Things that always boost your word count http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235 FallForYou445 I found that whenever I need to get my word count up, I can just get a couple character making out and it adds more words than its worth. It's very useful, because when shouldn't characters make out? Anyway, what are some of the devices/scenes you always can put in if you have to up your word count? Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:20:51 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_761595 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_761595 Miss Tips Angst. Angst always increases my word count somehow--in fact I think that's all my story is so far. I need to actually start my plot some time soon... Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:38:24 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_761825 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_761825 rehtse I don't know why but I keep having characters playing random games while they talk. So far they've played crazy eights, chess, monopoly, and most recently mingolf. It's great. Kills two birds with one stone. Great word padding and they are actively doing something while talking. ^_^ Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:43:35 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_761881 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_761881 Starry Ink Writer Random ramblings on some topic or summaries of what have happened to other characters relayed to new characters. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:31:18 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_762393 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_762393 austere avenue rehtse!! that is a terrifically awesome idea! would you mind if i borrowed such a technique for my own story? :3 The narration on mine is kind of haphazard, I would say, since they still keep an informative tone, but it kind of... etches in some snark and thought-processing things going on in the story? That fills up a big paragraph or two. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:56:30 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_763195 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_763195 pemmsaskia If I don't know what to put next, I write something like, "Time passed this way, for weeks, until the weather was too cold (or hot, or wet, or dry, whatever) for them to continue. *insert your character name here* began planning their next move; something had to happen soon. Life was too short for this kind of repetitiveness." Something along those lines. It introduces a new scene, tells the reader that they were doing boring stuff the reader shouldn't care about, and lets you write fun stuff. :) Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:43:07 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_763860 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_763860 wakaAkamu I throw in a dream sequence, a flashback or else just random musings. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:58:31 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_763918 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_763918 QueenOfTheAubergines I make something big happen. I decided when I was writing that a certain character would get poisoned, and now the main character has to go find a flower for an old lady so she'll help them :P Also, ramblings from the character's thoughts- "I noticed, as we walked, that Tristan had a nervous habit. It wasn’t annoying, but it was noticeable; he’d click the fingers in his left hand, making a sharp but quiet sound, and he’d do this for thirty minutes or more before stopping." for example. I just made up a habit for him to have and wrote about it, which led onto a whole paragraph about Tristan from Tobias' point of view. My wordcount's still really small though :( Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:43:02 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764084 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764084 thelonehuman Today my plot was being boring and long and stupid, so I just decided that it was time to give my MC a near fatal injury. That helped. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:48:53 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764105 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764105 MetallicRayes My characters do a LOT of introspective thinking, which is tricky to write in third person sometimes. I always manage to milk 500 - 700 words out of a quick punch-up, though. They're so much more fun than musings about guilt or idealism. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:03:07 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764162 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764162 MetallicRayes [quote=thelonehuman] Today my plot was being boring and long and stupid, so I just decided that it was time to give my MC a near fatal injury. That helped. [/quote] That's always a nice gear change! And it raises so many opportunities... Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:03:53 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764167 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764167 Natalie Reese Awesome idea. I think I will try that. I was suffering from Boring Main Character Syndrome, but I think this might help me.. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:41:41 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764820 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_764820 raddishgrrl I've started to take out contractions. Desperate, I know. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:12:51 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_765656 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_765656 Hannah Jo Swezey About a week ago I was completley stuck, so I threw in a dead body. THAT got my plot moving. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:08:05 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_766084 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_766084 karmine I expand and explain things so there's no doubt left in a possible readers mind. lol Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:21:33 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_766185 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_766185 skinnybee If things are getting a little stuck, I just jump around. To the next interesting thing that might happen, even if it's years down the line. And/or I switch narrators. I currently have a three-fold narration going on: third person overview, Richard's first person and Cal's first person. If nothing else, it gives ME a lot of insight into what's really going on, thus giving me much more to work with &amp; ending with a higher word count. I am behind, though. So I'm stealing pretty much all the ideas on this thread for today's big push. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:49:34 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_766461 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_766461 moonmomma Characters telling other characters what's going on. My MC had to tell her love interest, who came in about halfway through the story, everything that's happened to her so far, then he has to tell some guys he works with what's going on (MC knows about a bad thing that's going to happen, she has to warn her guy, he has to tell these other guys because they're all in a position to be able to stop it, if they want to.) Even if you summarize instead of giving everything word-for-word, it boosts your word count a lot, plus it's actually necessary to move the story along -- always a bonus :-D Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:38:21 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_766983 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_766983 josiehinrichs I put in a dream sequence when I get behind. Currently, I have an almost-one-thousand-word dream that I'm working on. I need to catch up quickly though, and it's not totally unrelated to the plot, and there's some good imagery in there, so I feel like it's not cheating too badly. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:54:18 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767150 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767150 maryz Josie - that's what I do. Dream sequences are awesome. Or my characters stop at a coffee shop and order complicated drinks. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:10:48 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767316 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767316 WASampson Having bad things happen to your characters can either help or put you at a standstill. One MC is kidnapped and can't escape anymore. One MC is held prisoner in his own home. My other MC is is invisible and has difficulty getting help. I give them a few words of despair, and then the invisible kid gets an epiphany and tells the imprisoned kid. Right now a bad guy is telling the invisible one the legend behind their evil plot. Big huge epic with lots of words and the kid keeps chiming in at all the right spots for some humorous dialogue. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:25:21 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767469 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767469 lindsey1295 Cooking scenes. Food is nice imagery, and maybe readers will like having a dinner recipe and cooking tips injected into their novels. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:38:12 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767608 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767608 CarlieD I'm having Kate Jacobs flashes with that comment. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:05:45 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767945 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_767945 marielaurent_2223 For me, i have romantic scenes happening more then once. Which i need conflicts and another emotion to work in my novel. Other then romance or intimacy between two characters to boost up my word count. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:59:48 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_768576 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_768576 sarafinaipsum What works for me is demonstrating emotions.If there's a lull in the external conflict of the story, it helps me captivate myself and the readers by adding in little emotional details. Maybe Elliot (my main character) is happy because the snow outside makes him remember that Christmas is soon. Or maybe that same character is depressed at the snow because he realizes it means that he won't get to go anywhere that week. Or perhaps he is curious because it had never snowed so deep before. But the best way to pad words, and also most beneficial to the story line, is to demonstrate all three simultaneously. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:11:27 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_769388 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_769388 Syphus When in doubt I add a flash back or flash forward, usually something emotional and heavy on the imagery. Or I send my MC to a bar to ponder deep existential thoughts over a beer. That's what I do when I don't know where to go next. I may be turning her into an alcoholic! Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:34:41 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_769688 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_769688 scheherazade I introduce "clues" into the story - things that other characters say that don't make sense, or physical things my character notices but doesn't understand, or I have characters act out of character. Most of the time I don't know why, so I have to spend a few pages having my character figure them out. Also, sometimes a new description of the setting is good. Or a fresh description of the charactesr under the new light of what has transpired in recent pages. It also helps me to have the character reflect on where things have come so far and where things have to go to get to the ending (or where they could go if things fail). Sometimes something interesting comes out of that; sometimes it just reminds me what else I need to write... Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:15:48 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_770226 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_770226 Phoenix Lumbre I always like adding a minor character with an interesting back story. My MC is a student, so there's a whole school full of potential characters for her to interact with. Plus school staff and faculty. Plus neighbors. Plus relatives. Even random strangers like the guy dressed as Santa Claus at a tree lighting. I get to name these people, describe them, and let them talk. Each character adds at least hundred words. Plus, so far, all of them have contributed to the plot in some way or another, often leading to scenes I had never contemplated until I found myself writing them. People do strange and surprising things, and so do minor characters. I also like having my main character go somewhere. I get to spend dozens of words describing the trip to the place, why she went there, and what happened while she was there. And the things that happen there are also almost always a pleasant surprise to me. That being said, I am still currently quite behind in my word count, so yeah, off to go write now! Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:26:37 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_771078 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_771078 DarkOwl Languages help boost my word count. One of my characters is currently speaking in Russian, so I get to put in what he's saying, in Russian, and then place the pronunciation and translation in the footnotes. Three times the words! And he talks quite a lot. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:05:03 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_774399 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_774399 cherylmahoney It always helps when my character decides to reflect on life or relationships or whatever's going on. It tends to be much more word-dense than the actual action or dialogue. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:17:11 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_774526 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_774526 Tune_ Well, the thing I mostly rely on to boost my word count when it's in the gutter is to write out long, passionate make-out scenes. Oh, and plenty of meaningless dialogue to go along after it. xDD Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:25:43 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_774658 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_774658 Tune_ Oh, and hallucinations. ... Can't forget about the hallucinations. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:27:47 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_774684 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_774684 dizzy Dream sequences..........D; I only have two so far though. I'm trying to steer away from using them as word-boosters. But I am almost 14k behind so I'm getting a little desperate, heh. Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:52:24 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_775042 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_775042 whitedove I wasn't sure what to do, so I sent them to a bar. A drinking contest ensued, followed by a bar fight between two brothers. They've just got home (that's a good 2500 words) and now the Interest can find out what the MC is like when his guard is down. All because I sent them to a bar. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:28:58 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_776761 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_776761 Lynne M-S During a conversation, especially if between adversaries or potential adversaries, I let my characters "think" what they really want to say in between the speaking. e.g. "Long time since we met last, Harry," said Joe coolly. [Not bloody long enough, he thought] Harry waved the bartender over, and followed his bustling as he came scurrying. He gave his order in a curt voice, and threw a twenty onto his tray, before answering. [Pompus git, thought Joe, as the barman walked back to the liquor rack.] Let's you reveal real motive, real character traits, and have fun as your characters do. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:43:14 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_777171 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_777171 MrsX Having a main antagonist who loves to hear herself talk, especially if it makes her seem superior to her peers. Having her sigh and spout long prose about the task at hand or how incompetent someone is makes for an awesome boost in words. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 04:37:23 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_777476 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_777476 ThraeElddim I'm kind of a flowery writer, like Homer and Dante and Tolkien and all them, which adds an immense amount of words. When I'm beyond any and all hope for things to get exciting or SOMETHING happen though, I insert a wizard. Last time this happened, my MC got tossed into the Middle Ages in the middle of a big war. On that note, adding in a spy from some enemy or another and the ensuing fight is about 2500 of my words. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 04:41:42 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_777494 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_777494 I-Is-Evil I do two things. Make my three main characters randomly burst out into song, or just work on something else in the story. Always fun. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 07:27:56 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_778411 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_778411 DelusionalOtaku Oh my god! I used a dream sequence and pulled 1,152 words out of it! plus a future plot twist! Thank you! I was only expecting a couple hundred words too :) Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:54:15 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_779215 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_779215 swifteye12 I tend to have characters bicker, as I can write sardonic and irritated dialogue way better than I can write description or love scenes. In face, my description is so bad that I actually avoid writing it rather than turning to it as word padding. I hoped to get two paragraphs from description of the view from a tower and came up with two crappy sentences: "The night sky enveloped the little island as a blanket would, the light from the planets and stars decorating the sky. At night the view from the tower seemed to expand, and Erik felt as if he could see thousands of miles in every direction, for there was nothing to prove that he could not." Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:37:51 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_782733 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_782733 edperry Been there :) Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:45:13 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_782831 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_782831 ashinypenguin I do that all the time. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:48:36 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_782884 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_782884 ashinypenguin I insert characters with two word names that insist on going by both names, not just their first name. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:50:28 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_782907 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_782907 AntiNeko try throwing in what you can hear and smell. It helps with immersion and it also pads your word count. :) Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:53:59 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_782965 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_782965 lostdresden Thank you so much! I just had two of my less-explored characters make out, and it led to a plot-turning argument. And 800ish words! :) Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:09:53 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_783193 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_783193 Smokeball YES! Recapping is always really useful and it makes sense so that everyone knows whats going on. Is it messed up that I'm starting to think they are real people and I should keep them informed? XD Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:28:00 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_783443 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_783443 g.cook2013 One thing that's helped me a lot is describing the facial expressions and emotions of my characters. One of my best examples was when I wrote, "Ivy’s face displayed a sort of strangled patience, as if she could reach her breaking point at any second." It really helps add to the word count, but it also gives the reader more of a feel for the character that's not purely from dialogue or physical description. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:32:50 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_783507 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_783507 S.J.Con. When I really need to get my word count up, focus on a scene and then do write or die on kamikaze mode. Seriously. It usually helps me double the count I get in the same amount of time because I'm just writing and focusing only on what I'm typing. It also lets me get more to a scene then I ha before, and makes the characters just come out. Although today I'm not so sure the scene I cranked out was completely IC. I think those two characters might be a little young for a spat like that. Not sure. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:26:38 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_784143 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_784143 scains I added a sex scene the thing is it could have gone on forever, and I was writing and writing. So I found a way to just come away from the scene eventually because yes it would have given me the word count but I don't want a graphic sex novel! Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:03:19 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_784623 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_784623 lysstripes I got a good 3K from a dream sequence. Depressing considering my word count.... :/ But I like the making out idea. Though a little random. xD Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:30:44 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_784939 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_784939 KellyinCA I'm writing a mystery/thriller so I always have a stupid officer pose some ridiculous theory "maybe it was an accidental drowning" or "this isn't really a serial killer" and then my MC gets to give them a verbal smack down and explain how they know what's going on with the killer. Oh, and then my two luvahs get to cuddle and flirt and argue and that adds a few hundred words. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:49:18 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_785150 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_785150 britthatsit My mom told me I write like that...I still don't understand. I just like to describe everything so that "my readers" will be able to see everything exactly as I picture it happening in my head......and I can think of a lot of ways to describe things. I should probably think about getting back to my plot at some point (but finding bloodthirsty, glowing Mimi's in an endless chasm was too good not to write) ^_^ ....should get back to the novel at least /shame Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:51:11 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_786691 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_786691 Tune_ I made my protagonist run into an ice cream stand in the middle of a chase scene that was majorly losing steam. Now I can't stop laughing at the sheer absurdity of it. xDD Hey, at least it gave me about 550 more words [and plenty of laughs] ~~ Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:40:21 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_895637 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_895637 QueenOfTheAubergines God I love this thread- I'm still over 30,000 words behind, so I'm just trying to get as many as possible today. I do have an idea: think of the worst possible thing that could happen to your charater, then have it happen just as they're about to reach their goal. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:22:40 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_898006 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_898006 misty call Just get into an action sequence and get into a lot of detail about what is going down, if you still need more words to get to that final 50K. It helps the novel with excitement, sort of like the "adding ninjas" advice. You should be able to move your plot forward or take it in some strange direction while getting a nice boost in word count. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:32:55 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_898844 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_898844 MrsGreen Seems to be that adding some romance is a popular one. That's what I'm doing. I'd actually forgotten that I'd planned this romantic subplot, so with 4K left that's what 'm adding now. It's not as easy as it sounds though, since my novel's audience is middle schoolers so it's not like I can have kids making out etc. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:07:10 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_899500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_899500 luxultima I'm not terribly good at sensory description (and my aliens don't have a sense of smell), so when I'm behind (like noooooow), I add lists of things. I think it can add detail without forcing me to wedge in too many awkward metaphors. Also, my MC is a linguist, so she can just list concepts for which there are words. That can literally go on forever: "Her name, Etr, means something like beginning (origin) and something like mother (origin). The light of her face is separate from the light that she casts, and there are many words for her mutable radiance at different times in her cycle. Her light in the spring is clear like water, and when the rain comes, she flutters like a bird's wings. There are words for when she first appears in the morning, when she wakes you from a nap, when she first touches an infant's eyes, when she slips through a cloudy layer high in the stratosphere. More words for when she appears after an estrangement, when she heats the white stones of buildings, when she falls beneath the horizon, when she sparkles on the surface of water." Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:45:57 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_904702 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_904702 reckless.tenacity Three words: Write Or Die. This thing saves me every year. I just did over 2500 words in an hour. A personal best. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:50:56 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_904792 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_904792 andregirl I was all but lost last night when I realized that one of the wonderful things about NaNoWriMo is that it actually allowed to do all kinds of ridiculous shenanigans to boost word count. I got back in the running today by having my business owner look over and read a long legal document for her business and then do an audio recording of herself reading poetry out loud for her invalid sister to listen to while recovering from an appendectomy. LOL. Nothing like dead poets to boost word count. ;) Now I'm just trying to figure out how to END the dang thing. Gotta wrap it all up before midnight! Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:02:46 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_905018 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_905018 kittywizard3 I finished my novel, ending it perfectly ont he spur of the moment... at 38500ish words. So I added an addemndum of stories, after a 1500 word epilogue. Now my reader gets to sit through the back story of every major and minor character we ever met, from the POV character to that fireman named steve in chapter one, and maybe even the offic lady who says all of about 15 words Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:17:06 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_906257 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_906257 JimmyDeTarer [quote=ThraeElddim] I'm kind of a flowery writer, like Homer and Dante and Tolkien and all them, which adds an immense amount of words. When I'm beyond any and all hope for things to get exciting or SOMETHING happen though, I insert a wizard. Last time this happened, my MC got tossed into the Middle Ages in the middle of a big war. On that note, adding in a spy from some enemy or another and the ensuing fight is about 2500 of my words. [/quote] The way I read Homer, he(/collection of anonymous writers combined from a rich oral tradition) seems very terse, barely saying anything more than shkley absolutely have to. He does of course repeat himself a lot, and I...well, I use that trick in many ways. In many ways, I use that trick, a traditional trick in epic. A traditional trick in epic used by steady old vainamoinen, too. Ah, steady old vainamoinen. Yes, steady, old, vainamoinen. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:39:46 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_906607 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_906607 Anterrabae My characters are all in a mental hospital... that leads a whole new dimension of weird to your suggestion. May have to try it. XD Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:09:24 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_907134 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_907134 Anterrabae So I am not the only one! XD Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:12:21 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_907191 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_907191 Anterrabae Then I'd suggest sending her to an AA meeting next, but I see you've already won... XD Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:33:31 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_907512 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=2#forum_thread_comment_907512 Fishiee I refer to my MC's diary as 'the book of my innermost thoughts and feelings.' Also, when listing things or talking about a group of people, I list everything/everyone instead of using ‘it’ or ‘them.’ Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:55:24 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_910368 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_910368 TheFifthGatekeeper When I realize I've done a scene wrong, for example, I have two characters meeting for the first time and then decide they have known each other for years, I just rewrte the scene, leaving the first scene in. I have one scene that has three versions, each a couple hundred words. This also has the side effect of appeasing my inner editor. Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:34:34 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_917034 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_917034 sherylgwin Great idea :D Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:12:50 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1034110 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1034110 MariahBurkett I developed this habit at the beginning of NaNo and now I do it almost every time. I go bacjk and read some of my writing and I'm like "Wow, that sounds really weird... oh, it's 'cause he said 'should not' instead of shouldn't." Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:22:00 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1075769 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1075769 sherylgwin 600 words out of this :D Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:04:00 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1076530 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1076530 keyon 04A question <a href="http://www.nyescortasiangirl.com" rel="nofollow">ny asian escort</a> a lot of people <a href="http://www.nyescortasiangirl.com" rel="nofollow">ny asian escorts</a> have when it comes <a href="http://www.nyescortasiangirl.com" rel="nofollow">ny escort</a> to dating and meeting new people that you might want to start a relationship <a href="http://www.nyescortasiangirl.com" rel="nofollow">ny escorts</a> with is where they should take this person and what they should do. Some of the most classical date venues are taking someone out for dinner, going to the cinema 04A question a lot of people [url=http:http://www.nyescortasiangirl.com]ny asian escort[/url] have when [url=http:http://www.nyescortasiangirl.com]ny asian escorts[/url] it comes to dating and meeting new people that you might want to start a relationship with is where [url=http:http://www.nyescortasiangirl.com]ny escort[/url] they should take [url=http:http://www.nyescortasiangirl.com]ny escorts[/url] this person and what they should do. Some of the most classical date venues are taking someone out for dinner, going to the cinema Tue, 06 Mar 2012 05:45:01 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1193643 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1193643 dancer_kirsten Sex. When in doubt, add smut. Basically I wrote a romance this year, but it gets rather graphic here and there (well, everywhere, really), and it adds a few hundred extra words, if not almost my entire daily quota. Of course I never claimed to be writing kiddy stuff anyway. But, yeah, sex adds words. Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:28:45 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1226591 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1226591 Arlequin Homoerotic subtext. Works every time. Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:03:13 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1237775 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1237775 Koe I have one that works for any story-- take the last five sentences you wrote and expand each of them into five sentences. Like this: Elizabeth stepped out of the cold office building, free at last. The ground below her was blanketed in a powdery winter snow. Tilting her head up, she gazed towards the cool blue sky. Not a cloud was crawling above her that day-- she smiled with realization that this was good luck. Perhaps her day would go her way from then on. That was 61 words. And now, taking each of those sentences and making them five sentences in length: Elizabeth trotted out of the cold office building, pushing her way through the huge, steel doors. A blast of icy air hit her cheeks, turning them rosy as she trotted out of the building, listening to the crunch her boots made on the iced-over ground. As the doors slammed shut behind her, she breathed in the sharp air of the winter morning, pleased she was at last freed from that prison of a building. Inside that office, she always felt almost trapped, heightening her claustrophobia to severe measures. Outside, in the world and under the sky was where she belonged. Her pale green eyes drifted down to peer at her mauve-colored snow boots, soaked in the powdery snow blanketing the ground she stood upon. It had stopped snowing a while ago, and now the blindingly white remnants of midnight's blizzard were all that was left. Scowling, she attempted to kick the snow off the sides of her boots, upset that such costly items were now dirtied and soaked. Her boyfriend had purchased those boots for her, and she did indeed adore the fuzzy rabbit designs on the sides. Regardless, she did enjoy the sight of the snow covering the city pavement, no matter how soaked it made her boots. Turning her attention away from her shoes, Elizabeth gazed up at the cool blue sky, tilting her head back as she did so. It was the color of cold tears fallen upon an empty sheet of paper. Simply looking at such a melancholy sky, a sting of nostalgia hit Elizabeth, and she couldn't help but catch her breath. Days like these were days of joy when she was young, full of snowmen and igloos and battles in the frost. The days before she met Daniel. She quickly shut her eyes, promising herself not to think about him anymore. He wasn't in her life anymore, she repeated to herself in her mind over and over as she looked at the sky once again. This time, she realized something marvelous: Not a single cloud was crawling through the sky that particular day. The sky was nothing more than a solid, silvery azure, spreading across the heavens like an inverted sea. A small smile graced her lips as she declared to herself that this was good luck, and, completely tossing Daniel to the side, assuring herself that her day would go just the way she planned. . . . Aaand that was 403 words. Almost a full page. (That's not a real story if you're wondering I just made that up on the spot as an example &gt;w&gt;;) This method let's you get in-depth with the story, the characters, their thoughts, conflicts, and yay, the scenery. If you really want to up your word count, go even farther and turn each sentence in those paragraphs into five sentences. Congratulations, you have a lot of pages and a lot of words. Then you can fix them up if they're just rambling about boots and rabbits later ;3 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:00:08 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1282928 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1282928 Yirggzmb That's an excellent tip! However I must admit that sometimes I get stuck in a mode similar to that, except it wants to apply itself to absolutely everything and I have to force myself to take a step back and skip ahead. Because no one wants to read about every time my character goes to the (non plot important) bathroom or every (non plot important) bite of food any more than I want to write it. But really, when in doubt stretch it out. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:47:32 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1292864 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1292864 Yirggzmb I generally bestow some disaster on my characters when stuck. An attack, a kidnapping (my brain is so fond of this one for some reason), collapsing something, etc. Basically the old "plot ninja" suggestion. Last year I even had literal ninjas, though there really wasn't enough plot in the first place for them to help for very long unfortunately. I'm also very fond of having a villain who loves to gloat. It's just so fun to write so I want to keep going, and really, just continuing to write is half the battle. I personally don't find WoD helpful when I'm stuck - if I don't have any idea at all where I'm going, adding time pressure on it just makes my brain freeze. On the other hand, it's great if I have a general idea what I want to do next, but words aren't coming. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:54:23 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1292869 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1292869 Koe Hahaha, yeah that's true you can't talk about eeeeverything in detail huh? ^^ I think it's good for when you want to slow the pace of a story down and up the word count :D Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:32:48 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1292885 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1292885 g.cook2013 My excuse for removing contractions is that the vampires in my novel have slightly more formal speech than the humans do, so they don't use contractions very often. Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:44:21 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1307411 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1307411 rehtse I just try to make my characters do things while they talk , like play cards/card castles, making food etc. That way you have to describe all that other stuff where you may have only had a normal conversation. This helped me a lot when trying to get my word count up. Especially since apart from a character or two they all used contractions while speaking. I feel like if you are writing in present time with teen characters and don't use contractions(apart from special cases) then dialogue sounds phony and stilted. Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:51:56 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1309953 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1309953 Caroline11278 I play Radio Disney (you can subsitute any radio station or CD that irritates you) as quietly as my computer will let me. I then find that I feel motivated to keep typing so I can blick out the 'music' with the clicking sound. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:17:42 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1331650 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1331650 Ratrainia Zendel Ashcroft Hmmm....I'm kinda writing a mystery mixed with adventure, though not so much, a dash of romance, some angst...so yeah. When I'm stuck, it can be easy to find a way out of it, but sometimes the problem is character interaction, because you have to really think about how the other character would react to the MaC. I try to wrote about a page every day, but the sad thing, is that I'm about thirteen pages behind my deadline for today -_- Even though character interaction can be easy to get stuck on, it can also be the thing to keep everything going. Fri, 11 May 2012 16:44:27 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1361931 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/39235?page=3#forum_thread_comment_1361931