Go bat go! I was updating my bat-loving guitar student on Sam's progress and she is very excited. She hung a bat house this year and is hopeful about having her very own bats soon.

I didn't have much time last night, but I managed to get a little further through 43. Transferred ownership of a decidedly non-magical ring, now several other little bits to complete.

I just thought of a very good reason why the members of group B didn't just tromp off to Salvus after things when bad for them. It's better than the original reason and has already been mentioned a couple of chapters ago. Good deal.

I picked up a book at random because it's called Fiction is Folks by Robert Peck, author of The Day No Pigs Would Die. I love the irreverent style and have found many compelling words of advice and demonstrations about how you can start writing about how your character has a hand with slender fingers, that grip her big darning needle in a tense grip as she prepares to... a) do embroidery; or b) stab her husband in the eye. (I paraphrase).

I'd never thought of writing up a character list and asking myself, what are my characters likes? Dislikes? Main peeves? Favorite dessert? Worst foible?

So all that was food for my thoughts about the Imaginary Pony Farm I've got going out on the Back 40 here in Hayward. Wait till my readers find out that the white pony's best friend is a big fluffy black cat named Mishka. And that the pony farm's Enforcer is actually a tiger that escaped from the zoo, the part about the pirate ship, the part where the story interfaces with historical fiction.

I've got too much plot, I think. But having fun.

I've done some of the character write up stuff. I don't think I've done a great job with it though. But I'm not done and that's what revision is for.

the part about the pirate ship

Good touch!

I'm still chipping away at 43, but I'm at the point where I'm looking for an ending of the chapter. A new complication has been sprung and now for another unexpected reunion that will span the end of 43 and the beginning of 44. I think I can still bring this thing in under 130k but it won't be easy.

I really do love the idea of running off adventuring on a pirate ship. So much more interesting than my daily routine, I bet. Do you think anyone will find me if I'm hiding out along the edges of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Announcement: Deena rocks!

You guys knew that already, right?

It looks like 43 is about in the bag, and I'm moving into 44. I had some trouble figuring out the reaction of a couple of characters bumping into each other, but I think I might have it okay now. There's some tricky stuff to figure out in these next few chapters. Curse you Rainier, who wasn't in the rough draft, you've make this part more complicated.

I'm still hoping that if I can bring this draft in at 130k that general tightening, cutting some of the opening, and cutting out an unnecessary fight will bring me down to a good level. Maybe I'll have to cut Rainier and his POV too.

Either that or see if I can work the plot into two satisfying stories instead of one. Though I think the act of having to cut it down, will make it better. I'll need to be smart about details and characters though.

I had a book concept I've been kicking around, but last night I had a dream that gave me an idea that makes it really come together. I'm making some notes, but that will have to wait until I'm done with this project. I think it could be good though.