writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia

It's that time again! I wrote a lot this week, probably a good 5000 words spread across a couple hours. I didn't have a lot of time to write, but I made the most of the time I had. I had one day where I wrote 1600 words in a half hour, which was pretty epic. Anyway, here is part of one of the scenes I wrote this week.

The small council presided over the trial. Led by Council Leader Kalim, the council was made up of one mage for each talent represented by the Tenebrous Guild. Kalim, leader and blood mage, sat in the middle chair of seven. Beside him on his right was Mirith, the ritualist who was supposed to have been leading the tyro summoning ritual that night, the ritual that was now postponed for Tessani's trial. The hall echoed with the susurrus of the gathering crowd exchanging greetings and theories about the upcoming trial.

Four guards, nameless to Tessani, led him past the rows of watchers, and they fell silent as he passed by them, their whispering picking up again when he'd gone. He was led to the very center of the chamber, two of the guards pulling back to leave him guarded only by the same two who had come to arrest him.

I finished up the first three chapters this week, which means now that Tessani's out of the guild, the real adventure can begin. I'll be introducing new characters in the next few chapters, ones who will figure much more strongly that the ones mentioned so far. Honestly I'm just trying to write as fast as I can so I can get to Tessani finally meeting his tyro and it not being anything like what he expected.

I've got a few days off soon so I'll be setting aside some time, maybe on Saturday or Sunday morning (or even Mon/Tues as well) to blast out a few more scenes, maybe a good chapter or two. I'm hoping to keep up the crazy good words-per-hour I've been pulling. If I can make this the standard rather than the exception, imagine how fast I can finish this novel! I can do NaNo while working? I can enter the various calls for submissions I've been snooping, all while working my full time job. HOW EXCITING!

This picks up right after my last post.

Tessani took his time before answering. He let his gaze roam from each member of the council to the next, to the guards and even the witnesses to his trial. He held his head up high, dark curls damp from sweat and clinging to his face and neck. He answered, his voice quiet, but firm, "Only a fool would choose death when he has a chance to live and prove his innocence. I choose exile."

Also I did some more planning on this series yesterday. I have the first seven chapters outlined (albeit very short outlines) but it gives me a better idea of how this book is going to got. I need to figure out the climax/major plot of book 1 and how it fits into the whole overarching plot of the series. I just need the time to sit down and do it. I'm hoping I can this weekend. I'm also planning to use Rachel Aaron's 2K to 10K so that when I do make the time to write, I'll be churning out enormous word counts. I hope this works.

Hopefully I'll be letting you know soon.

I was out all day today so I'm really glad I wrote this yesterday!

Tessani's palms were callous and rough in a way that showed he'd been a street kid, working where and when he could before he joined the guild. His hands were dirty in a way that went beyond what washing them could clean. But even though his hands were dirty and callous, they were unmarked in a way that would soon change. One more night and his left hand would be marked with a symbol only one other would have. One more night and the ritual to call and bind a tyro to him would begin and he would be a full-fledged member of the guild.

I'm posting this now so I can focus on the rest of my day and know I've already got this done.

"We, my dear," Naj began, his voice just shy of a purr, "need to talk."

Tessani kept his voice low and his tone cool. "And what must we talk about that you come sneaking in while the others rest, while I myself had been sleeping?"

Naj leaned forward, raising up so his face was close, too close, to Tessani's. "Don't pretend, my Shadowbinder. You know full well."