" that I would describe in all it's boring detail. They would then take this dance on the road.
3. Declan (Abbott's fella) would have led a life as an international spy (before he became a baker) and he would tell Abby all about it.
4. Abbott and Declan would get a call to leave Otterville in order to save the world from a black hole that is going to engulf our solar system.
If you think these are bad ideas, you should read what I actually ended up doing to push the plot forward (which you won't, because I will NEVER EVER let anyone EVER read it. EVER!)
But, in the end, I did it. I wrote 50,000 horrible words.
I think I'm going to have to retire my stupid imagination, now, until next November when I attempt this again.
Maybe by then, I'll actually come up with some good ideas.
Or, most likely, not.
Oh, well.
I get an "A" for effort though, right?
6 comments:
Congratulations Liz! I can't read it, ever? I think you should change your mind on that one! :)
Liz,
Since all of us were actually enjoying the previously blogged part of our novel, I think you owe it to your new readers to not keep us hanging! Out of those that read this blog, you are probably one of the best writers except for your international friends who I imagine to be fancy and intelligent, so go ahead and share.
Also note that I am not offending your non-international friends writing. I love you all, but she needs to share. Don't ya think?
I agree with Amanda - you got me hooked on those 4 paragraphs you shared before. I'm dying to know what happens to Abbott. I think it's unfair, selfish even - not to share! I never got past about 20 pages of my novel. And like I said before, it's sad because it's sort of my fantasy and it was getting boring! I think imagination must be one of those things to go once you hit your thirties! I do want to keep trying though.
Liz you are my hero!!! I've thrown in the towel all three years I signed up for nanowrimo...which is why I've decided to start Decembowrimo. Which I'm now two days behind on. Regardless, this makes you the coolest person I know! And I fourth the sentiment that we must have more Abbot!
Fifth! I fifth. Please share. I'm extrememly proud of you. And Hannah, I've decided to do Febrowrimo (Motto: Fewer days to feel guilty about not writing your novel.)
Ah, you guys are so nice.
But, seriously, I've already re-written my will to include that "My Name is Abbott" (catchy title,no?) is to be buried along with me.
In fact, they are to pry open my cold dead hands and place the manuscript in them. They are then instructed to light me on fire, (Did I mention I'm on an ancient pire?) and allow me and my novel to blow in the wind.
But, I'll give you a brief summary of what happens:
After Abbott complains about her
wacky parents (while remembering specific examples that take up about half of the book) she returns to Otterville to clean out the home she used to live in.
She also reminisces about the quirky characters in her town. Some of whom she interacts with while going through her parents (and grandparents) crap.
She meets Declan, the baker (whom she calls "fella" because she feels his name is pretentious) and they start a little romance.
Abbott is hesitant about the whole thing because he reminds her of her father, so there is some conflict.
In the end, Declan helps her to realize that she owes her parents more than she thought, and she ends up staying in Otterville, having learned important (slightly trite) life lessons.
So, see, you've missed nothing.
Post a Comment