The WDC NanoLounge

OK, this is my first time trying NaNo, and I heard about it through a posting from FlyLady on her email list. As an aside, FlyLady is about developing habits to keep your house out of CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) with baby steps.

So, I thought 50k words in 30 days, I could probably do that because when I was laid off in 2009, I started spitting out fan fiction like crazy because I was so bored at not being able to find that perfect story that I hadn't read before. I'm currently working two jobs because I got a PT job when real jobs in my field were scarce, and I kept it when I got a contracting job because it has always been clear the project will end.

Then, I thought about it because fan fiction is different than original. I try to stay away from OCs so I'm reusing their characters, rather than making my own herd of them. Without likable characters, who'd read my original work? Especially since I don't like all the characters I use, so I thought I better look around for some original writing practice. Hence, here I am.

I've worked on an outline so I could guess how many chapters would get me to 50k words, and how's this going to end so I don't meander on for 500k words. I named some characters, so I can think about how much I like or dislike their names.

And then, I wrote my little back of the book teaser blurb:

Sure, we've all seen the movies and know that zombies rising are apocalyptic. The only question is how long you live, and if you get a choice regarding how you die. Do you die a hero? Do you die a coward? Or are you practical, knowing you're going to die anyway?

There's always going to be those individuals that can't make up their minds, and lie to themselves regarding the indomitable spirit of Man to validate why they on the run, and might survive to live long lives, meet that special someone, have children, and repopulate and retake the planet from zombies ... wait, did that zombie chuckle instead of moan?

That's not gonna happen since life focuses on staying alive and killing zombies, rather than the elegant scientific solution to 'cure' zombies, or at least stop more zombies from shambling after our tasty rumps, which are not as plump now that our heroes know for sure how long a Hostess Twinkie remains edible. Wait a tick, are these people heroes because they outlived everyone else? Can it even be defined as living - physically yes, but not so great otherwise.

It's the ultimate game of Survivor to outwit, outplay and outlast, because the cost of losing is too high.

Something new offers a group of 'indomitable heroes' the chance to make it all the way to the final vote in a big way.

Everybody's gotta eat. Humans, zombies and vampires.

***

Not so original since I am slowly working on a True Blood with zombies fan fic, but it's my least hated fan fic by reviewers (I don't treat Bill with respect, and I tend to excentuate Sookie's worst qualities - stubborn, doesn't listen to anyone but Bill, eyes men other than Bill with interest, and curses like her show is on HBO). I sometimes think some of these reviewers are watching a different show than I do, or they got what my daughter and I call Twilight Syndrome. Of course, any supe that sees our main character feels an instant attraction to her and wants to be her boyfriend ... duh! It's like sort of reading my own life, except replace supes with all men. *snicker*

Unlike True Blood/SVM though, I would like to emulate Let the Right One In, which is a vampire story without needing to be a story with a vampire. I prefer the original Swedish movie, and I was able to borrow the translated book through the awesome inter-library loan program (I can get the book from another town's library delivered to mine for lending). The book is better than the movie, but the extras are nice yet not necessary. So if you still have Netflix, you can stream the movie and be satisfied (if you like the premise of a troubled youth who's bullied, and the story just happens to have a vampire in it too).

Sharon from New Jersey