you're not going to slow it down

Word Count: 41,024

The novel is complete. This is a major problem. I have a couple of beta readers looking it over for possible parts that need expanding upon, but even then I doubt I can wrangle more than 2-3,000 more words into it without seriously destroying my pacing.

What this may call for is a second short story to be written that fills the remaining word count. I'm not sure exactly what I would want to do yet, but I'm considering something in the same universe to keep with the spirit of the Nanowrimo project.

This is the first time I've ever run into this problem! My previous two nano's just petered out around 30,000 or so words with a whole ton of stuff left to write. Hmm. Dillemas.

Final Wordcount:38,006
Writing Excerpt:
Ahead of them, light began to filter through the trees in brilliant sheets. The soft snowfall had coated the ground here much more thickly, creeping past the loosely tangled branches above to crunch beneath their feet. For the first time in what seemed like an age, Althea saw an end to the trees.

“We must not leave its sight.” Althea said, suddenly. At the last tree she stared out at the open land before her, white with thinly spread snow and shining in the unfiltered sunlight. It hurt her eyes, the brightness after all the time spent in the soft muted light of the wood.

Word Count: 34,046

Tonight I can't offer a writing sample, as I devoted most of my time to writing the ending. :) Sorry! I only made 1,000 words yesterday, so I didn't post the wordcount update here, but tonight I made up for the missed words from yesterday and achieved today's wordcount as well, so I am back on track.

Word Count: 28,013
Writing sample:

Albreicht and Mosni circled, smiling, each ready for the other. Mosni’s hand rested on his hilt, Albreicht’s simply pushed his cloak back so that he could draw unhindered. First, they measured each other with their eyes – as much a part of their game now as the actual swordplay. They waited, sought weakness in the other’s attention or gait.

Neither were ever distracted, neither ever faltered. Albreicht was patient, skilled. He could wait forever for the strike, ever alert. Mosni had the advantage of size and strength, and dedicated himself when he decided to move at last, tenaciously pushing until he found or made an opening. So far, Albreicht had not been bested.

Wordcount: 24,010
Writing Sample:

“The only thing that can kill her is something of her world.” The queen said, turning the weapon this way and that to inspect it. It was a thin blade, tipped for piercing, and the pommel was shaped as a rose, it’s petals only beginning to open. The blade shone dulled silver, as if it were of great age, and under the queen’s gaze, it met approval. “This will do.”

I did write yesterday, but not enough to make my 2,000 word quota. I made up for it tonight, writing about 3,000 words total today. It was hard, but it's good to be back on track.

Word Count: 20,014
Writing Sample:

She rose to her hands and knees, pushing aside the tanned leather flaps that covered the opening to peer out, worried. She almost came nose to nose with Mosni, who blinked in surprise. She backed up quickly, and then the small space was invaded by not one body, but two. Behind Mosni came Albreicht, arms hugged tight to his chest and teeth chattering.

It was impossible to lay without touching, but Mosni’s close presence did not bother her, and though Albreicht slept in his armor, the space in the trees was warmer with three bodies to share it and three cloaks over all. Comfortable, her back pressed against Mosni’s side and Albreicht curled catlike on her other side, Althea slept deeply and warmly the night through.

Word Count: 14,105
Writing Sample:

“Sorry does not slow my heart, nor mend my cloak.” The boy growled, his voice gruff beyond his age. He crossed his arms firmly over his chest. Then, as if suddenly he noticed her companion for the first time, his eyes grew wide. The arrow, her trespass, was suddenly quite forgotten. The boy had eyes for Mosni, only, his fingers sliding bonelessly from their roosts in the crooks of his elbows.

I'm considering posting the completed chapters I have so far, if anyone's interested in reading them. They would be friends-locked to a specific group, so comment here if you'd like to be included. The reason for the lock is that I'd like to have the option to publish this someday should I actually complete it.


Word Count: 10,227
Time spent writing: A lot. I found it really hard to get myself to focus tonight.
Sample Writing:

“Highness?” His voice came out in disbelief, and he stared at her hard. Suddenly his expression was wary, the set of his shoulders grew tense. His wound forgotten, his fingers crept for his sword, which still lay unsheathed, dirtied by cockatrice blood.

“You are a king, are you not?” She felt suddenly foolish. Her hands twisted the remaining half of her blanket-cloak, worrying it’s torn edges until they frayed. “I’m sorry, I-“

"King?" He said, fiercely - though his eyes were not angry. "Only of the wood and field. King of the empty sky before me and the endless road behind." Then, gently - for his ferocity had made meek of her. "King of Freedom only, my lady."

Total Word Count: 6,107
Time spent writing: 1 hour, 38 minutes (I made over 2,000 words in that time, I am very proud of myself!)
Writing Sample:

Fall was coming on hard and fast this year, and her breath painted little clouds in the air before her as she walked, book tucked under her arm and the three dimes she’d earned for her weekly chores and helping to mend a neighbor’s fence. While she walked the familiar road, she stared up at the blue morning sky – not a cloud lurked in the expanse of blue above her, except for those that her breath made.



Notes:
Chapter one is completed, and as happened in 2005, a character that I intended on mentioning only briefly has suddenly gained himself a much larger role. It's getting a little harder each night to include a sample paragraph without Simon. Then again, part of novel writing is letting it go where it needs to to tell the story properly. I'm easily making my wordcount each night so far, a trend I'm hoping will continue.