I must admit that writing a novel on the blog is a huge undertaking. The story is sort of writing itself now… the crack squirrels are speaking with English accents, which is absolutely adorable… but there are downsides to this project…
People don’t want to read a lot of words everyday, so my readership is suffering. I am counteracting this by trying to write as many of you as I can into the novel.
I only type with two fingers. I could work a lot faster if I could type faster. Also I keep having to switch over to Google to look stuff up.
Here is the thing… oh, there is always a thing, isn’t there?… My family comes from England. Well, my mom’s mother came over in her early twenties. My dad’s family comes from Canada. We still have relatives in England. I have been to London… once… for three days…
And I study military history. So that cuts down on a lot of the research. But little details are tricky. What are the ranks of the London Metropolitan Police Force in 1942? Where were the police stations? Should I make the General a Lord or an Earl or a Duke, and then what are the titles of his children? How did the class system effect social situations? What did a pint of beer cost then?
These are the little details that make or break a historical fiction. That is what makes it feel real. Also it is tricky to decide if the narrator is English. So far he seems to be, and I think I am doing a credible job.
But if I am writing it as an Englishman, someone pointed out that the title of the book should actually be: Honour Misplaced… because that is how it would have been spelled there.
So I am going to keep plugging away at this. I might not finish it in a month. And there is the question that always arises: If it is good enough to publish, should I really do the whole thing here for free?
Also bear I mind that for the NaNoWriMo challenge, we are not supposed to be editing it as we write. So cut me some slack on that.
But if you are English… please chip in with some good advice… or fish and chip in… HA!
I will try to stick some silly pictures up on the blog to entertain those of you who do not like to read words. Because I care that much. But it wouldn’t kill you to read it, and you might get your name put in the story.
Pouring My Art Out 
Here’s some details you might find helpful:
– a baby carriage is called a pram for perambulator
– when you want to wake someone – you knock them up (I know you will have a riot with this)
– bubble & squeak is a dish made of sausages & cabbage & potatoes
– “don’t get your knickers in a twist” means don’t get so upset about something
– fish & chips are served in a newspaper cone
– brolley is your umbrella
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head – maybe these little details will help your story sound more authentic.
Hey, I have relatives from England… we have roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and plum pudding for Christmas… and I watch the BBC… it is the history part that is hard to research. Now I have to go smoke a fag.
Do you want someone to look up those research questions, in the background, while you carry on writing?
You would do that for me after I gave you such a small part?
“because” you gave me a bit part. I’m not one to envy the limelight… 🙂
Well… at least you have very nice bits…
Oh, thStop it! thSuffering thSockatassshhhH! Where is my brother….
Oh brother… where art thou?
I had to laugh when I read this, because I have to pick and choose what I read now a days (as you know)…and that is probably the only way I would dip my earl grey painted toes into the waters of the novellular abyss. Sigh. Why must I use my time this way? I must cook beets.
But this is turning into a really good story.
And the beets were turning into a really good meal.
Can’t beet it.
Ha 🙂
Keep it the whole thing visible as you write then, once it’s done, make all those posts private.
oh… cool…
listen to the cabby
hahahahaha! Good one.
yeah it was
ha
You are in the book… in an RAF uniform…
Cool…I’ve worn Dambuster pilot Harold ‘Mick’ Martin’s uniform you know!
I did not know… I have Pappy Boyington’s autograph… and the Japanese pilot that shot him down…
I know you do, that must have been a cool day.
You remember stuff better than I do…
For the record, I read all of your words 🙂
That is why you are my new special friend!!!
Do I get benefits? 🙂
umm… sure…
Great! I need some dental work. Shall I send you the bill? 🙂
No, but I will pull the bad ones for you.
LOL! What would I eat with?
The three that are still good, I guess.