[A Very Late] PreNaNo Log : Week 1

I fully intended to keep a log this year of my NaNo preparations. One of the first things I really wanted to do was post a summary of the story, though, so it wouldn't be completely confusing when I talk about the characters and parts of the plot.

My first attempt was both poorly-written and revealed some plot issues that needed to be taken care of, as well as some research I still need to do. Hopefully I can go library-prowling this weekend and get what I need. Last night I gave it another go, though, and am reasonably pleased with the result.

So here we are. Gear up your movie trailer voices, ladies and gentlemen (it'll probably help you get through this).

"Three generations ago, three events changed the world forever.

A plastic-eating bacteria ravaged the planet and destroyed nearly all of humanity's plastic and plastic materials.

Days later, a virus that mutated its victims into ravenous, violent beasts called Scourges was unleashed in hundreds of cities and towns across the globe. Without supplies, shelter, or many weapons, huge numbers of people were transfigured or killed. What remained of humanity banded together and were forced to begin life anew.

It was a few years before the dragons began to appear - never outright hostile to the human towns, but certainly dangerous if disturbed.

Casey *lastname* has spent her entire life in one small town, helping her parents breed and raise the wolfdogs used to sense nearby Scourges. The wolfdogs are no help, however, when Casey and her family's caravan are attacked on their way to a neighboring city - instead, it's a white dragon named Xerxes and a bizarre 'half-dragon' named Khulad who save her from the Scourges and their virus-spreading bite. And Khulad may know more about the dragons and the reason for their appearance than anyone on earth.

Miles away, a soldier on a desolate battlefield prepares to finish herself off as the Scourge virus begins to ravage the arm where she was bitten. Before she can finish the task, Roost is led to a laboratory and given a chance to retain her humanity by Doctor *lastname2*.All he wants in return is Root's help getting information on the Scourge virus from his son Peter to someone who can use the data to begin work on a curse, while dodging the corrupt officers of the militarian Grayback police force. A simple-enough task - though it remains to be seen if Roost's arm, trapped as the scaled, powerful, claw-tipped arm of a Scourge will be more help or hindrance.

Can two humans, a half-dragon boy, a Scourge-infected woman, and a pack of dragons keep themselves, each other, and their struggling world alive?"

...Still there? I know, I know - brevity is not my strong suit around 12 AM.

Oh, and the novel's called Third Life : I Still Need a Subtitle.

My mission this week (already more than half-over, awesome) is to get research done and to get started on name hunting...the state(s) where this will be taking place...basic stuff like that so I don't keep having to asterisk things...a subtitle...

If you're participating in NaNo, I hope your planning is going well. If you're not participating in NaNo - why not? Go check it out now and consider joining the party!

An Introduction and Excerpt

Welcome to "The Writer's Perch"! My name is Chelsey Magnuson; I'm a writer first and foremost, but I'm also a Michiganian, a college student, a mediocre web designer, and a nerd. I've been writing for about eleven years, and will probably continue until I die or until my hands fall apart (and I'm all for getting cybernetic hands a la Luke Skywalker when the later happens!). 

My writing genre of choice is young adult fantasy. I also write a bit of science-fiction, but have yet to write any novel-length work there. What I have written is Skeleton Gorge, a novel featuring some unusual protagonists - dragons. 

The first chapter of Skeleton Gorge can be found on my website, here:

So, what is the purpose of this blog as a whole? In part, I want to share my adventures in attempting to get this puppy published - but because that consists largely of waiting for replies, that isn't my only plan for this blog (besides, I'd love to keep using it if the novel ever does see the light of a publishing house ;) ). 

What I've actually wanted to do for a while is have a place to discuss writing, plain and simple. Whether that involves the philosophies of writing, strategies for actually sitting and churning out words, or looking at the art from a readers' perspective, I think there's a lot to talk about.

...So in short, my next post will be much less of a self-promotion. 

Thanks for reading; signing off from the Perch,

Chelsey