Friday, October 31, 2014

Countdown to Nanowrimo

Argh, we are almost ready to write for Nano and I feel like I'm not... ready. 

I managed to pull an outline together (thank you Hiveword) but my character motives, my settings, my story world could use a lot of thinking today. 

A few of my friends tell me that a lot of people must cheat to win during Nanowrimo.  And what if they do?  It's more important for me to know that I don't cheat as participants are allowed to prep with outlines, etc as long as no actual story writing is done till tomorrow. 

I'll be using paperback writer's 3 questions technique to develop my characters. 

The idea of Nanowrimo is to have lots of fun. 

I'll need to repeat this to myself all through the first week of November and then it'll be easy (easier?) to get through the month. 

Good luck. 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Story Structure post on YouTube

Dan Wells has a some great YouTube videos on Story Structure.

If you need help with figuring out the acts of your story check this out.  It's helped me and got me excited about taking the Nawrimo plunge once again.

Wish I'd found Dan's videos last year.  Better late than... you know.   

Note to self:  read one of Dan's books and see just how he works this structure magic. 

Nanowrimo. Do I or don't I?

It's that time of year and once again I am doubting my abilities to compete in Nanowrimo

It's not that I don't want to write but it's more a sense of frustration knowing that I am unlikely to take the time to properly edit my first draft I will be spewing into the world.  Maybe it's just that I'm lazy or maybe I just doubt my ability to come up with a decent story. 

I know I can write and win the word count but...  Hmm, but wait!  Should I really be hoping for more than a first draft?  Only I can change my future. 

I used to say to friends that I'm going to write my future the way I want it to be.  When did I forget I had the power to do that? 

Nanowrimo will be a DO this year.  Guess I just needed to see this in print. 

Good luck to everyone that competes and remember it's up to you if you actually want to get your story edited one day and into the big bad world.  Spewing a story out is one thing, getting a decent novel out of it is the step after.