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shalanna"Old writers don't die these days; they write blogs."--Penelope Farmer, British author of children's books
Remember how I mentioned that in my NaNoNoVel, my two sisters have to go on a quest to rescue their cousin after she gets into trouble by rebelling against her wizard master (about the selling of abilities/talents that they steal from unwilling talented people) . . . well, that has apparently decided to tie in with the "Huck Finn on a raft with magic" theme, because they've had to ditch their land vehicle and go by rowboat down a creek that empties into a river. They've gotten directions from one geocache so far. Their cousin can't access the usual ways of raising power for magick because she's confined and strapped down and under a constant watch (and occasionally tortured, but won't tell what they want to know because she is sure they'll kill her once they find out), but she can use her personal power levels for a short time once a day and "write" in that book she left with them or do other spells to help them find her. She can project into the astral plane until they figure out that she's doing it, after which they put more constraints on her, so that only gets to happen once.
For some reason, a number of my books turn into Road Trip novels. Dulcinea has to cross the country with Raz, Camille runs away and ends up running for her life, and even Daphne in _Little Rituals_ closes out her book with a mini-road trip. There's some meaning under all that horsehockey ("There must be a pony under here someplace!")
Near the end, when my heroine gets captured by the Bad Man and her sister has to try to figure out a way to rescue her (she ends up rescuing herself, though, in a way I haven't yet decided on), there'll be a scene that owes everything to the "fighting IT" scene with Charles and the Giant Bad Brain (not Abby Normal's, though) in Madeleine L'Engle's _A Wrinkle In Time_. Throb-thought versus Keats, or summat. Call it a homage. Because "steal" is such a cold, ughliegh word.
Also, I think there's got to be a way to tie the parents back into this.
14090 / 50000 words. 28% done!
Somebody on my f-list just described the taste of cognac as a cross between nail polish remover and Listerine's bastard son. I'll bet Dennis thinks otherwise. *hee*
Remember how I mentioned that in my NaNoNoVel, my two sisters have to go on a quest to rescue their cousin after she gets into trouble by rebelling against her wizard master (about the selling of abilities/talents that they steal from unwilling talented people) . . . well, that has apparently decided to tie in with the "Huck Finn on a raft with magic" theme, because they've had to ditch their land vehicle and go by rowboat down a creek that empties into a river. They've gotten directions from one geocache so far. Their cousin can't access the usual ways of raising power for magick because she's confined and strapped down and under a constant watch (and occasionally tortured, but won't tell what they want to know because she is sure they'll kill her once they find out), but she can use her personal power levels for a short time once a day and "write" in that book she left with them or do other spells to help them find her. She can project into the astral plane until they figure out that she's doing it, after which they put more constraints on her, so that only gets to happen once.
For some reason, a number of my books turn into Road Trip novels. Dulcinea has to cross the country with Raz, Camille runs away and ends up running for her life, and even Daphne in _Little Rituals_ closes out her book with a mini-road trip. There's some meaning under all that horsehockey ("There must be a pony under here someplace!")
Near the end, when my heroine gets captured by the Bad Man and her sister has to try to figure out a way to rescue her (she ends up rescuing herself, though, in a way I haven't yet decided on), there'll be a scene that owes everything to the "fighting IT" scene with Charles and the Giant Bad Brain (not Abby Normal's, though) in Madeleine L'Engle's _A Wrinkle In Time_. Throb-thought versus Keats, or summat. Call it a homage. Because "steal" is such a cold, ughliegh word.
Also, I think there's got to be a way to tie the parents back into this.
Somebody on my f-list just described the taste of cognac as a cross between nail polish remover and Listerine's bastard son. I'll bet Dennis thinks otherwise. *hee*
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Date: 2007-11-07 02:31 am (UTC)NaNooodlings
Date: 2007-11-07 02:06 pm (UTC)Got to get BUSY on my NaNovel today: distractions as I've had the past few days are one thing, but it isn't getting the job done, now, is it?
Re: Cognac. That description better fits mass-produced, low-end market brandies. Cognac and its delightful cousin armagnac are two of the finest spirituous beverages ever lovingly crafted by the hand of man. As with champagne, which your f-list acquaintance probably doesn't like either, it is made exclusively in specific areas of France. And just as there is no champagne made outside the Champagne district (though the Germans, believe it or not, used to make a passable substitute called "Schaumwein"), no cognac or armagnac is produced outside its region. The rest is brandy, and it varies in quality from "drinkable in a pinch" to "if this is to be my last drink, I die a failure." The Big Four of cognac companies all make their product in various grades; the more you're willing to pay, the better the cognac or armagnac becomes. I find Rémy Martin XO to be my most compatible match. Others' tastes will vary. But whoever you are, don't drink Christian Bros. or E&J, or any other American factory-made brandy, and either call it cognac or delude yourself into thinking cognac tastes like that!
And even if you are a nondrinker, and propose to remain abstemious for the rest of your days, as a writer y'all -- ALL y'all! -- need to know this stuff.
Next class, we'll cover the art of the martini. :-)
Re: NaNooodlings
Date: 2007-11-07 03:16 pm (UTC)I am a nondrinker, but the characters in one story drink Moosehead, and in the other mostly Schooner. Although they're drinking Shiner Bock in Texas.
I'm saving my research time to look up the effects of weed and magic mushrooms... ;)
Re: NaNooodlings
Date: 2007-11-07 06:59 pm (UTC)I hope y'all don't get the idea that I pass my days getting soused on one thing or another, because that would be inaccurate. I do like a good martini with dinner (one, once a week) and much as I like it, I haven't had any Rémy Martin XO in at least ten years. If, during a typical summer, I put away a total of three beers, I'd be surprised.
I've never "researched" shrooms, but years and years ago I had a passing acquaintance with weed. It was almost unavoidable at one time in the music business. I stopped and never went back when I started noticing that some of my musician friends had trouble remembering their names, not to mention what time (or what day) the job started.
Re: NaNooodlings
Date: 2007-11-07 08:45 pm (UTC)And no, no, I would never think you were an old souse. Or, really, mind much if you were--it sure doesn't affect your posts! ;)