Nano 2015 Update and a Book Review

I can’t believe Nano is less than two weeks away – I’m getting super excited about my novel and about all the fun stuff Su and I have planned for this November. We’re starting with a Kick-off Pizza Party on the 1st, and we’ll be meeting at Panera Bread for some of our write-ins which will be every Sunday and Thursday.

The novel I am planning to work on is actually the first in a fantasy series and it’s a collaboration with one of my best friends. This particular novel will follow Dart, a shapeshifter, as he journeys down Sphynx Road (which is a cave dimension where travelers must solve riddles and puzzles in order to get to the end of it where they can obtain their heart’s desire) in an attempt to gain a fourth form. He has three – human, snake, and panther – but he has the potential for a fourth (only the most powerful shapeshifters can obtain a fourth form). It should be a lot of fun to write, and I can’t wait to get started.

I’m throwing a book review in here because it’s been so long since I updated and I just read an amazing book. The name of it is “Dark Eden” by Chris Beckett, and he won the Arthur C. Clarke award for the novel. It’s about a group of people on an alien planet with their own unique lingo and story about how the world works. While most of the people on the planet are caught up in the story, John Redlantern is determined to find out what lies beyond the borders of their territory, as they are beginning to run out of food.

What I loved about the story (aside from the fact it is very thought-provoking and enjoyable) is that Beckett utilizes a literary technique not often seen. He writes every chapter in first person, but each chapter is from someone else’s perspective. I’ve never seen the technique utilized so well, and I recommend everyone check out his book.

Nanowrimo 2015 Update

Since this is (primarily) a writing blog, it seems logical to announce that I have an official Co-ML for the Boone region for this upcoming Nanowrimo in November. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Nanowrimo, it’s a writing contest and an acronym. The acronym is National Novel Writing Month and comes from the first two letters in the first two words, the first three in the third word, and the first two in the last word. The challenge is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. The prize is the joy of accomplishing what seems impossible.

I’m pretty psyched to have a Co-ML this year because I am fairly busy with school. We’ve already picked a theme (and no, I’m not sharing! It’s supposed to be a surprise). We’ve also already figured out locations, so most of our work is done. Except for the writing itself, of course.

Last year, I tried to do some in-person workshops to help people prepare for Nano, but I didn’t have many people show up. Time may have been an issue, but I think location was the real problem. I haven’t talked to Su about whether she wants to do any workshops this year or not, but it’s a possibility. If we decide against doing in-person workshops, I may design some internet-based workshops to help people out. It’s pretty easy to use a Nano-flavored workshop and adopt it as a general writing workshop, so that’s helpful.

Another Nano note- I design calendars. I actually have a different blog dedicated to the calendars I’ve designed for Nanowrimo http://nanocalendars.wordpress.com and I take requests. I love designing calendars, and they don’t have to be Nano-themed, if anyone is interested in one.

If you are interested in a Nanowrimo calendar, I need the following information: The word count you’re aiming for (standard 50k or higher), what resolution or paper size (depending on if you want it for a desktop background or printed), a general thematic idea, and as much detail as you want to provide to make it easier to create. I also need to know if you’d prefer a perpetual calendar (one that can be reused each Nanowrimo) or one specifically for Nanowrimo 2015.

If you are interested in a calendar that is not Nanowrimo themed, I need to know what month you want it for and a general thematic idea, along with a general thematic idea and all the detail you wish to provide. I also need to know what resolution or paper size and whether you want a calendar that you can use just for one month in one year (like just September 2015, for example) or a semi-perpetual month calendar that has the dates of the month (1 – 30 for September) but no days.

I am also considering branching out into designing covers this year for anyone who might be interested in that when the time comes. If you are interested in any of these or have a request for me, you can either leave me a message here or you can email me at kyaza18@gmail.com with the subject line: Calendar.