Month: October 2008

Happy Samhain!

by Stefani

Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Samhain/Halloween

Happy Samhain/Halloween to all!  This is a big day of the year for me, and I could not be more excited.  October 31st has to be my favorite day of the year.  As a pagan, its also the biggest holiday of the year.  I will be busy, busy, busy too.  I work today then I will go to ritual tonight, come home and watch a scary movie or two.  Then I will write my first message to my Nano-ites (that’s what I’m calling the new people I’m mentoring this year), and promptly at midnight start writing.

My novel prep did not go as well as I had hoped it would.  I had hoped that by today I would have character profiles and main plot points all planned out.  I have a total of…..drum roll please……one character profile.  Not the most impressive prep, but I’m sure I’ll manage.  I will try and finish up at least a few character profiles tonight and then get the plot down as I go along.  It will all work out in the end and I am very excited about this plot.

I also got sidetracked with a new story idea as well.  That is why I didn’t get a lot of nano work done, I’ve been busy writing that.  It’s a good one with the main character based heavily on my boyfriend, the infamous Steve.  Its going to be an amazing story and I am almost disappointed that I will have to put it on hold for a month.  Technically I shouldn’t have even started it until after Nano, but oh well.

Oh yes, before I forget.  I did get my Nano novel from last year up on the Authonomy website.  That is the site form Harper Collins I was talking about last time.  I am excited about it, and hopefully this site can help me on the road to getting published.  At the very least I will get a lot of alternate opinions on my work and maybe be able to improve on it.  Anyway, here is the link:  http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=3086

So, stay safe tonight everyone, stay spooky and have a good time!  ~Stef

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“Your universe is full, but in my world there is only you” by Bo Bice

by Stefani

Waning Moon
Neptune Retrograde

Once again it’s been much too long since I’ve posted here.  But, no more!  Its almost November…meaning its almost Nano time and I will try to post something everyday through the month.  I am mentoring some new participants this year, and that will be very fun.  I have 3 mentorees so far, I can probably take 1-2 more if they come along.  I have been working hard on getting all my tips and advice in order for them.  That is almost out of the way and on to novel prep we go.  I am planning to do character profiles tonight, and basic plot points tomorrow.  I thought of writing the sequel to last year’s Nano novel, but decided against it when I got an idea that I just couldn’t pass up.

I won’t reveal too much of the plot.  But basically it is about a despondent woman who finds herself in the sights of a completely maniacal stalker.  It should be very fun, I am excited to get started.  And in true Nano fashion, from the second I settled on an idea I’ve been coming up with 10-15 new ones daily.  I am writing them all down to examine later.

I am busy on the front of trying to get published as well, so my work on Helium has suffered greatly.  I am working on a query letter for a publisher that I plan on sending next week.  I also am putting my novel up on a site run by Harper Collins.  You can post your work, and other members read it and rank it.  The top 5 ranked submissions every month get sent to the Harper Collins editing desk for an opinion.  Its a pretty huge opportunity if anyone ever gets picked from that pool for publication.  I am working on getting “Schooling of a Monster” on the site, and I will post the link when I do.  Until then, I should get back to the desk job.  ~Stef

If I closed my eyes, would I see you?

by Stefani

Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde

And in typical Mercury retrograde fashion, I haven’t been here in awhile.  Communication, and thus writing, has been strained lately.  But I did an article that I’ll post the link to a bit later.  For now, I want to discuss Nano.  Yes, its that time of year again.  Its October, and that means that the preparations for the Nano journey need to start being made.  I have decided to do it again as I don’t think the constant coffee intake last year has dissolved enough of my liver.

First I must decided what to write though.  I thought I had it figured out.  I was going to write a fantasy novel about 2 medieval knights who are in love with the same woman, with my own twisted take on it of course.  Then I was going to write a sequel to last year’s Schooling of a Monster.  Then I was going to write a fictionalized true-life story about self-injury, based largely on my own experience.  Then I was going to do a crime novel.  These are all ideas of things I want to write in the future…I just have no idea which one to write this time.  I’ll ponder it and decide by Monday though.  Have character sketches and plot time lines I need to work on before November 1st.

How to choose a pet rat: http://www.helium.com/items/1192585-how-to-choose-a-pet-rat

Until next time, keep reading…and get me some traffic on those articles!!  ~Stef