So many of you know I loved this last year. I had so much fun writing a story idea I had during this month. Yes, it's a hot ugly mess, but it's much more than I've ever accomplished before. Learned a lot about the story, characters, and even myself in writing.
I had a blast! And can't wait to do it again. Can you tell I'm excited? This is me, as I and so syked to get started...
(Thank you Frodo, @1FantasyFanatic on Twitter, and of Frodo's Blog of Randomness for creating this clip together for me. This IS what I wanted!)
But I thought I'd stroll down memory lane from what I learned last year as I NaNo-ed. These are things I definitely want to do again as it worked well for me.
What I learned last year:
(if you would like to read my post on what I learned last NaNoWriMo)
1.) FRIENDS ~ Friends are a big thing when wee little people (and newbies like me) are crunching to get 50,000 words in just 30 short days. They make if fun, and help the momentum going forward. Also, they remind you NOT TO LOOK BACK. This is a forward movement run. At least for me it is.
2.) Sprints ~ Sprints helped me keep moving forward. I already have in mind, somewhere in that head of mine, what I want to do and I over think from time to time. Sprints kept me going, and kept things going in the story.
3.) When Stuck, DON'T STOP ~ This is huge. Don't give up because something doesn't piece together right. Skip ahead a little bit if need be, but keep going. Throw something stupid in. There's going to be tons to clean up when done, so don't fret over it. Jump ahead and fill that in later.
4.) FIX IT LATER! ~ This is one key to remember as I went through. For me NaNoWriMo was to get out the basic idea and story. I'll fix the story holes and editing later. Hell, I know it's going to need a complete re-write before editing, but this is the bare bones to start with and evolve later.
My last lesson, and is one I LOOOVE...
5.) When in Doubt, Kill your Character...or try ~ Oh, this got me through so many times last year. If I started to get bored with the writing and to humdrum, I tried to kill my character. You would be surprised what you learn from the 'other characters' reactions. Their personalities start to come to the surface, and keeps the story interesting for me. I like my action, and in my fantasies it works wonderfully.
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As for the blog here...I'm not going to be around much. I will warn you, I won't be visiting many blogs or even posting here much. I'll try to do a Monday Beginnings Post to check in with my friends. And I'll try to get scheduled the Throwback Thursday Posts so others can link up and continue even with me not around. If you want to find me, I'll most likely be around Twitter as that is where I meet up with a few Nano friends and write together.
If you are curious as to how Nano is going, I'll share it in the Monday Beginnings Posts I do. I also have a Nano numbers calendar on the left sidebar to show what my numbers are each day. The goal is 1,667 words a day to read 50,000 words by the end of the month. Last year I think I finished 4 or so days early, so I'm working for more than the daily goal.
So, yes, I'm excited to get back into NaNoWriMo and creating my own world again. :)
Well, you convinced me awhile back on Facebook. I'm doing it too! I know I may not succeed, but it's the trying that counts, right? Are we buddies at the NaNo site? I'm thetruebookaddict over there. Look me up. But I think we're already buddied up. Good luck, my friend!
ReplyDeleteWonderful Michelle The True Book Addict!
DeleteAnd don't worry about succeeding. That's what I went in thinking last year, I just wanted to get further each day. Didn't think about the total number. Any amount I could get was more than I had before. It's great to get to the count, but think of it as every word is one more than you had before. Take it one day, one word at a time.
And we are friends there! :D If you get on Twitter at night, I'm usually around there tweeting as I'm writing. :) It's a big fun party. lol.
Good luck dear!!
Heyyy~! I'm on NaNoWriMo, too!
ReplyDeleteIt's my first time actually...
Any tips?
Hi Dia! And congrats on joining in Nano. I think the one thing I can suggest, let the fingers walk, and your mind open. Nano is hard to some as there's no editing or going back. And don't go back. You can always fix it later. That was a huge thing for me last year...don't go backwards. This for me was to get the rough, and rather rough it was, story line out. There's going to be things that aren't the path you want, just stop and pick up where you want to be.
DeleteAnother huge thing, if you get stuck go past it to another point after. Don't dwell on something. It'll come, maybe next week even, and you can always add that at any point. I had lots of lines that separated out sections that referenced a few past scenes as I wanted to expand. It'll make editing miserable, but oh well, it's all in print. :)
Best of luck to you! I see you have a great start, so you are out and running at the front of the pack. :)
Good luck my friend! Sounds like you have your plans down pat can't wait to see the results. ^_^
ReplyDeleteThank you GMR!! Well, it's a few plans. A few things I try to remember to keep me going. :)
DeleteThis is my first time with Nanowrimo and I'm sooo o excited. I already have nearly 400 words, so yayy!
ReplyDeleteCarole Rae, I buddied you. :) I'm so glad you joined!! :D Hey, are you on Twitter too? I can't remember. I'll have to find you if you are. We can chat while we write. :D CONGRATS!!
DeleteI am already stuck :/ Sure I can move on, but I do not feel that my character's voice feels right
ReplyDeleteBlodeuedd, I hope you get to move on, maybe a different scene or something will help? Or try in a different tense? Hmm, hope the character comes out for you. :)
DeleteI've never gone the "kill your character" route, but I can see how it could yield some really interesting stuff. I'll have to try that some day.
ReplyDeleteI find the biggest thing that helps me get past days where I'm stuck is to just leave that section alone and start writing something else. Another chapter, another scene, random extra dialogue between characters who are ticked off that I'm not doing anything important with them. It gets the creative juices flowing again, and I can dive back into the story with fewer problems later.
Last year, I finished NaNo in less than half the month, but I'm taking it a little easier this year. I met my wordcount goal yesterday, and will probably do a good bit of writing today (when I'm too sick to go into work, I may as well do something productive with my time, right?).
Happy writing!
Hi Bibliotropic! Thanks for sharing. I found last year I did a lot of secondary character stories and intersected them with the main character. It really helped to grow the world and characters and even story for me.
DeleteI do the try to kill character thing as I'm always afraid that I'm getting boring in the story and I want to keep it moving. I need all the other things, but afraid to loose that movement. lol.
Wow! you crushed Nano last year. That's amazing! I'm slow at getting my words, I last about the whole month. I think I was done 4 days early.
And totally agree with you and writing when sick from work. ;) I'd love to be sick from work right now. lol
Happy Writing to you as well, and Best with the flowing words. :)
Thank you greatly for stopping!!
Good luck Melissa..we will be here..cheering you on!
ReplyDeleteThank you greatly Kimba!! :D The support is well appreciated. :D
DeleteOh you'll have so much fun! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you Melliane. I can't tell you how great this is to kick back with writing and not worrying. I love it. :)
DeleteYou know I'm going to have to see if you can give me pointers on how to write. I mean really write a story. I would love to try one day.
ReplyDelete*gets pom poms out*
WOO! Go Melissa! GO!
*high kick*
*wrenches back*
*smiles despite the pain*
;)
Well, Melissa (B&T), I'm not the best for pointers seeing as I'm only a writer for fun. There are so many out there with great helping ideas. But thank you for flattering me with thinking of asking. :) And it would be great to try! It's really fun.
DeleteAnd thank you for the cheer. We can pass on the kicks though. ;P Thank you dear!!!
Love NaNoWriMo! I definitely agree about the sprints, they are what's keeping me going this year at my crazy pace. Buddies are also helpful, especially when you find the few/rare amazingly awesome ones that chat it up with you and help you brainstorm and offer all kinds of awesome advice. Always appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWent ahead and added you, I'm TypingTiara on the website. :]
Hi Ash! Great to meet you. There are things that come from the sprints that spark things. Funny how the mind has things hidden there to run with. :D And I've Buddied you back as well. Thank you! And best wishes to you in words! :D
DeleteThank you!!