CAMP NANOWRIMO CONTINUES!: Episode V – Weeks 1 & 2 (and LIVESREAM NEWS!)

First thing’s first, before we pop into the main topic of today’s blog–I HAVE SOME SUPER IMPORTANT LIVESTREAM NEWS!!!

Today (April 18th), Phoebe, Ally, and I are going live over on Ally’s Youtube channel (The Nature of Pages) for our second ever Plots & Plans livestream!!! We’re going to be talking about writing and Camp and hosting writing sprints, so if you want to come and join the fun, come join us at 3 pm EDT right HERE! (please come. I’ll give you cookies!!)

. . .and now back to your regularly scheduled programming. . .

GOOD MORNING, CYBERSPACE!

This blog post is late. Obviously. You can probably tell that by the slapped together graphic and the fact that it was NOT released on Tuesday morning. Which, despite the fact that I pretty much never post on a Tuesday morning anymore, is actually my reserved posting time.

But I digress.

Truth is, this post is late in going up because I have been reading. And also writing. A lot. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve become so infused with fictional realms that I’m really quite astounded I haven’t dissolved into a flurry of paper and ink by now. (there’s still a potential this will happen soon, so if I spontaneously disappear from the internet, YA KNOW WHY.)

But all this writing and reading and very-much-not-being-here has a very simple explanation, and I’m sure you all know what it is.

CAMP NANOWRIMO. It’s in full-swing, folks. We’re officially two three? who even knows anymore weeks in. And holy guacamole, my friends, have I been writing a book.

And it is that very book which I’m here to discuss today! Or rather, the writing behind the book. Because the premise of said book is still very much under wraps, but I can still talk and squeal about writing it, right? Right. So let’s talk about SK!

Or, should I say, the book previously known as SK. Because if you read last week’s smudge, you know that my smol little sunshine child has a very new, very fitting moniker. . .

CAMP NANOWRIMO CONTINUES!: Episode V – Weeks 1 & 2

{ P R O J E C T  N A M E  R E V E A L }

You all know of my current WIP, SK, by now, I’m sure. I’ve been talking about it here on the blog nearly as long as I’ve had the idea. But despite my best efforts, I haven’t been able to come up with a project name decent enough to share.

Which is why I’ve just been awkwardly gesturing to it as SK for the past year and a half.

The true name of this book, however, is pure perfection, and spontaneously came to me in a fit of laughter so intense I haven’t been able to stop laughing since.

(no, really. ask my family. they think I’m insane.)

BUT. Because this epic, perfect name ties in so closely to the story’s plot, I haven’t been able to release it out into the great and terrible Cyberspace like I was with everlost. (which actually had like a bajillion names before we settled on that one, but that’s beside the point. [stop trying to steal the show that belongs to your weird, slightly deranged cousin, Evie. You had your turn.]) Which means that I’ve had to rely on the very unartistic device of reducing its brilliance to an abbreviation.

Which just sucks the joy out of talking about it in person, tbh.

SO! With a little help from my friends (*cue the Beatles*), today SK is receiving a brand new project name! I went through quite a few possibilities in my head, brainstormed with myself, my wall, my Phoebe*, my family . . . and finally–finally–found something that was worthy.

And of course the idea came from my mom, because she is amazing and wonderful and I’m pretty sure she’s actually the true writer over here. . .

AHEM. MOVING ON. Without any further ado–because I’m really, really tired of typing and saying SK in my head–IT IS TIME FOR SK’S BRAND NEW PROJECT TITLE REVEAL!! And what better way to do this than with a prototype cover reveal? (which I think I posted a long long time ago with the old name, so HUZZAH for full circles, amiright?)

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, marshmallows and bean children . . . it is with the greatest pride that I introduce you to. . . . . .!

PROJECT SUNSET! I’m not even going to bore you with the details of the other names I was contemplating (such golden nuggets as “The Mystery At Setting Suns [the book is not anywhere close to a mystery] and “Project Ed” [*loud snoring sounds*]). All that matters is we are no longer calling this story SK, and that, my dear peasants, is most likely a relief for us all.

Now that we have that little reveal out of the way–and now that we can start calling my book Project Sunset for the rest of eternity–let’s continue onward to the actual drafting process! Because I have some news about that as well. . .  *laughs awkwardly*

*of course she’s my Phoebe. I met her in real life. I claim her as my own now. XD

{ T H E  W R I T I N G }

. . .as of april 17th . . .

c u r r e n t  w o r d c o u n t: 33,369

m o n t h l y  g o a l: 60,000

w o r d s  r e m a i n i n g: 26,631

And this moment right here, my friends, is when we’re going to find out who’s truly been paying attention to my blog posts. (hint: it’s definitely not been me) Remember at the start of the month when I said I wanted my word goal for Camp NaNoWriMo to be 35,000 words? Remember when I said that this would probably be enough to finish this draft?

Ha. Hahaha. HA!

Yeah, that’s no longer happening, folks. Instead of a simple 35k, Kenzie’s Brain Of Infinite Idiocy Wisdom decided to raise our word goal to–not 45k. Not 50k. But a grand total of SIXTY. THOUSAND. WORDS.

*insert moment of silence to appreciate just how great of an idiot I truly am*

Okay, okay, so you might be wondering what on EARTH I was thinking. And quite frankly, I’m right there with you on that, friend. Personally, I think I had some sort of momentary brain lapse that caused me to lose total focus on reality for a short blip of time, and once I finally regained consciousness and full motor control of my limbs, it was too late to undo the unthinkable deed I had already done. But alas, this is just a theory, and therefore does not have any substantial facts to back it up. #shame

But despite the fact that I’ve probably written 60,000 words in a single month exactly one time in the past, I think the main thing to focus on here is that, despite all odds screaming against me, I am actually doing slightly okay on this goal. I’m only 700 words behind right now. Of a 60,000-words-in-30-days goal.

IS NOBODY ELSE FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I AM LITERALLY FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW.

Ahem. The shock is paramount. I’m pretty sure I’ve lost all ability to string coherent sentences together at this point, but almost more shocking than the fact that I’m actually conquering this behemoth of a goal is that, somehow, I am still so totally in love with this book. Usually when I try to write this much within a month, I end burning out by the halfway point. And yet somehow I am still going.

. . .and going. . .

. . .and going. . .

. . .and going. . .???

Phoebe once said I was the Energizer Bunny. I am afraid it is true.

Now this isn’t to say that I’m not going to have my hardships in the days to follow. Statistics show that the minute I publish this, all my luck thus far is going to burn into a crisp with the ferocity of a thousand noon-day suns. But right now, writing this book is almost like a dream. It’s been forever since I’ve just allowed myself to be creatively weird with what I’m writing. And this book, if anything, is w e i r d. (in a good way, of course.) Which means that drafting this has been less of a chore, and more like a deep dive into all of my favorite things smushed together. The characters are hilarious. The story breaks my heart. The setting is fun to explore. . . I’m seriously loving every single minute of this drafting process. (which is really strange for me to say, since this time last year I was absolutely dreading it)

Finishing the book this month is still relatively out of the question at this point, though. I’m an optimist, but even I know that putting an end date on a draft is like shooting myself in the foot.

And then rubbing salt into the wound.

And then surgically removing the limb with a blunt-bladed hatchet.

So yeah. Currently my ultimate ULTIMATE goal is to finish the manuscript by the beginning of May, but if that doesn’t happen and I still write 60k–if that doesn’t happen and I still write 50k–I will be a very, VERY happy bean, indeed.

On a completely different note, I’ve also decided to start making the most of the laggy new NaNoWriMo site and have begun creating ART with the whacky stat bars! There were some days this month where I physically could not bring myself to write, and therefore my stat bar looks . . . well it looks sorta like this ⇓⇓⇓

don’t judge me, i hadn’t written yet when i took this screengrab.

Personally, I think it looks like some weird mash-up between a pointy-eared ghost going “oooWEEEooooWEEEoooo” with his arms, and what I envision Bilbo’s trip to the Misty Mountains to look like.

But anyway. My new goal is to make him a ghosty friend on the right side of the page, so we’ll see how that goes. XD

{ T O  B E  W R I T T E N }

Currently, I am 14 chapters into Project Sunset. My initial plan (read: overly-optimistic fantasy) was for this book to contain approximately 35 chapters. If–by some insane, glorious miracle–I’m able to commit to that, then this means I only have 21 more chapters to write.

definitely not freaking out. nope. not at all.

Of course, this is totally subject to change as the story progresses, and–if I’m being honest with myself–it’s more likely that a giant satellite from space will crash-land in my backyard and leak poisonous space gas into the air before I can cap this novel off at 35 chapters. Even everlost tops off at around 50 chapters after a massive bout of polishing, so who even knows where this story’s going to go.

But! Despite the fact that I have no clue where this story will take me, I do know that I have some very fun chapters ahead of me, and–as always–some very difficult decisions to make.

Mostly dealing with blackmail and characters and whether or not they should be permitted to live.

Heh.

So! Since you guys seem to be enjoying my character interviews–and since I need some serious help with an excruciatingly pivotal moment in the story–I thought it would be fun to have a little vote! Vote down below for your favorite Project Sunset character, and you MIGHT just save their life! Woot!

Also, there’s a scene coming up in this story that has to do with ICE CREAM, so if you have any favorite/absurd ice cream flavors, please drop them in the comments below!!! I’m currently looking for flavors that would typically be considered disgusting, but some mortal humans might actually enjoy eating it? (like sardine-flavored, or something….) So if you’ve got any of those, HIT ME UP IN THE COMMENTS!

And I guess that’s all I’ve got for today? This post kinda feels like a mess, but then again, it’s NaNoWriMo. Can we really expect anything better to come out of my brain during this time?

Aha. I don’t think so.

The main thing of importance here is that Project Sunset is going surprisingly well. And yes, I’m just a smidge behind my new and improved goal, but I guarantee that by the end of the week, I’ll be caught back up.

*crosses fingers behind back*

Let’s just hope something horrible doesn’t happen in this draft to mess everything up. . .

---

---

TALK TO ME, PEASANTS!

So! How’s your NaNoWriMo treating you? Are your characters behaving nicely, or do you find yourself chasing after them with pitchforks more than you’re actually writing? Are you crushing your creative goals, or does it feel more like your creative goals are crushing you? (I know what this feels like. I am here to send inspirational GIFs of Moriarty if you need them.) Has anything surprising happened in your NaNoWriMo adventure that you were not in the least expecting? (such as raising your word goal, finishing your manuscript, growing a gray hair…) and most importantly. . .

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR???

I know I asked you for gross ice cream flavors, but also tell me your absolute favorite. Mine’s chocolate chip cookie dough, and now I’m really craving ice cream. . .

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