Pia Zellini - NaNoWriMo Update 3

I'm currently up to 3,970 words for NaNoWriMo. The majority of it was written early this morning between 12:30 am and 4:20 am. If it wasn't for the computer screen starting to look blurry I probably would have kept going.

The majority of the first chapter is done as well as half of the second chapter. Does that seem odd? I don't write a chapter at a time. I tend to hop around. I honestly have a little bit of every chapter done...mainly bits and pieces of dialogue that come to me during the course of the day. I haven't been counting that dialogue in the word count though. Just what has been completed for chapter 1 and chapter 2.

I have an idea for a book cover but I'm graphically challenged. I can't even find a free image online that comes close to what I'm looking at for cover art. I'll probably have to pay someone in order to get something close to what I'm looking for. It's not getting ready to happen right now though. The cover art isn't important at this moment.

My biggest hurdle right now is chapter titles. I have three so far...lol. Another thing is I did some rearranging of the chapters so now my outline is useless, figures. That might be a good thing, might now. I might be able to write the outline as I go along as well. We'll see.

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Happy Halloween

I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween. I plan on watching horror movies all day with Delgado with the pets and ducking the rain storm that we're in the middle of.

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Pia Zellini - NaNoWriMo Update 2

I'm finally finished outlining for NaNoWriMo. It was a process, especially since I can't stand outlining for anything. I've learned a lot about myself during this process though, especially how sick and twisted my imagination is. What helped is the fact that I stuck with one story idea. Others have popped in here and there but I just wrote them down and put them aside for another story.

Now that the outlining is complete and character sketches are all finished I'm getting excited. Less than a week and I can put pen to paper and start working on my first novel.

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Dissemble

Dissemble Copyright © 2009 Pia Zellini

Eating raisins, I watch as he jostles an elderly woman while boarding an overcrowded train. He places what appears to be a hat on the seat beside him. As he continues taunting passengers, shouting expletives and making obscene gestures, I can’t help but notice how different he is today.

We ride the train together every morning with me normally getting off first. Some days are better than others. For instance, it was a smoother ride yesterday. Not because of his horrible performance, but because it was less crowded. I was also eating grapes yesterday. Today it’s raisins. Opposites, yet the same.

Approaching my exit, I stand clutching onto my briefcase, waiting for the train to come to a complete stop. I can’t help but stare, wondering where the difference in his behavior can lie. Can it be the raisins? Do I need to eat grapes every morning instead of switching back and forth?

After the train stops, I walk over to the mysterious passenger. "You’re a two-sided coin, never sure who I’m going to be riding with."

He just stands there glaring - no smile. Glancing over at the empty seat next to him, I notice there’s no hat, just a face, his face - the same, yet opposite.

I finally realize what can make a man seem so different from one day into the next. A smile forms on my face as I lean in closer to him and whisper, "I like you better when you wear the mask."

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Pia Zellini - NaNoWriMo Update 1

When I first started the character sketch for the main character, it was just pretty basic. It still might be in some areas but I've added a lot more during the course of yesterday and this morning. I may edit this some more, but as of right now, here's the character sketch for the protagonist.

Name: Detective Angelo Fandino
Nickname: Dino
Sex: Male
Ethnicity: Italian-American
Age: 42
Eye Color: Brown (eyes are dark)
Weight: 200 1bs.
Height: 6'2"
Build: Medium
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Hair Length: Short
Face Shape: Round
Features: Strong look, Handsome, Small cut above left eye

Angelo is lead detective in Tallenham, KY (born in Stillton, KY - moved with family to Tallenham 6 mnths ago). He's separated from wife Elena (met at basketball game) and dad of Anna.

He was raised by his mom, Giorgina, dad walked out when he was four. His uncle (Antonio Fandino - dad’s brother) helped raise him (he was a cop). He’s an only child, graduated from High School and Police Academy and is Catholic.

Favorite color is blue, least favorite is orange because it reminds him of Autumn (when his dad left). Favorite music is blues, least favorite is rap. Favorite expression is "You got to be fucking kidding me."

He drinks vodka (should probably go to rehab - hides emotions), plays basketball, spends rainy day reading detective stories, plays guitar, thinks too much and is extremely blunt. Strangers see him as mysterious and daunting.

His main priority is to save his marriage. He’s previously divorced. His strength is he’s honest, loyal, optimistic, loving and smart. His weakness is he’s kind. His soft spot is Anna and it’s obvious. His biggest vulnerability is Elena.

His darkest secret is that he had an affair. Elena’s the only one that knows and that’s why they’re separated (along with the drinking).

I have more information about his past and what not. I'm actually using a few resources for the character sketch which include just basic information that I've been slapping into yWriter5 and Word Perfect, a few character sketches I found online (resources for writers) as well as questions that are popping up as I work on the outline for the story.

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