Last Post Before Nanowrimo

This is it! I am going to spend the next few days bending all my writing energy on readying myself for Nano's rigorous writing schedule. The first seven days of November, I will be shooting for 5000 words a day. I know that I may not hit anything close, but I need the head start. Also, I need to know what is possible. I have written that many words in a day, but we are talking all day. With few distractions. And nothing else to for which I was responsible. Furthermore, if I can, I can take it easy the remaining days. It always seems like the last week is the doozy, considering Thanksgiving and all. Heck, if I find that I am actually able to do it, I may just continue through the month. Look for my page here, and track my progress if you want. I may post the actual body of work on the site, I'm not sure yet. Excerpts, though. Definitely excerpts. Also, if any of you want to take a crack at writing 50,000 words in a month, sign up for free here.

Here I go.

Made-Up Car Games

Travelling back and forth to a recent conference, I realized just how many made up car games we, in my family, have made up. These pass the time enjoyably, are often educational and may give you insight on your fellow travelers. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Superpowers: We go around the car in a clockwise pattern and tell the types of superpowers that we would like to have. Then, the next person will put some sort of a limit on it. For instance, person #1 may say, "Superstrength", and person #2 may say, "Only once a day, at noon, for ten minutes." Then #2 will give their desired superpower such as "flight" or "invisibility" or "mindreading", then person #3 may limit their power by saying, "Only when you hold a live mouse in your mouth" or "...When you are asleep." This game can last for a long time and hijinx and hilarity often ensue.

2. Three Lines (aka, the Story Game): The whole car load contributes to telling a story... Three lines at a time. Depending on your riders bent toward creative storytelling, you could have a pretty great story on your hands, and often hilarious, as the participants will often intentionally sabotage the direction that the story will take. Disclaimer: Don't try too hard to control it, just flow with it to ease frustration and encourage others to do the same.

3. The Four-Letter-Word Game: This isn't what you think. The first person picks a word with four letters such as 'sail'. The next must offer another four letter word beginning with the last letter of this word. S-A-I-L ends in 'L', so the next word could be 'lent', L-E-N-T. Then, the next player, using the letter 'T', may say, 'took', T-O-O-K. No word can be offered twice, or the person is out. Also, the person is out if they cannot think of another word to continue. I would encourage everyone to spell the word after you say it to prevent confusion and to add to the education of any newer readers. The strategy comes in when you keep giving the person that follows you in rotation the same letter over and over. After a while, they will run out. The last person left is the winner.

Characterization of Insecurity

The surest sign of insecurity is the need to defend oneself. National Security could be called National Insecurity due to the hunt to protect against those things that make us feel vulnerable. To hide secrets and secret away vulnerabilities. To make sure that I am in the position of power and those that make me feel the least safe are not. I then, rely on political maneuvering to make me feel like I am on top. Because, if I'm on top, no one else can be, right? No one will get one over on me.

I once heard that "An insecurity is a false security exposed." So, how do I respond to accusation? Whether it is true or not, I feel that it is important to respond the same way in every situation. Responding from fear is unhealthy and ephemeral. It does not solve a problem, at best, it only relieves the pressure of the present conflict. And it creates an underpinning for catastrophe. Tomorrow's tragedy is today's comedy built with shoddy tools and poor preparation.

In writing, our preparation is the character fraught with insecurity and winning security once their identity is discovered. What is sensitive to our protagonist? Where is it most sensitive? When? This will expose our protagonist and give readers a clue as to these insecurities even in the case that our narrator is an unreliable storyteller. Like someone who chews their food around a bad tooth. We see the startled pain of a misplaced bite and the frozen, cautious expression on their 'face', even in subtlety. Creating insecurity in a character is not difficult, it's choosing the path and reaction of fear.

When a protagonist is confident in who they are, they no longer negotiate their morality, are indecisive or defend their position. They do what has been created in them to do. Right or wrong, they deftly act despite criticism, threats or bodily harm.

The Harrowing Tale of the Mundane.

I've never really been a fan of puzzles. But, once in while, the puzzle that is my life has another piece lock firmly into place. And whether I acknowledge it or not, it is for the better. Yep, I know that the word better needs an appropriate context. But, conflict in any setting, is the gym for the soul. I can use it properly, or improperly. I can be better after my various staccatoed stints to visit conflict, healthier, or I may have possibly pulled something, herniated something, or just chosen not to work out.

The problem with choosing not to use the conflict to become a better version of myself, is the same reason I have never found sunken treasure: I have never hunted for sunken treasure. There is sunken treasure hidden for me, not from me. There exists within reach the wealth of life, love, art and health, but it does not come without the price of the treasure hunt itself. In fact, the value of treasure is realized only in this process. I once heard, "Nothing good can come from money that you did not earn." 

In the same way, healthy thought processes and emotions are not those left unbattered or unbattled. They are healthy because they are measured, weighed, tested and rebuilt. I worked for it. Fought for it. Bled for it. I invested in it and may not see the results until I am distanced from the conflict that was used to develop it.

I keep this in mind as I create characters for our stories. I don't flinch to put my protagonist in a pickle because of the reward. And it is important as I fight the day in, day out battle of my story.

Sometimes, working out that puzzle is just what I need to slow down and focus on the most important part of that puzzle: The next piece.