First, a picture that I may use for bragging rights:

But it doesn’t belong to me, not alone at least. It belongs mostly to the greatest writing partner that I could wish for, and she gave me the plots and the words and that mental image in the form of an army of zombies waving banners that say “Just a little more!” and “Stay Lurching!” and “Brainz Up Ahead!”. She and the Zomb-army carried us past the finish line, and all I did was make sure I hit the nightly word count by continuously typing Ape, Ape, Ape, Ape, Ape (and, for the rest of the night, Bananas x 1000).

Suddenly, it was back to those nights where the parchment would open and I’d fall into it, and the words would just come (Apes and Bananas). And I’d be somewhere else, and nothing else would’ve mattered. Not even the coffee-requesting parent. Not even the mosquitoes. Not even sleep, at least until it got overly demanding. Only that this time, there was someone else with me, and she pitched while I batted.

Suddenly I was plotting, padding, making characters speak in my head, tying up loose ends and throwing things randomly on the wall with the hope that it sticks. And then, in the end, making sure that I’d come home and write it.

50,000 words weren’t even enough. But here’s the second promise; finishing the novel. Complete with the edits, changes, omissions, ironing, waxing, wrestling-with-the-characters-ing, and footnotes.

The road is long, and I’m having a great time walking down it.

So here I raise, this imaginary glass of sparkling champagne, to my writing partner, her Zomb-army, and the words.

Time to fire the Large Plotron Collider!

****

Right, there was also that bit where I went to Japan for a few days, and it’s my third self-promise to blog about it (with pictures. From a perfectly fine camera duly wasted upon me). But at least until I finish the coverage on it.

There is, of course, self-promise One and Two. There’s also a Four, but knowing myself, self-promises tend to vaporise. So maybe three for now. I’ll work in the extras later.

And yes, this bit of the post is to remind me to do it. Do ignore, and go let that spider chase your mouse pointer.

Oíche Mhaith