((echo's nano '07))

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~INTRODUCTION~

Hey party people!

I'm so exited for NaNoWriMo this year...After failing miserably the past, what, 3 years? I'm SO PSYCHED to win this year. ((Haha, that's probably gonna be used against me. ))

My username is Vannaloo--add me!

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-*-RESERVED FOR PLOT DISCUSSION-*-

So I have a small inkling of a plot idea that's been buzzing in the back of my brain. I have no idea if I want to use it, but so far it's the only idea of any substance that I've come up with so far. I don't even know how my characters are going to be conected, or what the deal is with anything. AHHH.

But basically, it's a werewolf story, focused around Isis ((read below haha)). She's just received the curse--not sure how. Maybe bitten, but that'd be awfully dramatic. She could've inherited it--but that involves writing history. *shiver* Hmm. Anyway. She's a werewolf now. She's 15 1/2...late birthday. Sophomore in HS...lives in a small town. I'll figure that out later. She works in a coffee shop in a bookstore, which is next door to a record store ((ok CDs, but it used to be records...)) which is where Charlie works.

Now here's the tough part--I don't know how I want them to interact. Like, if they're best friends, or twins ((ok, I admit it, I love twins)) or if they're romantic interests. ((I'm a hopeless romantic too.)) So...yeah. I meant what I said when I said it was only a small inkling.

I don't know what to do. xD

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----DARES TAKEN----

So this is my list of dares that I've taken, either from here or the NaNo boards.

• Meowth's dare:
  Dare: Mention Chet Flash in your story.
  Bonus Point: If Chet Flash "wuz here"
  --_{Chet Flash's name will be noticed on a wall of graffiti.}
  
• PFA's dare:
  Dare: Have a character, at some point in the story, shout "Look out! It's a GIANT DUCK!"
  Double points: If there actually is a giant duck.
  --_{My old teacher Mrs. W was actually attacked by a giant duck when she was a child...}
  
• Sammy's Dare:
  Double Points: Have one of your characters say, "We're going to Candy Mountain, Chaaaaarlieeeee!" (+2 if this works because your character's name IS Charlie)
  --_{One of my MC's is Charlie. >.>}
  

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((CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT))

Name: Isis Echo McEssey
Appearance: Small, thin. Sharp chin, gently sloping nose.

• Eyes: Blue--they change color with her personality; grey-blue and stormy when she's angry, bright blue when she's happy, deep blue when she's sad...etc.
  
• Hair: Naturally VERY dark brown, nearly black, with thin copper red streaks throughout. It's shoulder length, usually straightened, with bangs.
  
• Other stuff: She's very tinyish. Very skinny, small frame, but not androgynous. xD
  

Clothing style: Usually well fitting clothes, like skinny jeans, shrunken jackets, suchwhat. But also enjoys large tshirts or wide legged pants. Usually wears her converse, but she loves cool shoes. She has a black vintage fedora that she found in her grandpa's attic--she wears it a LOT. She loves colors and fun patterns, vintage, indie, retro. Stuff like that.
Personality: Has the potential to be a bit sidetracked and random, but is generally witty, bitter ((about several things)), but still very caring and hopeful for something better to come out of her situation.

Name: Charlie Sebastian Forest
Appearance: Around 5'11", pale, dark eyebrows. Very angular, beautiful. Broad shoulders and chest, small waist. Shaped like an upside down triangle. XD \_/ Yeah.

• Eyes: Startling green, really pretty.
  
• Hair: Dyed dove grey, and spiked into a bit of a faux hawk.
  
• Other stuff: Ummm... nothing really.
  

Clothing style: He dresses very well. I haven't really figured out his style yet, but it's generally colorful and fun.
Personality: Very sarcastic, caring, and generally mysterious.

Name: Ethan Alexander
Appearance: Tall, tan. His mother's Indian and his father's European.

• Eyes: Dark.
  
• Hair: Black and curly
  
• Other stuff: Ummm... nothing really. He's Elcie's brother...
  

Clothing style: Never specified. Generally just normalish.
Personality: Friendly, sweet.
...those are the ones ya gotta watch out for.

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So far, my NaNoWriMo experience has been a toughie.

The first day I could only manage to punch out 500 words--and I'm still not sure where I'm going.

For some reason, I opened up my story from the WRONG character. It may just be a prologue, but I was surprised that I couldn't just come up with something for Isis to do at the beginning. Eh. I'll probably get to her next. Maybe cross there paths somehow. I still can't decide if they're gonna be siblings or what. HELP!

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Well here it is, my first excerpt!!! This is when Isis first meets Charlie. I should probably do excerpts how they appear in my story, but I like this one. >.>

SPOILER: Click to show

Dischord Music was independently owned, but it attracted as much business (maybe even more) as a chain. Isis tugged on the door, but it was locked. She sighed, annoyed, and sat on the bench across from the store to slow her breathing. But her breath caught as she noticed someone coming to the door.
The boy who opened the door was nothing short of…spectacular looking. He was around five foot ten, maybe eleven, slim, and had angular, chiseled features. His eyes were bright green and framed in amazingly long eyelashes. Dark thick brows stood out against his pale skin and added a whole other level of his odd appearance. His hair was dove grey—actually, more silver—and gelled up into a small point. It looked soft, like down feathers. Isis found herself wanting to touch it, but she ended up just standing to see what he was doing. He pulled out a little silver key and held it up, answering her apparently quizzical look. “Well, I guess you didn’t get the memo that we close at 9 now.”
Isis coughed to make sure her vocal chords still worked. “Ah, I’m sorry. I’m rarely over here. I live about 30 minutes away, in a small town. I just got a job next door, and I figured I’d come check out what you’ve got new while I was still here and I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
The boy looked at her with an amused expression and folded his arms. “Well, a bit, but it’s alright, I can keep up. Now are you going to come inside and shop or not? February doesn’t really constitute for spring.” He opened the door with one arm and held out his other hand. “By the way, my name is Charlie.”

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So I've randomly decided to write my nano from first person POV. So I've got to go back and change everything...I'll probably end up loosing about 100 words. D:

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ZOMG! I JUST HIT 5K!

Lol, I'm so behind, but I really don't care. I'll figure out a way to catch up! But this is really thrilling, to be at 5010, considering last year, I don't think I made it much past 3k. I can SO do this!

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I think now, while I'm at a good number, I'll post another excerpt.

SPOILER: Click to show

The evening went by in a rush of coffee cakes and frappuchinos. I unpleasantly discovered that my feet had developed new, aching blisters by the end of they day. Thank goodness I decided to slip on my ballet flats instead of my “interview” heels, though. After a quick breather, I glanced at my glassy watch face and bolted. SNAP! After saying goodbye to my new coworkers, I grabbed my woolen coat from the back locker room and dashed out the door, heading for the CD shop that resided next to Surge.
Dischord Music was independently owned, but it attracted as much business (maybe even more) as a chain. Frantically, I tugged on the door, but it was locked. Exasperation welled up inside me, and with an annoyed sigh I sat on the bench across from the store to slow my ragged breathing. But my breath caught as soon as I noticed the person coming to the door.
The boy who opened the door was nothing short of…spectacular looking. Beauty seemed to be the right word, but it was an accessible beauty rather than an inhuman one. It was the appearance of all the brilliant classic heroes I had imagined in my mind. He was the living image of Shakespeare’s Romeo, with the demand for authority of Alexander the Great. He was around five foot ten, maybe eleven, slim, and had angular, chiseled features. His eyes were bright green and framed in amazingly long eyelashes. Dark thick brows stood out against his pale skin and added a whole other level of his odd appearance. His hair was dove grey—actually, more silver—and gelled up into a small point. It looked soft, like down feathers. I couldn’t help it; I wanted to touch it. I wondered what he was doing, but before I could ask, he pulled out a little silver key and held it up, answering my apparently quizzical look. “Well, I guess you didn’t get the memo that we close at 9 now,” he said, crossing his arms across his broad chest.
I tried to speak, but I found it harder than usual. I coughed to make sure my vocal chords still worked, and to attempt to disguise my blunt silence. “Ah, I’m sorry. I’m rarely over here. I live about 30 minutes away, in a small town. I just got a job next door, and I figured I’d come check out what you’ve got new while I was still here and I’m rambling, aren’t I?” Smooth.
The boy looked at her with an amused expression and rubbed his hands up and down his arms, evidently for warmth. “Well, a bit, but it’s alright, I can keep up. Now are you going to come inside and shop or not? February doesn’t really constitute for spring.” He opened the door with one arm and held out his other hand. “By the way, my name is Charlie.”
Hastily, I shook his hand and noticed how strong his forearms were, but I didn’t allow myself much thought about that. The CD shop was warm, but dark. “My name’s Isis…can you turn on some lights? I don’t think I can pick out the CD I’m looking for by just listening and seeing which one talks to me.” She stopped speaking as he flicked on the overhead black iron chandelier. “Sorry. That was really mean. My Gram says I’m very cynical,” she said, looking around the large room. Wit betrayed me at the worst of moments.

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OMG NEW EXCERPT!

I really like the last sentence for some reason. And haha--Sam cameo!

SPOILER: Click to show

After art class, Charlie packed up his paints and charcoals, putting them away slowly and carefully. He seemed to be waiting around for me, but I was probably deceiving myself. Eventually I got sick of stalling and put up my own supplies. I walked slowly to the door. He was leaning just outside where the cement block walls met the glass. “Do you know how graceful you are?” he complimented. I tried to appear like I didn’t care, but my traitor blush told different. I exchanged greetings with my friend Kelsey in the hall, then quickened my pace. His long legs easily caught up.
Seemingly undeterred, he followed me out to my car, which was a red Toyota Yaris. I was pretty proud of it, and kept it in great condition. I tossed my books in the backseat, put my purse on the passenger seat, and walked around the hood to the driver’s side. There was Charlie, already holding my door open for me. “So, I was wondering…” he began. I slid in, avoiding his perfect eyes, his crooked smile, and the little dimple that made him so special. He was tracing small figure eight’s on the corner of my window, shivering slightly in the cold and hugging his light fleece jacked tighter against him with his other arm. “Are you going to come by the store today?”
I sighed and turned on the engine, trying to warm up the cold interior. “Probably not, Charlie. I don’t want to get stuck in another storm.” I smiled sadly, still deliberately avoiding his face. But out of the corner of my left eye I could see him go rigid, his features hardening like granite.
“Charlie!” I whipped my face toward him desperately, unbuckling my seatbelt hurriedly as he stormed off muttering something to the effect of, “I wouldn’t mind.” Before I could catch up to his long stride, he jumped into his red VW bus, slammed the door, and drove off, leaving me in the freezing sleet that had begun to fall. I began to cry, the tears brimming over, streaking my mascara, blending with the sleet that had stuck to my face. Silently, I cursed Charlie for making me cry. I brushed the tears away, and walked back to my car. I slammed the door, popped in a Hives CD, and turned up the music to drown out the thoughts I’d been repressing all day. After what seemed like twice as long, I finally arrived at Surge. I cut off the engine, fixed my smudged makeup, and braved the wet, cold February afternoon, setting my fedora on my head as I walked. The familiar red bus was already there, and it seemed like there was a crowd in Dischord Music. I shook my head, and fixed my sight on the entrance to Cuppa Joe, turning up my woolen trench coat collar to the cold.
Business was great, so I dashed back to the locker room, said hi to my locker mate Sam, and put up my things. I grabbed my apron, tying it as I made my way to the counter to figure out my assignments for the day. I assessed my tables and began circulating, taking care of orders and whiny customers.
Cuppa Joe was different than other bookstore coffee shops. Not only did it have excellent to go service, they also had low tables with pillows and low couches for sit down service. There was live music every Friday, and a monthly open poetry slam every third Saturday. The walls were dark purple with dark red brick on the bottom, and furniture was black and dark red. Globes of light sat on the short, squat tables, and rounded sconces were mounted on the walls, both contrasting the angular nature of the furniture. And as usual, it was packed with people, a glorious diverse group of bookish scholars, college students from the campus a few blocks away, teenagers, and random riff raff from all walks of life.

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Lol...sorry random post so I can remember a name.

Ethan Alexander!

K, well I should leave something useful. NAME GENIE! www.babynamegenie.com/baby-name-generator/

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10,000 GLORIOUS AMAZING EARTH SHATTERING WORDS

My 10,000th word: "world"

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I slid into my seat in English right before the bell rang, but Elcie looked suspiciously at me from her seat next to me. I could tell she wanted details, but before I could think up a cheap excuse, the teacher began his lecturing. Elcie wasn’t paying attention; she was busily scrawling out what I expected to be a note. Much to my dismay, a girl with black hair and a shirt with a curious white bird on it stumbled in the room late. Using the distraction, Elcie passed the note.
I unfolded the dainty square and smoothed it out on my desk, knowing Mr. Craig wouldn’t hear over his reprimanding of Enesqu. Quickly, I skimmed over her bold, neat handwriting.

Isis, if you don’t mind me saying – WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I threw a puzzled look at her and returned to her note.

You agreed to go out with my brother. How can you do that if you are attached to Charlie?

A disappointed look must have shown up on my face, because Elcie gave a small grunt of satisfaction.

Sure, if you want to break Ethan’s heart, go ahead. But you aren’t a mean person… are you?
~Elcie

I sighed and pulled out my pen, beginning my scrawled reply on the bottom half of the paper.

Elcie – no, I’m not a mean person. I do care about Ethan. I never planned to break our date. Charlie had to go and confuse me this morning… But I will go out with Ethan. Who knows, he could just steal my heart back.
--Isis
P.S. Ethan’s your brother?!

As Enesqu stumbled to her seat, I coughed and slipped the note back to Elcie. Looking at her again, I could see the family resemblance. Her hair was the same color, curling slightly at the ends. I suspected use of a straightening iron. Her eyes were dark, but her skin was pale – the complete opposite of her brother’s dark, tan skin. Elcie was also tall like Ethan. I could see it after observing her again. She smiled at my note, and put it away to listen.

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So, this is the moment when Isis is inflicted with the curse of the werewolf. >D
IT WAS SO AWKWARD TO WRIIIIITE. D:

SPOILER: Click to show

…When there was a knock on the front door. I roused myself and went to answer it, not really caring who it was or what they wanted, as long as I could sneeze on them and make them go away, I was happy. I opened the door to see Charlie, in all his glory, standing with an amused but concerned expression on his face. “Should you really open the door for just anyone, Isis?” he said, in a mocking tone, looking down at what I presumably expected to be a poor sight.
“Go away, Charlie,” I grumbled, but I motioned him in, shuffling back to my couch. “What are you doing here? And for that matter, how did you know where I live?” My voice was cracking, but I managed to sound somewhat normal.
He shrugged out of his jacket and sat down on the couch, looking at me with obvious concern. “Well, finding that out was just a matter of amateur detective work. I knew you got a ride from Ethan yesterday, so I followed him home. I saw your little car outside this house, and it was solved from there.” He pushed up the sleeves of his blue button down shirt, revealing strong forearms. “As for what I’m doing here, I came to check up on you. If you haven’t noticed yet, I care deeply for you.” It was crazy how casual he said those words that I had wished to hear, even though I feared it was too soon. I found myself wondering if I had fallen asleep again, but I remembered my past dreamless naps. “You don’t have to talk. I know you’re having a hard time and you can’t. But…” Here he seemed to struggle with the proper words. “I just felt like after seeing you with Ethan that I had lost my chance, and so I had to come here and fight for you.” Charlie’s sweet face broke into his impish, lopsided grin, and his large, pale hand stretched out to tuck a stray lock of messy hair behind my ear. “You’re mine. Doesn’t he know that by now?” And then, without fear of infection or rejection, he kissed me. And suddenly, I felt MUCH better. My hands left the warmth of my quilt and reached up to hold his face. His hands held me protectively just above my elbows, as if he was afraid that I was too fragile. It was perfect, until the pain.
“Ah! Charlie, you have freakishly sharp teeth, did you know that?” I pulled away quickly, and he smiled sheepishly, producing a handkerchief from his pocket. I accepted it and held it to my bleeding lip. I was surprised at how deep the cut was. His tooth merely grazed my lip on accident.
He sat up straighter and leaned forward to help me with my clotting lip. “Sorry, they are freakishly sharp, you’re right. Here, let me do that. You stop talking.” He gently pressed the now stained white handkerchief to my mouth, a guarded look taking over his face.
“I’ll be ok, Charlie. It’s just a cut lip. I’ll live,” my voice cracked on the last word, reminding me of the intense burning in my throat. Charlie jumped up, letting me hold the cloth, heading into the kitchen.

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Oooh, this was incredibly fun to write. xD

SPOILER: Click to show

As Ethan bought tickets for the stereotypical date movie, I bought the candy and drinks with the money he gave me. He helped me carry the large cups into the dim theater, and we picked two seats at the top. It was crowded, but not uncomfortable. I settled in to my squashy chair and pulled off my coat, placing it over my purse in the seat next to me. The lights faded off, and the previews began, advertising movies that I really had no interest in. Expectantly, Ethan smoothly put his arm around the back of my chair. I didn’t really complain; I didn’t feel uncomfortable or anything, so I just acted like I didn’t notice.
The movie began to play, although I could predict what would happen within the first five minutes. Ethan’s arm slid around to my shoulder, and I was beginning to get uncomfortable. When I turned to him to reprimand him, he crawled over the arm between our chairs and kissed me. He had me pinned against my other chair arm to where I couldn’t move, with him basically on top of me, doing more than I would have ever let any guy do. I stayed calm, assessing the situation, and if I judged correctly, my knee was in the perfect position. Placing my hands behind me, I locked my elbows and kneed him, right in the groin. He hissed a cuss word and recoiled into his chair, putting his head between his knees. I calmly stood up, grabbed my things, and left the theater quickly, jerking on my coat as I stormed out. I heard him stumble out of the theater, still in obvious pain, but I ignored his calls and left the movie theater. Authoritatively, I hailed a cab, sliding into the backseat. Ethan caught the door before I could close it. “Isis, give me another chance,” he begged, still a bit wobbly.
I glared at him and told the cab driver my destination. “Sorry, Ethan Alexander, you blew it.” I slammed the door, and he luckily moved his fingers before they were crushed. With that, the cabbie sped off, leaving Ethan standing on the curb, looking rejected and pathetic. I steamed the whole way home, just thinking of ways to destroy him. Of course, I’d never actually go through with any of them, but it was great therapy.
The driver pulled up to Gram’s house, where I saw the television on, playing one of her recorded shows. I paid the fare and proudly walked up the porch steps, but as soon as I entered the house my façade fell and I began to sob. Gram immediately could figure out what happened, and she helped me out of my coat, gently leading me to the couch. She held me while I cried, and once I was better, she made me some hot chocolate. “It’ll help your throat and your heart, Hun,” she said, handing me the steaming mug. We stayed up late that night, watching sitcoms and favorite movies. Eventually, I was tired enough to sleep, so I said goodnight and trudged up the steps, still feeling like an idiot.