Tuesday, October 16, 2012

NaNo update

NaNo begins in 15 days, and I'm beginning to have serious doubts on whether I can reach 50K or not. Last year, my first, was tough enough--I slacked there at the middle horribly, then had to rush to catch up.

My NaNo stats from 2011--note the slack there between
day 13 and day 21
St. Jorisbaai yesterday, storm clouds
in the horizon, no wind, water like
a mirror. Hot.


And that was the only thing I was doing.


This year I'm slightly busier. You've seen the dog rescue posts; well, that's only just starting, and it's bound to get more hectic, not less.

The dogs didn't mind the heat,
though. From left to right:
Rusty, Winter, and Panchita
(camouflaged)
Yesterday, for example, I had a nice day all mapped out: take my dogs to St. Jorisbaai for a two-hour hike and swim in the ocean, come back home, give them a bath, settle down with a smooth cup of coffee (okay, several), and finish editing those @%$&^@ Sunday chapters from my WIP that are giving me so much trouble. I'm on a deadline, see. My editor gets back from vacation in SEVEN days, and I want to send her the revised MS. Yes, before NaNo starts.

Mighty, the dog rescued yesterday
But that didn't happen. A dog in really bad shape was found close to my house, so when I got back from St. Joris, still in a wet bathing suit, I rushed over a crate so we could transport him to the vet's--his skin is so eroded, so thin and crusted and cracked, that he couldn't bear to be touched. Then I went to the vet with Sasha II, because one of her stitches popped (yeah, more on that later, if I ever catch up). Then back home for a lightning shower, and off to pick up Romy, who appears to be pregnant, and take her to the vet for confirmation (confirmed: puppies incoming within the week).

By the time I got home it was seven-thirty, and I was exhausted.

Could I have written 2K words then? Pffff... I don't know. I don't think so. Enough days like yesterday, and this year's NaNo will be an epic fail for me.

Still, I'm excited. And because I'm excited, I thought I'd share the synopsis to the novel I'll start on Nov. 1st:

Ever since the death of Chayo del Rio's husband, she's struggled to fit into the traditional family scheme of the Mexican city of Cuernavaca where the childless couple was once king and queen. A decade later she feels she's found a niche within the widows and divorced women, helping them find dignity and even joy in life without a man, when her close friend and pillar of the community Ruben Ayala is found dead. 
Ruben and Chayo had a unique relationship, more in line with high school best friends than adult acquaintances even though they met in their mid twenties, both already married, Ruben with two fairy tale princesses for daughters. They'd grown apart since Chayo's husband died, by necessity more than design, but for Chayo the blow of Ruben's death hits hard. 
As time passes and questions begin to be asked within Cuernavaca's lightning-speed grapevine, Chayo realizes Ruben's reaching out from the grave with one last favor to ask her. He needs his secrets kept safe. The secrets that might exonerate the man accused of Ruben's murder.

Yeah... Another novel set in Cuernavaca. Not a love story, though I might not be able to stay away from some lovey-dovey shit at some point. This is a story that's been ricocheting in my brain for a few months now, and my intention is to explore Mexico's prejudices against same-sex relationships. How that prejudice is hidden, handled, obscured, and ultimately explodes. I have little experience with it, and I doubt I can get anyone who has more to talk to me about it, but--hell, I can try, can't I?

14 comments :

  1. I'm sure that dog really appreciated you helping though.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit, Diane :) Yep, I'm sure he did--he's a sweetheart. But honestly he helped us more. Even though he's suffered so much in his short life (vet calculates he isn't much over a year old, if that), he's so eager to trust, willing to hope. He licked our hands, did what we asked (get out of the crate, get back in the crate, turn this way, turn that way) without complaint... How many humans would do the same, I wonder? How hard we are, how stingy with our forgiveness. This Mighty dog is a teacher of the highest order.

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  2. Love the work you're doing for the dogs, G. You're a hero in my eyes, and I mean that with the utmost sincerity. Love our 4 legged buddies to death. (I've got two rescues myself, and they're kind of my world at times.)

    Excited to see you're doing NaNo (might be the only way to shoehorn in some writing with as busy as you sound). I'm 'thinking' about jumping in, maybe unofficially, just to try to get a novel finished I'd started way back when.

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    Replies
    1. Aw--thanks, E.J. Yep, those furry four-legged people are the best of us :) By all means, join in! There's no penalty for not completing--I think most of the NaNoers don't make it to 50K every year. Why not join in officially and get the kick of watching your word count grow? For me, the best part of NaNoing is the daily update of my word count, hehe. Plus you can post excerpts (don't have to if you don't want), and it's fun to keep in touch with "buddies" there. Try it--you'll like it :)

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  3. Oh my, I do believe you need a cape! lol Lucky furried fellows--so glad you were there!

    And as I read your synopsis I felt a smile pull at my lips--I've been writing and thinking on secrets lately, funny how that happens, eh? I cannot to wait to read more of you...

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    Replies
    1. Secrets are a great source of inspiration, aren't they? Thanks for wanting to read more--I hope it's worthy! Thanks for the visit, Chantel :)

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  4. You're an angel for giving up your day. As for NaNo, jump in. There's no penalty for jumping out. Plus, you've got a good story brewing in your head.

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    Replies
    1. You're so right, Kittie. Jumping in with both feet! Thanks for stopping by and for the encouragement--much appreciated!

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  5. You're still a hero to the dogs, no matter what comes of your NaNo efforts. That said, your synopsis sounds intriguing!

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    1. Haha--yeah, I can always count on one or two furry angels to make my oxygen consumption seem not so wasted :) Thanks! And I hope the story comes out as intriguing as the synopsis... Pantster that I am, I've really just got the premise, not much of anything else :D

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  6. Oh I'm pretty sure if you decide to join in, you'll make it to the finish... :)

    Sounds like a great story.

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    1. Ah, Cindy--you're my superstar cheerleader :) Thanks for the vote of confidence!

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  7. Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit, Haddock. Although I do love dogs, there's a large element of collective responsibility to these rescues I participate in. We--humans--domesticated dogs thousands (maybe millions?) of years ago. Through time, their DNA has changed so that they are no longer wild. We made them dependent on us for their survival. And now we turn our backs on them, because--why? They're inconvenient? They "don't learn"? The problem of stray animals is everyone's problem. But not everyone wants to admit it :)

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