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Post by Shadaras on Oct 3, 2010 15:47:18 GMT -5
Jaye - It's hard to give tips when I don't have any idea what sort of things you're curious about. xD Though, I suspect it's harder still for me, 'cause I do all that stuff on instinct, best I can tell.
For preparation, though -- Know how you work. I do best knowing the characters and setting well, having a basic idea of the plot, and then spinning everything out from there. Some people need outlines. Some people love flying through stories without any idea of where they're going. It just depends on you.
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Post by Tam on Oct 3, 2010 16:40:09 GMT -5
The entirety of my writing preparation last year consisted of a premise-blurb, character sketches, and a mock prologue. Mind you, my story also flopped epically, so I'm probably not the best person to offer advice. xD But I think what Shade suggested is very good advice, and might have saved my story if I had known about it last year: know what's worked well for you in the past, in your other writing, and stick to it. If you like knowing all the important events, conflicts, and details before you begin, it's probably not a good idea to get caught up in the WOOT GOING IN BLIND LOLZ mindset. Similarly, if you're the kind of writer who likes figuring things out as you go, don't be swayed by the people who write thirty-page outlines before they consider themselves "ready". It'll just give you one more thing to be frustrated about in November. Find out how your muse works... mine works well with threats and extortion, others like to be bribed, others again prefer to be rushed and mine loves to feel the deadline pending. If we're personifying muses, then I think mine is the haughty, self-centred type who takes offense at the smallest thing and then refuses to come back until you give him a few days to cool off and realise that he misses you. xD; |
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Post by friday on Oct 3, 2010 18:50:03 GMT -5
I'm so excited, but at the same time terrified at doing NaNo this year. ^This. So much. XD It sounds like such a neat experience, but I have no idea where to begin. I guess it's a good thing that I have a month to think about it before I jump in. |
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Post by insanepurpleone on Oct 3, 2010 22:58:17 GMT -5
I just want to actually *finish* NaNo for once. But first I need to figure out what I want to write about...  And if you're new, don't worry too much! NaNo can be tons of fun even if you don't get to 50k. It's quite an experience indeed! ^_^ On another note, has anyone here ever bough NaNo merch, or do you just drool over it like me? xD I've been lusting after the "Let Your Imagination Rain" poster for a while now, and the "Love Books? Write One!" poster is just begging to go up on my wall, but $25 for a poster is a little outrageous, especially on a college-student budget. It's a pity the "Love Books?" shirt isn't as nice as the poster, it's cheaper and would be easier to justify spending money on. The merit badge pins are pretty nifty, too.. Oh, how lovely a NaNoWriMo shopping spree would be! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2010 23:11:50 GMT -5
I just want to actually *finish* NaNo for once. But first I need to figure out what I want to write about... And if you're new, don't worry too much! NaNo can be tons of fun even if you don't get to 50k. It's quite an experience indeed! ^_^ On another note, has anyone here ever bough NaNo merch, or do you just drool over it like me? xD I've been lusting after the "Let Your Imagination Rain" poster for a while now, and the "Love Books? Write One!" poster is just begging to go up on my wall, but $25 for a poster is a little outrageous, especially on a college-student budget. It's a pity the "Love Books?" shirt isn't as nice as the poster, it's cheaper and would be easier to justify spending money on. The merit badge pins are pretty nifty, too.. Oh, how lovely a NaNoWriMo shopping spree would be! I've wanted the hoodie for a long time, but I have the same problem: $45 is a bit steep on a college-student budget. Every year, I make a bargain with myself that if I write at least 75k words in November (my usual goal, as it's closer to novel-length and I write kinda serious projects for NaNo), I can spent $100 on whatever I want without feeling guilty about it. Not sure I'm going to do it this year, because I bought a new phone two months ago and am going to Belgium on a work trip this coming weekend (and will doubtless spend too much on chocolate), but if I do that hoodie is mine. That, and the Windows version of Scrivner, which is supposed to come out early next year (for those of you who aren't familiar with it, it's an awesome bit of writing software previously available only for Macs). Kinda on that subject, what software do you guys use? I've been using yWriter for a while (because it's free), but I don't like the word processor and exporting/formating is a pain. If there's something better while I wait for the Windows version of Scrivener, I'd love to hear about it ^.^ |
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Post by Chao on Oct 4, 2010 0:24:39 GMT -5
Find out how your muse works... mine works well with threats and extortion, others like to be bribed, others again prefer to be rushed and mine loves to feel the deadline pending. If we're personifying muses, then I think mine is the haughty, self-centred type who takes offense at the smallest thing and then refuses to come back until you give him a few days to cool off and realise that he misses you. xD; I can't think of this creative invisible part of me other than my muse and over the years she (as I have a female muse) told me her name and I learned that I have to keep her constantly busy but at the same time that I should not write down any of her ideas unless she has enough material to finish a story. Oh, and regarding muses, a friend of mine found out that the worst thing you can do is allow your muse on a trip to Italy. The muse is likely to be gone for half a year or more ;D |
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Post by Ginz ❤ on Oct 4, 2010 0:34:47 GMT -5
And if you're new, don't worry too much! NaNo can be tons of fun even if you don't get to 50k. It's quite an experience indeed! ^_^ ^ I second this. My first time participating in NaNo was 2005, and I do it every year... and guess what? I've only won once. In 2005. The one year when I didn't expect to win AT ALL. XD Sure, I understand being new makes you nervous, but the excitement that comes with the nerves can be a wonderful thing. You just have to make the most of it. ^_^ If you're doing NaNo, do it to have fun, not to win. (I mean, winning can be in the back of your mind at all times, but don't make it your #1 goal.) If you do it to win, winning becomes harder and you have less fun. At least that's true for me. So yeah, focus on the fun. That's my advice.  |
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Post by Speck on Oct 4, 2010 1:40:31 GMT -5
I've been thinking about doing a Script Frenzy during the month of November. Might I join the NaNo crowd in this subforum?
I really think I'm unable to dive into writing in any other format than script right now... =/
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2010 8:36:59 GMT -5
I've been thinking about doing a Script Frenzy during the month of November. Might I join the NaNo crowd in this subforum? I really think I'm unable to dive into writing in any other format than script right now... =/ If you think it counts, we think it counts. :-P |
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Post by M is for Morphine on Oct 4, 2010 10:19:26 GMT -5
Kinda on that subject, what software do you guys use? I've been using yWriter for a while (because it's free), but I don't like the word processor and exporting/formating is a pain. If there's something better while I wait for the Windows version of Scrivener, I'd love to hear about it ^.^ Wow, Belgium! Drink a Westvleteren beer for me, ok? XD I just started using a TiddlyWiki to put my notes together, and I'm really enjoying it. I'm part way through putting all my background nonsense in, and it already feels very good and organized. For word processing I just use OpenOffice, or sometimes even notepad/wordpad. >.> |
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Post by Speck on Oct 4, 2010 15:59:08 GMT -5
I've been thinking about doing a Script Frenzy during the month of November. Might I join the NaNo crowd in this subforum? I really think I'm unable to dive into writing in any other format than script right now... =/ If you think it counts, we think it counts. :-P What if I don't think it counts? XD NaNo and Script Frenzy (which usually happens in April) are only similar in that they are both big writing challenges. NaNo is 50k words in 30 days, and Script Frenzy is 100 pages of script in 30 days. I wouldn't be writing a novel: I'd be writing a script. But I digress. =/ |
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Post by Zylaa on Oct 4, 2010 17:10:59 GMT -5
I think it counts. You're doing a frantic insane amount of writing with the rest of us. We should all support each other in our sleep deprivation! =D
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2010 17:35:47 GMT -5
I'm not doing NaNo this year because I'm already doing a story, but I plan to lurk here a lot for motivation-- you all killing yourselves writing will shame me into writing, too.
So, I thought I'd ask, is it OK for non-NaNo-ers to post on the dares thread? ^^;
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Post by Amneiger on Oct 5, 2010 11:10:54 GMT -5
I'm not doing NaNo this year because I'm already doing a story, but I plan to lurk here a lot for motivation-- you all killing yourselves writing will shame me into writing, too. So, I thought I'd ask, is it OK for non-NaNo-ers to post on the dares thread? ^^; Hmm...don't see why not. xD |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2010 23:21:19 GMT -5
The temptation to start right now is overwhelming. I was outlining the first chapter or two and planning out how/when I want to reveal facts about certain characters and I kept thinking to myself "You know, I could open MS Word right now and just start writing." It's unbelievably tempting to just throw NaNo out the window and write the novel. But, Im not really prepared to start it, as the background work isn't nearly done. Maybe I should just stop thinking about the plot.
Or I could cheat....
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And if you're new, don't worry too much! NaNo can be tons of fun even if you don't get to 50k. It's quite an experience indeed! ^_^
