I just. I don't know what happens next. This story's not going anywhere at all and oh god, I'm terrified right now.
It's not that my premise was limited; I know there's a lot there I can work with, potentially. I think the problem has been my execution of the premise. I've focused so much on my two MCs, but now it's like everything has stalled because there's nothing else in the world besides them. I know they're going to visit a Place to finally get some Answers, but I don't know what that place is or what the answers are supposed to be! I'm the author! I should know this!
*flails and despairs and PANICS LIKE A PANICKY THING. AT A DISCO.*
.
...so, how are your stories going?
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40,209 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 17 01
First off, breathe. Believe me, we all know the feeling. I hit a spot like that a few minutes ago and I just inserted a random person who comes in from nowhere and effs up my main character's goal/life. Just go with it. You're not gonna have all the answers. Some things are gonna pop up that you didn't expect but it's Nano, it's not always going to be perfect. It doesn't even have to see the light of day just get it written because you're never gonna know what works until you write it. Now I know this is odd, a newbie like me giving advice but I'm just passing on what has helped me greatly: permission to suck. And believe me, if you read my stuff I'm damn near an olympian at it.
My story has floundered a little do to lack of interest on my part, but all that means is I haven't up the stakes enough. Once I start procrastinating, I'm gonna hop right on that. Soon...ish.
43,354 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 18 14
I am feeling your panic! I am stuck, for pretty much the same reason. I have my two MC, and the rest are merely lurking shadows. I know what happens way down the road, but for right now I am at a dead end.
195,074 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 18 33
Add something random. Ninja attack, elephants that just escaped from the zoo, a chemistry set exploding.
You'd want to pick something that would fit the setting (no wrong-number cell phone calls if the story is set in 17th century France) so that there's a possibility it will spark a real plotline, and if it doesn't then it at least won't throw you out of the setting. You can always go back and remove the nonsense side plot later, and you never know what it'll turn into.
----------2004 - Pushed from Grace
2005 - 1500 words of epic fail
2006 - Embers
2007 - The Last Guardian
2008 - Plain Sight, The 400 Block , and The Island Dozen
2009 - Immersion, Hand of Winter, and (Untitled)
50,037 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 19 04
Don't worry! It's normal. It usually happens to me at least twice a day, and I hit a really major snag every three or four. The easiest thing to do is just press the "randomize" button. I like to either do a seventeen-minute free write or come up with the most awkward thing possible to inflict on my characters. The lack of actual plot-movement seems to calm the plot bunnies down and they come creeping back at their own pace.
If all else fails, click the "Random article" button on Wikipedia and try to write your next scene around the topic of the article you get.
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40,342 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 21 30
I can sympathize with your panic, but for somewhat of a different reason! :-] You see, I'm actually using my mom's computer right now. My laptop staged a mutiny on Thursday and refuses to do anything that I ask of it. Perhaps I was more prepared for NaNoWriMo than it was, I can't be sure. No matter what, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to have to just completely reformat the laptop in order for it to properly function again.
Regardless, it really screwed my story up. Now I'm all topsy-turvy as far as where I wanted to go plot-wise - not to mention that I'm super-behind on my word count. Ugh.
I hope that you manage to find your way out of the plotlessness! I'm sure you will :-] If you want someone to bounce ideas off of, I'm all ears! Hahaha, despite being behind, I can always entertain a wee bit of procrastination!
----------28,390 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 09 30
I had a mild panic yesterday because I hadn't been in the mood to write for so long that I really couldn't be bothered anymore and I thought of quitting Nano all together. But then I just wrote anyway. And then today I found the perfect characters to make the story get a new burst of energy and they will help to propel the action because they are making so much sense in the story. It's not even funny how well the muses are treating me today. These panics are usually temporary. Distract yourself! Watch some tv, read something, chat on the forums -- especially that. Go on the gross boards like "Things are going better than I hoped" and listen to all the gloating. Then use the bile and jealousy and disgust that boils up inside you to write! :-P
84,519 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 11 32
Maybe it's time for that traveling shovel to show up...
----------Sometimes I blog.
http://hellia.blogspot.com/
Other times I contribute.
http://www.geekachicas.com/
But I really just want to novel :)