Camp NaNo '23 I Knew (16+)

About the Project:

Spoiler

Jed meets a seventeen-year-old Asian fashion model (Zybryn) in a car accident. As Jed gets to know Zybryn, he realizes that the teenager is living with a creepy photographer from his job (Mikel). By total chance, Jed finds a hidden camera on the light switch in the room Zybryn lives in. By the end of the afternoon, Jed realizes that Mikel set up a whole trap for Zybryn. Hiding the cameras was a sneaky way to spy on him...and extract pornographic material to sell for a pretty penny behind Zybryn's back. (P.S. I'm not big on explicit descriptions and romance, just so you know. )

Where I Am Currently:
I had Jed take Zybryn home after the revelation. (Zybryn's parents are about a half-day drive from Iver where the story mainly takes place and can't pick him up in the middle of the night) Currently sorta stuck on a scene where Zybryn explains some more stuff late-night to Jed...I've already written 3 versions of this scene and am still stuck...

Goals:
1. Come up with a better title (or start to like the current one again)
2. Write at a pace fast enough to post a new chapter once a week (except when I go on vacay, and won't have access to my laptop).
3. Have at least two characters make their final appearance in the book by the end of the month. (The final scene can only have Jed, Zybryn, and another abused teenager in it at absolute max.)

And random fact: Technically the characters I'm writing are 3 yrs old. I started this book in 2020 and have rewritten it multiple times. Maybe this will be the last time!!

Totally open to any comments or questions
-Kaia

Go Kaia!! It's cool that you're doing this

My only hope for my story is to finish it HAHAH

Thanks, @alpacaboss!!

Hey, that's a goal! Keep working on it and eventually, you're gonna finish it!!

Thanks! Let's do this together!

Those goals look great! Woot woot, you got this!! >:D

Exciting stuff! I think your plan of posting a chapter a week is perfect too - I think you'll get a continued readership that way :)

Good luck!

Thanks @IcyFlame and @Spearmint!! I kinda doubt I'm gonna get as far as I hoped for, but so long as I try, I should be good.

Status Update
Goal 1: Considering the title "Display of the Unseen Eyes"
Goal 2: Well, I already posted two chapters this week, but I almost have two more ready to release. (Which is good because I will have to make up for the week I'm on vacation)
Goal 3: I worked on the scene leading up to the last scene with Sheriff Edwards and Kassie Edwards last night. Will probably work some more on that later on today.

Favorite part I worked on today...

Spoiler

"...deep down inside I knew I was lying to myself to try to make myself feel better." The soft words rushed out in a single breath. A tear started down the side of his face. Zybryn turned away and laid a hand against his cheek to hide it.

Jed lifted a hand and laid it on Zybryn's shoulder. Zybryn turned momentarily, but the movement of his eyes caused another to start down his cheek. Ashamed, Zybryn turned away.

"You need to forgive yourself, Zy," Jed whispered softly, watching as the tear slid beneath Zybryn's hand...

Status Update
Goal 1: Came up with some more title ideas...still uncertain...
Goal 2: Posted Chapter 31 just now, and have Chapter 32 ready for when the Green Room is a little emptier as I am also on the AfterWatch team.
Goal 3: Didnt get much of a chance to work on anything past Chapter 32 because I did a lot of editing today. I really don't know if I'm going to make this goal...I always end up pushing myself a little too hard...

Status Update
Goal 1: COMPLETED The title will remain I Knew.
Goal 2: Preparing the next chapter for release...
Goal 3: *sigh* Tossing around ideas of how to get to that scene...

I will not update for a while because nothing is expected to change for a while, given that I am away from home and will not have the opportunity to write while I am here.

Hey Kaia! Just wanted to say I really liked the plot of your story and the excerpt you have shared with us - it is super intense! Also, its okay if you take a break for a few days - Camp NaNo is more about making progress than reaching your goal and you are doing amazing!

Hello, @RandomTalks!! Thanks for dropping by and sharing your words of encouragement. Thanks for mentioning that about Camp NaNo. This is my first time participating, and I did start feeling bad that I have to miss some days. Your words really help!! Thanks!!

Whew!! Back from vacation with lots of handwritten notes collecting in my little purple notebook where I keep track of my writing.

Goal 1: Yep, that title is stickin'
Goal 2: I'm stuck. There are two chapters in it that just aren't working out right. I'm probably gonna have to take a little break from them and work elsewhere tonight, just so I don't get down about these two chapters.
Goal 3: Well, I have that scene all planned out now. *proudly raises my handwritten notes*

Ooohh... My favorite snippets I got to work on today...
Zybryn talking about leaving the company he modeled for...

Spoiler

"I wasn't sad to leave. I couldn't stand it. Everything they made me wear made me feel uncomfortable...like my clothes were transparent plastic that could be seen straight through. It caused me too much anxiety, and I had to leave before I got fired...."