Writing Day 31

6130 Words
60,142 Total

IT IS DONE!

That's right, I finally finished the No Plot? No Problem! project. After 31 long days, I have completed a novel with over 60,000 words (well over the 50,000 word goal).  It was very wearing the last few days because I knew I had to finish and wrap it all up today and I wasn't completely sure how that would work out.  I still don't know if its the 'right' ending, but it felt like the right thing to do.

I feel really good about it as far as having finished the project and completed it.  Is a great accomplishment for me and it is like finally putting something together that has been sitting in pieces in the corner for years...  No more tripping over that in my head anymore!

Its also good to just finish something, period.

And I definitely feel proud.

There is still editing to do and I have major changes that I've already taken note of to make, but the bones are there and there is something to actually change.

For those of you that have stuck by this and kept reading my posts about this undertaking, I thank you and thank you for your support!  I know that you probably want to read what I've done and I hope you will understand that it really isn't ready for reading, but knowing you were reading the blog and keeping up made a huge impact.  It made me feel like I was doing something worthwhile.  Thank you.

So I don't forget though, here is your snippet:

“Would you do this all over again… I mean… If you had a choice?”

He smiled and said, “Of course.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  And honestly, this last part, with you? This has been some of the most fun I’ve had - not the fighting or running from things trying to kill you part, but when we went to the movies and hung out and laughed…  Those things…  Those were some of the best times.” He grinned at her.  “I wouldn’t want to trade those.”

She returned his smiled, “Me either.”  As they returned their gaze to the desert, she asked, “Can we stay here for a bit? I’d like to… just stay here for a while.”

“I think we can.  I don’t think the others will mind.”

And now... Wow... such tired... much sleep needed... 

Thank you again and good night!

Writing Day 29

1774 Words
51,520 Total

Well, I hit and passed the 50,000 word mark! 

Of course, I still have to more days left in the No Plot? No Problem kit....

Yeah... two more days of writing and trying to wrap this all up.

Its bittersweet now I guess.  I mean, I've worked a month with all of this... writing and just going with it.  Its funny that with as much time as I've spent writing, I'm not sure that I really got as far as I wanted to get or told the story I wanted to tell.  I never had a solid plan except for the basic idea that I had, so managing 50,000+ words wasn't too shabby.  The rewrites will follow and I'll try to be as devoted to that as I was in keeping up with the writing every day, but who knows. 

I still can't get ahead of myself.  I have those two more days...  I hope you'll all stay with me on this for a little while longer... 

Meanwhile, here is some writing:

“Yes, well, don’t make me regret it by throwing your life away to some grotesque mistakes on two legs!” He growled, turning to face forward again.  It was clear that this whole conversation had been difficult for him and now that he had revealed his inner emotions on it, he was done and back to his more confident and annoyed self.

For Samantha it put a smile on her face.  Knowing that her group of friends were really that and not just things there to follow some strange purpose.  It made facing what was to come, easier knowing she had people in her corner.

“By the way,” Steve said, “Where did you learn to fight like that?”



“She fought?” Gabe asked, turning around in his seat.

“Yeah!  It was pretty impressive.”

“I don’t really know.” She answered honestly, “It just sort of came to me.  My body reacted before I could even think about what I was doing.”

Gabe grinned over his shoulder at her, “Don’t feel bad, that’s a good thing!  Nice to know you have some self-defense training.  When did you take classes?”



Samantha shook her head, “I didn’t… I mean, I never have.” Her brows furrowed, “I guess its from television or youtube or something.”  She chuckled, “But I am hungry!  We never got a chance to get something to eat in Kansas City.”

Writing Day 27

2231 Words
47,925 Total

Another rough start to this section, but got through it and I think got to a sort of exciting part in the book.  I'm still unsure how to end it, but talked to Mom a little and I think I have an idea...  I think I knew how it had to end the whole time, but I was hoping for a better way to make it all work the way I wanted.

Knowing all the changes I want to make, its hard to keep moving forward without making those changes.  That's been a large challenge for me.  But in the end, its still good because its made me focus on 'now' rather than doing things over and over again.  I'm going to try to keep that in mind when I edit and make changes.  I want to go through the whole story again, rather than get stuck on perfecting one section and then another... not till the very end at least.

Its strange to realize that I'm almost at the end.  I mean, chances are in the next day or so, I'll hit the 50,000 word mark, but there are still four days left in the exercise.  When I started this all felt really big and now, seeing the days coming to an end, I feel like the time went by fast.

I've felt really blessed that so far my imagination hasn't let me down and I hope it won't when I type up the last words in a few days! 

Ah well, here is your snippet!

She frowned slightly, feeling defensive of Steve suddenly for what he did, “I think it was brave of him to do!  I mean, considering the repercussions, it means that he really is sorry and wants to make it up to me!”  Leaning back in the seat she huffed, “It was actually pretty cool that he was so serious that he’d put himself out there like that.”  Her fingers stroked Foxglove’s fur, “Just because you wouldn’t do the same, doesn’t make it foolish.”

The other shrugged, “Just because he put himself in that position, doesn’t make him brave.”

“We’ll just have to agree to disagree.”

“That’s just what people who have lost an argument say to feel like they’ve won.”

Samantha rolled her eyes, “Whatever…”

Writing Day 25

2376 Words
44,011 Total

Well, that wasn't as hard as I was sure it was going to be.  After Day 24, I was thinking I would have no idea what to do next, but after I sat down tonight and started typing, it pretty much came together, so I'm feeling relieved.

Now on to the next day of writing...

There is a feeling of dread now as the days wind down.  I have 6 more days using the writing kit though I'm sure I'll reach 50,000 words before the end and I know the book won't be finished.  The kit recommends rushing the end anyway, just so its complete, but that makes it worse because I really have NO idea how this is going to end.  I'm trying to keep the faith with this and thinking that it will come to me, because I've been managing so far, but its really flying by the seat of your pants writing.

I might have mentioned previously that the book I'm writing has been floating around in my head for years - well one of the big obstacles has been the fact that I never knew how to end it or what would be a good ending.  I'm not trying to go for the 'Happily Ever After' type of ending - just one that makes sense and feels right.  I would hate for someone to read it and go, "Bleh."  I've done that at the end of a book and I certainly don't want that reaction to my novel.

Anyway... here is today's sample:

She picked up her cup of coffee and curled her fingers around it as she held it to her chest, liking the warmth it provided through her palms.  There were a lot of words on her lips to say, but they felt pointless now that everything was said and done.  She wanted to be angry and shout, but it was like her body had maxed out on that emotion, as if she was an overcharged credit card.  “Well…  I don’t forgive him.”

“He doesn’t expect you to.”

“I don’t want to see him either.  Not right now.”



“Okay.  Whatever you want.”

Samantha gave a snort, “What I want is to go back home to my parent’s house, curl up in my bed and have none of this happen.”

So, noticing that there aren't many people reading these posts anymore...  I'm keeping notes and when I'm a rich and famous author, there are definitely some people who are going to be on my list...  :P

Or else my samples are really boring and uninteresting so followers have given up.  Hmmm....

Writing Day 23

2576 Words
42,748 Total

Well, I hit this week's goal of 40,000 words with a bit of room to spare I might add!  According to the No Plot? No Problem kit, I am nearly at my 50,000 word total.  Ok, not nearly, but pretty darn close.  Luckily this past bit was sort of easy in terms of writing since I knew what was going to happen here.  I have no idea what happens next, but that will be the next sit down tomorrow.  Hopefully it will come together!  I'm still unsure if the overall story will be interesting or if the ideas and things are heavy handed or just plain boring. Its like staring at a word that you know you spelled right, but just looks wrong... 

Tomorrow starts week four and technically the last section before the end of this process.  I'm not sure what the next part will have me do or how I'll be feeling by the end, but right now, I'm feeling pretty good.  That feeling you get when you ride a bike up a hill and are now seeing that the rest is downhill.

I have no idea if it will be all downhill from here, but I'm sort of hoping that if it is, its in terms of ease of writing and not in quality. 

Anyway, here is your tidbit:

“Don’t worry I said.  We’re almost there… Just around this tree.”

Samantha rubbed her eyes, “Almost where?”  And it was hard not to keep the annoyance out of her words.

“Right here.”

Coming around the large tree she found herself entering a huge clearing.  The canopy of golden boughs broke to reveal the clear blue sky above and the ground was green with fresh grass as if it was spring and it wanted to show off its brightest color.  A wide circle of great big stones, the surface smooth where there weren’t great swirling patterns carved in, ringed the clearing, like a giant had placed them there.  The stones were about ten feet across and at least 20 feet high, fingers pointing to the sky above and they gave off the feeling of being ancient. 

Writing Day 21

Words 1692
Total 37,965

I can honestly say, today was one of those days that I didn't feel like writing.  Not because I didn't know what to write, but I was just feeling bleh about doing it.  Obviously, I did write, or else I'd have to answer to all of you about not having done my work today!  That's partly why I do this blog every other day, so that I have to answer to someone rather than just depend on myself to keep up on it.  I do better when I'm accountable to people other than myself.

So whenever I get bleh, I just think, "Ugh... people following this blog are going to be all, 'what the hell!' and I don't want to deal with that."  Which works well enough to get me to sit down and type.  And I have gifs like this one to keep me at my writing:

I cannot refuse Sherlock.

While the goal is 50,000 words, I know I am going to be well over that because I can see my progress along the chart and I know there is more to come than what I can see will happen.  I'm following the course laid out by the kit's book - we're not supposed to look ahead so I'm being good and not doing that.  I'm a sucker for following instructions.  Its my backup plan in case things go wrong or don't work, because then I can say, "I did exactly what it told me to do!"  It works well when putting furniture together too.

Anyway...

Here is today's snippet:

They found a place to park and got out into air that was crisp and beneath leaves that were hues of gold with ground that was a carpet of fire tones.  It was beautiful and Samantha felt a sense of renewal go through her as she took in a deep breath of fresh air with a lingering smell of fresh earth that made her think of days waiting for the school bus when she was little.  Autumn was always a time of new beginnings to her.  It was when the new school year would start and when the Jewish New Year would fall, so it held more of a promise of days to come than New Year’s eve.

Foxglove happily trotted about, sniffing everything she could and then peeing on it shortly thereafter to mark it as her territory.  While Gabe walked her around, Steve and Samantha took out water bottles and some cereal bars to eat.  She would have loved some coffee, but this would have to do.  “This was a great idea,” she said between bites.

He grinned, “I’m smarter than I look.”

Writing Day 19

2077 Words
34156 Total

I am going to have the face the music that I don't know if I have a climax for this book.  I don't know if I should be worrying about that right now, but the fear that this is all going to meander is gnawing at me.  I don't have a definite way for this all to end and that is the biggest issue for me right now.  I keep thinking it will come to me.

I suppose I should have faith.  I've come this far and things are popping up in my head. 

There are pages of notes of changes I'll make after I finish writing this first draft and the challenge is to keep them in mind as I write without making all the edits now - and to not go back and make the changes.  Keeping myself moving forward is forcing me to make some decisions off the cuff and some of them work and some are noted to be edited later. 

When I'm not writing, I definitely feel like I should be, but I worry that its a distraction from other things I should be doing.  This has been an issue with my art as well.  Doing art hasn't felt... good a lot of the times, because I've felt guilty indulging in it, even though I used to love it so much.  Doing it made me feel bad because I should have been working or looking for work or doing something more... adult or more what I am 'supposed to be doing'.  I am still looking for work, but there is only so much you can actually do and I want to finish this book.  I don't know if it will come together to be something to be published, but it would be an accomplishment and I think I need that.  

So when I get down on myself, I push that aside and keep plugging away.  And if I feel guilty, I'll just say to myself, "Mr. Gaiman made me do it!"

Okay... on to today's snippet:

“No.” she smirked then heard her phone buzzing.  Taking it out of the bag at her feet she lifted it up in the dark car to see what it was.  The face lit up and there was a text message notification.  Clicking open the message app she saw a single question, 

“Where are you?”

 Her brows knit.  She didn’t recognize the sender.  “Steve do you know Int3rn3tz with threes instead of e’s?”  They did have some mutual friends so it might be someone she met through him and wasn’t recognizing right away.

The phone buzzed again. 

“Where are you?” 

“Nope…” he answered as he passed a car.

“Gabe…?” She called over to the back seats, “Do you know anyone called Int3rn3tz?” Samantha didn’t give her number out to anyone unless she met them more than once, so there was no way they could have her number otherwise. “Spelled using threes instead of e’s.”

The cell vibrated with its notification. 

“Where are you?” 

Gabe frowned and shook his head, “No one I know.” 

Anubis sat up, “Who?”

“Int3rn3tz.”  



“Shit, shut it down!  Turn off the fucking phone!”

“What, why?” She asked as she frantically tried to grasp it to hit the power button as the phone buzzed again.

“Where are you?”