Okay, so there are barely two hours left before the fun begins. I'm loaded up with extra candy because I got zero trick-or-treaters this year. I've been procrastinating all day by looking forward to procrastinating once midnight hits. I have no plot. No problem.
But I do have a question. What's a novel? The NaNo site defines it as a "lengthy work of fiction" and that if I consider my work a novel, so do they. But I'm really interested in the idea of interconnect stories. I'm not talking about a short story collection, but connected pieces that end up functioning like a novel. And yes, this is different from chapters. So if I write 50,000 words of connected stories with a scope that's larger than any of the individual pieces, am I writing a novel?
Would anybody consider this cheating? I have done NaNo twice before (2/2 wins!), and did novels both times. Part of the reason I want to do connected stories this year is because I haven't actually finished either of the two novels, and I'd like to have some complete work at the end of the month. Plus I've been reading people like Stu Dybek and loving how those pieces intertwine and create the effect of a world like a novel does. (Okay, and honestly, I'm working on my creative writing thesis, and if one or two of the NaNo stories ended up being used for that, I'd feel a lot less bad when my advisor yells at me when he finds out I'm doing NaNo.)
So, again, if anybody finds the idea of connected stories distasteful then I'll just do a novel. I've got a character who is screaming for that kind of attention anyway.
Cheers.
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Keeper of Roman
4,513 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 21 14
creative writing thesis? mfa from Eastern?
----------4,513 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 21 16
I think if Tarantino and Rodriguez can do that with "Four Rooms" for a movie then you can do that for a novel.
----------52,555 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 21 21
I'd say, given the official NaNo definition AND the fact that your connected stories "function like a novel," then you're planning a novel. Go for it.
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Samantha
Spokane, WA - Municipal Liaison (2003-2009)
Age Group: 50-Plus - Moderator
4,119 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 14 47
MFA from Eastern, indeed. Don't tell my professors.
Sounds like I won't be going outside the lines with connected stories, so here I go (unless that damn novel-wanting character refuses to be kept down).
Thanks, all.
----------Keeper of Roman
32,042 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 15 06
My friend, you are crazy for even doing this and I love it!
24,412 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 23 12
That could be a mantra.
----------SWIMMING TO COLORADO 2008
INCOHERENT FEET 2007 (won)
MORONIC HANDS 2006 (won)
RUDE HAIR 2005 (won)
24,412 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 09 58
ooh ooh, I know this one!!! but I'd better not say.
----------SWIMMING TO COLORADO 2008
INCOHERENT FEET 2007 (won)
MORONIC HANDS 2006 (won)
RUDE HAIR 2005 (won)