Monday 13 October 2008

The Ticking Clock & The Dusty Cupboard

I’m trapped in The Expulsion Cupboard.

Or rather, the characters in my MG novel ‘Strange Bones’ are trapped in a chapter with that title. I have a page full of hideous sentences and it’s starting to get quite dusty in the cupboard. If I don’t push one of the characters into it soon, the thing hiding within will close the door and refuse to let me finish the chapter.

I’m supposed to finish the second draft of this book before November 1st.

Me, panic… Ha! I laugh at pressure. I mean, there are still 19 days until NaNoWriMo, and writing without a plot is brave not foolhardy.

14 comments:

Jamie Eyberg said...

I'm with you Cate. I just started my outline, or rather my list, of what I want my November novel to be about, as I plugged away on my other book that I want done by the 1st. AAAAAHHHHHHHH! ;)

K.C. Shaw said...

Muahahahaha, push them ALL in that cupboard!

I'm trying to work on my own Nano outline today, but I'm stuck at chapter 5. Unless I want to make each chapter 10k words and have no ending, I need to get to work.

sruble said...

Good luck getting through this chapter and finishing your novel by the end of the month!

Fox Lee said...

November is bounding up on us, isn't it?

Aaron Polson said...

I'm going with my stock solution to "the block": Sledgehammer.

Krrrrack.

No more pesky cupboard.

Kimbra Kasch said...

It's that time of year to have things hiding in the cupboard pop out at you.

Ahhhh...

:)

Cate Gardner said...

Jamie - Good to know I'm not alone. :)

KC - I am convinced my idea will get nowhere near 50K

Cheers, sruble. :)

Natalie - so fast, it's not funny.

Aaron - Hey, you broke my cupboard.

Kim, I'm thinking of labelling you the 'Queen of Halloween'.

Anonymous said...

Foolhardy? That's what NaNos all about. You're not the only one.

Carrie Harris said...

Heh. My characters are stuck in a chemistry lab. I feel your pain. Hope we get out soon.

Mary said...

One big push, and the accumulated dust will cause a sneezing fit that will propel you to the end of the chapter!

Cate Gardner said...

Cheers, Benjamin.

Carrie, ooh have them blow something up.

Mary, If only :)

Brenda said...

Sending good thoughts your way that your characters make it out of the chapter and find their ending before NaNo...

Characters are like kids...they usually do what you want if you give them sugar...grin...

Cate Gardner said...

Brenda, they're still hovering just outside it but have taken baby steps. :)

Carrie Harris said...

Exploding zombies! Snarf.

Not a bad idea, actually.