Thursday 15 November 2012

NaNo Update - Week 2 and "U Got the Look" Meme

It's the end of another week in NaNoLand and the halfway point in the month. I've got to say I'm doing better than I thought I would be. I didn't have time to write anything between Thursday and Monday: we took my stepson for an assessment at his new college on Thursday and Friday, then we had a fundraising Fun Day on Saturday, then other stuff came up. But I've added about 5500 words since Tuesday, bringing me up to 20,553. My aim was to get to 23k today, so I'd only be 2k words under par. Unfortunately, my predawn session this morning was a bit of a struggle, and my little one has a bug so she's off nursery. I'm writing this while she's watching Spongebob. Hopefully, I'll get a bit more done tonight when she's in bed.

I'm kind of coming to the middle part of the story where I'm hitting the really sticky bit. The conflicts and problems are there, now I need to work through them. I've thrown my main protagonist and his newfound female friend into a seemingly impossible dilemma, with pretty much no idea how they're going to get out of it! Luckily, she's smarter than he is, and has connections in the right places...

I was also tagged with the "U Got the Look" meme this week by the very talented C.M. Brown (thank you!) So I thought I'd link that in with my update this week in bringing you an extract. All that's required is to "go to your current WIP, hunt down the word LOOK, and post the surrounding paragraphs." So here's something from the last week...



Eventually, the door opened and sharp footfalls echoed on the hard floor. Wellesbury opened his eyes; he had been trying his best to think of absolutely nothing.

“Good evening,” said the examiner, sitting behind the desk. He was a lean, sinewy man of about sixty, with blue eyes that seemed to be boring into Wellesbury’s soul. “It is unfortunate indeed that we have to detain you in this way, but perhaps it shall not be for too long.”

Wellesbury didn’t answer. He tried to meet the man’s gaze, but somehow it was like looking directly into headlights on a dark winter night. He was feeling groggy and spaced out from the protracted period of sitting on his own. Don’t let him brainwash you.

The man punched a few buttons on the computer terminal. “My name is Examiner Tharl, and I work here at the Assessment Centre. Please, do not be afraid of me. I, along with the entire Government, am working in your best interests. This session will just be about exploring what has happened and finding the best ways to minimise any damage.

“Now, you are aware that you’ve been brought here because of your exposure to a demon from the Under-Region.”

Wellesbury remained silent, making no move whatsoever.


Of course, I'll have to change the name of the Under-Region, because it makes me snigger too much...

And I will tag the following five:


Basically I'm being really nosy about your NaNo stuff. ;)

How are you all doing with your projects, NaNo or not?

33 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Keep at it - you just might surprise yourself. And you won't be bogged down with Thanksgiving next week, which will wipe some people out for days.
Liked the excerpt!

Kyra Lennon said...

I didn't think there was anything funny about Under Region until you mentioned it LMAO!

I think you are still doing brilliantly with NaNo, considering everything else you have going on!

Thanks for the tag. I won't do the meme again, but I'll email you another excerpt later :p

Unknown said...

I agree with Kyra, I didn't find Under Region strange until you mentioned it then it registered. Must be a bit slow tonight.

I like the concept Nick, I am sure you will pull it all together! Thanks for responding to the tag so quickly!

JeffO said...

Great excerpt, nicely written. And you're making very good progress on your NaNo. Keep at it!

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I agree with the others about not catching the "Under Region" joke but now that you said it... :)

I think Tharl is a great name for a bad guy - hopefully, he is one!

Unknown said...

Enjoyed the excerpt, Nick! You've made some great progress toward your NaNo goals for sure. Sounds as though you're determined to make it, and I think that'll carry you through. :-)

Best of luck on the downhill slide, and hope your little one feels better soon.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Great job on your progress! Reading about your word count and your progress makes me realize I need to get back to my "real" writing and get off the web. aah - the distractions.
Under Regions . . .LOL

ilima said...

Under Region...hahaha. You're doing great, Nick. Keep it up! And this sounds like a fun meme, I'm in! Thanks for the tag. "Look" is one of my overused words, so I shouldn't have a hard time finding something to share. :)

Jennifer R. Donohue said...

Hey, words are words! You're pretty close to today's goal, in the grand scheme of things.

Suze said...

Hmm. I wonder what you could use as a substitute for Under-Region -- which does inspire at least a little smirk. :)

I'd be interested to see what you come up with.

Sherry Ellis said...

Sounds like you're doing well with Nano. Hope your little one feels better!

Suzanne Furness said...

Sounds like you are doing well so far Nick, keep going. Hope your 'little person' is feeling better too.

Trisha said...

Good job on the 5.5k day though! That's awesome. Here's hoping you can get some more time in the evening. :)

Christine Rains said...

You're doing really good with NaNo! This is my ninth year doing it. I feel like I'm doing a lot of filler this week rather than story, though.

Krista McLaughlin said...

Keep going! I liked the excerpt - it peaked my interest! Though Under-region totally makes me snicker too!

Jeff Hargett said...

Sounds like you're making great progress.

" I've thrown my main protagonist and his newfound female friend into a seemingly impossible dilemma, with pretty much no idea how they're going to get out of it!" <-- I do that too and it drives me insane.

Karen Baldwin said...

Hi, thanks for your comment the other day and you're now my 230th follower. What a great B'day present.
I'm now following you also.

Carol Kilgore said...

Glad NaNo is going well for you :)
Keep writing!

Rachna Chhabria said...

I liked the excerpt a lot Nick, its got me intrigued big time. Keep writing, glad your NaNo is going well.

jaybird said...

I have the utmost respect for anyone who joined NaNo at all- Keep up the good work!

Hope your little one is feeling better soon!

Cynthia said...

The sticky bit you described is normal. I'm feeling that too. I'm hanging in there with NaNo even though I'm a little behind. Maybe I'll get to catch up on the word count this week.

Brian Miller said...

thanks for popping in last night...always enjoy meeting new readers...and tina is a long time friend....nice on your progress with Nano, it can be a beast but doesnt sound like you are letting it consume you....pretty cool to throw your charaters into those impossible situations and watch them fight their way out....can be a nice surprise at how they do if you dont force it...

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

You sound like you're doing great with the nanowrimo thing, considering you have family stuff too! Always difficult balancing the writing with family, I think. What about nether region?? Oh yeh! that makes me snigger too!!

Elise Fallson said...

What a really intriging excerpt! "Don’t let him brainwash you." Ekkkk! Loved that! I really want to read on... And I so laughed at your Under-Region comment. I agree, it may be in your best interest to change that unless you're writing a comedy. :D And good job with NaNo!!

Karen Lange said...

Thanks for coming by my blog and following. It was nice to meet you over at A to Z!

No NaNo for me - keep thinking I'll do it one of these years. Maybe 2013 will be the one. :)

Have a great week,
Karen

Heather Murphy said...

Good luck with NaNo. I hope your little one is getting better too.
I like your "eye" pic and excerpt for U Got the Look

Nicole said...

Sounds like you're doing great for NaNo! Keep it up.

Nick Wilford said...

Thanks for the encouraging words, everyone! I appreciate it sooo much. :)

Julie Dao said...

GREAT job on your NaNo progress, Nick! Sounds like the WIP is practically writing itself :) Liked this excerpt, by the way, although I agree that I'd probably change the Under-Region *snicker* I like the name Tharl, though!

Susan Oloier said...

Wow, Nick! I'm amazed at how much you accomplish.
As always, I thoroughly enjoy your excerpts.
Hope all is going well with Andrew, and I hope your little one is feeling better now.

Tobi Summers said...

Thanks for the tag! And awesome excerpt! Very intriguing.

Good luck!

Jenny Herrera said...

Nicely done! Can't wait to read the rest. :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Sounds like your progress is good. I wasn't able to do NaNo this year due to too many other commitments.