Stuart Aken's Blog, page 278

#NaNoWriMo progress; day 21 = 88247 words

A day at the office, and, as soon as I've done this post, a spell of ballroom dancing with my wife. Hence a short post this time.
But I've managed another 2,182 words in a couple of short sessions either side of the evening meal, taking my NaNoWriMo total to 88,247 and keeping my average word count at 4,202 each day.
Wordle has provided me with another useful graphic, which will be invaluable come the edit. This one shows Chapter 24 and the keen-eyed will no doubt notice some words now making a prominent appearance. What they all mean, however, will have to wait until the end. Once edited and published, all will be revealed for those wishing to read 'An Accidental Avenger'.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Ugly

Ugly: adjective - of an appearance causing dread or horror; frightful,horrible; of an event, time, sound - dreadful, terrible; morally repulsive;base, vile; offensive or repulsive to the eye, refined taste or good feelings;disagreeable, unpleasant; causing disquiet or discomfort; problematic, awkward;of markedly disagreeable or unpleasant appearance; offensive to smell or taste;noisome, nasty; suggesting trouble or danger; of the weather or sea -threatening, dangerously rough; cross, angry or bad-tempered.
'David stared hard intothe mirror on the wall of his bedsit and wondered whether any woman would everfancy and ugly bugger like him.'
'An ugly mob gatheredaround the steps of the courthouse, threatening to lynch the sex offender whenhe emerged from the trial.'
Pic: A dry stone wall above Catrigg Force, North Yorkshire. (Included as an antidote the ugly features.)

#NaNoWriMo Progress on Day 20 = 86065 words

Yesterday, I developed a new character, more or less out of the blue. She came as a surprise to me but she has already had an amazing impact on the plot and caused major issues for Mel. Of course, Isla is not yet aware of her, for reasons which will only become clear when you read the finished novel. And you will be able to read it, since I intend to get this published, as soon as I've finished the challenge here on NaNoWriMo and then completed the necessary editing, after a spell of reflection. This is turning into a damn good story, my characters are developing and influencing the story as we move forward together towards a conclusion that I had thought was fixed when I started. Not so, the characters had different ideas and it looks now as if this will be the first book in a series of, probably, three.
I've actually introduced a couple of well known names into the story, more by association than as actual appearances. The new character, for example, is described by Mel as being the spitting image of Kelly Brook.
I've managed five and a half thousand words today, in two sessions, bringing the total to 86,065, which takes me to 72% of my target on day 20. Tomorrow, Monday, is a time for a short writing spell, since I'll be at the office for much of the day and then dancing ballroom with my wife in the evening.
We had our usual Sunday walk today, but the fog made the landscapes more mysterious than open and the chill air had us walking rather faster than usual.
Wordle has, once again provided me with a diagram pointing out the most frequently used words. This will be a real help when I get down to the editing process. Today's image is from Chapter 23.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Tablet

Image via Wikipedia
Tablet: noun - a flat slab of stone, metal, orwood carrying an inscription, carving, or picture; a slab used as a roofing orflooring tile; a rigid card used in tablet-weaving; in Computing - a flat rectangularsurface on which a stylus or finger may be moved to position a cursor on a screen;a flat ornament of precious metal or jewellery; a small flat or compressedpiece of a solid substance; a portion of medicine or drug compressed into asolid flattish shape, intended to be swallowed whole; a cake of soap.
'Keep taking the tablets!'
'Porky Smellworthy spentthe whole afternoon carving a tablet of soap into a miniature model of theVenus de Milo.'
'Moses descended themountain, carrying stone tablets bearing the dozens of laws he'd beeninstructed to chisel into the rock, and, falling flat on his face, smashed mostof them to smithereens.'

#NaNoWriMo Progress on Day 19 = 80,518 Words

The ITIN application is now in the post to the US Embassy in London. Be interesting to see how quickly they deal with this. Though I'm glad they provide the service, as it's very costly to do it direct to Texas.
The antibiotics have finally stopped the toothache, so my sinuses are clearing: it's good to breathe freely again.
Short walk today, under grey skies. Have another once I've done this, before settling down for the last of the evening.
The challenge through NaNoWriMo is still going well, with an extra 4,800 odd words added to bring the grand total to 80,518, which is about two thirds of my target. I had one of those eureka moments today, whilst I was sharing breakfast in bed with my wife. So, I've had to do a new character profile, which involved finding a suitable picture from the web (I always base my characters on a picture, as I'm a pretty visual guy). Found a suitable lass and got the profile completed and added to the spreadsheet timeline. This new character, although entering the story relatively late in the day, has given me a real boost. I think she'll not only make the book a better tale, but will also make it possible to turn what was going to be a stand-alone into a short series; probably three.
So, looking forward to the next session, tomorrow. Hope all the other challengers out there are doing well and not getting disheartened. It's a tough task to complete this challenge, but it's worth the effort to end up with a new novel at the end.
And then begins the editing, of course.

The Wordle picture is from Chapter 22. Isla's name is very prominent, so I'll have to check that when I do the editing. Of course, the chapter is very much about her and Mel's relationship to her, so not surprising her name comes up a lot.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Stock Character

Image via Wikipedia
Stock Character: Afictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. Suchcharacters rely heavily on cultural types or names for their personality,manner of speech, and other characteristics and are a key element in genrefiction, supplying relationships and interactions that people familiar with thegenre will recognize at once. Stock characters are ready targets for parody,exaggerating the stereotypes associated with them.So, the 'stock' criminalmay be dim and easily apprehended, the 'stock' nurse may be attractive andsexy, the 'stock' policeman not very bright and prone to uttering meaninglessjargon, the 'stock' detective able and perceptive but not successful withwomen. You get the picture.More honest and perceptivewriters tend to avoid the stock character and portray people who appear realinstead.

#NaNoWriMo Progress, Day 18 = 75960 Words

Some days go well, some go better.
So, what have I done today? Well, I'm looking just a tad more like a human being, having visited the local barber, where I had my locks shorn and, as is the way in such places, we fixed the problems in football, sorted out the local authority and generally set the world to rights.
Finally put to gether my application for an ITIN with the IRS in USA, so I won't have to pay US tax as well as UK tax on my earnings. Must post that tomorrow. Lunch, and then a pleasant short walk for air and exercise with my lovely wife.
Before breakfast, I'd done a session on the NaNoWriMo challenge and I had a second session this afternoon, turning out a total of 4,546 new words to bring the grand total to 75,960 at the end of today. Sinister threats lurk beneath the superficial idyll that our two lovers occupy. All is not as it appears on the surface and unpleasant events are afoot.
Tonight, I intend to spend the evening in front of the idiot's lantern to watch what, for me, is 'must'watch' TV. Here in UK, we have a charity night in November, aimed at raising money for disadvantaged children. Children In Need has raised more than £500,000,000 over the years, with the British public donating around £35,000,000 for each show. I shall watch, as usual, and donate what I can, as usual. It's a  great cause and a great way to bring serious issues to the attention of the public, whilst offering real entertainment from a gang of stars and personalities who offer their services free for the night. If you're able, I urge you to join me for the night and dig into your pockets to help those deserving kids out there, eh?

The pic is another Wordle diagram, this time of Chapter 21.

Penny Grubb, Crime Writer Extaordinaire, Book Signings.

PennyGrubb who I've interviewed here, and whose books, I have also reviewed, has her previous three hardback novels now issued as paperbacks. They are, of course, available from all the usual online outlets and from high street retailers. But for those who live in England, she is doing a book-signing tour of WH Smith shops, and in some of these (maybe all) the three novels are available as a 3 book deal for £15.00, which, I assure you, is a damned good bargain.

Like False Money



The Jawbone Gang











The Doll Makers











are the three titles, featuring Annie Raymond, her Private Investigator.

Signings at WH Smith as follows:

19 Nov: Beverley, Toll Gavel - 9.30 to 11.30  Hull, Prospect Centre - 12.00 to 2.00
26 Nov: York, Coney Street - 12.00 to 2.00 York, Monk's Cross - 2.30 to 4.30
3 Dec: Scarborough - 12.00 to 2.00
10 Dec Harrogate, Victoria Shopping Centre - 12.00 to 2.00

If you live locally or are visiting on the dates, pop in to see Penny. She's a lovely lady and a super writer.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Rabid

Image via Wikipedia
Rabid: adjective – raging, furious, madly violent in nature or behaviour;unreasoning, fanatical; affected with rabies; concerning the nature of rabies.
'When in affectedcountries, tourists are advised against stroking or touching stray animals incase they are rabid.'
'I was at a meeting theother night and that moronic preacher, you know the one with the loud voice andstaring eyes, was spouting his doctrine of intolerance in such rabid terms thateveryone left before he'd finished.'

#NaNoWriMo progress, day 17 = 71414 total words

The antibiotics have more or less kicked in and left me feeling much better. Had a pleasant country walk this morning after breakfast, to refresh the spirit.
The NaNoWriMo challenge has been a great motivator for me and today I've achieved 60% of my self-imposed target, completing 5,136 words in two sessions and reaching a total of 71,414 words. Much happening in the story today, with half a dozen minor characters elbowing their way into the plot; not sure whether none, all or some of these will reappear just at the moment. But they provided some fun and diversion and erected a few small barriers for my hero to overcome. But Mel's a game guy. And the heroine, Isla, is a spunky, young woman with a determined independent streak. They continue to surprise me from time to time, which is all great and keeps me on my toes.
The picture is a Wordle image of Chapter 20. It's interesting that 'Isla' appears quite a lot in this chapter. The story is narrated from Mel's pov, in first person, so his name only appears when someone calls him by it. And the 'love' and 'make' should give some indication of the romantic element here.