Chapter breaks - now or later? http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708 bjdoureaux This will be my first year participating in NaNo and I'm trying to get it all sorted out in my head now so, come November, I won't go totally nuts (I hope). I was wondering what everyone does with chapter breaks while trying to reach 50,000. Do you work out the chapters as you go, or do you consider that part of the editing process? Which do you find easier? Thanks, Jessica Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:03:30 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1023219 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1023219 pange For my 2011 Nano, I created a scene-by-scene outline with little tidbits of dialog or details that would be important to remember when it came to the writing step. I didn't worry about putting the scenes into chapter blocks until November when I started writing. I just wrote the scenes as they came up, and when it came to a natural place to rest, I put in a chapter break. In December, I did end up re-breaking up some of the chapters more effectively when I read through the novel a few more times. I honestly didn't worry too much about the breaks. As long as the pacing of the scenes is strong, it should work out in the end. Everything can be edited after November! Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:46:31 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1023397 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1023397 bjdoureaux I'm going to try my best to have a detailed outline going in, but I know from writing papers in school that outlines can be deceiving when it comes to length. Especially regarding sections of the work. So, I don't expect to attempt putting breaks in there. I guess, overall, I'm just wondering: 1) Does worrying about chapters while writing slow you down? (my reason for posting here) 2) Is it easier to edit your work without any chapter breaks, or do you struggle to find the places for them after-the-fact? (because my brain is already thinking long-term) I know NaNo is more about getting the words on the page, but flow is important even then. Chapter placements can make or break flow. I'm probably over-thinking the whole thing, but that's me. I'm a planner and I like to have things sorted out before going in. Your way seems good. Putting in the breaks when you feel them then rearranging as needed during edit. That may be the way to go. Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:18:31 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1023551 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1023551 Generalist Check Lazette Gifford's "NaNo for the New and the Insane" for ideas on outlining, paying close attention to the Phase Outline. It has done wonders for my writing. Personally, since I'm writing on a scene by scene basis, I avoid chapter breaks during the first draft. I do, however, make sure that each of the scenes are separated so I can keep track of them. For me the flow in at the scene level. Chapter breaks and section breaks are just artificial milestones that can be moved about as needed. (If I have to put them in due to the software I'm using, I'll make it arbitrary and ignore them.) Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:52:11 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1026600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1026600 bjdoureaux I've already downloaded and started reading Lazette's book. I'm not very far in yet, but I plan to finish it soon before I begin outlining. Thanks for the input. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:28:04 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1026718 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1026718 larelmian Personally, I figure out where the chapters go when I outline, before I write. I start out with a rough idea, and outlining by chapter helps me organize it. I figure out how I want the story to flow, the pacing, where to develop characters, when to introduce the conflict, and what obstacles to throw in their path along the way. All things in the outline are subject to change, of course. I might combine two short chapters later, or break a large one into smaller bits, or add a whole new story arc, or cut one out. I know there are lots of methods for writing, and it took some trial and error before I found one that worked well for me. Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:14:35 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1041110 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1041110 larelmian In answer to the question, does worrying about chapters slow me down? For me, it does not. I cant' speak for anyone else, but I think it helps me to have the story broken into bite-sized chunks, rather than looking at tens of thousands of words all at once. Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:16:54 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1041113 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1041113 Deps I also put my chapters in with my outline. I love doing chapters as I go because it gives me another goal, not just word count. I can say 'right I'll get to the end of this chapter then I can stop'. This usually also results in me not getting into an overly descriptive or conversational mood too and making the chapter strange as I aim for a word count. Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:14:33 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1042274 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1042274 bjdoureaux Thanks for the great suggestions everyone. Since I am such a planner outlining may be the place for me to do chapters. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. I haven't started yet, I still want to finish reading "NaNo for the New and the Insane" before I start outlining. I hope to start by Feb. If anyone has any other techniques I'd still like to hear them. :) Thanks! Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:08:30 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1045271 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1045271 RobertLent I find put the chapter breaks in while writing, I find it makes editing easier. I've reduced the number of chapters in my book. I haven't deleted text, but I found a number of times where there wasn't a sufficiently big change to merit a chapter break, so the chapters get merged into one. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:36:01 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1070703 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1070703 keolah Personally, I find that putting in chapter breaks doesn't "slow me down" (and I baffle at the idea of calling it "worrying".) And if I <em>don't</em> put in chapter breaks the first time through, trying to insert them later feels contrived and artificial. They don't feel like they belong, and just seem like they're shoved in no matter what I do. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:01:40 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1074314 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1074314 Dragonchilde I've done both, and I've found that in the end, it doesn't really matter to me. I've been writing on the computer in Scrivener, and the way it organizes files, I tend to just do it without thinking. When I write by hand in a notebook, though, I don't really worry about it. I'm not an obsessor over chapter breaks; I pretty much break when I feel it's time. ;) Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:31:05 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1102532 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1102532 Saspirilla I just write it all in one long screed, leaving a couple of lines between scene changes, which tend to later become chapter breaks. This has worked brilliant in terms of keeping myself motoring on through November. Then again I don't outline in detail. I know roughly where the story is going and just write. If I outline too much, I tend to get bogged down in the details and get bored, which isn't productive for NaNo. As you haven't NaNo-ed before, try the CampNaNo competition in June or August (details on the CampNaNoWriMo thread) and see what works best. No harm in trying. Do what comes more naturally for you :) Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:41:09 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1115427 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1115427 aliaswriter I have a general idea of how the chapters should fall, because I have my outline written in sections, but it's not set in stone. That's because it might fall in one section, but I like to end my chapters with cliffhangers, so the actual chapter end might come a little earlier, or a little later into the next chapter. For this reason, I only have the general idea of where to make the chapter breaks as I'm writing, but I won't make anything definite until the very end -- as in final draft. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:52:16 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1149472 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1149472 aliaswriter *or a little later into the next section (I really wish there was an edit button) Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:54:02 -0800 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1149474 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reaching-50-000/threads/48708?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1149474