Well it's nearly time. I had an epiphany yesterday morning and dropped my first idea that I could not get any traction on. I've decided to go with a mystery theme and have a rough plot outline that feels like I can work with. using bhall's advise I'm working on an outline to break it down to rough 500 word sections, so there is a glimmer of hope!!! I'm going to work on sketching out character profiles Saturday, (I'm off from both jobs for a change). I'll go to B&N for a while and just sit down and create my protagonist and the victim profiles. that should get me a little closer to being ready to start.
How is everyone else in the region doing???
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50,770 / 50,000
Okt 25, 2007 - 07 01
It's not exactly my idea. It's from the author of The Hal Spacejock Series. I came across his book on Amazon.com and saw that on the page and followed the links back to his blog.
But still, it's a good idea. I just bought eight books last night off amazon (not his but it's in my wish list)...and now have to worry through november before I can read them...unless I steal a chapter or two of reading time between writing.
50,834 / 50,000
Okt 25, 2007 - 07 09
Well good luck, and I have two books I need to steal some time to read this month also. that may be one of those things that I try if frustration sets in. And thanks for the advice about braking the task into 500 word blocks. I was looking at trying to sit down and force out 2000 words at a sitting. Somehow just doing the 500 word blocks sounds easier. I'm practicing writing 500 word blocks, then stopping now just to get a feel for it. Luckily I have to write some technical manuals this week, so I have something to attack. Being off topic, it should not rob my thought stream for next week.
50,770 / 50,000
Okt 25, 2007 - 10 21
I've done a frew 'writing exercies' too. Nothing that has to do with what I'm gonna write, mainly because I'm not sure yet. I've done a few different things, trying them from different POVs trying to decide which feels the best.
All I can be sure of is that, at the moment, it's not first person. lol
54,632 / 50,000
Okt 31, 2007 - 03 51
I have a rough idea of plot. My main character is fixed in my head pretty well, and I can see some of the things she might do, but I'm still working out the catalyst, conflict, and other characters. So far, she's wandering around in my head talking to herself. The biggest thing I have to avoid is to turn her into the character from another book I've been working on a while. I'm in love with that character and she's getting impatient, trying to work her way into everything I write.
50,834 / 50,000
Okt 31, 2007 - 06 25
To all on this chain, Good Luck, Sixteen hours to go and then it begins. I'm planning on taking a nap after the trick or treaters stop coming around tonight, then at 12:01 I'm going to start, Not sure if I will write for very long, but I just want to begin at the beginning so to speak.
To everyone that has responded, thanks! The camaraderie is encouraging. Hopefully we keep it up all month and beyond. If you get stuck for ideas, give a shout out so that the rest of us can toss out idea for you that hopefully take seed and help kick things in gear for you.
And even if you get really far behind, don't give up. Just keeping going until the end of the month can be considered a victory.
Hope to hear from everyone soon. I'll be posting as well.
24,258 / 50,000
Nov 17, 2007 - 13 14
I got 3,000 words in the last 12 hours. Whoo Hoo! Progress...
If only I had been able to do this all month I might actually be on schedule to finish. But at the same time, as I'm working on the second novel in a series that my wfie and some others think might eventually be my ticket to finding a publisher/agent, I don't want to rush it too much.
Next year I'll just start typing something completely unscripted and unrelated to my other projects. I know the writing could go faster that way. Right now I have to keep stopping and going back to verify consistency in the characters,peoples, and settings created in the first novel. And writing without editing is tough for me...
All the same I'm ahead of my usual schedule I try to stick to of 5k/week when writing a novel. If nothing else, by the end of the month, because of all the encouragement, I'll have a good jump-start on this one.
Best of luck to the rest of you.