The Overlook Hotel

Q: NaNoWriMo topic challenge: let's ask about time management!

2:00 AM

@NeilFein I am writing more right now. About three-quarters through the first draft if you happen to be awake.

Stack Exchange

2:14 AM

We recently called for ideas for topic challenges related to NaNoWriMo. With NaNo starting Saturday, here's the first challenge: as NaNo gears up, what time-management challenges are you facing? What questions do you have about planning and executing a large project in a small amount of time, wh...

2:27 AM

@KitFox I'm awake, will be up for another hour or so.

Almost done.

First draft.

Give me about ten minutes.

Got a few things to do - groceries, dishes, laundry - will be back in a few.

2:44 AM

@NeilFein OK. First draft. 700+ words.

Let me know when you want to read it.

Reading now.

Oh. Hi.

Can you read it?

Or do I need to push it out first?

I'm in preview.

It's horrible, isn't it?

I went over about eight different plotlines.

I don't know how I can write anything after Julie's story.

It's very good.

2:57 AM

OMG, these are hilarious. veryviral.com/…

Comparing yourself to Julie will do you no good, since you're completely different writers. Let her inspire you instead, maybe?

Nope. Cutting my hands off.

Sent you an email with suggestions.

I will never have such grace and beauty.

You're right.

You have other things that are just as awesome.

2:59 AM

Also, (I'm doing a lot of "Also,"s today) having histrionics.

Got it.

It's in pretty good shape for a first draft.

And for being sick and then drinking anyway.

Got some stuff to do; ping me, I'll leave this window uopen.

Argh. That'll throw you for a loop.

Wasn't it Hemingway who said, "write drunk, edit sober"?

Or was that Hunter Thompson?

I don't know. I am cooler than they.

Exotic almonds of joy was what I originally wrote.

It's the "almond eyes" thing that gets overused, I think.

Your call.

It's your story.

3:04 AM

Chop chop.

The Pavlov one is my favorite.

I thought you'd laugh.

Holy crap, I nearly peed myself. Of course, I'm piss drunk.

And yes, I was particularly meaning servile with my oh-so-clever obsequious black.

Oh dear.

Cool.

It works.

When do you need this?

Tomorrow, before noon?

(My afternoon is chock-full-o-stuff)

3:07 AM

The motive is 'fatal error', referring to hubris. I guess I was a little too subtle?

Motive for what?

Motive for strangling her.

Yeah, they don't quite connect, I think.

Maybe if there were more of an air of... I dunno, menace at the ball, it would cast it in the right light.

Yeah. I tried to make her sound kind of arrogant and distant at the beginning.

Like Odess...Odyessus.

Whatever.

Now I'm racing Ceil.

Actually, you are. This is hilarious!

Who will win the Friday posting spot?

3:18 AM

Except I really did have more too drink than I meant to.

And she's already editing.

Wait. I'm editing.

Shiiiiiiit.

I was wondering if she's chatting with you, because she is editing.

Seriously, get it to me tomorrow. It'll all be fine.

She was, but then she made a break for it.

In any case, I need to walk away from it for a minute.

And stop drinking rum.

Water is your friend. Or will be in the morning. :D

3:36 AM

Morning? What's that?

Twenty minutes and I'll circle around again.

Want to chat in the meantime?

Thanks for hooking me up with the writing group.

Is "pouty" not a word?

Sorry, going back and forth between the keyboard and the kitchen, getting stuff ready for tomorrow.

merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pouty

What's a better word for "don" that isn't "put on"?

wear?

3:46 AM

I'm not revising.

No, it's the act of beginning wearing.

Like when you put on a hat.

And hi, @prosodycontext

Depending on how slangy you want to be, you could "cap" yourself ~ ...im thinking tho... and hi @KitFox <3

cap wouldnt be my first choice :)

Doff?

Doff is taking off something.

Just realized

It's OK. You have an infant.

I want her to sound more imperious.

I'm having too much trouble with words.

3:52 AM

to "top"..? miixed feelings .... hmmff.... tough question.

prob being too creative

Only the wrong ones present themselfs.

Right now, she's "clapping" it on. That's all wrong.

hahaha omg

Maybe she could crown herself, but that is probably too obvious.

4:10 AM

Why is it after midnight again?

No! My intertubes!

BESW

►

Stupid WiFi! Let me in!

That time when you need to hack your own network.. ;)

@KitFox You and Ceil both came up with the strangest interpretations of the "selfie" concept. This is a great flash fiction week.

She taunted me.

I'm humiliated.

4:21 AM

I've known Ceil for 15 years and she's never taunted me. You are one lucky lady!

Q: How do I show that two days has passed in a short story?

To be fair, I started it.

Something more demeaning that "did you do it?"

Anyway, you're covered, so I'm sleeping.

Finish later.

New draft, but it's not finished yet.

1 hour later…

Stack Exchange

5:30 AM

Ok so two days before my character is thinking about something and she is in her room. How do I show that two days later her friend is talking to her? Ok here are my rough sentences: She relaxed when she heard him walk away. That was it, right? ok and then two days or one day later I want to ...

short-story

8 hours later…

1:02 PM

Was that really only 8 hours ago?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

I dunno. I guess the timestamps don't lie? But they could. How would we know?

How's your head

It's oK.

I am not 100%, but not fully discharged either.

I suppose I should finish that story now.

1:36 PM

@Neil Are you around?

I revised, but the ending needs a little work. The story is better though.

2 hours later…

3:11 PM

I'm here.

@KitFox ^

The ending works better now, but I miss the ballroom scene.

@NeilFein I miss the obsequious black.

But it had to go. This is about her internal conflict.

Apparently.

The ending still isn't quite right though.

It needs to parallel with her angry thoughts about payback, and it misses.

I'm off to lunch shortly, so I won't get this done before noon anyway.

3:28 PM

Okay. We can post this on Saturday.

What if she spends a few minutes looking at the code while the robot is away, and somehow there's a bit of a hint in there?