Caught up!

I realised last night after I had turned off my computer that I forgot to do a Top Tuesdays.... Sorry 'bout that. I'll make up for it next Tuesday.

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I've been hurriedly writing writing writing tonight! The weekend at the Hot Springs got me behind on my Camp NaNoWriMo progress but I finally buckled down and caught up tonight.

I reached my climax today and am hoping I can find 9,882 words of denouement somewhere.... I have a few things planned.

Since I haven't been the most motivated writer the past few days (hence the need to get caught up) I came up with a way to get myself motivated today. I told myself that if I wrote 1,000 words in half an hour, I could watch one episode of Get Smart (which are also half an hour long).
Get Smart is a spy TV show that was on during the '60's (and also a movie in 2008 starring different people than in the TV show).
My friend Jen first told me about the show... but I really had no clue what she was talking about. Just that it was a super funny slapstick spy show with a girl named 99.
Then Miss Jack Baillot started posting about the show on her blog and I thought, "hey, why not check it out?" So a few months ago I watched the first episode and loved it. I think I watched one or two other episode after that... And haven't watched any since.

 

 

Maxwell Smart, the main character, with his shoe phone - my favorite gadget from the show.

 

Last night I re-watched the first episode. Today, after I wrote 1,000 words, I watched the second episode. Then 1,000 more words and the third episode... Then 500ish more words and I was all caught up! My word count is now 40,118.

What's the consequence of watching Get Smart? This snippet from my novel that I wrote tonight:

 

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. If I were you, I would put the weapon down on the ground,” the man said coolly.

“Why?” Varina asked suspiciously.

“Oh… because you’re surrounded,” the man said casually, picking at one of his fingernails. The surrounding trees and bushes rustled and out popped men, all dressed in black - like the man in front of Daniel, Varina, and the Big Boss – and carrying guns surrounding the trio. They were surrounded!

Daniel groaned. “Oh no, not the old hide your secret agents in the woods and send one out before unveiling them all trick! That’s the second time I’ve fallen for that this month!”

Varina stared at Daniel. “No more Get Smart re-runs for you,” she said.

In all its unedited glory!

While writing tonight, I have been listening to my Music to Spy By CD from the International Spy Museum. I love that CD... It's great. Especially when writing a spy novel.

Now I'm going to go watch some Trek Nation clips.

But before I go, I shall leave you with this:

 

 

 

Max and 99.

 

Live long and prosper!

Thus it begins.

Camp NaNoWriMo started today. I have 3,286 words already! Of course.... 1,800 of those words were written last December so.... Yeah. I didn't exactly start at 0 but I figure that's alright.
My novel is, as I've said before, the third in my spy series, though it is written second.
It's working title is Partners in (Solving) Crime.
Here is the synopsis:

When the Big Boss is kidnapped, Daniel and Varina decide to try find him - without orders! Their search takes them from New York City to Seattle where they find out that the Big Boss might not need as much rescuing as they had originally thought.

Now I'm sitting in the chair watching Mulan ("Dishonor on you! Dishonor of your cow!") and trying to do an eleven-strand braid in Josefina's hair. So far it is an eight-strand braid.... I'll finish it real quick and post a picture.

 

I like this braid. It's kind of complicated... But it was fun (enough). I didn't have to start over very much, which is good.
This is how you do it:
You separate the hair into three sections. One big section in the middle and two little sections on the sides of the head. Then you do a five-strand braid with the middle section. Then, with one of the side sections, you start doing a regular braid, but then you intertwine it with the five-strand. You do that with the other side as well... Then you have an eleven-strand braid! It really isn't as hard as it sounds.
Now I'm going to try french braid Linda's hair... I can do eleven-strand braids, but not french braids!

Live long and prosper!

"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully.

My best thinking time is when I'm taking a shower. I don't know why, but my best ideas come when I'm in the shower. As a result, I tend to take 30-45 minute showers because I'm so absorbed in my own thoughts, I wash veeeeerrryy slowly.

This morning I had quite a few "aha!" moments in the shower.

One was another how-Sherlock-survived-the-fall theory. Maybe Kitty, the reporter ("You repel me" girl), had something to do with it! I mean, she had access to Moriarty and Sherlock both. What if Sherlock hired her to spy on Moriarty? That way, he would know Moriarty's plans.
I promise, no more Sherlock theorys... I just can't help it. They started filming season three two days ago. The first episode is called The Empty Hearse which I think is SO hilarious because the book where Sherlock comes back after being "dead" for three years is called The Empty House.

As well as coming up with that theory, I came up with a background and a motive for a character. Perhaps I shall someday elaborate on him because he is quite interesting.

I also did some brainstorming that I have been putting off. I had to figure out a bunch of different ways for people to do stuff. Now I have that figured out and I can go on with the planning of the third novel in my spy series (which I'm writing second because I thought it would be second... but it turns out it fits better as third).
Have I mentioned that I'm doing Camp NaNoWriMo next month? You can set your word count goal for anything that you choose (within the peramiters of 10,000 and 999,999 words I think... I don't remember). I'm going to try and do another 50,000 word novel. The third book in my spy series starring Daniel and Varina. More info on that as it comes.

Yesterday I read a little bit in each book that I'm currently reading. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Pride and Prejudice, The Princess Bride, and even a few pages of The Two Towers!
My library finally got in a copy of Agatha Christie's first mystery starring the detective Poirot. I'll probably start that soon too..... I can never read just one book at a time.

Tomorrow I'm going to Canada for a few days to play board games and Nintendo with my cousin. It shall be fun. But it also means I'll disappear for a few days, which is fine.

I thought I'd do something special to tide you over until whenever I do my next blog post (please note my sarchasm).
Some snippets from various works of mine! Now, since I'm still quite new to the novel-writing sphere, there won't be too many snippets from different novels.... Mostly just After the Twelfth Night and the first spy novel (which I am dreading opening... because it is so rough. I'm afraid).
Enjoy:

   "I would like to go ashore as soon as possible," said Sebastian. "Seeing that the island is large and we all have families we want to get back to-"
   "I don't!" Dogberry piped up. "I have my family here with me!" He patted Jamie on the shoulder; Matthias was under guard in his room.
   ".....Most of us have families we want to get back to-"
   "I don't! I have my Sebastian right here!" Olivia said. "I'm SO glad I came on this little journey!"
   "As I was saying," Sebastian continued loudly, "most of us have families we want to get back to so the sooner we start searching the ialdn for the treasure, the sooner we can get back to our families."
- After the Twelfth Night Part 2.

   "Those beslubbering fat-kidneyed hugger muggers!"
- After the Twelfth Night Part 2.

   In the background the second voice piped up, "Give me that!" and evidently snatched the phone away. "Who are you and what have you done with my sister?" demanded the younger voice which was totally unlike Caroline's sweet tones. Instead, of sweet and quiet, this girl was loud and fiery.
   "I've done nothing with your sister," Daniel replied.
   "What are you? A creeper? A stalker? A murderer? I could have the police there in five minutes! Or the army! How would you like the army? My sister is in the army! She could probably beat you up and kill you! Although that would probably land her in jail....."
   "I-" Daniel attempted to say.
   Just then Varina emerged from her room down the hall.
   "Marines? No! You don't have to call in the marines!" Daniel was saying when Varina rescued him by taking the phone.
- 3rd Spy book (I admit, I wrote the first chapter back in December.)

   "Please, Sebastian, introduce us to your friends and then sit down!" said the fat man.
   "Of course, Uncle," Sebastian replied. He turned and gestured to Antony. "This is Antony. His father saved me from drowning in a ship wreck."
   "Son of a sailor are you?" Sebastian's uncle asked.
   "Yes, sir. Actually, Father was a pirat....." Jamie elbowed Antony in the ribs and he coughed. "Yes, sir."
- After the Twelfth Night part 2.

   Inside the bustling airport, Daniel and Varina got their tickets and headed to their gate to wait for the plane.
   "Let's stop and get something to eat first, please?" Daniel asked.
   "We just had breakfast! Surely you aren't hungry again?" Varina said.
   Daniel shrugged and pointed to a cafe cozily situated between the Hudson News store and a place to buy luggage.
   "I think everyone has luggage here...." Daniel muttered as they past the luggage store.
   "I hope so!" giggled Varina.
- You Don't Find Them, They Find You.

   "Whoa!" said Antony, spotting the sword in Antonio's raised hand. "Are you planning on killing me?" he joked.
   "No," replied Antonio, scowling. He started to walk away from the boy, hoping to lose him.
   "Where are you going? Can I come?" asked Antony, matching Antonio's stride.
   "I'm going to find a friend. And no, you can't."
- After the Twelfth Night Part 1.

   The passengers grabbed their seat rests to keep from jerking about. The wind and rain played tug of war with the plane, jostling it this way and that.
   "I can't believe it!" Varina yelled.
   "What?" Daniel asked in a panicked voice.
   "We met on a plane and now we're going to die together on one!"
   "No one said anything about dying!" Daniel said in the best reassuring voice he could muster. Suddenly the plane went into a nose dive. Everyone screamed and the last thing Varina remembered before she blacked out was Daniel's hand reaching back and grabbing her's.
- You Don't Find Them, They Find You.

So what did you think? Are you interested? I'm still toying with the idea of publishing.... But people have to be interested in my writing in order for me to publish it. Finishing the books would also help. xD

Live long and prosper! Have a good weekend.

Life goes on.

Contrary to popular belief, life still goes on during National Novel Writing Month. At least for me it does. I've been very busy with school.... Lots of music - about 12 hours a week.

Here is a Beethoven song on piano:

I have also been practicing essays and paragraphs to be put into essays.... Here is a paragraph I'm particularly proud of (except for the fact I used the word 'essay' a million times):

Ignorance of proper technique breeds improper essays. Treating an essay like a close friend leads to first and second person writing and words such as, "me, you, they, I, their, and your." Such words are inappropriate for essays as the point of the essay is to convince. Personification makes arguments weaker. Essays also need to pop with creative sentences and colorful descriptions. Too many words, however, may clutter the point and confuse the reader. Succinct sentences that prove points without personification take practice but pave the way to proper papers.

I have also been doing science.... We did an experiment with an egg which was very interesting. It went this way....
Take an egg and soak it in white vinegar for 24 hours (I did 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 apple cider vinegar).

The shell disolved off the egg and it was very squishy. The egg also swelled from 5 1/2 inches to 6 inches because of osmosis.
After rinsing off the egg, we put it in some syrup for 24 hours. In the morning we were pleasantly suprised with a deflated egg that measure 4 1/2 inches!

 

 

After 24 hours we rinsed the egg again and put it in a glass of distilled water for another 24 hours.
What a surprise we had!! The egg swelled to 6 1/2 inches around the middle!! It was huge!

And it bounced like a ball.

I've also been drawing.... I got the idea from Doctor Who when he said, "The doctor is in!" It made me think of The Peanuts gang.

And then.... Well.... My imagination took off.

I spy with my little eye.....
The Doctor (wibbly wobbly timey wimey! And his sonic screwdriver!)

A Cyberman with a serious problem....

Snoopy, K-9, and a Dalek.....

And of course Woodstock is nearby. (You wouldn't believe how hard he was to draw!)

 

And the TARDIS.

 

 

Oh yeah, and a banana. Bananas are good.

 

 

 

I've also been reading.... I just finished Larklight by Philip Reeve which was really good! I wasn't planning on doing a review unless someone wants me to.

And oh oh oh! I FINALLY finished the Two Towers chapter I have been reading for the past two months!

 

NaNoWriMo is also going well.... I'm at 28,375 words. Here is a little snippet for you:

 

“Are you going to stand there and collect water or are you going to come aboard?” a friendly all-American voice called from the top of the stairwell leading into the plane. Daniel and Varina exchanged a glance and then hurried up the stairs. Two towels were waiting for them at the top.
“This is an airplane, not a lake,” explained the man. He was handsome with brown hair, swoon-worthy bright blue eyes and a broad smile filled with perfect, shining teeth.
“Thanks for the towels,” Varina was saying when suddenly her face flooded with recognition and she moaned, “Oh no….”
“I take it you know who I am,” said the man, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth and a smile playing around his lips.
“No no no,” said Varina. “I refuse to go anywhere with you as our pilot! Let me off this plane right now!”
Varina turned around and tried to push her way past Daniel but, thin as he was, he blocked the door.
“Hold on Webb, who is this man? Why can’t we fly with him?” Daniel asked.
“You don’t know who he is?” Varina asked incredulously.
Daniel shrugged. “I’ve never seen him in my life.”
“He’s Tony Leslie!” Varina spouted, as if by name alone Daniel would be able to decipher who their pilot was.
“Who is Tony Leslie?” Daniel asked, his face blank.
“You haven’t heard of me in the UK?” Tony Leslie said to Daniel, his face assuming a crushed look.
“I don’t know… Maybe we have,” Daniel shrugged. “I wouldn’t know because no one will tell me who you are!”
“He’s a stunt pilot!” Varina said.
“Not just a stunt pilot, but the best stunt pilot in the United States. No, in the world! Dare I say; the universe!” Tony Leslie smiled gallantly.
“I’ve seen his stunts on TV,” Varina said. “He purposefully puts his life in danger and does these outlandish tricks… I won’t fly with a stunt pilot!”

 

Don't get too attached to Tony Leslie (who looks like Captain Jack Harkness and is named after Tony Curtis who played the character The Great Leslie is one of my favorite movies). Just sayin'.

 



The madness begins!

Day one of NaNoWriMo... I was nervous all day, the novel and it's plot in the back of my mind all day. Finally it came time to open the document and start the novel.... The first few words which had been spinning in my head for the past number of days.... Finally, on paper!

It was a cold, crisp night in October.

Mwahahaha....

Final word count for day #1?
2,101.
I call that a success. Even though it is now 11:30 and my mother desperately wants me to go to bed.
Thus far I have murdered someone and made someone else late for their plane.

We shall see how tomorrow goes!

I must say, however... I have already procrastinated. My dad showed me a forum on BoardGameGeek.com full of funny Doctor Who pictures.
When I came across the following, I determined that it must be a sign and that I should get back to work:

How about you all, how is NaNoWriMo coming for you?

Live long and prosper!