- Good work! I still haven't sat down to do any writing. My local nano community is doing a write in next sunday, hoping to attend that, but have to figure out what to work on before hand.

Oh wow, yours stays active? Granted, I haven't really checked in with the Seattle area one since NaNo ended... maybe I ought to do that sometime...

That's awesome that you have something to potentially help you stay motivated!

- Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they have monthly writing meet-ups throughout the year. Hopefully I can keep up with my writing.

What I really should do is write down my goals/resolutions for this year, all of them, so I don't forget! I'm already starting to forget!

Oh, like new years resolutions and stuff?

I'm struggling with the start of my story. I've moved it backwards on my timeline to the first moment Haegan finds himself in danger. But I am trying to decide if I can start on that note or if I need give a little introduction while I show the reader how he got there and maybe the when as well (but not the why... that's something I plan to introduce later in the story). Or if I need to push it forward again and have him reflecting on the moment, once he is "settled" in to his new situation. -rubs forehead-

On the plus side, I'm at 500 words that count now and climbing... I've also got a better handle on how he and Faryl connect, because I am typing up character summaries. That is, lots of backstory and some notes about the "present"... It's under 1000 words right now, but I don't care if it ends up at 10k in total. If I can get Haegan's story to work, there are at least two more novel-length stories that follow. (I've got other ideas for pairings but I think they are going to end up better suited to inclusion as B-stories, short stories, or novellas.) So, 10k of summary... Not so bad, yeah?

If nothing else, "resolutions" can serve as reminders if you find yourself in a slump. Something you can reference when you can't figure out where to go next. I think that's what mine are going to end up being at least.

- yup. Gonna write them on a white board or something so I remember them and can see them every day! Also trying to decide if I want to enter this avatar into the contest, or pull something a bit more 'unique' out of my old HA archive.

- I think it's fine to start with a little danger, and then get back to the reflection a little afterwards. Just don't go too deep into it without any pause for explanation.

Cool! I've never had much luck with resolutions... I hope having them right there where you can see them works out for you so you can stick to them :)

Yeah, I'd say go ahead and start at the danger-moment and reflect later on how it happened... or if you find after you've written it that you think it needs to back up more, you can always write additional pieces.

The 500 words are the danger-moment. I'd need to add at least another 200 or so words if I start at the danger point to give a little bit of character description. (I'd only written a synopsis for the "how he got there" start.) Does that sound reasonable? How many words do you think I could devote to it if I included bits of character description/introduction?

Ugh. My alien boys were much easier to work with. Vaako took over and told me, in no uncertain terms, that the beginning of their story was all about him. LOL

- strong willed characters are nice like that. My characters most of the time don't like to talk to me, and then just complain afterwards that they don't like what I wrote!

- I'm better with them if I write them down and am constantly reminded of them :P

Honestly, the best amount of words is however many words it takes to set the scene and tell what's happening. I mean, if it's just supposed to set a mood that's one thing, but if it's an important scene it might take more. I don't know. It's really hard to say as an outside perspective like this.

AUGH the characters who waffle around and don't give you much to go from, then look over your shoulder and go "No, no, that's not right at all..." are the WORST!

- yes, and this is why it takes me forever to write anything! Cus I write it and they my characters are like, no, I don't want to, write it again. pout

Ugh, yes. And then you end up with like six alternate versions of the same scene...

- And hate all of them! lol. Yes I have some of those that still need to be re-written.

Yep. Sucks royally :/

(I totally intended to work on cosplay tonight... now I'm home and I've got it in my lap and I am so not feeling it.)

- Yup. Boo, go work on cosplay! Or write! Or something, don't be like me, don't sit here all night and do nothing!

But it's cold and there's a cat on my legs now. I can't work on cosplay if I can't get up! (Besides, the con isn't until April... I have time! reckless)

I might work on some writing. I still have a fic going from that over-caffeinated prompt~

- I'm am totally down with your procrastination spirit. :P I do that too. Working on fic is a thing you can do with kitties on your legs. I need to figure out what I'm doing for cosplaying this year, there's no good conventions where I am anymore. :(

Oh no! Lack of cons is a serious sad. So far I've got at least 3 costumes planned - and I'm debating a fourth because I am clearly not right in the head. But it would be so comfortable o Shinjiro from Persona 3...

Writing is best when there are kitties around. I mean, you can't get up and disturb them when they're being so incredibly cute - writing is the perfect activity! Plus cats are weirdly inspiring to me. Like witches (warlocks?) with their cats... they are familiars!

- Yeah, I have no cosplays planned, because I have no where to wear them, and even if I did, I work on saturday now so I can't really go to the cons anyway! Also, I like entering the costume contests, but they run on completely different rules here, and the rules are stupidly dumb, so that's also putting a damper on my drive to cosplay. :(

My sister and I are looking into getting some kitties :D it would be nice to have some company when it's late at night and my sister has gone to bed and I'm feeling uninspired.

Yeah, my girlfriend is planning to enter in the cosplay contest this year - with an artbook costume of Sakura from Tsubasa Chronicle. CLAMP is ridiculous - and their artbook designs even moreso. She's going to be covered in bells (on the plus side, I won't be able to lose her???)

Kitties are great for company as well as holding you down and making you have nothing else you can do but write. At least, they make it so you don't want to get up and disturb them (a cat on my lap! I am the chosen one!)