Today's Wordcount: 1,699
Total Wordcount: 16,631
(includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 24.9 %
Today I face a dilemma - to kill or not to kill?
I have a character, I did not mean to create and had not planned for. He's a sifaka who has befriended Aurelia and I suspect she has a bit of a crush on him. He has just faced off against a hunter, and is now pursuing her - because she has seen Aurelia and recognised her heritage. The character, Matthieu, has been injured but is determined to hunt down the hunter and kill her.
And I am wondering if I should kill him.
He has no real relevance to the plot and I suspect his death will further it.
But however minor or unnecessary the character is, it is still quite difficult to kill them off, especially in a relatively trivial manner. There is the ethical side to consider - how will it affect the reader? Just because you created the characters, is it your right to kill them at a whim?
Of course it is.
I put the question to my husband, and he said "if you need to ask, than obviously the answer is 'yes'. " It doesn't matter how much you have developed affection for the character, he is still just a pawn in the greater scheme of things.
So, sorry mate, it looks like you're doomed.
Here's today's extract - and hey, they've stopped talking and are being attacked by mongooses.
(Yes the plural of mongoose IS mongooses)
Matthieu flung another mongoose to the ground as one grabbed his tail in its teeth. Aurelia scrambled down his back and bit it on the neck. The rancid taste of blood flooded her throat and she tried not to gag. The mongoose released its grip abruptly and both of them tumbled to the ground. Aurelia kicked it but it managed to close its teeth about her side. She screamed in pain. She had never felt pain like this before. Another mongoose, attracted by the smell of blood and the excitement, joined it. Two mongooses might not be a match for an adult sifaka, but now they seized the kit and tugged at her, trying to rip her apart. Matthieu dropped between them, picking one up and hurtling it against a tree. It struck the trunk, convulsed and slid down to land in a furry puddle.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
SocNoc, Day 5
Today's Wordcount: 1.642
Total Wordcount: 14, 932 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 21.5%
I think I've finally caught the flow. This is good, because now I want to write, but bad because I also need to go to bed.
So today, Aurelia received a lecture on lemur politics and watched Matthieu face off against a hunter. There might be a duel yet. Anyone want to see a duel?
I have no idea where this story is going, except that it does not seem to be quite in the direction I intended.
On the other paw, I received back my second proof of "Aroha's Grand Adventure" which both my parents have now read - and found a number of typos and other areas in the process. They also both gave me rpetty rave reviews, but you should expect that - they ARE my parents after all.
Anyhow, today's extract is a lesson in Lemur Politics:
Total Wordcount: 14, 932 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 21.5%
I think I've finally caught the flow. This is good, because now I want to write, but bad because I also need to go to bed.
So today, Aurelia received a lecture on lemur politics and watched Matthieu face off against a hunter. There might be a duel yet. Anyone want to see a duel?
I have no idea where this story is going, except that it does not seem to be quite in the direction I intended.
On the other paw, I received back my second proof of "Aroha's Grand Adventure" which both my parents have now read - and found a number of typos and other areas in the process. They also both gave me rpetty rave reviews, but you should expect that - they ARE my parents after all.
Anyhow, today's extract is a lesson in Lemur Politics:
Celeste laughed, glancing around as though the birds might be listening. She lowered her voice. “Ranavalona may be our queen, but she is not of royal blood. Her eyes are golden, like ours.”
“That doesn't make sense,” Aurelia frowned. “How come she's queen then?”
“Because she was first mate to Queen Ramavo's brother,” Matthieu explained. “To understand you will need to know a little about lemur politics. Has anyone taught you before?”
“No,” Aurelia admitted, “I don't think the maki bother about it much.”
“I would agree to that,” Celeste stated. “Your vezo-maki spend their time engaging in primitive rituals and catching fish. They have no understanding of the greater scheme of things.”
“Be silent,” Matthieu snapped. “The lass did not come here for a lecture, but to learn. Let us teach her. Sifaka royalty is passed down from female to female, understand? The queens rule.”
Aurelia nodded. “It's the same in maki society, the females are the bosses.”
“Okay, maybe they are not so primitive,” Celeste smirked at her brother.
“But not all of the queens have the time or inclination to produce their own heirs,” he continued. “So this task falls to their brothers. The queen choses a mate for her older brother – one of fine breeding and good health, and it is their duty to produce a daughter to inherit the crown.
“However, in this situation, Ramova died early, before her only brother, Radama, had the chance to produce an heir. So, by default, the crown passed to his mate – Ranavalona. It was supposed to be temporary, until they fathered a daughter. But before that opportunity arose, the queen's brother died.”
“Under rather suspicious circumstances,” Celeste interjected.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
We interrupt SocNoc to bring you drawing day.
Was going to watch "Bolt" and draw, but then the power cut out for half an hour and now it's back I've missed half the movie and just want to curl up and read.
So, I managed to make five Art Cards for this Drawing Day, five only... One was a cuckoo clock (inspired by a clock I found on Ebay and now want), two were Pokemon, one was a brownie and one was the Klartch Diana Wynne Jones tribute card I showed you earlier.
The brownie will wait until I upload the other cards from her set.
Rotom and Abra
And here's a few more Pokemon I drew the other day:
Nidorino and Minccino
And a non-NZ avian:
So, I managed to make five Art Cards for this Drawing Day, five only... One was a cuckoo clock (inspired by a clock I found on Ebay and now want), two were Pokemon, one was a brownie and one was the Klartch Diana Wynne Jones tribute card I showed you earlier.
The brownie will wait until I upload the other cards from her set.
Rotom and Abra
And here's a few more Pokemon I drew the other day:
Nidorino and Minccino
And a few more assorted cards, just so it looks like I drew loads today - when really I didn't do as much as I would have liked (and only left the house once, to check the mail too)*.
New Zealand Shore Plover - one of our rarest birds
Grand Skink - the largest extant skink in New Zealand
Grand Skink - the largest extant skink in New Zealand
And a non-NZ avian:
These last three are all for the May PAT, along with a not-particularly good portrait of a character from my "Midsummer Knight's Quest" story and also the cuckoo clock up above.
* In my defence, I did clean the bathroom, vacuum the lounge, spend some time with my husband and prepare the May PAT cards for postage. Oooh, and write almost 2k words for my story. So I wasn't exactly sitting in forums and hitting "view latest posts" repeatedly.
* In my defence, I did clean the bathroom, vacuum the lounge, spend some time with my husband and prepare the May PAT cards for postage. Oooh, and write almost 2k words for my story. So I wasn't exactly sitting in forums and hitting "view latest posts" repeatedly.
SocNoc, Day 4 (also International Drawing Day)
Today's Wordcount: 1, 957
Total Wordcount: 13, 284 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 18%
A goodly amount achieved today, given that it was also International Drawing Day and I also coloured up five Art Cards as well. And might make more before the day is through. But it's getting a bit chillier up in my office, so I might move downstairs, turn the heater on and watch "Bolt".
Off to a slow start, but gained momentum when I decided to write about the maki Naming Ceremony. Young maki are not named until they are five months old, as infant death is all-too-common.
Extract:
Total Wordcount: 13, 284 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 18%
A goodly amount achieved today, given that it was also International Drawing Day and I also coloured up five Art Cards as well. And might make more before the day is through. But it's getting a bit chillier up in my office, so I might move downstairs, turn the heater on and watch "Bolt".
Off to a slow start, but gained momentum when I decided to write about the maki Naming Ceremony. Young maki are not named until they are five months old, as infant death is all-too-common.
Extract:
Most of the maki had gathered by now – some perching in the trees, others crouched on the ground. There was a large, empty patch of sand on front of them. This was where the ceremony would take place.
Rat-rap-tap. One of male maki began beating a stick against a goat-skin drum. Another joined him, and a third picked up the tune of a complicated string instrument, called a valiha. It made a sort of discordent, twanging sound.
After three beats, several of the females ourside the ring jumped up and sprang into the sand. They began leaping and twirling around each other. Their brightly coloured lambas flapped about them. Then they paused and drew back, forming a line across the far side of the open area.
The music stopped. For a moment, silence fell.
“Bring in the kits,” boomed a loud and powerful voice from behind the line of dancers.
Reniko stepped forward from the audience, her lambas wrapped close about her. With an easy motion, she whipped it from about her shoulders and placed it on the ground. The twins, who had been clinging to her sides, now jumped onto it. They crouched low, looking somewhat overwhelmed at all the attention. Reniko dropped to all fours, and walked back to join the audience.
The dancers stepped to one side, and a strange creature walked between them. It had the body of a lemur, but the skeletal head of a bird. Great feathery wings draped over its shoulders. Aurelia shivered, suddenly glad that she was far up the tree and not having to face this spectacle herself.
Little brother shrieked. Little sister laughed and cuffed him in the head. “Be silent,” she hissed. It was little more than a whisper, but everyone heard it. Karazana chuckled and shook her head, amused.
The figure walked to stand before the kits and then stood up. Little brother jumped and tried to hide behind his sister, but she pushed him back into place.
Aurelia smiled. It wasn't a monster at all – it was just another maki, wearing a bird skull and a cloak of feathers. Nothing scary about that.
Tribute to Diana Wynne Jones
Diana Wynne Jones was an excellent English author who wrote for young adults and children, particularly in the fantasy and sci-fi genres. Her novels are fast-paced and filled with twists and turns and colourful characters. She entertained many a child and probably inspired the likes of JK Rowling.
On March 26th she died, aged 76, of cancer.
So I thought we should pay tribute to her.
I hosted an Art Card swap on Atcs for all . It got off to a slow start, but eventually I had 9 participants. Then, one by one, they all dropped out, until only four of us were left. Still, four is enough for a 3-card swap!
Here are the cards I created and we received:
Enchanted Glass, Pinhoe Egg, Magic Door, Throgmorton
by Michele Merges Martens
Goddess and Bethi, Charmed Life, Chrestomanci with the griffin, Throgmorton and Christopher
by Itti
by Kavka
Magicians of Caprona, Black Maria, Klartch, Sirius
by LemurKat
On March 26th she died, aged 76, of cancer.
So I thought we should pay tribute to her.
I hosted an Art Card swap on Atcs for all . It got off to a slow start, but eventually I had 9 participants. Then, one by one, they all dropped out, until only four of us were left. Still, four is enough for a 3-card swap!
Here are the cards I created and we received:
Enchanted Glass, Pinhoe Egg, Magic Door, Throgmorton
by Michele Merges Martens
Goddess and Bethi, Charmed Life, Chrestomanci with the griffin, Throgmorton and Christopher
by Itti
by Kavka
Magicians of Caprona, Black Maria, Klartch, Sirius
by LemurKat
Friday, June 3, 2011
Socnoc, Day 3
Today's Wordcount: 3,956
Total Wordcount: 11,326 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 14.5
A MUCH better day today. I think having a day off work really helped. I also think I 'm starting to get a grasp on the characters. Aurelia in particular. When I first conceptualised this novel, I had Karazana (then Katta) in the staring role - Aurelia was just going to be the baby that needed protecting. But not anymore. Aurelia is now a character in her own right, and may well force Karazana into the background.
Today involved going back and fleshing out an earlier part somewhat - establishing WHY Aurelia may feel like she did not belong in the maki tribe. It also introduced her to some of her own kin - albeit distant cousins, and revealed to her a little about her past. Also involved the creation of two new characters - the kind-hearted and charming Matthieu and his somewhat snobbish sister, Celeste. I am not sure how major a role they will have, except to teach Aurelia a little of what it means to be a sifaka, but I think Matthieu may become her companion for a time. After the truth gets out about why Aurelia is special.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm on about - which is likely everyone - Aurelia is a sifaka lemur being raised by ringtail lemurs. If you know the differences, both anatomically and behaviourally between the two species you will realise why Aurelia is having a bit of an identity crisis.
Here are a few of the differences:
~ ringtails live in large troops, sifaka in small family groups
~ ringtails spend much of their time on the ground, sifaka are almost purely arboreal
~ ringtails walk four-footed, like a cat - sifaka cannot walk on all fours and must move in leaps and bounds
Also, ringtails are rabble and sifaka are sophisticated snobs ^^ Which is why the sifaka all have pretentious french names, unless they're royalty/traditionalists.
Extract:
Aurelia heard laughter and looked up to see two round faces peering down at her.
“Determined little thing, is she not?” Said one, a male. “So she followed you home, then?”
Total Wordcount: 11,326 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 14.5
A MUCH better day today. I think having a day off work really helped. I also think I 'm starting to get a grasp on the characters. Aurelia in particular. When I first conceptualised this novel, I had Karazana (then Katta) in the staring role - Aurelia was just going to be the baby that needed protecting. But not anymore. Aurelia is now a character in her own right, and may well force Karazana into the background.
Today involved going back and fleshing out an earlier part somewhat - establishing WHY Aurelia may feel like she did not belong in the maki tribe. It also introduced her to some of her own kin - albeit distant cousins, and revealed to her a little about her past. Also involved the creation of two new characters - the kind-hearted and charming Matthieu and his somewhat snobbish sister, Celeste. I am not sure how major a role they will have, except to teach Aurelia a little of what it means to be a sifaka, but I think Matthieu may become her companion for a time. After the truth gets out about why Aurelia is special.
For those of you who have no idea what I'm on about - which is likely everyone - Aurelia is a sifaka lemur being raised by ringtail lemurs. If you know the differences, both anatomically and behaviourally between the two species you will realise why Aurelia is having a bit of an identity crisis.
Here are a few of the differences:
~ ringtails live in large troops, sifaka in small family groups
~ ringtails spend much of their time on the ground, sifaka are almost purely arboreal
~ ringtails walk four-footed, like a cat - sifaka cannot walk on all fours and must move in leaps and bounds
Also, ringtails are rabble and sifaka are sophisticated snobs ^^ Which is why the sifaka all have pretentious french names, unless they're royalty/traditionalists.
Extract:
Aurelia heard laughter and looked up to see two round faces peering down at her.
“Determined little thing, is she not?” Said one, a male. “So she followed you home, then?”
“Oh yes,” Celeste remarked. “Can I keep her?”
“I very much doubt that mother would approve of you taking in little vagrants. After all, we do not know where she has been, do we just?”
“But she is so cute and fuzzy and white,” Celeste insisted. “I shall take ever so good care of her. I promise.”
Thursday, June 2, 2011
SocNoc, Day 2
Today's Wordcount: 1557
Total Wordcount: 7370 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 6.5%
Not doing well, I'm having to really force the words out. If it continues in this manner, I might have to choose a scene that I am looking forward to and write it out. I don't know what is wrong with this one - I like the concept and I have a clear idea of the characters, but I just do not quite have a grasp on the plot. Indeed, if this blog wasn't scheduled to be featured on the 13th June than I would probably just pull the plug on it now.
It is easier if I write dialogue. In my writing course they said a certain percentage of any story should be dialogue. I can't quite remember the percentage, so I shall have to consult my notes.
No extract today. I'm feeling frustrated and nothing I wrote was particularly noteworthy, especially out of context. I am hoping the bug will catch me soon. I've not even managed to force out my requisite 1,667 words per day (most of which will probably be editted out on the rewrite), so I'm already behind in the wordcount. Still, tomorrow is my day off and between appointments I shall hopefully manage to make my mark.
Total Wordcount: 7370 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 6.5%
Not doing well, I'm having to really force the words out. If it continues in this manner, I might have to choose a scene that I am looking forward to and write it out. I don't know what is wrong with this one - I like the concept and I have a clear idea of the characters, but I just do not quite have a grasp on the plot. Indeed, if this blog wasn't scheduled to be featured on the 13th June than I would probably just pull the plug on it now.
It is easier if I write dialogue. In my writing course they said a certain percentage of any story should be dialogue. I can't quite remember the percentage, so I shall have to consult my notes.
No extract today. I'm feeling frustrated and nothing I wrote was particularly noteworthy, especially out of context. I am hoping the bug will catch me soon. I've not even managed to force out my requisite 1,667 words per day (most of which will probably be editted out on the rewrite), so I'm already behind in the wordcount. Still, tomorrow is my day off and between appointments I shall hopefully manage to make my mark.
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