While our outlining party is still a ways off, I thought we could start here, in the regional forum, for those without plots or characters or both. Or, if you have a plot already, but are lacking the 'meat' of the novel. This is the place to bounce ideas off each other. :)
For those lacking a plot/main character: First, it might be beneficial to state what genre you're planning to write in this year, so those of us who plan to help you out can get a basic idea as to what we're working with. Fantasy? Modern? Western? Romance? If you have no idea, is there some kind of mood or theme you want to portray? What kind of elements do you want to incorporate? Political intrigue? Naval battles? Cities made of gears?
For those lacking meat: What's your story about? What do you want your characters to go through? What are their goals, and how are those goals impeded?
Go, go, go! My plot is starting to fall into place, so I'll wait out a couple of rounds, for you guys who need more help to post and gather more information from me and the others. :)
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NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill
Art | Blog
50,723 / 50,000
Sep 29, 2008 - 11 42
Right on! Yes, data collection prior to the final get-together. My own plot's started to solidify while I wasn't looking, but I've started a collection of character development questions. Like, "would your character ever. . .?" sort of questions.
I'll throw one out there for good measure: Would your character ever lick a frozen metal pole?
Mine would, but then again, she's an android, and would do it just to prove it doesn't affect her. But what about YOURS? :D
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Pretend this is a plot, okay?![]()
50,034 / 50,000
Sep 29, 2008 - 12 47
LOL. I can totally imagine Finch doing it while completely intoxicated. If he mistook it for his companion, Lindsay, or something equally as maddening. What would ensue could probably be described as mayhem and then, once the poor gunfighter's tongue has been safely removed from the metal pole, a little romp in the nearest saloon. Or stable. Or right there on the ground. PROBABLY.
Would your character ever take up spelunking as a serious hobby?
----------NaNo '08
Genre: Fantasy Western
Title: Boot Hill
Art | Blog
50,723 / 50,000
Sep 29, 2008 - 16 50
Ooh, I'll add that one to my main list. That's a good one.
Miku might, but only to get to caverns with seriously badass accoustics. Then she'd spend hours there singing and just playing with the sound. Kaito wouldn't do it on his own, but if Miku talked him into it, he'd grudgingly follow her, then realize it wasn't too bad. I mean, it's not like he's claustrophobic or anything. He's just not fond of the idea of getting damp.
Would your character ever get a tattoo?
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Pretend this is a plot, okay?![]()
13,131 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2008 - 21 57
Hmm... some of my characters would get tattos, but that's my problem.
It's not that I don't know what to write, it's that I can't decide on a story. I have , like, three and a half plots in my head, and they all have good characters and, well, I personally plots come from what the characters do, so I don't need to worry about that yet, but, yeah.... how do you all decide which story you want to write?
Genres: 3 are fantastical-type stories. Two are in another world entirely, one is in our modern world/time. And one of those is specfically youth fiction... and they are all comedy... I hate putting my genres in boxes, so sue me. The fourth story is a growing-up type story, probably for middle-school or high-school age people.
Themes:
plot 1) friendship, sacrifice
plot 2) o_o ?????...uh, this ones for entertainment purposes, first and foremost....
plot 3) anit-eugenesist, somewhat political, Thomas auquinas type-philisophical stuff (but I don't want it t be over the top)
plot4) growing up, friendship, being yourself
50,723 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2008 - 23 57
Deciding which plot to write is always a pain, especially when you keep a menagerie of plotbunnies on hold. For me, it comes down to picking what feels the most "alive" at the moment. 2006, picking was no problem--I picked the bunny that had been my baby for about three years. Last year I was stupid and ignored my menagerie for no good reason. And this year I'm writing a sci-fi fanficiton, just because that's the story that holds the most power in my head at the moment.
If you haven't decided by the kick-off party, though, we'll all be more than happy to help you narrow it down. Talking about plots is just too much fun, even when they're not your own. :D
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Pretend this is a plot, okay?![]()
50,026 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2008 - 23 29
I have a new idea!:D :D
Basically, my novel is the retelling of a season of one of those awful TV reality shows. I haven't decided what the show is about yet, but I know that the prize of the competition is for some ridiculous, yet-unspecificed amout of prize money.
..... Like$20 or so.
I think I'm going to do each chapter as a day or period of time from the point of view from one of the characters, starting with the narrator, who will introduce most of the other characters.
.. . Any ideas on what the reality show itself might be? :P
50,723 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2008 - 11 58
You should make a really ridiculous one up. Like that Wimp Factor one my dad jokes about. It's the opposite of Fear Factor--they try to see who's the wimpiest. Like, if someone says they're afraid of bugs, they start them off with a tub full of bugs, and whoever can actually do it is dismissed. Then they show them pictures of bugs, and finally a picture of Bugs Bunny.
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Pretend this is a plot, okay?![]()
50,026 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2008 - 08 13
My favorite part of that is the photo of Bugs Bunny. Like, because Bugs is merely his name, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's short for some '40s or '50s name like Bugsey or something silly like that. (but I'm far too lazy to just look it up.)
50,723 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2008 - 20 25
Hey, guys! I found out someone on the Plot Realism Q&A board needs information about Flagstaff. Anyone want to help him? Just describe Flag as you know it in this thread. I already left a comment, but it's a little disjointed, and my knowledge of Flagstaff geography is sadly limited by the fact that I only walk. ^^;
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Pretend this is a plot, okay?![]()
12,661 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2008 - 02 52
My main character is immortal, so licking a frozen metal pole is just silly. LOL
She has, however, set aside her immortal powers for a space of time, so maybe she would, just to see what it would be like.
My setting is sorta generic European medieval and I'd like to jazz it up a bit to make it less Euro-centric. So toss some ideas my way and I'll see if I can twist them to fit.
12,661 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2008 - 03 01
She has, however, set aside her immortal powers for a space of time, so maybe she would, just to see what it would be like.
My setting is sorta generic European medieval and I'd like to jazz it up a bit to make it less Euro-centric. So toss some ideas my way and I'll see if I can twist them to fit.
Replying to myself...I just read the rules again, and looks like I go with plot B.
Therefore the above won't count. However, in the second plot, I actually have two main characters to play with, so this could be fun.
Setting is still an issue. I want to aim for an almost surreal feel...magic is real, technology never developed because of it, the people in this world use magic like we use technology...may not understand the how of the workings, but know if it works or not. Sort of like me with my car. I know I turn the key and the engine is supposed to start. If it doesn't, I know to check certain things (battery, frex), but I wouldn't be able to make major repairs. I would love some ideas as to things that magic might do much like tech, but when something doesn't work right you can't just run it down to the repair shop...