Spoiler Alert!

Hey! It's been a while since I've finished this online novel. If you're reading this, you may have accidentally stumbled onto the story at the end! To jump to the start of the story, try clicking here!

Advance the story by going to "newer post" at the bottom of each entry.

Victory! (Finally!)

I just posted chapters 35, 36, and 37 which combine for 4,454 words. This brings my total word count to 53,092 words, officially completing my first goal of finishing a 50k novel for NaNoWriMo.

So I failed pretty miserably on the "month" part, having finished [my word count goal] about a year after I started. That said, I still have a few more chapters until I truly finish [the story]. So, loyal readers, thank you for sticking with me this far.

Hang on for the last bit...it's gonna be a wild ride.

Reference Photo

If you are unfamiliar with Hillenbrand Hall, this might help you visualize this very important part of the story:

The parking garage is located in the very bottom left (you can see the lines on the roof). The East tower is on the right and has a darker roof. The front entrance is in the center at the top (green roof). Photo courtesy of Hinshaw Roofing.

I'm not sure if this sort of media would make the final cut of any serious edit of my novel, but here it is anyway - I make such an effort to physically describe the setting that I wanted to make sure everybody was on the same page.

Another Delay

Vacation, concert, moving, and getting ready for back to school.

New chapter soon, but once classes start (August 25) I think I may scale back to going for a new chapter every other week, at least until I get used to things. So close...

Author's Quandry

The Brant "Rubble" Bell asked me yesterday if I was

A) Going to attempt NaNoWriMo 2008

and

B) If I would consider making it a sequel to my current story

I can honestly say I wasn't planning on doing the former, and had never considered the latter. That said, his question got me thinking.

For starters, I've learned a lot about writing by trying NNWM 07. Some of it mechanics, like punctuation during dialogue. Some of it is about how difficult it truly is to write 50k in 30 days, even if you love the source material. Things like pacing issues, typos, taking good notes on your own decisions - and more.

Still, I think I made it about halfway through my story by the end of November, and if I was to tackle it this year, I really have to consider my schedule (read: classes). I don't think I can do it. I don't know if I have the discipline, the crazy writing intensity to stick through another novel's worth of work...even if it takes another year to finish like this one.

I guess the only reason I'm making an issue of it is because I'm actually close to finishing this novel, and the ending would greatly greatly influence how the second one might play out - from the surviving characters to the level of devastation the zombies [may have] inflicted on the world. If I'm going to write a sequel, I need to start planning it now and alter the ending of this one accordingly.

After much deliberation, I told Rubble I would consider it. I'd need 2 things:

* A really good story idea. I need some sort of action, a problem, a quest - some driving force for the novel to exist. It seems obvious, but the current novel took shape over weeks of planning, and in the end there was a very poignant rescue story to tell, amidst the backdrop of the zombpocalypse. My theoretical sequel needs a similarly epic premise, and as of now I have none.

* Lots and lots of encouragement and readers. You guys have been awesome so far, helping me fix problems and providing lots of constructive criticism. Your enthusiasm has become mine, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate and enjoy it.

For now I'll keep thinking it over. If you have any thoughts, please [as always] leave 'em.

Thanks!

Delays

I'm going to be out of town for a week, so the next chapter may be a while.

Apologies

Author's Notes

A few things of note to the reader:

1. New poll, on the right sidebar. Thanks for your votes and comments thus far.

2. My story is set in the real world, and, at the time I started it for NaNoWriMo, it was set in the future as well. As of Chapter 24, time has caught up and I'm more or less writing in the "past". I feel like this gives me less artistic creativity, because no I'm not longer completely "making up" people, places, and things. Some of you didn't notice and/or don't care, so if that's you, just keep doing your thing (reading and enjoying my story, hopefully). If you're a stickler for details, please know I'm aware, and have plotted out the story well beyond what I've written - those choices may not reflect reality as we know it today.

3. I've added a disclaimer to the intro, as well as edited a few dates, times, and the inventory list, but none of it will significanly alter what you've read so far.

Finally, I'm close to 40k! I'm closing in on my word count goal!

Summer Update

Hello reader.

It's now summer break and I have a little bit more time on my hands. I'm gonna try to update my story more often - something like at least once a week. Stay tuned and please comment!

Also, new poll.

Thanks!

Withdraw From the Race

For those of you keeping track at home, in order for me to "win" NaNoWriMo by midnight this Friday I would need to write about 27,000 words in less than four days. That's about 7k per day which isn't gonna happen.

That said, I'm officially giving up on NaNoWriMo, because the pace is a little too crazy for me. I have two big things, notably spending time with my family and getting my academics on track that take precedence over trying to crank out a new chapter every evening.

My story, however, will continue. At irregular intervals I will post chapters as I see fit, ending on whatever word count I end up on when the story I have in mind is told. Thanks for your support, comments, and readership to this point.

Tentative Title

With the help of my sis, I've got a title. I'm still not sure, so I will call it a working title for now. I would solicit suggestions, but perhaps you [the reader] want to read more story, first.

Official Introductions

Hello all, my name is Ryan and I'm a Purdue University student. I will be posting to this blog chapters of my first attempt at National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. My writer profile can be found here.

My goal is to post about every other day. I'm shooting for 50,000 words before November 30th, at midnight. That's an average of 1666.66 words per day (!).

As of now I don't even have a working title, much less a detailed outline. I've just got an idea. For now, all you need to know is that my story takes place in the here and now.

I encourage all readers to comment. Tell me what you like, what you don't. Tell me if I make a mistake, and feel free to suggest things. If I get enough feedback, I may try put some polls on the right sidebar and YOU can influence the outcome of the story.

All writings contained on this weblog copyright Ryan Garwood, 2007.