Friday, October 30, 2009

A Technological Obstruction and an Idea

I had a very creative post ready to write yesterday, but was completely railroaded by the loss of my camera's USB cable. My creative writing, you see, was completely dependent upon several photos that are still on my camera. I've looked positively everywhere for that cable and can't seem to locate it. I even looked under the printer, as was suggested by one of my Facebook friends, and there is no underneath to our printer.

It was a very frustrating day to say the least.

The cable is still MIA and I fear it will never be found.

Now I am about to embark upon my 2nd participation in National Novel Writing Month, or nanowrimo for short. I'm pretty excited but have not done a lick of outlining to prepare. I have a few notes, but all I know about the book is from this summary that's been bouncing around in my head. I think it would sound great on a jacket flap or maybe as a book description on Amazon.com:

January is having a fine death, thank you very much. She spends her days and nights at dance clubs she was too young to get into when she was alive, sitting in on her favorite band's recording sessions and even flying to Hawaii first class. With the help of her Spirit friends Hank and Meg, January learns to get around most of the pesky little challenges that pop up from not having an actual flesh and blood body.

Still, there's one thing she can't quite do that she misses more than anything: reading. Seeing a book or the words on a page is no problem, but without her body she can't turn pages or even pick up a book. And reading over stranger's shoulder's is getting old especially since she can't find anyone with good taste in books...until Boysname. Not only does January love everything Boysname reads, she's thrilled to find out he's also a writer...and a pretty good one at that. The more time January spends with Boysname, the more she falls in love with him. That's when her lack of body really begins to haunt her.

January soon finds out, however, that eternity is not as eternal as she thought it would be and she's forced to face the past and make a decision that will change her death forever.

Does anyone have a good suggestion for "boysname?" I'm looking through the school directory, all the Scottish baby name finders on line and a couple books I have sitting next to me. Might be time to pull out the Friday Harbor telephone directory.

Anyway, wish me luck.

9 comments:

Samurai Mom said...

Henry, uncommon now but not weird memorable but not contrived.

Afton said...

I originally typed Henry in place of Boysname, but then though of Time Traveler's Wife and that guy was Henry . (Like I'm going to find a name that's never been used before!)

Erika said...

Oh, I've always loved the name Gavin and I believe it's Scottish. My little sister just named her baby boy Reeve--something a little different but I love it. I also love Rafe, Adrian, and BRAN! (even though it was used in Son of the Shadows it's my all-time favorite and Scottish!).

Samurai Mom said...

You should go with Henry

Emily said...

Gavin is good. I really like Celtic names...find a province in Ireland or Scotland and name him that. That is where Madeline's middle name is from...Leigh Lancashire England...

claire said...

Ian popped into my mind. Also I think Blake is Scottish or English or something and it sort of sounds romantic.

Afton said...

Hey all, just in case you are wondering, I appreciate all your suggestions but since I already have a Hank (which is short for Henry) and since nothing else was grabbing me, I went with Charles, but I think I will make him Charley. Nothing is set in stone though, so he could really still be anything. For now, however, he will be Charley.

Afton said...

NO!!!! Liam. His name is Liam. How did I not know this? Charles? No. He's all Liam.

Marah said...

http://www.babynamewizard.com/

Check out the namemapper, namevoyager, and namepedia for hours and hours of good fun. The namevoyager especially will tell you when names were popular (Afton hit its peak in 1910s!). Meg hit its peak in 1980s and Hank in the 1960s, and when I hear those names, I think of people who are that age. I realize Hank is a Henry nickname, but still.

And Boysname needs to be scottish? Liam is actually Irish, but whatever--it's still a good name. It's definitely popular now and not 50 years ago.

http://www.thinkbabynames.com/popular/1/scotland/2006 for scottish names. A lot of them will sound familiar, but Callum is kinda cool.

Love your jacket summary--you have me hooked!