Asia :: Malaysia

To re-write or not to re-write.

Daniel_M — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:11:36 +0000

That is my dilemma.

I have reached 50,000+ words, but my draft is actually not even half way through. Worst yet, it has taken a detour to Nowhereville. I am thinking of whether I should re-write some of the earlier parts to set it back on track. I can't work with the path the draft is currently on. I fear that if I let it drift further away from my initial plan, I won't be able to finish it.

Have you guys been in this situations before? What would you do if it happens to you?
----------

Asia :: Malaysia

Weekly Write-ins

chet-a-box — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:09:57 +0000

Last year, we met every Saturday morning in November at Starbucks, AmCorp Mall to write. We really did. I remember there was one write-in where we had 2 actual writing sessions. We set a time - I think it was 30 minutes - of no talking, no surfing, just writing, and it really worked! Everyone fell quiet and wrote.

At yesterday's kick-off party, those present agreed to having this year's weekly write-ins at the Old Town White Coffee outlet near Bangsar LRT. For those driving, there's an open-air car park behind the building (you turn in at the first left immediately after the Bangsar LRT drop-off, it's after a short row of shops, take the first left, follow the road, and keep an eye out on the left for the entrance to the car park). Alternatively, there's parking in the basement of the building.

For those of us present at yesterday's party, remember we were asked to move to a room which was quieter so we won't disturb the other customers? Well, I saw the room - it's like a private area with booth seating (this features in my fic NaNo!!) and regular round tables. I think we should hold our write-ins there - cosy and away from the main crowd.

So, in summary, here are the details of this year's weekly write-ins:

Venue: Old Town White Coffee, Bangsar LRT
Time: from 10:30 a.m.
Dates: every Saturday in November 2009

Note to mothership - sorry for pre-empting you. Hope you don't mind this little bit of assistance.
----------
Chet's NaNoWriMo Experience (updated)

Asia :: Malaysia

Plot Or No Plot? That Is The Question

Kamigoroshi — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:23:04 +0000

I'm starting to realise that there are two factions of Nanorimo participants. Those who spent some time trying to plan out their stories and sticking to a set plot that they create, and those that decide to just define their characters, without a plot and let them write the story as it goes.

Which one are you? What is most effective for you especially if you've done nano before?
----------
"The world didn't end with a whimper. It ended in a sea of screams, blood and torn flesh. It would have been delicious if it wasn't so sickening."
- Excerpt from "The Bloody Long Walk" (NaNoWriMo 2009)

Asia :: Malaysia

Hello Malaysians - General Introductions!

Kamigoroshi — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:21:25 +0000

Hi all, I'm Edrei. I'm 26 years old and I'm from KL for most of my life, but currently in Australia at the moment working as a medical scientist.

I've been wanting to join NaNoWriMo ever since I've heard of it a few years ago, but I've never had the opportunity to do so because I've always had exams or massive deadlines in November. This year however, I "should" be home free and this would be my first time joining NaNoWriMo.

I'll be writing a novel about tragic loss, tragic loss, the ensuing insanity and the eventual healing which comes from an unexpected source. It's going to have a science fiction element to it and I'll be drawing heavily on my personal experiences. Although, being a first time novel writer, I'm not exactly sure I know how to put it all down on a page, but I guess, there is only one way to find out.

That being said, now how about yourselves?
----------
"The world didn't end with a whimper. It ended in a sea of screams, blood and torn flesh. It would have been delicious if it wasn't so sickening."
- Excerpt from "The Bloody Long Walk" (NaNoWriMo 2009)

Asia :: Malaysia

just started today on 5th is it late?

KC Chan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:31:51 +0000

Hi I am living in JB and I only learn about this writing novel today. And I would like to give it a try. Am I still eligible? And can I write based in my home?

I hope it is never too late to start... as long as it is 50, 000 words.

Please advise me on this...

KC Chan
----------

Asia :: Malaysia

Stagnation

Jleow — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:37:16 +0000

Ok, I'm at 10, 673 words and it's been 3 days since I've written anything. For the past 3 days, life had been so hectic that I have been away from the computer during all those times. When I was actually home, the first thoughts that crossed my mind were either food or sleep. Sigh... I hope everyone else is faring well though.

Just felt like mentioning this. LOL!
----------

Asia :: Malaysia

Best times for writing?

Naoko_Kensaku — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:27:09 +0000

Out of curiousity, when's your best times for writing?

Me I find myself most productive in the morning before I head to work or before I sleep, mainly because my muses like to do all their running around in my head when I'm asleep.
----------

Asia :: Malaysia

What's Your Nanovel About?

Kamigoroshi — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:49:20 +0000

I was going through some of the novel info of a lot of Nanoers and realised a lot of us didn't put it down. Time to take a little pride in your creative works, tell us about the basic plot outline of your story. Also, be sure to check out other people's synopsis as well.

Mine is about a zombie apocalypse, though it doesn't have your run in the mill "human condition conquers all" plot. It focuses on a vampire and his "not too human" human servant. Rather than having daylight sparkly vegetarians as well, the main character is a blood thirsty, sunlight crispy predator who has to pull all the stops to stay alive (in a manner of speaking). His human servant is a broken victim of humanity's cruelty who finds comfort and eventual strength in the inhumanity of her master. Throw in the constant hunger for blood, the daylight hours, human raiders as well as paranoid and stupid common folks, zombies are the least of their problems.

Can our two main characters survive it all to find a human settlement for them to live in relative peace? Well...only one way to find out.
----------
"The world didn't end with a whimper. It ended in a sea of screams, blood and torn flesh. It would have been delicious if it wasn't so sickening."
- Excerpt from "The Bloody Long Walk" (NaNoWriMo 2009)

Asia :: Malaysia

Music While You Write?

Kamigoroshi — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:31:14 +0000

While I can't say the same for writing novels because this is technically my first participating Nanowrimo, being a prolific blogger and during the times when I had to write my theses, I often needed to listen to low level instrumental music to get me along creatively, mostly music from instrumental movie soundtracks and trailers.

I was wondering if anyone else preferred a little tune while they write? Or are you the type that writes with enough silence to hear a pin drop? If you do have music you listen to, any special preference to what they are?

Do share.
----------
"The world didn't end with a whimper. It ended in a sea of screams, blood and torn flesh. It would have been delicious if it wasn't so sickening."
- Excerpt from "The Bloody Long Walk" (NaNoWriMo 2009)

Asia :: Malaysia

WriMo M'sians a-Tweetin'

Jha'Meia — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:06:49 +0000

I know you got one.

You can find me tweeting under jhameia

I'm a very boring person though. You've been warned.
----------
-----------
Jha, Municipal Liaison
Canada :: Nova Scotia :: Halifax Regional Municipality
(Yes, Bedford, Dartmouth, Sackville and all other satellite places, we're here to take care of you too!)
Follow us! https://twitter.com/HaNoWriMoNS

Asia :: Malaysia

7 minutes into November and am already stuck. Panic?

ArianneG — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:09:05 +0000

Aack. I have the whys, but none of the hows and whats of my story-- as in no plot. How ah? @_@
----------

Asia :: Malaysia

"The time for dreaming, talking, and planning is over. Now we must write."

chet-a-box — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:36:20 +0000

The above quote is adapted from Ralph Keyes, from his book The Courage to Write. I think it's so timely for us, to get us started at midnight, 1 November 2009.
----------
Chet's NaNoWriMo Experience (updated)

Asia :: Malaysia

NaNoWriMo Kickoff Party - Confirm attendance here

eaglewing — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:16:12 +0000

In case you didn't see it in the events page...

Details:

Date: 31st October 2009
Place: Old Town White Coffee, Bangsar LRT
Time: 10.30am - 1.30pm

Bring your sense of humour and a pen.

First 10 attendees will receive a free book from my collection of 'books I accumulate during warehouse sales'.

Also, we have the official NaNoWriMo stickers in the house!

To confirm attendance, just add your name in the list as follows:

1. eaglewing
2. Your Name

<3 See you next next Saturday, peeps.
----------
Stand for something, lest you fall for anything.

Asia :: Malaysia

The NaNoWriMo blog

eaglewing — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:35:09 +0000

Hello, just to let you all know we have a blog.

Go to nanomy.blogspot.com

If anyone wants to contribute to it, do let me know, ya?
----------
Stand for something, lest you fall for anything.

Asia :: Malaysia

Non NaNo-Related: Spec Fic zine?

Jha'Meia — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:24:16 +0000

I could give you details, but they aren't even hammered out yet, so I'll keep it simple:

Subscription spec fic (science fiction / fantasy) zine for and by South East Asian writers and readers. Print and online versions available.

Would you read / buy it?
----------
-----------
Jha, Municipal Liaison
Canada :: Nova Scotia :: Halifax Regional Municipality
(Yes, Bedford, Dartmouth, Sackville and all other satellite places, we're here to take care of you too!)
Follow us! https://twitter.com/HaNoWriMoNS

Asia :: Malaysia

Great article on what is a plot

chet-a-box — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:30:42 +0000

Do you have a plot?

Excerpt:

"What makes a plot?

Think of a book like a really big door, preferably one of those Parisian ones that are thick and heavy and last hundreds of years. Here's how it breaks down. Bullet point time!

- The premise is what happens to knock the door ajar. Something sets the protagonist's life out of balance. Preferably something really intriguing or like totally deep man.
- The climax is when the door closes. Maybe the protagonist made it through the door, maybe they didn't make it through the door but learned a really great lesson about door closing, maybe the door chopped them in half.
- The theme is how the person opening the door changes along the way.

What's the plot? The plot is what keeps the door open!! Why can't that person close the door?

So basically, plot is a premise plus a major complication that tests the protagonist. It's what opens the door plus what's keeping the door from being closed.

----------
Chet's NaNoWriMo Experience (updated)

Asia :: Malaysia