CAMP NANOWRIMO APPROACHES!: Episode I #campnano2020

GOOD MORNING, CYBERSPACE!

How on earth did we get to the middle of March already? Some wizard out there is laughing maliciously at us all whilst twirling his magical time clock, I swear. (and once I find him, that little man is going DOWN.) But I digress. It is the middle of March, we are nearing the perfection that is April, and–if any of you know me at all–you know precisely what this means. . .

CAMP NANOWRIMO IS NEARLY UPON US!

I am so so so SO excited for Camp this year, you guys. I mean, I’m excited for Camp every year, obviously, but I have a gut feeling that this year is going to be . . . special.

As most of you probably know, I’ve been working on my current WIP, SK, on and off for the past year or so. I first began drafting it back in Spring of 2019, but then shelved it for a bit to work on finishing up everlost, which–horror of all horrors–is currently with beta readers. (I’m not screaming, you’re screaming.) Now that I’m taking a break from working on everlost, however, my primary focus for the Winter/Spring months is to finish my firecracker child. And since Camp NaNoWriMo falls perfectly within my pre-established timeframe, I’m going to be utilizing this season of chaotic writing to finish up the first draft of SK!

I haven’t finished a first draft since April of 2017, you guys. That may seem a little shocking to some–you know, seeing as MOST writers can typically whip out draft after draft within three to six months–but in the scope of my entire writing career, I’m really quite amateur. I’ve finished exactly two books, and have only truly edited and polished up one of them. In between those books I’ve dilly-dallied with ideas and story concepts and chapters and novellas, but actually finishing a full-length novel. . .? It’s not something I’m used to yet.

And may be something I’ll never truly get used to.

So the fact that it’s quite possible I’ll be finishing the first draft of SK next month is huge for me. I know it may not be perfect–goodness knows it might not even be good–but it will be mine and it will be written and I will cherish it for all of its flaws.

. . .and then brutally massacre it in the editing process, lololololol.

Ahem. Back to what I was saying. Aside from writing SK next month, I also want to start doing some Camp NaNoWriMo related blog posts! The first up in this series of epic wonderfulness, you might ask? AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CAST OF SK!!

Last year I asked you all to give me some questions to ask the cast of SK, and oh my goodness, you guys delivered! Your questions were absolutely remarkable, and yet–in true Kenzie fashion–I never finished drafting the interview. Oh, I began it, all right, but I wasn’t quite yet used to my character’s voices, which made answering the questions through their eyes rather difficult.

But today . . . today is the day we’re finally getting our interview! . . .or, part of it, at least.

After some poking and prodding, I’ve decided to redo the interview with the knowledge and understanding I now have of my characters, and hopefully–with any luck–it will seem a lot more fluid and natural than it did before. So without any further ado, let’s get to the interview!

CAMP NANOWRIMO APPROACHES!: An Interview With SK

This interview is brought to you by Surelock Homes! Keep your home free from high-functioning sociopaths and criminals alike by making sure that your locks . . . are SURELOCKS!

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KENZIE: Good morning, folks, and welcome back to LET’S CHAT! Your go-to show where fantasy and reality clash together in an amazing ensemble of characters and nonexistent places! It’s been almost an entire year since we’ve last pulled out our infamous sofa and picked the minds of our favorite characters–so long, in fact, that the cast you’re typically used to seeing here are, most sorowfully, gone.

. . .

. . .

. . .

KENZIE: But not dead! Oh no, never dead, my friends. They are totally fine. They’re just chilling over in the everlost studio while their story is reviewed by beta readers, which means that they are unfortunately far too distracted for any further questioning at the moment. Such a shame.

COAT CLOSET: *awkward muffled rustling*

KENZIE: But anyway, despite that minor drawback, I’m extremely excited to introduce you to Camp NaNoWriMo 2020’s brand NEW cast–the folks of SK! This cast has quite a few members to it, so we’re not going to be able to squish them all onto the interviewing couch as we did with the cast of everlost. I know this comes as a nasty shock to us all–fitting the whole cast on a single sofa was quite lovely tradition–BUT. Over the course of the next few weeks, as we pair the gang off into sections, I’m hoping that we’ll all get a good grasp of each cast member as individuals. And since our viewers submitted 23 amazing questions for our interview, I’m confident that we won’t run out of conversation material!

KENZIE: So now, without any further ado, allow me to introduce you to three of SK’s main heroes, Shelby, Ed, and Beau!

SHELBY, ED, & BEAU: *files into the room and takes a seat on the slightly moth-eaten couch, which appears–though it seems impossible–to have grown smaller in LET’S CHAT!’s one year hiatus*

LIVE AUDIENCE:

*polite clapping*

*one person whistling*

*one lone man booing because he really liked everlost, apparently*

KENZIE: What an introduction! Welcome to the show, guys! What do you think of the Smudged Thoughts studio?

SHELBY: *squirming against the couch cushions like an impatient nine-year-old* Whoa. . . They weren’t kidding when they said the lights would be bright. . .

KENZIE: Aha. Yeah. *shuffles index cards* That’s because we got new LED lights. Money was a bit tight when everlost was here. You guys are getting the good stuff, I assure you.

BEAU: *grimaces down at the couch cushions, which appear to have a few holes of unknown origins. (my guess is rats.)* Right.

KENZIE: So unfortunately we only have a few minutes of airtime this week, so we’re going to have to cut right to the questions. I’ve already selected a few that I’d like you all to answer, and I think you’re really going to like them. Are you ready?

SHELBY: Yeah!

KENZIE: Good! First question is specifically for Ed, and it comes from Anna. Anna asks, “Do you think you could ever be as good as Thao?? (*glares threateningly* you’ll wanna answer this right, ma friend)“. What do you think, Ed? Do you think you’re as good as Thao? He was quite a hit here on LET’S CHAT! back in the olden days of yore. Once he even stole the spotlight!

ED: . . .

KENZIE: . . .Ed?

ED: . . .

KENZIE: Okay, so the point of an interview is for you to actually . . . you know . . . answer the questions.

ED: I never consented to interrogation.

KENZIE: It’s not an interrogation. It’s an interview. I’m asking you questions that may or may not be highly intrusive, and you’re supposed to answer them on live television. It’s not even close to being the same thing.

ED: *lapses into a sullen scowl*

SHELBY: Ooh! Ooh! I’ll answer for him!! Pick me!!! Pick me!!!!!!!

BEAU: Stop bouncing, child. You’re going to break this bloody thing. . .

KENZIE: Oh, very well, then. Shelby, do you think Ed could be better than Thao?

SHELBY: Of course. I mean, yeah he’s a bit of a sourpuss at times, but he’s amazing. He saved my life, you know. Many times.

ED: It was an accident, I can assure you.

SHELBY: See? And he’s a comedian!

KENZIE: . . .right. Beau, anything you would like to add?

BEAU: I’m pretty sure I just found a mouse turd in this couch. . .

KENZIE: *flips cards* All right! Next question. This one also comes from Anna, and it’s for you specifically, Beau!: “Are you a…beau? Is that why your name is beau?? Or is it just because you’re so beautiful?”

ED: *snorts* Well, it definitely isn’t the second option, is it?

SHELBY: *elbows Ed in the ribs*

ED: Ouch!

BEAU: *sniffs, cringing as he flicks away what is believed to be the offending mouse turd* Well, I don’t suppose my name has anything to do with what I am or what I look like. But, to answer the question, I suppose I lean more towards latter.

KENZIE: Heh. Of course you’d think that. So question three is for all of you, and it comes from the ever-lovely Christine! Christine asks: “What is your life dream?” Ed, would you like to kick things off?

ED: Does finishing up this interview and getting on with my miserable existence count?

KENZIE: . . .no. No, I don’t believe that counts.

SHELBY: Oooh, I have an answer! My life dream is to become a *REDACTED*!

KENZIE: Ope, I’m sorry. That word’s going to have to be censored out of our recording.

SHELBY: What? Why? What’s wrong with the word *REDACTED*? Everyone loves *REDACTED*!!

ED: Kid. Stop talking.

SHELBY: But–!

BEAU: *flattening a palm over Shelby’s face* How about I answer the question now, yes? My life dream, Miss Christine, is to spend the rest of my days with those I care about most. My friends, for instance. In our particular line of work, living to be my age is not exactly a given. I’m grateful for every day I live, and though I sometimes wish to retire and live a peaceful life somewhere far off in the mountains–by a gentle river, perhaps–I would consider it the greatest shame in the world if my final hours were not spent here with them. They have become, in a way, my family.

ED: Lies. He would never live alone in the mountains. He needs people like Westburn here needs a muzzle.

SHELBY: *swatting Beau’s hand away* HEY!

KENZIE: That’s a beautiful answer, Beau. I see that Christine’s second question here ties rather nicely into this one, so let’s continue with,“What is keeping you from fulfilling said life dream?” Ed? I’m almost scared to ask. . .

ED: Well, the fact that I’m contractually obligated to sit here and answer these idiotic questions is one obstacle I don’t know how to get around. How about I think on it for a bit and get back with you?

KENZIE: *heavy sigh* Wonderful. Shelby?

SHELBY: Well, there’s this evil guy with a stupid necklace–

ED: Watch it, kid.

SHELBY: –who keeps trying to KILL us, but other than that . . . yeah, life’s actually pretty good at the moment, to be honest.

BEAU: I have to agree with the child. Casey is a relatively steep obstacle to overcome, but I do believe we can do it. Certainly our writer can find a way for us to reign victorious, wouldn’t you say?

KENZIE: . . . .

BEAU: . . . .

BEAU: Wait, you do have an ending in mind for our story, right?

BEAU: . . .right?!

KENZIE: Next question! *flips cards* Becky The Mothling asks–

SHELBY: *hisses to Ed* What’s a mothling???

KENZIE: “If it’s not a spoiler, what do you hope to do with your life after the story is over?”

BEAU: Well, that’s assuming we’re even still alive at the end of this story, isn’t it? Turns out even that’s an incalculable variable.

ED: Never appearing on this show again would certainly be nice. . .

KENZIE: *wielding her index cards like a weapon* Oi. Watch it, grumpy.

SHELBY: I don’t really want this story to end, actually. Endings mean something’s over, and having all of this *spreads her small hands to indicate the lights and flare around her* be over just seems . . . wrong.

ED: It would be nothing short of a tremendous relief, actually. Wrong would be holding us hostage as this fool procrastinates writing the ending.

KENZIE: I am not procrastinating the ending. I just . . . haven’t had the time. Obviously.

ED: Perhaps part of your problem is poor time management.

KENZIE: Says the old fart who prefers to spend his days sitting around watching weather channel reruns!

BEAU: AHEM. Live television, remember?

KENZIE: *deep breath* Right. Moving on, I have one final question for you all today before we must unfortunately draw this interview to a close.

ED: Thank the stars.

KENZIE: “What person in your life would you do ANYTHING for?” Beau, let’s start with you this time.

BEAU: Well, that’s easy. I would do anything for myself, obviously.

KENZIE: . . .

KENZIE: . . .for yourself.

BEAU: Of course. Self-care is a beautiful practice. Perhaps you should try it sometime.

KENZIE: Right. Shelby, let’s hear from you.

SHELBY: Oh, I’d do anything for Stanley–that’s my brother. He means everything to me, you know? After . . . um . . . after the accident, he really had to step up and . . . you know. Become a sort of guardian, I guess. But if I could, I would take care of him for once. He deserves it.

KENZIE: Awwww. . . That is SO sweet!!!!

ED: You should think so. You created that.

KENZIE: Oh, shut up. I’m assuming you don’t have anything of substance to add to this conversation?

ED: Of course I do. I have a heart, same as everyone else. We all have someone we care about.

KENZIE: And yours is?

ED: You already know the answer to that.

KENZIE: Yes, but the audience doesn’t.

ED: I don’t give one rat’s fart about the audience.

KENZIE: Doesn’t matter. You’re contractually obligated to answer either way.

ED: *grumbles inaudibly under his breath*

KENZIE: I’m sorry, what was that?

ED: I said, my daughter. There. Are you happy?

KENZIE: *grins* Very much so, thank you!

KENZIE: *flips cards into the air* All right, folks! That concludes this week’s episode of LET’S CHAT! Ne time, we will be interviewing two of my favorite cast members–

SHELBY: HEY!

KENZIE: –so definitely stay tuned for that! And until next time, as always. . .

KENZIE: *flings cookies in the air and disappears*

. . .

. . .

. . .

BEAU: Wait, where did she go?

THE END

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TALK TO ME, PEASANTS!

Unfortunately, that’s all I’ve got for today, folks! I certainly hope you like character interviews, because my plan for blogging through April is to host a character interview every single week from now until May. (although that is completely subject to change, as I’m sure we all know.) So if you have any questions you would like to see the cast of SK answer, don’t be afraid to leave them down in the comments below! I’ve got a giant google doc filled with the questions from last time, as well, and we’re going to have these idiots answer every single question even if it kills them. *thumbs up*

But anyway! Time for questions for you!:

• what do you think of the cast of SK so far? (and do you miss the cast of everlost? because SAME.)
• ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN CAMP NANOWRIMO THIS APRIL?
• because you should REALLY participate in Camp NaNoWriMo. . .
• especially since the rest of the world is in shut-down mode, you know? create your own planet. cause chaos. watch the world physically around us burn. . .
• also would you like to hear the playlist I’ve been curating for SK? would that be fun to listen to? yes?? maybe????

and most importantly

PARTICIPATE IN CAMP NANOWRIMO WITH ME, PEASANTS!

Here’s my NaNo profile. Come find me. ;) (<< winky faces feel so unnatural for me. forget this ever happened.)

As always, let’s talk about ALL OF THE THINGS! down in the comments below, and until next time. . .