Plotting Along...

Just when I start to feel normal again, and I begin to think maybe I'm over the worst of the first trimester fun, my body likes to go 'Nope!' and throw another boomerang my way. Like getting hit with a bout of morning sickness while I'm in the middle of getting ready for work, or almost falling asleep on my Dad's couch while my Aunt, who I haven't seen in ages, is telling me what's happened to her since we last talked.

Despite all that I have been able to get a little work done on the Descendants. I was able to figure out the issues that were bugging me about the plot, and I also made sure to write down a plot outline so I wouldn't forget what I had done. In addition to that I came up with some more character names to flesh out the rest of the cast.

I would have done a dance to celebrate, but the cats were laying on me and wouldn't let me move.

Now I just need to decide if I want to have one of the girls be out of sync in her travels (IE the others go from A to B to C, but for reasons she goes from B to A then to C) but thankfully I don't need to figure that out for a few more chapters.

Unfortunately The Undying Ones is still at a stand still - however I had an idea regarding that on the drive home, so hopefully I'll be making progress on that story as well very very soon.

Anywho, it's that time of week again! Time for WIPpet Wednesday!!!!

Since today's date is 2/26/2014, I'll be sharing 20 'paragraphs' (most of it is dialogue) from chapter 2 - 2+2=4, 4+6=10. 4+1=5, 5*2=10. And 10+10=20. (I was never good at showing how I reached my results in math class, so that looks a bit wonky... but trust me - works out)

This bit picks up where my last post left off. Vivian was trying to escape an awkward situation by climbing out a window, but now she's stuck in a bathroom having to explain herself to Matthew - and he is none too pleased by her behavior. I have to say, the fun part about writing is the various plot hints that you can sprinkle throughout your story. This scene has a couple of them - can you find them?

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Matthew snorted, “I’ve been stuck between a rock and a hard place myself a couple of times - but running away doesn’t solve the problem.”

“This coming from the man who refuses to stay put in one place for more than a couple of weeks at a time.” Vivian snapped. 

He sighed and shook his head, looking at the door with a longing expression on his face. “I shouldn’t have come.”

“Well, why did you?”

“Aunt Bree told me what was going on. Said you might need ‘moral support’ and a quick escape if things went South.”

Vivian snorted. “What I would like is to disappear.”

“Can’t help you with that, but my bike is pretty fast.” He moved, stepping away from the sink to lean against the door next to her. His arm bumped into hers, so warm in the cool bathroom air that Vivian thought his skin might burn her if he touched her again. “But you gotta talk to that guy first. Don’t just leave him hanging.”

“What do you care?”

“I care plenty.”

“I find that hard to believe. You’ve done nothing but avoid or ignore me and my friends for years - in fact I think this is the most we’ve ever spoken.”

“No, we talked earlier today.”

“I was teaching you, that doesn’t exactly count.”

“No, I asked what you were going to do on your trip. That counts.”

“Right.”

“Whatever. Believe me or not, just be honest with him. I’ve been where he is and it’s... not pleasant.”

Vivian glanced up at him in surprise. “I’m sorry-”

“It was a long time ago.” He cut her off, his expression stony. “I understand now why she did what she did, but telling the truth would’ve been much easier on both of us.” 

“I was going to.” She said slowly, and he glanced at her in surprise. “I was going to pull him aside and ask if he was going to pop the question and tell him that I wasn’t ready for that yet before he could make some big scene. But then I saw him and I panicked and...” She trailed off, suddenly embarrassed that she was confessing this much to someone who ‘didn’t care’.

“You’re stronger than you think.” Matthew gave her another one of his rare smiles, as he reached down and turned the lock in the door. “You’ll do fine - and if you do need to escape afterwards, I know a place that’s not nearly as noisy and serves some very strong drinks.” 

To see more ROW 80 updates, go here.
To see more WIPpet Wednesday posts, go here.

A Very Important WIPpet...

So it's been about a month since I last updated this blog. I am really very sorry for staying away for so long, but I have a really good excuse...

You ready for it?

You sure?

It turns out I'm pregnant.

(I took three different tests to make sure it wasn't a fluke)

My husband and I are overjoyed but still very much in shock. We had been told we couldn't get pregnant until after my medical issues were fixed, but, apparently, God and Mother Nature had another plan.

So that's why I haven't been blogging lately; I haven't had any energy, the morning sickness has been oh so lovely, and there's been other annoying first trimester symptoms that like to pop up now and then. Like Pregnancy Brain for example; I asked my husband the same question three different times the other day, and I still don't remember what the answer was. I finally gave up because he kept giving me this amused look that was annoying the crap out of me.

But in the end it'll all be worth it :)

Anywho, today is one of those days were I feel a little more with it (for now) so I decided to take advantage of that and blog while I can!

Unfortunately I haven't been able to keep up with my writing goals for this round of ROW 80, but I have  been able to write here and there.

The Undying Ones is still stuck in a rut. I can see where I need to go, I just can't see how to get there, and I don't want to pull another one of those 'a few days later' tricks. It occurred to me that I could switch to Liam's viewpoint, but I think it may be too soon to do that. We just visited him last chapter, and I'm trying to keep him to every couple of chapters for right now.

I've made some progress on the serial, believe it or not. Just as I was ready to abandon it, an idea for the ending popped into my head so I ran with it. Now I just have to figure out how to fill in the rest of the story.

The Descendants is progressing quickly, but I know I'm going to be in trouble soon. I had an idea about how I wanted the first book to play out, but then I saw a movie about Pompeii is coming out and now I'm not so sure I want to go there any more. I'm tempted to send the characters to a different world instead since book two takes place in a world similar to ours that's also different (if that makes any sense... I'm afraid of saying more and giving too much away). It's funny how this story started off being about time travel and has now turned into world hopping. I think I've been reading too much The Dark Tower...

And now for WIPpet Wednesday!

WIPpet Wednesday is ran by KL Schwengel. To participate just post a part of the project that you are working on that some how correlates with the date, and then share the link to your blog on the linkie thingee over here.

Since today is 2/12 I'll be sharing 14 paragraphs from Chapter 2 of Descendants (2+12=14... I'm keeping it simple to give my poor brain a break!) Vivian sees her boyfriend shortly after entering the party, and immediately panics and takes refuge in a bathroom upstairs:

Before Vivian was aware of what she was doing, she had crossed the bathroom and hopped up on the toilet to peer out of the window. Yes, just like she had thought, it would be big enough for her to crawl through! She eased it open only to be faced with a new obstacle - a thin mesh screen separated her from her freedom.

Behind her the door handle rattled. 

“Somebody’s in here!” She called out, but however it was was persistent. The door knob continued to rattle until it finally swung open and bounced against the wall. “Look I said someone was in...” She turned, glaring at the person who wouldn’t take no for an answer only to freeze when she found Matthew staring at her. “Who invited you?”

He ignored her question. Instead he raised his eyebrows as he took in her precarious position on top of the toilet. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” She lied.

“Are you trying to escape?”

“No.” Beyond him she could see movement down at the end of the hall. She held her breath, praying it washing Josh or her best friend. “Get out and shut the door.”

“You are, aren’t you?” The short burst of laughter that escaped his lips was oddly bitter. “Why am I not surprised?”

Thankfully the ominous shadow turned out to be just another guest who had apparently been told to use the bathroom upstairs by Audra. Still, the last thing she needed was them interrupting. Vivian jumped down from the toilet and grabbed Matthew’s arm, pulling him inside the bathroom. As soon as he was clear of the door jamb, she swung the door shut and locked it once more. 

“Sorry!” She apologized to the disappointed party goer on the other side. “There’s another bathroom in the master suite!”

Once more she sagged against the door and rubbed at her eyes. So much for her plan to escape! She sighed feeling frustrated and trapped. But then, if she was honest with herself, it had been a horrible idea anyways; both Josh and Audra would have been pissed at her, and, seeing as her luck was running today, she probably would’ve ended up breaking a leg or an arm if she had attempted it. She opened her eyes to find Matthew staring at her, his long legs stretched out in front of him, and his arms crossed over his chest. 

“What?”

He shrugged. “I’m just amazed that you were so desperate to get out of here that you were actually going to climb out of a bathroom window.”

“I just needed a breath of fresh air.” She lied again. 

To see more ROW 80 updates, go here
To see more WIPpet Wednesday updates, go here