My friend has a sign in her kitchen that says, I'll get my shit together tomorrow (we're a classy bunch). This motto sums up my preparation for NaNoWriMo. Despite the fact that E. Darker, a cool writer girl I met at the NaNoWriMo kickoff party, told me "the trick is to plan ahead," here it is November 2, and my word counter still says:0/50,000
I planned to have a comprehensive scene list by yesterday, and I sort of do, but it's in my head, out of order, and still a little fuzzy. However, I checked the NaNoWriMo site this morning and saw that my betas are still at zero words too: Proof that betas are good for not only motivation, but also for making me feel better when I flake out.
I'll tell you what I do know. My main character has an awesome family. I have this picture of them, and I can't wait to see how they interact. Once I post this blog, I'm going to go write some scenes with the fam and make my pictures of them even clearer.
As you can see, I'm sort of a pantser in planner's clothing. I make big plans. I break big plans. I somehow emerge with a finished manuscript. I have no idea how it happens.
What about you? Do you plan ahead for your writing? Are you unaware how your magic manuscript gets completed? Got any tips to amp up my word production?
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I plan--which means I jot down a G,M, and Conflict for each main character. Once you have that, then you can go anywhere. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with NaNo!
Thanks, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI am going to jot down a goal, motive, and conflict for each character today. Now that you say it, I realize I did that for my last project, and it really helped.
Good luck with NaNoWriMo, Marie. I hope your month is full of fabulous writing.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!!
ReplyDeleteI got 500 words done. That's it. I had this whole plan for writing epic amounts of words, and then let myself get distracted. By the internet, books, dogs that rolled in digusting smelly goo that needed to be washed off. But I do like where my 500 words are going, so I consider that to be a good thing.
For NaNo I have done all planning. I must admit that I love having a vision of where this story is going.
ReplyDeleteMy count is still behind. I only have 725 words, but since yesterday was my anniversary I gave myself a little room.
Happy writing!
I've read so many different opinions. I've always been a 'pantster' in that I open up a blank document with maybe nothing in mind but a setting, or a character, or a conflict and start writing. For Nano-well, I was so excited, I read every bit of info I could and what I came up with, was this:
ReplyDeleteCharacter names and brief descriptions of them on index cards.
Opening scene on index card, which actually led me to write three more scenes this way. Very brief..like "Brief dialogue between B and M, slightly flirtatious, introduction to M's assignment at a NV high school, find addicts and bring them in."
That's my first scene. :) I've actually logged 2500 words so far, and so rewarded myself with blogging and reading my fave blogs. Glad you posted :)
I hit my goal of 2,000 on the first day, but I doubt I'll be able to keep that pace.
ReplyDeleteI tried to plan, but I'm the original pantser :)
I usually write some backstory for the major characters and have an idea in my head about the main conflict or quest of the mc and then I start writing. Part way through the first draft I'll do a little mapping out of where I think the story will go.
ReplyDelete