If you’re a writer with even halfway decent access to Wifi, you’ve likely heard of NaNoWriMo. You may have even joined the crazy horde of scribblers that attempts to write 50,000 words every November.
And apparently that crazy horde can’t get enough of the insanity, because it repeats itself every April and July for Camp Nano. (Although, to be fair, the writing goal is up to one’s own discretion there.)
Me? I’ve been writing for eleven years, and I’m just now participating in Camp NaNo for the first time ever! (What can I say. A wizard is never late…)
Did I suddenly find myself with oodles of time on my hands?
Heh… not exactly. In fact, this might be the worst month of summer for me to be setting a lofty writing goal. (All you NaNo veterans are probably all, “Yeah, yeah, welcome to the club.”)
Sooo because it’s been ages since we had any Subplots and Storylines posts, this will be a quick “what’s Tracey been writing? / how’s NaNo going?” update!
NaNo Progress
I haven’t touched my work-in-progress, The Brightest Thread, since last summer. When I left off, I was partway through revisions on draft 5. So my goal for NaNo: FINISH THIS ROUND OF EDITING.
That goal covers the last 17 chapters (about 50,000 words) of a 32-chapter book. Currently, I’ve edited 5 chapters (15,000 words) this month, which is not as far as I’d hoped to be at this point. Work, volunteering, and personal prep for the Realm Makers writing conference next week have allllll gobbled up my time.
But you know what? This is five chapters I probably wouldn’t have edited this month if not for NaNo! And we’ll see how much further I can get before the end of July.
So if you’re doing Camp and you’re behind on your goal too—chill. The point is to work on your story, and if you’ve done that even a little bit, you’re one step further than you might’ve been otherwise. *hands out celebratory cookies*
The brightest Thread
So, The Brightest Thread. Where is it at, all NaNo stats aside?
Well, since graduating college in spring, I took some time to get reacquainted with the story and discovered that I still love it. Which is hugely encouraging. There’s always this fear, when putting a story aside for a while, that you’ll come back and find it’s rotted into a piece of trash. But while there’s some dust to brush off, I am still in love with TBT!
Editing as a whole is going pretty well. I am leaving all SORTS of messy tidbits in my wake that will need cleaning up later—and I recently discovered approximately five plot holes all relating to villain motives (*insert frustrated scream*)—but progress is p r o g r e s s, am I right? I also added a new scene. Let’s just say, the feels are strong with this one.
Currently, my hope is to beat NaNo, then tie up the loose ends during August and September. And then… maybe… possibly… start querying agents. *insert a much happier scream than the one before*
We all know what happens to plans when they meet real life, though. They rarely go the way you expect. But no plan at all means nothing happens. So. I make plans.
Snippets
(Because it wouldn’t be a proper writing update post without a snippet or two.)
“Nonsense, dearie, it’s only natural to have strange dreams when you’re under that sort of burden. It’s no cause for shame. Why, when I was first appointed steward of Bauglind, I was so nervous that I had dreams about ogre tea parties for weeks.” [Reverie] shuddered. “They served a bit more than tea and biscuits, if you take my meaning.”
***
A burbling growl sent bubbles rising to the water’s surface not twenty paces away. A shadow rose from the deep, and a pair of gleaming blue orbs flashed open underwater.
Luci stumbled backward.
Before either one of them could move further, the creature burst through the waves. A long, serpentine neck glistening in black scales curled high above. Long teeth protruded from a grotesquely large mouth. It opened in a roar that shook the ground, its purple tongue lashing out.
“Get back, Luci!” A sword appeared in Hadrian’s hand. “Go!”
***
“Walk with me again?” Hadrian finally said. Something in his words carried a familiar weight—the voice of someone trying to forget.
Luci nodded before she could stop herself. I need to tell him. She let him lead the way, following half a step behind him to keep her face from view.
They walked wordlessly through the trees. Unnaturally large fuzzflies buzzed by, and birds sang peculiar tunes that sounded almost like human speech. Daylight pierced the canopy overhead, sending fingers of liquid gold to the rainforest floor. Each step seemed to shed the weight just a fraction. Hadrian’s posture relaxed. Luci felt herself uncoiling, senses sinking into a drowsy sort of stillness.
A temporary peace.
Gradually, the fuzzflies disappeared and the birds quieted. In the fading light, the trees looked ghostly. Even the brush of their footsteps through the undergrowth dropped to silence. Hadrian must be slowly waking.
“I hope I remember this dream when I wake up,” he said then, without looking at her. “I think since you’re here, I will.”
***
Tell me, friend—If you’re doing Camp Nano, how’s it going? And will I see you at Realm Makers next week?!
P.S. Due to the aforementioned writers conference, there will be no post next Saturday. But expect a Realm Makers recap soon after I return!
EXCUSE ME. But your book has ALWAYS been the most opposite of utter trash that has ever opposited (shhh, totally a word). Even from it’s beginning novella stages! I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH! I am so very happy you love it too. Because YOU SHOULD. It’s honest to goodness one of my most favorite novels in existence and I NEED it in print one day. NEED.
This is sooo exciting you’re participating in a NaNo event! 😀 I really admire you for taking it on this month. Your attitude is the BEST. Because yes! It’s about making progress, no matter what that looks like. You’re doing wonderfully!
AND EEP. THOSE SNIPPETS. They are bringing back memories and now I desperately miss those precious characters. Also your writing, girl. I can never get over it. It is true gold.
Thank you for giving us a peek at your current writing life. This was great!
SEE YOU IN A FEW DAYS! *SQUEALS*
You’re such an awesome cheerleader, Christine! It makes my writing heart oh-so-happy that you’ve loved TBT since its baby novella days. <3 I hardly know what to say! Thank yooouuu!!!
And thank you again, LOL! I've made zero progress since Realm Makers, but I'm STILL happy about the progress made in the first half of July. 😀
D'awww! *huggles*
It was so fun to see you at RM again!!!
Woo Camp Nano!! I had to lower my goal because I couldn’t find time for writing the first week (and now I keep putting it off XD)
Those snippets make me EXTREMELY excited to read TBT :O I seriously adore your writing style, something about it is just so.. idk how to describe it…rich? Like a forest full of beautiful things?? XDD
Point is, it’s amazing, and I hope the rest of the process goes well!
Also I really look forward to your Realm Makers recap!
Hahaha, I know the feeling! 😛 I haven’t made any NaNo progress in the past week and a half. Oops.
SARAHHHH you just made my DAY. Seriously. <3 <3 <3 You brought a huge smile to my face, girl! Thank you!
I didn’t even try to do Camp Nano … not that I have before… but April was too much for me, so I wasn’t going to do it again 😉
keturahskorner.blogspot.com
Yeah, April was a definite “no” for me too, since I was writing college exams. o.O But there’s always another Camp NaNo in July, so yay for options! 😉
YAY FOR MAKING PROGRESS WITH TBT!! Any kind of progress is fantastic, in my opinion. XD And I LOVE those snippets!! Hadrian is still a wonderful little cinnamon roll. <333
Also, I absolutely ADORE YOUR NEW SITE. IT'S SO GORGEOUS. :DDD
Thank you, Maddie!!! *all the heart eyes* Hadrian the cinnamoniest cinnamon roll I’ve ever written and I can’t even help it. xD
Yay! Thanks so much–so glad you like it! 😀
AHHHHHHHHH I love this post and the snippets and I NEED THIS BOOK IN MY LIFE *sobs* Awesome job on the edits!!!!
YOU ARE THE SWEETEST. THANK YOOOUUU!
Oh, I love the snippets! Hadrian is a fantastic name. 😀 And I’m super intrigued by the dream concept!
Camp NaNo’s not been going the greatest for me, but after a week or two of laziness I’m finally getting back into my story and getting some actual writing done. 😀
theonesthatreallymatter.blogspot.com
Aw, thank you, Emily!!! I’m kind of partial to his name myself. 😉
Woohoo–you’ve got this! Hope you’ve been able to make some great progress this week. 😀
(Wait. DO YOU WATCH THE FLASH?????)
Loving those snippets, Tracey! Good luck with the rest of Camp NaNo!
(I DO. AND I LOVE IT. I’m just at the beginning of season 4! I take it you watch it too??)
Thanks, girl! <3
(YES, and although I’ve stopped watching after season 3, it’s one of my favorite shows! Who’s your favorite character?)
(Wooo! Are you planning not to watch season 4? Picking a favorite character is so hard! Hmm… Barry Allen, of course. Also Joe, Cisco, and Iris. And just about every iteration of Harry. 😉 Who’s your fav?)
I really relate to this post. This draft I’m working and only getting 10K in for this month actually feels coherent and not trash. But as you said any progress is progress!
10k is fantastic! Especially when you’ve been so busy. We just have to accept that some seasons don’t allow for 50k months, I guess. 😉