Blogger Update

Now I can text and blog directly from my phone! How awesome is that?! :)

Story Update

So it seems I have only been doing story updates, but no actual story progression. This week I have had some time off from work and have put the pen to the paper so to speak. My previous word count was around 27,000 and now it has grown to 34,000. Impressive may it not be, but I still have hopes that this story will one day see the light of an official press. A few years ago I had made a mock book filled with the bits and pieces of the main conflits so that I can hold in my hands and see the hard copy version of it. I must say that looks beautiful in print it makes it feel like it will become a real book. So if this book ever gets published, this first rough printing that was hand bound will be worth MILLIONS!!! Yes! Ha! Ha Ha! I kid you not!

Sigh. Long Sigh.

Almost another year has past and not a word. Excuses and lame luck has happened. House repair after house repair, Major Family emergencies, and lousy-laziness. Fingers crossed for NaNoWriMo 2009. Can I do it this time?

RICO is now 25,000 Words Stong!

That is correct. I wrote 55 pages worth of words. Not much to a professional writer, but my word count for writing has gotten a lot better compared to the past. The first year I did NaNoWriMo, I accomplished 13K and then the second year I did the program, I only did 6K. In the past ten years, Honor has only gained 27K words. Needless to say, I changed gears and started a new story. Rico in the past 30 days has gain 25K. That is a big defeat in writing terms for me. The story is not finished but the program is. I didn't get to the original 50K I wanted to get to, but that was my fault. I lacked in effort for the last week and a half due to a back strain and a little bought of depression. My realistic goal was accomplished, which is the biggest defeat for me. Next year my friends, next year, will be the 50K run for me. I joined the Young Writers Program for Elementary to High School Students to help get a start in my Young Reader Book that I am trying to write and kept my goal to 25K to be realistic, thus the YMP NaNoWriMo Winner seal on the side panel to show for my accomplishment. Please check out the site to see the cool stuff they have for young writers and to help them get jumpstarted on their storyline. They have great workbooks to work from to get some ideas and writer's block looseners.
~Laura

Story Update

Ok, I have veered away from my passion for Scotland this year and have settled on a new idea during NaNoWriMo 2008. It is a story about a ship that travels from port to port and the experiences that it encounters. The book idea was suppose to be a children's book, but has moved onto a more young adult reader. I may or may not create a blog about this one... we will see so that I can have people follow the story as it builds. So far the count is 20K and I had a goal of 25K. I wanted to get to 50K, but I became so unmotivated and didn't know where to go with the story. Another story that may become unfinished in my mind that is pounding at my brain's walls to let it loose. Only time will tell. Oh, the story title is RICO. I may change that as well if it stays a young adult to adult reading. Stay tune! =]
~Laura

Story Delay

After sometime not present on my blog, I have failed to make an effort to "try" and write on Honor. I am settled into my new home and now have a great focus area to hone in on my urge to develop my story. Please have patience -- just think, it was over ten years ago when I started this story idea.

NaNoWriMo is starting up again this November and I plan to use this opportunity to write. Maybe I can double my word count, if not make the goal of 50,000 words! We will see.

Now... where is that bagpipe music, pad of paper, and pen?

Character Update -- Duncan Murreff - Profile picture

One of Honor's heroes, Duncan Murreff as played by Scottish actor Gerard Butler with the hair style from Beowulf and Grendel:



Please note: Images are only for examples/representations and are not intended for use in book.

Novel Excerpt -- Ingram

"Lowrens’ young and only brother Ingram lives in Kilmarnock, whom is a law enforcer that no longer forcibly upholds the law. He passively watches over the valleys to make sure they stay peaceful with two others that help, but are never around when he needs them.

Once in a while, Ingram visits the Murreff farm and brings news of the events that filter to the city. His nephew, Duncan always is intrigued by the news of what is happening with the war for independence. Their conversations of the events, extend late into the nights, have created a bond between the two as close friends. Lowrens is not too fond of it, yet keeps from the interactions. Lowrens is not as disposed as one might think a brother bond would have to his brother, yet an occasional conversation will pass between them. He is afraid that his convictions of the battles have caused interest in Duncan to fight in the war as well. It was not his intention to drive his nephew into such a thing and feels that Murron is unhappy with him for this action. She has assured him that Duncan is making his own decision for this matter and hopes that her father will provide help and thus Duncan will do the same if his father needs help as well."

Please note: This is non-published work and is protected by copyright laws. Do not copy, distribute, or use without permission by the author.

Character Update -- Fernand Dumas - Profile picture

For the first time in the history of writing Honor, the characters began having faces. During the 2007 NaNoWriMo event, I chose what my characters would look like if they were to be on screen. My first character, Fernand Dumas, would be played by French actor Jean-Claude Brialy (as if he was still alive in the 1960s):



Please note: Images are only for examples/representations and are not intended for use in book.

MISC. Blog Information

Click on an element to learn more about this blog:

INTRODUCTION

REVIVING THE STORY

STORY DELAY

STORY UPDATE

RICO 25,000 STRONG

Story Update

As of right now, the only thing new for HONOR, is this blog. So, check back to see if there are any even newer things happening.

Novel Excerpt

Click below to read a small excerpt from the unfinished novel:

INGRAM

Character Info

Click below on the Character you would like to learn more about:

DUNCAN MURREFF

FERNAND DUMAS

Reviving the Story

It was only 3 years ago, that Laura starting writing her story again and NaNoWriMo is the organization to thank for this.

After life was passing her by, college, marriage, and full time jobs - she set the story aside on the back burner. In 2004, her husband, Evan joined the National Novel Writing Month to see if he could write 50K in one month. To their amazement, he did more than that! The next year Laura joined him in the journey and attempted the goal, only make it to 13K. To her, that was a great deal of accomplishment, because that 13K restarted her engines for writing the story again. The next year flew by with only 6k and she did not attempt NaNoWriMo in 2006. Only was it that last November did she really get involved into the story. Her word count jumped to 27K with lots of character developments and even illustrations to have visual aids! And to give you an idea of how many pages 27K has, it is roughly 80 pages. That is a loooong thesis paper if you are a student.

Please visit the National Novel Writing Month website to see more details on this great creative writing event. They are a non-profit organization that helps children write stories of their own and also gets YOU pumped to write your own novel. It doesn't have to be 50K to be a winner! You are a winner for attempting at all.

Introduction

Welcome to Laura Parris' Honor Blog!

You have landed on a site to experience the makings of a historical fiction story that Laura has been working on for over 10 years. It was started in her senior high school English class after watching Mel Gibson's 'Braveheart' and the need to write a senior paper on a historical figure. Thus William Wallace was the object of her paper. Fascinated by Wallace's struggle to make Scotland a free country, she had an idea to create a story that surrounds his most historical event at the Sterling Bridge battle. Keep in mind that even though he is a non-fictional character, the surrounding events of the battle and main characters are fictional.

Come back frequently to see updates on characters, read story excerpts and comment on what you think about it.