How's everyone doing? II have heard that the second week is the hardest!! We have made it through these first few days so we can do this. It's only words. They won't kill us. Do any of you 'old timers' have advise or suggestions that can help us newbies (first timer) get through the second week? I had no story line when I started and only one character and a dog. I have followed my character to new and exciting places and have met interesting new characters and traveled fascinating terrain over these past few days. I can look forward to next week knowing that my character will take me deeper into unmarked territory. However any tricks to make the journey easier will be welcomed. Here's to more interesting words and creative sentences.
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40,218 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 08 43
Excellent topic. I have two pieces of advice, that I use on myself all the time.
1. You have to add conflict. Sometimes I find myself avoiding this because I want the world to be a fun, happy place. All of my characters, even the villains, have some redeeming qualities, and sometimes I get so wrapped up in that that I can't make them do the evil things that the story needs. But I have to remind myself that nobody's going to read a story where no conflict happens. And even if it feels forced right now, it'll sound better later, when I read it back in December.
2. It really does get better, in week three and four. I promise. Truly. Week two just sucks. Keep your eyes on the prize, and soon 25k and Nov.15th are both behind you, and it absolutely does get better. I have no statistics on this, but I think that the percentage that quit in week 3 and week 4 has got to be much much lower than the percentage that quits in week 2.
37,940 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 08 59
good point about adding conflict. I also find it hard to do... so much so I hadn't even thought about it until I read your post! thanks.
----------2005 Now Serving Lunch 50k
2006 Starts Friday 50k
2007 November Weekend 50k
2008 Good Girl 50k
50,022 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 11 00
Go to write in's, they really help, even if its only one other person pounding on the computer next to you, you will be infinitely more productive (plus there will be someone to whine to).
word wars, sprints, competition. find someone on the forums who have a slightly higher word count and then force yourself to be more prolific and beat them. competition is awesome and good for everyone :) if anyone wants to do a word war, my AIM is xoppygrl2
the forums has tons of random plot ninjas, go forth and adopt one, or several! it'll be fun, and you can delete them in december if you hate them :)
if you run out of ideas, describe things, all things. the weather, the scene, the mc's clothing, the mc's body language, hair color, the sparkle in someone's eyes, the green color of the grass, the texture of the walls in the building, the food the mc is eating--it's texture, flavor, smell, look, the noisiness of the cafe, everything!
kill someone. it's a nanowrimo tradition to kill off a character named cliff brooks, so you should all do it! and make it long and agonizing and highly descriptive.
and if all else fails, sex scene :)
just write! doesn't matter if it sucks, as long as you suck it up and just keep going it will turn out better, and you'll get awesome characters who do awesome things by week 3. promise!
38,415 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 22 23
Holy Kaw, scribblegrl! I'm a bit scared to have a word war with you: I fear I would be the Poland to your Germany ^_<
I'm a first timer, but I would say that two of the best things that have helped me keep going is to avoid the research hole (a place I LURV to get stuck in) and to change locations.
There is a little tidbit buried in No Plot, No Problem which talks about how if you get stuck trying to make something realistic or researching something to just write it IN ALL CAPS and then move on, research and revision are for December (the tip is on page 89, for those of you wondering.)
I find that moving around to different coffee shops / tea lounges / living rooms / street corners helps keep the creative juices flowing, don't stay stuck in your house! Find some place in the City that you've never been, grab your laptop or a notepad and make a writing pilgrimage, it's amazingly inspiring!
----------"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding."
-Khalil Gibran