Nanowrimo 2021 - Tumblr Posts

Hey y'all, @emilymustwrite is back from the dead this NaNo season, and he's super trans now. Name's Lex, I'm 24, and I write fantasy.

This NaNo, I'm writing about a trans boy named Darius who is the crown prince of his kingdom, though when he comes out he is removed from the line of succession and ends up joining a queer revolution. I'm not worrying overmuch about word count, just trying to get back in the swing of it.

I've missed y'all, especially @brynwrites, @authorisada, @james-stark-the-writer, @feathered-quill, and @aschenink (tagging so you know I'm back). Can't wait to write with everyone again 🧡

NaNo Update: Day 4

Gods I’m bad at posting about it every day. I started NaNo a day late and my goal is just writing every day, so I haven’t written as much, but I currently have 1222 words, which is more than I’ve written in MONTHS so I’m pretty proud of myself.

Favorite line from this session:

I had always been a tomboyish child, preferring skinned knees to needle-pricked fingers, and for a time my mother allowed me to roam the palace grounds and get into the sort of mischief a young boy would.

My POV has changed to first person past tense which is a choice I usually don’t vibe with in fiction but it kinda rings for this and is letting me take on a much more reflective tone, which should be interesting once I exit exposition and get back into the action.

NaNo Update: Day 5

I downloaded Scrivener onto my new computer and updated my license so I have that now! I set it up with the 8-point plot as the document sections. Manuscript total is 1583 today and I wrote 364 words in tonight’s session, which I’m excited about. I know it isn’t a lot, but again, more than I’ve done in a really long time.

Darius has realized breakfast with his mother is a trap to force him to meet with a prospective suitor, and his handmaid isn’t allowed to tell him about this prospect, leading to my favorite lines from this session:

I shuddered, imagining attempting to eat strawberries and cream in a manner becoming a young lady of my station. It wouldn’t be satisfying at all. “Can you at least tell me who he is?”

Lissa shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

“All right then.” I sat down on the floor, spreading my skirts around me so that the ivory velvet wouldn’t be scuffed. “I’m not going.”

NaNo Update Day 6

I’m sick, so writing’s been a little harder than it normally would be for the past several days. My draft has finally passed the 2000 word mark (2045!!!) and I managed 306 words this session (I might manage more, but the day is over, I’m posting this at 12:15 am on the seventh).

Darius is still in the hallway before his mother’s surprise breakfast date, and the pieces are coming together:

“I will not marry him. There is no reason why I cannot rule on my own and take a consort of my choosing after my coronation.”

“You’re a woman, your highness.” Lissa’s voice was soft, almost apologetic, though she cannot have known the depths to which her words cut. “Queens alone have very little power. Even your mother—“

“My mother,” I interrupted, getting to my feet, “is not the queen alone. She is the Queen Regent. Her authority hinges on there being a king in the near future and on her council of noblemen.” I ran a hand through my newly cropped hair. “Why can I not be King?”

“You’re a woman, your highness.” Lissa’s voice was still soft, though it had taken on an edge.

I shook my head, the pieces coming together in my head for the first time. “Lissa, I don’t believe I am.” This time, when I sat down on the ground, I did it with no care for the state of my skirts.

NaNo Update: Day 7

Ayyyy am I actually being consistent?? While sick?? I’m legitimately impressed at myself. I managed 320 words today on top of playing in a DnD session, so I met my personal goal. My manuscript is up to 2365 words, so it’s going slowly but it is going!

Darius is at breakfast with his mother and a potential suitor (ayo new character dropped) named Lord Wimark, and here’s my favorite line from todays session:

Inside was my mother, dressed ever in black, hair done up in an intricate pattern of braids that begged the question of when she had awoken, as her eyes were bright as ever. Seated in the spot to her left, which I usually took, was a blond man, his skin pale as fresh linens, not even the flush of warmth to his cheeks. He wore red, from his head to his toes, and at his belt I could see a gilded hilt of what was likely to be a rapier, from the shape of the basket. He looked strong, with ropes of muscle visible underneath the silk. He did not rise as I entered.

taglist: @bluewritesbadly​

NaNo Update: Day 8

I managed 321 words today! The manuscript has reached 2686 words. I'm a little self conscious about not having written as much as everyone else seems to be that is doing NaNo updates, but I'm trying not to let it get to me haha.

Lord Wimark has shown himself to be an asshole, so that's fun. Darius is starting to realize that his mother might be fed up with him not agreeing to any matches, as the coronation is meant to be in a year.

Favorite line from this go:

Unfortunately, I was feeling rash. I set my knife down firmly on the table and stood up. “Based on this conversation, I am not the only one who needs etiquette lessons,” I bit out. That got their attention. Two sets of eyes turned to me, and my mother’s fork was frozen midway to her mouth. “I am not an object to be bought and sold. I am heir to the throne and will ascend to it in one year. If you will not treat me as though I am the heir, you may leave, Lord Wimark.”

taglist: @bluewritesbadly

NaNo Update: Day 9

Holy shit y'all I wrote 388 words and it's mostly dialogue! That brings my total wordcount to 3074 c: slow and steady wins the race, right?

After Lord Wimark departed, Darius and his mother had an argument about his appearance and whether he would marry Lord Wimark. Darius's mother is an asshole, fair warning (because Darius is highkey a projection character):

I bit my tongue so hard it bled. “I will not marry that pig. You can force me at swordpoint to the altar but you cannot make me bind myself to him.”

“It matters not. What matters now is that you are presentable for him at dinner. I expect I will not find you with your head shaved bare if I let you alone a few more hours?” My mother spoke in her accustomed clipped voice.

taglist: @bluewritesbadly

NaNo Update: Day 10

I only managed to write between customers at work today, but I got 352 words, bringing my total to 3429!!!!

No excerpt today, though, it's all a little heavy this go. Hard conversations.

NaNo Update: Day 18

Okay so mayyyyybe I haven't written in like a week but it's fine! It's fine!! Bc I just had a major plot breakthrough after letting my WIP marinate so like,,,, time to outline? I was going to pants it but here I am.