NaNoWriMo, day 29 (or: End of Days)

Day 29. After an almost 5000 word rally yesterday, I was able to put the finish on this thing today, one day early. And I didn’t just cross the finish line, either; my final words on it were “The End.”

So, what the hell was the point of writing a novel that no one will see? I’ll tell you what the hell the point was! I always say that I would write more if I only had more time. When I started this NaNoWriMo, I thought that I was going to have to unhook the X-Box, stop reading, and focus all my attention on my writing. Instead, I got about 15 hours into Gladius (my favorite video game EVAARRRR!), I read about 400 pages of The Stand (finishing it, I might add), I read J. D. Salinger’s Nine Stories, I went to see Murder By Death, I had time for friends…In other words, I didn’t have to change most of my behavior. I have no excuses now.

Basically, in one month, I have proven that I’m the only thing that’s been holding me back my whole life. Starting December 1st (so I have a day to recover), I’m working on some short stories to send for contests and publication. We’ll see. This might be a new beginning for me.

Cue: Exit Music!

NaNoWriMo, day 24

Well, I crossed the 40,000 word mark. 10,000 words to go, which I plan on getting done by Saturday. Nothing new besides that, but here is a small, but pretty vulgar, excerpt featuring Cody, a character who is increasingly becoming Frank Booth from Blue Velvet. Jayson, I had you in mind when Cody started yelling Misfits lyrics.

“Yeah, he wasn’t no fucking Indian; just a white boy playing dress up. That’s a…whatchacallit…affront to my cultural heritage and whatnot. No…he’s no Indian, and he’s going to pay. I’ll take his fucking head, I will.” He turned to face the woods. “You hear that, motherfucker!?!” He shouted. Then he began to sing, wildly and manic, “I WANT YOUR SKULLLLL! I NEED YOUR SKULLLLLL! WOOOOOOO!” He turned towards the truck. “Come on, fucks! We’re going hunting! Wooooooo!”

Murder By Death

On Saturday, I want to see Murder By Death at the Grog Shop in Cleveland, and it was a great show. The opener was J. Roddy Waltson and the Business (I think that’s what they were called). They were good, but I wasn’t into their style.

William Elliott Whitmore came on next, and he rocked the banjo like a muthafucka! I really need to get some of his stuff.

Murder By Death are a great live band. If you ever get the chance, you should go see them. They sound a little like Nick Cave, only they don’t try as hard to be dark. I just started getting into them, so I don’t know a lot of their music, but I was glad to hear “Brother,” “Sometimes the Line Walks You,” and “Boy Decide,” and I was completely psyched to see William Elliott Whitmore get on stage to do backing vocals on “Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue” (which he also did on the album version).

After the show, I was reminded of how uncool I am. The band passed us, and my friend Jayson started talking to the lead singer, Adam Turla. The singer recognized Jayson from passing him in the bookstore before the show. After they talked, I shook Adam’s hand and said that he put on a good show, then stood awkwardly as we looked at each other. As much as I love music, I feel like a total dork when I’m around music people, like I don’t have the language to discuss music properly. I don’t know.

Anyway, here are some videos of the band (Not from the show, obviously):

“Until Morale Improves”

“Sometimes the Line Walks You”

“Killbot 2000” (Live)

NaNoWriMo, day 20

Well, I just wrote 2706 words, or something like that. I am caught up with yesterday, as well as today. I’m going to bed at a decent hour tonight! Word.

NaNoWriMo, day 19

Ladies and gentlemen, I have hit the wall.

I haven’t even put myself through the word counter yet, but I only got about 700 words last night. For the first time, I am officially behind.

I’m going to cancel my workout today (my leg hurts anyway), and write through my free time today. Then, I won’t have extra free time until Thanksgiving. I hope on Black Friday (since I won’t be leaving my apartment during the day), I can knock this thing out.

Nova prevails.

NoNoWriMo, Day 18

Still tired. This weather has really just made me want to sleep.

Still plugging away at NaNoWriMo. As of yesterday, I was ahead by 2 words. I am a little upset that
1)Word’s wordcounter is much more strict than Openoffice’s wordcounter.
2)NaNoWriMo’s counter even more strict.

My 30,450 words became 30,044. Then, to add insult to…um…insult, it became 30008. My wordcount on the side widget is the official count right now, as per NaNoWriMo’s counter.

Bollocks.

Murder By Death-“Brother”

OK, so I’ve put my ears in the hands of Jayson’s musical tastes. He recommended I listen to Murder By Death, and that I go to a concert with him next week. I agreed, and so far, I’m glad I did. Anyway, the album is In Boca Al Lupo, the band is Murder By Death, and the song, “Brother.”

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. Or whatever.

NaNoWriMo, day 15

Didn’t sleep much last night. Tired. Lights are doing weird things to my eye. I’ve had about 6 cups off coffee to shake off the feeling, but no dice. I want to go to bed.

I’m currently at 25771 words in NaNoWriMo. That’s past the halfway point, for those not schooled in the esoteric ways of basic math. Less than 25,000 to go. I think I can, I think I can.

Everything that I’ve written today is shit. I feel like I might have contracted the zombie virus. I’m hungry. I want brains.

NaNoWriMo, Day 14

Anyone want to see 883 words? I am kind of happy with what I’ve written today, so you can see it. I guess I’ll say it’s Copyright 2008 J. Robert Novak, even though it sounds kind of presumptuous to say it.

Anyway, on with the show!

Walks With Knives dragged the carcass of the deer back to his campsite. It was heavy, but he was strong. He was confident that he could make it back to his home base before it got too dark, before it became unsafe. He had a hold of its front legs, careful not to spill any blood on himself from the arrow wound in its neck.

It was an uphill climb, the slight slope of the hill seeming much steeper that it was from the heft of the deer. It was an eight point buck, but it was lean, and the trees in the forest provided rest spots on the trip where Walks With Knives could set the deer and regain his strength. He did this often in the last month, and it had become fairly routine.

It helped that since that night, twenty eight days ago, he had not seen a single walking corpse. He had left them behind in Arebel, never to return. The undead could have the town; the countryside was all his.

Twin Peaks, Just You and I

Because the otter requested it, here is James Hurley, Maddie Ferguson, and Donna Hayward singing “Just You and I” from Twin Peaks.