Imaginary People

I was chatting online with a friend tonight about writing and the upcoming NaNoWriMo and told her about an image I had about a character - running from some people during the turn of the 20th century in NYC. She had the audacity to call me weird! LOL

I told her I was a writer - I'm supposed to see and talk to imaginary friends. Then she added all those imaginary friends she had as a kid are coming in handy when she writes. I loved it!

The image I had this evening driving home was of a woman running from someone. He was chasing her because she had bought something. Something she wasn't supposed to have. Right now that item is a newspaper. What's in the newspaper? Something wrapped in the sheets or something printed in that particular issue?

Picture is The Plaza from my trip last December to NYC.

A decapitated statue guards this grave

guard, originally uploaded by wordnrrrd.

Here is another of my favorites from Flickr. I had plans to personally find this statue and take my own photographs, but I ran out of time (darn you, Biltmore Estate - LOL) the last time I was in Asheville this past summer.

This is another example of using a photograph to inspire a character or a story idea.

I knew something would have to go....

...I dropped my programming class yesterday. I decided I didn't have enough time to commit to the class and I'm planning to write in NaNoWriMo again this year, so I don't need something else in the way. Besides, I think this is a class I will need to attend in person, not take online.

Speaking of writing, I was driving to work this morning, taking the route I usually take home (couple miles longer, few more minutes) and had an idea smack me up side the head for my story about an accident investigator. I've been looking for a spot in Maine that has twisty, curvy roads where I could put an accident scene, and have the road and the conditions have an impact on the accident itself. I've been checking online topographical maps looking for the perfect spot and not finding anything. But as I was driving, it suddenly dawned on me that I could create an accident scene along a stretch of road like this - using conflicting skid marks, etc to confuse the investigators. So that's my plan for the weekend - construct an accident scene. And work on my homework for my other class.

For those of you who like Quincy, M.E., Netflix now has all 8 seasons to watch online (or through Tivo, like I do). I'm finally able to watch the season 4 episode "A Night to Raise the Dead." I think this one is my favorite!

Ghost outside the Window

Ghost outside the Window, originally uploaded by suphiro.

One of the many interesting photographs I've found on Flickr. I often look here for inspiration for ideas and stories.

Research for NaNoWriMo

Since I work in higher education, I've decided to create a fictional college for my NaNoWriMo story this November. It will be a small liberal arts college, probably private. I've been doing a little research tonight on number of students, where the towns are located, etc. One college I looked at was Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va. I've stayed at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel near the American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Theater. If you like Shakespeare, this is the place to come. I loved it. Anyway, the college is near the hotel and theater, which are next door to each other. I could see one the buildings of the campus from my window during my trip.

I'm going to use my hometown as the layout for my community and the location of the college. I already have a county map and a topographical map of the town. There is a high school which has about 1000 students, around the number of students in the schools I had on my list. The other schools I looked at were Sweet Briar College and Randolph Macon College. My college will be like these only in scale and how they are laid out geographically next to their respective towns. I'll create the background and curriculum later, but now I just want to get a feel for the number of students and how the geographical information may play a role in my novel.

As for the name of the college, I think I'll use a person's name, a fictitious name, as someone who either donated money to the school, went to school there, or had some other relationship with the school. At Sweet Briar College, the school was created in memory of the daughter of founder. I liked that idea, and may use a similar idea for mine. I have a first name chosen, but I need a last name that sounds important and wealthy.

Now on to the characters.

Happy Birthday to my DAD

My dad turns 76 today. He's been retired from teaching for 20 years and doesn't look a day older! Sorta.

My dad has taught me a lot. Like how to drive a stick shift, shoot a gun (rifle, shotgun AND pistol), smack a squirrel up against a tree (that's another story) and a little bit about chemistry, calculus and computer programming. I know enough to be dangerous, remember.

So thank you, Daddy, for your love, encouragement, wisdom and a love of books.

I want to be just like you when I grow up.

2 months and counting until NaNoWriMo

Two months until the start of NaNoWriMo.

I've decided to use my hometown as the layout for the town for my story. I'll change a few things around, but the town is the right size for what I need.

So now all I need is some characters, a crime (murder, most likely - I like those) and a few suspects. Throw in some humor, a little bit of romance, and hopefully I'll reach 50K by the end of the month.