NiaD Episode VI: Return of the NiaD

[Jaysen]

Poor Piggy has been dealing with [his good chum, Jaysen] asking about venacular all morning.

I still think you were doing that because you think it's funny just to get me to send you emails with lists of swear words in them.

I tried Vic-k first, but he was napping.

Hi Vic-k!

[pigfender]

The chapter count is up to three and I'm caught up with the questions for the moment.
I'm going to take a quick tea break away from the monitor. See you in a bit!

[pigfender]

Anyone else listening to Christmas music?

No? Just me? Okay then. <Cough>
As you were.

[Jaysen]

Piggy,

You're nuts.

And this brief covers too much. I'm only halfway into the second of the 4 parts indicated and i'm at 1800. Anyone of my peers complaining about this one?

[Maerahn]

Half the day gone, and I'm just starting to look at mine. Though to be fair, I kinda expected this. I was out Friday night, and then I was sleeping -- on a 5 hour differential -- so although it's past noon in London, it's 7:30 here. Knowing I ought to finish this in 8 hours feels like tightening the screws a little. I don't know why, but as a pantser, I thought I'd just be able to rattle something off in an hour, and then start tinkering with it.

Yeah, that's totally what I thought too.... I miss that blissful innocence, now I have only five hours to go...

[pigfender]

Piggy,

You're nuts.

And this brief covers too much. I'm only halfway into the second of the 4 parts indicated and i'm at 1800. Anyone of my peers complaining about this one?

Okay, firstly: 1800? You mean words, presumably since it's 1505 here in the UK and 1006 where you are. You can always edit later -- or go long. I'm confident you'll get the pacing right! You don't need to cover all the elements at the same detail or pacing.

You might be the first person in the history of NiaD to worry you've got far too much to write!?!

[pigfender]

Yeah, that's totally what I thought too.... I miss that blissful innocence, now I have only five hours to go...

It's definitely a tougher exercise than 'a day to write a chapter' suggests!

[Jaysen]

Piggy,

You're nuts.

And this brief covers too much. I'm only halfway into the second of the 4 parts indicated and i'm at 1800. Anyone of my peers complaining about this one?

Okay, firstly: 1800? You mean words, presumably since it's 1505 here in the UK and 1006 where you are. You can always edit later -- or go long. I'm confident you'll get the pacing right! You don't need to cover all the elements at the same detail or pacing.

You might be the first person in the history of NiaD to worry you've got far too much to write!?!

Look at what you gave me! I have to build character, context, plot, subplot, alternate universes, time machines, introduce vic-k and ALL his personalities AND then make sure I cover the brief!

seriously though. I'm looking at 3K plus and that's cutting a lot. I've cut half and I'm sitting on 2k with most of the brief left to go. What's my upper limit?

[pigfender]

There's no upper limit, save that imposed by time and good taste. I think the most we've ever had is 4,200!?!

[Wolf_Baginski]

Not a plot point as such, but I've used the term "upstairs" for whoever the marley's real boss might be. Anyone with an actual name in the plot summary I am assuming is no more than low-level management.

I am just throwing this in as a possibility, but I remember A Matter of Life And Death as being similarly vague.

[pigfender]

I've not mandated anything other than the ones in your pack, Wolf.

[Rollerdiva]

Anyone else listening to Christmas music?

No? Just me? Okay then. <Cough>
As you were.

Bet Mrs P has put the tree up...

[pigfender]

Haha!

[Jaysen]

There's no upper limit, save that imposed by time and good taste. I think the most we've ever had is 4,200!?!

Only 4200? Come on... That's just me describing my breakfast! Well, I'm back up to 3.5k. I'll start cutting more once I amke a quick pass. Still 2 sections to go.

[JacquelineM]

Hey everyone,

Are we all crazy, or what?

Just thought I'd drop in here for a break.

I've had to work for some of the day so got up at around 5 am after waiting until after 1 am before the email arrived.

I wrote it longhand in a notebook and have been adding stuff while I type.

Today I set up a project in Scrivener and used the Short Story template which I've NEVER used before.
I might compile the story into a file and also paste it into an email when I've finished.

I'm working from the notes but it's evolving.

About half of it is written. I'm over 1000 words now.

Unfortunately, it's turning into comedy - but that's what usually happens.

This has been a good exercise for me because I'm the worst procrastinator ever. One of my WIP's is nearly 200,000 words long and there's still no end in sight. Instead, I wrote the sequel, the prequel and the backstory of that. Will probably be starting with the Big Bang soon!
It will be nice to finish something.
PS Is there a new deadline for us as everything arrived so late? I'm still aiming to finish before 8pm, but just in case I don't.