Nanowrimo 2012

[beren_writes]

Doing Nano has become rather a tradition for me. I used it to make myself finish my first Chronicles of Charlie Waterman novel, then last year I used it to finish the second one and so this year I am using it to finish the third one. I'm on target so far, which is always nice.

I'm aiming for 70k or there abouts, because that's the length these books seem to end up and they are a nice reading length. However, the difference this year is I didn't have the first 20K written. This year is total seat of the pants writing. I had a basic idea and the rest is all just happening.

Never fear, this is how I usually write. I am not an ordered writer at all. Sometimes I write down important points so I remember to put them in, but the way I write is very organic. At the moment I am in the throw it at the page stage. In other words I'm skipping from scene to scene just writing what comes into my head. I'm creating people and places on the fly with random scenes form the very first one to the very last without filling in everything in between.

The plot is still developing in my head and so far I have all the good guys mapped out and know exactly what they're doing. I know exactly what the bad guys are doing, but I have no idea who he/she/they/it are yet.

I think I am almost at the refinement stage where I will go back and start filling in important things like places and more about the characters to give them depth, but I'm not quite there. Maybe another couple of days of random writing before I get down to the details.

Comments

[lirren]

I still love the fact that you write out of order, too. I always write my best stuff when I just get down what's immediately screaming in my head and then go back to fill in more details and connect the parts together. Especially when it comes to dialogue. I get random bits of dialogue in the shower or in the car on the way to work and I just have to get that written down immediately!

Good luck on NaNo this year! I actually talked about NaNo on my shop blog this week, because I think it's so cool. I'm hoping that some day I'll be in a position where November isn't sucking my life away so that I can participate, too. I'd do so much better if NaNo was in March, LOL.

[beren_writes]

Chaos rules! :) I've been writing stuff at the beginning of the story today, I was at the very end yesterday ::g::. I tend to work on dialogue in bed just before I fall asleep - it can be most frustrating if I don't remember it in the morning - LOL. I should write it down immediately like you do :). I sometimes get some great dialogue while baking too - who knew.

Thank you. Nano is going well so far.

Do you have Excel. I could send you my spreadsheet which mimics the nano dashboard so you can do it in another month if you like. I find it very useful at times when Nano isn't on, because the day count thing can help with motivation and I also have it so you can set up whatever word count you want too.

[lirren]

Oh, that would be AWESOME!!! I would love that!

[beren_writes]

I shall send it to you then :).
P.S. congrats on your President :)

*Sent*

[lirren]

I cannot even begin to put words to my relief that I didn't have to wake up this morning to a President Romney. Seriously, NO WORDS for my relief.

[beren_writes]

I think the rest of the world is with you on that one.