Tipp Talk – October 26
Tipp Talk will return next week, but Greg wanted me to mention that he’s still looking for participants in NaNoWriMo, a nationwide writing challenge that starts November 1. If you’re interested, please go to www.nanowrimo.com and sign up, then contact Greg at his website at www.gregenslen.com. He’s going to be tracking everyone’s progress. And look for Tipp Talk next week!
NaNoWriMo is Over! Yeah!
Yeah—it’s over! The NaNoWriMo writing competition wrapped up on November 30, and I’m happy to say that I stayed on target for the whole 30 days and managed to complete a VERY rough first draft of a book. This national writing exercise encourages quantity, not quality, but it also helps procrastinating writers focus on getting their words down on the page. I found it very helpful to have a daily word target—it really kept me focused on getting a chunk done every day, instead of staring at the blank screen and stressing about writing a giant novel in one sitting. Next November, we’ll have to get a group of Tipp Citians to try this out with me!
The final word count turned out to 51,475, about 175 pages, and I’m happy with the story—it came out better than I expected. I’m certain that putting together the first drafts of my other two books took much longer. Now I have a draft of book about a physicist who, if he can complete construction on his machine, may be able to save his family and prevent 9/11 from ever happening.
I had one character surprise me by turning out to be someone I hadn’t planned, something that’s never happened to me before. Usually, I know exactly where things are going, but that’s the danger and the thrill of writing and writing and writing—things might get away from you. I also ended up with several orange and red days where I didn’t get to write the daily minimum, but I was able to catch up on other days. Now I think I’ll take a little time off and then come back to the book and begin the long editing process.
For more information on “Rewind,” including excerpts, click over to my REWIND page on this site. And I’m shooting for Spring 2011 for publication, so wish me luck!
NaNoWriMo Update and Excerpt
NaNoWriMo is coming along –I’m up to 41,267 words and 134 pages. I need to write about 1,250 words a day for the rest of the month to hit 50,000, but I’m hoping to knuckle down and finish it by the weekend. Wish me luck. Here’s an excerpt from what I wrote today–it’s from the timeline where Dr. Ellis is trying to influence the outcome of the 2000 election and ensure Gore’s election:
Cheryl Mills sat back in her chair, crossing her arms. “This is crazy—I don’t know where this information is coming from, but it’s—“
“It’s one hundred percent accurate, Ms. Mills,” Ellis said, taking out a stack of papers. “I have access to knowledge that you do not. I know what’s happened up to this point and, as hard as it may be for the people in this room to believe, I know what is going to happen.”
Bill Clinton put his hands up, stopping the others from asking more questions. “Ok, Dr. Ellis. Tell us what happens this year and next.”
Ellis looked at him and sighed, then continued. “The Whitewater and Travel Office scandals will die down, but Ken Starr will continue to aggressively pursue the Paula Jones case, looking for evidence of Mr. Clinton’s improprieties.” Ellis and the others glanced at the President, who shrugged.
“I still think what people do in this office should matter,” the President said forcefully. “What I or anyone else does behind closed doors—what does that matter?”
Ruff shook his head. “We’ve had this discussion, Bill. You know that wishing it doesn’t make it true.”
Ellis nodded, agreeing. “One of the Impeachment Terms brought against you will be the allegation that your misleading statements and deceit undermined the Office of the President.”
“Impeachment?” Gore asked suddenly. “Who said anything about ‘Impeachment’?”
Ellis began shuffling through the papers in front of him and pulled out a sheet of paper. “The President will be formerly Impeached in January of 1999. The proceedings will consume this presidency and the nation for the better part of the year, and most of the President’s close friends, and quite a bit of his staff will be required to testify. The two of you,” Ellis said, indication Ruff and Mills, “will make up the primary members of his Defense Team, along with Gregory Craig, David Kendall, and Dale Bumpers. Here are the Articles of Impeachment,” he said, handing them to the President, who glanced at them and handed them to Ruff, who immediately began reading them out loud.
“Trial Memorandum of the U.S. House of Representatives. Now comes the U.S. House, by and through its duly authorized Managers, and respectfully submits to the U.S. Senate its Brief in connection with the Impeachment Trial of William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States,” Ruff read.
“It doesn’t matter,” Al Gore said quietly. “Anyone can fake together some fancy words that sound like what the U.S. House would write if they were going to Impeach someone—in fact, you could probably copy the words from the Andrew Johnson Impeachment. Anyone can make this part up,” Gore said, his eyes on Ellis. “I want to know how this man knows. The Lewinsky issue was resolved, I thought. Wasn’t someone going to talk to Bill Richardson at Treasury, get her a job over there?”
“Yes, yes, we were going to do that,” Clinton agreed. “And I have met with Dr. Ellis several times over the past few days to go over his proof, and his credentials are impeccable. Believe me, what he says is the truth. What we need to do is figure out what we’re going to do—“
“’We’re going to do?’” Gore said angrily. “What ‘we’re going to do’ is have you castrated.”
Clinton looked at him and slowly, a smile broke out on his face. “Very funny, Al.”
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Cheryl Mills said, not smiling. “But really, you need to learn to control yourself better, Mr. President. Is it worth it to have this Lewinsky matter dominate your agenda for two years, if it ever gets out?”
“It will get out,” Ellis said, passing around more papers—both were photocopies of articles from the Washington Post. “And I assure you, Mr. Gore, these items are real. I have the technology to fake articles from the Washington Post, if I cared to, but these are accurate.”
Clinton took the papers and passed them again after a quick glance—Ellis remembered reading somewhere that he was a very fast reader, but he was sure the man would want to spend more time reading about his own future.
“The first sheet is an article from the Post on January 19 of next year, covering the President’s Defense team. The second sheet is a series of articles, including one from January 8 on Mr. Ruff’s appointment, then another on the White House response in July to the subpoena for Mr. Clinton to appear before Ken Starr. The last is Mr. Ruff’s opening statement at the Impeachment trial.”
The sheets went around, and Ruff read through his statements, including the one that he would present on the floor of the Senate in just under two years. The room was quiet for several minutes as he read through the entire transcript.
The Vice President broke the silence. “What is a ‘Wikipedia’?” he asked Ellis, holding up one of the sheets.
NaNoWriMo Day 16
The NaNoWriMo writing competition is going well-Im still plugging away on my 1,667 words a day and trying to not miss any days. Right now Im up to 28,215 words and 76 pages. More importantly, I like the story. Yesterday was the half-way point, so wish me luck!
Here’s an excerpt from what I wrote yesterday:
Two hundred yards away, the reporter lowered the camera, his eyes wide. He’d been observing Dr. Ellis through the high-powered telephoto lens, hoping to capture a meeting of his mysterious compatriot. So far, he’d been able to discover absolutely nothing about the warehouse and whatever was going on inside. Large shipments of parts and equipment had been arriving at the facility ever since he’d started tailing Ellis back in August, but he’d only been to the warehouse once or twice. And he’d never met anyone.
The reporter looked at the digital window on his camera, flipping back through the pictures he had taken. No, it had not been a trick of the light or his imagination or too much grappa last night.
Dr. Ellis was talking to another person who looked exactly like him. The man was a little buffer, and the hair was shorter, but they were otherwise identical. Did Ellis have a twin, or a slightly older brother? The reporter didn’t think so, but he’d have to double-check.
Any other explanation was, plainly, impossible.
NaNoWriMo Day 8 of 30
NaNoWriMo writing competition is progressing nicely – I took Sunday off, in case you’re wondering about the literal orange spot on my calendar. 13,955 words and 46 pages…and, more importantly, the story is coming along nicely.
National Novel Writing Month
National Novel Writing Month: Well, it’s two days into this November’s NaNoWriMo and so far I’m on target — I’ve written 3,571 words, which is about seven pages, on my next book. I found today that I wanted to keep writing but, instead, I made extensive notes for tomorrow–I’m right in the middle of Chapter 2. To see my stats and read an excerpt from yesterday, click on the link above. And wish me luck!
Welcome to Greg Enslen.com
I'm Greg, an author and columnist, and this is the my page for my writing and other activities. I enjoy writing – when I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing or what I should be writing next.
I've written four books, available on Amazon. I'm working on three more.
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