Week One of NaNo

Last week I unashamedly started with 11,000 words, but proudly added another 3-4k during the week, though most of that was done over the weekend. I got a huge boost from finding out that another friend in school is taking part, and from the weekly pep talks which really do help… but now I actually have to sit down and start writing 1,666 words a day, after last week’s leisurely start. And it’s terrifying. Well, not so much terrifying as just plain difficult – the thing I’m actually scared of is dropping below the NaNo target for the day. I suppose that’s a good thing in a way, but it’s awfully harrowing, especially as I’m coming to a tricky part in my novel. I have to dedicate a whole chapter in my novel to intensive fight training, which I’m envisioning to be a cross between scenes in Wanted and LOTR behind-the-scenes footage. I have no idea. Help would be good, kthnx.

So, to try and improve this piece-of-shit post that I’m only really writing because I feel guilty going over two weeks without posting something, here’s a little catch up on some of the finer details of my novel. I’ve sort of named it Phantom Eyes – cheesy I know, but it was after a line in the novel’s song – Chasing the Angels by Brother Firetribe (lyrics below). It’s a song which really sounds like how I want the whole novel to become, and if it were a film, then this would be the song for it.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I’ve never posted my synopsis on here either so for those of you not on NaNo, here it is. A bit short, but there you go. (No more aliens v. humans, now you’ll know what I was talking about!)

***

Another restless night
That’s when I hear those voices
Calling me to push the edge
I wanna feel my blood rise
I feel it in my hands
I make the ultimate escape
Searching for the phantom eyes
Under cover of darkness
- Chasing the Angels, by Brother Firetribe

Allie Palmer didn’t realise how one day would change her life. It started out normally – just shopping in London with her soon-to-be sister-in-law. And then, she was just going to a regular job interview, like regular people do. What she discovers shocks her.
Mr Conelly, the cold-hearted, dull manager of the company introduces her to the very real world imagined in science fiction, when he tells her that she has been chosen to complete the team of people who will fight the growing threat of the Macrinovs – a little know species who have come out of hiding and are brutally attacking and killing the human race. Allie works with her partner Jake to combat the Macrinovs, fighting physically draining battles, as well as emotionally exhausting ones as her relationships develop within the group.
Fantasy battles have never been so real.

***

Finally, you all sucked when I asked you to guess what Allie’s song was. Quite clearly it was Sugar Rush by Cash Cash – Aisling was tweeting about it enough!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

And because I’m nice like that, for the rest of you NaNo-ers, here are some happy/epic/sad soundtrack tracks for you.

Maestro, Dream Kitchen, Gumption, Cry by Hans Zimmer, all from The Holiday Soundtrack.

The Ludlows and The Wedding by James Horner, from Legends of the Fall Soundtrack.

Intro to Within Temptation’s The Silent Force album (LOL at the video).

Mass in G Minor – Agnus Dei by Vaughn Williams

The Battle by Harry Gregson Williams from the first Narnia Soundtrack

Main Titles by Danny Elfman from the first Spiderman Soundtrack.

I listen to all of the LOTR soundtracks, but if I had to choose one it would be my favourite: The Lighting of the Beacons, by Howard Shore from The Return of the King Soundtrack.

Enjoy! (And please feel free to share your favourite music for writing!)

Tags: epic, hard work, Music, NaNoWriMo, novel, Writing