In which I win the internets. Or something.

I win the internets or something. The part I was working on--since my "novel" is in four parts, having finished the main plot at 10,000 words--isn't quite done, but the objective was 50,000 words in 30 days. 1600 words a day isn't that tricky, unless you get more than a day or two behind.

Point the second: if you don't already read the Real Live Preacher, check out his most recent post here. The insurance situation in this country is messed up beyond belief.

Point the third: Ironically as I was reading RLP's post, there was a report on NPR about the Pope's new encyclical. I'm on my way through it, but we all need a little hope now and then.

Huh. I'm only 2105 words short of where I should be. That's totally doable, if I get a good streak. Wait, scratch that. I could easily write (+ 2105 1667) words in a day if I were writing an academic paper. (Why, yes, I mostly do LISP, thanks for asking.) Having to tell a good story? I may have to go back into academic-mode and bust out some footnotes and citations. I still need the name of a (fake) psychedellic drug that reacts badly with alien biochemistry. Stumped on that one, and I can't keep calling it $drug. (I know enough perl to be useful.) I'm finding I have the most horrible luck coming up with names.

No, this probably won't ever see the light of day. Perhaps I might show it to people, provided that they buy me several beers and sign an NDA.

Things I've learned from NaNoWriMo

So I'm actually trying to do NaNoWriMo this year. I'm about 33,941 words into it, but am 2733 words short for where I should be today. About 1600 words a day really isn't difficult. 1600 words a day that's actually good is difficult.

Fiction is different from academic writing in that you have to lie to tell a good story. Nobody wants to hear every little detail about a given event, although in academic writing, every little detail does matter. In fiction, leaving out details can make it more appealing.

Getting an idea for a plot is easy. Keeping it going past 20,000 words isn't. I'm doing the Tolstoy thing, and my "novel" is actually in 3 (possibly 4) parts.

I think just spewing words and not (initially) caring about quality is helping the dissertation. I was starting to get hypercritical of what I'm doing, which was slowing me up. Keeping at least 1660 words a day flowing has helped the writing that matters.

Who knows if I'll actually finish. This won't ever see light of day, but it's been an interesting exercise.

From Paul Cornell's blog. Too good not to share.

In honor of Talmida:



A classic. Their friend in the background, who's oblivious to them, really ties it all together, I think.

More serious stuff to come. Been super busy.