Okay!
I finally got my ML powers turned on today, so I'm going to start exploring the forums, looking into the resources on the NaNo website, and putting a calender together. I'm feeling so municipal!
In the meantime, I wanted to start putting up some hints and pointers and helpful thoughts for folks doing the Novel Writing Month for the first time, or for anyone who wants to start organizing their ideas in preparation for the marathon of words. Anyone who'd like to share practices and creative ideas here is welcome and invited to do so!
For today's advice, ask yourself this: What is my story? What am I going to write about?
Have you told anyone the story which you have in mind? You might find it helpful to describe your idea to others (or maybe you prefer to keep it up your sleeve for now, which also has its advantages because it frees you from criticism that can stunt your imagination's growth). Run through the details in a paragraph or more.
Try repeating this story to yourself and describing the tale you're contemplating every day from now through November. Add a little bit to the story each time you tell it. See what questions occur to you. Hopefully, these questions will lead to more questions. Keep the ball rolling in your mind!
Happy cogitating!
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God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.
9,844 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2009 - 08 56
On previous occasions I was fortunate enough to be going into the Nano with at least a seed idea of what I wanted to write. This year I'm kinda seed-free. I have some nebulous concepts I've been toying with, but I have only the foggiest notion of an overarching plot.
The last time I finished a nano, I was a little better off. I knew what I wanted to write about, and I had enough of an idea that I broke my novel down into (an arbitrary) 10 chapters, and created a writing goal for each chapter. In this way, if I ran dry on one chapter, I didn't have to quit, I could move to another one and flesh out the ideas I was working on there. Also on that novel, I created three subplots that twisted into the main plot, so that again, if I was drawing a blank on what to do with my main character, I could wander off and think of something devious to do for my antagonist. Or the comic relief.
Divide and conquer. It's the way I successfully finished the last nano I successfully finished.
This year, my prep work has consisted of generating three notebook pages of brainstorming of ideas I would like to include in my novel. I figure if I toy with the concepts long enough, they'll gel into something vaguely plotlike in time for Nov 1.
----------Sincerely,
Soterios
38,003 / 50,000
Oct 25, 2009 - 15 52
Soterios, you said the Word of the Day: "Brainstorm!"
I know some folks like to start the month with a totally blank slate, so they can say that they wrote the book and invented all the story within just 30 days, but my feeling on this is, you will have no shortage of blank moments where you don't know what you are going to do next in the month-to-come. Sometimes you will draw a total blank every hour (or every couple of minutes)! It's nothing to celebrate! It's just an occupational hazard.
If you have a vague idea for the kernel of your story, and especially if you have some characters, start jotting down scenes and scenarios now. Whether you are at work, running errands, shopping for groceries, or watching television, if you notice a place or a situation that you could place your character in, jot it down! No matter how serious or silly or far-fetched it is, just add the idea to your notes, and keep adding!
Fumbling with band-aids? Sure, that could be a scene! Swimming with shoes on? Contesting a will? Playing frisbee on the moon? Well, maybe you aren't even writing science fiction, but write it down! It may stimulate an idea later, right when you need it.
Like Sorterios, I have pages and pages of ideas, phrases, snippets of dialogue, and even some sentences I'd like to use. (It's not cheating! When I say something to myself or a pal that has the feel of the story I want to write, I type it down on my iTouch, because there's no reason to believe I am gonna remember that bit in a couple weeks when I need it! I don't remember what I ate for dinner last night.)
Definitely think about starting a file on your computer (or even a notebook, or just a Post It note) that you can fill with stray thoughts. The more you have, the more chances one will come in handy later. You're going to need all the ammo you can get, soon enough!
----------God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.
7,452 / 50,000
Oct 26, 2009 - 08 26
In the words of Professor Farnsworth of Futurama; "Good news everyone!"
Sunday November 1 at 0200h it becomes 0100h. For those of us who will be sitting at 2359h on Halloween fingers poised this means a free hour of fresh off the starting line goodness. It looks like this year Mr. Franklin is on our side!
From your frozen cajunsicle in CT good luck!
38,003 / 50,000
Oct 26, 2009 - 13 49
Perfect timing! Just like it was meant to be!
----------God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.