Defeated by NaNoWriMo

I am at a turning point.

     So, between job changes, outside stress, and school I got to chapter 10 of my book for NaNoWriMo this year.  That is about half way to 50k if you would like to know.  Short of the mark, but I got some work and some outlining done.  I'm happy with where this story is heading, and I plan on getting it finished and editing it still.  I would love to have it up on Amazon in a couple of months, but we will see what happens.

     How was everyone else's NaNoWriMo this year?  Did anyone finish? What did you struggle with?  How could it have gone better, and more importantly how can you plan it better for next year?  All questions that are worth asking.

    This story I am telling is the continuation of Elias' story.  It is the modern culmination of what I was building to in my short stories up on Amazon.com for you kindle and ebook reading delight.  It is the story of a man facing down his literal demon, and living with his mental demons at the same time.  I have re purposed a couple of other characters including Jaiden Knight, my half-vampire and Jill Silver, a Werewolf without a pack to help round out my characters.  I have a lot of work to go, but I am enjoying the direction I am heading.  At the end of the day, this is a story that has been brewing in my head for the better part of a decade, and I am finally giving it shape.

    I am now into my second week working at inContact.  I know I am looking at things through new hire eyes, but I am excited about the job and the future it may give me.  Opportunities exist here for upward advancement, and my bosses are very supportive of my goals, be they school or otherwise.  My co-workers are great and the environment in comfortable.  I am hoping this is a job I am at for a long time and that I can grow as the company does befitting us both.

    As far as writing advice this time, I don't have much other than find a specific time to write.  I am going to find an hour or two a week that is devoted to nothing but writing and editing.  That is not a lot, but right now that is all I am going to be able to manage.  As with anything, you might have more, or less time than this.  Plan accordingly to your needs, not someone else's.  Not everyone can write for hours everyday without sacrificing too much of what they need to give to their family, jobs, or even themselves.  We all need de-stress time, and while writing can work for this, at times it definitely won't.

    That is it for my update right now.  How is everyone else doing?

Ben Marble.

   If you would like to support Ben Marble and his fear of flatbread, consider buying one of his short stories at Amazon.com.

NaNoWriMo 2016

I'm all in for NaNoWriMo 2016

     This year has officially kicked off! I am excited and working on a book idea that I have been building to for years.  This book will take a modern day Elias, mix him with Jill a werewolf, and Jaiden a half vampire as they take on the demon who cursed Elias in the first place.  To be honest, if I get the job I applied for I have no idea how I will pull this off, but I'm going to do it!

     The Idea for this story has grown from several places.  The first book I finished writing was about Jaiden and his Journey as a half-vampire and discovering what he is and what that means.  That book was scrapped as I just didn’t think the story overall was strong, or that it resounded well with me.  But as with all books, I have several great ideas and a couple of characters that I have pulled out from the wreckage of that story.

     Elias I have been building up for some while.  All four short stories I have on amazon.com are related to either him directly, or in the case of “The Black Oak” it starts the events that push this story into motion.  I am finding it weird writing Elias in third person, after I have spent three shorts writing from his point of view, but hey, I am having fun with it.

     Jill is the other character that came from Jaiden’s book.  She is much different and hopefully better realized in this story.  We will see.

    The other big thing this year is I have taken a step back and I’m discovery writing instead of outlining.  Normally before I write I sit down and outline chapter 1-whatever and give what I want to accomplish in each chapter, what happens, and who’s POV it is written from.  This time I have trying to write differently.  It might kill me in the end, but I want to see how it works out with me having the basic story in mind, and my characters walking through it.

     My other stories have been put to the side for the moment.  Grimmack I am still waiting to hear back from a couple of agents, but I will be submitting him to a new round soon.  The Dragon’s apprentice just finished a full edit, and I plan on running through it one more time before submitting it out as well.  I love both stories for different reasons, and I hope eventually to have them out to folks in whatever format works best.

    As for this year’s NaNoWriMo?  With the shorts already being on Amazon.com, I plan on self-publishing it in the same manner.  If all goes well, it will be my first full-length book out on the market.

     What are you all doing for NaNoWriMo is the question now….

Ben Marble.

If you would like to consider supporting Ben Marble and his whisperings of conspiracy theories, Consider purchasing one of his short stories on Amazon.com.