Monday, October 19, 2009

Naughty N

Most of you probably haven't noticed, but for NaBloWriMo, my intention was to follow a pattern of Alliterative Titles. I like alliteration anyway, but there was a certain rightness to dedicating October to my favorite childhood letter “LMNOP”. You see, until about five years of age, I was convinced this was like 'W'--just one long letter.

My problem is N has not been behaving.

Odd, that. A letter I feel such attachment to because of words like Naked, Nude, Naughty, and Nifty, would come up short for titles. The problem is one of nouns, I think. Naked Nerd might very well describe me, but it doesn't have a lot of page appeal. Naughty nuisance? Nude noodle? The things that go with these words just really aren't all that conducive to alliteration.

Sad.

I suspect O might have similar problems.

I suppose though, I should take my lessons where they find me. The general one here is that if you plan to follow a theme, try to test its plausibility before committing. Some plans just aren't meant to be. That seems true for novels, blogs, home decoration, and family vacations. Even a really good idea can fall apart if you don't check some of the details and test the waters a bit.

Speaking of Shuffling details...

LONG LIVE THE POWER WALK!
Friday I grumbled about book 2 of the Trilogy, [working title COINCIDENCE—it is the only one of the three I'm not really happy with]. A certain main character wasn't behaving. In fact I couldn't get her to fall into regular past tense. Everything was past perfect and contemplative. She wouldn't just DO anything.

Saturday's power walk though, resolved the problem. I was starting too late.

LEGACY ends in a certain place (as books will do) and that is the place I was trying to START COINCIDENCE. But both lead characters haven't spoken much, in fact Andrea is brand new (a few sitings from afar notwithstanding). I needed to start earlier, to give her a chance to lay her own groundwork.

I scrapped all I'd done, putting it in a notes stack, so some might show up later, but I started for her with packing to move to Portland, and with Kade at a significant event during LEGACY. (I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you). He too, needs some emotional and psychological grounding before we get to new stuff.

I still wrote a little from the perspective of Andrea's husband, Jim... you see... she's misattributing... poor gal. So I needed to get a feel for what he REALLY was about.

I've managed a chapter and a half now and it isn't the mad flying circus that LEGACY was, but I think it will now flow...

So LONG LIVE THE POWER WALK!


That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

9 comments:

Jan Morrison said...

walking is the cure for everything. It's true!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Sounds like I need to hit the track!

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

Amber T. Smith said...

Nude Ninnies .... Naughty Naked Neurotics.... Nifty Nymphomaniacs....

Just saying....

*ducks*

M.J. Nicholls said...

Walking is vital for a writer's survival, me suspects.

I usually take long walks during brief bouts of block or when I want to internally ramble to myself about the finer details.

Viva la (power or normal) walk!

Helen Ginger said...

Walking does tend to stimulate the mind. Works for me, anyway. You might want to get out the dictionary and read the "n" words to see if you can come up with a title.

Helen
Straight From Hel

joe doaks-Author said...

A favorite cliché of mine is about the Devil and where he lives. Yes, details will trip you up every time. Thing is, no matter how much you do plan…the unexpected always bites you. Must be a cliché in there someplace?

Best Regards, Galen

Imagineering Fiction Blog

Hart Johnson said...

*dies* Tara, I adore your title list. Next time I run into trouble, I will give a shout. I can't wait to see what you do with Oral.

Glad to see I'm not alone among the walkers. I have a belief it is about the physical body and the free-flowing mind (an activity that requires little brain flow).

And Galen, you're right. If it's not one thing, it's another!

Natasha said...

Nothing like a walk to clear the brain, and to get it working the way a good brain is supposed to work.

And, no, I hadn't noticed the titles, but now that you mention it, I will....

Amber T. Smith said...

"I can't wait to see what you do with Oral."

You know, there really isn't any answer to that...

*runs*