Friday, November 30, 2012

NaNoWriMo 2012, FINAL DAY...


I have won. My word count is 50,048.


Is my novel done? No. I might end up with 100,000 words before this story is complete, but in spite of a violent attack of the flu, hosting an entire NET team over Thanksgiving, and moving to a new house with one week of notice, I have, by the grace of God, done it. 
The Leprechaun Holiday will continue until Padraig is safely back in Ireland and they all get a reasonably happy ending.
I love NaNoWriMo. 

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

I am thankful for:

·         My Catholic faith
·         God’s unfailing love
·         My big family
·         My wonderful, loving friends
·         Our big old maroon 12-passenger Ford van
·         Our parish priest
·         Going to Italy this past January
·         Seeing  my best friend for a few hours at a mall
·         Spending three days with my other best friend’s family
·         NaNoWriMo, even though I’m behind
·         My youth group
·         The new friends I’ve made this year
·         The old friends who have kept in touch with me
·         This house and the new house we’ll be moving to soon
·         Hope
·         All my very nice clothes, especially the ones I’ve had for over two years that still fit me and are so cozy and comfy, even if they’re losing their shape
·         Second chances
·         Clean rooms
·         Messy rooms
·         Rooms
·         Good music and movies that make you feel like you’ve become better inside just by being exposed to them
·         Musicals and all things drama/theater
·         My life
·         Love 

Friday, November 16, 2012

NaNoWriMo Day 16: BOOK TRAILER

Well, instead of actually writing, which is what I should have been doing, I made my NaNo Novel a trailer. 

It was a lot of fun, so I figure it was worth getting a little behind on my word count to finish up. Unfortunately, I have no way of posting it to this blog, but I was able to post it to my tumblr, and here is a link for it! Feel free to watch it and tell me what you think! 

My family loves it, and my mom is pestering me to let her read the book as soon as December 1st gets here. I have agreed to this only because I need someone to edit it for me. 

My current word count is 24,329, and it should be at least 26,672, but I have a quiet house today, so I'll be working ahead, hopefully enough that I won't have to write so much during the Thanksgiving holiday, as we're having a lot of company over!

Would anyone care for an excerpt to go with their trailer? Note that 'eejit' is the Irish pronunciation of 'idiot'. Enjoy!

Finally, it was time for Padraig to be on his way. He hung the pink/red plaid duffel over his right shoulder and held his suitcase in his left hand. That was all he had, and, hopefully, all he’d need. The suitcase was heavy. His back pocket seemed even heavier, holding that bleedin’ Visa card with who-knew-how-much money just waiting for him to spend all over Europe.
Gosh, his back hurt.
He stood in front of his family’s tiny white cottage with its gray roof, surrounded by meadows where the ship grazed. He just stood there, waiting to start off down the road.
He looked at his family, who were eagerly taking pictures of him and giving last-minute advice. Ruari finally remembered to say, “Get me something everywhere you go! It doesn’t matter what, just get me something, as long as its not really made in China! Promise me!”
Padraig sighed. “I promise Ruari.” He set his duffel and suitcase down, and opened his arms up. “Come here,”
Ruari took and running start and tackled him, which was surprisingly painful considering she only weighed about thirty-six kilograms. He held his baby sister tight, his heart pounding painfully inside his chest. He was going to miss the little devil so much. She talked his ear off and made him promise all sorts of ridiculous things, but he didn’t mind. He even forgave her for sitting on him at 7:30 in the morning.
Next he hugged his dad one more time, though they said nothing to each other.
Then he hugged his mother tight, nodded at everything she said, and assured her he’d be better when he got home. Better. Maybe that was a promise he could actually keep.
Finally, he opened his arms up and smiled at Deirdre, but she just looked at him, her eyes filled with anger and worry. “Bye, Porry,” she said.
“Didi,” he said. “Don’t I get a hug?”
Reluctantly, she went to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Eejit baby brother. You better be happy when you come home. I miss the happy Porry,”
“I’ll try,” he said. She tried to pull away, and he hugged her tighter. “Deirdre,” he whispered. “Are you really okay?”
Deirdre shook her head. “No. But you’re leaving. It’s not your problem, Padraig. Go and get better. Go.”
She pushed him gently but firmly away and walked back into the house.
Padraig watched her go, than saluted weakly to his parents and Ruari. Then he picked up his bags and turned his back on Slieve Bloom. He walked quickly, listening to Aoifa call out after him and Ruari singing him The Parting Glass, but he didn’t look back once. He didn’t look back, because he knew if he did, he would start crying and he might never stop. He hadn’t cried in five years and he didn’t want to ever do it again.
He had a three day walk ahead of him and a tight schedule, and his back was killing him. 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Monday, November 12, 2012

NaNoWriMo Day 12: Character Reveal!

Introducing our Leading Lady, the main Female Character who is quite frankly more fabulous than I will EVER be...Barbara Peplum!

Barbara was made at http://elouai.com/


Age: 22 DOB: 2-7-1990


Story Role: Female Protagonist    

Archetype: 5. The Explorer
Motto: Don’t fence me in
Core desire: the freedom to find out who you are through exploring the world
Goal: to experience a better, more authentic, more fulfilling life
Biggest fear: getting trapped, conformity, and inner emptiness
Strategy: journey, seeking out and experiencing new things, escape from boredom
Weakness: aimless wandering, becoming a misfit
Talent: autonomy, ambition, being true to one’s soul
The explorer is also known as: The seeker, iconoclast, wanderer, individualist, pilgrim.


Physical
Eyes: Brown    Hair:  Curly, curly, CURLY ash brown
Height: 5”5   Build: Curvy


A little bit about Barbara: Barbara is a very talented singer and actress from the Twin Cities in Minnesota. When Padraig runs into her in London, she is going throughout Europe singing to raise money for a school for disabled children back in her hometown. She is due for a surgery on her throat when she gets home, as her voice has been overused. Barbara is an independent, confident young woman, but she is troubled by how fortunate she is when the rest of her friends and family have suffered so much.

Word Count: Currently 19,301. Padraig and Stian are about to go a little crazy in the English countryside, and there will be Deep Personal Sharing, which is like my favorite thing ever.

In other news, I just packed a whole box filled with clothes in preparation for moving out sometime in the near future (nothing definite, but its amazing how much room I have now that most of my clothes are packed away). I miss my best friend (I love you!). I read 100 pages, wrote two papers, and recited a poem today. And I just ripped seven CD's to my laptop. All while writing a 50,000 word novel.

Amen.

My favorite word

Sunday, November 11, 2012

NaNoWriMo 2012 Day Eleven: Character Reveal!

Our next character reveal just so happens to be my favorite character of NaNoWriMo 2012....STIAN AABERG!


Stian was made at http://elouai.com/

Story Role: Best friend

Age: 19   DOB: 9-9-1993

Archetype: 11. The Magician
Motto: I make things happen.
Core desire: understanding the fundamental laws of the universe
Goal: to make dreams come true
Greatest fear: unintended negative consequences
Strategy: develop a vision and live by it
Weakness: becoming manipulative
Talent: finding win-win solutions
The Magician is also known as: The visionary, catalyst, inventor, charismatic leader, shaman, healer, medicine man.

Physical
Eyes: Blue    Hair:  Blonde
Height: 5"11"   Build: Tall

A little bit about Stian: Stian Aaberg is an elf from HonningsvÃ¥g, Norway. When he finds Padraig Offaly in London, Stian has been away from home for about six months. He ran away from his family because of a strange magical power that he has very little control over, which he believes could pose a threat to the safety of those he loves. He is a cheerful, optimistic person and is the first to befriend the holidaying leprechaun. His scarf was a gift from his grandmother and he always wears it. Padraig enjoys dragging Stian around by his scarf, especially when Stian starts to flirt with girls. 

Current word count: I got two days behind Friday and Saturday, but I am now completely caught up and my word count is 18,377!

Also, today is my younger sister Meg's birthday!

image
3 NaNo's in a row, Meg. I love you so much! Happy Sweet Sixteen!!!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Jaberwocky



This week, I have to memorize Lewis Carroll's Jaberwocky

This poem is awesome, but I do NOT want to have to memorize/recite it. It's essentially nonsense. 90% of the words are made up. I really enjoy reading it aloud with a lot of passion when I'm by myself in my room, but that's very different from standing in front of my eager family and reciting it. From memory

So, that's what I'm up to in the realm of schoolwork. I have another poem to recite that I ignored last week, and I haven't memorized that one, either. 

Procrastination will be my undoing. 

Oh...please remember to keep tomorrow's election in your prayers!  

Sunday, November 4, 2012

NaNoWriMo 2012: Day 4! And Election Day!!

I would like to say that in light of the coming presidential election, this seems kind of trivial. I am praying for our nation, that the will of God will be accomplished. My dad recommends that we pray and fast as we are able, and I will definitely be doing what I can!
Keep both presidential candidates in your prayers, too...they're running all over the nation in some last-minute campaigning. 
It kind of stings that I'm too young to vote by only about 5 weeks, but I am praying that the candidate who will best carry out God's will for our nation will be elected. 
As small as my little speed-written novel is in comparison with the fate the United States, I can't deny I am enjoying myself and trying to give glory to God in what I write. So I thought I would give a status report on my NaNo Novel!

WORD COUNT: 6,700

STORY FEELINGS: GOOD!

A FUNNY LINE TO SHARE: "An hour later, Ruari had punched Padraig in the nose, and he was curled up on a ball on the floor, attempting to get his nose to stop bleeding."

I love NaNoWriMo so much. My mom actually tells me to 'go write', which gives me the most amazing sensation of creative POWER. I've been staying up late, but I've been following my story outline like a Bible. 

How is it going so far?

Well, I think it's going well. I have, as I said, six thousand and seven hundred words. BOOM. I love writing this story; naturally, my main character has been a whiney brat all 6,700 words, but he'll improve. This is all part of the plot. Trust me. 

I would like to thank Google Earth, from the bottom of my heart, for letting me take a virtual stroll along R440 in County Offaly, Ireland. The accuracy of my book deeply appreciates it. 

I will have another character reveal soon...maybe even a novel excerpt! God bless you all! 

Well, this is accurate:


Thursday, November 1, 2012

NaNoWriMo 2012 Day 1: MAIN CHARACTER REVEAL...

Introducing: Your main character and lovable leprechaun, PADRAIG OFFALY!

(made at http://elouai.com/)

(Recall that Padraig is a fun Gaelic name pronounced Porrick)

Story Role: Protagonist 

Age: 23  DOB: 2-7-1989

Eyes: Blue    Hair:  Black
Height: 5”   Build: Small



Archetype:  4. The Caregiver
Motto: Love your neighbour as yourself
Core desire: to protect and care for others
Goal: to help others
Greatest fear: selfishness and ingratitude
Strategy: doing things for others
Weakness: martyrdom and being exploited
Talent: compassion, generosity
The Caregiver is also known as: The saint, altruist, parent, helper, supporter.

A little bit about Padraig: Padraig Offaly is a modern-day leprechaun who was born and raised in the Slieve Bloom Mountains of County Offaly, Ireland. He is the second of three children. His sisters are Deirdre (Deer-dra), 25, and Ruari (Rory), 17. His parents are Aengus (Angus) Offaly and Aoifa (Ee-fa) Offaly. He is the first leprechaun to ever become genuinely depressed, so his desperate family forcibly sends him off on 'holiday' for a year to help him recover. 

I am absolutely delighted to start writing his story...I promise its going to be a fantastic one!