NaNoWriMo 2024 (Week 2): The Trouble with Time Travel that cannot be avoided

I've decided that the novel will take inspiration more from "X-Men: Days of Future Past" than from "Back to the Future." This choice reflects my intention to examine the complexities of time travel and its consequences in a more serious and impactful manner. While "Back to the Future" presents a lighthearted and comedic perspective, I aim to explore the darker, more intricate themes associated with altering timelines and the moral dilemmas that arise from such actions.

I've already written several stories set in the Changing Fire Universe, which has allowed me to create a rich array of characters and settings. However, this time, I'm introducing elements that will truly surprise everyone. The stakes are elevated, the conflicts are more intense, and the emotional weight of the characters' decisions will resonate deeply with readers.

In this new narrative, the characters will confront the consequences of their choices in a world that is both unfamiliar and unforgiving. They won't be able to revert things to their previous state. The changes they instigate will send ripples through time, triggering a series of events that will challenge their beliefs, test their loyalties, and compel them to face the darker sides of their own natures.

As they navigate this altered reality, they will meet unexpected allies and formidable adversaries, each with their own motives and agendas. The relationships they once took for granted will be strained, and the bonds they believed were unbreakable will be tested in unforeseen ways.

Ultimately, this novel will be a journey of transformation, not just for the world around them but for the characters themselves. They will have to confront the repercussions of their actions, realizing that some choices come with a cost that cannot be repaid. The exploration of fate, free will, and the moral implications of their decisions will create a narrative that is both thrilling and thought-provoking, leaving readers eager for more.

NaNoWriMo 2024 (Week 1): When Your Novel Refuses to Cooperate

Right now, I'm really struggling to get this novel started. It feels like it's fighting me every step of the way, almost like it doesn't want to be written. Each time I sit down at my desk, I find myself staring at a blank page, the cursor blinking mockingly at me as if to say, "What are you waiting for?" The ideas that swirl in my mind seem to slip through my fingers like sand, elusive and frustratingly out of reach.

I try to outline my thoughts, to map out the characters and plot twists that I know are simmering beneath the surface, but every time I put pen to paper—or fingers to keyboard—nothing seems to flow. It’s as if the words are caught in a tangled web of self-doubt and fear, and I can’t quite find the right thread to pull. I question my abilities, wondering if I’m truly cut out for this endeavor. Am I just chasing a dream that’s too big for me?

But despite the struggle, I’m determined to push through, no matter what. I remind myself that every great novel begins with a single word, and that even the most celebrated authors faced their own battles with creativity. I know that perseverance is key, and I refuse to let this initial resistance defeat me. I’ve set small goals for myself—just a paragraph a day, or even a few sentences—to help break down the overwhelming task ahead.

I find solace in the thought that every writer has faced the daunting blank page, and that it’s a rite of passage in the creative process. I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and envision the world I want to create. I remind myself that this story is worth telling, that the characters are waiting for me to give them life, and that the journey of writing is just as important as the destination.

So, I’ll keep pushing forward, even when it feels like the novel is resisting me. I’ll embrace the struggle, knowing that it’s part of the process, and I’ll trust that eventually, the words will come. I’ll keep writing, keep dreaming, and keep believing in the story that’s waiting to be told.

"You Need to Come Back Right Now! NaNoWriMo Has Started Again!"

 OK, so I've been gone for a while, but it's time to get back to this blog. (I admit that I've almost forgotten about it until now, but it's good to be back.)

Of course I'll tell you about my other stories while I'm at it. Just be patient, OK?

Anyway, the blog feels a bit dated and (save for a few posts here and there) I'm going to have to start all over again! But not to worry, as I can backdate a ton of the blog entries to fit what I've written so far so you won't get lost in this inane rambling. 

Plus, this blog should only be used during the month of November, so I have a ton of editing to do. 

Sorry!

Anyway, I'm going to talk about my latest writing project within a few hours, so watch for it!

So, What's Next for Camp NaNoWriMo?

In 2013, I began a satire known as Harry Moffer & the Dumbest Story Ever. In that particular story, Harry Moffer (a 14-year-old loser) is suddenly yanked away from his comfortable but boring home in Branford, Coggnetigut and taken to another town called Wyvernwing, Pencilvarnia. There, he is sent to Warthogpox High School.

In Warthogpox, many people believe he is the real-life incarnation of the boy wizard Larry Dobber, the hero of the Larry Dobber series. Harry doesn't think he is the hero, not when he hasn't done anything significant. He manages to befriend Pun Teasley and Hildegarde Lamer, two other losers who are just as discontent with their lives as he is. The Grim Trio sets off to break Larry Dobber's stranglehold on America, which also exposes the books as a well-written fraud. How the story progresses is anyone's guess.

Harry's story continues with "Harry Moffer & the Really Stupid Sequel", when the entire population of Warthogpox High ends up singing songs inspired by High School Musical, "Harry Moffer & the Class That Couldn't Keep Itself Together", in which secrets about Harry's past are brought to light, and "Harry Moffer Really Needs to Give Up & Go Home", in which Harry, now a high school sophomore, deals with everything happening in the Larry Dobber books.

Now, I should be on the fifth book, "Harry Moffer & the Unhappy Fandom", in which the Larry Dobber fandom is angry with him for not only calling their favorite book series a colossal waste of time, but Harry himself is a junior who must find out what happened to his parents or die trying.

Well, what's happening with the series? I'm going to get everything ready so the fifth book can be written in April. We still need Harry Moffer.

Where have I been?

In case you were wondering where I've been all last week, I had gotten sick, so I couldn't work on the story. So I was pretty bummed about that.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting back into the game and hopefully making some progress with the story that needs to be made. It's not going to happen overnight, but I know for sure that whatever happens, I'll be ready for it.

Plus, I should be halfway through the first draft, and I would have gotten there if I didn't get sick, so there you have it.

But I'm not crying over the lost time; instead, I'm upset that I had wasted so much time being sick that I haven't had the chance to catch up with my blog and now it's getting further away from me. I hate playing catch up.

Well, that's all I have for now, and wait for more blog posts regarding the novel I'm working on this month and the months past. I'll be back with more!

Happy 1-year Anniversary to this Blog!

I can't believe it has been one year since I started this blog. During that year, I have rediscovered my love of writing as well as me discovering how best to approach my lack of motivation to keep writing. Thanks to this blog, I have been able to complete Camp NaNoWriMo, JuNoWriMo, and NaNoWriMo in record time.

And I have you all to thank for this successful year and I hope for many more years with this blog.

As for NaNoFiMo, I'll get to it tomorrow.

The Post NaNoWriMo Blues

I call this post "The Post NaNoWriMo Blues", because it's been a day since NaNoWriMo ended. I'm now wondering what happens next, since the blog was mainly used for keeping track of my NaNoWriMo novel during the month of November. What do I do now?

Well, I already know that have a ton of blog posts to make up and I'm not sure if I can do them all in a month. Also, I have seven books to finish writing, edit, and eventually publish. So I have one day to rest and then it's back to work.

With that, I will see you tomorrow.

Day 2 of NaNoWriMo 2016

Sometimes, I wonder why I haven't used the reverse NaNoWriMo method a long time ago. If I had known about that when I was creating my stories and eventually starting NaNoWriMo back in 2008, I would have written more stories faster.

but hey, that's why we make mistakes; mistakes help us learn. (plus letting go of past regrets over not finishing a story has taken a huge weight off my shoulders.)

Today, I wrote 3,216 words, which puts my writing at 6,562 words. In less than 2 days, I have surpassed the 1,667 and 5,000 word count goals. I know I'm on my way to greatness because I've gotten the hardest part out of the way.

Only one more day of writing over 3,000 words and I'll be done.

So, for all of you who are choosing to take this crazy NaNoWriMo journey, I salute you. You're doing something you thought you'd never do. Just keep going and one day, you'll have a novel that you can be proud of. As will I.

Word count: 6,562 words.

Let the Games Begin!!!

And now for the main event...NANOWRIMO 2016!!!

As this day arrives, I realize that even if I had gotten a head start by starting at midnight, I need to keep going. Using the reverse NaNoWriMo method was a lot harder than I imagined, and it was not easy writing over 3,000 words in one day. (Thankfully, I have two more days of doing that, which makes me feel a lot better.)

Anyway, so I've been able to get everything started and so far, everyting's going great. Not that I want to brag, but I'm just glad that I planned head and got everything together BEFORE I jumped into the fray. As a result, even though I hit my required word count, I couldn't stop writing. (Of course, I forced myself to stop at a few points, but I'm picking it back up again after my break. Must take breaks during events like these, which was another reason why I failed so many NaNos!)

But enough about that.

I'm going to sign off now and get back to writing, as this novel isn't going to write itself!

UPDATE #1:
So I have to go back and read over some old info that I have on a few certain characters I wanted to feature. Back to writing...

UPDATE #2:
And the word count goal has been reached, but I can't seem to stop writing. This is what happens when you've built up something and it seems to overflow.

UPDATE #3:
Already planning for the next day's writing. If I can get to at least 1,000 words, I'll be able to cut my writing time in half. Who knows?

Word count: 3,346 words.

NaNoWriMo is Coming...

OK, in about a few hours, I'm going to start writing the first few words to my novel "The Imaginary Magical Worlds of Jacquel Chrissy May". Even though this story is supposed to be a collection of short stories and essays, it's going to take a good long month to write it all down. I've already got a checklist ready and will make sure that everything is set, as i don't want to make the same mistake of not coming to NaNoWriMo prepared to write.

And that's the last thing I need.

Anyway, with that in mind, I'm going to finish getting ready and then hit the streets. It's Halloween after all, and I've got to steal from the candy bucket before someone else does.

See you in a few hours!

Backup Novels

In being a terrible person that I am, I have come up with a list of ideas which I will use in case I am unable to complete the story "The Imaginary Magical Worlds of Jacquel Chrissy May". These ideas are as follows:

1. February 30, 2012: in which February 2012 regains not only February 29, but February 30.
2. The House of Pain & Pride: in which a girl is forced to leave her family and move to a boarding house for disabled people.
3. Redeeming Devon Kirby: in which a longtime fan of "The Spirit Keeper" converts to Christianity and attempts to rewrite the book to reform the hated gay character Devon Kirby.
4. Hobbit Town: after watching The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings movies, an elderly man decides to rebuild his town into a hobbit village.
5. The Aspergerian Club: in which a girl joins a secret club at her new school.

I understand that this is just a list of ideas and if I manage to complete the story beforehand date ideas will be written for NaNoWriMo in the future.

So why did Notorious fail?

Actually, I'm glad you've asked that question, even though I wished you paid attention to the last blog post, as well as the blog posts about it on my other blog.

Still want the answer? Here's why the story has been left unfinished: "Because the story stopped making sense after chapter 5. Also, the story really needs to be rewritten."

So there you go. Notorious failed because it stopped making sense after chapter 5 and the entire story needs rewriting. But when I'm going to be able to rewrite the story is up for debate.

Well, it's that time again

Once again, we're going to have to bring this month to a close.

*audience groans*

But not to worry though, because I plan to pick the story back up in the near future. Now that I know exactly what I'm doing, I can safely jump back into the story and go over everything I missed. So there you have it.

Thank you for reading this blog, and don't hesitate to leave your comments and share this blog with your friends. I will be back in March with the third NaNoWriMo story called Janette Lennox.

The Characters and Places Featured in this Story

Well, we come to my favorite part of the story, the part where we feature some of the characters that you'll meet in this story. And they are as follows:

1. Noelle Forbes: Noelle is the main character in the story. She is notorious for being a Dylan Drake fan, yet she doesn't have much of a social life. Her dealing with an addiction to fanfiction is the main story.
2. Aaron and Valerie Forbes: Noelle's parents. They are usually tolerant of her online activities, yet when she gets an "F" in English, they are forced to intervene.
3. London, Paris, Boston, and Juneau Williams: Noelle's cousins. They were raised by Carolyn Williams, an anti-social Christian woman, and had never set foot outside their house, not even to attend school. Yet when their mother dies, they are sent to stay with Noelle's family. They discourage Noelle from taking part in a Christian play, as how Christianity was presented in the play is extremely offensive to them.
4. Sarah Wibley: Noelle's best friend. She is the most hated student at Wellstone High School, as she is bullied by many students. She and Noelle try to maintain their friendship, yet that fails. She is later sent to Iowa after a tragic nervous breakdown.
5. Marina Gibney: A classmate at Noelle's school who is a bigger fan of the "The Silver Stones" than Noelle. She and Noelle challenge each other to write the most fanfiction stories before the school year is over. She lives with a foster family.
6. Simon Webster: Another classmate of Noelle's; he wrote the play called "The Third Noel", which stirs up controversy, for not just its subject matter, but for the overall story.
7. Mr. Elliot Dodderidge: Noelle's English teacher, who sees fanfiction as the end of decent writing and tries to ban fanfiction from the school.
8. Angelina Greer, Autumn Elliott, Julianne Nichols, Walter Brooks, and Benedict Dodson: Noelle's new friends; they are more content to be in the background rather than participate in the school's activities.

And now for the places that were mentioned in "Confessions of a Fanfiction Addict":

1. Wellstone, Arizona - The city of Wellstone is a moderately-sized town located in the mountains and has a futuristic look. It is best-known for its fine dining, a tumultuous history, and for being the home of a famous scientist. Also, there is an old ceremonial site nearby.
2. Wellstone High School - Wellstone High looks a bit old-fashioned as it was built over the remains of a school that was destroyed in a fire in 1987. Overall, the school has a horrible reputation, which is starting to change, thanks to the school's drama club. Also, it was one of the filming locations for a well-known drama movie. Recently, the school's culture club organized a charity event and a member of the cheerleading squad was given an award for community service.
3. White River Presbyterian Church - The church that sponsored Simon's play "The Third Noel"

Story of the Month: Confessions of a Fanfiction Writer

The next story featured on the blog is called "Confessions of a Fanfiction Writer". The story deals with a girl named Noelle Forbes, who is obsessed with a Harry Potter like fantasy series. Her biggest obsession is fanfiction, which she loves to a point of shutting everything else out.

Noelle gets a lot of flack for having no social life; plus most of her classmates have already dropped the series in favor of teen books. She also deals with a fanfiction writing contest as well as getting the part of an angel in a controversial school play.

When her English teacher decides that fanfiction is the end of creative writing and bans fanfiction, Noelle is forced to confront her addiction and why she is addicted to fanfiction in the first place. She ends up having to attend a meeting for fanfiction addicts as well as getting the creative rights to the play after the play's original writer is criticized for trying to force Christianity on people without giving them a choice.

OK, I've already said enough, so let's get this month started.

Here We Go, Folks, It's the End of the Month!

We have now reached this thing called the end of the month, which means I have to put the project "And You Thought Your Family Was Weird" on hold.

(audience groans)

But not to worry, because I plan to pick the story back up in the near future and finish it, no matter how long it takes. And you can certainly bet on that.

Next month, I plan to talk about my next story which is called "Confessions of a Fan Fiction Writer". Plus, I will post lyrics to the songs I'm writing for February Album Writing Month, which takes place in February. So watch for that to happen in the coming hours.

With that, I bid you all adieu and I will see you in February.

Winding Down...

OK, so this month is almost over and I have to wrap the story up. This means I'll have to take it down and rewrite the whole thing and who knows how long that's going to take. But not to worry though, because I have plans to publish the story next year.

With that in mind, I must say this:

Thank you all for reading this months blog post; I hope you have enjoyed them and will send me as many comments as you can begging me to please hurry up and finish the story so you can read it. I bet that most of you want me to finish the story while some of you want me to take my time writing it. But it doesn't really matter, because I don't know if I'm going to be able to write the story with so many writing projects going on.

Well, that's that.

Places Featured in This Story

And now for the places that were mentioned in "And You Thought Your Family Was Weird": 

1. Shawneetown, Florida - Shawneetown is a small town located near the Atlantic coast (and 7 hours away from Miami). It is best-known for its beautiful parks and its diverse population. Also, there are some unusual ruins near the city, possibly the remains of an old settlement from the 1500's. Kristin and her parents lived in the city until recently.
2. Northview High School - The school looks a bit old-fashioned. It was built during the 1980s. Overall, the school has a bad reputation, which may not entirely be deserved. Recently, the school's football team lost a championship and a faculty member was arrested for child abuse. Kristin was once a student at the school until she and Nora exposed a student teacher who abused special ed students. Both girls ended up being expelled from the school.
3. McDermitt, Arizona - McDermott is a moderate-sized town with a population of 45,612 people. It is 5 hours from Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the desert and has a rustic atmosphere. It is best-known for the nearby military base, which was used during World War II. (The base is still in use, by the way.) Many artifacts from that era are still lying around the base. The MacPherson family lives in the neighborhood of Copperhill Haven, which is near downtown McDermitt.
4. Cimarron High School - The school has a space-age look to it. (Yet the use of social media and some technology is explicitly forbidden by the student council.) Overall, the school has an average reputation. Also, a local writer once donated to it. Recently, the school's knitting and crocheting club organized a charity event, the school's journalism club won a prestigious award, and the school's cheerleading squad won a championship. Kristin is sent to this school instead of attending McDermitt High School with her cousins Velvet and Nader.

Regarding Kristin's Parents

At the beginning of the story, Kristin talks about how her parents, Scott and Tilly, are getting divorced after 19 years of marriage. The divorce upsets her and she wonders if her activities at school brought about the divorce.

But the truth is more dangerous than that.

According to Kristin, her father's parents did not approve of his marriage to her mother and they ordered him to divorce her and marry a Hispanic woman. The woman in question is severely disabled and has the mental capacity of a child, both of which is not suitable for marriage. Kristin's mother is upset about this, so she files for divorce.

Later on, we will see if Kristin and her father can reconcile or if their relationship is over.

As for Kristin's mother, she's  a best-selling author named Ariel Cross, whose books are on the New York Times Bestsellers List. She writes mainly fantasy/science fiction stories, but she sometimes writes historical and contemporary fiction. She rarely writes young-adult or new adult fiction (as she's not fond of YA fiction). If she writes young adult fiction, she avoids dystopias and focuses on issues that teenagers face every day, such a divorce, cancer, bullying, even suicide. One of her YA book series deals with a girl dealing with homosexuality and going to church while another of her YA books, "The Love Fool", is popular with the middle school crowd. Kristin, ironically, has yet to read any of Ariel Cross's books.

It was Tilly who gave Kristin a diary after reading Kristin's blogs and being upset that she's keeping "her real self" off the Internet. She also insists that Kristin reads some of the books that she dismisses, even if they are YA fiction. Towards the end of this story, Tilly uses Kristin's addiction to social media as a topic for her new YA book, "Disconnected".

Characters Featured in the Story

Well, we come to my favorite part of the story, the part where we feature some of the characters that you'll meet in this story. And they are as follows:

1. Cristina Maria "Kristin" Fernando: Cristina Fernando (who usually goes by Kristin) is a social media addict who enjoys her life as a normal American teenager. But when her parents divorce and she is sent to stay with relatives in Arizona, her life changed forever.
2. Alison Weaver, Mercedes Wood, Stefanie Doyle, and Deanna McCoy: Alison, Mercedes, Stefanie, and Deanna are Kristin's best friends. They are known to text each other and chat on Facebook. Yet when Kristin is forced to move to Arizona amid a divorce and a school scandal, the other girls are forced to break their friendships with her.
3. Tilda Sawyer Fernando: Kristin's mother moonlights as Ariel Cross, who writes urban fantasy, paranormal, and supernatural stories with a dash of historical fiction. She also writes chick-lit and teen fiction on several occasions even if she avoids YA and dystopias. She sends Kristin to Arizona to help her get over her parents' divorce.
4. Reynaldo Scott Fernando: Kristin's father is from Morelia, Mexico. He once worked for Clover Technologies as an executive until last when, according to Kristin, the company was forced to shut down because of a frivolous lawsuit. And to make things worse, Scott's parents (who didn't approve of his marriage to Tilly) forced him to divorce his wife and marry Belicia Deltorrez.
5. Belicia Deltorrez: Belicia is a severely disabled woman being forced to marry Kristin's father, Scott. She doesn't like Kristin.
6. Tybalt and Cassandra MacPherson: Tybalt and Cassandra are Tilly's cousins who offer to take care of Kristin while her mother handles the divorce and the move from Shawneetown, Florida to Savannah, Georgia.
7. Velvet, Nader, Jacquala, and Siegfried MacPherson: Velvet, Nader, Jacquala, and Siegfried are Tybalt and Cassandra's children and Kristin's cousins. At first, Velvet and Nader don't exactly welcome Kristin to Arizona, as they had not seen her in many years. Velvet is as old as Kristin, Nader is two years younger, Jacquala is 10 and Siegfried is a baby.
8. Nora McAndrew: Nora was one of Kristin's classmates until a scandal involving a student teacher sent her away from her parents and straight to her grandmother, who lives in Harpwood, Minnesota. Kristin's involvement with her was one of the reasons she was banished from Northview High School.