Apologies to Ray Bradbury for the title, but NaNo- aka NaNoWriMo- aka National Novel Writing month IS scary!
For those of you still not aware of this annual exercise in literary madness, authors from across the globe will spend the entire month of November- yelling, screaming, swearing, drinking too much caffeine- all to complete 50,000 words.
Just because.
One does wonder if there is anything more insane than self-inflicted madness?
This will be my forth NaNo, and like previous ones, I'm going to use it to try something different.
I'm going to outline the new book.
Serious outlining- like an entire three act layout and everything.
I know, madness, right?
Well for a hard core serious pantser like myself, this is probably the biggest out of the box experiment I could try. But I've got a secret....
I'm liking it so far.
Now, granted, I've just started the outlining process, just figured out my scene/chapter count (about 36 more or less). But I'm kinda liking it! It's like a puzzle, I have some characters I want to really screw up, then follow as they figure things out. I know who they are (or will through the magic of character outlines) and I know about how long I want it to be. I also know the basic bits, pieces, and screws that need to be in place to keep the story on track.
I'm even going to make a fold out three act board with cards!!!
So, I'm having fun, and looking at this as the Great NaNo Experiment of 2012. I may end up keeping some of the things I learn, or my head may explode when I actually start writing with an outline in place.
But either way I'll learn something about me and my writing- right?
What about you? Ever NaNo? Why? Why not? Have you ever tried "the otherside" (aka plotting if you normally pants, or pantsing if you plot like mad?)?
Share! And share any NaNo survival tricks that you've learned too!
Very cool! Best of luck to you.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking the challenge, too, and this is a first for me. I'm looking forward to it.
Cheers,
Tamara :)
That's great Tamara! I really hope you enjoy NaNo- although I suppose enjoy may not be the right word ;). But it will be something unique, that's for sure!
DeleteThe two biggest things I learned on my first round were that I COULD do it and that I can shove my internal editor in a closet and make her shut up ;).
Thanks for commenting and good luck on winning NaNo!
First for me too! And like you I am attempting some plotting before hand. For a serious punster this is scary. I also plan on doing some free writes, pen to paper when I get stuck. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI mean panster.
DeleteWelcome to the NaNo madness Suzanne! Although if you're a panster like me, punster works well too :) (I actually didn't notice the typo.)
DeletePlease come back and share how the plotting before handworks for you- it's going to be very interesting (at least mine will be ;)).
Thanks for commenting and good luck winning NaNo!
I bow to your superior bravery - I'm a hardcore pantser, and the thought of outlining makes me weak in the knees. I can't wait to see how your experiment turns out. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! Thanks Traci- this is pretty dang scary for me- I am such a serious non-plotter it's not even funny. I just keep telling myself that if I could skydive (and I did ;)) I can plot....riiiiggghhhht ;).
DeleteThanks for coming by and commenting!
I tried NaNo once. It did not go well--I was so focused on writing as fast as I could that I ignored all the signs that the stuff I was writing wasn't working. Then, I ended up cutting it all out of the finished manuscript and starting over. But, given that this is your fourth NaNo, sounds like it works much better for you. :) Good luck this year!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shoshana :). I think NaNo probably works best for folks who are dirty drafters- aka we get first drafts down pretty fast, but have lots of clean up in editing ;). Maybe that's not your way?
DeleteThank you for coming by and commenting!
I can remember you and Jeanine ragging each other over the 50,000 words...LOL!! Anywho, you GO girl!!! I am having all I can do these days just trying to get everyday stuff done, and dealing with Havoc....the puppy, not the lifestyle.... *Grin* I have hardly had time to do any reading (though I DID read one of Melissa's books...and start the other.. OMGOSH!! I jsut realized I never told her I received them!!) OK, off to catch up on some emails that need sent! :)Dabee
ReplyDeleteYUP! That first year was during Burbank Con:). That was fun, Jeanine makes a great cheerleader!
DeleteLOL- hopefully you got your emails off and Havoc contained? Hmmm, cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war? (Get it dog named Havoc...hehehehe...Heh ;))
Thanks for coming by and commenting Dabee!
I'm in. Anything to get out of this chaotic October. I can hardly wait to start something new. I don't think I'll do much pre-planning though. But I do have my characters already coming alive in my head. And I told my students at UCSD to give it a go. Let's see if they do. I hope so... Onward!
ReplyDeleteThat's great Sylvia! And I hope November is MUCH better (and extremely wordy :)) for you. Hmmm- maybe tell your students not to do it? That seems to help get them to do it ;).
DeleteThank you for coming by and commenting!
This will be my 9th NaNoWriMo. I was an ML for 6 years. I've tried it all, no plot/no characters, characters with a plot idea, plot idea with no characters, and characters, plot and story sentence. My best work is when I do a little planning with characters, and have a story sentence to start. A little more that half are good stories that I hope to sell as novellas.
ReplyDeleteHere are my NaNoWriMo tips for succeeding:
• It’s not require but I suggest pick a genre, have an idea for a story and at least two main characters (three is better) to start—one of each or two protagonists and one antagonist. It makes the task easier. The time I didn’t do this it took me three days before I had my story idea and a second protagonist.
• Write your novel from beginning to end.
• Don’t stop for any reason.
• Need research? Make a note in ALL CAPS or put notes in (brackets).
• You need to write a minimum of 1,666 words per day. Get ahead on word count from the start. It’s easier to write when you’re fresh and excited about your novel. Although it is also easier to let your characters write it themselves after you’ve started. (Remember there are no rules here.)
• Cooking for Thanksgiving? Plan ahead. Make sure that day’s word count is completed before the Thanksgiving Day arrives.
• Need a name for a character and can’t think of one. Write what the person does in CAPS or (brackets), i.e., MISS FRONT DESK PERSON, CLERK IN COFFEE SHOP, EVIDENCE ROOM CLERK, (reporter for the Times). All these titles contain more words than any name you’d waste precious time thinking up or researching for a character and add to your word count. Remember NaNoWriMo is for writing; NaNoEdMo in March is for editing.
• On a personal level, I spend a few days in October planning and cooking meals, play catch up on laundry, visit with friends and family, stock up on food and personal items to avoid shopping trips. Tell everyone you know what you are doing and to please let you have this precious time. You can play catch up on visiting, cleaning, shopping, etc. in December. On a business level, if you’re the type who needs a hardcopy backup, make sure you have an extra ink cartridge.
• Forget format. If chapters appear in your writing that’s great, if not, don’t worry about it that goes to editing. One year I got teased unmercifully by a colleague because I had chapter one, chapter two and my epilogue. The next year I only had chapter one and the end.
• I run every day’s work through spell check on your computer at the end of the session. Two reasons why; corrects spelling and gives you your word count for the day. I jot mine on my calendar and keep a running total everyday. You feel very guilty if you have to write zero word count for the day.
• Keeps notes while you’re away form your work in progress to add when you have time to sit at your computer. I carry my AlphaSmart everywhere and download before I go to bed at night.
• Don’t let anything stop you. I’ve had to spend four days out of state for a family death, had to take family members for physical therapy, been sick, and scrambled to write 10,000 words in the last three days because I fell behind. You can do this.
Wow Pat!
DeleteThank you so much for all of those tips, it's great having someone with your experience lay it out for folks! People, some wonderful words of wisdom there- use them :).
Thank you for coming by and commenting!
I've never finished NaNo, but this year I will!!! I am a die-hard pantser, too, so I admire your courage in trying to plot your NaNo book. Every time I've tried to plot a book, I've HATED writing that book. So this time, I'm coming up with a premise, characters, some turning points, and that's it. We'll see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
LOL- that's the spirit Rebecca! Those word counts will fall at your feet :).
DeleteYeah, I'm pretty freaked about this outline/planning business- stay tuned to see if my head explodes ;).
Thank you for coming by and commenting!