Shared WIP Tag - Part 4

So it's the last week of the Shared WIP Tag, and we have a couple days of NaNo left. Hard to believe...

How has Covid affected your writing this year?

Well, I didn't work all April, so that was great. Got a bunch of writing done. But other than that, I've been working like normal so my writing schedule has been fairly normal.

How has Covid affected NaNoWriMo itself for you?

Well, my library usually has some Write-Ins or other kinds of NaNo meetings, but because of Covid, that isn't happening. Other than that, things are normal.

What particular or personal or non-Covid-related challenges do you face for NaNo this year?

Well, trying to write around a slightly whacked-out work schedule (some first shift, some second shift, and always getting into overtime) has been fun. 

Are you trying to over-achieve and go over 50K?

Haha, NOPE. Not this year. Past two years I did 100K, but yeahhhhhh not this time. Mostly because I'm only writing half a book (Sarah is writing the other half), and don't have anything else to write after that. But also because of work.

What is your plan if you don’t reach 50K?

Um...if I don't make 50K at the end of the month? I mean, if it's because of work, that I won't stress about it. If I finish the book and haven't reached 50K, I'll probably try and write something from The Red War Annals to get my word count in. 

Have the current situations given you any new ideas and/or changes for your story?

Not for this book, per se. But for others? Yeah...but not giving any info cuz #spoilers

What are some things that excited you about writing this November? 

Everything about writing a first draft. The adventure of delving into a new story for the first time. Knowing others are also writing like crazy. Getting to spend time with Ravin and Adi and the whole Red Wind crew.

What are some ways you took care of yourself during NaNo?

I did let myself sleep a few hours every night...

How would you describe this NaNo year (in one word)?

Exciting. I mean, hey, I worked on a book with Sarah, drafted some scenes for The Red War Annals, and just enjoyed writing.

Are you going to relax in December or do you still have more work to do?

Tbh, there's always work to do. Edits. Rewrites. Drafting. And even if I take a break from writing, I have blog posts to write, chores to do, a house to clean, horses to ride.... *cries* 

But congrats to everyone who attempted NaNoWriMo this year, and congrats on the progress that you made!! Special thanks to Sarah, MK, and Catherine, who all joined in for this year's round of the Shared WIP Tag! Can't wait to read your books!! <3

Shared WIP Tag - Part 3

If you were dropped into the storyworld, what would your life be like? Things cannot change (i.e. your job description, clothing choices, etc) except for obvious world differences. Like you can’t imagine yourself to be a warrior princess...if you are a farmer IRL, you are a farmer in your storyworld. Answers must be as close to real life as possible.

What sort of job would you have in your storyworld?

So I would be the bookkeeper for the harbor master in Genady port, and also help out with the little tavern that's built onto his office. I'd spend time doing the books and keeping track on who is coming in and out of the harbor, and then helping out at the tavern when things got busy there. I'd get to spend my days talking to new folks arriving and leaving on ships and chatting with sailors and locals over mugs of ale and bowls of sea dragon chowder.

What sort of house would you live in?

I'd live outside of the city, in a house overlooking the ocean. My family has a boat and feels like there's always one of us out on the water. The house has faced many a wild storm, and the gray stone has now become grey and green like the rocks on the edges of the shore. The horses in the pasture are shaggy to protect against the salty spray, and run as fast as the wind.

What sort of community would you live in?

The port of Genady is a busy community, what with ships coming and going and the royal family living uptown in their fancy castle and all. If it isn't a new ship arriving with a load of goods from Riyar, it's some fancy noble from Belhallen coming to visit to Kashinda's. The people make most of their livings off trading, buying, and selling - especially when the yearly Scaera Dumeda comes along and visitors from all over can be found walking the streets.

Would you be valued in the community or not? (Not just job specific.)

As I have managed to secure a job working for the harbormaster, I would say that yes, I would be valued. Keeping taxes and payments straight and maybe giving visitors directions to get to places of interest.

Wait...not job specific?

Um, well, I'd say maybe. I'd be helpful to people and be willing to help rebuild a blown-over barn or watch kids or whatever else my neighbors need done. I'd certainly get to know some of the locals and try to keep a good relationship up with them.

What sort of religious practices would you be doing? 

We haven't really delved into religious practices in our storyworld, tbh, so not sure what to say here.

What would you be doing in your free time? 

Um....what free time???

Okay. JK. Mostly.

I'd probably be out on the water with my siblings, fishing or playing in the water or maybe riding the horses along the beach. Or just hanging out at work talking to people. Helping with chores on the farm. All that fun stuff.

What would you be eating? 

Lots of seafood.

If you could change your current position in the storyworld and do something else (like join the heroes) would you?

NO. NO. NO. 

I am not going out sailing and fighting pirates and sea dragons and assassins. I may be kind of brace, but I don't think I'm that ready to stare down the mouth of a cannon and scream shoot me I dare you.

That being said, if I somehow accidently ended up on board the Red Wind, I wouldn't have too much of a panic attack about it. Like, I don't really seek out adventure, but if it comes, I'm chill about it.

Would you have the opportunity to run into your characters in every-day life?

Cool thing, yes. They'd come in to pay their docking fees and any taxes they felt they needed to pay (does bringing in pirates need a sales tax??) and then they'd go to the tavern for a drink or two and I'd listen to their tales of where they've been and where they're going and then I'd tell them where the best shops are for anything they would need.

Would you be friends with your characters or would they have no idea you “exist” in their storyworld?

Since they sail into Genady fairly often, I'd probably to get to know a few if not all of them. Maybe not all by name, but by sight at least as tavern regulars. They'd probably know me as "the girl who works for the harbor master and the tavern" and we'd wave and trade a story or two, but that would possibly be as far as our relationships go.

Hard to believe NaNo is reaching the end...but let me tell ya, this story is SO AMAZINGGGGG

Shared WIP Tag - Part 2

So for today's post, we had the following prompt: write a piece of flash fiction about what would happen if you invited your MC(s) over for a cup of tea. *cue evil laugh*

"When you said come by for some tea and cookies, this wasn't quite what I had in mind." Adi's voice suddenly rose in pitch as she stumbled on a root. "Phew! Almost fell there."

I gingerly pushed aside a thorn branch. "Well, I didn't exactly plan for the cows to get out. These things just kind of happen. I'm just glad the neighbors called to let me know they saw Sweetie in their yard." Of course Sweetie couldn't stay in the neighbor's yard, but instead had to run back into the woods and run along the couple miles of trails. Now she could be anywhere.

"At least Ravin's good at tracking," Adi pointed towards the creek we were about to cross. "I mean, I can see a few cow prints in the mud, but other then that, I have no idea where she could have gone."

We jumped over the creek and broke into a steady trail shuffle. A stick cracked up ahead - was it Ravin? Sweetie? A deer? Maybe the local black bear that everyone claims they see all the time?

"I should have given Ravin the halter." I clutched the purple rope halter-and-lead on one hand, having given up trying to keep it on my shoulder while running. "I'm glad he's trying to catch her, but he's going to have a hard time..."

Sweetie broke through a little clearing, cantering along the trail towards us. Ravin sat on her back, arms wrapped around her neck and legs clamped to her round belly.

"Oh!" Adi said.

"Oy!" I said.

"Ouch!" Ravin said as he slid off Sweetie's side and landed in the muddiest section of my entire trail system.

Figures.

Sweetie bucked once, brushed past me without a second glance, and hurried on up the trail. Thankfully she was running towards home.

Ravin lay on his back in the mud, not even attempting to get up. "It seemed like a good idea at the time," he said to the trees looming overhead. "Maybe I should have waited for the halter."

"You're not hurt are you?" Adi stared down at the ex-assassin, as if considering giving him a hand up or not.

"Perfectly fine. But tea and cookies sounds really good right about now."

Horror froze every bone in my body. Cookies. The oven. "I forgot to turn the oven off!"

Ravin staggered to his feet, mud coating every inch of shirt and pants and hair and skin. "Please tell me you remembered to take the last tray of cookies out."

"Why do you think I'm freaking out about the oven still being on??"

Adi's face paled.

"They're probably fine," I shrugged.

"We've been out chasing your cow for what, fifteen minutes? That's probably longer than what those cookies need."

"Adi, you run home and get the cookies out of the oven. Ravin and I will get Sweetie."

"But Ravin's the better runner. He'll get there faster."

Ravin extracted his boot from the mud with a loud ssscchhluupppp. His nose wrinkled in disgust, but before he could slide the boot on, something heavy splashed in the creek just around the bend of the trail.

"Sweetie?" I called, hopefully, even though it was from the opposite direction the cow had run.

The black head and blinking eyes of a bear appeared over the little rise of ground where the trail veered away from the creek and towards the side of the forested hill.

Ravin tossed the boot over his shoulder. A knife appeared in his hand.

Adi shook her head and groaned.

"Maybe the bear would like some tea?" I offered.

The End.

Haha, anyways, hope you enjoyed that. (Yes, there is a bear on our property that we've caught with the trail cams, but never actually seen. Yes, Sweetie the cow is our escape artist beastie. And no, I haven't caught any cookies on fire before, but there's always a first time.)

Shared Wip Tag - Part 1

 Hey hey hey it's that time of year again! NaNoWriMo is upon us, and everyone is writing some new and exciting stories!

For those who may be unfamiliar, the Shared WIP Tag is something I do every year, for NaNo. Those who want to participate work together to decide on a couple groups of questions about our NaNo novels, which we then answer on our blogs during November. So it basically gives us something to prepare beforehand so we don't have to create blog posts during November. :)

Anyways, on to the show!

(Thanks to Sarah Rodecker for making the graphics!)

Title, Genre, Expected Word Count of the WIP.

Well, the working title for this book is Rumors. It's the third book in The Pirate Hunter Chronicles. Fantasy (with a more historical fantasy feel, tbh). Expected word count is around 80,000-100,000. We'll see how it goes.

(The title will be revealed when the second book is published!)

Provide a blurb.

A year has passed. A new Scaera Dumeda approaches. An old enemy emerges from the ocean. The Pirate Hunter crew joins with the Alliance Ambassadors to take down their biggest threat yet.

Describe the MC(s) in one word (each).

Well, for Ravin I would say either caring or knives. Which sort of sound like opposites but oh well???? And for Adi I would say determined.  (Bonus round: tea for Justin Case.)

Is there an antagonist? If so, how would you describe them?

Ah, Colyn. A young pirate captain who needs some sense knocked into his head...I would call him bold or maybe crazy. 

Describe your story in ten short phrases.

-Release the kracken!

-Don't eat the eggdrop soup - it has turned.

-John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (that's my name, too).

-Drink to goodbyes and drink to hellos; drink to the open, drink to the close; drink to me only with thine eyes and I will drink with my nose; AND SO WE DRINK.

-Ambassador business, back to your drinks.

-Row, row, row your rowboat like your life depends on it (cuz maybe it does).

-I DON'T NEED ANY CALMING TEA.

-Why is everything on fire?

-Captain Martin and Jay Hill.

-Abunchofpeoplegettogethertotakedownanentirearmadaofpirates.

Are you planning on publishing this WIP? If so, when and how? 

Um, yes. This book is likely going to be published in 2021 if all goes well.

Something about the WIP that you love.

Um, the huge sense of caring, whether it's deep friendships, romantic interests, blood-family, or found-family. These guys are determined to care for others.

A scene that you are looking forward to writing.

Um, a non-spoilery scene....oy. There's a scene where Ravin is with some Ambassadors, and they don't know he's a del Mankayl, and he's trying to act all posh and it's gonna be hilarious.

What was the original plot bunny?

Back in 2010 or so, when I watched Pirates of the Carribbean and decided to write a story about people hunting down pirates. Jay Hill and his "magic" ship appeared almost instantly afterward. 

How does it differ from the original plot idea?

The whole Scaera Dumeda thing and Princess Adi are new additions (Sarah's ideas, really). The biggest difference, IMO, is that in the original plot, Jay Hill was the main character. His ship did move without sails, but she wasn't "alive" like in the published work.

Welp, there you have it! Be sure to check back next week for the second installment, which is a little different than the usual questions. :)