United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

How to Outline Your Novel In 30 Minutes

yeff — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:20:42 -0700

Found here: http://lisa-pulliam.blogspot.com/2006/05/outline-your-novel-in-30-minute... where it was impossible to actually read so I figured I'd repost it here.
c. 1998 by Alicia Rasley

1. At the start of your book, what distinguishes your protagonist from other people? What central strength does he/she have? How does this strength get him/her into trouble?
Strength: Sue's really good at problem solving. Trouble: She's always being brought in at the last minute to clean up other people's messes.

2. When the novel opens, what is s/he on the brink of doing? Why does he/she say she's going to do this? What does this action represent for the protagonist?
She's just moved into a new town and has volunteered to do the stage managing for the community theater. She says that theater work is fun, and she'll get to make new friends. This represents her attempt to become part of the new community.

3. What external situation will require the protagonist's participation throughout the course of the book? How does this connect with #2? Does it help or interfere? Can you build in a deadline for extra tension?
The community theater's director absconds with all their money. If they don't somehow pull off an economical but successful Hamlet performance in a week, the community theater will go bankrupt.

4. What is the protagonist's goal for the time the book covers? How does this connect with the external situation? Or does the external situation divert the protagonist from his/her goal? Why does the protagonist SAY he/she wants the goal? Is there a deeper motivation as yet unknown to him/her?
She wants to participate in a successful theater presentation. She says it's because it will be good for the community. A deeper motivation is that she needs to be part of a cohesive group or she'll be lonely and lost. All the problems in the external situation will be obstacles to participating in a successful presentation.

5. What problem (external conflict) does the external situation present? How can the protagonist eventually resolve that conflict?
She is dragooned into taking over direction of the community theater's performance of Hamlet one week before the first show, and she's never directed a play before. She's a good problem-solver, and she will use these skills to tackle all the theater's problems.

6. List at least three obstacles in the way of her resolving this conflict. Make one an internal obstacle/conflict.
There's not enough money for costumes.
None of the other actors think Sue can replace the gifted Stockinsky, the former director.
The actor playing Hamlet is a drunk.
Five days before the performance, her mother announces she hates her nursing home and wants to move in with Sue.
The theater's roof is leaking and rain is predicted for performance night.
Internal-- Sue's need to be part of a group and be loved makes it hard for her to take charge and say no.

7. How will the protagonist grow because of confronting these obstacles?
When she has to fire the drunken Hamlet and replace him with a young inexperienced understudy, she learns to trust her judgment, assert her authority, and risk alienating her fellows. That is, she becomes a leader.

8. What do you want to happen at the end of the book?
I want the production to be successful despite some last-minute problems, and I want her to accept her position as leader.

9. What will have to happen to the protagonist against his/her will to make your ending come about?
Sue will have to get the courage to fire the popular Hamlet actor and still use her people skills to rally the shocked cast. She'll also have to inspire the understudy to a great performance.

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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Kickoff Party and Official Calendar?

yeff — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 08:02:18 -0700

~or~
Would our Municipal Liaisons enter and sign in please?

When I have done this in previous years we've had a kick off party, some place with plenty of room where we can get as many NaNos in as possible for introductions and a bit of writing time. It is fortuitous that November 1st falls on a Saturday so we all can get a head start on our wordcount and it'd be nice to have company.

Also I was noticing that we have this spiffy Official Calendar thing that doesn't yet have events on it, though I know there are a number of events planned. I'd love to see that calendar filled up, not only with officially sanctioned, liaison-planned events, but with every event in the area because we are spread wide about this grand state and need company desperately as our loved ones shun us and our employers eye us warily questioning our sanity.

Thank you retroactively for volunteering for the post and thank you in advance for complying with my whims,
yeff
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Participant Blogs

yeff — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:28:38 -0700

I thought it would be a good idea to have people post their blogs to share with other participants.
I'd like to get you all in one big Google Reader folder so I can get a feel for the zeitgeist of the MN NaNo community.
Also if anyone is blogging their story as they go that would be cool.
I will be blogging at
http://drwicked.com
Post your blog below!
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

NaNoteers Sound Off! (Introduce Yourself...)

CallipygianKing — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:36:50 -0700

Okay, being as we're a month out, perhaps we should introduce (or reintroduce) ourselves before the month gets going, for the benefit of the newbies and those who don't lurk around here all year.

Starting off... I'm Matt. I used to teach, now I'm staying at home to raise my daughter for the moment. That may change, as my wife is shouldering pretty much all the financial responsibilities at the moment, so if you know of some worthwhile employment that allows us to continue to have a parent at home to raise our child I'd like that info. This will be my 7th NaNoWriMo, and hopefully it will be my 4th successful one, and I used to be the ML in St. Cloud. That's a little tough to do since I now live in Hopkins, so you'll probably find me camping out at Munkabeans (now called, I think, the Bhakti Cafe) on Main Street, the Caribou at Hwy 7 and Hopkins Crossroad, or the Depot Coffee Shop. If I get adventurous I'll take the bus into Minneapolis for the Blue Moon (and a stop at Merlin's Rest before making my way home). I highly endorse participation in the Twin Cities NaNo Tour going on November 15th & 16th, and my goal of winning this year may be thwarted by the constant distraction of participating on these forums.

Additionally, I like playing the mellophone with Chops, Inc. Drum & Bugle Corps, cooking, KVSC Trivia Weekend, and long, romantic walks on the beach.
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Why I love write-ins:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7263466382698839005

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

I can't decide

robinejm — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:42:49 -0700

I've been planning my novel for a couple of months now, but suddenly a minor character from my 2003 novel wants his story told. I told him to go away for awhile and that I would get back to him. I thought I was OK to just go with the original idea, but he's back again. What do I do?
Good reasons to do the original 2008 plan--1. It's totally different from anything I've ever done. 2. I have pages of notes and character profile info.
Good reasons to do the story of the 2003 minor character--1. I know him, his world, several other characters and a few events. 2. I'm really interested in his story.

I can't decide. Anyone else in the "can't decide" boat or has everyone either made a firm decision or commited to not planning?
Jeannine
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

NaNoWriMo MN Facebook group.

yeff — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:44:40 -0700

I created a Facebook group for NaNoWriMos in Minnesota so we can post pictures of write-ins and links to helpful and non-distracting sites and stay connected to encourage each other through November and beyond.
Go to:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43269998984
Or do a group search for NaNoWriMo Minnesota.
If anyone would like an officer title, like "Head Picture Taker" or "Awesomeness Coordinator", let me know.
Join today!
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

North West Suburbs, anybody?

SolidOwnage — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 17:22:06 -0700

Hey there folks. So who here is from around the Maple Grove/New Hope/Plymouth/Crystal/Robbinsdale area? I noticed we're kinda far out for some of the write ins, so organizing something up here would be kind of awesome =D Never participated before (I'm pretty shy.) But I'm getting a feeling group writing would make me write more. (I'm only 1 for 3 in my past 3 years =()

So, hollar!
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

How do you plan for NaNoWriMo?

robinejm — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:39:48 -0700

This forum thing is addicting. Already I'm on my 3rd post.

Anyway...
As you may have noticed in the MnNaNo thread, we are talking about "planning" at our next meeting. If you can't come, could you share some ideas with me so that I can share them at the meeting?

1. What do you do to plan for the actual writing? Outlines, chapter summaries, character profiles?

2. What writing supplies do you buy? (This answer should be things like pens, new notebook, etc. Answers regarding food and beverages should be under question number 4.)

3. How do you plan to minimize social, work, family commitments during November so that you have more time to write?

3a. Have you ever hired people to take care of house cleaning, cooking, or even parts of your job during November?

4. What do you stock your fridge, freezer, and cupboards with to get through the month? (I tried to write this--With what do you stock--but it just sounded so stuffy even though I know that it is better grammar.)

5. How else do you plan for this crazy adventure?

I'm excited to see what you have to share.

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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Target HQ People?

darkwolf58 — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 20:46:24 -0700

There's about a zillion people in the downtown office. Somebody else has to be doing NaNo. Right? I think it would be fun to do mini write ins over lunch.
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Titles!

buppyspek — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 11:10:28 -0700

Since we're not actually allowed to start writing yet, we can at least start planning. And for me, planning includes a title.

For my vampire novel this year, I have 3 possible titles to work from:

"Midnight Blue," where "Blue" is the name of my main character
"The Sun Never Shines at Midnight," if I"m going for word count
or
"Vampires Don't Have to go to the Bathroom," if I just want to be silly.

So, how about you? What titles have you thought about for this year's adventure?
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wordcount widgets

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

University Folk?

LeuMasT — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 15:44:52 -0700

Hello comrades. My name is Samuel Thompson and I'm a physics major here at the U, planning on trainwrecking my November by taking IT classes and writing a book simultanenously. I figure between fifty thousand collegiate ne'er-do-wells there must be other warriors up to the challenge.

Who else here is at the U of M, and what do you study?

What are you planning on writing?

What's a good place to work on NaNo near campus?

When should there be a meeting? Maybe some pre-NaNo excitement?
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

roseville, anyone?

Aubrey Black — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 15:19:56 -0700

so, in an attempt to be more active both on the forums and in the nano community this year, i've decided that i need to find out who all is either in or around the roseville area. anyone? :)

it'd be nice to have write-ins around here that are easier/closer to get to, although it's not really an issue for me to get down to the other write-in places people have mentioned.
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Anybody from the East Side?

SynapticJam — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 06:28:01 -0700

I'm trying to scope out who might be available for write-ins on the eastern side of the cities. Although I work in Edina, I live way over in Cottage Grove. Trips to NE Mpls are just a wee bit tougher for the likes of me, and I am looking for alternatives a little closer to home. Sound off!
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SynapticJam - Hhhmmm... Tastes just like chicken!

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

2008 TWIN CITIES NANOWRIMO WRITING TOUR!!!!

CallipygianKing — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:28:35 -0700

Okay, since this was such a blast to do last year, I'm putting together the 2008 Twin Cities NaNoWriMo Writing Tour from 10am on Saturday, November 15 to 2pm on Sunday, November 16 (provided that there are no objections from the MLs for my being so presumptuous as to organize an event without them). Learning from lessons last year (my lack of any true understanding of the bus system plus not realizing that despite the fact that the MOA opens at 10am, the stores don't actually open until 11), there's a few minor tweaks to the route:

-The start is at the Depot in Hopkins again. It was fun last year, and maybe the yo-yo club will show up again.
http://www.thedepotcoffeehouse.com/

-The next stop will not be in Robbinsdale (it seemed to be the least popular and most out of the way for the tour). Does anyone know anything about Uncommon Grounds in Uptown? Is their wifi? Would they be NaNo friendly? I'll try and check it out if nobody else has. But route 12 runs straight up Excelsior from the Depot to Uptown, and I find old Victorian houses transformed into coffeehouses irresistible.
http://www.uncommongroundscoffeehouse.com/

-Stop 3 will be the Blue Moon again. Loved it last year. Especially loved its proximity to the writing break in the next stop, which was...
http://www.drinkbluemoon.com/

-Merlin's Rest Pub! A tasty treat mid-tour.
http://merlinsrest.com/

-Overnighting at the Perkin's on University in St. Paul seemed all right last year. So, we'll do it again.

-We get an extra hour at Nina's in the morning. Something about the last stop not opening until an hour later than we originally thought.

-Arriving at the MOA an hour later means staying an hour later. So the tour ends at 2 instead of 1, and we'll finish at the Barnes & Noble Cafe, surrounded by the works of successful authors as inspiration.

That's the plan so far. Anyone have any major objections to the minor changes? Should we change things completely and have a North-South route instead this year? I definitely want to get this thing set and get a flyer made well before November 1 so that we don't have to worry about the logistics of the tour while we're trying to write. And maybe this year we'll warn these places that we're coming, and maybe some of them would be willing to welcome us in or advertise NaNo for us. Who knows?

I'll keep y'all updated. And you can disregard the previous thread started that happened to have the wrong year. Perhaps our wonderful MLs could just sweep that under the rug for me?
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Why I love write-ins:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7263466382698839005

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Writing groups!

Caitedid — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:06:15 -0700

Anybody else up for some early morning or evening groups either at the Birchwood Cafe or in the Global Market? Would like to get going pre-NaNo just to get back in the swing of things, to give it a better chance of winning this year in spite of many other massive commitments...
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High-wire walking is not a solution to the problem of balance.-Philippe Petit

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

The week two pitch meeting

expatrie — Tue, 7 Oct 2008 08:09:16 -0700

If you've got No Plot No Problem, there is a part where it describes getting "stuck" and doing a pitch meeting where you explain the characters and a rough story so far and ask for suggestions.

We are proposing having that on Monday, November 10, at Corner Coffee. This is not exactly a regular meeting of the MnNaNo group but some of us will be there for the mayhem. If you get stuck and want help or suggestions that you may or may not use, like, or even consider for a second, please come. If you have the suit and briefcase you get a bonus point non-redemable for anything, anywhere, ever.

- Brian.

Oh, and if there's a local ML, this should totally be an event organized cross-country / planetwide in every region, not just we Minneapolis forward thinkers./

And it comes before the Tour, so if you're stuck before the Tour, you can still get something out of the Tour.

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JanNoWriMo07 - Still Waters Run Deep - >70,000 won (didn't know there was a group!)
AugNoWriMo07 - The Wreck of the Day ->50,000 won (over on Proboards)
NaNoWriMo07 - Fever ->65,670 won.

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Calendar

SynapticJam — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 12:58:30 -0700

Okay, how do you post things to the calendar and which items are appropriate for addition to it? For example, I'm thinking about working on my Novel plot up in woodbury probably tonight or tomorrow night for a couple of hours and would like to invite all comers who want to gather... would that be appropriate?
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SynapticJam - Hhhmmm... Tastes just like chicken!

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

MnNaNo--Oct. 6, Coffee Corner, 7PM

robinejm — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:24:49 -0700

The writing group that grew out of last year's NaNoWriMo is meeting Oct. 6. In addition to the usual writing critiques, we will be discussing--Planning for National Novel Writing Month. Expatrie may be posting more info later.
Jeannine
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United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Prime Writing Places

moodswing — Sat, 4 Oct 2008 16:36:48 -0700

So, I've seen some places listed in threads here already.. but since I'm still relatively new to the area, I thought I'd ask here.

I'm gonna be working till at least 9pm Sunday thru Thursday and am more than comfortable to come home and write, but sometimes I just need that public place vibe. People watching, yknow? In Florida I used to go to my neighborhood Denny's all the time, but being in NE MPLS, I don't know there's one even near me. I know about Dunn Bros and I know about Diamonds on Central, definitely love Diamonds, but I don't know that any of these places are open late enough for me. I'm hoping to get writing done in the morning since I don't work until 12:30, but I'm sure we all know how that usually goes. Any suggestions for prime time late night writing time?

Thanks!
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--RSA
('08 nano blog)

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

I'm the first to besmirch the Twin Cities forum!

CallipygianKing — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:04:19 -0700

Yes! Revel in this, the first stain upon the freshly wiped forum! MWAHAHAHAHA!

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Why I love write-ins:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7263466382698839005

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

2009 TWIN CITIES NANO WRITING TOUR!!!!!!

CallipygianKing — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:48:04 -0700

Okay, since this was such a blast to do last year, I'm putting together the 2009 Twin Cities NaNoWriMo Writing Tour from 10am on Saturday, November 15 to 2pm on Sunday, November 16 (provided that there are no objections from the MLs for my being so presumptuous as to organize an event without them). Learning from lessons last year (my lack of any true understanding of the bus system plus not realizing that despite the fact that the MOA opens at 10am, the stores don't actually open until 11), there's a few minor tweaks to the route:

-The start is at the Depot in Hopkins again. It was fun last year, and maybe the yo-yo club will show up again.
http://www.thedepotcoffeehouse.com/

-Stop 3 will be the Blue Moon again. Loved it last year. Especially loved its proximity to the writing break in the next stop, which was...
http://www.drinkbluemoon.com/

-Merlin's Rest Pub! A tasty treat mid-tour.
http://merlinsrest.com/

-Overnighting at the Perkin's on University in St. Paul seemed all right last year. So, we'll do it again.

-We get an extra hour at Nina's in the morning. Something about the last stop not opening until an hour later than we originally thought.

I'll keep y'all updated.
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Why I love write-ins:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7263466382698839005

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Write-Ins

BenPanced — Thu, 2 Oct 2008 16:43:20 -0700

Last year, we had two scheduled for Thursday nights. One was at Nina's and the other at the Coffee Gallery at Open Book. I was thinking about having the Nina's one on a different night, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, to help encourage write-in participation. Would that be too much? Not enough?
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2004 - But I Never Said I Didn't Love You! - WIN
2005 - I've Told You That I Love You, Haven't I? - WIN
2006 - Forever Isn't Long Enough - WIN
2007 - The Gay Man's Guide To Love, Cat Ownership, and Other Mysteries - WIN

United States :: Minnesota :: Twin Cities

Greetings,

SynapticJam — Mon, 6 Oct 2008 06:24:07 -0700

My name is James - aka SynapticJam and this is my very first time! Newbie alert! Woot! Looking forward to giving this a shot... I work full time and have four children, so it'll definitely be a challenge... I think the hardest part for me is trying to figure out how much story will make all those words possible... I've written short fiction in the past, but this is ever so much larger... And grander. And just plain gargantuan!
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SynapticJam - Hhhmmm... Tastes just like chicken!