Preparing for Nano

Today I took a moment to go back and look at my previous nanos, trying to get some ideas for this year. I wanted to do the one that's in my head, but my mom said I should do a post apocalypse one like I do every year. I only write two "genres" -- kidnapped by aliens or surviving the end of the world.

I didn't get very far in the first one, but the second? I think I'm removed enough from both of them to read them like someone else wrote them. Last Shards I should rewrite at some point. But Life Interrupted is pretty good. It's definitely something I would read, and I have been. There are still some parts that I only used for word count that I would either edit or take out completely. Although, I really like the line, "Speaking of jokes, have you guys ever heard the one about the green ping pong ball?"

And then there's this gem, obviously just for the word count, or else to educate readers. But it feels a little out of place:

“I know you guys don’t approve of fishing, but—”

“No, don’t try to play that card,” she warned. “Back in the Belonging Times, the Department of Health advised women and children not to eat certain fish because they had high mercury content.”

“I know, but …”

“Shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel and fresh-caught tuna are all high in mercury.”

“I seriously doubt any of those fish live in Lake Melisa, even after the Disappearance. But I am impressed that you can still name them all.”

“Have you ever noticed that we never have more than a can of tuna per week? This is serious, Jack. Mercury poisoning is serious. Especially after the Disappearance. There are no rules regulating any thing. I’ve seen people throwing things into the lake. Who knows if they dumped florescent lamps, thermometers, thermostats, car switches, or batteries in there? One drop of the stuff is enough to elevate the mercury level in fish, and one teaspoon holds 70 drops!”

He stared at her. It was times like this that she reminded him of a walking, talking encyclopedia. He was really, truly sorry he had suggested any thing.

I was planning on doing a "disappearance" again this year, because it's an easy way to get rid of a lot of people quick without having to worry about bodies. But now, reading this, I think I might do a "sequel" of sorts. I remember once in middle school my teacher talking about a bunch of books where the characters all ended up in the same town by the end and she thought that maybe the author was going to do one with all the characters or something.

I'm thinking of doing this year's nano about a small group of people (four at the moment, but I think I need more) who also have magic powers. They didn't have any until this morning, when I decided the two stories were related. I am fairly sure that is permitted. After all, I remember reading (obviously) either the first or second year I did this something like, "If you want to write about how Mr. Brown survived the apocaplypse" (they really used that example) "and then the next year continue where you left off, that's not okay. But if you wrote about how Mr. Brown survived and then next year wrote about how Mr. Greene survived, that's okay."

Since last year I wrote mostly about Ace, Jack and Quess, and this year I'm planning to write about Cero, Ginny, Jarrow and Mr. Scill, it's fine. Even if some parts will overlap, like the three wise men. (Oh yeah, and Jarrow actually cameos in last years novel!)