Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Yes, I have completed my 50,000 words for my novel in Nanowrimo!

Although I'm actually not quite done with the novel yet. But I'm over 50k, baby!

Nanowrimo - I'm Late for a Very Important Date!

OK, I had to take some time off to finish up an article for RaceCenter (look for it in February 2013!), and now I'm behind on my novel for Nanowrimo.

Not all is lost though. Now I just have to average 1900 words a day instead of 1667. I think I can handle it. I'll also try to get some new excepts up soon.

Wish me luck!

Nanowrimo - Novel Excerpts Posted

Hey, I'm posting regular updates and excerpts of my Nanowrimo novel, "Off the Res," so head over there, take a gander, and let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Nanowrimo Starts Today!

Today's the day! Start writing!

Check here for my first excerpt.

And if you need an opening line for your novel, you can't lose with these.

Good luck!

Less than a week to Nanowrimo!

Yes, we are officially less than a week away from the start of Nanowrimo. Interested in writing a 50,000 word novel in the month of November? Well, head over here and get signed up.

I've got lots of ideas running through my head...check out my novel here.

Should be fun.

Let's write!

Five Years...Ten Posts: Part 8

We're inching closer to the fifth anniversary of The Two R's...and also getting very close to the start of Nanowrimo! Yes, we're only 13 days away from the month of November. I hope you have some thoughts in mind for your novel - I know I do.

Hey, let's relive that special year where I actually finished my 50,000 word novel for Nanowrimo: on November 28th, 2010.

WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!

Yes, my friends, that's 50,000 words in one month - making me, FINALLY, a winner at Nanowrimo!

And it's a good thing, because I have to immediately, and without delay, start working on my Christmas Story in 25 Parts, titled: 25 Doors. Head over there every day this December and enjoy an original Christmas story with original art from none other than Jennifer Lommers.

Enjoy!

Nanowrimo Starts Tomorrow!

Yes, tomorrow.

Well, I have my page all up, but I have to admit...I'd be shocked if I get much written this year.

Never say never...yet. Hmmm, sounds like a James Bond movie.

Nanowrimo in five days!?!

Whaaaaaaa?

Holy Happy Crappy, Nanowrimo really snuck (sneak, snake, snuck) up on me this year. Where does the time go?

So are you writing a novel during November this year? I have not decided. I'm really not ready. The wife and I were thinking about RE-writing our novels from last year's Nanowrimo. Well...certain people that shall remain nameless (yeah, the wife) would have to finish first, then rewrite. But whatever...

What a dilemma. Somebody talk me into it. Or out of it. Not sure what I want here...

So are you writing this year?

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Yes, my friends, that's 50,000 words in one month - making me, FINALLY, a winner at Nanowrimo!

And it's a good thing, because I have to immediately, and without delay, start working on my Christmas Story in 25 Parts, titled: 25 Doors. Head over there every day this December and enjoy an original Christmas story with original art from none other than Jennifer Lommers.

Enjoy!

Turning the Last Corner at Nanowrimo!

40,814

That's words. And I've got six days left. I'm on track and I'm on pace. I'm feeling it. Time for the kick coming down the last straightaway.

Cheer me on!

Halfway Home at Nanowrimo!

Yes, I've officially made it past the 25,000 word mark for Nanowrimo!

And I've got a new excerpt up. Check it out!

Catching up with Nanowrimo

Yeah, I fell behind a bit yesterday. I was just worn down from too many nights in a row of staying up late and writing. But tonight, I made a nice little comeback and I'm right back on track. Check it out - over 15,000 words! Looking good, looking good...

Wish me well, the next ten days are the make it or break it period. I need to bear down here if I'm going to make 50,000 words by the end of the month.

Oh, and I've got a new excerpt up. Read. Read!

Write on!

*by the way, that's 31% done, with 20 days left*

Taking a Writing Break...to Race!

Taking a quick break from Nanowrimo to think about running. And why not? Pouring rain outside, blowing wind, leaves in the face...time for a run!

Let's race!

RACES FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 15th TO NOVEMBER 21st

November 20th / EWEB Run to Stay Warm Half-Marathon, 10k and 5k / Eugene, OR

November 20th / Green Lake Gobble 5k / Seattle, WA

November 20th / GBRC Turkey Trot 5k / Bellingham, WA

November 20th / Turkey Trot 4 mile run / Asotin, WA

November 20th / Jingle Bell 5k Run / Spokane, WA

Thanks to Frazz and Jef Mallet for the strip.

New Pawn Excerpt Up!

I've got a new excerpt up from my novel in progress: Pawn.

Hope you had already seen the first excerpt...cause it's gone!

We're Three Days In! Nanowrimo Ahoy!

Truly, the most amazing thing is that I'm still on pace: 5191 words at the moment. Sing it, baby!

If you're getting the feeling that you're not going to get much in the way of running news this month...well, you're probably right. Don't worry, I'll still get some Race Schedules up and maybe a few other things, but yeah...I'm trying to write 1700 words a day here! I've only got so many hours in the day!

So get out there and run already! We'll talk about it later...

Nanowrimo! It's ON!

Yes, Nanowrimo started today...and I've got 2273 words in the books! I'm actually ahead of the pace! That's got to be a first.

So head on over to my page. I've got an excerpt posted already. I sort of like it - but let me know what you think! I love criticism...good or bad. Let me have it!

Hey, if you're not signed up at Nanowrimo, get on it! We're only a day in. You still have 29 days to pump out your 50,000 words!

Nanowrimo and Pawned

Yes, true believers, we're exactly one week away from Nanowrimo. Yikes!

And I've got my page all set up. Book title: Pawned. Yeah, I know. I'm not crazy about it either. The title might change by November 1st...we'll see. But the plot is set. I've got some good ideas. I've got a general story. I've got at least the two main characters worked out.

Seven days...

The Firm with the Dragon Tattoo

In honor of exactly one month separating us from Nanowrimo, let's discuss the hugest blockbuster to be published in quite some time: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

First, kudos to the American publisher that decided to rename this baby. The original title in Sweden was "Men Who Hate Women." Accurate to be sure, but that title is a touch lacking in flair. "Men Who Hate Women" never would have sold 30 million copies, I can tell you that.

Anyhoo, I really had no plans to read this book. Probably because I'm sort of weird that way. Hey, I admit it! When something gets so popular that EVERYONE is reading it, watching it, talking about it...I just don't want anything to do with it. I still haven't seen Avatar! So that's my issue, and I know it's not reasonable, but there you go.

Still, people just wouldn't leave it alone on this one. "You'll love The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the best thing I've ever read!" "You have to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!"

Fine!

So I got on the Corvallis Library site (thebestlibrary.net...seriously) and put The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on hold.

And got put in line behind 120 other people waiting for it. Crap. And they've got like 20 copies of the damn thing!

Anyway, last week it finally came.

And yesterday, I finished it.

And here's my official review (spoiler alert):

I've read this before.

Nineteen years ago.

It was called "The Firm."

And I've met Lisbeth Salander before. Back in 1991, her name was Mitch McDeere.

OK, there are some differences. But now that you're thinking about it, the two books actually have a lot of similarities, don't they? Go ahead, admit it, you're among friends here.

Anyway, it's good. I'm not saying it's not good. But it's not great. It's not 30 million great. It's not even "The Firm" great.

I'm gonna say B. No way more than a B+.

And now let's bring it all the way around. In one month, you've got a chance to write 50,000 words. If you can come up with 50,000 that grade out at a B+ or an A-, maybe you could sell 30 million copies as well.

Only one way to find out.

Limbering Up for Nanowrimo...

So we're almost through September. That means we're almost in October. And that means November is right around the corner.

And that means you need to be thinking about Nanowrimo.

One month, 50,000 words. How could it be any more simple?

But you've got to be ready. You've got to be prepared. Trust me, 50,000 words in 30 days (31 days? I don't know...I never learned that stinking rhyme) is not a walk in the park. Start thinking about your plot now. Today. Think about it today. Then think about your plot unfolding. Think about your characters getting in trouble, then getting back out of it.

For God's sake, don't think about vampires. Don't write 50,000 words about vampires! I'm begging you!

Where was I? Oh yeah, I'm planning on limbering up the writing muscles in October by writing my 25 part Christmas Card, called...wait for it..."Advent". I was supposed to write it last year. Didn't happen. This year, I'll work on it in October, hand it over to Jen for Art and Design and to get it ready to post to the web in December. In 25 parts. Maybe we'll mail the first part and the 25th part. Still working out the details...but it will be awesome.

Then in November...

It's Nano time!


Yes, yes I do want to write a "million dollar adventure novel." I think that's a great idea and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter, um...Dr. Ray, is it?

Some Inspiration for Nanowrimo...

If you're looking for a little inspiration for Nanowrimo, I've got just the read for you: Devils in Exile by Chuck Hogan.

Waaaaaay back in 1995, a young writer named Chuck Hogan put out an absolutely fantastic novel called The Standoff. The Standoff was a fictionalized retelling of the Ruby Ridge Standoff. Considering Hogan wrote it when he was 26, you knew there were a number of good novels waiting to be written by his hand...

But it took a while.

Hogan followed The Standoff with The Blood Artists in 1999. I'm not sure why it took him four years to write it, because - let's face it - it's not very good.

Then you're got Prince of Thieves, which Ben Affleck is coming out with in theaters under the name "The Town". Great novel. Has a bit of Dennis Lehane to it, which is never a bad thing.

Then Hogan co-wrote The Strain and The Fall with Guillermo del Toro. Haven't read them. I mean, vampires...right?

Anyway, Hogan just released his newest, Devils in Exile, and it's his best. I've always had a soft spot for the "revenge" novel and this one has layers and layers of revenge. Hogan has a real talent in showing his criminals and police as real people, and as he plays them off each other, showing just how similar they are.

Don't miss this one.