So, in an attempt to make myself more insane, I've decided that I'm also going to give NaNoWriMo a shot again. Call me crazy, but I just can't give it up! Will I fail? Most assuredly, but it's not about finishing, it's about giving it a go. It's about the ritual of it. It's been a part of my November since 2004, I can hardly quit now. It's something I do, something I enjoy immensely, and something I'm unlikely to give up any time soon. Do I feel like I'm piling on? Oh yes. Yes, yes. Still, I can't see my way to skipping it this year. I may not finish many things I start, but at least I don't give up on starting them. I'm persistent!My novel in progress, as you may have noticed from the empty progress meter on my sidebar, is tentatively called Dark Hearts. It's going to be a fantasy novel about a slave girl in a world where Vampires are born, not made, and live openly like any other society. I'm not 100% certain where I'll go with it, but I know who some of my characters are and I know what the setting is, so that's enough that I might start writing and see where it takes me. Who knows if I'll finish, lord knows I haven't finished either Love's Daughter or Remembering Tomorrow but I'm confident that I'll actually finish them some day and Dark Hearts will be no different. Something to look forward to in the future, when I have a minute or two, perhaps after I've graduated? That would be lovely.
What you're seeing over yonder, on the right hand side of the text, is the concept book cover. I create them for all novels in progress these days. If you've taken a gander at the "Novel" page on this blog, you've probably seen the other two, also. The one thing they have in common is the hearts, because I love them and because in some way they all have meaning to what's going on in the books. I feel like this cover, which is clearly for my benefit and not an actual cover that could ever get printed --especially considering I have no idea to whom I might attribute the art, nor pay for use-- captures the heart of what I'm trying to achieve with this book. I don't know why, since it's not even begun, but for some reason, it inspires me. I'll take inspiration wherever I can get it, so this is a positive thing!
Ultimately, I keep telling myself that I'll get ahead or that it'll be okay. Do I believe it? Not really, but I'm trying to remember that if I take things one day at a time everything will work out. Do I believe it? Not really. So what about you? Doing NaNoWriMo? If so, good luck. If not, check it out, you might just appreciate the exercise in... determination!
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Intriguing novel concept!
ReplyDeleteI think I asked you this last year, but what program do you use to create those covers? Or do you just google-image stuff? I know every time I change my blog's appearance, I suddenly feel inspired to write in it again...for a little while, at least. So I can see how creating a faux novel cover would serve as an inspiration to fill it in with pages.
Best wishes on nanowrimo and surviving the month of November!
Thanks, Jodi! I don't have much planning done, but enough to create a jumping off point.
ReplyDeleteThe covers are made with Photoshop CS3. I have a copy, and though I'm not terribly good with it, I enjoy playing around and creating the covers, forums signatures, headers (like the one on this blog), etc. What I do is google an image with a broad idea in mind, then I find a picture and use it in creating the cover. So, I didn't actually "draw" any of those images, they're someone else work that I've made edits to. I did, however, put the cover together. It's just a matter of adding the image with the other elements, like text, patterns, etc. So, the cover is my work, the picture of the heart is not.
Thanks for the well wishes, I'll need all the luck I can get!! ;)