tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post116094095335241351..comments2023-10-08T07:21:56.107-04:00Comments on All Kinds of Writing: Preparing for NaNo, or, How to write successfullyMellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461471128865537538noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1162110003837525292006-10-29T04:20:00.000-05:002006-10-29T04:20:00.000-05:00I wanted to go with a proper outline for this year...I wanted to go with a proper outline for this year's NaNo, but of course, between work, college and homework, it'd have been a miracle if I had managed to pull that out!<BR/><BR/>Working totaly from the hip doesn't work well for me, much to my dismay, but then, complete, detailed outlines don't do the job either. Jotting down a few lines for each chapter, to know where I'm gong to, seems to be the most important part--the one that will prevent me from falling short in the middle of the novel, thinking "now I need my muse to strike to be able to go on" (like this would happen exactly when I need it).<BR/><BR/>So, indeed, we have to go with what works for us.<BR/><BR/>And gosh, this picture with the hundred of post-its freaks me out. That's a method that wouldn't work for me. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1161493004842561162006-10-22T00:56:00.000-04:002006-10-22T00:56:00.000-04:00I'm definitely a "write from the hip" kind of gal....I'm definitely a "write from the hip" kind of gal. Outlines have given me the bare basis for writing my stories, but I've never been able to follow them.<BR/><BR/>As for NaNoWriMo, it's a great exercise to practice banishing your inner critic. At least it was for me. I look forward to hearing about your experience. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1161436513687120172006-10-21T09:15:00.000-04:002006-10-21T09:15:00.000-04:00Include me in that plan free club, oh the plans an...Include me in that plan free club, oh the plans and ideas aer verywhere, just mnot in any organized form.<BR/><BR/>Good luck! I'm over at Nano under allthingsjennifer<BR/><BR/>:)All Things Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356153780672927550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1161313070855859212006-10-19T22:57:00.000-04:002006-10-19T22:57:00.000-04:00Jennifer, you actually sounds very confident about...Jennifer, you actually sounds very confident about your 'method' or 'plan' or whatever name we call it, which is the whole point, right?<BR/>So many ways methods...<BR/><BR/>Marta, first sentence? Now, that's sounds intriguing. Interesting you could build something from that. Great actually :)<BR/><BR/>Eric, like I told Jennifer, you sound very confident (always have) about what works for you, which is really the point.<BR/>As for me, you're right, no tools. Sometimes I think about a story for a while and turn it over in my head some time. Sometimes I'll write little notes, sometimes I'll write scenes. I do have the basic idea/premise if you will, and a basic idea of the story and where it's heading, but rarely is anything planned structurally in advance, probably also because I tend not to write sequentially/chronologically.<BR/><BR/>Cavan, we'll have to start a "plan free" club ;)<BR/>I ran into exactly the same problem when I tried outlines, btw, or I'd want to go one way but the outline was going another and then either I was too rigid or it just didn't fit anymore. Either way - doesn't do it for me.Mellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461471128865537538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1161275327374907442006-10-19T12:28:00.000-04:002006-10-19T12:28:00.000-04:00I wrote from an outline during last year's NaNo, b...I wrote from an outline during last year's NaNo, but my productivity dried up as soon as my writing outstripped my outline. <BR/><BR/>I'm not participating this year (well, not quite), but if I was I think I'd take a shot at going entirely plan-free.Cavanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08510431598334392123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1161126700005538732006-10-17T19:11:00.000-04:002006-10-17T19:11:00.000-04:00This is my third NaNoWriMo, and if all goes "well"...This is my third NaNoWriMo, and if all goes "well" it will be my fourth book (all unpublished, thank you!) and I don't plan anything except for the first line. I have no idea where it will go, who the person is in it, but I've got the sentence in my head...and I'm ready for midnight Halloween!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1161044284125710232006-10-16T20:18:00.000-04:002006-10-16T20:18:00.000-04:00Thanks rdl dear :)Eric, LOL, good humour. Of cours...Thanks rdl dear :)<BR/><BR/>Eric, LOL, good humour. Of course, I know outlines work for you. Sometimes I wish they did for me too...<BR/><BR/>Trée, that's really good :) Thanks.<BR/><BR/>Patry, I hope I'm in (still not sure), but you're right, that's exactly what I'm doing it for, to advance the current WIP.<BR/><BR/>JLB, thanks. The quantity is indeed the point in NaNo, but sometimes, just get over my inner critic I need this.<BR/><BR/>Jean, oh goodness, I can't believe how well we know each other by now from just from blogging.<BR/>Re getting arrested, that might be a good experience, I'm sure editors wouldn't mind :)Mellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17461471128865537538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1161043307239524422006-10-16T20:01:00.000-04:002006-10-16T20:01:00.000-04:00I was reading this and thinking, "But you're not a...I was reading this and thinking, "But you're not an outlining writer, so <I>of course</I> you're not going to outline in preparation for NaNo."<BR/><BR/>Then I got to your point -- Do what works for YOU. Good advice. <BR/><BR/>And you're right. Editors (or agents either, for that matter) don't care <I>how</I> you write. They only care that your write arresting prose (without, of course, getting arrested in the process, but maybe they don't care so much about that either, as long as you still meet your deadline).Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01805501348812702651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1161029038542812432006-10-16T16:03:00.000-04:002006-10-16T16:03:00.000-04:00Yes, Tambo offers a lot of good wisdom. ;) I've n...Yes, Tambo offers a lot of good wisdom. ;) I've never tried the NaNoWriMo, but I'm giving it some consideration this month. That's about the most preparation I'll allow myself... consideration. My other projects keep me way too busy to side step and make elaborate plans for an exercise which will be fundamentally for fun and bulk quantity (at least this time around).<BR/><BR/>Good luck to you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1160964322266434442006-10-15T22:05:00.000-04:002006-10-15T22:05:00.000-04:00"Tools, not rules." I like that phrase. I wasn't s..."Tools, not rules." I like that phrase. I wasn't sure if I was going to nano this year or not, but now it seems like a great way to jump start my current project. Glad to know you're in!Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1160958961402317402006-10-15T20:36:00.000-04:002006-10-15T20:36:00.000-04:00The way of no way is the only way, but only as lon...The way of no way is the only way, but only as long as you know the way of way first. Sounds like you do Melly, so full steam ahead and don't look back. :-DTréehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11742129819547567342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12725467.post-1160947043778874462006-10-15T17:17:00.000-04:002006-10-15T17:17:00.000-04:00I used to think you had to go the outline route bu...I used to think you had to go the outline route but I like your method better!! Go Melly!!rdlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04062856086277201874noreply@blogger.com