NaNo November: Day Three

by in Author Thursdays, NaNoWriMo
Of Ducks and Writing

I realize that my failure to flesh out details in my plot has resulted in my failure to get excited about my writing and my inability to write without starts and stops. What am I writing exactly? Someone needs to work on their outline…..
How’s your nano going?

NaNo November: Writing Buddy

by in Author Thursdays, NaNoWriMo


Of Ducks and Writing
4519 words and counting!


I‘m looking for a writing buddy for nano and beyond:

Recommended requirements include: 

1. Similar project and goals (fiction, young adult, fantasy, etc) and (finishing, editing, publication)
2. Must have motivation and accountability
3. Should be in a similar life stage

4. Preferability female

NaNo November: Panster or Planner?

by in NaNoWriMo, The Day The Computer Stood Still

Are you a fly by the seat of your pants writer or do you carefully outline before writing any words? Almost every author usually has the basic elements formulated before starting a large-scale writing project. The basic elements of any outline include:

1. Title
2. Characters
3. Setting
4. Basic summary
 
Here is my NaNo Novel Basic Outline Elements:
 
1. The Day the Computer Stood Still
2. The Computer, The Teacher, The Politician, The “God Complex” Programmer, The Supporting Character, The Dissenters, The String of Embarrassing Ex’s
3. Sarasota, FL
4. The federal supercomputer was meant to catch felons but fell in love instead. How can there be peace when humanity’s watchdog is surfing dating sites instead of catching criminals?



Perhaps you are more of a planner but are not quite sure how to make an outline. Have you checked out scrivener? It has helpful software tools to organize your writing and help you as you write. There are many other methods, more or less detailed for making a more or less detailed outline. 

Check out the snowflake method by Randy Ingermanson
Or go through this writing exercise, courtesy of Casz of the SnoValley Writes

 

1. What distinguishes your protagonist from other people
2. What strength does he/she/it have
3. How does this strength get them in trouble
4. In opening action, what is character on the brink of doing?
5. Why do they say they’re going to do this?
6. What does this action represent for the protagonist?
7. What external situation will require protagonist participation throughout the book
8. How does this connect with number two above (when novel opens what is your character on the brink of doing?)
9. Does it help or interfere, can you build in a deadline for extra tension?
10. what is the protagonist goal for the time the book covers?
11. How does this connect with external situation? or does external situation divert protagonist from his/her goal
12. why does protagonist say he/she wants the goal?
13. is there a deeper motivation as yet unknown to your protagonist
14. what problem/external conflict does the external situation present?
15. How can the protagonist eventually resolve that conflict
16. list at least three obstacles in the way of your main character resolving the conflict (at least one is internal)
17. How will the protagonist grow because of confronting these obstacles? (turning point)
18. what do you want to happen at the end of the book
19. what will have to happen to the protagonist against his or her will to make your ending come about?

 

NaNo November: Do You Have Your Book Idea?

by in NaNoWriMo
What am I going to do! Nano is in 4 days!

You’re not alone. There are people and places ready to help you with your book. Check out nanowrimo.org’s own page for getting ready for nano. If you’re not like me and you don’t have an outstanding document full of ideas you probably will never have the time to write, then here are a few ways to find your story:
1. Observe
     People are crazy. They do crazy things for crazy reasons. They say crazy things. They wear crazy things. Best places to observe include airports, large malls, and playgrounds. Just don’t be creepy, ok?
2. Read your old writings (I’m talking all the way down to grade school)
      Kids have a way of misinterpreting things or imagining situations that may be absurd or may be the plot of your next novel. You never know… Plus, if you were the author then past you just gave presnt you the inspiration!
3. Check out the horoscopes and newspaper headlines
     Get character motivations or plot twists from your local paper.
     There are many resources online for finding and developing your ideas. 

NaNo November: Events Far and Wide

by in Local Events, Maple Valley Writers, NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo Checklist

NaNo starts in just a couple of days! Do you know where you will be and what you will be writing about? Here’s your pre-Nano checklist:

  1. Signup on Nanowrimo.org
  2. Pick a region
  3. Flesh out your book idea and make an outline
  4. Figure out how to work around previously scheduled events (Thanksgiving etc)
  5. Download your free scrivener trial
  6. Take advantage of other free offers! Such as your free manuscript review and First Edition Hardcover from Lulu.com

Author Thursdays: NaNoWriMo November

by in Author Thursdays, Maple Valley Writers, NaNoWriMo and tagged

Dear readers,

   As of today and throughout the entirety of November, rachel-barnard.blogpost.com will concentrate on the joys, triumphs, tips, sufferings, braggings of National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo instead of following the usual format of daily themed posts.

What is NaNoWriMo?

From Nanowrimo.org the official website for national novel writing month: “Nanowrimo is an annual event (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world.”

Check out your local region’s events for NaNo near you!

For Maple Valley, where I will be doing the majority of my writing, check out our calendar of events

My personal novel: The Day the Computer Stood Still

The federal supercomputer was meant to catch felons but fell in love instead. How can there be peace when humanity’s watchdog is surfing dating sites instead of capturing criminals?

Author Thursdays: Writing Exercise – I Like to Do it in Groups

by in Author Thursdays


I like to do it in groups*


“1, 2, 3” Riz said as he stuffed first one, then a second and finally a third plump marshmallow in succession into his mouth. “Four. Five. Fix” He continued, shoving them in.
“You’ll never make it.” Jerry stated, his arms crossed as he watched Riz reach into the open bag of mallows.
“Fuf Waf Me.” Riz revealed creamy snowmen teeth. He found another and was able to cram it into his grin.
“Hey Riz. Poopsicles!” Cried Jerry.
Marshmallows flew like bullets as Riz began to laugh, the ends of his mouth crinkling up enough to let the horde of sticky mallows loose.
“Aw, man!” Wailed Riz.
“Told you so.” Crowed Jerry. “Watch a pro. I like to do it in groups. You can get more in that way.”
With the air of an expert Jerry grabbed two of the marshmallows and popped them into his mouth, savoring the sugary coating as he scrunched the two as far back as he could without swallowing.
Jerry gave a wink at Riz and grabbed two more and popped those in as well.
“You gotta get 8 to beat me.” Riz reminded Jerry.
Jerry did not even bat an eye but grabbed marshmallows number five and six. In they went but there was almost no space left.
A trickle of sweat beaded on Jerry’s forehead and made its way down into his mouth, mixing salt and sweet together. Jerry paid no attention but grabbed another grouping of marshmallows. This time he held three. His eyes narrowed and he lined up the mallows with his mouth and then half chomped them in and half pushed them in until his lips barely contained the new additions to his collection.
“Aha” He cried triumphantly, the sound echoing from somewhere distant inside his mouth. He had done it! 9 marshmallows.
“Ya gotta finish.” Riz cajoled before cries of “Do it! Do it! Do it!” He pounded a fist in the air. Cheering on his friend. He had wanted to win but seeing his friend trying to chew while 9 air-puffed mallows sifted around inside was winning enough.

Jerry managed to find a mallow with his teeth and bit down, the others shlooping to fill up all the empty space left, which wasn’t much and his eyes teared a bit as it took everything he had to keep from spilling them all out again. Slowly but surely, Jerry found more room to chew and his saliva melted down the mallows enough so that he was able to finally lick the last bit of goo from the roof of his mouth in triumph.


*From a SnoValley Writes Workshop