Then I
thought to myself… that’s stupid, just because you’re unreasonably busy is no
excuse to stop doing the things.
It probably
is, but myself won’t hear of it, so even though we’re somewhat in disagreement
about the wisdom of this decision, we are going to snap our faculties back
together in order to attempt to knock out another novel this November. For a
second there it looked like I might have the third book in Rosenrot’s series
done this month, but then life ensued and I decided to hold off on trying to
finish it until December.
Anyway, last
year, NaNoWriMo did not work out so great for me. I finished the book, but it
was terribly short and refused to get any longer, no matter how I begged it. It
doesn't surprise me though, since it was someone else’s idea and I was writing
it in a genre that I typically avoid, precisely because it’s challenging for me
to maintain the interest. That having been said, I do quite like the book I
wrote last year and perhaps in a few years I’ll pull it out, dust it off and
turn it into something less embarrassing.
For now, I've
decided I want to choose an idea that’s more fun, and yes, much more
self-indulgent. I think a healthy level of self-indulgence can be crucial to
finishing a NaNoWriMo novel. Skip right to the fun stuff. Author Avatars
everywhere, switch voice and style as it pleases you, never editing! That sort
of thing.
I've got a
short list of ideas I’m considering for NaNoWriMo. All of them involve going
back to my YA Fantasy roots.
Idea # 1 – I
shall call thee High Fantasy Gods & Monsters Book! So, this one is
currently in last place because it involves creating a new language, which
seems mighty ambitious for a novel I’m supposed to finish in thirty days. But,
it’s the most solidly formed in my mind, I've got characters and plot points
and four parts, I just need to write it… and make up that language.
Idea # 2 –
The Inverted-Harry Potter Story! So, it wasn't until recently that I realized
this was the inverse of the Harry Potter plot. I’ve had this idea for years and
it’s taken on a few different forms. The fact that I can’t seem to pinpoint
exactly how I want to tell this story is one of the reasons I haven’t written
it, but essentially, it’s about a Sorcerer’s Apprentice who finds out that his
master stole him from a mortal family. He runs away to find his real parents
and tries to live as a normal kid for a while. Spoiler—he’s unsuccessful.
Idea # 3 –
Currently in first place, we have: Post-Modern Epic Fantasy Experiment. I think
every sad writer of my generation has written this story already, except me.
It’s basically Lost in Austen, but in a Fantasy World that resembles every
Fantasy World. Very self-indulgent. I’ll only go ahead and do it if I can be
clever about it.
Honorable
Mention #Theonlyone – Guinness. Five years ago, I told you that if you hadn't
at least started writing that charming and wickedly funny fairy-tale story you’d
mapped out from beginning to end, I would steal it from you in five years and
write it myself. I feel I’m morally obligated to make good on my word. I’d be
willing to give you a six month extension except I know it won’t matter.
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