According to records I have, the Traveling Shovel of DeathTM first appeared in 2005. Last year was the Return of the Traveling Shovel of Death TM. This year, it is The Bride of the Traveling Shovel of Death TM.... POst here about this year's exploits of the Traveling Shovel of Death.
Traveling Shovel of Death TM FAQ
What is the Traveling Shovel of Death TM you ask?
The Traveling Shovel of Death TM is a shovel that travels from novel to novel, wreaking havoc and death.
How do you use the Traveling Shovel of DeathTM?
Well, you don't use the Traveling Shovel of Death TMas much as the Traveling Shovel of Death TM uses you. To qualify as a use of the traveling shovel of death is pretty simple though, you kill someone--or multiple someones-- in your novel with a shovel. Then you post about it here.
Why Should I use the Traveling Shovel of Death TMin my Novel?
Why not. Really, you don't have a choice. You may disregard this thread and cast it aside. Now that you've seen it though, at some point in November, the Traveling SHovel of Death will make its way onto the pages of your novel. It is beyond your control.....Don't say I didn't warn you.
But I'm writing something serious, I can't include the Traveling Shovel of Death TM.
My first Nano novel was a deadly serious topic (no pun intended). As far as records show, this is the first Nano where the shovel made an appearance. Since then, it has spread like a disease. You novel doesn't have to be silly to include hte Traveling Shovel of Death. The Traveling Shovel of Death TM also does not discriminate against various genres.
What qualifies as a proper use of the Traveling Shovel of DeathTM?
I'd say let the shovel guide you. You'll know if you are cheating it. The Traveling Shovel of Death has been used to murder a single person, and the whole universe. The first year, it also showed up in a tv news broadcast. There are many ways to incorporate the Traveling Shovel of Death TMinto your story. Maybe you could base your whole novel on the Traveling Shovel of Death.
Do I need to refer to it by name?
Nope. I haven't in either of my Nanos. All you need is a shovel and a dead body.
Can I use a rake instead?
You can use a rake to kill someone, but that doesn't count as a Traveling Shovel of Death TM kill. The Traveling Shovel of Death TM is a jealous bastard and it would probably be best not to upset it.
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Metaphors be with you
yangnome
Municipal Liaison
Monterey, CA
50,170 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2007 - 20 25
I completely intend to have the Traveling Shovel of Death™ in one of my plots. There's zombie killing going on, and what fun is it without the Traveling Shovel of Death™? Of course, it must get over its jealousy, because it needs to share the spotlight with the other mascots like the trebuchet...
52,359 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2007 - 20 45
The Traveling Shovel of Death ™ is a fantastic way to kill undead. The shovel also gets along well with the trebuchet, I think they shared appearances in many novels last year.
50,053 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2007 - 22 52
I think this may be the first year that I have a reason to use a Traveling Shovel of Death ™. I'll put it on an index card and see what happens.
72,530 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 07 53
I can see a mini-story line developing within my novel. Mr Ian Woon and his parter Naomi Worn have a talking squirrel called foamy at the bottom of their garden. Foamy had a speaking tic which causes him to refer to his four pet Basset hounds (All of whom have a drooling problem.) as Hasset bounds. One day foamy gets so peeved off with Mr Ian Woon taking the michael out of him because of his speaking tic Foamy ends up killing Mr Ian Woon with a shovel and then burying him with said shovel.
How, exactly, this all fits in with the main storyline; which is all about galactic conquest and time travel, I have no idea but it's going to be good fun finding out.
52,191 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 09 59
Yay, a perfect way to kill all the pesky undead my necromancer's going to undoubtedly call up! :>
...I wonder if they even /had/ shovels back then. ... Oh bolt it- it's fantasy, I can have shovels of death if I want.
50,614 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 10 51
:: wonders why there might be a shovel on a ship in the early 1800s within reach of my heroine::
8,083 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 11 20
Aw crap.
I'm pretty sure the Traveling Shovel of Death (TM) has *already* made it's way into my notes before I found this thread. So far, I believe it is only responsible for one death. But if it's insinuated itself in the story this early in the game, then there's no telling how much death it will be ultimately dole out.
(But it'll probably just be the one.)
50,659 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 12 29
So... I have tentative plans for my novel. Emphasis on tentative. But I do know one thing for certain.
Someone is going to be killed by the traveling shovel of death.
Thank you, for bringing me to this level of enlightenment.
50,365 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 12 38
Hey, why not? I think there might just be an opening for it this year..
52,014 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 12 52
Traveling Shovel of Death, eh?
Well, we'll see. Maybe some random guy will be killed by a shovel.
*Is already subconciously planning*
10,192 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2007 - 12 14
Well, it's already made it's way into my notes, and will have a few scenes devoted to it's zombie-killing skills.
But I might kill a non-zombie with it now, too.
3,346 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 14 21
I just ADORE the Traveling Shovel of Death! I used it last year, and will fit it in somewhere, in a sly way, this time around.
18,094 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 14 31
Wow, I've been trying to come up with a murder weapon, and I come across this! Muahahahah!!! Now I just need to come up with a good excuse as to why an artist would have a shovel in her Paris flat. Hmmm. . .
50,183 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 14 40
Oh my gosh! This is exactly what I need.
In my story, the Traveling Shovel of Death ™ will be the instrument that digs up the ancient artifact needed by my MC. It will not be mentioned by name, but it will be leaning ominously against the wall in several key scenes.
50,183 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 15 06
And it obviously has some sort of cloning properties.
Double post.
50,017 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2007 - 16 19
Can the dead body be that of a river dragon?
...hmm. I quite like the idea of the vengeful spectres of ambassadors weilding Traveling Shovels of Death TM. A perfect diplomatic answer to assassination.
52,359 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 17 36
absoultely. There is no requirement saying that the victims must be human, though I think the shovel prefers human victims.
50,201 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 18 51
In my murder mystery for upper elementary girls, it's small, primitive pets that get the ax - uh,shovel. Well, one of them will get the shovel. I was going to have the turtle be killed with a Windows manual, but the shovel is better. Now how to make THAT look like an accident...?
50,713 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 19 16
Woohoo!
The Traveling Shovel of Death ™ has come through for me the past two years, I'll give it a nod this time around, as well. I've noticed that all I have to do is leave The Shovel™ an opening in a story, and it'll gladly step in when needed.
50,037 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 21 15
I'm using this! I needed a weapon-of-death, too. This works perfectly, since using something like a Shovel rather than a gun implies rage and foolish, passionate behaviour--which is what I need!
0 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 22 05
Right! That's going on my dares list. There's no reason to have a shovel in space but that's obviously not stopping SOMEONE.
0 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 22 06
Right! That's going on my dares list. There's no reason to have a shovel in space but that's obviously not stopping SOMEONE...
6,040 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 22 28
Ooh, the Traveling Shovel of Death TM is the perfect way to bump off victim #3 (or is he #4?) in my murder mystery. Now, the only question is how, exactly, a shovel came to be in the middle of a soccer field. Hrm.
77,093 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2007 - 23 38
Man, now I'm totally trying to come up with both an excuse to kill someone and an excuse to do it with the Traveling Shovel of Death™ just so I can have that in my novel.
Why use super powers when you can use a shovel?
52,889 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 01 34
I'm fairly sure that I can make at least one of my characters decapitate someone with a shovel this year.
50,639 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 02 42
Be careful, the Traveling Shovel of Death TM can be quite tricky. I really liked the idea of it, but couldn't see how it could possibly fit into anything I would write. I was reading the examples people gave of how they had used it last summer. Then a scene and an opening line came into my head. I thought I'd better make a note of it or I would forget it. About 1500 words later I said, "Oh, sh...oot! Now, I can't use it for NaNo.
Another thing, in the wrong hands, this shovel seems to have a mind of its own. When the bad guy tried to kill my MC with it, he ended up dropping it then stepping on the tip. The shovel handle flew up and hit him squarely between the eyes with such force that it almost knocked him out. Bad guy stumbled around and ended up falling off a cliff to his death. So, I suggest, if you are planning on committing evil deeds in your writing, do not turn your back on the shovel.
49,863 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 05 43
... I guess it's a good thing that I have a plotbunny for a Silent Hill fanfic, then. :D It being Silent Hill and all, working in a Traveling Shovel of Death ™ shouldn't be too hard. :) *considers writing that plotbunny in November*
52,359 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 12 46
Gemini,
It is like I said in teh first post, it's not so much that you choose to use the shovel, it is more like the shovel chooses to use you. As author, you might be able to help steer the shovel to a certain use, but there is no guarrantee that it will folow your directions. The shovel has a mind of its own.
50,171 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 14 00
I've decided, this year, to do a few more dares and other things that I normally wouldn't do in my novel. The Traveling Shovel of Death is one of them.
51,814 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2007 - 14 14
The Traveling Shovel of Death TM definitely has a place in my novel.
I do not know what this place is. I expect the Shovel will find its own place. Shovels are good at digging in to appropriate spots.
Mwahaha.