LitWridoNaNoWriMo 2004 - The Support Thread

[Guest]

Finished up today with 5442, only 2223 words more than I Pmed to Lou.

Damned time difference. I hardly even get the day started before "10 pm GMT" comes around....














Oh, what the hell?



Q_C

I've just updated your word count, too.

Would it be better for you if I stayed up until 5am?

 

[cheerful_deviant]

What was I thinking???

Moving along slowly, Didn't start until the 3rd so now I', playing catch-up.

Up to a little over 4000 words in two days.

Here's the start of Chapter 2.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lieutenant Jessica Williams brilliant green eyes were locked onto the sensor readout screen, searching for any sign of the pirate raider. Nothing. “I’m sorry Captain, she’s gone. She’s disappeared into the asteroids somewhere. Last know heading was 185 by 245, range two thousand kilometers, speed, point three sublight and slowing.”

Captain Ariel Hernandez absorbed this info without comment. For several long seconds she stared blankly at the forward bridge windows even though the small raider was much to far away to be seen. Finally she spoke. “Miss Williams, is this the same raider we have been chasing for the last few months?”

Jessica checked over her readings just to be sure but she already knew them by heart, she had seen them many times in the last two months. “Yes Mam. It’s that same Nebula Industries, DT-4600 light freighter we’ve seen at least six times.”

“Seen but haven’t caught.” Muttered the Captain. “And it always leads us back here to the Dentari Belt. Probably because they know I’d never risk the taking the Astraea into an asteroid field that dense. They know that a ship this size could never safely navigate the field, we’d be pulverized or at least damaged.”

The Captain stared at the screen a few minutes longer then said “Miss Williams, do any of those big asteroids I see out there have an atmosphere? A breathable atmosphere?”

Jessica checked her scopes for a few moments and responded, “Yes Captain. There are two within range of my sensors that show a breathable nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere. They are also showing signs of rudimentary life, mostly low order, mosses and lichens I think, maybe some insects but nothing larger. Definitely no human lifesigns.”

The Captain thought a few moments longer before pressing the communicator on her wrist. “Lieutenant Marks?” She called into the air.

A few moments later a disembodied female voice carried over the bridge speakers, “Yes Captain?”

“Liutenant, I want you to get a squad of your best assault troops prepped in twenty minutes and meet me in docking bay six. Understood?”

The voice came back immediately, “Yes Captain.”

The Captain turned to Jessica. “Miss Williams, I want you to get every piece of information you can on whichever of those two habitable asteroids is closer to the last know vector of the pirate raider and meet me in docking bay six in twenty.”

Jessica smiled and nodded, “Yes Mam.”

“Good.” The Captain turned and started walking off towards the lift, “Commander Klek, you have the Bridge.”

“Aye Captain.” The Aldurian Commander replied as he cantered over to the center chair.

Jessica watched foe a few second in fascination. Seeing the Aldurian fold himself into a human chair never ceased to amaze her. But there was something about watching his legs bend at the knees, then bend again at the second knee as he settled in that seemed more than a little strange.

The Aldurians were often likened to the Centaurs of human legends. There lower body had four long legs like a horse but their upper body was upright like a human except with six arms. Their towering two meter height would have made him intimidation if it weren’t for the fact that their bodies were delicately slender and very light. For all their size, an adult Aldurian weighed less than a human child of about ten years.

She returned her attention to getting the information collected for the Captain. As she looked at the screens collecting the required information, something caught her attention. There was an odd ghost showing up on the mineral scan, something right at the lower end of the instruments ability to read. Jessica adjusted the sensors attempting to determine what it was. After a few minutes of fiddling with the sensors the image abruptly became clear. She stared at the screen in blank astonishment. It couldn’t be, but it was, the sensor data was plain to see.

Being a careful and thorough researcher had taught Jessica not to jump to conclusions. So she ran a self diagnostic on the main sensors to determine if they were working properly. The self check came back positive, everything working perfectly. Next she brought the lateral sensors on line and prepared to do a double check with them.

“Commander, can we come about ninety degrees to starboard? I want to check something with the lateral sensors.”

The Commander raised one blue eyebrow at her in question but called out, “Helm, you heard her.”

“Aye Commander, ninety degree rotation to starboard” Called out the young ensign at the helm.

“Something interesting Lieutenant?” The Commander asked as he got up and walked over to her station on the starboard side of the huge bridge.

“I’m not sure Sir, let me just check this…” She studied the readout from the lateral sensors. Her hands stopped moving, she breathing stopped, she felt like even her heart stopped.

“What is it Lieutenant?” The Commander asked softly, seeing the look on her face.

Unable to speak, Jessica used one finger and pointed down to a single word on the mineral analysis screen in front of her.

The Commander leaned his head over the control board that separated them and read the word upside down. After a long moment he raised his eyes to her and said in a low confidential voice, “You’re sure?”

“Absolutely, lateral sensors confirmed it.”

“Take this info down to the Captain immediately, not over intra ship communication, hand deliver it. We can’t risk this kind of data getting into the wrong hands.” He looked her directly in the eye and added, “And I don’t think I have to tell you Lieutenant that this information is not to be shared with anyone, and I mean anyone besides the Captain. It will be her decision what to do with the info after that.”

“Yes sir.”

 

[Black Tulip]

*sigh*

I know I should be writing, but I am having such a good time with reading all those excerpts and snippets. I love it.

 

[millennium_bard]

A question that has probably already been answered someplace in this thread

What about completing a half finished novel that is already at 47,000+ words.

I have at least that many to go, and hopefully will have it done before the end of the month.
And should I post a snippet of the work already completed before Nov 1 or just what has been done since then?

 

[neonlyte]

Re: A question that has probably already been answered someplace in this thread

What about completing a half finished novel that is already at 47,000+ words.

I have at least that many to go, and hopefully will have it done before the end of the month.
And should I post a snippet of the work already completed before Nov 1 or just what has been done since then?

That's what I'm doing MB, it's not strictly within the rules, but hey, I'm happy to use any device to get the words on the page.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

As another step to ruin my chances of ever reaching the magic 832 hours, which is what I ned to work to be able to get to move up to full time; the woman who sets the time-table at my job has given me Monday and Tuesday off, meaning I now have a Longweekend to write.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

I've just updated your word count, too.

Would it be better for you if I stayed up until 5am?

Depends... Are asking me to keep you up?



(trying to find out if the words on your shirt are candy-flavored...)



Q_C

 

[Guest]

As a former NaNo writer, and especially as this thread is so very unpolitical, I just want to say Bravo and Brava to all the 2004 Nanoers.

This may not be diplomatic, but I'm most proud of Svenskamaya .

And Colly, I'm glad to know you're not all that sane .

best to everyone, Perdita

 

[millennium_bard]

A snippet of "The Bard's Tale"

BARD’S TALE


How did I become a professional storyteller?

Well sit down and have a drink. I'll tell you all about it...

It all started as a way to meet chicks that were normally way out of my league.

Let's face facts here. I'm in my 40's. I'm not handsome, and I wasn't in great shape.
And I damn sure wasn't rich then.

I was sitting in an upscale bar one night having a coke. (I prefer not to drink alcohol in public places.) I was girl watching of course, and wistfully thinking of times long past.

Then I saw a truly radiant beauty come into the bar with the usual gaggle of girlfriends, each of whom on their worst nights would be a solid 8.
Tonight they were all 10's.

But the prize was the redhead.

And she knew it.

Hair the color of iron in a blacksmith's forge.

Eyes the shade of green that emeralds strive for but never attain, skin as flawless as that of Aphrodite.

Her face was perfectly symmetrical atop a body seemingly designed to drive men mad with desire by her mere presence.

I sipped my drink, covertly watched her via the mirror behind the bar. I saw a dozen would be Romeos approach her table and be dismissed just as quickly.

. I smiled to myself. It amused me to see these handsome lads meeting with no better luck than I, had I been so foolish as to ask even the least of the beauties at that table.

I had decided to retire to my hotel room and arose to leave. As I passed by the ladies table, I turned my eyes for one final look, as any hetero male would have done.

There, nestled between her incomparable breasts, was a small figurine.

A golden dragon clutching a crystal sphere.

The workmanship was so exquisite that I paused involuntarily and stared for longer than was polite.
"When you're done staring at my tits, let me know." Snapped the flame haired vision.

Where the inspiration came from, I'll never know, but I heard myself replying in a calm and level tone. “Your breasts, magnificent as they are, were not the objects of my attention. I was learning the story of the dragon."

A couple of her companions laughed, but the redhead did not. She leaned forward slightly and fixed me with those eyes of hers. "And pray tell, what is the story of the dragon?"

I smiled slightly, "Ah milady, I am a story weaver by trade and inclination. What you ask carries a price."

*What the Hell, * I thought, *the worst she can do is to tell me to get lost. * And indeed, that was the result that I anticipated.

Much to my surprise and delight, she narrowed her eyes and visibly considered me carefully before answering my impertinent sally.

"What price to you set for your tales then?" she asked at last. I could tell that she was expecting me to come up with an answer both uncouth and obvious.

I stated my terms evenly. "That you and your friends hear the tale together. Right here, tonight."

She sat back and raised her glass to her lips. Her finger adroitly shifted the tiny bent straw just in time for her lips to close around it. Never taking her eyes from mine, she sipped, then set her glass down, having made up her mind.

"Agreed." she said finally. "But here's my condition. If we don't like the story, you'll pay our bar bill for the night and never speak to any of us socially again."

I wrapped my left hand around my right fist and gave her a bow copied from countless martial arts films. "A challenge like this I cannot refuse." I said with a smile.

A couple of the other ladies were eyeing me speculatively, but I kept my attention on the prize.

She raised her head and caught a waiter’s eye. He came hurrying over.

"How may I help you?" he asked fawningly.

She of the crimson tresses spoke without taking her eyes from mine. "Is there a room here where my friends and I can talk without all this noise?"

The waiter stammered, "Yes ma' am, there is a room that we use for private parties. But the cost is..." he trailed off as she turned an icy gaze on him.
"I did not ask the price. I asked if there was a room here. All that I need to know from you is whether the room is available now and it's location, if the answer is that the room is available."

The hapless waiter paled visibly, then straightened his back and gave a short nod. "This way please."

The ladies all stood as he led the way through the crowded bar to an unobtrusive door at the rear of the establishment. I stepped back and gestured for the women to precede me.

I brought up the rear of the procession, admiring the view of so many delectable behinds wagging before me.
The waiter opened the room and moved back to allow the redhead to enter.

"There is a full bar along the side wall. Will you be needing service from our staff?"

The redhead pondered a moment. "Do you have a discreet waitress or female bartender here?"

"I believe Rebecca and Molly are both on duty tonight,” replied the waiter.

"Bring them," she said. "I will choose one to attend to our needs."

The waiter left, then returned a moment later with two young women.
"Rebecca," he said, indicating a tall, slender raven-haired girl with flashing brown eyes.
"Molly." he said, motioning toward a lass that obviously hailed from the Emerald Isle.
She was petite with hair the color of copper and sea green eyes.

"Molly." was all the redhead said.

The waiter left with Rebecca and closed the door behind them.

I looked around the room. There were big comfortable chairs in groups around low tables.

I counted noses and chairs; there were plenty of seats to go around.

I started shifting the tables and the chairs, clearing a space in the center of the room and ringing it with chairs. A couple of the other girls pitched in to help, but the Prize just stood and watched.

In short order, we had the room arranged to my satisfaction.

The biggest and most ornate chair I placed directly across from the chair I would occupy. As soon as I signaled my satisfaction with the arrangements, I bowed the Prize to her seat, then handed each of the others into the chairs I had selected for them.

I walked over to Molly and told her that we would all be drinking wine tonight and that she should keep the glasses full unobtrusively if possible.

"And what wine will ye be having?" she asked in a brogue so thick it could almost be cut with a knife.

"The Lady shall decide." was my answer.

Molly walked over to the Prize and inquired as to what wine should be served. With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, the Lady ordered a wine that cost almost $300 per bottle.

I kept my face impassive and thanked whatever Gods were listening that I had my credit cards along and that all had a generous credit limit.

I stood before my chair with a glass of wine in my hand. I glanced around at my audience with a much calmer face than I felt inside. "Before I begin, I would know your names. Please rise one at a time and speak your first name."

The girls looked at each other, then a willowy blonde stood. "Astrid." she said. Then sat back down. I gave her a bow and waited for the next to stand.

"Karen." She looked like a California beach bunny,
"Susan." A Marilyn Monroe look-alike
"Bethany." A copper haired cutie
"Heather." A platinum blonde.
"Dorothy. “ Tall and thin with golden curly hair.
"Heather." This one an ebon skinned beauty.
"Chyoko." A petite Japanese doll.
"Marianne.” A busty brunette.
And finally the Prize stood and met my eyes again with a hint of a smile. “You may call me Maeve."

I noticed that she did not say that was her name.
Only that I could call her by that name.

I had set a small table in the center of the circle, and now I set candles on it and lit them.
"All stories should be told by firelight." I said.

I resumed my seat and leaned back, crossing my legs.

I glanced around the circle again. Most of the girls had kicked off their shoes and were curled comfortably in the spacious chairs.

"My story begins, as all the best stories do, in ages long past, in lands long forgotten by man." I said.

 

[Guest]

As a former NaNo writer, and especially as this thread is so very unpolitical, I just want to say Bravo and Brava to all the 2004 Nanoers.

This may not be diplomatic, but I'm most proud of Svenskamaya .

And Colly, I'm glad to know you're not all that sane .

best to everyone, Perdita

Awww, thanks, you wonderful Twat.

Yep, I am incredibly proud of Svenska, too. Especially when I think of how much she struggled last year. No such worries this year.

Loulou

 

[neonlyte]

Thanks Perdita for your Nano flag waving

I'm done for the day just a shade under 8k words - pushed total out to 13891 for Nano and 108695 for the draft novel. It's working!

Night all.

 

[Guest]

Depends... Are asking me to keep you up?



(trying to find out if the words on your shirt are candy-flavored...)



Q_C

I don't think the loudest firework in the world could keep me up tonight.

But, as for other nights, I might be.

Lou

P.S. I paint the words on in white chocolate sauce every morning.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

P.S. I paint the words on in white chocolate sauce every morning.

White Chocolate? Don't tell Abs.

 

[Guest]

White Chocolate? Don't tell Abs.

Brown would clash with the red/orange colour of the T shirt, love.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

*hugs Perdita and Lou*

Awwww... you girls are so SWEET!

 

[Guest]

Hey, Swede, I'm up at the same time as you .

Neon, good on you!

Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I didn't reach my limit yesterday, because I fell asleep - very busy day.

I baked two applecakes for my workmates, coz we have this tradition of 4 people being responsible for cleaning the kitchen and fixing snacks for Friday Afternoon Break each week, and this was my week. A fellow worker bought vanilla custard to go with the applecakes, and they were a hit. I got a lot of kind words about them, and felt proud.
Unfortunately, I was late for work. Partly because of the baking, partly because I took too long to prepare my outfit - since the Swedish Industry World messed up Halloween with All Saints' Day, most of us celebrate Halloween THIS weekend, so I dressed up like a witch and put on suitable make-up. Surprisingly, people still dared to try the APPLE cake...
So, since I was late, I volunteered to stay an extra hour to make up for my tardiness. Droopey said that was fine, I could do that. BUT, by mistake, I messed up Friday's schedule with Thursday's, so instead of working an extra hour after 5, I thought I was supposed to work until 6 and THEN stay an extra hour... I worked 2 hours extra last night. And the bad part is, since it was my mistake, I'm not sure I'll get paid for the hour between 6 and 7 - which would have given me Late Night Bonus money!

So, I wrote a passage on the bus on my way home (the bus takes an hour), but I only made it to 1.204 words. When I got home, I watched a movie with my eyelids falling down every other second, and then I fell asleep.
I woke up at 3am because my neighbors were having ANOTHER fight - they seem to fight every Friday/Saturday. I called the police. I went back to sleep.
I'll write again today, but I also need to work on my mum's birthday present - I'm sewing a tablecloth to match her favourite china, and her birthday is in 2 weeks!
Sorry, everyone, can't stay any longer, there are chores to be done...

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Hey, Swede, I'm up at the same time as you .

Neon, good on you!

Perdita

9.39am here.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

5 hours and 50 minutes later...

I'm behind on my NaNo-story. 24 words behind!

Must...reach...magic...10K!

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Right after Simpsons.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Clicked 40K this morning. Up to 40500. Have rached the end of the tale, going back now to tighten it up and add some scenes here and there. What do i do when I'm done lou? I hope to se it completed before the weekend is out.

-Colly

 

[Liar]

Clicked 40K this morning.

Grrr.

I'm stuck at 11k, and just realised that I have been neglecting schoolwork, whch is kind of dumb with an exam on tuesday.

So I haven't been writing any the last 24 hours. Will do my damndest best to get some more done tonight...

But now...dinner.

#L

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Who the hell gets dinner at 5:30?


Congratulations, Colly!

 

[Liar]

Who the hell gets dinner at 5:30?

The one who had a 7/11 latte on the run for lunch at 11.

 

[Black Tulip]

Who the hell gets dinner at 5:30?


Congratulations, Colly!

What she said. All of it!