And we've made it through editing! Hopefully. If you are still stuck there, all the chocolate and cake for you.
All the more cake for me, then. I'm always stuck there. My inner editor is very stubborn.
Trunked Novels
Have you ever set a novel aside?
Yes- many times, as I have never finished one.
Was it finished or unfinished?
Unfinished- see above. :P
Why did you abandon that novel?
Usually, I run out of ideas, get tangled up in the plot, end up so annoyed with my lack of progress that I scrap the entire thing with the intention of starting over, edit my original plan ( ie. - no, MC, your personality makes no sense for a fourteen year old. Ah well- what if I speed up the plot and make all of the characters two to four years older?) get 5-10k into my "re-write" and lose interest. Defeated again.
Or, my life goes haywire- college, grad school, health issues, most recently full time employment- and I write so seldom that I forget the plot entirely.
Or, my life goes haywire- college, grad school, health issues, most recently full time employment- and I write so seldom that I forget the plot entirely.
What would it take for you to go back to it?
Inspiration, a pot of tea and a mountain of chocolate.
Bonus: Post an excerpt of your trunked novel.
I guess I need all the bonus points I can get.... here goes:
Tsora stood and stared moodily up at the first year tower. Well, I suppose I have now been successfully shipped off to boarding school. They couldn't get rid of me fast enough. There should be a limit to being scared of people. Even at school, they tuck me away in the top floor of this unnaturally tall tower. I mean, give me a break! I haven't done anything yet!
Depressed, he began hauling his trunk up the winding tower stairs. What did they put in this thing? It's heavy! I knew I should have packed myself. Well, I guess I'll find out when I open it. I wonder what my roommate will be like- though the powers that be may have decided not to bother giving me one. I'm not as dangerous as all that.
Lost in thought, he stumbled, nearly tumbling down the stairs. Darn- I wish I could use magic for this! too bad I was banned until I get to training. It would be much more convenient- I am an Air mage, after all. Finally, he reached the top of the staircase, setting his trunk down on the landing. He waited until he caught his breath, then walked over to pull open the door to his new room.
Inside was fairly bright, despite the setting sun outside. there was a mage light bumping against the ceiling, and a bunk bed against the far wall. Under the windows to the left were two identical desks, books already stacked atop them. Well, guess I do have a roommate. I hope at least he won't be too much of a jerk. And not like the cousins at home, either. I mean, he won't even know me. so, as long as I'm civil he won't have reason to dislike me, right? I just hope the world really works that way. If it doesn't , school won't be much better than "home." Though it hasn't felt like Home in years- I really prefer wandering the city. People are so interesting, and as long as they don't know who I am, we don't run into any problems. If they did- I don't know what would happen. Well, I suppose that mages don't generally wander around the districts outside the market- but I'm not doing anything illegal, just wasting time. It isn't as if father wants me around. I know I'm just another chore to him. I wish he'd pay me some attention, though. I'm not another one of his paintings. I enjoy talking to people. At least my roommate won't be as bad as he is---
"Excuse me." said a quiet voice behind him.
Tsora spun around, then stood frozen.
"Whoa- A ghost!"
***
Saeki stood in the hallway, dripping. The headache had only gotten worse after dinner-he had hoped the shower would clear it, or at least lessen it. No such luck. and now that he had climbed the long twisting tower to the top floor that was his room assignment, there was a stranger standing in the doorway, looking in. He has Chestnut brown hair cut short, and was slightly taller than Saeki himself. And I was hoping to have a room way from other people....
"Excuse me." he said quietly. The stranger half turned and nearly jumped a foot into the air.
"Whoa- a ghost!"
Here we go again. Saeki thought despairingly.
***
The ghost rolled its silver eyes. "My name is Kuroni," it said sarcastically. Water dripped from long silver hair, rapidly collecting around the ghost's feet. Wait, ghosts don't have feet- he's real! My roommate?
"Um, are you my roommate?" Tsora asked.
"Why else would I be at the top of this tower?"
"I apologize- that was rude of me. My name is Tsora. Tsora Silvena. So- you're a Kuroni. What's your first name?"
"That is no concern of yours. Just call me 'Kuroni.'"
"I can't do that!" Tsora objected. "There are dozens of Kuroni's at this school! Come on, what's your name?"
The silver-eyed boy stared back stubbornly.
"Fine, I'll come up with something else to call you. You can be - Ayaki! Because in runes, "aya" is silver." Hearing no objection -'Ayaki' remained sullenly silent- Tsora decided that the name was perfect. It was fitting enough- his roommate had silver eyes and hair, and very fair skin. It didn't help that he was also wearing very light grey clothing; he really did resemble a ghost.
