As an author myself, if you're looking to get published, 50,000 words won't be enough. Typically, publishers are looking from 85,000 - 110,000 words to be considered a novel. Edit the hell out of it, and then do it again.
I know 50,000 isn't enough for the publisher; my goal is just to get about 50,000 words of manuscript done before the end of the month, then spend winter break editing and rewriting it until its in at least the 150k range.
Actually threw that in a while ago, I guess great minds think alike.Of course, you could have a comic relief in a character that does have the "Swiss Army Gun" and ends up getting defeated by something trivial, e.g. it can't fit through a door.
Skribbs, that is a great question. Its kind of a little of both. I have a few Chuck Norris style characters, but the main character is more like Jon Mclane than Jon Matrix. He's just a guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and has to do the best he can with what he has.
I'm surprised by both the quantity and quality of advise. Thanks guys. So far, most of what y'all have said fits with the direction I was going, and that should motivate me a bit
And to all the writers on THR that chimed in, thanks, it makes writing a little easier when you know that theres a few other people in your social group that do it too.
Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson