Jen's NaNoWriMo thread

[fieryjen]

Since everybody's doing it... I figured it was time for me to stop hijacking the official NaNo thread.

I've noticed the past two years I did this that it helps me very much to rant about the spot I'm stuck at. Just the process of explaining why a scene is frustrating often helps me figure out what is actually wrong, and often even how to fix it. I get through the month that way, but the result is a lot of whiny rants, and I feel quite bad spamming the NaNo and the Isolated Blurt Thread.

If you'd like to offer encouragement, comment, say hi or post for any other random reason, feel absolutely free to do so.




I'm resurrecting the thread from last year to rant and post meaningless details that most people probably do not care about and would rather not see clogging the Blurt thread.

Be warned that there will probably be lots of profanity and such.

 

[ms.read]

hello jen. Nice to meet you. I am also doing nano

 

[fieryjen]

hello jen. Nice to meet you. I am also doing nano

Yay Hello!

What sort of story are you writing?

 

[fieryjen]

So here's my to-do-list.

I need to find a name for my female main character. I'm using the name of my D&D character right now, for lack of anything else, but I don't want to keep it that way. So suggestions tor female forest elf names are appreciated. I just need a first name. The prince has turned out to be "Cael". I've been thinking and thinking, and usually naming characters is fun to do, but not when my mind is so utterly blank.

I also need to find a coat-of-arms for the human kingdom. I'm thinking two-headed dragon. How about that?

Last but not least, I should be writing 3,193 words today. That means getting through the wedding, probably the wedding night and then some.

I also need to clean up the house, but since that's not NaNo related, I'm pushing it far, far to the back of my mind where I can contently ignore it.

 

[ms.read]

im working on a few simoultaneaously(forgive the spelling)

Im wrapping up a student/teacher anal, reluctance kind of thing.

Another one is about finding a rubber duckie (sextoy) or maybe finding a toybox or something allong those lines.

Then there is a fantasy adventure of a girl that may or maynot be erotic. I haven't decided yet.

What about you?

 

[fieryjen]

It's fantasy with some reluctance elements, and it's sort of a love story as well. I hope I can pull it off. There are also a few other stories I should be wrapping up, I don't know whether or not I'll get around to that or not.

Good luck with your writing All your stories sound quite intriguing.

 

[ms.read]

awesome. I would suggest going to the government social security type of thing with the top ten baby names list. The website has a database of millions of names and you can also get them according to a time line type of deal , like if you were working on a 1930's kind of story it would ggive you alist of first names that were popular in the the '30's.

Google it.

 

[fieryjen]

awesome. I would suggest going to the government social security type of thing with the top ten baby names list. The website has a database of millions of names and you can also get them according to a time line type of deal , like if you were working on a 1930's kind of story it would ggive you alist of first names that were popular in the the '30's.

Google it.

Thanks for the hint.

I usually use babyname sites, or even fantasy name generators, but none of them have been fruitful this time. I'll give your idea a try.

 

[neonlyte]

So here's my to-do-list.

I need to find a name for my female main character. I'm using the name of my D&D character right now, for lack of anything else, but I don't want to keep it that way. So suggestions tor female forest elf names are appreciated. I just need a first name. The prince has turned out to be "Cael". I've been thinking and thinking, and usually naming characters is fun to do, but not when my mind is so utterly blank.

I also need to find a coat-of-arms for the human kingdom. I'm thinking two-headed dragon. How about that?

Last but not least, I should be writing 3,193 words today. That means getting through the wedding, probably the wedding night and then some.

I also need to clean up the house, but since that's not NaNo related, I'm pushing it far, far to the back of my mind where I can contently ignore it.

You could use the Elf Name Generator - http://www.chriswetherell.com/elf/

 

[l8bloom]

Go Jen Go!!! http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/images/smilies/character0028.gif

 

[fieryjen]

Go Jen Go!!! http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/images/smilies/character0028.gif

Awww, you and your awesome smileys. Thank you.

 

[fieryjen]

For some reason, I've been in love with the name "Nara" for the last hour or so. It's not a typical elf name, but the forest elves aren't the high and mighty LotR type elves. Therefore all the long, complicated elf names don't fit. Anyone think this might work?

 

[Equinoxe]

For some reason, I've been in love with the name "Nara" for the last hour or so. It's not a typical elf name, but the forest elves aren't the high and mighty LotR type elves. Therefore all the long, complicated elf names don't fit. Anyone think this might work?

Nara is quite an atypical name for an elf (I like the name, but it is so very Japanese in my mind), but what do you want the name to evoke in the reader? What associations do you want the reader to make based upon the sounds and feel of the character's name?

 

[Bryseis]

For some reason, I've been in love with the name "Nara" for the last hour or so. It's not a typical elf name, but the forest elves aren't the high and mighty LotR type elves. Therefore all the long, complicated elf names don't fit. Anyone think this might work?

I like Nara but Faen comes to mind as well.

I'm doing Nano myself as well, this is my second year. Beat it last year, not doing so well this year, but then I set myself with a target of doing the 50k of sex scenes... I'm not usually comfortable with writing sex scenes so this makes it a challenge.

 

[fieryjen]

Nara is quite an atypical name for an elf (I like the name, but it is so very Japanese in my mind), but what do you want the name to evoke in the reader? What associations do you want the reader to make based upon the sounds and feel of the character's name?

That's a good question. Thanks for asking it. I really suck at answering this type of thing though

She's a very caring, calm, gentle girl. She sacrifices herself for the good of her people. The forest elves in general are the type of people who are happy with very simple things, they appreciate nature and would never get violent. That's why none of the more complicated names fit. Nara sounds very calm to me, but that might just be a personal thing, I obviously don't know how others feel about the name. She naturally develops during the story, but this is how she starts out.

 

[fieryjen]

I like Nara but Faen comes to mind as well.

I'm doing Nano myself as well, this is my second year. Beat it last year, not doing so well this year, but then I set myself with a target of doing the 50k of sex scenes... I'm not usually comfortable with writing sex scenes so this makes it a challenge.

Thank you, and good luck with your writing. I know what you mean, I usually get stuck at just about every single sex scene I write.

I really like the name Faen. The only issue with it is though that when placed next to the name Cael, they're just too similar. The vowels are exactly the same.

 

[Bryseis]

Thank you, and good luck with your writing. I know what you mean, I usually get stuck at just about every single sex scene I write.

I really like the name Faen. The only issue with it is though that when placed next to the name Cael, they're just too similar. The vowels are exactly the same.

But they still sound different... at least with my accent

 

[Equinoxe]

That's a good question. Thanks for asking it. I really suck at answering this type of thing though

She's a very caring, calm, gentle girl. She sacrifices herself for the good of her people. The forest elves in general are the type of people who are happy with very simple things, they appreciate nature and would never get violent. That's why none of the more complicated names fit. Nara sounds very calm to me, but that might just be a personal thing, I obviously don't know how others feel about the name. She naturally develops during the story, but this is how she starts out.

I know how you feel, it can be difficult to express like that. You're welcome, though.

I actually agree with you about Nara sounding very calm. If you don't mind my asking further questions, is there a particular real world mythology or folklore from which your forest elves are largely inspired or are they more their own (or your own)? Are there cultural connexions that you want them to evoke?

 

[fieryjen]

I know how you feel, it can be difficult to express like that. You're welcome, though.

I actually agree with you about Nara sounding very calm. If you don't mind my asking further questions, is there a particular real world mythology or folklore from which your forest elves are largely inspired or are they more their own (or your own)? Are there cultural connexions that you want them to evoke?

I don't mind at all!

They're pretty much just their own. One of the major points is the contrast between the human warriors and the main character. The humans aren't all mean and stereotypical, but their mindset is very different from that of the elves, who truly don't understand someone wanting to go to war.

Now that we've been discussing it, I think I'm too much in love with Nara to drop it for something else

 

[fieryjen]

It's rough and unedited, but here's the beginning:




Nara loved watching the sunset. The clouds were tinted a deep orange and pink, while the light slowly dimmed and the sun was ever so slowly covered by the trees of the forest. It was one of those late summer nights that helped her forget all worldly sorrows, with a gentle, warm wind that gave her goosebumps as it stroked her bare skin and tousled her long black hair, and the voices of the Elven children drifting up at her from the valley. She could see them dance and play from her elevated position on the hill, enjoying the last days of summer just like she was. Some of the older ones had started to gather sticks for a fire, and Nara stretched out on her rock, smiling as she watched the younger ones imitate their elders, so eager to help. Baskets of apples and potatoes were brought by the adults, to be roasted later, once the fire was in full blast.

Nara liked to sit and simply observe her surroundings. It gave her a feeling of peace and serenity to be watching from above. When she had just been a child herself, she had danced like they did now so often; she didn’t feel like she was missing out now. This might well be the last chance she had to take it all in, to keep the memory of those happy nights in her heart and use it to strengthen her for what lay ahead.

The Elven girl shook her head as if to clear it from all unpleasant thoughts that may come to the surface, and her hand gripped the edge of the rock tightly. This part of the night was for enjoyment, not for her worries, and she would not let them take over her thinking. She stood up abruptly and balanced herself on the rock before jumping down into the grass, landing gracefully. She knew that it was time for her to finish her packing, but it was difficult for her to tear herself away from the happiness and carefree laughter below.

She finally descended from the hill, picking a path that would lead her past the children at a distance. She was not ready to say goodbye to the community yet, even though they all knew she was leaving. She was also afraid of spoiling the carefree evening for the others. There would be more than enough chances in the near future for the younger ones to face the reality of the upcoming war; they needed to treasure what peace the late summer still brought them.

 

[neonlyte]

That's nice scene setting. Nara works for me... but I imagine it as a dirivative of a longer name (it's my late Latin background).

 

[Equinoxe]

I don't mind at all!

They're pretty much just their own. One of the major points is the contrast between the human warriors and the main character. The humans aren't all mean and stereotypical, but their mindset is very different from that of the elves, who truly don't understand someone wanting to go to war.

Now that we've been discussing it, I think I'm too much in love with Nara to drop it for something else

Oh, good.

Well, I think that Nara is a wonderful choice, it does have such a serene quality; it seems particularly fitting to me since you are not writing Elves after the Lord of the Rings fashion - which, I must say, is refreshing in and of itself (I love the book and series, but only Tolkien is Tolkien).

 

[fieryjen]

That's nice scene setting. Nara works for me... but I imagine it as a dirivative of a longer name (it's my late Latin background).

Thank you

A longer actual name is entirely possible... I don't usually set these things in stone unless I have a specific reason. She technically has a family name, I think, but I don't know what it is yet because the elves rarely bother with such things. I'll have the upcoming wedding scene though, where I'll figure all this out.


Random question on the side - If I want to have the meaning

"the servants of the Duchess"

would

"the Duchess' servants"

be correct? Is there another s after the apostrophe? I'm suddenly unsure.

 

[fieryjen]

Oh, good.

Well, I think that Nara is a wonderful choice, it does have such a serene quality; it seems particularly fitting to me since you are not writing Elves after the Lord of the Rings fashion - which, I must say, is refreshing in and of itself (I love the book and series, but only Tolkien is Tolkien).

Thank you. I'm glad that you see the same in the name as I do, that gives me confidence that others may as well.

I also love Lord of the Rings, but somehow, whenever I write fantasy I have no desire to write about his particular brand of elves. I'd much rather create my own elven society, it's a lot more flexible to work with.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Go Jen GO!
GO JEN GO!
GO JEN GO!

ok back to my own writing now