I know some of you are last-minute, by-the-seat-of-your-pants, come-up-with-the-plot-at-exactly-midnight-11/1 NaNoers, but for those of you that are like me and just can't/won't do that, what ideas are swimming around in your heads with just 25 planning days to go?
I lost my first two years when I tried to write about something that was close to my heart. I got too bogged down in the details and making it perfect. My third year, I wrote complete and utter crap. I despised every single word that came from my fingertips. But I won, and that's the point.
This year, I have an inkling for a somewhat goofy novel. I've been thinking about it for a few months, actually, but I'm not sure where to go with it. I'd like to set it in the future or a parallel universe where the internet has taken over the world. People's information is out there for anyone to see. Their futures are decided by quizzes and polls. Something bad happens (not sure what yet) and most people don't think anything of it. But a small group of 20-somethings can see that their world is totally screwy and set out to pull it offline. And that's all I have so far.
Or I might just pull something from the Adopt-a-Plot thread and insert a crapload of dares just for funsies. :)
Flash your plot, yo!
----------
2005- Homotastic: Tales of a Teenage Fag Hag -- Failed at 6k.
2006- Homotastic: Tales of a Teenage Fag Hag (take 2) -- Failed at 13k.
2007- 36 -- WINNER
2008- Untitled
ML: Arizona :: Phoenix
10,755 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2008 - 20 16
Plot? Nope. Seat-of-the-pants writer here. Got a title, got a general idea (see my synopsis), working on a possible opening scene (in my head!!) and that's about it. Worked for me last year. Now to see if we can do it again.
And hey, I like your idea. Sounds like it would be fun to write.
----------2008- Canton
2008- Separation Anxiety- crashed and burned before the first was over.
2007- The Remnant- Winner
"Love. You can know all the math in the 'Verse, but take a boat in the air you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning
5,766 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2008 - 11 34
Nevermind about the plot thing. I found something in the Adopt A Plot thread that I'm going to heavily adapt. It's going to be in the LGBTQA sub-genre but with historical and somewhat supernatural elements as well. I have to do some research on the era, but I'm actually excited for it. The 1st can't come soon enough!
----------2005- Homotastic: Tales of a Teenage Fag Hag -- Failed at 6k.
2006- Homotastic: Tales of a Teenage Fag Hag (take 2) -- Failed at 13k.
2007- 36 -- WINNER
2008- Untitled
ML: Arizona :: Phoenix
3,849 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2008 - 19 40
My plot is something I've been thinking about for a while now, but just haven't figured out a way to approach. I've been fiddling with outlines and characters until I think now I may finally have it yipee! I'm another that can't wait for the 1st. I'm ready to start writing this thing!
3,696 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2008 - 22 24
Plot? What's this thing you call Plot? Have no idea of what I will write this year, probably won't figure it out until the 1st. One of these years I might make the goal. Did finish a novel here, just didn't make the word count. Hopefully this year I'll get the word count.
----------Once again I will attempt to reach the goal.
50,132 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2008 - 07 07
Where is this Adopt-a-Plot thread? Desperation is approaching and am in need of some serious inspiration.
1,190 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 00 28
I have plot this time! I had a general idea last time I tried Nano ('06). And I started to realize partway in (About 10,000 words) that once I hit a certain point I'd have no idea where to go. So, this year there is plot! Not pages of outlines, but a few sketchy notes and a vague plot.
----------____________________________________________________________
In Defense of the Netherrealm
Because it's always invading in fantasy novels, so someone has to write the reverse story.
50,237 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 14 04
I had a plot until about two hours ago. Now I don't want to use it for NaNo because it will require an obscene amount of research that I don't have time for. It started out simple...
So now I'm plot-less and idea-less. But I'm not worried. Last year I started off with a plot and outline to a story that I abandoned a mere 2 hours into November. Two days later, I rallied with a new character, new plot, and crossed the finish like at like 4 freakin' thirty in the morning (or something. That night is fuzzy except I know the MLs were both there chanting for me finish, ha!) on the 25th. It was an incredible ride.
----------2006 - The Sandcastle (died at 20k) - FAIL!
2007 - Snapshots From the Ashes (54K) - WIN!
Co-ML-In-Training
50,055 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 22 43
I actually have what I think is a pretty good plot and I'm starting to develop a pretty good cast of characters too. I'm just not finding a protagonist and antagonist in the story yet. I was reading 'Wayward Bus' by John Steinbeck and there really was very little plot, no hero or villian, main character etc. It was character driven and when the characters interacted, all hell broke loose. It might be ok to write like that. I'm not sure...
----------img src="http://www.nanowrimo.org/NanowrimoUtils/LiveSupporter/303800.png" />
0 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2008 - 17 21
I've got a title and plot, but no main (or otherwise) characters--yet. Any recommendations to increase wordage?
50,762 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2008 - 13 50
I do have a plot, that I came up with literally on Saturday! XD
It's sort of a hail-Canterbury-Tales kind of thing set in a fictional [or maybe not?] plane between life as we know it and the "afterlife." Six people who died in the same instant all must voyage across the Dark Sea of this plane, guided by Francis, Guardian of the Dead. They all start to realize things about themselves they never knew, but it's agonizingly too late because they're dead, but they believe that they will have a chance to implement their new lives in "Heaven."
I'm really enjoying developing this, lol. It's a lot of fun to figure out these six people, and Francis is absolutely delicious as well. The "in between plane" has some really fun mechanics -- for example, all perceived boundaries here on Earth fall away, such as language. They appear to all be speaking English to the reader, and their respective native languages to themselves, but in reality nobody's speaking any discernable language at all. Everyone is equal in death. ^^
It's likely going to end up being a temporary one, but the title is When God Has Passed You By.
I can't wait to get started on it. It's one of the best plots I've ever come up with.
Peace and love.
Teague
x
10,461 / 50,000
Oct 14, 2008 - 14 15
Last year, I sort of had a plot when I started. I was thrown headfirst into the WriMo by my now best friend two days after everyone else had started, with a basic outline of what was going to go on: merchant sailor's captain, who is like a father to her, is murdered by a pirate and she vows to avenge him and turns pirate herself. Of course there was going to be some romance thrown in; the pirate novel all girls my age want read and
self-insert themselves into the main characterwrite. However the romance took over like half the story before I even got anywhere near the beginning of the plot and while I hit my 50K, my novel was nowhere near done. Who knows if it ever will be.This year I have... not really a plot... more like the beginnings of an idea. Anyone read the brilliant Agatha Christie? If you do, you'll know where this going. She is the greatest mystery writer of all time, and has only ever been outsold by the Bible and Shakespeare. Her most famous detective is Hercule Poirot, and he has an "assiociate," his close friend and partner in crime, or the solving thereof, Captain Hastings. Well my novel is going to star Hastings' granddaughter, who grew up hearing the stories of all the mysteries Poirot and her grandfather solved together, and who is a bit of a detective herself, especially when she stumbles upon a dead body. *gasp* Yup. A murder mystery. With lots of inspiration taken from Agatha Christie's characters and novels. So there. Voila. I have my main character and thoughts of others, and the hairline of a plot, but November 1st can't come soon enough.
----------DisneyQueen007
2007- The Masked Siren- WIN!
1,738 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2008 - 12 39
Sounds really fascinating. I think character-driven books are the most satisfactory and memorable to read, and probably to write!
Have fun--post some excerpts--I'd love to see them...
Jennifer
----------"If you want to bake an apple pie, you must first create the Universe." Carl Sagan
1,738 / 50,000
Oct 18, 2008 - 12 54
I've had a plot rattling around in my head for a few years now. (Who am I kidding--I've had dozens of plots rattling around in my head...) It's a romance novel, but not your run-of-the-mill romance: the hero has PTSD, but nobody realises it. The heroine has been the victim/survivor of molestation and is determined that her younger sisters will not be victimized. (So far it sounds like a cross between an Oprah episode and a Movie of the Week.) The twist is that it's set in 19th century London in the homes of wealthy and titled, where reputation and discretion are everything...
Jennifer
PS Doesn't this read like I have a future writing back of the book blurbs? Gosh, I'm good! (And alliterative) (And modest, she said with a shy blush.)
----------"If you want to bake an apple pie, you must first create the Universe." Carl Sagan
25,261 / 50,000
Oct 21, 2008 - 11 39
I've been trying to write an adaptation of my favorite fairy tale for about four years, and I always get about six chapters in and bet bogged down in trying to fix things, or get stuck on a plot point. So for my novel this year, I've decided to scrap all my previous work and start fresh. I've got a new take on the story that I've never tried writing before, so I think it will work out this time around.
72,420 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2008 - 07 13
I'm excited for Nov. 1st to come, because I keep writing dialogue for the characters in my head--but I know once I start to write that down, I won't stop, and then I'll have to find something new for NaNoWriMo. So for now I'm just waiting...and hoping that my characters shut up sometime soon so I stop being tempted. But during Nano I hope they get talkative again. ;)
But yes, I have a plot. It's sort of a mix between fantasy and a government conspiracy...but I like the idea. I think it's pretty original, and that's all that matters, right? Well, more or less.
----------NaNoWriMo '08- Applefruit
52,458 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2008 - 08 17
I've got cheese! Well, okay, I guess you could call it a plot...just a simple thing, a misplaced young woman find out something about her heritage that leads her on a grand journey. I'm keeping it sketchy on advancement and details, because I have a wicked tendency to put myself on a path, then take sharp turns off-road. Should be loads of fun though!
----------"...Larry? Did you eat the map?"
"Only part of it."
50,956 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2008 - 21 07
Yep, I've got plot, or more like plot points if that's what you want to call it. Pretty much the reason why I'm joining Nano is because I tried writing this story years ago and never got anywhere with it, just gave up on it. I thought this would be the perfect motivation to get my butt in gear and actually write it! I'm excited. Characters that I haven't thought about in years are coming back in full force. New characters that I never expected are appearing in my head. Actual scenes are forming in my mind that I can hardly wait to write down. I personally can't imagine starting the challenge without any kind of idea or plot. That's not to say it's wrong not to have a plot before November 1st, not at all! I just don't think I could do it myself. So to all of those who are going in blind, good luck to you! :)
1,780 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2008 - 23 41
free write! the ideas are in there somewhere!
rules: write (longhand on paper) for ten minutes straight, do not erase anything, repeat words if necessary- just dont stop! debate with yourself, scream, pray, whatever.
1...2...3... go!