November 1, 2005
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It's November 1.
To my surprise I've signed up for the National Novel Writing Month
event, wherein people from all over the world do their doggonedest to
write a 50,000 word book between today and 11:59 pm on November 30.Okay, now I need a plot. And characters. Characters would be good.
Hmmmm...............
Comments (19)
Hey, you're in the same boat as me. I can't possibly not enter NaNoWriMo, but I have no hope whatsoever of finishing.
Hooray for lost causes!
Write what you know. From what I've seen on your blog, your family has all sort of characters in it. Not to mention your Internet friends!
I'm currently writing about a woman adopting from Russia, but this is subject to change....as you say, Valerie, there are plenty of characters I know IRL and on the net who'd fit fine in the pages of a book, so might switch gears.
Kurt, this is so cool! I didn't know you participated. Or did I?
Terrible thing, my memory. Simply dreadful.
This will be the third year that I fail at NaNoWriMo, but I don't think I've mentioned it before. I never write about anything realistic.
WOO HOO this is my fifth year, welcome to the insanity, it's addicting
I am going to FINISH again this year (did the first two years, not the next two - this is my tie breaker).
But I don't know what to write about.
This is maddening. Wrote 300 or so words then realized I had no idea where I was going after that.
I don't suppose writing 500 words of the first chapter of 100 potential novels counts, does it?
If you get stuck, throw in ninjas and explosions and run with it.
Nothing like ninjas and explosions to perk up a story, that's true.
That'd work. Once your heroine adopts her Russian boy, you can devote long chapters to his exploits in the world of video games. A perfectly natural intro to the ninjas and explosions!
So what is it about this that motivates a person to write a novel? I'd assume that if a person actually had a novel inside him, it'd come out even without the Nanoo-Whateveritis.
Are you kidding? You know all these complete family units across the United States, and a little bit about what they do. There's a basis! The creative writer in you can fill in what you think they do. There's the rest. Phillip has 2 Ls in it, if it's spelled properly!
I think that there's a lot of truth in that "1% Inspiration, 99% Perspiration" saying. NaNoWriMo is not necessarily supposed to generate the great American novel. Its an exercise in discipline and forcing you to simply write, write, write. Most participants will generally agree that they're generating pretty bad writing (I know that I do!), but come out better in the end nonetheless.
Plus, some of the NaNoWriMo books actually do get published!
Mine, however, assuming it ever gets a toehold (I've got two first chapters, both of which are fit only for the dustbin), will not be of that august company. Count on it.
Gonna share your writing with your Xanga friends?
You go first.
I've yet to lay prose for this year's NaNo (hopefully I'll get a little time tonight), but you can read last year's, starting here. Please don't think less of me once you're done.
Betcha didn't think I'd ante up. Your turn.
Mercy Maud, Kurt, how you can dream that sort of stuff up absolutely makes me green with envy! "Mountains of Impasse", eh?
I'm at the foot of that range now, and staring straight up.
Anyway, that was terrific! Is this year's going to be along the same lines?
This year's will probably be some kind of supernatural mystery, with plenty of action tossed in. Or something. Me, my muse and a pot of coffee will be hashing out details tonight. If I get some words down, I'll share.
Like I said, turn a deaf ear to the Inner Critic, and just write. My novel starts with a character who walked away and isn't coming back. I think. But I'm not starting over without him. He's in there, and he's worth a few hundred words, even though he's gonzo. I barely even named him.
Awkward sentences? yes. Stupid, dull dialogue? You betcha. Especially today's batch of words. sheesh. Read an excerpt at NaNoWriMo under my profile. bunsofaluminum.
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