Well, we’re almost through the first entire week of Camp NaNoWriMo, and I thought that, in celebration of that fact, today might be a fun time to share a bit of news on how my own Camp NaNo is going, some thoughts on my writing, and maybe even a snippet or two (or even three). In case you missed Monday’s post, I’m working on a sci-fi-ish book, currently titled Snow (because I really can’t title anything), which I like to describe X-Men crossed with Agents of Shield. I’ve been writing this thing on and off for five years, and this July I’m hoping to get the final structural changes settled in for good.
Editing this book yet again, I’m struck by how much the idea has grown since the last time I worked on it. Or maybe I’ve grown as a writer. I don’t really know. But things that were giving me real issues in past drafts are suddenly falling into place. Plot holes I couldn’t figure out how to bridge have solved themselves like they were nothing, and the whole idea for this book feels fresh and exciting again. That’s probably to do with my not having so much as looked at this book in the past year, but it’s so refreshing.
I’ve always found the first few days of writing anything to be the most tricky. It’s like I have to dig my way into the book, and only once I’ve got past the firt 5-10k do I really feel comfortable. Certainly, editing the very first scene was tough yet again, but I’ve fallen straight back into the swing of things remarkably quickly. I want to write this book. I get excited by the thought of spending hours working on it. I’ve been putting in extra time in the evening to squeeze another couple of pages out if I’m pressed for time in a day.
Probably the best part though is that occasionally I’ve even been so engrossed in writing this story I’m telling that I’ve forgotten to count pages, take breaks, get distracted by Twitter, or even notice that I’m still just sitting in my chair typing. It’s amazing. i can’t remember the last time I felt this good about writing, or this focused and happy about editing, of all things.
And I’m so proud of how my book is going too. I have an estimated goal of 200 pages for this month, but we’re currently sitting at 40 pages done, so I’m a little ahead of schedule, and it’s not for sacrificing on quality either. I’m genuinely pleased with the way this book is shaping up. Sure, there are rough edges and clunky dialogue still, but that’s what I expect. and there’s still enough good in there that I actually want to share a couple of my favourite quotes with you.
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(From Chapter 1 | Eric’s POV)
Out of the corner of his eye, Eric caught a look at the little mutant girl. Her blue eyes, wide with fear, stared at him, as if willing him to get up, to fight back. Eric braced his hands against the ground and pushed himself to his feet. None of this was fair. No one should have to go through this, just because they were a mutant. Fury swept through him and the shards of ice inside crackled, ready to unleash upon Sam as he waited, beckoning for Eric to take him on again.
Not this time. This time Eric wasn’t going to just stand there and take it. He moved towards Sam with purpose in his stride. The air around him misted with the cold that rose off his skin. He breathed and snow fell around him. Sam’s eyes widened and he took a wary stance, fists ready.
Eric met his eye. “Hit me again. I dare you.”
“You dare me?” Sam snorted, but it didn’t quite hold the same note of confidence as before. “You couldn’t punch your way out of a wet paper bag. I’ll break your nose for you, see how you like that.”
“Go on then. Do it.” The ice was like a core of iron. Eric’s anger was so strong, so cold. Sam was going to learn the meaning of fear this time.
For a moment, Sam eyed him up, as if he wasn’t quite sure what to make of Eric. Then his fist moved, so fast Eric barely has time to shift. He grabbed at Sam, his fingers closing around Sam’s wrist. Frost spread over Sam’s skin, spiralling out in delicate patterns that shone in the midday sun, shooting over his hand and up his arm.
“Leave us alone.” Eric’s eyes bored into Sam’s as he let the cold flow from his hands.
“My arm.” Sam ripped his hand from Eric’s grasp and stumbled back, scrubbing at his skin. “What have you done to my arm?”
Eric lifted his chin, curling his hands into fists again. “When you push a mutant, you have to expect that one day, we’re going to push back.” He turned, sweeping his gaze over the other kids. They took a step back, fear shining in their eyes. Good. They should be afraid. All of them. They should be ashamed of the way they treated mutants.
(From Chapter 3 | Nicola’s POV)
Nicola accept Sara’s hand up, and wrapped the towel around her waist. Maybe, after months and months of training, they were finally going to get a mission, something official and important for their team to prove themselves on. “Well, what are we waiting for? Lead on Macduff.”
“You even know how Macduff is?” Sara lifted her eyebrows. “I’m impressed.”
“Hey, I went to high school too. Shakespeare. Macbeth. Romeo and Juliet. My English teacher loved them. Why Romeo and Juliet are supposed to be the most romantic characters ever I’ll never understand. She was like, what, fourteen? Macbeth is more my speed. Witches and dark prophecies.” Nicola pushed open the door from the pool room and headed up the stairs. “What?” she added at Sara’s wide eyed look. “I read occasionally.”
“Hey, I’m just impressed, that’s all. I didn’t think it was your style.”
“Who said it was?”
(From Chapter 5 | Nicola’s POV)
Actually, though this café was light and bright, filled with fake plants and gleaming glass, and frequented by business men and fashion mums, it really wasn’t all that different from where Nicola had worked before, just a little more egotistical and a little less honest. If she closed her eyes, she could almost be back in the little coffee shop, three blocks from the ocean, the breeze blowing through the door, smelling of salt. Her apron pocket would be heavy with tips. Enough to buy a packet of hot chips to share with the gulls on her way home. Then again, at least she wasn’t going home at the end of this shift.
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These are three of my favourite excerpts from my book so far. Sorry if they got a bit long in places, but I can’t help but get just a little excited about this book. Anyway, so that’s my little Camp NaNoWriMo update for the week. I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into what I’m working on this month. I’m super excited to dig deeper into this project and really get stuck into making it work. I have a good feeling about this round of edits. But I’d love to hear from you now. Are you doing Camp NaNoWriMo? How is your writing going? Did you enjoy these excerpts? Let’s talk all things Camp NaNoWriMo down in the comments!
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