Post by Snow Fox on Oct 22, 2015 0:32:10 GMT -8
Alright my dear WriMo-ers. Happy Back to the Future Day. Back to the Future Again if you're reading this after October 21st is over. And Great Scott has this month flown by!
It's 10 days until we kick off our writing for NaNo! 10 whole days of preparation to get those creative juices flowing. Unfortunately, creativity is like lightning; you never know when or where it's ever gonna strike. So, I ask you my lovely writers, are we ready?
I didn't hear a resounding cry of excited approval. I asked if you were ready. Unless, of course, you're like me and you know you're not. Then the plots have yet to multiply and the bunnies haven't hooked up. If you're in this boat, enjoy this next paragraph. If not, feel free to skip ahead to the next back to the future quote.
Two major points that I believe everyone forgets to do before diving straight into the vast ocean that is novel creation is knowing where to start and where to end. The in between is the easy part. You will have many twists and turns to make this novel a wild ride for your dear readers. But where you start is the part that determines whether or not your novel will be interesting. You can have the best meat in the sandwich, but if your bread is crap, it'll spoil the whole meal. However, once you've got a good hook, your reader will be experiencing the need to read the rest of the tale. If you don't finish the piece correctly, it'll leave a sour taste in their mouth or if you simply drop off and never finish the book, no one will be able to experience any of it. Ever.
Luckily, there's an easy three step process to drive your novel on and give you an idea of what the heck it is you're wanting to write about. Feel free to reference this for the next few days as you're getting this show on the writing road.
Passion.
What's a book without one? I mean, honestly? You have a main character or main group of characters or series of characters that you'll be following at some point in your novel or another, yes? What drives them onward? What is their purpose in life and what gives them fire? What could they be thinking about at any given moment? Do they have a passion in life? Do they even have a driving force or are they sitting idle in life and need something to shove them around? This is one of the many plot points that can both begin and end your novel.
Challenge.
Ah, yes, the challenge. The points of every book that makes it a quest from A to Z. You must build these challenges and trials for your character to go through in order to keep the story moving forward. Even if you don't have a clue what the challenges will be in any particular order, be sure to scrawl down even the smallest of ideas so that they might be referenced at a later time. May I suggest post-it notes or a noveling journal?
Instigate
This is the kicker. No, literally, it's a boot. Use it to punt your character out of the stagnant, everyday life that they were living before you decided to start writing about them. Whether it be a mysterious phone call or being hit by a bus or something as simple as adopting a pet, it'll be something that makes your character have to put their butt into gear.
So, is motivation stirring like 1.21 gigawatts of electricity coursing through your time machine Delorean? No? Maybe you're not going 88 mph, yet. But you will! And if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.
Also, if you need further help with a plot, try doing a visual web. It worked for me! :3
It's 10 days until we kick off our writing for NaNo! 10 whole days of preparation to get those creative juices flowing. Unfortunately, creativity is like lightning; you never know when or where it's ever gonna strike. So, I ask you my lovely writers, are we ready?
I didn't hear a resounding cry of excited approval. I asked if you were ready. Unless, of course, you're like me and you know you're not. Then the plots have yet to multiply and the bunnies haven't hooked up. If you're in this boat, enjoy this next paragraph. If not, feel free to skip ahead to the next back to the future quote.
Two major points that I believe everyone forgets to do before diving straight into the vast ocean that is novel creation is knowing where to start and where to end. The in between is the easy part. You will have many twists and turns to make this novel a wild ride for your dear readers. But where you start is the part that determines whether or not your novel will be interesting. You can have the best meat in the sandwich, but if your bread is crap, it'll spoil the whole meal. However, once you've got a good hook, your reader will be experiencing the need to read the rest of the tale. If you don't finish the piece correctly, it'll leave a sour taste in their mouth or if you simply drop off and never finish the book, no one will be able to experience any of it. Ever.
Luckily, there's an easy three step process to drive your novel on and give you an idea of what the heck it is you're wanting to write about. Feel free to reference this for the next few days as you're getting this show on the writing road.
Passion.
What's a book without one? I mean, honestly? You have a main character or main group of characters or series of characters that you'll be following at some point in your novel or another, yes? What drives them onward? What is their purpose in life and what gives them fire? What could they be thinking about at any given moment? Do they have a passion in life? Do they even have a driving force or are they sitting idle in life and need something to shove them around? This is one of the many plot points that can both begin and end your novel.
Challenge.
Ah, yes, the challenge. The points of every book that makes it a quest from A to Z. You must build these challenges and trials for your character to go through in order to keep the story moving forward. Even if you don't have a clue what the challenges will be in any particular order, be sure to scrawl down even the smallest of ideas so that they might be referenced at a later time. May I suggest post-it notes or a noveling journal?
Instigate
This is the kicker. No, literally, it's a boot. Use it to punt your character out of the stagnant, everyday life that they were living before you decided to start writing about them. Whether it be a mysterious phone call or being hit by a bus or something as simple as adopting a pet, it'll be something that makes your character have to put their butt into gear.
So, is motivation stirring like 1.21 gigawatts of electricity coursing through your time machine Delorean? No? Maybe you're not going 88 mph, yet. But you will! And if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.
Also, if you need further help with a plot, try doing a visual web. It worked for me! :3
I might join at some point if I'm around <3 How is the writing going for all you Wrimos?! Mine is going fairly well! 