NaNoWriMo

[jackofallgeeks]

So I've wanted to write this story of mine for years. In truth, I have no fewer than two stories I want to write; the one kind of spun off from the other and they've since evolved, each unstarted let alone unfinished, into rather different entities. and never mind the host of characters and settings I've brought forth in my Snippets.

(And, in fact, the story I'm currently toying with is looking like it's going to branch into a trilogy.)

My problem is two-fold. The first is the simplest to fix: I can't get started. I can't figure out how to begin the story, or where to begin it. This is in part because of the bigger problem: I don't know how to get it where I want it to go. I don't know how to get the characters I have to be in the place where I need them to be.

Anyways. I bring all this up because ready or not, I'm writing the story next month for NaNoWriMo. I was actually just going to do it unofficially, but when Leslie suggested I sign up, I figured why not?

It was my plan to say something like, "you guys should all do this, too," mostly 'cause I'm looking for a writing group type thing. But as very few of you are local enough to meet me at Starbucks, I'm not entirely sure how effective that could be. Still, I will say that it'd be nice if some (or all) of you played along with me, either officially in NaNoWriMo or not. I know at least one of my friends completed the 50,000 words in 30 days a few years ago (though she never did let me see the piece she ended up with); so I know it can be done.

I think I'm just rambling now. I'm really excited to write, but I'm also really scared of it not going anywhere. A part of me wants to just take some of the other characters I've created for my Snippets and write a completely fresh, un-thought story for them; but a bigger part of me *really* wants to write this story, too. Not even 'too'; there's really no other story I *want* to write.

But anyways. Yes. I need chocolate.

Comments

[ambereternal.livejournal.com]

I think I am going to attempt NaNoWriMo with you. I have an idea for a children's book (of all things) that just won't get out of my head. Maybe if I can force it on to paper it will finally leave me alone. Perhaps we can chat more about this. :-)

Also, expect a package at your parent's house this weekend. :-)

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

That would be very awesome. I'm really psyched about this whole novelling thing. Right now, I kind of want to make it a regular hobby-type thing. You know, come home from work, Novel a bit, have dinner, play Guild Wars... I've got so many ideas, and with the prospect of actually writing them, I keep getting more. just this morning I've worked out a few snags that i had last night. and there's a piece of advice (figure out what it is you do and don't like when you READ stories and hold to those when you write them) that I think will offer me solutions to other problems as well. i'm really, really excited. Like, really.

And this is only one (or three?) of the story ideas that I have!

[ambereternal.livejournal.com]

You'll start seeing some of the poems I've written appear in my journal, (I'm posting one today.), followed by some newer ones, and then maybe short stories. I haven't really written since July, so I need to get myself "warmed up," if you will. But I did register today, and I'm going to start working on the outline for my novella. I'm not sure I'll make it to 50,000 words, but I'll do my darndest. :-)

I'm actually really excited.

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

I'm excited, too. Like, really. In my state of euphoria, I feel like I easily have enough material here for three (or more!) 50,000 word novels (not novella; that's such a dirty word). 'Course, I guess check with me after the first couple weeks to see if my tune's changed to more of a dirge (which might be more apropriate for my style, anyways). I always want to write more. Always. And I'm thinking this is a good thing for me.

I should go register.

[mmeubiquitous.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of the organic approach to fiction...just start writing and let the story unfold without trying to steer it in any particular direction. It will go in some directions you expect, but it will also go in directions you don't expect. And that's ok. Just let go and write. And don't worry whether it's good or not...first drafts suck. That's why they're first drafts. Just write.

I'll be doing NaNoWriMo too...hopefully I'll actually get through it this year!

[jackofallgeeks.livejournal.com]

I'm planning on doing something like a "NaNoWriMo Updates" series here on LJ, with the intent of sharing my experience with the world (or at least my small subset thereof). I'd be interested in hearing how other people are doing, too. I'm not sure that I'll actually have anything substantial about my story in them, mostly because I've found it's taboo (and bad creatively, for me) to actually talk about a story before it's been written.

[ofthelily.livejournal.com]

Oh yes it can be done *^^* One can even make a suit of armor while writing all of those words!

Basically all I did was set a certain word goal for each week and did whatever it took to get to it, which was both good and bad cause I started justifying not sleeping to get everything I wanted done in time, um don't go to that extreme *^^*

I think it is a lot of fun and worth it if you really want to force yourself to get an idea you have been thinking about started.

In Media Res

[bsgnome.livejournal.com]

If there's a particular place where you want to get the story to, one thing you can do--the most versatile literary tool ever--is to start in media res, and then build it up from around that point. Each of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid started in media res, as do the movies The Usual Suspects and Pulp Fiction, among many, many other fine examples.