Monday, November 10, 2008

Nanotastic Monday

After waking to a three-rejection Sunday, I feel like I have my feet again. (midnight rejections are no fun, people)

My NaNo book is rolling along at 25K. Here's the catch: the first draft will probably only wind up around 35K. I'm totally okay with that--it's a YA book, after all. I've surveyed some of my students' current reads, and most clock in between 30-37K, so I feel as though I'm on track. I'd rather write a useful 35K than blather on to inflate it to 50.

What to do with that remaining 15K? I have some lovely (read: ghastly) ideas for a collection of horror novellas set in my fictional little hamlet of Springdale. Maybe I'll take a stab at one...no pun intended.

So what have I done to poor little Elliot in Rock Gods...well, dear reader, you already know about his uncle...

Elliot's girlfriend has an eating disorder. He's too self-absorbed to notice until she collapses one night and has to be taken to the hospital.

His best friend, Ben, quits the band--Ben was the only real member along with Elliot.

He watches helplessly as another long time friend is pummeled by the high school linebacking corps.

His favorite teacher gets busted for looking at porn at school and lets Elliot take the blame.

Oh, there's more...slashed tires, arrests for possession of marijuana, confrontations with police...tsk, tsk.

In other news, I received an acceptance for my entry to the Silly Westerns Anthology over at Residential Aliens. "Gunplay and Haiku in Belching Gulch" is a goofy little story--one hint: wind-up sidekick.

Have a nanotastic week.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the acceptance. Sound like a very fun tale indeed. Makes me realize how set in my ways I am. I can NOT even THINK about writing something as witty as a space western.

Cate Gardner said...

CONGRATULATIONS on your acceptance, and I think the idea of doing a novella alongside your YA is a fabulous idea. Apart from anything it will allow Rock Gods to stew.

Fox Lee said...

I got four rejections, by the time it was over I yearned to go back to Nano. Congrats on cracking Silly Westerns!

Aaron Polson said...

Thanks, all.

...Rock God stew. Now that could be a horror story I'd like to read.

K.C. Shaw said...

Congrats on the acceptance! I wouldn't even know where to start when it comes to a western.

And I'm glad I'm not one of your characters. :)

Aaron Polson said...

KC--Kurt Vonnegut said to be a sadist. I'm taking his advice. I really want to see what ol' Elliot can come up with. Maybe nothing. Maybe he'll fizzle. We shall see.

Katey said...

Oooh that does sound like a cool acceptance. I always kind of wanted a wind up sidekick. Instead I have this cat with extra toes :/

Rock Gods sound like great fun so far-- way to go for hammering that out so quickly! Anything hinging on Vonnegut Advice can't be a bad thing, so I have faith in your Elliot based on that.

Jamie Eyberg said...

Wow on the NaNo. Even wowier (I don't think that is really a word but you get the drift) on a western with a silly twist no less.

Aaron Polson said...

Katey - imagine a wind-up sidekick with extra toes that meows.

Jamie - the only western I could write would have a silly twist. Pure escape from my more serious writing. I should invent a pseudonym for things like this...

Bobbie Metevier said...

Congrats on your acceptance!

I think it's amazing to have already written 25K. I'm following as many Nano-peeps as I can. It's totally inspiring.

Carrie Harris said...

I love the title of that story, and congrats on the acceptance!