So with the end of November comes the end of NaNo. Did I make it? Not even close. But I didn’t really expect to, either. Hitting a block in the middle of the month wasn’t fun, but I’m not going to give up on the project. I don’t care how long it takes, I’m going to finish this damn thing, even if I have to scrap it and start over from the beginning. If nothing else, I at least have a developed world for future characters to play in.

One thing I noticed, doing NaNo, is that my method of writing changed. Anything I’ve written previously was typically written chapter by chapter, but I changed it up and started writing scene by scene (every scene its own file in Scrivener). Will I continue writing like that? I’m not sure. It is convenient to not have to scroll through entire chapters looking for a specific scene, but on the other hand, it sometimes felt like some of the scenes were mini-chapters and that’s not really what I intended.

I guess we’ll see where things go from here.

Founded in 1693, New Jericho has grown from a simple township into one of New Jersey's largest cities. With a population of 578,000 (2006 census), New Jericho is home to the Jericho Lions and the University of New Jericho Rams, and some of the top entertainment venues on the East Coast.

When the sun goes down, New Jericho wakes up. Virtually every band that steps foot in the United States plays some dates in or around New Jericho and the City's rock clubs have a history of discovering and showcasing new acts.

Locations of note:
James W. Gordon International Airport: anyone wanting to fly into or out of New Jericho is going to have to do it here. Make sure to arrive at least two hours before any international flight.
Bête Noire Psychiatric Hospital: "We're all here because we aren't all there". Home to New Jericho's craziest, which is a surprisingly high number.
Kirby Tower: Many of New Jericho's top businesses have their offices here. The top floors are owned by Leiber & Kurtzberg, New Jericho's top law firm.
Four Freedoms Park: City Hall overlooks one of the few green spaces left in the City.
Alan Parson Projects: Not the best place to live, but when money is tight...
Whitechapel: The slums. In 1890, a vampire known as Gentleman Jack made a killing here. Literally.
Jericho Credit Union Stadium: Home of the New Jericho Lions. Go Lions!
St. Jude College: Better known for being home to the Dr. Joseph Bell Library and Henry Walton Jones Museum of Art & History, St. Jude’s is the local college in the city.

Reading about the dreaded Week Twos, I was a little concerned. But all throughout the week I was easily about to get ~1700 words each night. Then came Sunday. Not only did I not hit 1700 words, I didn’t hit 500 words. There was a just a sudden “I have no idea what to write next”. Considering how well things have been going to this point, I’m a little annoyed.

I’m hoping it’s short lived, and that tonight I’m able to power on through. Taking a break last night to watch the race didn’t really help. Taking a break to watch the game didn’t help either. So here I am, now a day behind, struggling to figure out where my story is going.

The annoying part is, I know where the story needs to end up. I just haven’t figured out how to get to there. Or at least, how to get there in 50,000 words.

Name: Aisling Valentine
Age: Appears late teens, actually 140
Occupation: None
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
Martial Status: Single

Born in the Victorian era, Aisling Valentine grew up in a “finishing school”, one that raised its students to serve patrons with particular tastes. After graduation hse was to be governess to a minor lord, but unknown to her, he had recently been turned into a vampire. Her “master” turning her as well, Aisling sought to kill herself before it was too late. She survived the attempt, now immortal, but quickly fled London. Finding herself in New Jericho, and unable to stand the light of the sun, she was thrown into the Bête Noire Psychiatric Hospital where she has remained until the present day.

Despite being Victorian, she is well acclimated to the modern day. Since she doesn’t sleep, she watches a lot TV, unnoticed by the other residents of the asylum thanks to minor psychic abilities that allow her to stay hidden.

Name: William “Mac” Mackenzie
Age: Mid-30s.
Occupation: Crime Scene Analyst, New Jericho Police Department
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA
Martial Status: Divorced

A crime scene analyst with the New Jericho Police Department, Mac mostly deals with blood splatter analysis. Originally from the Mid-West, Mac moved to New Jericho to be closer to his daughter Sara. Even though he doesn’t have custody of her, and only sees her on weekends, Mac would do anything for his daughter. He’s less certain that he would be willing to do anything for Sara’s mother, his ex-wife, Beth. Mac loves a good mystery, and has been known to investigate cold cases on his off-time. Since the department isn’t interested in spending the resources on a couple of dead prostitutes in the slums, Mac is using his off-time to investigate the so-called “Vampire Killer”

Initially unsure about partnering with a reporter, Mac is nevertheless impressed with Nathan’s dedication, and his desire to find the truth at all costs. One thing both investigators have in common is their overwhelming need to find out how this mystery ends.

Name: Nicole “Briar Rose” Burton
Age: Appears mid-20s, actually 58
Occupation: Owner, The Glass Coffin; Lead singer, Diabolus in Musica
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Martial Status: Single

A little known punk singer in the mid-70s, Nikki Burton knew her shot at fame was just one more show away. Of course, she kept saying that every show, mostly playing half-empty bars throughout Western Canada. Then one day, everything changed. One of her “fans” offered her the deal of a lifetime: immortality. Unfortunately for Nikki, it wasn’t a record contract, but an honest-to-God vampire looking to spend eternity with his own vampire bride.

Realizing what she had become, and getting as far away from her old life as possible, Nikki moved to the US, adopting a number of false names, always playing music. Nowadays she calls herself Briar Rose, settling in New Jericho. She still plays music, and knows that in a few years it’ll be time for a new name and a new genre.

Name: Nathan Kincaid
Age: Mid-30s.
Occupation: Investigative Reporter, New Jericho Daily Star
Hometown: New York, New York
Martial Status: Widower

Once a promising reporter for the Gotham Gazette, everything changed after Nathan did a report on the DiNardo crime family. In retaliation, his wife and son were killed. His personal life destroyed, Nathan quickly found his professional life also destroyed as no newspaper wanted to incur the wrath of the DiNardo family by hiring him. A broken shell of the man he once was, Nathan eventually found work writing for the New Jericho Daily Star. Mostly forced to report on the “weird” events of the city, Nathan is convinced there’s something more, and that perhaps there’s a grain of truth to the rumours of the supernatural in the city. Presently, he’s investigating the “Vampire Killer” murders, not certain if vampires even exist.

When he’s on the trail of a good story, Nathan is almost OCD about getting to the bottom of the story. Even though reporting too much is what got his family killed, rather than abandon his quest for the truth, Nathan is almost more fanatical. The truth, after all, will set him free.

The week has been going well so far. I’m at just over 7000 words right now, little over where I need to be, but that should help give me a bit of a buffer, just in case life rears its head later this month.

Decided to go the crime procedural route. This is the blurb I wrote for the NaNo site about my novel: “Investigate reporter Nathan Kincaid discovers a number of murders in his city might be supernatural. But the supernatural doesn't exist, does it?”

I’m using the City of New Jericho I came up with for my old WoD chronicle as the setting, but it’s not nearly as supernatural as the chronicle was.

Actually managed to get 1799 words last night. I’m a little surprised, honestly. Hopefully I keep up with that pace and write at least 1667 words every single night. So far, so good.

Today marks the first day of NaNo 2010. Time to get writing. Not quite the same as when I was back in university and did pretty much nothing but writing all day every day. But hey, I’m not likely to get sick of writing quite as easily .