Scenes are not “Set in Stone”

It’s been a busy, busy weekend.

Yesterday I ended up having to recuperate after a late night watching Fellowship of the Rings on Blu Ray Saturday night. It was lots of fun, but by the end of it we were all wiped. So yeah, no writing done yesterday, but I did have a kind of “eureka” writing moment last week.

I’d reached a mental block about my original novel (Suzie’s Nightmare) in how to rewrite the first chapter. Then I found an interesting idea that got me inspired to figure out how to do it. One day, when I’m a famous author (haha, I know, get the laughter aside now…), I loved the thought that the biggest challenge I would have to deal with every day would be problems that characters would have in my books. That’s it. The hardest, most stressful problem I would likely be plagued with on a daily basis.

Sure, there are definitely things associated with that problem that could make it even more stressful. I’m sure when J.K. Rowling was trying to write her final book, she had quite a bit of stress regarding the characters and the storyline. But for me, compared to the daily trials and tribulations of work, such a problem seems far better to deal with. Fictional characters in a world entirely controlled by me. Then I realized, that the mental block I’d come to regarding my first chapter was exactly that problem.

That was the thing I was truly stressing over, the step that was preventing me from being able to re-write that section for my first readers. This was the ultimate problem I was saying would be wonderful to be my only daily stress – so why was I holding myself back? Why was I preventing myself from moving forward with a novel I certainly want to see in paperback one day?

So with that mindset, I found the courage to brainstorm this scene which I had mentally “set in stone” before, and was able to see a new scene for it. A new environment. Even adding a few characters that will need to be weaved into the plot for the entire book. But I felt that adding them will add a new level of intrigue for the book, and add another subplot/foil for my heroine Suzie.

Once I was able to get past my initial fear of changing it around, I was able to move forward mentally. Last week I sketched out outlines for several new characters that will need to be introduced, but will also be quite useful in the following books as well. Including the 2nd book which I’m working on at the moment. Once I get my Lucius Big Bang out of the way, I’ll write my quick Zombie Bang piece, and then leap back into Book 2 of my series. Maybe I’ll take a few minutes to re-write Chapter 1 of my first book as well. But I’ll certainly have a lot more confidence this time.

After all, they’re all my characters, and I can do whatever I want with them. Isn’t writing wonderful?

Scaring Muggles is More of a Hobby

Had quite a bit of fun with this run! Lucius and Snape get summoned to the Dark Lord and are told to take out a rival Reformist Wizarding group, known as The Maligned Hand. He wants them to do it themselves, and is using it as a type of test for Lucius’ guts and Severus’ skill. And yes, they have to make their own army. x)

The time is before the Prophecy, and a young Lucius Malfoy is sent to explore the disappearance of a Death Eater family. When he comes across their bodies, he calls on Severus to assist him. Together they have to figure out the mystery behind the murder, and deal with the revelation of the Prophecy – and how Lucius and Narcissa’s son might be involved.

Project: As the Seventh Month Dies
For: Lucius Big Bang
Deadline: September 1, 2011
New words written: 2,761
Present total word count: 20,718
Total Word Count for 2011: 52,761

And I more than made up for my dearth of writing yesterday, so I’m back to being ahead of schedule for Camp NaNo! So pleased.

A busy Friday, and not enough writing done

Not too much written today, but enough I think considering it is Friday. I worked earlier, went to the gym afterwards, picked up supplies for my Dragon*Con costume, and even got to catch up on another episode of Game of Thrones.

The time is before the Prophecy, and a young Lucius Malfoy is sent to explore the disappearance of a Death Eater family. When he comes across their bodies, he calls on Severus to assist him. Together they have to figure out the mystery behind the murder, and deal with the revelation of the Prophecy – and how Lucius and Narcissa’s son might be involved.

Project: As the Seventh Month Dies
For: Lucius Big Bang
Deadline: September 1, 2011
New words written: 542
Present total word count: 17,957
Total Word Count for 2011: 50,000

Wands in Guarder Belts

The time is before the Prophecy, and a young Lucius Malfoy is sent to explore the disappearance of a Death Eater family. When he comes across their bodies, he calls on Severus to assist him. Together they have to figure out the mystery behind the murder, and deal with the revelation of the Prophecy – and how Lucius and Narcissa’s son might be involved.

Project: As the Seventh Month Dies
For: Lucius Big Bang
Deadline: September 1, 2011
New words written: 1,936
Present total word count: 17,415
Total Word Count for 2011: 49,458

Poor Severus’ life just gets more and more difficult. But he has new found respect for Lucius as he manipulates a power, unexpected guest to the party. And he also realizes just how good his friend is at putting on an act.

Still looking over steampunk clothing ideas for Dragon*Con, but honestly that feels like its quite a ways away for me right now with NaNo going. Oh! And my Blu-Ray Lord of the Rings trilogy came in today! Ooooh, sooooo bright! Sooooo beautiful! I did what any self-respecting LoTR fan did upon receiving it, and pulled out each set to view all the lovely discs inside! I’m looking forward to getting a chance to rewatch them all again, but with the final Harry Potter film coming up next week, I think I’ll be catching up on my films in the more recent future. I know I want to watch Prisoner of Azkaban, and Deathly Hallows Part 1. Hopefully I won’t need a box of kleenex to keep me going. I already know I’ll be bringing one come next week though.

Dude Looks Like a Lady

The time is before the Prophecy, and a young Lucius Malfoy is sent to explore the disappearance of a Death Eater family. When he comes across their bodies, he calls on Severus to assist him. Together they have to figure out the mystery behind the murder, and deal with the revelation of the Prophecy – and how Lucius and Narcissa’s son might be involved.

Project: As the Seventh Month Dies
For: Lucius Big Bang
Deadline: September 1, 2011
New words written: 2,218
Present total word count: 15,479
Total Word Count for 2011: 47,522

The three of them finally decide on a name for the boy, and then Severus gets a lesson in acting like a lady. Then the party begins, and Severus realizes just how uncomfortable it is to be Bellatrix’s sister.

Wow it was difficult getting through the middle point of this writing today. I got stuck in conversations, and had trouble figuring out when to end it. Once I got to the party itself though, I found it went much easier. Severus is having a tough time of it, but he’s holding out in his rather awkward situation. I’m sure the Malfoys will be grateful to him later, even if Draco never truly knows what all he did for them. 😉