A number of years ago, I was blessed when during a word war, the Traveling Shovel of Death (TSoD) visited my novel, killing a character and prompting a large increase in word count. I immediately shared this information with other wrimos in chat. The next break, one of the wrimos told me the shovel had entered his novel. The break after that, the shovel had affected another story. Recognizing the pattern of the TSoD, I decided to post a message to all participants, alerting them about The Shovel.
each year, TSoD has returned to NaNoWriMo. Last year, I didn't have net access for most of the year, but found a few threads detailing the activity of the shovel. Once you hear about it, the shovel will be bound to show up in your story (yes, it isn't too late now. This isn't a dare, it is more like an infection. I haven't been able to avoid the shovel's appearance for five years now. I don't plan for the shovel this year either, but I expect it will return. The good news is, TSoD and the death of a character are a great way to make that push towards 50k.
Once your story has been infected by the shovel, post it here. In the meantime, if you have plans for the shovel, let us know. If you'd like to share past experiences with the shovel, let us know. I'll see if I can pull up past instances.
For those who have questions, I've included a brief FAQ regarding TSoD.
Shovel FAQ
What can I do with the shovel?
Use it as a murder weapon. Kill a main character, a supporting character, or even a background character.
What if I don’t like violent scenes?
Have the shovel show up bloody on the ground, or maybe just a body that has been beaten. You don’t need to describe the murder to use the shovel, though I’m sure it wouldn’t stop you.
Why use the shovel to murder someone?
Easy, it provides conflict. Conflict drives stories.
Couldn't I just use a gun or a knife, maybe a sword?
I’m sure you could. Personally, I haven’t seen any guns knives or swords traveling around from novel to novel wreaking destruction though. The shovel is something bigger than you or I. It is bigger than our novels. It is a weapon of mass destruction if you will.
What if I don’t want to use the shovel?
No one is forcing you. Don’t be surprised though if it pops into your novel. It popped into mine. Others who heard of the shovel couldn’t resist. Can you?
Does it have to be used as a murder weapon?
I suppose not, but the shovel has developed a taste for blood.
What do I do with the shovel when I am done?
Return it. Set it free so it can travel to another place, another land, maybe even another world.
I’m still not convinced.
Well, use of the shovel will provide you with words. Anyone could easily milk a small 1,000-word scene from the shovel. Those more talented could get more. Heck, I’d bet someone could even get a whole novel out of the shovel’s exploits.
Are there any rules regarding the use of the shovel?
No, but we would like to hear about its use. Post the fact that you send it here, and maybe the excerpt from its use.
This sounds silly. It couldn’t possibly fit in my novel.
Maybe you are correct. I don’t know what you are writing about. The first year the shovel visited me, I wasn't writing a silly novel and it fit in mine with little problem. TSoD does not discriminate based on genre.
Anything else I need to know about the shovel?
No. Well, don't turn your back on it.
Moderator note: Topic over 500 comments, closing. Please continue the discussion on Part II
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__________________________
Metaphors be with you.
yangnome
ML, Monterey, CA
35,795 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 12 05
All hail the shovel!
----------2005 (NaNo)- Underground- Won!
2006 (NaNo)- Delusions- Won!
2007 (SF) - Dead Dandelions- Won!
2007 (NaNo)- If Wishes Were Fishes- Won!
2008 (SF) - Dead Dandelions- Won!
2008 (NaNo)- Our Lord and Savior- Won!
22,960 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 12 11
I used the TSoD in my NaNo last year. It was used many, many times, by my serial killer who used it to chop off the heads of stupid girls. I did describe it, and it was dark, gruesome, and fantastic. I'd post a small excerpt, but the novel is currently buried in my external hard drive someplace and it would take much too much energy for me to find it.
----------brianna, everyone, even characters, have problems.
but mine seem to have a lot.
at least yours aren't gruesome, destructive, or morbid.
...sometimes they are...
27,947 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 12 32
I'm going to try and fit the shovel into my novel. The gardeners (who haven't been invented yet) can have them. Not too sure about the death part though. It might work.
----------Thanks,
OA
SF 2009: 100 pages - Lioness 13.
NaNo 2009: In Pursuit of Power.
24,236 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 12 51
DANG it! As soon as I read about the shovel, my muse decided it would be the perfect kidnapping weapon used near the end of my novel. It doesn't look like it will be getting any blood from me, but it will knock at least one person out cold.
----------And after thirty days and thirty nights slowly losing sanity in the dense and unchartable literary jungle of plot twists and discoveries, the novelist emerges triumphant!
...I hope.
15,017 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 12 55
Wow. This is actually going to work splendidly in my novel. I was wondering where my post-apocalyptic resistance group was going to get weapons. Now I know :p
----------0 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 15
Oh god... I just realised that I should kill someone...
58,246 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 26
Well, I don't know how they're going to get it into a hospital room, but my assassin who is pretending to be insane is going to try to pull a Jack the Ripper on my MCs with the Shovel. Thanks. Thanks a bunch.
----------101,318 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 14 22
It killed some zombies in my novel last year... this year it's probably setting its sights higher. Maybe on someone who is actually alive rather than undead. I fear for the lives of my characters. o_o
----------2006: untitled - finished and won
2007 - untitled - finished and won
2008 - Suspend your Disbelief - finished and won
2009 - untitled & How to Write a Dictionary in 50,000 Words - we'll see...
72,154 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 17 42
I love it. I will update if it ends up making an appearance..
----------The morale of the story is Never Put Your Weapon Down!!!
36,511 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 01 36
Haha! Well I have been wondering how to kill off various characters which oddly resemble my current and ex-co-workers *halo*
----------Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality
108,571 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 05 13
Last year the shovel helped my FMC out of a sanatorium. Maybe it will return this year. Would be nice, like an old friend visiting you.
----------http://biancaplate.wordpress.com/
31,743 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 15 54
Ohhhh! I think maybe one of the villagers could knock out Illiyana with the shovel... no death by shovel though *sigh* Oh well.... thank you so much for posting this *not sounding thankful at all* lol now i have to do this cause it is awesome..... and it will extend the story a bit... hopefully....
----------66,050 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 16 14
I don't get it, who's the son?
----------Most Words in a Single Day - 10,219 on Nov. 1st
# of Characters - 12 + kids + very minor
# of Points of View - 5
# of Days with No Nanoing - 0
# of Trips through Time - 3
# of Aliens - 1
# of Murder Scenes - 1
30,053 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 17 20
This is beyond perfect. One of my main characters kills people. The other is a grave robber in the beginning. MMC is losing the fight, FMC shows up with a shovel...
This promises to be very fun.
30,573 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 19 23
Hm. Well, you've just handed my MFC the perfect weapon in her fight against a bunch of evil werewolves [evil werewolves? Is there even such a thing? I thought running around ripping the throats off of random people was just part of the job description].
----------When everything in your novel goes to shit, just add a sassy black woman and she'll solve all your story problems.
8,000 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 20 03
I feel like it might kill a raccoon in my novel. Possibly a raccoon threesome.
32,053 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 21 23
Great. More randomness. I love it! I know the TSoD will make an appearance. Since I'm (kind of) starting WWIII, this is perfect. Unfortunately, my story takes place in high school, and is a humorous story, so probably no death. Perfect for knocking out one or more of my evil teachers so they can be shoved in a locker, though. And if the cheerleaders ever get in a fight . . . there will be blood. Hehe. I'll post an excerpt when it actually makes an appearance.
----------Warning: Prolonged exposure to this writer may result in spontanious acts of insanity. You have been warned.
13,356 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 21 29
Bwahahaha! Yes! My FMC will be slaughtering monsters with a shovel now. A wonderful alternative to the gun I was going to give her. Well, at least once, probably when she gets ambushed that one time while away from her equipment.... -plots-
God, I love NaNo and its craziness. -hums contentedly-
----------"Let's face it, writing is hell."
William Styron
NaNo09: The Unburried Ones
Tangents: 0
Character Deaths: 0
Times Encountered Writers Block: 2
16,020 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 21 57
Bloody hell, NaNo hasn't even started yet and I've already figured out how the shovel is going to work in my novel. Dammit...
20,932 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 00 24
The shovel ended up in a piece of fanficiton I did when I was explaining it to my friend. I think I know how to get it into my story xD
----------A Murder of Crows - A plot by Pieces
Characters killed: 3
Cups of Coffee drunk: 15
Cups of hot chocolate drunk: 25
Meals skipped: 2
Games of Mahjong played in procrastination: 36
Horror films watched whilst writing: 3
1,336 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 05 52
Well, I was going to have murder in my book...but didn't know how I could do it, or to whom, or who the killer would be.
Now, two minutes after reading this, I've formed an entire subplot.
I LOVE THE TRAVELING SHOVEL OF DEATH! :D
----------30,006 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 09 08
Amazingly, the mighty Shovel may find a place in my novel. I have a pseudo-Scandinavian world, so you'd think battle axes or spears would be common weapons of death. But there's bound to be a shovel somewhere in my plot bunnies. We'll see... :)
46,737 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 14 54
well, the first year was the Traveling Shovel of Death, followed by the Return of the Traveling Shovel of Death, followed by the Bride of the Traveling Shovel of Death, followed by no title last year. I figured Son of the TSoD was good for this year. No idea yet what next year will be.
----------__________________________
Metaphors be with you.
yangnome
ML, Monterey, CA
22,960 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 15 20
Distant Cousin of the Traveling Shovel of Death? ;-)
----------brianna, everyone, even characters, have problems.
but mine seem to have a lot.
at least yours aren't gruesome, destructive, or morbid.
...sometimes they are...
30,733 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 15 40
I rather like this idea . . . I'm writing a parody of Eragon, and in it the character Roran uses a hammer as his weapon of choice . . . Perhaps in my novel he can be Peter Strongshovel, instead of Roran Stronghammer?
----------36,498 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 05 17
Dammit, I'm writing a romantic comedy! Nobody gets killed with a shovel!
Except that my MC's brother-in-law works as a landscaper . . . and his family's been in the business for a long time . . . was there at some point a relative who just kind of disappeared--NO! GO AWAY PLOTBUNNIES! THERE WILL BE NO KILLING IN MY NOVEL!
Well . . . maybe.
If I'm stuck for ideas.
You know what, I'll file this away in my "Notes" folder, and we'll see.
----------16,032 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 08 04
Oh, boy, now I want to use it...
----------Plot: Accidental timetravel takes a human into the building of the Bureau of TimeTravel Administration... A place taken over by a crazy bureaucracy and supernatural beings that sit around, drink coffee and fill forms and paperwork.
Dares: 53 so far.
27,136 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 08 23
Oh man. The Shovel has found me.
In my story, a farmer's wife helps defend her village, having to resort to using farm implements as weapons to beat off the zombies. I was going to give her a pitchfork or scythe, but...
I believe now that my story was inspired by the will of the Shovel. It hungered for blood.
Feast upon my characters, O Shovel.
32,381 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 08 52
tempting, but unlikely that I'll use it (consciously, anyway).
----------13,227 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 09 14
Imagine all the things I could do with a shovel. I don't think I'm going to be killing anyone off (yet) but who knows...