And sometimes the plotbunnies just stroll up and bite you

[slipjig3]

I don't usually report on my dreams in this journal, because they're usually so random that the telling is boring: "...and then Cab Calloway came up with a bag of salt and some toothpaste and told me that Carthage must be destroyed," that sort of thing. But on Friday, in the middle of a bunch of randomness, I had a dream-moment—just a moment, mind you—that is doing a serious number on my psyche.

I was female, in my mid-20s, flame-red hair, weather-beaten leather clothing, journeying along a country hillside on a gray afternoon with a man, older, bearded. I was apprenticed to this man, studying to be...a knight? A warrior? Nothing so simple, but much along those lines. I don't recall the conversation that led to this moment happening; all I remember is the man turning to me on the road, reaching behind my neck with his knife, and cutting away a few hairs from the nape of my neck, which he then held up before my eyes, short copper strands pinched between his finger and thumb. I understood what this meant: he was sealing our contract. I wasn't expecting this, not then, in that place. And not with him—my fate was supposed to be elsewhere. But I fell to my knees, eyes closed, arms spread ever so slightly as I pledged my subservience, not to him, but to the path I would follow. Not submission, but devotion and obedience to that which I must do. And in that rush, I truly understood that which I was surrendering, and that which I was giving myself to, and the risk I was facing, and that my life was now in the hands of something far larger and greater than me.

I hadn't had an epic dream like that in a long, long time.

First direct result is that I got gobsmacked into my annual AutumnWeird two and a half months early, dammit; I had to go into work still in Mythic Quest mode. The second effect was trying to process Anna's interpretation of the dream, which I won't get into, but suffice it to say, it broke my little brain. The problem I'm dealing with now, though? A plotbunny the size of Manitoba. I still don't know the backstory, or even the frontstory, but this is begging, begging to be written. I've never done straight fantasy before, but I very much want to try on this one. And even better, I think I can sneak in all the other orphaned plot details I've been saving since God-knows-when.

The problem? NaNoWriMo is still over four months away, and I don't want to go into it without an idea. I now have an idea, but I Don't Want To Wait. Dammit, dammit, dammit.

*grumble* Okay, help me out here, guys.

[Poll #1009758]

Comments

[nonethewiser.livejournal.com]

With a caveat!
Do your groundwork now! Some character studies, a bit of world-building... outline, all that good stuff. Scribble down scenarios...

And THEN write it for NaNo.

I totally have to skip this year - I will be hard on the road in Bolivia and Peru in November.

[spoothbrush.livejournal.com]

Are you allowed to go into NaNo with an outline?

[lbitw.livejournal.com]

Dude, write it and if it gets in the way of NaNoWriMo, skip that.

[aki-dreaming.livejournal.com]

"...and then Cab Calloway came up with a bag of salt and some toothpaste and told me that Carthage must be destroyed..."

I don't know how I missed this line on the first read through, but it's the first real belly laugh I've had all day. I LURVE those kinds of dreams because they're so bizarre and hysterical.

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

Both. What they said:D. Write! Write!
Or those little details may escape you later:)!
A good outline loaded with tons of aside scribble never hurts.

[rubian77.livejournal.com]

NaNoWriMo gives you support???

Hell, I'll support you now. Grab that muse and run it ragged.