On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 08:32:33 -0500, Brian Cooksey <vaklam at comcast.net> wrote: > I did it last year and I got a very-much-in-need-of-rewriting novel > out of it. I've already signed up for this year's madness. I'm > "Vaklam" on the NaNo forums. I'm "Phy". > Your idea sounds really cool, by the way. > > Brian Thanks. This was what I wrote back in September as I prepared for writing contest at Deep Magic (a sci-fi / fantasy e-zine that is "a safe place for minds to wander"): "National enmities have been always produced and encouraged by kingly and priestly policy. The wolf is the natural enemy of the lamb; the vulture of the dove. By instinct they are so…" Piggot's Political Dictionary I needed to develop some key ideas for the October challenge, but found myself writing background stuff to work out the details. The Caducean Order which is comprised of two competing houses, the Hand of the Dove (Knights Templar) and the Hand of the Vulture (Assassin Priests). They have the same relationship as the FBI and CIA – they both work for the government, but one is visible and one is covert. Both hate each other. This story is the story of an assassin. He will be a central figure in the companion story, as will Sir Rodrik, his nemesis, a real bad-a$$ do-gooder. I'm very aware that this will be a very editable, very pulpy, very derivative effort - it's 30 days fer cry-yi. I'm also very aware of my influences. In this case, I should apologize in advance to Steve and PC Hodgell (God Stalk) (with a dash of Arthur Landis, who won't mind as much, being dead already and all). Anyway, I'm looking forward to completing the 50,000 word goal, breaking through the dreaded second act barrier, writing through some truly awful scenes. As much as I admire Steve's writing, it is his *thinking* that I most admire. I'm hoping to introduce some nifty thoughts. If I can keep things moving along and pull it all together in the space and time allotted, I will be content. The threshold for "success" is very low for a project of this scope, which seems a fine place to start. I am at the place where I alternately crave and dread the starting date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . johne cook wisconsin, usa johne.cook at gmail.com / jcook at apostate.com http://blog.milton.ws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .