Category Archives: Writing & Editing

“Tonight must finish! Tonight must be spectacular!”

Nov. 21, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 1,760 words
• Total so far: 40,769 words
• Remaining: 9,231 words

Ugh, that was brutal.

Some days, I don’t know if I can write a story or not. The magic ain’t there—but the necessity is. Today was rough.

I knew I wanted to get to a good stopping point for this sixth story, but I’m still not entirely sure how it’s all going to wrap up. There are some conflicts that need to come to a head, some confidence some folks need to gain, and to earn by acting on that confidence. And there’s some catastrophic badness that needs to fall.

The structure needs works, and I just realized that my main character needs to play a role currently being filled by a minor character.

It’s been a touch-and-go sixth story. But, for now, it’s written.

Now on to story #7, and the last 9,231 words between me and the NaNoWriMo finish line.

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »

“Go to hell, Jay.”
“I will if I can get a visa.”

Nov. 19, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 1,861 words
• Total so far: 39,009 words
• Remaining: 10,991 words

Almost to the 40,000-word mark—which means just over 10,000 words to go.

Today’s scribbling took me to a good turn in the action. There’s something about this story that needs to have some of the flow and mystery of a Doctor Who episode. Not that I’m executing such skillful writing at all right now; this is all just the rush of story, the figuring out of who all these people are and what the hell is going on.

But come rewrite… there’ll be a real, good story to come out of the ashes of this first draft’s phoenix fire.

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »

“She lay still on the stage. Then she burst into flames.”

Nov. 19, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 4,034 words
• Total so far: 37,148 words
• Remaining: 12,852 words

Nothing like a night off to help you crank out over 4,000 words.

Today I began story #6 of 10 in my NaNoWriMo project, which is a bit of a story within a story. There’s a traveler caught in a strange job because his wallet got nicked and he needs the money. There’s big personality conflicts.

And then, there’s someone who really, really wants to stop something that they despise, and they’re willing to do anything. No matter what happens…

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »

“…”

Nov. 18, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 0 words
• Total so far: 33,114 words
• Remaining: 16,886 words

After making headway on 5 of the 10 stories for this year’s NaNoWriMo project, it’s time for a night off to recharge.

Not that there isn’t lots going on in my head. The next few stories are all in the back of my mind, outlines, plots and characters bubbling away like a simmering pot. But I need some rest and an evening with my wife, more than I need to write tonight.

Back to it tomorrow.

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »

“This necklace,” she said, “it’s so strange. It looks like… bones.”

Nov. 17, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 1,707 words
• Total so far: 33,114 words
• Remaining: 16,886 words

Wow, I didn’t see that coming at all.

Today’s NaNo drafting included two scenes: one to establish another aspect of my main character, and then a hack attempt at an ending.

I had no idea how this story was going to wrap up. But what came out of it, tells me a lot about what will happen throughout the revised version of the story. Another character’s motivations just became so much clearer, as does what she does in the story’s final action.

Writing is exciting, but sometimes I think I enjoy revision more. Then I can take all these rough words, and bring out the real story. That’ll be a good time.

Now for story #6.

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »

“Do you think she worries about good and bad?”

Nov. 16, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 1,767 words
• Total so far: 31,407 words
• Remaining: 18,593 words

Mental abandon makes for interesting character insights.

Behind the scenes, I’ve been setting up a template that I’m going to use to track and develop things about the characters in my travel fantasy series. From eye color to biography, there are so many things I need to know about these people, in order to best tell their stories.

And one of the fascinating things about this current short story is how much I’ve been learning about one of them. This story is intended to show a turning point in her life, when she really started to get to know herself and the world around her, via travel. But what caused the conflict? And how does she get confronted with the challenge she must take, if she’ll have a gratifying life?

Getting towards these answers is interesting. Who she is, I wonder more and more with each NaNoWriMo session.

Now to see what happens tomorrow. Before moving on to story #6, I’ve got to give this story one more day to see what happens.

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »

“No, no sanuk in you at all.”

Nov. 15, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 2,063 words
• Total so far: 29,640 words
• Remaining: 20,360 words

Today, Nov. 15, means we’ve hit the halfway point of NaNoWriMo. I’m feeling good. Writing is coming better as story planning improves. I know there’ll still be heaps of rewriting and revising to do once these stories are done, but that’s okay. After all, you can only work with what you have.

Today, as I work through the fifth story in this NaNoWriMo project, I wanted to share a wee excerpt of today’s output. The story is set in Bangkok, Thailand. The word farang (also spelled “falang”), is a generic Thai term for Westerners.

Excerpt

“Do you know the man who stamped my passport?” Concertina asked.

Isra shook her head. “I don’t need to,” she said. “The farang come. The farang go. Sometimes, they come here.”

Concertina looked up. “And where is here, exactly? Usually when you hear about things like this, some poor bugger’s gone through a wardrobe or something, and the next thing they know they’re in a different world. Is that’s what happened to me? Am I in Bangkok? Am I in Thailand? Am I even in the same world that I was living in?”

For a moment, Isra said nothing. The questions, now spoken, sank back into Concertina’s head. “I can’t believe I just said all that,” she said. “I must sound like a total nutter…”

“You still in same world. No fantasy.”

“But… but how can that be?” Concertina asked. “In my world, you can’t just open a door in the airport, walk through and wind up in the middle of a city! You can’t!”

“No,” Isra said, her voice soft as a mother’s. “You just didn’t know you could.”

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »

“You not usual. Neither is your visa.”

Nov. 14, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 2,007 words
• Total so far: 27,577 words
• Remaining: 22,423 words

Story number 5 begins.

In an earlier draft of my novel, I had in mind a strong, confused, angry female character. She was to be the embodiment of “do not mess with.” In the end, though, I decided the novel wasn’t the right place for her, especially as I got to know more of her history and who she was. There are other stories for her.

Now it’s time to write one. I’m thinking it’s back in her earlier days as a traveler, where she’s mostly piss and vinegar, unpolished by learning and experience. She’s got a lot to learn about the world, about herself—and she’s one of the fortunate few who gets dropped into a chance to do some of that learning.

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »

“I’m glad it’s done. I’m glad it’s time. I’m… I’m ready.”

Nov. 13, 2011
NaNoWriMo status and progress for writing a 50,000-word novel in one month:

• Written today: 2,052 words
• Total so far: 25,570 words
• Remaining: 24,430 words

Oh, that was fun.

Over 25,000 words written so far this month. I’m over the halfway line, and can hardly believe it. It’s gratifying to see the “total so far” line at last be a bigger number than the “remaining” line.

So much of what I love about NaNoWriMo is that it forces me to get out of my own damn way. There’s too much writing to do, to bother about over-thinking. You can’t let yourself. Otherwise, you just get in the way of the words.

But when you throw yourself into the story, you can let it take over. Let it move through you, and onto the page (or screen, whatever). Finishing up the fourth short story in this collection has been so much fun. There are so many things I can hint at, so many things I can introduce the reader to.

I hope it’s a good time for them.

Now for the next six stories, and the rest of my 50,000 words.

See all of Anthony St. Clair’s NaNoWriMo 2011 blog posts »

More like this: Travel Fantasy Stories from Rucksack Press »