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LiNoWriMo Litopia Novel Writing Month (LiMoWriMo)

The Colony's Own NaNoWriMo!

Nikky Lee

Nikky Lee
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Hi everyone!

I put a feeler post out about this earlier in the month, and now it's officially happening! Here's how it'll work (for anyone who has done Writing Accountability Buddies, you may notice some similarities ;))

1. Comment below to say you're want to join the event.
2. Tell us a bit about the project you're going to focus on for November.
(It can be any project, new or old)
3. Give us a word count goal you want to hit. (Going for the full 50k like the traditional NaNoWriMo? Or will you be happy to hit 30k like me? Or maybe you plan to write a piece of flash fiction each day—the choice is yours!)
4. Keep us updated on this thread to let us know your progress! I've also created a Google Doc word count tracker spreadsheet so you can see your progress here (click on the hyperlink above and then add your name/handle :))




Discord! We have a LiNoWriMo live chat channel on the Litopia Discord. If you're new to Discord, this post has a helpful guide on how to join and find your way around.
Writing Sprints! You can do these in the Litopia Discord sprint chanel.

You'll also notice we have a new shiney prefix to use in Cafe Life (Thank you @Jason L. for the suggestion and @AgentPete for implementing!). So if you have a story conumdrum you need help with, the prefix is there if you need it for a thread!
 
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I would love to join LiNoWriMo. I've only about 20,000 words so far, across ten chapters. I hope to add another 50K by the end of this.

Here's a synopsis...

The Blue is first-contact sci-fi with a target length of 100,000 words. The novel offers a speculative explanation of a real event - the “Wow!” signal. On 15 August 1977, The “Big Ear” radiotelescope at Ohio State University detected what might have been an extra-terrestrial radio transmission. Debate on what the signal was and where it came from continues to this day.

The first three chapters move through a series of seemingly unrelated events in August 1977 - a sentient interstellar probe dies in our solar system, an Australian mother dies in childbirth, a skeleton is found buried in a South African vineyard.

Onto the present…astrophysicist Bekana Wurrango, (F 48) runs Parkes Observatory in NSW. She is the first to receive an unknown radio transmission on The Dish. Her friend and colleague, Astrophysicist Darryl Moore (M 45) at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia confirms the source is just outside our solar system.

They soon realize it's an alien spacecraft heading straight for Earth.

The aliens continue sending messages. However, the UN and governments around the world forbid anyone from responding. Rudy Yanto (M 18) from Indonesia does it anyway. There will be consequences for both him and his family. Even his boyfriend, Kelvin Wu (M 18) will be in danger.

“Becky” and Darryl continue to work together; they make a great team. We watch as friendship and mutual respect grow into something more. Darryl's daughter, Isobel (F 12), figures out what's going on. It will be honest and awkward and beautiful.

Tragic events will test the relationship between Rudy and Kelvin.

The aliens enter Earth orbit, and we learn how to communicate. They call themselves The Blue. There are only 47 aboard their vessel. They wish to send a small delegation to Earth. Some of us will use violence to prevent it.

The aliens arrive amid chaos and death. Even so, it's going to be a brave Blue world.

In the denouement, Bekana, Darryl, and Isobel arrive at a vineyard in South Africa. The mystery introduced in the first three chapters is revealed (EDIT: I think this is too vague for a proper synopsis, but there are already enough spoilers).

Rudy and Kelvin don't know where to go from here. However, they will begin that journey together.

The Blue truly mean humankind no harm, yet they do harbor a secret. Not all of us will want them here once we know what it is.

The Blue are coming. Are you ready?
 
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I'm in.

I'll be working on the sequel to A Life in Layers.

I have 17k words, and aim to end the month with a complete plot (at present I have the beginning and the ending, and not much in the middle!), with all mechanics in place. I will be targeting 2k each day I write (probably 20 days), and to end the month with a total of 60k words kept.

Synopsis:

Roger continues to work as an agent for the British Secret Service via Simon, as he navigates the complexities of Covid Circuit-Breaker (Lockdown).

Charlotte comes back into Roger's life, by manoeuvring her way to Singapore.

Roger's boss announces the relocation of global HQ and his move to Singapore.

More information about Luca's Art theft and fraud comes to light, leading up to a series of dawn raids, and Roger and Charlotte being taken into protective custody.


My long-term plan is to add a book to the series at 6-12 month intervals, initially catching up in time, then maintaining recency, and working in more current events (primarily local) and social commentary as the series progresses.
 
After the summer of everything BUT writing I'm putting on my writers hat....er hats. I have a collection of Fanta orange ones. I'm not going for word count, but another goal. I want to have my two most finished books rewritten and ready to submit to Second Sky by the end of Nov. I'll post chapters rewritten and conundrums ironed into plot assets on here instead of just word count. I'l start with EquiVox (thank yu Hannah, Bev and Jason) rewriting the new title into the early chapters. Then it needs another 7 to 10k words to bring it over the 70k asked for by most agents and which I've been lying about. The ending is too abrupt so that is where most of it will go. (Thank you Claire) After that it's One Magic Summer which needs more tension and suspense according to my editorial report.
 
I'd love to join! I to block out the main scenes of a sequel to Tale of a Troublemaker, hoping to do 1,000 per day for 30k in total. It follows the three main characters from the first book as they go on a quest for their queen. I'm going to try and give my world a bit more of a Borneo flavour in this book, so it'll be an eerie and sometimes difficult trip from the coast to the peak of a mountain, meeting some odd characters old and new along the way.
 
I want to participate (although the commitment scares me). Like Pamela Jo, I plan to polish/rewrite and prepare an old project for submission. Some of you may remember it, as you helped me find the title: INK SLIP. The shortest way I can describe it (FYI this is not a fully worked out logline) is:

Clearing her deceased grandmother's house, Maya Zerffi, a young and earnest human rights journalist discovers an old family diary. Touching it with bare hands transports her back in time. However, the phenomenon is not caused by ghosts, magic or reincarnation; but by Science. A unique combination of ink and paper moulds causes vivid hallucinations. As she, her twin brothers, and her best friend dive in and out of the diary, they follow the lives of their ancestors, Jolana and Gustavus Zerffi, as they flee the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Maya sees that the potential for doing good in the world (through education and awareness raising) is vast... but so is the potential for exploitation, misinformation, and evil.

When one brother attempts to sell the diary, the family is confronted by the insatiable greed of a huge multinational. For nearly 20 years, the Turul Corporation has been waiting for the diary to be brought to light, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
 
I'd love to join! I to block out the main scenes of a sequel to Tale of a Troublemaker, hoping to do 1,000 per day for 30k in total. It follows the three main characters from the first book as they go on a quest for their queen. I'm going to try and give my world a bit more of a Borneo flavour in this book, so it'll be an eerie and sometimes difficult trip from the coast to the peak of a mountain, meeting some odd characters old and new along the way.
I'd be interested in reading this. I spent a few months in Borneo (Kuching, Sarawak) in 1987. My brother was an ecologist working there. It was an interesting time for me, meeting other scientists, getting caught up in election fever with local politicians, travelling on my own into the Ulu and staying with tribes. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Where are you based and what are you doing?
 
I'd be interested in reading this. I spent a few months in Borneo (Kuching, Sarawak) in 1987. My brother was an ecologist working there. It was an interesting time for me, meeting other scientists, getting caught up in election fever with local politicians, travelling on my own into the Ulu and staying with tribes. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Where are you based and what are you doing?
Ah, ecology, politics and Ulu...sounds like the perfect Borneo experience. I am in Sabah about an hour's drive from Kota Kinabalu, where I live with my tribesman husband and our three children. I came over as a marine scientist in 2004 and sort of...inserted myself into the landscape, I guess. These days I tutor Korean kids and edit academic papers.

I should note that my writing doesn't have that much Borneo in it. It's a bit like the way Terry Pratchett's Lancre feels like a lot of northern England. So there is a lot of diversity and different cultures/customs that one must pay mind to; weird creatures that one just has to accept; and the sense that one is not in control of one's environment.
 
I want to participate (although the commitment scares me). Like Pamela Jo, I plan to polish/rewrite and prepare an old project for submission. Some of you may remember it, as you helped me find the title: INK SLIP. The shortest way I can describe it (FYI this is not a fully worked out logline) is:

Clearing her deceased grandmother's house, Maya Zerffi, a young and earnest human rights journalist discovers an old family diary. Touching it with bare hands transports her back in time. However, the phenomenon is not caused by ghosts, magic or reincarnation; but by Science. A unique combination of ink and paper moulds causes vivid hallucinations. As she, her twin brothers, and her best friend dive in and out of the diary, they follow the lives of their ancestors, Jolana and Gustavus Zerffi, as they flee the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Maya sees that the potential for doing good in the world (through education and awareness raising) is vast... but so is the potential for exploitation, misinformation, and evil.

When one brother attempts to sell the diary, the family is confronted by the insatiable greed of a huge multinational. For nearly 20 years, the Turul Corporation has been waiting for the diary to be brought to light, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.

I want to participate (although the commitment scares me). Like Pamela Jo, I plan to polish/rewrite and prepare an old project for submission. Some of you may remember it, as you helped me find the title: INK SLIP. The shortest way I can describe it (FYI this is not a fully worked out logline) is:

Clearing her deceased grandmother's house, Maya Zerffi, a young and earnest human rights journalist discovers an old family diary. Touching it with bare hands transports her back in time. However, the phenomenon is not caused by ghosts, magic or reincarnation; but by Science. A unique combination of ink and paper moulds causes vivid hallucinations. As she, her twin brothers, and her best friend dive in and out of the diary, they follow the lives of their ancestors, Jolana and Gustavus Zerffi, as they flee the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Maya sees that the potential for doing good in the world (through education and awareness raising) is vast... but so is the potential for exploitation, misinformation, and evil.

When one brother attempts to sell the diary, the family is confronted by the insatiable greed of a huge multinational. For nearly 20 years, the Turul Corporation has been waiting for the diary to be brought to light, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
This sounds fascinating. I haven't heard of the Hungarian Revolution, so I am instantly intrigued. Also the mould, I do love a good mould-focused tale
 
I'm working on a project titled Red Meat, it's YA, I think YA MG.
Two Kansas high school students, obsessed with their journalism class and teacher, stumble upon a story involving a US governemnt anti-terrorism project. The project is based in Bronx, KS, at the Federal Infectious Disease Research Center, about producing hyper aggressive and violent chickens, cattle and goats (the idea being to drop them in areas known to be inhabitied by terrorists). The MC and his best friend and secret crush, pursue the story, through attacks and tornadoes.
I'm now about 2/3rds done, and hope to finish the piece by the end of November.
 
I'm in.

I'll be working on the sequel to A Life in Layers.

I have 17k words, and aim to end the month with a complete plot (at present I have the beginning and the ending, and not much in the middle!), with all mechanics in place. I will be targeting 2k each day I write (probably 20 days), and to end the month with a total of 60k words kept.

Synopsis:

Roger continues to work as an agent for the British Secret Service via Simon, as he navigates the complexities of Covid Circuit-Breaker (Lockdown).

Charlotte comes back into Roger's life, by manoeuvring her way to Singapore.

Roger's boss announces the relocation of global HQ and his move to Singapore.

More information about Luca's Art theft and fraud comes to light, leading up to a series of dawn raids, and Roger and Charlotte being taken into protective custody.


My long-term plan is to add a book to the series at 6-12 month intervals, initially catching up in time, then maintaining recency, and working in more current events (primarily local) and social commentary as the series progresses.

Ooh...you had me at Singapore :)

And you've got spies mucking about. Have you read Len Deighton? I picked up the Game, Set, Match trilogy back in the 90s. Seriously good.
 
I want to participate (although the commitment scares me). Like Pamela Jo, I plan to polish/rewrite and prepare an old project for submission. Some of you may remember it, as you helped me find the title: INK SLIP. The shortest way I can describe it (FYI this is not a fully worked out logline) is:

Clearing her deceased grandmother's house, Maya Zerffi, a young and earnest human rights journalist discovers an old family diary. Touching it with bare hands transports her back in time. However, the phenomenon is not caused by ghosts, magic or reincarnation; but by Science. A unique combination of ink and paper moulds causes vivid hallucinations. As she, her twin brothers, and her best friend dive in and out of the diary, they follow the lives of their ancestors, Jolana and Gustavus Zerffi, as they flee the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Maya sees that the potential for doing good in the world (through education and awareness raising) is vast... but so is the potential for exploitation, misinformation, and evil.

When one brother attempts to sell the diary, the family is confronted by the insatiable greed of a huge multinational. For nearly 20 years, the Turul Corporation has been waiting for the diary to be brought to light, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.

This sounds interesting! Years ago I read a novel called Skeptic (I don't recall the author) with a somewhat similar take. The plot explained ghosts as memories of the dead transferred by virus. Bad actors want to refine the viral delivery and payload to permit a form of mind control.

I remember only a bit thirty years on. I recall the prose being a bit on the purple side, though.
 
Ah, ecology, politics and Ulu...sounds like the perfect Borneo experience. I am in Sabah about an hour's drive from Kota Kinabalu, where I live with my tribesman husband and our three children. I came over as a marine scientist in 2004 and sort of...inserted myself into the landscape, I guess. These days I tutor Korean kids and edit academic papers.

I should note that my writing doesn't have that much Borneo in it. It's a bit like the way Terry Pratchett's Lancre feels like a lot of northern England. So there is a lot of diversity and different cultures/customs that one must pay mind to; weird creatures that one just has to accept; and the sense that one is not in control of one's environment.
At the last huddle I was at, we were looking at your manuscript. I was intrigued. But I guess you have ample opportunity to weave in snippets of local culture, as I think no one would recognise it here in Europe, but would add to the world building.
 
I'd love to join! I to block out the main scenes of a sequel to Tale of a Troublemaker, hoping to do 1,000 per day for 30k in total. It follows the three main characters from the first book as they go on a quest for their queen. I'm going to try and give my world a bit more of a Borneo flavour in this book, so it'll be an eerie and sometimes difficult trip from the coast to the peak of a mountain, meeting some odd characters old and new along the way.

Ooh...I hope you throw in some local lingo. Will there be any Djinn or Seytan ?
 
I'm working on a project titled Red Meat, it's YA, I think YA MG.
Two Kansas high school students, obsessed with their journalism class and teacher, stumble upon a story involving a US governemnt anti-terrorism project. The project is based in Bronx, KS, at the Federal Infectious Disease Research Center, about producing hyper aggressive and violent chickens, cattle and goats (the idea being to drop them in areas known to be inhabitied by terrorists). The MC and his best friend and secret crush, pursue the story, through attacks and tornadoes.
I'm now about 2/3rds done, and hope to finish the piece by the end of November.

That sounds...completely out of control !

Does your story approach Cocaine Bear levels of crazy ?
 
Better get my project down before this kicks off tomorrow (I'm in New Zealand, so I'm ahead of many of you ;))

Project: The Rarkyn's Roar (Book #3 of The Rarkyn Trilogy) - first draft
Starting word count: 18,882 words
Goal: 50k (+30k words or 1000 words per day)

Working blurb:
Miscreant.
Murderer.
Monster.

Lyss Rhyos has been called many things. She survived the Empire’s prison, inherited the power of a ginndir Queen, and crumbled the magical walls of Illredus.

Now deep in the Otherworld, she walks among monsters untold, but with only half a true Queen’s power. As a young queenling, she is a curiosity, an oddity—and a threat to the balance of power the eternals have built.

To carve out her place in this strange new world, Lyss must forge new allies, unite a divided aetherling city, and unknot the memories buried inside her.

Because in the world above, Keteus and his allies are on the march.

And the usurper’s ambitions don’t stop at ruling the Empire.

But the Otherworld itself.

Blood to blood, ashes to ashes.
 
That sounds...completely out of control !

Does your story approach Cocaine Bear levels of crazy ?
Yeah, no. cocaine bear wishes it was a crazy as this gets. Killer monster chickens, tornadoes dropped on repeat, one an F-6 (which are theoritzed to have last occured more than 60 million years ago, bull that flip over cars. And right now, I'm working on an incredibly cool chapter
 
Ooh...you had me at Singapore :)

And you've got spies mucking about. Have you read Len Deighton? I picked up the Game, Set, Match trilogy back in the 90s. Seriously good.
I haven't, but I'm obviously aware of him. I discovered Le Carre in the mid 80s in a big way, and am currently working my way through Mick Herron's Slow Horses series.
 
Ooh...I hope you throw in some local lingo. Will there be any Djinn or Seytan ?
I do have demons, but they have been renamed based on Huddle advice :) . Our local lingo is derived from Momolianism (a type of animism) rather than Arabic-Islam as Sabah is home to mostly non-Malay tribes. They have a veritable pantheon of spirits that traditionally govern every aspect of daily life (less so since Christianity arrived, but they are still very present).

In the old days if one went out to do something and heard the call of a certain bird or saw a specific insect, one would turn around, go home, and stay there all day.
 
I'd like to join

I want to finish the short story I'm writing: Dragonomics.

Project title: Dragonomics
Starting word count: 1800
Word count goal: 25,000

Blurb:
Dragons hoard gold, everyone knows that, but nobody has ever discovered why.

Derrick is about to, and it will turn all of Feydern on its head.

Sent on his first quest as a qualified Wizard, Derrick is tasked with slaying a dragon and retrieving its hoard. But all is not as it appears, and what begins as a simple quest becomes far more complicated once he learns the truth.
He didn't sign on for a moral quandary, but someone has to be the voice of reason.
Did it have to be him though?
 
/
Title Autumn Child (Rewrite)

Current: Wordcount 68,000

Target: Complete Rewrite

Overview: Brother and sister battle against the UK Legal system, and incompetent Government Agencies, when they discover their younger sister has defrauded their parents of their savings, and may have been involved in their early deaths.
 
Dragons hoard gold, everyone knows that, but nobody has ever discovered why.

Derrick is about to, and it will turn all of Feydern on its head.

Sent on his first quest as a qualified Wizard, Derrick is tasked with slaying a dragon and retrieving its hoard. But all is not as it appears, and what begins as a simple quest becomes far more complicated once he learns the truth.
He didn't sign on for a moral quandary, but someone has to be the voice of reason.
Did it have to be him though?

That last sentence :D
 
I will give it a go if I can make time but things are quite hectic. I've scarcely written a word since June so this might just administer the kick up the derriere I need. The piece I'll be working on has been knocking around for a few years now but stalled around chapter 12.

Project: Gods Failing Upwards.
Current Count 23,000
Target: Finish a complete first draft - Approx. 80,000

Rough Plot.

A deity, now long in the tooth, has taken his eye off the ball. Much of his creation is taking him for granted. When moves are made to overthrow and replace him by The Symposium, he must act to restore his once great standing, or drift off into the annals of mythology.
 
/
Title Autumn Child (Rewrite)

Current: Wordcount 68,000

Target: Complete Rewrite

Overview: Brother and sister battle against the UK Legal system, and incompetent Government Agencies, when they discover their younger sister has defrauded their parents of their savings, and may have been involved in their early deaths.
This is the kind of thing I would read.
 
I'd like to be a part. I'm aiming for just around 5K words this month, if it's okay. I'm working on a story
with the working title, "Vision of the McNulty's." It's an Old Western-type story currently at 4K words.
In it, I try to get away from the traditional type of Western into the surreal, though I try to keep the
characters grounded in reality. I don't know where it will end up, as it's a new work in progress--and
my first try at writing. How can I post what I've written so far? I'm new to this.
 
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