Camy

So, a time travel deal, then. Join now (at any age), and you'll be whisked back to 2018 where you find you're old enough to receive a pension. I'm not convinced....

I Concur!

Unless you're writing in 1st person, changing the POV character is quite normal. It get debatable, and annoying, when the author 'head hops' - changing characters multiple times within the same scene.

I like to point out that next April 4th Awesome Dude is 16. In the UK 16 is the age of consent. We'll be legal! We must party!

I haven't had a flu jab in aeons, and don't know why the cat forced me to go. She's not normally that catty. Maybe she is; she is, after all, a cat. But I have to agree with her: We are all mad. Thankfully, I didn't vote for it... not that that is going to make the slightest difference, as the UK sinks slowly beneath the waves. 'Bye bye,' we'll say, and wave, with our stiff upper lips quivering, whilst the xenophobic fucks that caused it will moan that the result 'wasn't quite what we expected,' and bleat 'where's the nearest food bank?' The USA will eventually get rid of The Donald, but the UK has generations of misery ahead. Hey ho. We all have our blonde Trumps Johnson's to bear... or should that be bare? My Johnson's quite happy where he is. Asleep. Dreaming. No! Stop it! I've warned you.... Anyway, to cut a long (but not nearly as long as Jason's) rant short: I had a flu jab this afternoon and I'm not a happy chappy. They say: The flu jab doesn't cause flu as it doesn't contain live viruses. However, you may experience side effects after having the jab, such as a temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards. I say: Bollocks, and ouch, and damn I feel achy and meh.... I think I'll take to my bed for a month or two. Ave.

I'd never heard of U=U or PrEP until tonight. EVERYONE should know! U=U stands for Undetectable=Untransmissable PrEP is a pill you can take to protect you from HIV. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. ... If you take PrEP correctly, you don’t need to worry about a sexual partner’s HIV status. I found this out at: http://forum.iomfats.org/t/9287/

Thanks, Bruin! One of the NiaD participants is a web developer who has built rather a neat website displaying the novel. It lets you pick the chapters you like (some have multiple versions) and save them as a complete book. Now, Maths has never been my strong-suit so I was amazed, nay, gobsmacked, to find out the following: There were 53 participants randomly given nineteen chapters. This means there are - wait for it! - 229,582,512 distinct versions of the book! I'll need a bigger house....

Right... I see where you're going. It's obvious when you point it out. Offing the Russians might be the only way Kevin can get true closure. Sequel!

Chapter 12. Fin. Bravo, Cole, bravo!

I haven't read it, but I did a search and you're right. I suppose, in hindsight, if you're learning--which is what NaNoWriMo seems to be all about, now--then plotting is a better path to be taught. Not surprisingly, its changed. It started in 1999 with 21 people. When I stumbled across it in 2006 there were just under 80,000, and this year over 750,000. Everybody, and their cat & dog, seems to want write a novel in November. Which is not to say NaNoWriMo isn't close to the best fun you can have with your clothes on!

Merkin, you will recover. Remember: breathe in... breathe out....

This is a link to Nanowrimo's 'Writer's Prep 101.' A short course in PDF. http://bit.ly/nanoprep101f

...and so Kevin's tale has drawn to its conclusion. Happily? Not so much. But he does have a boyfriend, plans for a remembrance garden, and no more lists. The future's bright!

Oh yes indeedy! Why not keep me company, Trab? You don't have to come up with the next great American novel (or write at all) to have a good time. There's lots to do. Check it out: nanowrimo.org

Chapter 11! That's a sweet turnaround, Cole. Beautifully written. A definite 5/6 Beaks.

Well, that was a lot of fun! The cat came on heat yesterday; peace and quiet wasn't on the cards. Self-editing isn't my bailiwick, either. I will say that forcing yourself to write to a brief is both useful, and quite cathartic. I'm even thinking of loosely outlining in the future (shudder). So... A novel in nineteen chapters. There are three versions. I'm in blue. Now, I have to do the washing up.

Anyone doing NaNoWriMo this year?

Chapter ten didn't disappoint... unless you were wanting a cliffhanger, in which case it did.

Well, golly!

No, really. When are you opening the restaurant? Cole's Place. Fine Dining for Beaky Birds.

I'd happily read a menu, if you'd written it.

Both! Definitely both.

True, so true! Except I groan 'Nooooo..." a lot.

Ooooooo! TEN!!!

A warlock and six raven haired witches stare at the runes rolling slowly to conclusion. "NOOOOO!" They scream in bizarre harmony, as the final rune teeters, then drops. "Sad, sooooo sad," the Warlock hisses in distress, dabbing his eyes with an oddly soiled hankie. And frankly I'd agree. Still, never mind eh, 'm Bear. Next year will be just as much fun.... One hopes, post Brexit, and almost post Trump. Maybe it'll be my turn: "Sorry, couldn't write a chapter. I was at the food bank shivving a pensioner for a can of beans."