NaNoWriMo 2012 discussion
NaNoWriMo 2012
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Reading and NaNoWriMo - Writing Books, Fiction, or...?
I did some research on late 16th century merchants... does that count? :D
Kris wrote: "I did some research on late 16th century merchants... does that count? :D"Wow! I'd say that definitely counts ;) Not to mention, interesting! :D Is your novel set in the 16th Century?
Well mostly.. umm yeah with a few twists. I'm a medieval/Renaissance geek, so I write urban fantasy medieval style..This is what I have up at NaNo:
What does late 16th century France, a modern Northwest Indian wizard and an ancient flying God have in common? Darned if I know but we're about to find out when Dorian "Kit" (last name uncertain at this point) takes a walk down the Wizard's Path and ends up in late 16th century France just in time for someone playing a dangerous game to awaken one of the "Great Old One's"
The thing was huge, winged and made of bones. Light shimmered between the bones of its bat-like wings as if a highly trnslucent material were stretched there. A vaguely reptilian skull with long curved fangs swung back and forth on a serpetine neck of fragile looking bones. Foot bones ended in sharp talons that looked able to disembowl an ox with one swipe.
"A Great Old One," my companion breathed out in a voice filled with admiration and wonder.
"How do you kill something like that?" I asked looking from the skeleton to the bow in my companion's hand.
"Well that's the thing," he said softly, pushing me back deeper into the shadows of the doorway. "You don't, kill it, that is, he has lived so long and has so much power that he is on the other side of death. That's why he's called a Great OLD One."
Wow, that is such a brilliant idea! Mixing up history with fantasy is so interesting :D I can see why you'd need to do research. But it'd be fun research because you're already into it, so that's a plus! Your excerpt has me wanting to read more... :)
Thanks!Urban fantasy seems to be my chosen genre. I can write a historical novel with magic in it!My novel 2 years ago was a Ghost Story in Cambridge England in 1911 involving an exorcist and an elf!
That sounds awesome Kris! :)To answer the original questions, I keep reading whatever novel I'm reading when NaNo starts, or just pick up whatever I feel like. I always read before I go to bed a night, and even NaNo doesn't stop that.
However, most of what I read is fantasy/horror, and that's also generally what I write, so I guess it kinda helps.
Last year was my first NaNo, and I had NO plot at all (I'd only decided to do it at about 6pm November 1 :P), and when I was stumped for a bad guy, I picked vampires, because I was reading Dracula at the time... I also, when re-reading, foud a few passages that sounded very 18th century (I was doing a Gothic Lic course at the time, and reading a bit from that era)...
Is Chris Baty's 'No Plot? No Problem!' good? I've been thinking about buying it... (sorry this post got really long)
I'm writing fiction and it's the prequel to last year's effort which is being published in January so I don't need to research anything. I just have to get my bum on the chair for the whole month. The plot is roughed out.
Hayley wrote: "Is Chris Baty's 'No Plot? No Problem!' good? I've been thinking about buying it... (sorry this post got really long) "I really love it! I bought it a couple of years ago, and the first year that I read it through Oct/Nov was the first year I got to 50k :) I mean, it's got a lot of the advice that we can probably get on the NaNo forums and stuff, but I just really love Chris Baty, the way he writes is hilarious :D And I think if you buy it from the OLL store, you get a signed copy? At least, that's what they did when I bought it :)
And I love Dracula! I'm actually including it in my postgrad research that I'm doing on the Gothic! :D *high-fives* Fantasy/horror sounds awesome.
A friend gave me the whole No Plot No Problem Kit. It gives good advice for those starting in Nano. They have an envelope only quitters are supposed to open. So I guess I will never see what it has inside!
Molly wrote: "A friend gave me the whole No Plot No Problem Kit. It gives good advice for those starting in Nano. They have an envelope only quitters are supposed to open. So I guess I will never see what it ..."Ooooh, that kit looks awesome! What else does it come with, besides the book? :)
I'm trying to improve my outlining skills overall, so I've been reading Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland for the last week. I'm actually getting some good notes written down, if that will translate into words during NaNo - I haven't a clue.As for No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days, that's how I got hooked on Nano many years ago.
Nice, Deb! I've heard of the Outlining book, it looks really interesting! Does it walk you through steps or exercises or something? :) I'm sure it will definitely help you out somehow for NaNo!!
Ohhh, and I've just remembered OLL's other book: Ready, Set, Novel!: A Workbook.http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...
It's packed full of awesome writing exercises to help you get to know your characters better, do a bit of plot and setting brainstorming, and just generally build up to NaNoWriMo. The only thing is... I can't bring myself to write in it, because I know I'll want to do the exercises again for future NaNos - so I'm going to do them in a separate notebook for now ;)
I just heard about NaNoWriMo a few hours ago and now I am obsessed! As a 30-something book nerd I have always wanted to write a novel. The universe has been kicking me in the pants all year and with this latest suggestion from a friend, I think the universe has just double-dogged dared me! But my turning point to move forward with writing ANYTHING was at San Diego Comic Con this past July when I met the Winner Twins. They published their first novel at age 12, and at 17 years old they are working on their 4th--REALLY??? What is stopping me? So I have an idea of a sci-fi series that I just started seriously researching yesterday. I have an overall storyline but need to outline each individual book prior to November 1st. Now NaNoWrimo hits me today?? This will be my year! I am so happy to be joining all of you who have tried this before. Good luck and good ideas to all!For reference, here is a link to these amazing girls and how they now teach creative writing to middle schoolers.
http://www.winnertwins.com/index.shtml
Deb, the Word Muse wrote: "I'm trying to improve my outlining skills overall, so I've been reading Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland for the last week. I'm actually getting some good notes written..."I just ordered my copy of this book! I'm looking forward to reading it; I usually do outlines for my stories (save for the one I wrote for last June's CampNaNoWriMo) and it should be interesting to see if it'll help me with the note-taking process this time around.
I'm not sure if I'll re-read No Plot? No Problem! before this event; I did for Camp NaNoWriMo but we'll see.
For my book I need to read some on orphanages in the early 1900's and find the history behind the orphan trains. It will be fictional characters with some history thrown in. This is the first time I have ever done anything like this so I am definitely inexperienced.
Hmmm, this talk of the Outlining Your Novel book makes me feel guilty that I haven't even started planning yet... xD Usually I am a least a little prepared by this point! Ah well, I suppose there's a first time for pansting it... although I do write better with a plan, so I think I'll have to get into it before November :P
I'm a total "by the seat of your pants" writer. Even if I tried to outline things my characters would say "Like HELL am I doing that or saying that? Were you smoking crack when you wrote that woman? I'm going WHERE? I don't THINK so!" Easier on us both if I just go with it :D
I actually try not to read anything during NaNo. I tend to get really into books when I'm reading them, and it would probably distract me from the world I'm trying to create myself, not to mention probably unintentionally heavily influence how/what I was writing...
I'm writing epic fantasy with a Middle Eastern / South Asian setting, and I am reading books set in the appropriate countries - I'm even reading a cookbook. So at least I will know how to feed myself during November ;).
SilverRaindrops wrote: "I'm writing epic fantasy with a Middle Eastern / South Asian setting, and I am reading books set in the appropriate countries - I'm even reading a cookbook. So at least I will know how to feed myself during November ;)..."I was living in a student house this time last year, so there were lost of midnight over-chip snacks... back at home with my folks this year, so hopefully I'll eat a little better :P
Hannah wrote: "I actually try not to read anything during NaNo. I tend to get really into books when I'm reading them, and it would probably distract me from the world I'm trying to create myself, not to mention ..."I'm the same!! Also with a tv show or film fandom too actually, I just get so INTO things, so into the characters. It's hard for me to focus on one 'fictional world' at a time. It's great usually, because it means all I think about it this particular fandom, but it sucks when I'm trying to work on my OWN stuff, because I still obviously want to read or watch tv :P Guess I need to learn how to switch my brain between them! I think I'd be alright with a book or show that I'm interested by, but not obsessed by, but I never can tell when obsession will strike... hahaa. But I'm glad I'm not alone, anyways ;)
Briony wrote: "I'm the same!! Also with a tv show or film fandom too actually, I just get so INTO things, so into the characters."I tend to still watch some movies and shows (usually anime, and only if I have the time!!) because when I am in a particularly literary mood, I will just think about how I would write those scenes in my head, and sometimes it can help to write descriptions of scenes (particularly action scenes) that 'come to life' more. That said, I am a lot more fanatical about books than I am about tv and movies, so maybe that's why I don't quite have that problem like you do! =P
Kris wrote: "Well mostly.. umm yeah with a few twists. I'm a medieval/Renaissance geek, so I write urban fantasy medieval style..This is what I have up at NaNo:
What does late 16th century France, a modern N..."
I want to read your book. Can I find it somewhere?
If you the excerpt posted above^ that has yet to be written. The excerpt came from a dream I had one morning, got up hurriedly wrote that bit and theought "YES! I have my NaNo for this year!"
Kris wrote: "If you the excerpt posted above^ that has yet to be written. The excerpt came from a dream I had one morning, got up hurriedly wrote that bit and theought "YES! I have my NaNo for this year!""You said you had one from 2 years ago too.
Everything is located here: http://tamashitoshiro.insanejournal.com/Be warned most of my stuff has male/male sex in it. Ghost Story has UST but no actual nooky.
Sweet! (I mean the accessibility, because that's as far as I've gotten.)
hmm. Last year, I just read and reread my outline over and over. It helped me know my story so well I could just write without having to think about it. Also, I found a couple of good albums to listen to, and turned on the brainjuice. I felt like reading something else would actually distract me. This year, I want to read God's Demon again, but I should probably wait until after nano (so Barlowe doesn't affect me with his own plot bunnies...)
I was all excited about NaNo and spent all this time thinking about what happens in the story, the characters, all that stuff. And now I'm getting the urge to write a totally different story in a totally different genre, for a totally different audience, only problem is I have no clue what happens or anything about any of the characters. I'm practically ready to bag the whole thing before it's even begun! Is anyone else wanting to do this really badly but also really conflicted? I feel a bit whacked. Would be nice to have a few partners out there. Well, not really because I don't wish this on anyone, but you know what I mean.
@Laura: that happened to me in August, doing the camp. The advice i can give you is follow your gut. If your brain has another story to tell, you need to focus in that.you're not the 1st one to feel this way and I can assure you won't be the last.
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For the first time I've been outplotting a LOT more than I usually do. I'm panster so.. It's weird in me that I've figured out so many details already. I hope this truly help me in my writing.
I hope it helps you too, Mare. And thanks for the advice. My gut keeps changing from the fiction story that's an adult/YA crossover to the fantasy for middle grades to not doing it at all. It can't decide. This is what Libras do. The scale goes up, it goes down.
Have you guys seen this? http://www.writeaboutdragons.com/home...
It's Brandon Sanderson's lectures at BYU - he teaches creative writing. These are so good, and totally free. I completely love him, he has such a fantastic personality. I hope you all enjoy them.
Anyway he talks about the difference between an outliner and a discovery writer - I used to be a pure discovery writer. I'm wondering if writing out the character sketches is what threw me off my original story.
It just seems like sitting down at the keyboard and needing to write 50,000 words??? I can't imagine doing that with absolutely nothing but an idea in mind.
Have any of you done that - just gone in totally cold with an idea and won NaNo?
T'would be a novelty to NOT have plot bunnies hopping arouns all the time...
I'm glad you're moving along, Sara. Were all of your short stories related in some way? I actually thought about doing something like that also.
Laura wrote: "Have any of you done that - just gone in totally cold with an idea and won NaNo?"Yeeeeppppp. November 15th I started my NaNo last year, without even an idea. I wrote about half a page before I realised it just wouldn't work, I needed at least an idea. Then it took me about a week to figure out an idea, so I had just a week to write the 50,000 words! It worked, though. There are definitely plot holes, since I didn't know where it was going to end when I started, but altogether reasonably coherent.
Laura wrote: "Have any of you done that - just gone in totally cold with an idea and won NaNo?."Yup. At 6pm, November 1 last year, I simulatenously learnt what NaNo was, and decided I wanted to do it. All I had was this image of a teenage girl standing on a windy beach, talking to her dead twin sister. The rest I totally made up as I went along - and somehow I wrote a 51,000 word story!! There are a LOT of plot holes and so many typos... but it has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and I only forgot some of the characters name half way through... :P
(And then I was enjoying it so much, and bullied Hannah (above) into doing it with me...)
With my abrupt change of course this year I think it is going to be "seat of the pants" for me this year. No matter - if it's meant, it will come out.
Sara wrote: "I planned a lil bit after nanowrimo actually started; I mean, I was content just with the short stories and then decided I wanted them to be related, so I made it so every story had a girl named ..."
That was a clever way of doing it!
Hannah wrote: "Laura wrote: "Have any of you done that - just gone in totally cold with an idea and won NaNo?"Yeeeeppppp. November 15th I started my NaNo last year, without even an idea. I wrote about half a pa..."
That's amazing. I can't imagine writing that many words in a week. You must work well under pressure lol.
Hayley wrote: "Laura wrote: "Have any of you done that - just gone in totally cold with an idea and won NaNo?."Yup. At 6pm, November 1 last year, I simulatenously learnt what NaNo was, and decided I wanted to d..."
That's wild. The image must have been very powerful. I guess that's the key - finding an idea or a trigger so strong. And having a healthy imagination.
Cameron wrote: "With my abrupt change of course this year I think it is going to be "seat of the pants" for me this year. No matter - if it's meant, it will come out."That's what my sister told me - whatever is meant to be will be.
Sara wrote: "I planned a lil bit after nanowrimo actually started; I mean, I was content just with the short stories and then decided I wanted them to be related, so I made it so every story had a girl named ..."
I'm really glad you mentioned this, Sara, because it sparked something for me along the short story line. Thank you!
Laura wrote: "That's amazing. I can't imagine writing that many words in a week. You must work well under pressure lol."And yet, the pile of assignments and deadline-is-tomorrow only cause me to freeze in panic. I think the key is that it was writing! I didn't actually care if I made it or not when I started - I was able to give myself a week where I spent all my free time writing, and it was amazing. Of course, by the final day, I was determined to get out that last ten thousand.
Hannah wrote: " Of course, by the final day, I was determined to get out that last ten thousand."That, and I said I'd buy you a winners tee-shirt when you won.
It's totally what go you over the line :P
Try this one on:three years ago in 2009, I wrote an urban fantasy involving wizards, demons and magic set in the rough side of modern Seattle.
With barely over a week til the end of NaNo, I decided I absolutely LOATHED the second half of what I had written. The characters had been pulled out of their room and dropped into another world and I didn't want it to be a bamf fic so I ripped out everything after they touched ground and furiously wrote like a demon about Olympic National Park. Not surprisingly, I didn't finish the book but I did get some 30k words written to win NaNo that year. I don't think I want to try that EVER again!
*I finished it last year*
My second NaNo (2007) I had a vague idea for a psychological mystery set "near future" with AI, and ended up dumping it for something straight up cyberpunk action when I started writing. That one was also my "haul it out of the fire" NaNo, I basically did nothing but whine for three weeks (as Kris could tell you) and then hammered out nearly 29k in the last five days to win.
My first NaNo was in 2011 and I wrote a meaningless, easy to write, everyday romance. It was easy as well...every time I got stuck I'd make them kiss. A kiss can last as long as you want! Ha! But this year...I'm going for something a little more complicated. I've been watching a lot of Doctor Who recently and so I've got some insperation from that. To be honest, I don't really have a plan yet. A few scribbles. With ten days to go I think I'd better get planning dont you?
All that I know so far it that my NaNo novel 2012 includes but is not limited to; mer-men, dragons, time travel, romance, 21st century teenagers, best friend banter, nerdfighteria quotes and pirate ships. Undecided about sonic screw drivers.
Star :P
This is the first time I am doing NaNo and I don't think I really know how to prepare. I kind of have a plot for my book and I read a lot of paranormal/fantasy books so that should help a bit, but otherwise...
I don't really do anything except find inspiration...lol
NaNoWriMo 2012
Books mentioned in this topic
Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success (other topics)No Plot? No Problem! (other topics)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...
There's also a new book called '@WriMo: A 30-Day Survival Guide for Writers' by Kevin Kaiser which looks interesting - I think OLL blogged about it. It looks like it has a small chapter for each day of the NaNoWriMo month, which sounds like it could be fun! Has anyone seen this one?
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...
So, does anyone have books that they read as preparation for NaNoWriMo? Maybe books about writing, or maybe fiction from the genre you're planning on writing? Do you read something completely different? Or do you not read anything at all? Or... *tries to think of more Qs to get the discussion ball rolling* ;)