November is fast approaching, and that means dusting off the ol' inkpot, sharpening your quills and neatening your stack of parchment. Or just clicking [File][New]. Whatever floats yer boat.
Yes, it's almost time for this year's edition of National Novel Writing Month! The purpose: to motivate you to finally get started on that book you've always wanted to write. The goal: 50,000 words. Don't worry about editing or proofreading or revising or the details. Those can come later. In November, just churn out the words to your story. Get the framework in place, you can patch the plaster later. The prize: fawning adulation from millions of fawning, adulating fans. And self-satisfaction for achieving a difficult goal. One of those.
Now in 2005, yours truly wrote "Zombies of Autumn". It remains, alas, three-fourths completed. You can read it on Rocket Jones, even though I've cleverly hidden it behind the sidebar link labeled "Zombies of Autumn".
Last year, I assembled a group of over a dozen people. The idea was to each write one or more pieces that involved, however peripherally, a grand, central, unifying theme. That theme was: Giant Evil Space Robots. All those works would be collected into an anthology and we could whup ass on the 50,000 word goal and all be proud and bask in glory and such.
Ahem. Didn't happen. In fact, our word count was... let me check my notes... ah yes, the total word count was zero. But that's ok, because we had a cool group banner, which I'm going to post here again so that I can provide another link to the artist who so graciously granted permission to use it.
Special thanks to Webster Colcord for permission to use his graphics.
Rambling on, here is the first and only story to emerge from last year's group debacle:
Hercules and the Giant Evil Space RobotsHercules stood in the hot sun, facing the metallic invader. His muscles rippled as he hefted his bronze shield and tightened his grip on his mighty club.
[TARGET LOCKED]
*ZOT*
[TARGET ELIMINATED]
The end
This year, I don't know if I'm going to go for it again. November is such a lousy month for me. Set right between the end of the fiscal year and the end of the calendar year, it's one of our two crazy-busy times at work.
I have a story in mind, and it's been simmering in my mind for several years. Problem is, I don't have any real details beyond the vaguest partial outline. So I don't know. But that doesn't mean *you* shouldn't go for it! It's your chance to feel superior to me! Go ahead, make me your bitch. Set pen to paper, or electron to whatever electrons set against, and give it a try. Why not? What have you got to lose?
Do it for Hercules.
Where to start...
Rich, who has been pointing out the inexorable subjugation of the human race to our future mechanical overlords, links to a story about a new robot.
..."an electromechanical sommelier", capable of identifying wines, cheeses, meats and hors d'oeuvres.
Then, of course, there's this:
But when some smart aleck reporter placed his hand in the robot's omnivorous clanking jaw, he was identified as bacon. A cameraman then tried and was identified as prosciutto.
Too nicely, maybe...
(as always, special thanks to Webster Colcord for permission to use his graphics)
Anthology: Giant Evil Space Robots.
The official site is built (used my old account from last year).
I have ideas and words ready to pour from my fingers onto the page. I hope y'all do too. If you'd like to join the fun, follow this link and drop me an email because the more, the merrier.
And after dark, beware those glowing red lights about 100 feet up.
The countdown towards National Novel Writing Month, 2006 continues. On November 1st, the following people will begin writing the anthology that history has been waiting for.
annika
Victor
Ian
Buckethead
JohnL
Paul
Blue
Mookie
Molly (blogless)
Ted
Read details here.
Like that picture up above? I'd like to give special thanks to artist Webster Colcord for granting permission to use his awesome robot graphic for our group effort. If y'all want to snag the picture to post on your own pages, please feel free, as long as you post a link to webstercolcord.com and don't alter the image itself. I'll be putting a smaller version up on the sidebar tomorrow.
I'm sure I've forgotten someone, so please let me know if you'd like to join the fun.
New category.
If you are an aspiring writer, or just someone who likes to write for fun, then this might be for you.
What follows is an excerpt from an email I sent out last December:
I have an idea for a group effort for next year's National Novel Writing Month. I'm sure most of you know what that's all about, but if not then here's a link:
National Novel Writing Month
Short version: in November, you commit to writing a 50,000 word story in whatever format or style that you choose.Obviously, it takes a tremendous amount of effort and dedication to make that goal, but I've also found it to be fun, challenging and creatively stimulating.
My idea: Next November, we produce a group anthology revolving around a central theme. There will be a variety of types of works, such as (for instance) poetry, sci-fi, chick lit, horror, erotica, fan fiction, historical fiction, play, and/or whatever else someone wants to do. Interested in doing more than one piece? Knock yourself out. I'm not talking about assigning genres to people, I'm talking about everyone doing whatever interests them.
The central theme will be "Giant Evil Space Robots". Every piece should work that into the story, either centrally or peripherally.
More from the email:
According to the "rules" of NaNoWriMo, you're not supposed to actually write your piece ahead of time. What you can do is plan plot lines, story arcs, and that sort of preliminary idea work. If you'd rather, just make it up as you go along. Whatever works for you. Actual writing is supposed to begin on November 1, 2006. I'll do the final compilation, other details to be worked out.I don't think we need to set a minimum contribution, so don't sweat timing and scheduling. Anything at all is welcomed, so even if all you have time for is a half-dozen haiku or limricks, then that's cool.
So that's the idea. The primary purpose is to have some fun, the goal is to put together an anthological work for next November's NaNoWriMo, with all pieces including a common theme.
Right now, I've gotten firm commitments from a dozen people, and maybes from three or four more. The more, the merrier, so if you'd like to contribute a word or three, drop an email to me or leave something in the comments.
More news coming in the next few weeks.