Monthly Archives: November 2002

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I’m in the home stretch.

Yes, last night I sat down to write. Two hours and eighteen pages later (no, I don’t know how that particular time-bending miracle occurred), I’m a breath away from 40K.

Now, my chapters tend to the 4,500 word count. Assuming I�m aiming for the 50K mark as a finish line (which I�m not � it will end when it ends� so long as there�s a minimum of 50K involved!), that means I have about eleven hundred words for two longish chapters, or three shortish chapters, or two regular chapters and an epilogue, which is looking like the best solution at the moment. And the wonder of it is, the story’s actually at the right point for two chapters to end it at the correct pace.

I’m really stunned that everything seems to be falling into place, because I certainly didn�t plan it. It’s like, er, magic. Or something.

And speaking of magic… only twelve hours until Chamber of Secrets! Before that, though, I have to keep an appointment with my optometrist in the wilds of the West Island, to figure out if my prescription needs updating or whether I just have to wear my glasses full-time now.

Meh

Bad, bad sleep last night. On the other hand, there’s only one more sleep until we see The Chamber of Secrets on Friday night.

Good rehearsal, though. Take that, Handel. And the conductor finally suggested that the celli play every second note of those pesky sixteenth-note legato runs in the Mendelssohn.

Got an e-mail from Ceri this morning talking about her NaNo project, which alas, like me, is on hold til tomorrow, since both of us work today. She said that tomorrow she would “write like the dickens”, which I found highly amusing in the NaNo context. I can just imagine a Victorian editor saying, “Quantity, Charles, not quality! Accidental quality is acceptable.”

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Whoa!

So this is what happens when you don’t check in at the NaNo site for a couple of days. Everyone’s word counts increase dramatically!

Nice work, all!

Renewed

Yesterday, quite simply, sucked.

Oh, the day was horrid. Evil was afoot in my life. Things went from bad to worse.

I did not blog, I did not write; I did not practice. I did, however, buy funky new shoes.

I shall not depress you all, however, with gloomy details. Instead, rejoice, for today was a wondrous day!

Highlights include an hour and a half of brilliant cello, where I spiked that irritating Handel quite nicely, thank you very much; a terrific wrap sandwich made with thick slices of ham roast and Monterey Jack cheese, toasted under the broiler; leaps and bounds of progress on freelance work; and a satisfying few thousand words added to my novel count.

A rest is as good as a change. Voila. I am renewed.

And I have new funky shoes. Go me!

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More snapping and growling from the NaNo Cage of Doom, featuring the match of the century, Tal vs. Serinde:

Just checked the word count… pass me will you?! We’ll just see about that!
(Actually I’m kidding, I know it’s not a race, and congrats Ceri!)
Tal
Talyesin | Email | 11.08.02 – 2:14 pm

Psssh. Not a race. Eat my dust, turkey.
Ceri | Email | Homepage | 11.08.02 – 4:37 pm

Can’t you just feel the love?

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From Ceri’s comments, regarding the NaNo site being down and word counts un-updated:

Poor baby.
My frickin’ heart bleeds for you.
Talyesin | Email | 11.11.02 – 9:27 am

Quiet, you!
Ceri | Email | Homepage | 11.11.02 – 9:42am

I love it when the real writer emerges, snarling and showing its teeth, don’t you?