Of course.
Not counting today, there are 72 days remaining in this year. If we are generous and assume only 10 days of you not writing a single word for various reasons, that leaves you 62 days to write 60.000 words, worst case scenario. That means you must write ~967,7 words per day.
Very difficult, but not impossible.
edited 20th Oct '11 11:53:20 AM by Dealan
well since I posted this, I got 499 words out.
“Olympia Corps, Razor’s Kin Battalion is ETA 120 seconds to objective.” Roughly two dozen TA 6’s and Black Hawks swooped low across the sand, leading around a massive hill. The main group headed for the control tower while two Black Hawks and Logan’s TA 6 flew around to the back of the strip. Behind them numbered no less than 30 main offensive battle tanks and several ground transport units. The entire battalion was striking the base; 1,000 in all. Inside several of the choppers were standard Rapid Assault Vehicles. These modern cavalry were nothing more than dirt bikes fitted with a nook for slinging short barreled rifles onto the handle bar, as well as being able to lock straight the front wheel. They were also designed for two people, one to drive, and one ride shotgun.
The intended purpose of these vehicles was to move troops as quickly as possible along the ground while also having the versatility of being able to take rougher terrain and more easily get into smaller areas and evade the larger, four wheeled vehicles.
Jason’s training in the Second Mars-Terran War specialized him for this role. He was a rusher, a job that had a 50% casualty rate. The ultimate adrenaline Junkie’s dream job. Just like old times. Logan maneuvered directly behind the lead chopper, a Black Hawk.
Jason shouted over the blades, “So you provide cover, and me and Tanya go in with the other rushers?”
“Roger that boss.” Shouted back Logan. “Dickens and Erica will set up further down for Sniper support, just get to that detention cell. Two Squads are sent to go with you, best of luck.”
“You too bud.” The lead chopper came swooping down as a Jet that barely came off the air strip let off a short range air-to-air missile. “I’m not going to make it!” The Black Hawk attempted to chaff flares rapidly, but it wasn’t enough.
The blast shook in the air, and the Black Hawk came crashing down, presumably leaving any of the surviving crew unable to fight. Beyond the smoke the base’s outlaying hangers and a small complex stood in defiance.
“Guess that’s one squad Jason, your going in hard in 30 seconds.” Above the choppers three familiar F-15’s screeched. The lead made short work of the American jet that had just killed the Black Hawk.
“Do not let us down northerners.” Said Jericho.
“We won’t.” Quipped Logan over the comm.
“General Rogers to break Alpha, you on the ground yet?”
“Just about.” Said Logan. The TA 6 pitched up to a stop, and the door flung open to reveal the ground to be just a meter away. Jason revved the bike’s engine, and hit the pavement.
I started to get in the zone, but I know as soon as I enter the ground scene I am going to have trouble with conveying the environment... that's my weakness as a writer, describing environments without it seeming artificial or minimalistic.
after they rescue the guy they are going after it officially ends the... grr.. what do you call it? the part where you learn about the characters right before the rising action starts to really take place.
edited 20th Oct '11 11:59:15 AM by jasonwill2
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowly
60K words?
Do Na No Wri Mo then, and finish the rest of the 10K in December. It may need a bit of effort, but if you find 1-2 hours per day, it should be a breeze.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
kind of somewhat the plan.
hell, im unemployed, I have no excuse!
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowly
Oh, and you're unemployed?
This is your job then. Go craft that story.
edited 20th Oct '11 12:49:50 PM by chihuahua0
cool
grr, i might want to look at what i wrote for the plot outline. what was i going to do in chapter 6? last time i didnt look i left out several to be dead antagonists and instead put in faceless goons and couldnt figure out why it felt so empty. THEN I remembered I planned to flesh out a bitchy and shallow female commander with some equally incompetent soldiers with her.
ok for chapter 6 it reads just this:
Wait... They can't be Nightmare yet because one Nightmare still lives, the dude they are trying to rescue. Only after the rescue the guy do the main characters become Nightmare.
Ah, oh well must of not fixed it last time, but oh well this current idea is better than this; the outline is just a rough guide.
edit: 80k words is a good amount for a first time published sci-fi work right?
edited 20th Oct '11 1:03:57 PM by jasonwill2
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowly
Forever Neutral
80k sounds okay for a first time writer, but do you want to be okay or great?
Anyhow, it seems interesting. You just know I'll stalk this thread, don't you?
Random? Insane? No, I just have my days. Now, where's the tea? That's okay, I always wanted my own stalker.
Though what I meant was that "is 80k words a good size for a first time sci-fi writer if he wants to be published in paper books?"
woot! got more written. That makes over 2k words now.
here is what else of chapter 6 I got, just to prove it. Hey, maybe I will make the goal of draft 3.6 to be finished by May 1st, 2012.
“M14 won’t do shit here; full auto all the way.”
“Got it.” She said, patting an MP 7 that she had at her side. Behind Jason four other dirt bikes dropped out of the chopper that landed behind him.
“Follow my lead!” Said Jason as he twisted the handle. The closest infantry squad was 200 meters, well in range if not for the fact that the team landed behind a ruined hanger. Jason and Tanya whipped around the edge with the others following. Straight ahead they had to cross the airstrip in plain site. They charged head on; M4 and M8 rounds scattered here and there, mostly missing the quick bikes. Tanya let off several bursts into three separate targets before tossing the AK 98’s strap over her back and reaching for her sub-machine gun. Jason came burning the wheels 50 meters from one of the Americans to sharp left on the first section of runway, and Tanya didn’t hold back. The amount of lead that impaled that man was enough to construct a Roman plumping system.
Jason swerved to the right, avoiding another group. Behind him the four bikes broke off to attack a squad he signaled to. One of the bikes was hit and toppled over, the operators killed. The other three completely destroyed the squad, leaving only one to cling to dear life.
Beyond the base Jason heard the howling of Hellfire Anti-tank missiles approaching. Surely Logan. Dead ahead of Jason several moments ahead was now three pillars of smoke where Abrams were. Jason moved quickly around the wreckage between the two airstrip sections in the dirt, and continued on.
“Regroup!” The bikes moved back into formation with Jason. “Troops on my left take lead, head on.” Jason slowed down slightly for Tanya to quickly reload her main firearm. Jason communicated over his comm, “Razor’s Kin, almost at objective., we just need…”
Several shots rang out, taking out the bike to Jason’s right. It flipped, and the rider’s screams couldn’t be heard as his skull crashed on the pavement. It was at this moment, in a split second, that Jason’s mind kicked completely into gear.
The air seemed still; in the distance almost three kilometers across the base small arms fire and tank shells could be made out blasting away, and debris flew into the air. Above him a friendly bomber made a pass, destroying jets as they tried to take off. Jason’s hearing was muffled. Jason quickly glanced over his shoulder.
Now you notice it Jason?
Yes, Now I do. He thought to himself, almost telepathically. That wasn’t a shot, it was shrapnel. Jason glimpsed to his right to see what remained of a piece of jet sliding fast along the runway. “Look out!” The three remaining bikes skidded off the runway at an different angles as a piece of F-16 wing spun wildly at them.
Still ahead they had another squad, and beyond that at least two dozen Americans at the prisoner complex to take care of. Now they only had 200 meters left. “Split and surround!” The three bikes surrounded the squad at about 50 meters while the 7 Americans tried to figure out what to do. As the circle first formed three were cut down, and two more as well as soon as the circle was completed. Tanya finished off the remaining few. “Reform!”
But before the other two could follow this order one of the bikes got to close to the small arms fire from the prisoner complex, spinning out of control and crashing, but the rider and driver otherwise only scrapped up. Three consecutive sinper rounds echoed nearby dispatching a few of the prison guards, giving the two a slight chance at getting away. They managed to get their bike back up, but one took a serious shot in the side that apparently pierced the body armor. Regardless, they regrouped with Jason as he ordered a quick retreat to the center of the airstrip in-between the ruined tanks.
Jason desperately grabbed his comm. “Sergeant Perkins, we need air support! We lost too many bikes!” There was no answer for a short period of time. Damn it Logan.
“He can not get close, the anti-air guns are still on in many parts.” Remarked Tanya.
“Shut up, he’s around I know.” Jason spoke into the comm again. “Sergeant Perkins?”
“Lt. Aris? Ya I’m here, we just downed the AA guns. I’m swooping in to take care of the infantry in a moment… coming in.”
“Told you.” Said Tanya.
Jason’s eye ridge lowered. “Shut up.” He said as he gently elbowed her. She flinched for a second before deciding to not hit back.
“Lt Aris,” the injured soldier started to lay down by a rock in the dirt. “I can’t go on.”
“It looks bad, too much more movement will only rip back open the wound, he bled a lot. I’ll have to stay here with him.” Said the other. Jason looked at the other rusher unit.
“I trust that you two will still come with me? The injured one and his driver can hold out for a few minutes I assume.” The more able unit nodded. “Good, in a moment we strike again.”
Over towards the prisoner building Logan’s TA 6 came in low, and opened machine gun fire from a safe distance. All but six of the soldiers were incapacitated before Logan had to pull off. “Aris, I got too much small arms fire I need to pull off!” Just as he relayed that message a heat seeking RPG went off. Logan quickly punched for flares which took care of it for him. “Idiots think you can hit a chopper from right behind the flare chaff with those things! Your on your own now J man.”
“Understood.” Jason threw up his finger as a signal for the other unit to follow in on him. As they neared firing range, the unit, now to Jason’s right, fired first taking down two. Tanya fired killing three more, leaving one. “Secure our rear!” Yelled Jason as he charged straight forward. He pulled his M1911 from its holster and let off rounds into the last man’s legs. Jason couldn’t make out his details, but it didn’t matter, it was just another agent of tyrancy to him. Jason came close , just a few meters before unsheathing his machete and ripping the crippled soldier’s front, from the above the left shoulder to the right upper cheek into bloody pieces. Jason made a screeching halt as the blood dripped from his machete and the man collapsed into a huge pool of blood.
Tanya kept the AK 98 ready on the door behind the cover of two crates of small arms ammunition. Jason kept his machete ready in his right hand, and his MP 9 in his left. Hitting open the flimsy door with the hilt of his machete (he was standing on the right side), it revealed four armed men and one tied to a chair. Jason saw into the room by the reflection of the mid part of his machete. He signaled for Tanya to hold her fire.
Inside he saw one of the soldiers freak and rush to cover, and the other approached the prisoner, presumably to kill him before it was too late. Jason made a quick signal for her to open fire. The man tied to the chair jumped awake slightly as the man standing a few feet away suddenly fell over after full auto hit him.
The other three Americans had cowered behind cover near the door. One opened fire towards Tanya, but she made a quick retreat a bit further back along other crates. When Jason gave another signal. “Wait, should we go or stay?” Said one of the voices inside.
“You cowards!” Jason could hear the Nightmare inside taunt them.
“Shut up!” A slap was heard inside. Jason realized this was his chance. He spun around the door and aimed carefully. First he saw the one still somewhat in cover, distracted by the Nightmare. Jason quickly tossed in a smoke grenade and used his sense of sound to make out where the one around the cover was. He made short work of the two in cover with his machete.
“What the hell?!” Said the other soldier, who shot frantically into the smoke. Jason ran, circling around to the right of him, and getting him in a choke hold from behind.
“Give it up.” Jason urged.
“Never.” The Soldier threw him back, and raised his gun, but he still couldn’t see well. Jason rolled away from the Nightmare’s direction as the shots hit the concrete. Jason’s foot came around to the American’s right, tripping him. Jason pounced on his back with his knee, and raised the machete, striking him in the back of the neck. Jason couldn’t see, but he could hear the gory groan.
He decided to end more humanely, and let off a point blank shot from the back neck with a short burst of his MP 9. As the smoke cleared, brain matter was strewn across the room, and on Jason and the captive. As it cleared more, All he could seem to focus on was the last surviving member of Nightmare, staring at him with a huge grin on his blood covered face.
“Sweet Allah.”
WOOT! my Islamic badass! Lee has been introduced! Now the ensemble is complete! Now I just need some kind of little pep talk, a temporarily foiled escape, and then when my author avatar comes in he can slowly reveal that there are no less then three competing conspiracies involved in the war ( his own mostly moral preventive conspiracy, the bigbad's visionary future conspiracy, and The Committee's crumbling conspiracy of world control on Earth)
Also, as for Tanya and Jason I think I established that she is attracted to him at least somewhat. Earlier it was established that it does not take much for her to physically retaliate at times, but here she stops herself from hitting Jason after he elbows her. Kind of came naturally, though it could of just been because they were in a small pause in the battle when they temporarily retreated.
edited 20th Oct '11 2:30:06 PM by jasonwill2
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowly
80k is good for a first-time Sci-Fi writer. If I remember correctly, sci-fi tends to run about 80-100k (contemporary fiction tends to run a bit shorter). "Good" versus "great" is not the issue here. There are fantastic science fiction books that are much longer and much shorter, it depends on the quality of the writing. However, that 80-100k range is good for publishers before they trust you enough to publish much longer or shorter books.
I wrote about 247 more words but slightly stuck because I was going to include someone adn I just realized i didnt need them. oh wells lol i can recycle the character later
getting closer, slowly
edit:
Well, I am trying to figure out how to introduce the antagonist team "Reaper" now.
[[quoteblock]]Reaper Strike Force
=/ indicates that their death is predetermined
1(infantry)
=Andrea: Arrogant vain cultured
Liberal
Atheist
Chaotic Black
2(infantry)
=Debbie: aggressive honest efficient
Moderate
Atheist
Lawful Black
3(Infantry)
Justice: efficient cunning arrogant
Conservative
Islamic
Black
4(weapons specialist)
=Jeff: vindictive close-minded two-faced
Conservative
Catholic
Black
5(marksman)
Megan: intelligent fluent artist
Liberal
Christian
Grey
edited 21st Oct '11 1:51:47 PM by jasonwill2
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowly
Also known as Katz
Those are...extremely pigeonholed roles.
PARTY PARTY PARTY I WANNA HAVE A PARTY
That tells me about as much as an ad on the back of a pack of gum 
It's from one of my documents called "arch traits"
The three traits are the three arch traits to get a basic idea of the personality, not the entire personality. Then I have their political leaning and Religion, which determines their biases. It is not as narrow as it looks. it just is for this team they; they need a certain amount of similarity to work together.
Then I have their alignment. I translated it into the D and D system and more appropriately renamed evil "black" and good "white". I also have one guy labeled orange and another blue as well.
It may look really formulaic, but I take what I write there with a dose of salt and a lot of artistic liberty. Nothing there is actually set in stone, but you do need some guide to go by, and this is the system I have used for keeping track of my characters.
For example Jason is:
Jason: loyal passionate intelligent
Conservative-Democrat
cult
Chaotic Grey
Though his political view is never mentioned explicitly (it actually means conservative mostly in terms of government structure and economic models), it impacts how I write him.
I can then take the three arch traits and branch them into other parts. For example "intelligent" might branch into "philosophical", "critical", or "educated".
Like.. ok I remember how to explain it. "Passionate" is on Jason there. "Passionate" is an "archtrait" with the sub traits being things like "ambitous", "energetic", and/or "emotional"
The actual listed "arch traits" will often include many synonyms and the connotations as well as just the annotation when I look at them for when I need to remember a personality.
edited 21st Oct '11 6:27:49 PM by jasonwill2
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowlyim feel bad, i let religous events get in the way, and i might let halloween get in the way today >.>
huh.. well tommorow i wont have an excuse
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowly
Also known as Katz
FTFY. Not a wise name change.
And that's formulaic. Regardless of the breakdown, you're reducing characters to combinations of stock positions with a veneer of flavor.
edited 31st Oct '11 4:36:14 PM by jewelleddragon
WAAAAAGGHHH! I be screaming at text, now at (joke ends)... (blinks) Nice writing... I will check it out later- TL:DR...
edited 31st Oct '11 7:49:31 PM by sabrina_diamond
In an anime, I'll be the Tsundere Dark Magical Girl who likes purple MY own profile is actually HERE!
huh? why? like black and white morality... made more sense for like black white gray orange and blue
also why it doesnt tell you much it gives me a base to start with, it isn;t like that is the only characterization, it's just the basis I start with is all. I'm not going to write up a 3 page essay on each character, esp when I have about 40 on the list and a lot of them die anyway.
edit: wait, why are people poking holes at some of my note making and not screaming at me to get to work? this topic is supposed to be a reminder for me to write and a place for me to update on that quest to finish before new years day
edited 31st Oct '11 10:03:08 PM by jasonwill2
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowlywrote 1k more but need to write about 4k more to catch up with where i should be
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowly
my goal was to finish draft 3.5 of Nightmare by New Year, 2012.
I have about 50,000-60,000 words to go.
Can I do this??!??!?!
as of the 2nd of Nov. has 6 weeks for a broken collar bone to heal and types 1 handed and slowly