Novel Writing Month

[lizzytysh]

That's true, too. You could have her die and have the mystery woman [ oh, so trite], who appears at the funeral ~ sitting up front... grief-stricken as she is, in that she always found the original woman to be inspirational for her, even though she left the institution, and the deceased woman remained behind ~ move into primary position. She could have known her from years ago in the institution; and she's been doing very well herself, since released.

Then, she meets the predatory doctor and ulimately relapses, and now the fate that had awaited your deceased woman could play out with the new, mystery woman. The doctor had gotten her addicted, again... he has power-over-women issues. She finds herself back in the institution... then, in the drug unit, etc. Then, in the end, you end up with two suicides. At some point, I would hope the doctor might have to face his guilt. Kinda like Xena did when she comes face-to-face in an alternate reality with all her victims. I think I'd just keep her [your first one] around, though.

Did you mean for your novel to be so tawdry, though? It could still end up quite decent, somehow... I know, the second woman could be the one to attempt suicide [with all the attendant peace of having finally made her decision], only to find it messily failed. [You could still include, as with the funeral scene, the visitors who come to see her in the hospital... as well as a vision visit by her dead friend, whose purpose is to give her the will to go on]. Then, realizing her messy life is still worth more than the doctor with all his manipulations, refuse to give in any more in any kind of way... and work her way out of the pits... get her GED; go on to college and law school; become a practicing attorney; and ends up in a courtroom scene, facing off with mickey_one, who serendipitously has been lifelong friends with the doctor. Guess who wins the case. Nip-and-tuck all the way, of course. He'll need to be the prosecutor, though, and you the defense attorney. Your client is a mental patient [oh, so predictable ], who took the life of his friend ["Justifiable Homicide"]. That may not work, though, as conflict of interest may have forced him to refuse the case... or maybe... not sure on that. Well, we're back on tawdry.

Okay, I'm going to be quiet now... and let you write your own novel. Maybe, there's a suggestion or two in there that might trigger your own ideas. I'm sure not a one of these would've come to me if I were actually doing this thing . The impact of pressure.


~ Lizzy

[Martine]

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[lizzytysh]

I know, Martine. The impact of No Pressure , and ideas that just keep bungling on. I like yours much better . So, is Albert mickey's friend? I tried to replicate "licking his tooth suspiciously" ~ I like it . Of course, you could always insert the great, courtroom showdown, to show how it is he got into your hospital , but I guess you've probably already covered that ground.

Carry on, Martine... please keep going with your occasional glimpses. They're just a copy-and-a-paste away.

I like your idea of satire/humour/parody much better . I have a feeling Damellon's is going to be one, two, or all of them, as well.


~ Lizzy

< * As Columbo Lizzy walks out the door, she pauses briefly, turns around, and says, "I meant to ask. Is your parody of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and is Nurse Lizzy your Nurse Ratchett?" * >

[Young dick c.]

It's November tenth, or there abouts, Ladies; how are the word-counts looking?
Ydc

[lizzytysh]

Hi Ydc ~

I don't know about Damellon under pressure, I only know she's creative. I can tell you that Martine does a mad, 11th-hour flourish, though.


~ Lizzy

[damellon]

HI there Ydc. The thought of you asking for the word count is forcing me to keep at it. Today, Day 10, I am still trailing at 14387 words but am happy with that many at this stage. May give you a glimpse Lizzy, later.

[lizzytysh]

May give you a glimpse Lizzy, later.

Thank you, Damellon. I would love that.


~ Lizzy

[damellon]

Here you are Lizzy. I don't know yet where this comes in the story. It may be a story within the main story. This section is set in 1014, when Brian Boru and his son were killed at the Battle of Clontarf.

I am fourteen years old and I am apprenticed to the Washerwoman. You will think it strange for a girl to be apprenticed, but if you could see me, you would understand. I am called ‘the ugly one’. I am disfigured in my face, though the rest of me is the same as others. I have no prospect of marriage, but I am not alarmed at this. The Washerwoman has taught me that I can survive without a husband, as she does, if I am useful.

The Washerwoman has many skills and these I am learning from her. I have heard some say, though not in her hearing, that she is in league with the fairy folk. I think she is a noblewoman enslaved by the Vikings then set free in payment for healing one of their Chiefs. Although she has lived in Sord for many years she is not from here. In moments of exasperation I have heard her mutter to herself in a foreign tongue. Some say she is from Gaul, but only because of her fondness for fine cloths and rich wine. She can read and write, though there is little need for that here. She lives alone near the stream in the woods. She collects herbs and plants and makes healing lotions and ointments. Much of her work comes from the monastery, elaborate needlework in which she is accomplished, and that is what she calls the easy stuff. She also washes the fine cloths and ceremonial garments, and it is from this that she gets her name. She says herself that she will wash anything, living or dead, and it’s true. She can make any corpse presentable regardless of its way of dying.

This washing of the dead I do not relish. ‘Til now I have mostly watched, passing things to her while she murmurs softly to a child or berates a ne’er-do-well or whispers consolingly to an unfortunate woman. She is fearless in the presence of sickness or death, but she is fearful of other things I think. She has a sadness about her, and once late at night after I left for home, I heard her keen a sad lament for something or someone lost. She is old now, older than my mother, and her limbs are becoming stiff. It is difficult for her to climb the hill to the monastery, so I collect and deliver the work from there.

Last night we heard horsemen approaching, an unusual sound this far from the main settlements. She blessed herself hurriedly and rose stiffly from her seat. The messenger bent towards her and spoke urgently. She whispered to me “ Our time has come. Now, if we can, we must repay our debts. Follow me to the monastery, as quickly as you can.”. She grabbed her small bag of ointments and sweet-smelling concoctions, threw on her fine cloak and without further explanation or remembrance of her stiffness, she swung up behind the front rider and was gone.

I headed towards the monastery, the heavy bag of finished work making my shoulder ache. I was thankful the day had been fine. The track was still dry and my way easily negotiated. In wet weather it is muddy and I have to keep to the edge for fear the bag will fall into a puddle. The night sky was clear but as I approached the village the smell of smoke was stronger than usual. A crowd was gathered in the Square and heading towards us was a line of raised torches, their flames flickering in the evening breeze. “What is it?” I asked Joe the Tanner who stood ahead of me. “It’s the King and his son, fallen at Clontarf. The Norsemen of Dublin have done for them.”.

[blonde madonna]

I love it damellon! The Washerwoman is a fascinating character. I just want to keep reading. Have you done much research before starting?

I am trailing you in the words (just over 10, 000) but although it is a struggle I am happy that I have done even this much. I'm not game to post a sample yet, maybe later.

[damellon]

Ah Blonde Madonna - thank you. It is not my intention to put any pressure on you or Martine to post, so don't even think of it. Really it's just a 'thank you' to Lizzy and Ydc for their continuing interest. Research - I had to do a little but only cursory to make sure it was consistent with the time. I'm still flailing around and really don't have any clear plan yet but this idea seemed to work for me so I followed it. I am grateful to be writing even without an over-all plan. Keep going - your word count is fine.

[lizzytysh]

WoW, Damellon. I said you were creative and, again, you've just proved it. Thank you for posting that. No matter where you go with the contest, I sure hope you'll finish your story of the Washerwoman and her apprentice. Both of them are very fascinating. You leave us just at a point of urgency. This is really interesting stuff. I'm glad you joined the challenge and it got you writing. Obviously, you need to keep doing it . Lots of texture and depth.


~ Lizzy

[Young dick c.]

HI there Ydc. The thought of you asking for the word count is forcing me to keep at it. Today, Day 10, I am still trailing at 14387 words but am happy with that many at this stage. May give you a glimpse Lizzy, later.

Gosh, there's alot I'd like to type, including re the excerpt you posted; however due to lack of time & excrutiating pain in my lower back, I am not going to. You have my respect, & if you can do what you've posted for 36,000 more words in under 20 days, it will be my undying respect.

Hey, at 14 & change, you are a tad behind, but nothing that can't be made up by putting in a few extra hours near the end; don't let your present pace lag though--the washer woman is quality, but right now it's quanity you need, so don't let yourself get hung up on detail.

Maddona, my comments from the unwanted advice forum apply to you as well; the 10,000 count by day 11 might be seen as being behind the eight-ball, but one good all-nighter & word count wise you'll be where you need to be.

You guys are marathon runners, stay focused on the finish line, don't think too much about the individual steps.

Good luck & best wishes/Ydc

[lizzytysh]

I'm with you on that, Ydc... all of it! A great analogy about the marathon vs. the individual steps. I guess remembering that you can fill in the fine details later, if they give you pause as you're writing, is a good thing to remember. Perhaps, making a little sign and taping it on your monitor above your screen, to the effect of "DETAILS LATER! WORDS NOW!" might help keep you on track with all that?

It's great that you're able to break down their progress so finely, Ydc... that's VERY encouraging, when it all seems so overwhelming to begin with!

Madonna ~ You're not so far behind at all. It's nip 'n' tuck, that's all. Just WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE ~ Madonna... and Damellon, too! Looking forward to an excerpt of yours, Madonna... but for now, that's secondary. Damellon ~ Yours was enough to say, "No more needed. Focus on what you're doing. Copy-and-paste are wasted keystrokes for you. For that matter, you, too, Madonna. We can catch up with you later, too. I've no doubt yours is good, too!

This is great. Very exciting.


~ Lizzy

[Young dick c.]

Chronologically, you are halfway through. How are the word-counts looking, ladies? If you are a tad behind, or even what you consider significantly behind, you've got a solid 15 days left, & I happen to believe that a motivated author (which always excluded myself) with a word processor can lay down a lot of words when push comes to shove. I'm not saying that this does or doesn't apply to any of you, but Hunter Thompson (may his tormented soul rest in peace) did some of his best work when it was crunch time & he was looking down the barrel of a deadline....

If you have a mind to, give us an update; with that thought I'll wish you all the best & drop off a little tidbit by Hunter....
Ydc

Author’s note from Generation of Swine Gonzo Papers Vol 2: Tales of Shame & Degradation In The '80s/Hunter S. Thompson:

"And I will give you the morning star."

That is from Revelations--once again. I have stolen more quotes and thoughts and purely elegant little starbursts of writing from the Book of Revelations than anything else in the English language--and it is not because I am a biblical scholar, or because of any religious faith, but because I love the wild power of the language and the purity of the madness that governs it and makes it music.

And there is also the fact that I spend a lot of time on the road, renting typewriters and hustling FAX machines in strange hotels and always too far from my own massive library at home to get my hands on the wisdom that I suddenly realize--on some sweaty night in Miami or a cold Thanksgiving day in Minneapolis--I need and want, but with a deadline four or five hours away is utterly beyond my reach.

You cannot call the desk at the Mark Hopkins or the Las Vegas Hilton or the Arizona Biltmore and have the bell captain bring up the collected works of Sam Coleridge or Stephen Crane at three o'clock in the morning.... In some cases Maria has managed to conjure up a volume of H.L. Mencken or Mark Twain, and every once in a while David McCumber would pull a rabbit like Nathanael West's Cool Million out of his hat or his own strange collection at the Examiner....

But not often. Fast and total recall of things like page 101 from Snowblind or Marlowe's final judgment on Lord Jim, or what Richard Nixon said to Henry Kissinger when they were both on their knees in front of Abe Lincoln's portrait in the White House on some crazed Thursday night in July of 1974 are just about impossible to locate after midnight on the road, or even at noon.

It simply takes too much time, and if they've been sending bottles of Chivas up to your room for the past three days, they get nervous when you start demanding things they never heard of.

That is when I start bouncing around the room and ripping drawers out of the nightstands and bed-boxes and those flimsy little desks with bent green blotters that they provide for traveling salesmen--looking for a Gideon Bible, which I know will be there somewhere, and with any luck at all it will be a King James Version, and the Book of Revelation will be intact at the end.

If there is a God, I want to thank Him for the Gideon’s, whoever they are. I have dealt with some of His other messengers and found them utterly useless. But not Gideon’s. They have saved me many times, when nobody else could do anything but mutter about calling Security on me unless I turned out my lights and went to sleep like all the others[....]

[lizzytysh]

I woke up because I still a cat outside and it's turning cold tonight. In the meantime, two kitten types slipped out the door, so I'm still up for awhile. Thanks for the huge laugh at nearly 1 AM, Ydc. What a super passage!

Damellon, Blonde Madonna, and Martine ~ I'm wondering if you're still up, too. I thought I heard some clicking a couple minutes ago . Keep on keepin' on... you can do this!


~ Lizzy