As you've probably noticed I've posted on the blog my word count widget and unofficial badges for NaNoWriMo 2014. This week I'll be putting together my novel notebook and doing the last bit of prepwork I need so I can begin writing straightaway on November 1st. I'm also available as a writing buddy on the NaNoWriMo web site; if you want to send a buddy request my user name is Lynn Viehl.
The idea I've decided to go with for my November novel is the first book in a historical romance trilogy that I've always wanted to write. The primary setting for the entire trilogy is Netherfield, one of the great estates from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (you might remember it as Bingley's home.) I've always thought Netherfield had great potential as a magical place for romance, mystery and adventures, and I want to tell some new stories about it with new characters and conflicts of my own creation.
Here's the cover art I worked up and the beginning of the synopsis:
The Novels of NetherfieldBook One Working Title: Lord of Midnight (Yeah, I know, uber generic, which is why it's a working title)
Rumors sweep through the village of Meryton as Netherfield Park is let at last to Colonel Julian Greville, a retired soldier recently returned from India. No one knows any real details about the colonel except that he is rich, reclusive and never seems to sleep. His residence soon causes much displeasure among Meryton's finer families, particularly those with unmarried daughters. Local legend maintains that anyone who spends a night at Netherfield will fall in love -- but the colonel refuses to accept calls from anyone.
A carriage mishap strands Miss Anne Maycott at Netherfield, where she is obliged to spend the night. Colonel Greville is kind and attentive, but he also puzzles her, for he takes no pride in his heroic past. Greville is exqually perplexed by Anne, who seems too good-humored and is far too lovely to be on the verge of becoming a spinster. He's also disturbed by the accidents that have regularly plagued Anne's life; far too many to be mere coincidence or, as she believes, bad luck . . .
So what are you planning to write for NaNoWriMo 2014? Let us know in comments.
Well... I was planning on writing an urban fantasy based on the Arthurian myths, but then I realized I have these abandoned, unfinished novels laying around that I really should do right by, so I picked one to finish during November. I'll be re-writing a suspense about a federal agent on the trail of a serial rapist. Right now, I'm reading through what I already wrote to get back into the story and be ready for when Saturday hits.
ReplyDeleteI added you as a buddy just now. (Why I never added you before is beyond me.)
Same boat here -- I have a bunch of novels I've outlined/never started or pitched/never sold, and the Netherfield trilogy was one I always wished I could get back to (and now that I'm ghost-writing, I finally can, lol.)
DeleteGot you on my buddy list now, too. :)
Lynn,
ReplyDeleteOh, oh, one of my favorite genres! My first historical/gothic novel was Victoria Holt's Mistress of Melyn. I was 13 years old and my mom had read the novel and knew it was PG-13, LOL! I still re-read that book several times a year. Love it and can't wait to read your new novel.
Tami
Jacksonville
Thank you, Ma'am (and I just got your e-mails, btw; my mail screener/helper is running a bit behind this week. Replies on the way.)
DeleteI just totally refuse to be intimidated that you already have a great plot outline, characters I want to read about, and a book cover!!! Instead I will join the buddy list and use you for inspiration. Several NaNos ago I played a word count competition with you--though you didn't know it--which made me push myself to keep up with your daily numbers. For a week, one glorious week, I was ahead. Then you had some kind of supernatural spurt of genius and left me in the dust. Still, that year I finished NaNo... ;D
ReplyDeleteMy story is about a normal, average woman forced to go on the run. She has to learn how to survive, keep moving, always look over her shoulder. She's morphed into an entirely different person by the time a bounty hunter finds her in the wilds of the northern California mountains.
Don't be intimidated by something I wrote two years ago! (I feel like I'm kind of cheating by using an idea I'd already outlined, but I had no pages written, so it will be 100% new material once NaNo starts.)
DeleteHow cool that we were racing and I didn't even know it. :) Using VRS lets me pile up wordcounts really fast, you know, because I don't have to type, I just have to talk to the computer. Although this year I'll probably be a lot slower because I'll be writing for the day job and working on another project at the same time I'm doing NaNo.
I like your story idea, too -- I haven't read a good woman on the run story in a long time.
I'm looking forward to the Netherfield novels. I'm not officially registered for NaNoWriMo but I'll be writing along with all of you, working on the 3rd Second Chance cat book.
ReplyDeleteWell then we will unofficially officially nag you on with us. :)
DeleteI'm not planning on doing anything spectacular. I simply want to try out a new fantasy setting I created a while ago. See if I can actually write something interesting in it. The fantasy races I created are based off animals, so I tried to see how animal behaviour would translate into civilization. Synthesising a mythology for each was much more challenging than I thought it would be. How would a jaguar view god, for example? I tried hard not to anthropomorphise them too much. Now I get to see if it will work. I've been holding back writing this for quite some time. I'm kind of scared of writing it. We'll see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteSounds challenging -- and worth the shot, too, I think. I've had a few stories I've been scared of writing, and angst over, and put off because the idea intimidates me, but when I finally work up the nerve, shut off my doubts and just get on the page they always make it worth the trouble. Not easy -- never easy for me, in fact -- but definitely worth it.
DeleteI'm still floudering, so it might be whatever character I decides needs his turn at a tale, or a 50 000 word collection of short stories in my vampy world.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I have two days to decide. TOTALLY on it.
You'll get there. Even if it means deciding on November 1st. I waited until this week to decide, which for me is like COMPLETELY last minute. :)
DeleteI just love that you do Nanowrimo! I tried it last year and floundered hard, but I am super ready for it this year.
ReplyDeleteBeing ready is like 75% of the battle for me, too. And while I can't always manage it every year, I do try when my schedule permits. Got the first draft of one of the best novels I ever wrote done during NaNo 2009. :)
DeleteWhen his free spirited, girlfriend disappears, a 20-something know-it-all must redefine reality to find her.
ReplyDeleteThe goal is to have this novel walk the line between magical realism and fantasy. I've never tried anything as ambitious as NaNo, but when the heck. Can't succeed if I don't try, right?
A shy loner falls in love with a party boy stripper.
ReplyDeleteThis will probably change a lot considering I have not yet figured out my characters, my settings and frankly not overly sure about my outline either. But using Hiveword is a big help.
I'll use your 3 questions to figure out my characters (or so I tell myself) but the settings may require some research on your site.
Thanks so much for the help and inspiration over the years and for being my buddy on Nano.
Ron B