Trying Not to Die is Hard Work

So I am surprised to find myself here again. Not the part where I am trying to figure out what happened to months on end, but the part where I am trying to write again. I don't think I officially said what the conclusion to the fun week long hospital stay in early April 2015 was, but the diagnosis is Multiple Sclerosis. I have been working hard on taking care of myself and for the most part am doing significantly better. There is still a long way to go and it is a forever battle with no cure, but I am managing much more efficiently than I was before the diagnosis. However, as the title stated trying not to die has been a lot of hard work. I hope you all have been well since I last checked on you and I am looking forward to connecting with you again and finding out what you are up to.

I am going well enough now that I am missing writing again. Sadly, my laptop is out of commision at the moment and I no longer have a geek to help me. I know after the million times (OK, like 2, but still.) I have posted about backing up all the things all the time I would have a recent backup, but no. Insert something about if you don't learn from history you are doomed to repeat it, shed a tear and move on. A long while back I realized I had based the antagonist of Most Magical Place on a combination of Alan Rickman's performance of Colonel Brandon and Severus Snape as far as mannerisms and looks. With his death I am sad everytime I look at my printed outline so I am thinking that it is time to work on something else for a bit.

Conveniently enough I have a character that is basically poking my brain with a freaking 6 foot sharpened stick pretty much constantly. I have him largely fleshed out (because he showed up that way) on Hiveword, but I have no idea what to do with him. I have 2 scenes in my head, but where they are going to or what lead to them I have no idea. There's a girl and her best friend that came barreling along shortly after him, but still no idea what they are planning. Yes, I have been told that they aren't real and I am the one planning, but it really does feel like I am watching these people and they are doing whatever the heck they please. I would think something like wouldn't it be nice if she stopped to talk to him. Then she would stop in her tracks as she is walking away, look at me and say, "Whatever, I am busy storming away right now and if he gets in my way I'm going to run him down." What is that about?

I am hopping on the ROW80 bandwagon again. It is a great place to find support and help as well as people to cheer when you have successes. I am only starting with 3 goals and planning to stay with them for the rest of this round. My goals are:

1. To make the check-ins on Sundays and Wednesdays
2. To visit 5 fellow ROW80 bloggers each check-in
3. To write 500 words every day 

What do you do when you have a character or several, but no story to put them in? Where are the best places you have found prompts to help jump start a story idea? Please leave me a comment to say hello. Don't forget to let me know where you are visiting from so I can follow you back and see what you're up to.

Photos by Pixabay.
photo credit: Distaste for Photography via photopin (license)

Failure To Flash

Not only did I not flash on Saturday, I didn't even post. The last few days have been a whirlwind of late nights and early mornings where it seems that nothing is getting done. I mean, I am getting things done, but not the things I wanted to do.

I mentioned before that I was reading Harry Potter to my 7 year old. We are near the middle of The Prisoner Of Azkaban and it is so much fun to re-experience the books with someone who doesn't know what's coming next. He's so mad right now at Sirius Black for betraying Harry's parents. Very entertaining.

I am now also reading to my 14 year old because she was jealous that I was spending time reading to her brother, but not to her anymore. She is perfectly capable of reading the book she has chosen, but it's about spending time together. Which has been nice.

I'm working on getting down exactly what my ROW80 goals will be, but I have cut a few things I was planning that I am now thinking will not get done and just cause stress. I know I will need to have July and  then the rest of the round goals. Have you decided on your goals for round 3 yet?

I have still made time every night to plot, often resulting in crawling into bed at 4am, and am weaving in the romance plotline. The romance is my favorite sub plot. I love this post about using the 12 stages of physical intimacy to build tension. My placement was feeling wrong. It was rushed then there was a big lull and then bam rushing again. So I went back and now it feels more spaced out and natural.

I am really excited about Camp NaNo and am feeling confident that I can meet my goal of 25,000 words. My plot still has bare spots, but last night I finished plotting the end. I have been very worried about the final confrontation, but am feeling more calm. What is your favorite sub plot to weave into your main plot?

Now I'm off to see what my ROW80 friends are up to.

Photos by Pixabay.

Using Lightning as Book Ends

I missed the midweek check- in, but I don't really feel guilty. I was about to work on the post and when I had a flash of inspiration for the backstory of one of the characters in The Most Magical Place, the very same character that I'm attached to and is slated to die. At least she lived a good life. Hmm, guess I need to write her eulogy as well. Oh and for my own curiosity I need to research shipping a deceased loved one from the US to the UK, fun times. I just want to make sure it isn't a giant problem that could cause a new plot bunny in the story. The odd things you Google when your plotting a novel. What are some of the weirdest things you've researched while planning or writing a story?

ROW80 Rundown:

1. Write at least 500 words per day on plotting or blogging.
Monday: 429 on Hiveword.
Tuesday: Nothing and lots of it. Too much running around and then I passed out before midnight.
Wednesday: 1683 on backstory in Hiveword.
Thursday: 631 entering details of locations on Hiveword.
Friday: 485 still working on locations.
Saturday: 813 entering and describing items. There are a surprising amount of significant items, but it's a fantasy novel and they seem to have a plethora of them.
Sunday: 508 on this post.

2. Check out at least 3 A to Z posts per day.
A to Z has ended. I really enjoyed the part I was able to participate in and plan to do it again next year. Hopefully I'll make it to the end next time around.

3. Check out at least 5 posts from each new ROW80 linky before the next one comes out.
That goal came and went without me hopping around to visit you guys. I hope you're all doing well.

4. Use Twitter at least once per day.
This is hit or miss, but I'm still planning to  persue it in my day.

5. Post on my author Facebook page at least 2 times per week.
I didn't make the check-in so didn't bother to post on the Facebook either. I am feeling kinda worn out this week.

6. Read 5 books in round 2.
Still plugging along in my book. I also started reading Harry Potter to my 7yo son. He can read, but Harry is a bit above his reading level and he really wanted to consume it again. This is the first time I'm reading it to him. We usually listen to it on audio book as a family. I don't know if he's ever sat through the whole thing before. He did well, but started to get fidgety about 2/3 into the chapter. With my daughter we would read for 5 hours straight, but he needs more activity.

Photos by Pixabay.