It's done

[altivo]

Yay! NaNoWriMo success The story isn't quite finished, and I'll be adding a couple more chapters to wrap up the loose ends, but I've crossed the 50,000 word mark as of tonight. I've also completed telling the dramatic climax of the story, so it's all an easy downhill walk from here. Thanks for the encouragement some of you have offered. I hope you'll approve of the direction it went in the end.

NaNoWriMo progress: Shawnee Ridge, and a disaster narrowly averted

50,744 / 50,000 (101.5%)

Two more chapters to complete the dramatic peak, read 'em here if you like.

Comments

[songcoyote.livejournal.com]

Congratulations and many hugs to you! Your fingers must be tired :)

I'll have to go read your book once I get a spare hour or two :P

On an unrelated topic, a few years ago I saw some boots/shoes for sale that essentially allowed one to walk digitigrade. They were kind of like high heeled shoes with no heels and a bent metal shank in them to give support (they took some practice to walk in, according to the site). Might you happen to recognize this description and know where I could look? If the maker still exists they don't have the usual sort of things on their web site that could be Googled.

Anyway, congratulations again on 50 kilowords, and have a great week!

I wish you were coming to FurCon ;)

Light and laughter,
SongCoyote

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It feels as if I actually did something. ;p

Yes, I recognize the description, that's one of several methods for making such hoof boots, and I know there are suppliers online. I've never actually looked at them because a) they are quite costly; b) they are very hard on the wearer's feet and ankles, or so I hear; and c) they are associated primarily with fetish play and not stage costuming. However, I know they are out there. You can check the Yahoo groups list "Hooves" to find more information. People there can direct you, I know. They also offer instruction on making your own.

The truly impressive ones are quite complex and have spring loading to make the hoof flex as the foot is lifted. I've seen a pair in use. Like walking on stilts, I'm sure it takes a fair amount of practice. :) Supposedly you can even dance in them.

*grins* Oh, Hmm. I guess it's all just knowing the right keywords for Google. Try this link.

[songcoyote.livejournal.com]

Uh-DUH! I should have thought of pony play links :D Thank you!

I'd have to costume up the boots a bit as I'm trying to make cat or coyote feet, but that's part of the fun :) I don't intend to be wearing them for long enough to break my tendons.

[Checks the link.] Eek - I'd better not browse that at work!

I wonder how many NaNoWriMo novels get published? I'll have to try the exercise some time - it might really help get my creative juices going.

Mmmmm... creative juices. More wine?

Light and laughter,
SongCoyote

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I'm almost always up for more wine, especially if it's reasonably good stuff. California production will do, though Australian reds really ring my chimes.

They claim that a few novels do end up being published each year now. I don't know how many actual completions of the 50K there are on average, but the percentage that get published is probably quite small, like less than one percent. Most published novels are closer to 100K words, so just finishing the NaNo is not going to be enough. ;D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh, about the hooves. I'd definitely suggest that you join the Yahoo group. The general mail from the list isn't worth much, just chit chat and you can turn that off. But their archives are only visible to members and include lots of tutorials. Folks there have indeed made digitigrade feet other than hooved ones, and their construction techniques will work for either. Just substitute the appropriate outer covering. :)

I assume you are after stage costuming or fursuit stuff here. Lots of them are into that, so don't be afraid to ask questions with that slant. Using one of the methods described in their archives, you can build a pair of costume feet/paws/hooves for a lot less than the cost of buying them.

[zenicurean.livejournal.com]

*toasts altivo's victory with congratulatory wine just a little bit spiced with jealousy*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*pours himself some of that wine*

Jealousy? Bah. You're one of the people that I know could do the same thing. It's largely a matter of discipline rather than raw talent. Set a daily quota and make yourself write that much each day, regardless. I found that it took about 90 minutes a day on the average.

They'll even let you write in Finnish if you choose. Put it on your calendar for next year. ;)

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Superstar! I'm looking forward to reading the lastest instalments when I get a spare moment.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, no cliff-hanger. The main story is down. I'll get the wrap ups added in the next week or so. Right now I have to get some weaving work done. ;D

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Typo spot...

"enough upwelling of warm air from below the help Chrysios"

To help, I think it should be.

Weave fast? :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, it should be "to". I type faster than I weave. ;p There are probably lots of typos of that sort throughout the manuscript. It is going to need serious editing, and quite a bit of expansion in places, I know. I wanted to complete the essential story line inside the 30 day limit, so I wrote a very skeletal version of what I want this to be.

The immediate weaving is just to produce a couple of square foot samples for a larger project. I need it done by Tuesday, December 5, so the writing is going on hiatus I suspect. Well, actually, I'm eager to put the wrap-up on the story line, which will need about two more little chapters, but then it goes on ice for a few weeks so I can look at it with fresh eyes.

Thanks for your encouragement. It helps to know that someone appreciates the idea at least.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Very impressed over here.

And yes, nothing written at such speed is going to be finished straight out of the box, but that's the point of the month (and why it's a durn good idea) - to get everyone into 'just write it' mode and sort it all out later.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It's true what they say. At a certain point, the characters start telling you what happens next and how. My effort largely consisted of doing research to get the geology stuff at least reasonably accurate. When I started I never expected to end up consulting contour maps and geological charts in order to write a fantasy story. XD

[dongstyle-ltd.livejournal.com]

Congratulations indeed! Despite my relative silence, I have actually been reading the installments as they come out, and look forward to seeing how you tie things up.

I was myself considering participating but I'm a slow writer, had exams and the novel I'm currently working on is far too involved for me to actually write 50000 words in a month. Thus I do admire peoples' ability to attempt and actually succeed in such an endeavour.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It's all about discipline, and given your chosen career field and the school work you are doing, I know you understand discipline. :) You've got your priorities right, NaNoWriMo is a frill you don't need at the moment.

I did need the extra little kick to make me put in steady work on this story. Thanks for the support, glad to know you've been reading along.

[alaskawolf.livejournal.com]

way to go i knew you could break the 50K mark:D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I knew too, but I needed to prove it for some reason. The value of the exercise is in the application of regular discipline, to get a substantial task done by a deadline. When I worked as a technical writer, of course, I met such deadlines as part of my job. But this is the first time I've ever done it with a work of fiction, and I'm pleased with the result.

[baphnedia.livejournal.com]

Yay! Take a break but be sure to finish up while it's still fresh! :D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yes, I'll put the finish on the storyline probably before the weekend's out. Then the whole thing gets shelved for a few weeks so I can revise and enhance it with a fresh viewpoint.

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!
*insert wild applause and cheering here*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Mmm, thanks. I'll trade the applause for a glass of wine.

Now... I did it. Next year you get to do it. I know you can.

[shagya.livejournal.com]

Congratulations 'Tivo! Nice job!

Next year I'll give a try to this thing too! :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Great! The more the merrier. You can write in any language you choose, by the way. Of course I vote for English because I'd like to read it, but if it's easier for you to use Hungarian or something else, go for it. :)

[shagya.livejournal.com]

I don't know... writing in Hungarian would be much more easier. But most of my friends speak English, so if I want to show them my work then I must write in English...

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, you could always write your story in Hungarian, to make the deadline easier to meet, and then do an English translation or summary later on. :)

[nicodemusrat.livejournal.com]

Hey, well done! Congrats on winning.

I just need 2K more and I'll join you at the finish line.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I figured we were in a close race. You were leading on Monday. I know you'll get it done. One good session at the keyboard will do it. ;)

[pioneer11.livejournal.com]

This took some time to read.

But it was worth it.

For something done "on the run" I have to
give you props sir!

The fox twinkled at him and winked.

^.~

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's rather skeletal at best. But I think I can flesh it out and make something of it. A couple more chapters of storyline are still forthcoming, to clean up loose ends and lead into Jake's departure to see the world with Chrysios. :)

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

You did it! Of course, I had no doubt. I have read it all, so far. Very good. Of course you will link to the rest of it, as you write more, yes?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I will add the closing chapters to the same site, and announce here when they've been added.

This is just an "outline" of the actual book. Once the conclusion is done, I'll be setting it aside for a while so that I get a fresh viewpoint on it when I return. Then comes revision and expansion. It may bulk up to twice as large before I'm through, though I think that's about the limit of what I'd allow. I could go on and on like Tolkien or something, but most readers don't really care for that.