A Little Behind

Hey everyone,

The challenge continues! After some minor delays I'm back on track sitting over 12,000 words. I'm a little behind where I wanted to be but still within safe numbers. Today I intend to introduce the true villainess of the story - she's going to be an uber b*tch. I have the Aeternus Season One soundtrack playing in the background while I sit in Centennial Hall. It's quite relaxing, despite the numbness in my legs.

I hope to reach 20,000 words by the weekend.

Today's Word Count: 123
Today's Word Goal: 2,000
Complete Word Count: 12,411

Four-Thousand Strong

Well, start of day three, and I'm currently sitting at 4486 words so far. I'm hoping to reach (at the least) 6,000 words by the end of the day. When? I don't know, we'll figure that out soon. Just paid off the amount on my credit card for the Gwen Stefani concert tickets. Oh and I saw my ex-stalker on the bus today - she was watching me intently. *Shudders* Maybe I'll make a creepy character out of her. Off to write I go!


Today's Word Count: 301
Today's Word Goal: 2,000
Complete Word Count: 4,486

Are You Crazy?!

The short answer - yes.

Am I crazy? Absolutely. I have agreed to and signed a contract (with myself) stating that I will complete a 50,000 word goal, completing a novel in 31 days. It is absolutely absurd, but I intent to carry it out. Each day I will have a word count tally and a goal for the next day, and I intend to continue on until I have finished.

I have enlished a few friends to write along with me on their own respective works of fiction, and I hope that we are all able to finish. This will be quite a journey and I hope to have your support along the way. Any bit of encouragement will help, of that I am sure. But if I seem busy or a little occupied over the next few weeks, please forgive me. I'll be busy writing. I may not be on MSN all the time, or have long chances to talk.

If you see my Tiger (Hobbes) out, it means I'm writing - Do Not Disturb! He is in charge of ensuring I make my word count each day. For progress on how I'm doing, check back here on a regular basis. I won't be doing regular updates, but I will post some pictures and word counts when I can.

Wish me luck!

Today's Word Count: 1026 Words
Today's Word Goal: 2000 Words
Complete Word Count: 1026 Words

Feeling Better

• MSN Name: Christopher - Tired & Off To School
• Theme Song: "Unsung" - Vanessa Carlton
• Life Outlook: Good, but Sick

Hello world. I am currently at the University of Winnipeg, relaxing and waiting for my Intro Chemistry course to begin. I got here early rather then risk being late - don't know why. I think after yesterday I was eager to get out of the house. For anyone who didn't know I had a terrible head-cold yesterday...to the point that I called in sick. I'm feeling a hell of a lot better today - still in some pain, but not near death. It's a wonder what fourteen + hours of sleep will do for a guy. :-)

Winnipeg has been nominated as a city for the 2006 ACTDR convention (surprise surprise) and now I'm trying to support it. I had a blast helping Karen run the convention last year, and I honestly think Winnipeg would be a nice (Canadian) city to host the convention in. Plus I don't think I could afford to fly down to Florida. *Sniff* We shall have to see what happens next summer however - right now paying my classes and saving to move out are my priorities.

I am rather disappointed at the lack of any guesses as to what my new MSN title "Apnoeic Penguin Wraith" means. So far only one person has attempted, and failed miserably I might add. :-) Any other takers?

I think today I am just going to go home after class and rest. I only have Intro Chem today, so in theory I can be home by 11:30 and in bed before noon. That would be sweet. I'm still not feeling 100%, so the extra time to rest would be ideal. I start my writing challenge tomorrow (woot!) and need to be well rested for it. Hmmmm, I need a writing totem - any suggestions? (No, Viking Hats and Books stapled to my forehead are vetoed!)

For anyone who doesn't know what this challenge is - I have foolishly decided to attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in a 31 day time period. I begin at 12:00AM, Tuesday, September 13th, and must be completed by 11:59PM, Thursday, October 13th. This way, I can celebrate my joyous victory on my birthday, or celebrate my birthday in order to forget my tragic failure. A few friends have also agreed to participate in the challenge - and anyone else who wants to...well, let me know before midnight tonight! To see the contract I signed as part of the process, see this post: Form #A30/31/50K. I shall be doing regular updates here on my MSN about the challenge - but since much of my time will be spent attempting to spit out as many words as possible, I may not be doing regular updates here on my MSN Space.

So I suppose this will be my last major update for a month. My birthday is coming up soon, as is Thanksgiving and Halloween. School has started, fall is on it's way. Hmmmm, looks like I have an interesting month ahead of me. Wish me luck!

*Ahem*

• MSN Name: Christopher - Can I Die Now?
• Theme Song: "What You Waiting For?" - Gwen Stefani
• Life Outlook: Good, but Sick

Woot!!!

We got Row 2 Gwen Stefani Tickets!!! Woot!!!

*Ahem* In other news, my writing challenge begins in three days, I'm getting sick, and I'm going to see Red Eye tonight. Oh and I can't forget to bring my camera to school on Monday. *Writes a little post it note for himself*

Off to work: 11:45-4:45. Yipee.

Bye!

Pants & Vampires

• MSN Name: Christopher - At School
• Theme Song: "The Battle" - Hans Zimmer
• Life Outlook: Good

Hey everyone. Jessica and I are just in Riddell right now lounging around, waiting for Joshie to finish his class. Jessica is having a unique sandwich combination while I sit here and type - with the two of us discuss the Laurell K. Hamilton novels. I just finished Circus of the Damned - which was great. I liked the climactic ending of it. I shall have to see how much I enjoy the next few novels. I started The Lunatic Cafe last night too - which seems good so far. Yay for vampire novels. :-)

I start my writing challenge in four days. Laura and I are both excited - yay! :-)

The Chronicles of Narnia comes out in three months! Yay! *Clears throat* Ahem, I am just mildly excited. Laura (other Laura) has borrowed my Chronicles books, and will likely finish them in a weekend - if she's not busy reading webcomics. Speaking of webcomics: !!!!!!!!!!!!. There we go.

So this entry has gotten long and boring - Jessica and I are going to head off so that I can give her my pants. Have a great day everyone!

Summer BBQ!

• MSN Name - Christopher - Yay! Long Weekend!
• Theme Song: "Lullaby" - Bond
• Life Outlook: Great!

This long weekend has been great, yesterday was a blast! Everyone seemed to have a great time at our nice end of summer BBQ. Laura only ended up losing one hamburger to the flames...which is a lot better then I was doing. Kim and Joshua established "The Jew Couch" and began teaching people Hebrew and Yiddish terms. No one can make up good yiddish insults like Michelle though! ;-) The whole thing was a blast, and well worth it.

I've put up 25 pictures so far - well on my way to the 1,000 pictures Kim expects me to have online by the end of the year. Wait until Christmas and my birthday! (Incidentally - in 39 days) My birthday falls on a Friday, which means we have to do some sort of partying! :-) Halloween is on a Monday this year, and Jason has suggested I do some sort of Halloween themed party/BBQ/get-together. Hmmmm, sounds like a good idea to me.

I hope everyone got home okay - a nuts storm hit around 1:30 last night. Our tent nearly blew away and I got pelted with so much hail, it was nuts. I wonder how much damage was done to the SUV last night - hopefully nothing significant. It was nice watching the lightning on my front step with everyone - but as soon as the rain started, it became insane.

We start school on Tuesday, boo! Four months off has sort of spoiled me and I don't want to go back, but I know I need to. Malcolm has already started his studies in medical school - I guess it's about time the rest of us finished our degrees. Woot for 3 more years (at least)! *Sighs* Alright, I'm off to go clean up after this BBQ. Have a great day everyone...go see the pics!

50,000 Words, 31 Days

THE MONTH-LONG NOVELIST AGREEMENT AND STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING

I, Christopher Gibson, hereby pledge my intent to write a 50,000-word novel in one month’s time. By invoking an absurd, month-long deadline on such an enormous undertaking, I understand that notions of “craft,” “brilliance,” and “competency” are to be chucked right out the window, where they will remain, ignored, until they are retrieved for the editing process. I understand that I am a talented person, capable of heroic acts of creativity, and I will give myself enough time over the course of the next month to allow my innate gifts to come to the surface, unmolested by self-doubt, self-criticism, and other acts of self-bullying.

During the month ahead, I realize I will produce clunk dialogue, clichéd characters, and deeply flawed plots. I agree that all of these things will be left in my rough draft, to be corrected and/or excised at a later point. I understand my right to withhold my manuscript from all readers until I deem it completed. I also acknowledge my right as author to substantially inflate both the quality of the rough draft and the rigors of the writing process should such inflation prove useful in garnering me respect and attention, or freedom from participation in onerous household chores.

I acknowledge that the month-long, 50,000-word deadline I set for myself is absolute and unchangeable, and that any failure to meet the deadline, or any effort on my part to move the deadline once the adventure has begun, will invite well-deserved mockery from friends and family. I also acknowledge that, upon successful completion of the state noveling objective, I am entitled to a period of gleeful celebration and revelry, the duration and intensity of which may preclude me from participating fully in workplace activities for days, if not weeks, afterward.

Christopher Gibson
Signed

September 4th, 2005
Date

September 13th, 2005
Novel Start Date

October 13th, 2005 (11:59pm)
Novel Deadline

Wisdom & Character

• MSN Name: Christopher - 50,000 Words, 31 Days
• Theme Song: "Now We Are Free" - Hans Zimmer
• Life Outlook: Calm

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is the easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest." - Confucius

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun." - Mary Lou Cook

Played Seven Deadly Sins tonight, had some interesting life changes, prepping for the BBQ and bought myself a nice new glass desk (thanks Joshie/Jess!). Novel is slowly coming along, Laura and I have some great ideas on paper. Michelle must hear about it. Jessica needs more experience with tight fits and I am busy prepping for an upcoming challenge. School starts soon. I'm tired...g'night.