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Post by Smilla on Oct 10, 2016 13:53:04 GMT -4
In again for this year. Short story/vignette project rather than traditional novel, but I need something to help me recommit to writing a lot of the fiction in my brain. Actually, it feels a bit different than what I've been planning, so it might be more like a 'new' adventure altogether, but I'm feeling optimistic.
Who's with me?
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Post by Smilla on Nov 1, 2018 3:10:54 GMT -4
Bumping to see if anyone else is running this marathon again in '18.
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Post by chonies on Nov 1, 2018 8:27:37 GMT -4
I'm in! Last year was pretty grim (<10000, I think)--even when I half-ass it, I can usually make it to about 35,000 words. I have hope for this year because I have two 20K words-ish stories, and I think I can tie them together. What I'm doing differently this go-round is writing with a specific person in mind. My mom loves this specific microgenre, so I'm going to write this book for her and then let her read it, so that's propelling me. And a bit terrifying.
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Post by Smilla on Nov 2, 2018 17:23:27 GMT -4
Yeah, for me, it's not "night" yet, but it's getting kind of dark (on the possibility I'll be able to finish 50K.) I just got called up for jury duty later on in the month and had forgotten I have a dentist appointment I can't change, plus some family stuff right near Thanksgiving. This is really more a "how many short stories can I finish" year than a "can I make it to the end" year.
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Post by Strawberry on Nov 3, 2018 12:23:37 GMT -4
I'm participating. I have no actual idea what I'm doing, but I'm in.
The critique group I'm with is kind of stuffy and serious so I'm glad to have this space. I'm starting off with a first draft already in place at 18k words, but my goal is to add at least 30k to that, and I think 1,000 a day is reasonable.
But I can't figure out how to update my words and my stats are already a mess and I'm lost. Which isn't entirely my fault. My laptop was broken a few days ago so I'm doing it all on the tablet, and I really hate the mobile format for most things. Really, I don't even care so much about NaNo, but writing is lonely work and I'd love to have others to talk with.
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Post by Smilla on Nov 3, 2018 23:23:53 GMT -4
I'm already flaming out. Just too much stuff going on this month for me to work a reasonable amount on my project. I plan to try to forge ahead, but it's daunting.
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Post by Strawberry on Nov 4, 2018 10:10:06 GMT -4
I'm already flaming out. Just too much stuff going on this month for me to work a reasonable amount on my project. I plan to try to forge ahead, but it's daunting. Have you tried Stephen King's writing exercise from On Writing? . I found it really gave me a kickstart, taught me some valuable lessons, and it'll boost your word count.  If you haven't done it and decide to, we could exchange our finished pieces. Sometimes knowing I'm going to share a piece and get feedback on it helps motivate me to write more. |
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ladytrentham
Blueblood
Now tomorrow morning, I'll breakfast in bed, and then get straight up into the tweeds.
Posts: 1,882
Jul 18, 2008 18:30:09 GMT -4
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Post by ladytrentham on Nov 4, 2018 16:20:01 GMT -4
Nuts! My copy is in storage. What's the exercise??
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Post by Smilla on Nov 4, 2018 18:48:30 GMT -4
Thanks, Strawberry, but I think I'm out. Good luck to you and the other NaNoers here.
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Post by Strawberry on Nov 5, 2018 10:37:45 GMT -4
Nuts! My copy is in storage. What's the exercise?? It's an exercise to demonstrate the practice of letting a story unfold naturally from a few key plot points. Those plot points are: Jane is married to Dick, who is an abuser. (Why does she stay with him?) They have a child Nell. Jane finally leaves Dick and he goes to jail. Jane drops Nell off at a birthday party and goes home. (How does a single mom afford a home?) She's looking forward to relaxing and turns on the tea kettle. (How will the tea kettle come into play?) But something feels off. Jane turns on the news and learns three inmates have escaped the local jail. She realizes that the feeling of something being "off" when she got home was the smell of Dick's hair gel. Jane hears footsteps on the stairs. Then, after giving you the outline, King says to write the story by reversing the genders. Jane is the abuser, Dick the single dad. And...Go! My take on this wasnt perfect and I just wrote a single draft, but it really helped me see how to let a story go where it wants without forcing what I though it needed into it. I had an idea for the kettle that wound up going somewhere else and I had that moment where I surprised myself and it felt like I was just discovering things along the way. I don't know, it was good exercise. There's always next time, Smilia! |
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