Is it November 1 yet?

Okay, Tara, enough procrastinating -- time to get back to violin practice. :)

Actually, I'm just fine waiting -- gives my characters more time to tell me what the devil they're doing, what my story is, and how it might progress. Also means more time before I have to try to corral the kiddies through their own stories.

ROFL. I was taking a break from practicing when I posted that. ;-)

I'm hoping some of my secondary characters start talking soon, because I don't know their stories at all. It just feels so strange not writing anything. Especially when it's not because I don't have ideas.

Tara ~ Co-ML, Indianapolis

I wonder if I'm doing this whole pre-NaNo thing right. I came up with a story idea, and I've thought of a few elements, but I'm kind of afraid to cheat and think about it too much. Part of me is afraid I'll start obsessing over it and trying to write the whole thing in my head before November even gets here. That would be bad, very bad. I'd be so locked into writing this particular thing that I wouldn't be able to write anything at all.

I've so much other crap to do right now, though, I'm glad to have the time. I hope I can get some of these other projects off the table (literally) before NaNo gets here. The house is a wreck!

...and then I'm also really excited about starting for the first time. Woohoo!

"What could I do if I did not have to do it perfectly? A lot more than I am now."

Tom, I wouldn't stress too much whether you're "doing it right" or not. I can tell you from my experience (having the first several chapters of my book planned out in detail each of the past two years) that any planning you do becomes pretty useless on or about ... oh ... day two. No more than the first chapter or two of any of my previous novels for NaNo have borne any resemblance to my previous planning.

I think it helps to know who a couple of your characters are, where and in what condition you want them to start, and have some idea of the vague direction you'd like the thing to go (including where, ultimately, it might be nice if it ended), and then just let them take you along for the ride. Not only is it more fun that way, it's also a lot less hassle ahead of time, and you don't feel so bad when you start to deviate from your carefully-laid plans.

Oooooo, I'm ready! I've hardly written this year, so I'm dying to jump in.

I'm going to start a couple of shorter stories this week and see if that helps. It might work to my advantage, too, since I tend to wing it every year and don't care for outlines. Maybe I'll stumble upon backstory or minor characters while I'm at it. It'd be nice to have some sort of plan for a change.

Ericka
Co-ML, Indianapolis

Inspired vessel of the Traveling Shovel of Death

jwkrug,

Thanks for the thoughts. Hmm...yes, it does seem to me that, though I have a general story idea: good guy(s) go after bad guy - I'm pretty lost after that. One of my characters may die (two, if I take my cues from Becky), but other than that I'm kind of lost here. I thought they would tell me what they want to do, but I'm not sure where to put them.

Aw, crap. Now what?!

"What could I do if I did not have to do it perfectly? A lot more than I am now."

Oh, I am sooo excited for Nov 1 to get here. Unfortunately, I told my sister in law that I was doing this and she wants to read it when I'm done. That's not so bad, except I was basing my novel on the circumstances surrounding her husband's best friend's death and it's still quite a touchy subject for them. Sooooooo, guess I'll write down some ideas, flesh out the stories and see which one speaks to me...

Well, also remember that it is YOUR novel, and that you don't have to let anyone read it if you don't want to. I usually don't let my wife read the first draft or two of anything I write because I want to clean it up, but if the novel you're writing is for cathartic reasons and isn't something you're wanting the world to see (or even if the time just isn't right), you can just keep it to yourself.

Friends and family will understand -- you're that crazy writer in the family! :)

And if all else fails, just show them excerpts ;)

Ericka
Co-ML, Indianapolis

Inspired vessel of the Traveling Shovel of Death

Maybe it's the one hour of sleep I'm running on but I'm both dreading and anticipating Nov. 1. I get to deal with characters that I barely know and when in doubt, write violent porn.

Illyria

I had a handle on things...but it broke.

Ha!

I'm not usually a hysterical person, but I'm bound to have an existential fit, followed by concerns that I'm a hack. Then I'll wrap it up with a dose of chocolate, another mixed drink I didn't really need, and a good long nap. Seems to happen every year.

Ericka
Co-ML, Indianapolis

Inspired vessel of the Traveling Shovel of Death

I'm not usually this prepared for NaNo. In 2006 I was pretty sure I wasn't going to do it at all because I hadn't written all year and had no ideas for something new. Then around Oct 25 an idea hit me and I managed to squeeze 96k words out of it. Then in 2007 I was pretty sure I WAS going to do it, but had no new ideas (I'd been working on a rewrite all year) and around Oct 16 I came up with an idea and got 125k out of it.

Now this year I have the idea, I have a sort of plan, I even have a beginning (in my head)...

It's a little bit terrifying...

We'll see how I'm feeling on Nov 2.

Tara ~ Co-ML, Indianapolis

Because I've been so busy - and haven't written anything since NaNo last year, I had forgotten all about NaNo. It wasn't until the email from the ML about the meeting that it hit me... "Oh yeah, NaNo". I guess I'll get more excited the closer we get to Nov. 1.

What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger.

2008: Undecided
2007: The Museum Murders (working title)
2006: Joss and Jerome (working title) 52,000

That made me LOL....

I've got around a dozen or more ideas sitting in one of my notebooks collecting dust... along with one real good (or real half-assed) idea I've been working with for a while. Last time I was going to go with my working-idea... this time, I think I'm going to grab one of my other ideas and just start banging away at it to see if I can keep my brain from calcifying.

"Adventure and love?... there's no such thing as adventure and love. there's only trouble and desire."

YES! I am excited. Like last year I am going to try and write the ending first. Yeah, I have hardly written at all this year. Probably too much time on the Internet. :-p

http://indyhermit.blogspot.com
http://tracesofgeek.blogspot.com

Man, I have been dying to start writing. I started a story in May, and I have been trying to write that, but my mind won't let me. So I have resorted to practicing violin every day when I want to start. Which explains my grade in orchestra. But I still want to write!! Argh!!

I can't wait!! Even though I'm pretty sure a few days in I'll be all like "omg there is NO WAY 50,000 words are coming out of my brain this month".

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Nano 2004: Untitled (2k) - Lost miserably
Nano 2006: New Westbridge (37,400) - Almost there!
Nano 2007: Winter in Woodbury (50,063) - Won!!
Nano 2008: Smash (50,070) - Won!!

And now for editing....
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Hey! Another violinist! Yay! :-)

Tara ~ Co-ML, Indianapolis