I AM THE CHAMPIONS, 3-Day Novel 2009 Edition

And the hard part is over. I pulled into the last period at 11:55, leaving myself a comfortable five minutes to spare. I feel really good about this one, gang. It clocks in at 19,600 words (that includes the title page, but whatever); my 3-Day Novel from last year wasn't even 16k. The ending makes sense (at least as much sense as a story rife with parallel dimensions and time travel can). Even though I never did use the Robot Gillian character (my brief description of her was "she's a robot, yo!"), I'm pretty proud of "Davin and the Suspension of Disbelief."

Guh, my brain feels like mush. I'm finishing this beer and going to bed.

-Regis

Stay On Target...

Five hours to go, sixteen thousand words written, and I think I've finally figured out where this is all going. My mind is feeling strangely squishy, but detailing how parallel realities and time travel connect to a story about anthropomorphic undergrads will do that. Hey, there's an interdimensional tear in the wall, and it feels like orange gelatin. Don't fall in!

23 Hours To Go

Quick 3-Day Novel update before I catch some shuteye: I'm currently sitting a little more than 10,000 words, which is roughly two thirds of what I managed to churn out last year, and this after a highly unproductive Sunday (I've had a hell of a time focusing today, and taking care of an ailing mother in the absence of both my father and my sister isn't exactly helping). But the setting up the pieces is pretty much done and the action is rolling. Clones are attacking Laramie, rabbits are swooning, 90 Shilling and Dead Guy Ale are being drunk, and the Iron Cock is living up to his name. But most of all, I'm having fun, and that's the important thing.

As tough as today has been, the last day tends to be both really hard and ridiculously enjoyable. The deadline looms large, and no idea is too crazy to be thrown on the page, regardless of whether it sticks. It's probably going to come down to the wire, but that's just fine with me - it's no fun if it's easy.

Almost... there,
Regis

Here We Go Again

It's Labor Day Weekend, and that means one thing. Okay, it means a couple of things, but the big damn important thing it means to me is the return of the International 3-Day Novel Contest. Once again, I'm abusing my muse in pursuit of fortune and glory. This year's story is going to be pretty silly, what with anthropomorphic rabbits, ducks, and beavers; a horde of idiot clones; and visitors from both the future and parallel universes. Mix in a robot, beer, and D&D and it's bound to be fun, even if it becomes a trainwreck.

Time's a-wasting, so I'm done here. Check back for updates and events warrant.

-Regis

What a Twist!

So they finally announced the winner of that silly 3-Day Novel competition I participated in over Labor Day weekend last year. And guess what, boys and girls?

I didn't win.

Yeah, pretty much what I expected, what with 570 registrants (428 of which submitted novels) and all. But whatever, I'm still a winner (and I have the Everybody Gets A Trophy Day trophy to prove it).

Speaking of Bataan Death March-style forcing of creativity, FAWM 2009 is just around the corner. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna do it again, even if I'm in a play that month. Oh yeah, it's on.

It could make a million for you overnight,
Regis

Canada, Ho!

My 3-Day Novel Contest entry - bearing the amazingly creative title Eye For An Eye - is now in the mail. WInners will be announced in January, so try not to get too antsy waiting for my results. [SPOILER ALERT: I'll get a participation certificate. And there'll be like seventy pages worth of feasts and a marriage and Aragorn gets crowned... wait, that's Return of the King. END SPOILER ALERT]

I can tell it's Friday - I'm wearing a Hawaiian shirt, there's reggae playing ("Pressure Drop" in Pandora FTW), and my motivation for the week is as nonexistant as Sarah Palin's foreign policy experience. It's almost a shame I don't have any red leather pants.

Almost.

You wanna be in the show, come on baby let's go,
Regis

I Am The Champions! (3-Day Novel Edition)

Ladies and gentlemen, I have been to the top of the mountain, and it is good. By which I mean, rather, that I have completed my submission, Eye For An Eye, for the 3-Day Novel Contest with tens of minutes to spare. I'll admit, there were a lot of points where I didn't think it would come together, but damn if it didn't fall into place at the end! I'm pretty jazzed about this, even if it only clocks in at 15,892 words (technically placing it at the longer end of novelette status, but whatever). I may even be inspired enough to finally finish my incomplete work from last year's National Novel Writing Month, Trouble Wears a Blue Plaid Shirt.

I've got until Friday to get it in the mail for judging, but I'll get it out sooner than that. Winners won't be announced until January, and I have no illusions concerning the outcome. But really, that isn't the point.

I met my goal - to complete a work of brand-spanking new fiction in three days - and I did it.

No time for losers, I am the champions... of the world,

Regis

More Literary Squeezing, or Abusing the Muse

Since I'm such a sucker for forced creativity, I've gotten myself into an even messier situation this weekend. I'm competing in the 3-Day Novel Contest on a relative whim, which was maybe not the brightest idea considering I got a new guitar this week (pics to come) and didn't really have an idea until last night. Granted, the latter may work out for me, as I won't be quite so attached to any literary destination and will be more flexible as a result. So think encouraging thoughts for me this weekend, and enjoy your day off because I'll probably be pulling my hair out and resisting the urge to drown in highballs by that point.

Anyway, this is different from National Novel Writing Month (which I rocked last year and plan to do again this year) in that your work is actually submitted and judged, so I have to bring the story to completion this time around. And lucky me, I've got a cheap backup plan should it come to it. Not that it will, as we all know I'm a friggin' pro when it comes to pacing and not procrastinating. 

Wait, I'm thinking of the guy that won the gold for the Olympic Marathon. Crap.

It was a dark and stormy night,

Regis