That time has come. That magical month of October when through my masses of other work loads, NaNo plotting still prevails. And also that fun month when comes the "best" part of the issue: 'what do I write about this year?'
Ultimately, it makes no difference at all what decisions on this point I've made throughout the year; they all get tossed aside at this point.
I thought about finally writing the story that got ousted last year at the last minute: Angel City. But having started my computing course in college, I realised I've more or less decided to wait and make a platform game of it. So that idea was out.
Then there was always the idea I had 'firmly' decided on in August, which was to write the second book of Arkanos. But that had rested on the assumption that the first book would be finished by now. Sure, ok there is basically only a couple chapters to go but almost doesn't count. So that would have to wait.
But then I could pick up either of the stories that had gotten off to a rocky start and sort of straggled and choked off at the shallows; namely Through Glass or SkAI Butterfly. But that was just it: they were stuck in the shallows. They're struggling for air, a hairs breadth from drowning. Arkanos One had been like that, it had gotten into a lot of trouble. The only reason it got salvaged in time was because I said I was not quitting on my 'baby'. Taking on a project that would come pre-installed with problems was not a good idea, not during the real thing.
So, that was a no-go.
But then if all my options were exhausted, what was I going to write?? Surely 'The Wild Adventures of Ninja Bacon' was hardly interesting, not to mention it wouldn't make it past 10k. There had to be another way.
Then it hit me. It was just a one-liner idea, just like the beginning of EF (Electrostatic Fantasy) had been. There is a side character in the main story, who I had realised to have a much deeper history than his original role warranted, or the story even allowed. Deep enough to be the root of another story. I remember fleetingly thinking that his story could make for an interesting prequel.
So I decided I would undertake his idea and see where it leads me.
And hence, this year's NaNo novel title is decided: Electrostatic Nightmare.
And writing will definitely be interesting this time around: I have coursework due, and a whole stack of it!! v_v
