Smoke Rises: A Novel

Speed Read: Add this list ways procrastinate.

By the way, the cutesy image in the last post is from ReadPal, a software that claims to help people read much faster. It will take out all the words of less importance...the articles and stuff that are necessary for correct grammar but not necessary to understanding a sentence. It will columnize (wow, is that a word? 'Cause my spell-checker says no problem) the text too which is supposed to make reading easier (think newspapers). And it will give you one word or sentence at a time (like one of those bleeding psychology tests where they flash images or words at you and measure your reaction in brain wave patterns) and do it at your speed of reading so you don't have to "find the next word and refocus" each time. Anyway, it sounds awesome to me and I'm hoping it really is free to individuals as they claim on their blog. Trying to download it now...stay tuned/keep reading.

Note from Tomorrow: I downloaded the ReadPal. It doesn't seem to show up on my browser (Firefox) and only showed up on the wordprocessor for a short while and then for some reason disappeared. Anyhow, while it was there I did try it out and liked it very very much. I could get used to reading this way...of course, I tried reading my own writing so there wasn't much mystery about what was coming up next...I'd like to try something authored by someone else and nonfiction at that. If I could grasp the general content of the material then I think this banner reader could help train me to stay focused on what I am reading, since it assumes that you are reading the whole time and only gives you enough time to read the number of words on the screen...no daydreaming time. So, in my opinion this isn't a very good method for reading fiction - I like to go back and read passages over a lot (with everything) and to let the writing sink in - but reading something dry this way could really work. Oh, oh, oh! I know just the text...*off she runs*

When I need inspiration to write, I often start by doing a web search for How to WRite a Novel or Write a Novel or some similar keywords. Today, I hit on a post called, "How-To Write Your Novel While You're On the Clock", and it was just the kick I needed to get started this evening. The idea of being able to write my novel while at work is a very attractive one and one of the reasons why I sometimes wish I did have a less challenging job, an office job like being a receptionist or something. Or a computer technician...I'm sure I'd fix all the computers and have hours left to spend doing nada or rather writing. Dreaming, dreaming.

Anyway, I particularly liked how they related what we need to do to what addicts do when trying to quit an addiction. I will paraphrase what they said in the article: Whereas someone trying to stop smoking might pop some gum in their mouth everytime they think about think about having a cigarette, wanna-be novelists need to write everytime they get the urge to *cough* blog or open their browser for any other non-novel writing and thus lame pursuits.

After the Lightning Storm

I have been delinquent on the writing recently but did come to terms last night with not changing my plot drastically which would basically have meant putting off writing the 1st draft until I'd finished fixing the outline. A few smaller tinkerings and I think the plot will do as is. Basically, the idea is that while the main character is fighting the physical removal of her people, the two primary minor characters stories are the product of a cultural assault (the missionary schools in which native american children were forceably placed). This last piece is not historically accurate since my story is set before the schools were set up but I think it will work nevertheless...it works for the theme of the book.

The Writing Show

Turns out there is a very nice podcast on writing available called The Writing Show. I'm told it's nice anyway. I've been too busy *cough* writing to stop to listen to it. :-)

How to write a novel? I wouldn't bet on it.

This is some amusing advice on how to write a novel. To paraphrase someone's comment regarding this author's suggestions however, "if I tried to follow her advice, I'd probably go crazy." Still, it's entertaining advice nevertheless...just to think, some people actually write this way!

And yet more such amusing advice on how to write a novel...

"They've got mad jokes!"

Check out this character generator. "Way cool." Should help me with description...

Software for the Writer

I'll come back and edit this post later but here are a few sites I was recently recommended by a fellow blogger-writer ;)

Loose Stitch (outlining software)
Mind Meister (mind-mapping software)

They both look very cool. Also, if you like the iPhone look...you might take a look at the widget set-up the iPhone utilizes, Widgetop. It's available for your desktop or for some other (non-iPhone) mobiles like Nokia...good 'ol Finns. I wanted to put it on my PDA but no such luck when it comes to compatibility. Windows Mobile sucks.

If you subscribe to this Netflix-like audiobook site, they will load your selection onto a player, mail the whole thing to you "for free" and then, when you've listened to the thing and maybe downloaded your copy to your computer (they emphasize that it is yours to keep), you can return the whole thing to them (also all postage paid) and then wait for another one on your queue to arrive. The site (from Edinburgh, Scotland) is called VBurny and, in order to promote their new Player-to-Go service, they have offered to reimburse all purchasers of Harry Potter 7 in the world who subscribe to heir book service.

Shortest Stories

Back in their November issue, Wired Magazine published more than 30 stories of famous authors (mostly sci-fi). You might wonder how they were able to fit so many stories in one issue of the magazine. Well, each story was limited to no more than 6 words, using Hemingway's famous, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn," as a model.

Here are some of my favorites, from silly to "too-gosh-darn-true":

We kissed. She melted. Mop please!
- James Patrick Kelly

The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.
- Orson Scott Card

TIME MACHINE REACHES FUTURE!!! … nobody there …
- Harry Harrison

New genes demand expression -- third eye.
- Greg Bear

Dinosaurs return. Want their oil back.
- David Brin

Bang postponed. Not Big enough. Reboot.
- David Brin

Democracy postponed. Whence franchise? Ask Diebold...
- David Brin

Sum of all fears: AND patented.
- Charles Stross

The Axis in WWII: haiku! Gesundheit.
- Howard Waldrop

Weeping, Bush misheard Cheney’s deathbed advice.
- Gregory Maguire

Parallel universe. Bush, destitute, joins army.
- Steven Meretzky

Amazing - how much you can say with 6 words. I will have to write my own sometime...but for now I'll stick to the easy stuff, the novel.

A Word Meter!

I finally found a wordmeter to track my progress on the novel! See sidebar. You can get one of your own at Zokutou. There are also a number of podcasts on writing that I've recently discovered...although I'm not sure how good they are. One sounded like a straight-up advertisement for the author's book. Anyway, here are the writing blogs and pods I found today.

Plotastic

Writers Talking

I Should Be Writing

The Secrets: Podcasts for Serious Writers


Here's a tale of rejection letters with a happy ending. Doh...I gave it away, didn't I? This is a nice site if you want to see what some of the more descriptive rejection letters look like. Of course, lots of editors/editorial staff will just send you a form letter rejecting your manuscript.

Back to Work!

Back from summer vacation...I might as well go ahead and write the novel I guess...though I keep noting new crucial changes that need to be made to the outline. She is, for example, going to come to a realization regarding what really happened in the past leading to her father's death and this will contribute to her seeing that she might be (somewhat) wrong about her own philosophy of fighting violence with violence.

BBC Writing Site

Still Writing!

Yes, I have been writing fiction on the back burner. But that's because I am full steam ahead into writing for the family. I just finished the outline for our latest project with my brother and now I'm working on clarifying the theses and questions that come out of that which we will need to answer in order to generate content. It's going very very well now. Scary.

A Really Nice Chinese Dictionary

I just installed the proper TrueType fonts for Windows XP so I can read chinese documents on my computer. This is another important method of procrastinating when it comes to writing. I can browse the internet for new chinese websites and look up the gazillion characters I don't know. Here's a well...really nice chinese dictionary. Check it out!

http://www.yellowbridge.com/language/chinese-dictionary.php

A Note and a Nod

Just wanted to say...I am writing. I've started outlining another story but my plan is to actually complete a manuscript in the short amount of time left in the summer...we just barely got two months off.

Okay. And the nod is to J.K.Rowling, who doesn't need one from little ol' me. Just wanted to say that there is no way she is so dumb as to have made Dumblee-dore stupid after all the trust and reverence people have for him. It was no accident that Snape killed him. I agree with other readers that he must have told Snape to do it. He wasn't completely sure when it would happen and had to make it look like he didn't want it to happen but I think that Snape had to kill Dumbledore (if he is really dead) to earn Moldy Voldy's trust so he could go back and help destroy him. It was the only way. Snape is still the inside man. It's just that even the side he is helping doesn't know it. Poor Snape! Doing the right thing and not a friend in the world. Well, there is that twit Narcissa but they aren't true friends since she doesn't know his true nature/intentions. Snape was never that bad. He was goaded like Zidane by that Harry Potter's Matarazzi-ish father who constantly harassed and bullied him. It doesn't make everything he did right but I think that Harry's daddy had a hand in his own death, if indirectly. So kudos to J.K. for keeping us all talking about

HARRY POTTER

.

See the following url for other theories:
http://www.hpana.com/forums/topic_view.cfm?tid=38412

Perspective

While the titles in particular escape me at the moment, I know I have read several stories and novels where the first person was used most effectively in capturing the readers' interest and making them feel that they had some emotional stake in the story plot.

Perhaps this could work in this story with the largely passive hero as first person narrator, reflecting on the events that happened in his past. It would also make the necessary flashbacks (to his experiences prior to meeting the heroine) a more natural part of the story.

Title Change

Okay, if I ever actually do this then it will have to be called Smoke Rising and not Smokes Rises because it gets higher ratings on the title machine and therefore is statistically more likely to be a bestseller. What title machine? Follow this link...

http://www.lulu.com/titlescorer/index.php

Imagining a Novel

Here, I have finally remembered to post the outline for the novel, complete with descriptions of each scene and of the characters. The scene numbers refer to particular parallel storylines and therefore there are multiples of certain scene numbers, scenes that occur simultaneously.

Smoke Rising

All Rights Reserved, 2005

Novel of at least 120,000 words and approximately 60 scenes

Story details

Format
Novel

Genre
Period drama

Concept
A Choctaw terrorist fighting to save her people from forced relocation, finds her beliefs/approach thrown into question after meeting Palmer, an escaped slave.

Setting
1831, Piney Woods, Mississippi
After August 27 and before winter relocation.
After Nat Turner's Rebellion and before the Trail of Tears.

Theme
The theme is that of the conflicting philosophies of violent and non-violence resistance. That violence will always have a painful cost and that there are more insidious weapons than guns and knives, such as alcohol..

Impact
It is riveting but more of a brainy thriller like Smilla's Sense of Snow since every scene is not action packed. It is character driven as well as plot driven.

Outcome
The Heroine dies after transforming and changing her philosophy and so does Isi in her obsession and the hero makes it north and the general makes a choice to follow the status quo.

Primary Audience
young adult and adult women of all ages

Pitch
A Choctaw terrorist fights to save her people.

Character profiles

Nina

Last name
Xochitl

Gender
Female

Sexuality
Heterosexual

Age
30

Date of birth
1801

Appearance
long black hair
strong
confident
beautiful

Spirituality
native american traditional

Personality
Fiery

Likes
The Hero


Dislikes
Army, settlers

Strengths:
Strength
Responsibilty
Stick-to-itness

Weaknesses:
Stubborness

Basic goal:
To Save her people from relocation

Desires:
To be Safe and loved

Past traumas:
Parents killed by army/settlers

Hero and Heroine: Hero and Heroine have conflicting philosophies but love each other. They must decide to either join each other, putting aside their individual beliefs, or part ways forever.

Isi and General Tragedy: Isi is obsessed with the general but the general will not allow himself to marry her because she is an Indian, a heathen. The general is pushed to marry another woman but Isi doesn't give up.

General/Town Political Environment around Nat Turner, Treaty, etc.: After Nat Turner's Rebellion, the environment is that of paranoia and hysteria. The people believe that all blacks are out to kill them.

Hero's search for Family: Hero thinks he may have found his brother, family is very important to him.

Locations

Piney Woods, Mississippi

Type
Countryside

Description
Lots of Pine Trees....Cattle, Snakes, Hogs,....etc

Chapter 1

1. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina burns down the courthouse.

2. (Hero and Heroine)

Description of the Piney Woods of Mississippi...Nina's woods, her home

3. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina encounters, attacks Hero.

4. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina tends to the injured Palmer.

5. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina tells Palmer of parents' death due to prior relocation/interference by miltitary/settlers.

6. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina goes to obtain medical supplies for Palmer and nearly runs into General Beech.

6. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Description of Choctaw community

Chapter 2

7. (Hero and Heroine)

Feverish in the woods, Hero has flashbacks to his escape from slavery and recent experiences during and following Nat Turner's Rebellion.

8. (Hero and Heroine)

While Nina has been getting supplies, hero has regressed again and is in critical condition. Perhaps he has wandered off in a high fever and she finds him lying unconscious deep in the woods. She is afraid he is about to die, but his fever finally breaks with the help of the herbal medicine she obtained from Chahta Apokni.

8. (Isi and General Tragedy)

General Beech and Isi Meeting 1

Do they know each other already? Yes.

Chapter 3

9. (Hero and Heroine)

Heroine's accident on horseback with lantern. This is the first scene where the Hero is conscious for any length of time. He wakes and follows her horse to where she lays unconscious with a concussion. He takes her back to the house.

9. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Introduce Jim, interaction/friendship with/confidant of Nina. He is clearly obssessed with her. But he's a mess and she tells him so (without realizing that she is hurting his feelings or realizing that he loves her and that he believes/takes everything she says to heart) She mentions his ragged appearance, his breath (alcohol), and then casually leaves after having met him by a stream and not really saying much but after getting the settler clothing she asked him for (she is using him, unconsciously), a dress and shoes. He is very disappointed, he had expected to be able to talk to her longer in return for the gifts...

9. (General/Town Political Environment around Nat Turner, Treaty, etc.)

Description of the town and military encampment.

10. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina recovers from explosion and must explain to the Hero why she has the stash of gunpowder, though she doesn't elaborate and say that she will be blowing up people as well as buildings.

10. (General/Town Political Environment around Nat Turner, Treaty, etc.)

(political) superior visits town, speaks with General, (he is reprimanded?) Given something of an ultimatum and things get desperate for the General (his motive to arrest hero/heroine).

General is given responsibility of overseeing removal of Choctaw to Mississippi. If he can do this smoothly (no terrorist attacks...) he will be rewarded (supposedly with a position in government).

10. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Contact tells Nina of her worries about her granddaughter, Isi, and who she is choosing to spend time with. She asks Nina to speak with Isi, to try to show her a better path to take so she does not turn out like her mother.

10. (Hero's search for Family)

The hero thought he saw his brother before losing consciousness...(Truman is the one who took him into the woods or told him the way to go)...He goes back to look for him, skimming the outskirts of the town and watching free blacks at various occupations. Truman is a blacksmith and the hero spots him and watches him work for some time. He doesn't know it but Truman notices someone is watching him after a time (isn't sure it isn't some townsperson trying to implicate him in something)

11. (Hero and Heroine)

Hero and Heroine are having a meal discussing future goals, cultural differences, and finally philosophy which they argue over vehemently. This argument is clearly not academic to them, it's their lives and what they do, plan to do that is at stake.


11. (General/Town Political Environment around Nat Turner, Treaty, etc.)

Shake-Up in town over "rioting slaves", suitor (and mother) look to general to protect them.

11. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Jim shows up looking for Isi in her grandmother's home (he wants to tell her something, that he loves her, that he has changed). Nina, who is visiting the grandmother, tells him to leave Isi alone.

12. (Hero and Heroine)

Hero tells Nina of his past (a sign of trust) and this tale confirms to the reader his absolute belief in non-violence. Also he tells of his early separation from his family and that he hopes ultimately to find his family or some of it at least.

12. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Flashback to interaction between close childhood friends, Nina and Leotie (Isi's mother). Leotie was a risk taker and rebellious...did dangerous things and found forbidden things attractive.

13. (Isi and General Tragedy)

General Beech's ailing mother pressures him to be successful in military, politics, to marry well, etc..for her sake or as a sort of dying wish (she says she is dying).

14. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Isi tells all her hopes and dreams of being with the General to her friend, Jim. She still doesn't realize that Jim is in love with her and she doesn't notice how he has tried to change himself for her, cleaning up and leaving the bottle (for the day at least). His hands are shaking from withdrawal. This makes him angry and he doesn't spare her feelings in telling her how stupid he thinks she is to love the General, that he will only hurt her, leave her like she is nothing...that she is nothing to the General. She is angry, tells Jim that he is so wrong, pouts. He pulls her to him and then leaves before losing control. with her crying and confused...

16. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Suitor has come to "visit the General's mother" and they all end up having a discussion about a number of topics (interviewing for marriage) including (because of a comment she has casually made) the Indians. She thinks they are all savages. He argues that perhaps they could be reformed...."Goodness," she says, "What a missionary soul you have!" She is surprised by his impassioned views on this topic. There is some mention of President Jackson's opinions (perhaps by his mother to support her and suitor's opinions).

Chapter 4

17. (Hero and Heroine)

Hero discovers that heroine is planning to blow up not only a building but the people/soldiers inside and he sabotages her stash of gunpowder with water (partly because he thinks Truman is his brother and will be killed in the attack).

17. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Heroine speaks with Isi, tries to get her to see the evil of her ways. Isi admires Nina's independence of the elders/community but is not convinced to change.

18. (Hero and Heroine)

Heroine discovers sabotage, the ruin of her plan, and heroine and hero fight. Climax of conflict in their philosophies. In the end, she tells him to leave, she doesn't want him here anymore.

18. (Hero's search for Family)

Hero goes back to spy on Truman (wants to find family before leaving area) and is confronted by him. Truman is at first angry until he recognizes him and realizes that he is not a spy sent by the townspeople (things such as this have happened more since Nat Turner). This is still a very very dangerous meeting because both of them could get in trouble. Hero finds out that Truman was the one who sent him into the woods so he would not get caught. They get along well but Truman is not (could not be) who he thought and hoped he might be (his brother).

18. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Isi hears of the General's suitor from her drunk friend, Jim, and is deperately trying to think of a way to win the General back when she sees Nina going to speak with her grandmother and she gets inspired.

19. (Hero and Heroine)

Palmer's dream of himself as a boy (his capture), morphing into their child (his and Nina's). in his dream, they are fighting to free their child from bondage. Palmer comes to a realization about his feeling for Nina but knows that he must do as she asked and leave now.

20. (Hero and Heroine)

Heroine speaks about hero's sabotage and escape plans to the contact. Isi overhears.

20. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Isi tells General of Hero's escape plans.

20. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Isi begs the general to stay with her/take her with him. He angrily refuses. He will not give up, cannot give up his prospects for an Indian "heathen". He calls her a heathen but she would accept his religion. She is cast aside/left/abandoned in tears.

20. (General/Town Political Environment around Nat Turner, Treaty, etc.)

Truman is badly hurt/tortured by the General in the wake of Nat Turner's Rebellion.

Chapter 5

21. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina realizes that Isi was listening and what she might have been up to. Realizes that the Hero's life and freedom are in jeopardy and goes to rescue him.

21. (Isi and General Tragedy)

General dreams Isi is a white woman and she gets along fabolously with his mother. He wakes in a cold sweat.

22. (Hero and Heroine)

Hero leaves to meet his contact and escape but the general is waiting and even before he gets there he is intercepted by general. Heroine causes a commotion, giving the hero a chance to escape, and she is captured instead.

22. (Isi and General Tragedy)

In reaction to the insults of the general, especially having been called heathen by him and pushed away...
Isi goes to church meeting (to stop being a heathen in the General's eyes). Is happy to be able to earn his love (in her delusion).

23. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina is sentenced to hang the next day in the middle of town.

Chapter 6

24. (Hero and Heroine)

Hero busts Nina out of Jail with Truman's help.

24. (Isi and General Tragedy)

General's second meeting with his suitor (this or subsequent meetings are reported to Isi), General agrees to marry her (asks her in a non-romantic, all business way) in order to secure the position of political power that has been slipping out of his grasp (she is daughter of some bigwig and lets him know that while she can seem very compliant, she is not to be trifled with and if he isn't certain then he would do best not to ask her again...but he does, with more feeling now than the first time - has he perhaps convinced himself?)...also to make his ailing mother happy. (Perhaps we don't see the proposal but only him telling his mother about it.)

25. (Hero and Heroine)

Palmer tells Nina that he has realized that while he has been searching everywhere for family, it was right in front of him...that he has already found family in Nina. He asks her to go north with him. She says no, she has a job to finish here and cannot abandon her community.

25. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Isi hears of the engagement from Jim but doesn't believe it and lashes out, telling him that she hates him for trying to break them apart.. She goes to find the general and prove to herself that this isn't true...

26. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina goes to blow up military building/barracks (she doesn't have as many explosives as she would like, due to Hero's earlier sabotage but enough to destroy building's supports) with soldiers/General inside. Her set-up, survey of scene, thoughts (internal conflict temporarily settled in favor of violence, she feels she has no choice).

26. (Isi and General Tragedy) - extra

Jim panics, thinks Isi is in the freezing cold woods and searches throughout looking for her and calling her name.

26. (Hero and Heroine)

Nina does blow up military building/barracks (she doesn't have as many explosives as she would like, due to Hero's earlier sabotage but enough to destroy building's supports) with soldiers/General inside, as they are tearing people out of their homes (sympathetic characters, human elements).

26. (Isi and General Tragedy)

Jim (in hysterics) tells Nina that Isi is in the barracks. It's too late.

27. (Isi and General Tragedy)

General (coming out of the building) makes decision not to save Isi at final moment. It's a split second decision, the building is coming down on them after the explosion and he turns and sees her reaching out to him, crying out in a panic but he leaves her. This finalizes their story. His prioriities are now apparent and no longer in question. "Isi was fun but not worth taking any risks." This scene is in slow motion, General steps out not a second before the explosion occurs behind him. He turns and there she is some distance behind him, trapped or blocked by something ....Isi's eyes are directly on his as he makes an imperceptable movement toward her and then turns and darts out of building.

Chapter 7

27. (Hero and Heroine)

Final scene, Nina's escape on horseback, pursued by general and his men. She is shot down just as she reaches the top of the hill, just in view of hero.

28. (Hero and Heroine)

The Choctaw are forced to relocate at the end of theh story during a blizzard with no shoes or adequate food and water. Isi's grandmother, Chahta Apokni, dies halfway there, buried with three others including a four-month old baby.

A post for my thoughts

I was thinking that Isi's existence is not yet indelibly linked to that of the main character, Nina and that is a problem. It isn't quite clear why we are interested except that her story, on it's own, is more interesting than Nina's...another problem. Also, must remember to keep a very dramatic suspenseful tone. This is not a light story. I like the tone of the second Lord of the Rings movie. It is quite atmospheric and dramatic. I want that wide open, cinematic feel in a way but more importantly, I am learning to write better character descriptions. I am reading a novel about the civil war, since this is close to the same time period. The writing style and dialogue has been very enlightening. And it also reminded me to add rain. Weather can be quite exciting/moving, don't you think? (-:

Final Scene

I did write the final scene but I still have the beginning and the middle to do. The writing is not spectacular but I think it will be pretty straightforward to edit, fun even...versus writing the first draft. In other words, this is just getting the story down on paper and the beauty will come out in the revisions (hopefully). Also, it's nice to know that if I write one page in Times New Roman single-spaced size 10 then I get a three page scene in the standard double-spaced Times New Roman 12. I like to be able to see everything I am writing on one page. Also, writing one page is much less intimidating than writing three. Going to take my little sister to see Harry Potter on Wednesday. Hopefully Wednesday will be far enough from the Madding Crowds. And they are mad right now. HiHo.