Actually Finishing Something in July.

I saw this challenge on Whisperings of a Pen, and it looked cool. This is a linkup from there...

What is your writing goal?

To finish The Arthurian Chronicles this summer, and have it be 400 pages long. My goal for July is to finish part two, at 150 pages long.

Tell us about this project. Give us a small synopsis.

Well, first off, I'm really bad at 'small synopsis's. But here goes:

in Part one, Arthur finds out that he is the rightful king of England, having drawn Excalibur from the stone, and discovers his parents are really just adoptive parents, and his real mother is the queen. He discovers this all in one day, and is made king that afternoon. All of the sudden, the responsibilities of a king come crashing down on his shoulders. He is separated from all his friends, and, at only 15, must serve the kingdom as it's king, and marry a stranger named Genavivian. But not everyone wants him to be king... dot dot dot dot

That's the summary for part one. I'm around half way to 3/4 of the way through Part two, and I have plans for Part 3.

Arthur, Vivian, Gwennie, and Rayfus are the main characters of Part 1. Arthur, Gwennie, Loch, and Mahalath are the main characters of Part 2.

How long have you been working on this project?

Since January, I think. *guilty, cringing expression*

Introduce us to three of your favorite characters in this project.

Well, Vivian was definitely a fave 'cuz she's just really cool. She appears to be charming, social butterfly, but she's not who you think she is. She's a lot more cunning, powerful, and hateful than you would think when you glance at her tall, slender frame, complete with golden waves and bewitching, dazzling green eyes.

Then there's Mahalath, who's also a really cool chick, since she has a caustic retort and a prank for every situation. She's a slave in Spain, and is a lot stronger than she looks. She can outrun even some men, and has gotten used to taking care of herself, since no one does it for her. She isn't a Christian, but is a fairly nice person (on the outside) to people she pities. She knows what it means to be absolutely destitute and she tries to help those she can, though on the inside she it just as tormented as those she helps.

Arthur is a slave in Spain right now, too, so that I can reform him (thanks to a lot of hard work and a old Christian spaniard who Mahalath takes food to).  I pity him, but I treat him like a son: I love him to death but know that I'm doing what's best for him and his kingdom.

I like Gwennie, too, but I don't really have to worry about her right now since I'm not coming back to her 'till part three, and she's happy, anyway, so being with her would be utterly boring.

How often do you intend to write in order to reach this goal by August first?

Thirty (minimum) minutes per day writing on just Arthur.

How will you make your characters behave long enough to finish this goal?

Good question. Well, I guess I'll tie up Arthur (fairly easy to do), yell at Loch enough to get him to stop spouting love sonnets (I can see my throat getting raw), weep until Gwennie pities me, and give saucy remarks right back to Mahalath's. I'll also probably employ some Beautiful People stuff and a character letter or two. Sir Garcia! Kay! Stop that, right now, or I'll shall lock you two in a room together! Mahalath, that's not a nice thing to say at all!

Go to page 16 (or 6, 26, or 66!) of your writing project. Pick your favorite line or snippet on the page.

Arthur was on the outskirts again- trying to hold up his visor- when he saw the
figures. The battle was in between the castle and a large hill. At the crest of the
hill, two figures on horseback were hurtling down the hill, their horses in sync.
Their hoods were blown back, and Arthur recognized the dark green clothes and
cloak of Gawain. Beside him, his white hair and blue cloak streaming, Arthur
thought he saw Merlin, still clutching his staff.
He blinked, trying to work out what was happening. Then a red knight was
swinging a battleaxe at him, and Arthur had no more time for contemplations.
Arthur had knocked the man from his horse when he felt a strange prickling
sensation in his boot. He looked down, and saw a black think dangling from his
boot. He grabbed it and pulled.
It was the snake. Arthur dropped it immediately. In his distraction, a knight had
reached him, and Arthur felt something collide with his helmet. Head throbbing,
he spurred Galilea away from whoever had hit him. He shook his head, trying to
dislodge the ringing, throbbing, pounding, feeling. His thoughts returning to the
snake, he wondered if he had been bitten. There was no way of knowing without
taking off his boot, and the middle of a melee was hardly the place to do that.
“Stop!” Someone cried. The voice sounded like Gawain’s, though it was higher
pitched. “Stop! Stop fighting! You have been deceived!”

That was page 66.

Tea or coffee?

TEA!!! English breakfast tea (with cream), raspberry tea, blueberry tea, you name it. But coffee.... yuuuh. nuh- uh. I'm not drinking that stuff! Though Arthur loves it...