Ready, Set...Write!

  It's NaNoWriMo. Grab your laptop, notebook, pencil or pen, and get to work on those novels! Remember, for 50,000 words in thirty days, you need 1,666 words per day...but it's always good to get a head start at the beginning, so you can relax later! (It's 666 words per day for 20,000 words, Dreamer.) Keep up on the NaNoWriMo website, the blog, and be sure to upload your new writing as soon as you have anything done. We all want to read everything you've finished!
  Get ready...
  Get set...
  WRITE!!!
-President Fantasy

Everybody!!! Look on the interview part of the blog right now!!!

I put my interview up!!!And I will be on the blog more often.
-Raistlin

I'M NOT AZTEC YOU GUYS WERE ABSOULUTLY WRONG!!!

I'M NOT AZTEC OKAY THAT'S ALL!
-Dreamer

hello!! I'm happy!

Hello I am very happy right now because were going to have gelato tonight, and I'm excited. Oh sorry I just realized that that was not about lords of the pencil, that is my silly post for a while.
-Toady

Ethan is Amazing!!!

  I'm listening to The Ceiling Fan Christmas 2010. 10, not 11. And Ethan sticks up for Aaron and everything. He's awesome. Meaning Ethan, not Aaron. I mean, not that Aaron isn't good or anything, I just meant that...oh, well. Never mind what I meant.
  Now, after that rather random interval, here are the options for what to do when you're stuck on your novel in NaNoWriMo:
  1. Go onto the website and use the Dare Machine. That will get the story moving!
  2. Take a five-minute break and do some jumping jacks.
  3. Come over and see what we're writing about.
  4. Go on the blog and cry for help.
  5. Read over everything you've already written.
  6. Read what everyone else has already written, which should be uploaded to the blog.
  7. Upload everything new you've written to the blog and tell everyone to read it and give you encouragement!
  Okay, now, about the uploading itself: See, what we're going to do is upload our stories to the blog as we write it, so everyone can see the story as it unfolds. Now, what you should do is go to the Pages (the little tabs that say "Club Member Interviews" and "A Text to Save the World (Work in Progress)" ). Find the tab that says the title of your novel. Click on it, go down and find the pencil icon, and copy/paste everything that you have on there. (I think you have all done this before. It's fairly simple. Right click, click Copy, click on the page, right click, click paste.)
  So that's the update for today! IF you have not listened to the remix of "The Way Back" yet, I strongly suggest that you find my previous post (entitled something like "Overload of Posts") and listen to it. As Kevin says, "Peace!"
-President Fantasy
"Well, think, James, think!"
"Stop that! I can't think when you tell me to think!"
 

Overload of Posts!

  All of a sudden, so many posts!!! Don't worry. This one isn't long.
  First off, I got the okay from BOTH parents for the all-nighter! We'll figure out which date will work best, then I will make a formal invitation so you can wave it in your parents' face and say, "Can I go, I go, please? It's writing, it's educational!" They'll probably say, "With Sophie Klomparens? I don't think so."
  But beside the point.
  And the point is, I thought you would get a kick out of this, so I decided to post it on the blog, since we haven't had any new Ceiling Fan songs in a while.

 
  Yes, it is Kevin singing it. No, I had no part in its creation. It was all Kevin.
  That's all for now, folks!
-President Fantasy
  "Uncle Bernie! Oh NOOOOOOOO!!! He sees me..."
  "Oh, no, I'm gonna die today..."
  "You can run, Ethan...But you can't hide!"

Special Preview that No One Ever Expected

  That's right. A never-before-read preview of Sunset, Oregon right here on the Lords of the Pencil blog! (Man...how do I get all these connections? First previews from Rising Waters and Flash of Lightning, now a preview of Sunset, Oregon! How do I know all these authors?)

  Anyway, I know what you're thinking, and NO, I did not cheat. In the workbook they tell you to write the first few paragraphs of your novel, because that's the hardest part. So I did. 

  Just so you know, this is actually an excerpt from something near the beginning. The very beginning is not on here, but this is essentially the beginning, after the introduction and everything. 

  Here you go: 

            Beep…beep…beep…beep…

            Over and over again.

            Beep…beep…beep…beep…

            Could it just stop? Would it ever stop?

            Beep…beep…beep…beep…

            It matched the beat of his heart.

            Perfectly.

            It was an unconscious thought, a subconscious fight: As soon as he became aware of it, it became all the harder to continue on, to keep the sound going.

            It’s annoying…make it stop…just make it go away so I can sleep…

            Beep…beep…beep…beep…

            Don’t let it slow down…don’t let it stop…If it stops, I stop…everything stops…

            Beep…beep…beep…beep…

            It was faster now, now slower, now less regular.

            And then it stopped.

            Silence. Blackness. It was welcome. He wanted it to stay.

            But something within him revolted…something would not allow this to be the end. Something within him that held out, that fought to the very last moment.

            Of course, this was to be expected.

            You are from Sunset, after all.

            With this, a memory, a measure of identity, the sound returned.

            Beep…beep…beep…beep…

            And somewhere within him, something forced him to open his eyes.

  That's all I got. Ahem, I mean, that's all that the author disclosed to me to post on our little club blog. I know, I know...I want to read the rest too! I guess I'll have to write it -- oops! -- I mean...get it from the author first. 

  See you round town! (Don't trust Phil if you meet him on a dark road.)

-President Fantasy

  "Okay, so, next question...is Loren available?"

  "What?"

  "Who wrote that?"

   

"I'm Excited! Are You Excited? We Should Be Excited Together, in an Excited Party Type...Thing"

  ...to quote Garrett Vandenberg.
  It's been a few days, so I thought I would give an update on all things LOTP.
  National Novel Writing Month is only a little over a week away, and I may just die of anticipation!!! I really enjoy the idea of my novel so far. (Here's a hint: You're technically not allowed to begin your novel, but you could do the first few sentences, 'cause it says you can in the notebook. And if you feel like it, you could write a scene from way later in your novel in the name of "outlining". Like, a scene from your climax, or a scene with your main character, and tell everyone you did it just to figure out this character, or decide how this was going to work. Just to keep yourself alive.)
  You can post on the blog any time if you're stuck.

  Here are a couple example post titles that will probably appear sometime during the month:
  "HELP! I'm 20,000 words behind!!!"
  "What do I do with my stupid main character?"
  "My villain won't do anything I tell him to!"
  "Why won't Jack stop eating cookies?"
  "I hate my main character"
  "I think I'll just have Dr. Regis Blackgaard show up."
  "Or maybe Harry Potter"

  Yeah, these all figure. I'll probably write every single one of those during the month. My characters have a knack at disobeying my orders. Like when I wrote Way Back When, got to the end, and realized that Ramcol had fallen in love with Rea behind my back and there was nothing I could do about it.
  Also, I talked to my mum about the idea of the "All-Nighter" not-sleepover and she said it was a great idea! So now we have to set a date, make sure it's all right with my dad and with Tiger and Miss Templado's parents, and ta-da!!! We have a brilliant stay-up-all-night-part-NaNoWriMo-novel-finishing-thing!
  I'll have to work on that title.
  Also, I'll have to post the character questionnaire for my main character on here sometime. And you should take a good look around the website, and check back on it every day during NaNoWriMo. It's very important to keep your spirits up.
  Check back with the blog, too. And as Inheritance, NaNoWriMo, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christopher Paolini, and a Halloween Special from TCF (What can I say?) approach, we realize that God really is awesome for giving us all this cool stuff in November. I think it's a way of making my 13th year go out with a bang and a blaze of glory.
-President Fantasy
"Special people come from Sunset. Surprising people. People that you'd never expect to be brilliant until the bomb drops, the realization hits, and you find that you are totally at their mercy, and cannot do a thing about it." -Falden Jones, Sunset, Oregon

That's right-"Question you Characters"

Question your Characters

  That's right. Grab your characters, set them down on the couch, and begin asking some questions.
  President Fantasy, here you go:
1. Name: Okto Pes 

2. Age:14
3. Height: Five feet and 8 inches
4. Eye color: Blue
5. Physical appearance: Has eight arms [four on each side], brown hair, bushy and thick eyebrows, big nose, big smile all the time, tall, a bit bulky, tan skin and big feet.
6. Strange or unique physical attributes: The eight arms
7. Favorite clothing style/outfit: Dark blue jeans, orange-red shirt, black sneakers, and he loves that ocotpus shirt he got last summer!
8. Where does he or she live? What is it like there? He lives in a cave in the lower part near the mountians [it takes him a LONG time to get to town]. It is a nice cave, very well hidden, and it is pretty warm during winter because it is so isolated. Loads of trees, creepy at night and it's very lonely.
9. Defining gestures/movements (i.e., curling his or her lip when he or she speaks, always
keeping his or her eyes on the ground, etc.):  Tends to curl every hand into a fist when he gets angry, his eyes turn purple when furious and when sad-well- his eyes turn deep blue and he seems to look like a  regualer person.
10. Things about his or her appearance he or she would most like to change: The fact that his eye color changes with every mood.
11. Speaking style (fast, talkative, monotone, etc.): Low voice, slower-tends to get faster when he is excited.
12. Pet peeves: Being called a squid: it will make his eyes turn deep purple.
13. Fondest memory: Meeting Zanu
14. Hobbies/interests: Octopus research, fishing, hanging out with Zanu and swimming
15. Special skills/abilities: Can make his eyes turn color, can blend with enviroment with limits,and that is pretty much it.
16. Insecurities: Being an oddball, being a monster and never being accepted
17. Quirks/eccentricities: He is convinced that is an octopus.
18. Temperament (easygoing, easily angered, etc.): Easily angered by strangers but Zanu doesn't affect him in the least
19. Negative traits: Easily angered, believes he can do anything, has a temper and he thinks most mortals [except Zanu] are arrogant and a bit stupid
20. Things that upset him or her: Being called a squid
21. Things that embarrass him or her: Being a monster and only having one friend
22. This character is highly opinionated about: Octopi!
23. Any phobias? Sharks, other octopi of the same gender, and mean people
24. Things that make him or her happy: Zanu, octopi and smoked salmon
25. Family (describe): He is an orphan-sad
26. Deepest, darkest secret: I have no idea at the moment
27. Reason he or she kept this secret for so long:?
28. Other people's opinions of this character (What do people like about this character?
What do they dislike about this character Stuff I think people will like: humor, his obsession with octopi, the way he does things... Stuff people may not like: His negative traits
29. Favorite bands/songs/type of music: Enya, Unearthed, and such [he has listened to Zanu's music player]
30. Favorite movies: He doesn't have a DVD or VCR player
31. Favorite TV shows: He doesn't have TV
32. Favorite books: Percy Jackson  and the Olympians
33. Favorite foods: Smoked salmon, caviar- pretty much all fish
34. Favorite sports/sports teams: He can't even understand the concept of  basketball: how could he have a favorit sport?
35. Political views: He doesn't pay attention to the government
36. Religion/philosophy of life: He believes in the forces of nature forming on their own: he may switch to being a Christian though; Zanu is one and he is trying to tell him his testimony
d37. Physical health: Pretty okay; normal- but not the best certianly
38. Dream vacation: Going to the Cariabean and spending every day at the beach or researching the octopi
39. Description of his or her house: It is a pretty roomy cave with some thrown out furniture taken from the town dumps in secret
40. Description of his or her bedroom: A small area of the cave with lots of blankets and pillow in a corner, with pine boughs as bedding. That and a picture of Zanu and a book near the bed.
41. Any pets? None what so ever
42. Best thing that has ever happened to this character: Meeting Zanu
43. Worst thing that has ever happened to this character: I don't know
44. Superstitions: Beliving that 13 is and unluckly number, and if any black  animal crosses your path, the animal is angry
45. Three words to describe this character: Funny, tempermental and odd
46. If a song played every time this character walked into the room, what song would it be? I have no idea: I need to listen to more songs

Question your Characters

  That's right. Grab your characters, set them down on the couch, and begin asking some questions.
  These questions, to be precise.
  (Disclaimer: These are not my questions, excellent though they are. They are, in fact, invented by the Office of Letters and Light Young Writers Program. They're fun to fill out. I would suggest highlighting all the words. Once they're highlighted, they should look like this. Then, right click -- that is, click the button to the right -- and click on "Copy". Then, open a Word document, or whatever program you use to enter text, right click again, and click "Paste". Or you could paste it into a blog post, and fill it out on the blog. Either way works.)
  All right, here we go:

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Height:
4. Eye color:
5. Physical appearance:
6. Strange or unique physical attributes:
7. Favorite clothing style/outfit:
8. Where does he or she live? What is it like there?
9. Defining gestures/movements (i.e., curling his or her lip when he or she speaks, always
keeping his or her eyes on the ground, etc.):
10. Things about his or her appearance he or she would most like to change:
11. Speaking style (fast, talkative, monotone, etc.):
12. Pet peeves:
13. Fondest memory:
14. Hobbies/interests:
15. Special skills/abilities:
16. Insecurities:
17. Quirks/eccentricities:
18. Temperament (easygoing, easily angered, etc.):
19. Negative traits:
20. Things that upset him or her:
21. Things that embarrass him or her:
22. This character is highly opinionated about:
23. Any phobias?
24. Things that make him or her happy:
25. Family (describe):
26. Deepest, darkest secret:
27. Reason he or she kept this secret for so long:
28. Other people's opinions of this character (What do people like about this character?
What do they dislike about this character?):
29. Favorite bands/songs/type of music:
30. Favorite movies:
31. Favorite TV shows:
32. Favorite books:
33. Favorite foods:
34. Favorite sports/sports teams:
35. Political views:
36. Religion/philosophy of life:
d37. Physical health:
38. Dream vacation:
39. Description of his or her house:
40. Description of his or her bedroom:
41. Any pets?
42. Best thing that has ever happened to this character:
43. Worst thing that has ever happened to this character:
44. Superstitions:
45. Three words to describe this character:
46. If a song played every time this character walked into the room, what song would it be?

  Hope you have fun. Tiger (or should I say, Orangetails42) I found your account on the website. I also sent you a request to be writing buddies. Just go to your writing buddies page, and then find the "Pending Requests" tab and click on it. It'll say that President Fantasy wants to be your writing buddy. Just click "Accept".
  If you click "Deny", I'll be really hurt.
-President Fantasy

I Don't Have a Title Yet! GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

  That could be referring either to the title of my post, or to my NaNoWriMo novel...and you'll never know!
  Anyway, really quick...Here's some stuff.
  Tiger, tomorrow, you want to bring back Battle of the Labyrinth. Just reminding you, like I said I would.
  Two: Again, for Tiger, you should sign up for the young writers NaNoWriMo. I'm doing that version, 'cause it's no less challenging, and it's everyone seventeen and under, so it's teens and kids (which is just a whole lot nicer, don't you think?)
  Just go to ywp.nanowrimo.org (click on the link to go there) and click "Sign up!" (Make sure that your parents know about it.)
  That's all for now! See ya round the schoolyard! (Don't trust Phil if you meet him on a dark road.)
-President Fantasy

"I Don't Feel Like Killing Every Cat!"

  ...that would make me a murderer.
  Howdeedoodeethere, folks! Some of you expressed interest in the NaNoWriMo deal, so here's some more info:
  To sign up for the regular 50,000 word novel, then click HERE to go directly to the sign-up page. Just make sure to get your parents' permission (since you'll probably have to use their email address...) or convince them to let you get your own.
  OR if you think you're just not up to the regular old 50,000 word novel, then just click HERE and you will go to the Young Writer's Program, in which you give yourself a word count goal. That's right! You set your own goal -- but you've got to reach it.
  More news: I don't know about the prizes or whether they actually exist. I DO know that in the official contest, anyone who reaches 50,000 words is a winner and gets a certificate and eternal glory in the NaNoWriMo hall of fame and also eternal glory in the LOTP hall of fame! That's a pretty good deal to me.
  All those who fail to reach 50,000 words get a pat on the back, a participation award, and no glory.
  I hope that info was helpful, and trust me, YOU WANT TO SIGN UP! If it isn't official, then you may lose heart. They do a pretty good job, I think, of making sure that you just keep going. That's the goal, in the end. No matter how hard...just keep going.
  Who knows? This might become a Lords of the Pencil tradition!
-President Fantasy
  "Anything's better than Detroit!"
  "Hey, don't forget what a nice place Detroit can be."
  "Right...Who told you that?"
  "Well...James did."
  "Yeah, sure, great place, especially with all the poverty, gangs, evictions, crimes, murders, and much, much more!"
  "Gangs? There were gangs there, James?"
  "Oh...right. I guess I forgot about all that stuff."
  "You let me walk around that place without telling me about all these threats?"
  "Well, you're okay now!"

Thought You Might Be Interested

I learned something rather interesting recently, and I thought you might be interested. (Hence the post title.)
  There's something called National Novel Writing Month. It's in November. Any people who like to write sit down and write the rough draft (NOT a final copy) in a month. December is editing month, where you edit it. Anyway, I decided to do it, and I wondered if any of you fine club members might have fun joining me.
  May I remind you, it's simply writing a novel -- and you can win prizes. It's a rough draft, so obviously, it won't be perfect. You EDIT in December.
  Here's a picture:

    NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month. Here's the link: National Novel Writing Month Website. Be sure to check it out, and see if it looks fun.
  All for now! (Wish me luck...as we get closer to November, Inheritance, and National Novel Writing Month!
-President Fantasy
P.S. If this doesn't sound fun to you or you don't want to do it, that's totally cool with me. I really don't care. I just thought I'd throw it out there since I am doing it, I would like encouragement and support, and I thought you all might possibly be interested. If you really think it sounds about as much fun as sticking your head in a jar full of spiders (hi, Tiger), there's no need to apologize.

SOUND THE ALARM!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was on the Alagaesia home site, and-and- I was, like, viewing the Inheritance trailer, right? Then, like-like- I saw a Eldest trailer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I veiwed it...and it said COMING SOON!!!!!!!!!! Get the popcorn! Buy the candy! We are going to see it and rate its performance. Everyone, be on the watch for this sequel to the AWFUL Eragon! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Tiger

i have HUGE news !

My new breyer came today !And as i just found out is a MARE ! Please i need ur help to name her i had a few in mind like...... Lacmira,Midnights sweetend song,Nora ,Enya, Roses dark heart ................ please help me make up her name ! O and i WILL bring her over to ur house so u can see her .

              Templado
P.S. I think oliver might have a mate now but i will see ........... 

Problems, Problems, Problems, Wrong!

The title of the post doesn't REALLY make sense...unless you happen to be Caleb or I, in which case it WOULD make sense.
  (Wouldn't you like for it to make sense to you too?)
  (Well, too bad.)
  (Not really.)
  "Problems, problems, problems, wrong!" is the saying that Caleb and I used in our Latin colloquium whenever we made a mistake in our Latin pronunciation.
  And the reason I'm using that phrase is because I am making this post to correct several mistakes that I have made in my posts.
  First Mistake: In "Eragon, Inheritance, and a Countdown", I said November 28th was a Friday. It isn't. It's a Monday.
  Second Mistake: I claimed the trial was going to be on Saturday. Well, problem is, I'm going to a JCL planning meeting on Saturday (that is, tomorrow -- today is Friday). So, if I get back early enough, we will have the trial on Saturday. Raistlin and Tiger, plan on it, but if I'm not back in time, we will attempt to have it...in the car on the way to see Rick Riordan! YEAH!!!
  Okay.
  Third Mistake:
  HA HA HA HA!!! There IS no third mistake! I WIN!!!
  Yes.
  Well.
  Apparently only two mistakes!
  Oh BLAST! Snakes and dogs, I just remembered what the third mistake was!!!
  Third Mistake: I believe that I claimed at some point that we were having a musical practice tomorrow. Well, the goal is to have the trial tomorrow -- which means that, in fact, we would NOT be having a musical practice tomorrow. Just please practice, whenever you can. This is important. (At least, it's important unless you want to break your poor president's heart. Nobody wants that, do they?)
  Do they?
  Ah, well. I'll end my post. May your days be merry and bright, and, yes, you know what I'm going to say.
  (Don't trust Phil if you meet him on a dark road.)
  "Wow...you look pretty banged up, kid. What's your name, dude?"
  "Aaron...Aaron...Wiley..."
  "Come on, we'd better get you some help."
-President Fantasy
Edit: After this post was made, I went and changed some things on the blog. I would like to direct you all to the new Quote of the Month, new quote on the Awesome Quotes list, and a new poll! (About The Ceiling Fan.) Yay!

CLASSIFIED INFORMATION DO NOT LET ANYONE SEE UNLESS THEY ARE A NELSON KLOMPARENS OR KLOMPSON

Hi, I just wanted to say that I'm making a contest! And it is not like Sophie's because it is only short stories. So I just wanted to throw that out there because I thought you guys might be interested. Thank you very much.
P.S. Pssssssssssssst Horse Love read the adventures of fish!!!!!!!Oh and there will be prizes!!!
-Dreamer
www.Ceilingfanpodcast.Blogspot.com

Guys I know this has nothing to do with writing but im puting it in anyway

                                                        HAPPY
                                                   HALLOWEEN !

                                                      Templado
                      P.S. I drew all that my self yes ALL of it

GUYS I GOT ANOTHER BREYER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'M FRECHING OUT HERE !I GOT A NEW BREYER AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
So its a handsome jet-black stallion .Ohhhh hes so handsome he has a long mane and tail ,his front right leg is lifted up quite high and his back left leg is just slightly lifted up .I just bidded on him on Ebay and i got him   YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its going to take quite a while for him to get to my house  *tear * hopefully i can last the wait .
                                Templado

Enough Said

-President Fantasy

The Fun Never Stops!

  Hello, hello, hello everyone! I'm back, for the second time in two days, with incredible news! The good stuff is coming so fast, it's making me giddy! NOW all I need is a new Ceiling Fan episode, and I'll be bouncin' off the walls!
  Okay, okay, okay: Last time I told you that Christopher Paolini was coming on November 28th? Well, guess what? Rick Riordan is coming this Sunday for a book signing!
  YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  I am almost positive that we're going, and Tiger and Miss Templado, if your mom gives the okay, then we can drive you there too! It'll be an official Lords of the Pencil outing!
  When will the fun ever stop? (For the answer, see title of this post!)
-President Fantasy

Eragon, Inheritance, and a Countdown

  Exciting news!
  I've got good news and better news. Which do you want to hear first?
  Huh?
  I'll start with the better news. Ready?
  CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI IS COMING TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON FOR A BOOK SIGNING!
  OH YES!!!
  We're going, and Tiger and Miss Templado, if your mom lets you, we'll bring you along too! It's on November 28th (which is a Friday) and he'll be in Seattle, Washington at some high school signing copies of Book 4 (and probably the other books too!)!
  Oh, yeah!!!
  And as for the second bit of good news, apparently there's a podcast about The Inheritance Cycle, put out by Shurtugal.com and some very devoted fans. (Click here to go to the website.) It's called The Inheritance Cycle Book Club. The website is also pretty awesome. Check it out!
  And for the countdown:
  35 days till Inheritance comes out.
  And here's another tidbit of information: The official title is "INHERITANCE, or The Vault of Souls".
  Awesome, right?
  Over and out.
  For now.
-President Fantasy