This Nano has made me realise just how valuable preparation is for me (I had no outline and very little general pre-writing with this book), so I'd love to read your take on it.
Damn it's hard to pass by the "Ticky Box" option without clicking it. I just like the sound of it.
Ticky Box Ticky Box Ticky Box
Ticky Box!
But really, I'm interested on how you gauge what a story's going to be like before you go at it, because damn, I have 135K words of shit to cram in a 65K bag, and while I am kinda windy, no one is that damn windy.
I thought about your comment and the pre-things and my stories.
Most are written in response to prompts or exercises (alot from Forward Motion). And most of those were done by seeing the prompt and thinking 'Oh that is interesting.' and my fingers start typing.
'Bound Rose' (novel) had a prompt; A three way tussle, protag is a vampire, antag a werewolf, main item is manacles, theme love.
'Promise' (novel-ish) = 'Your character has helped capture one of the most wanted criminals in their universe, a man so cruel that he is universally hated. But, he also holds vital information. Information some are willing to torture them to get. Where does your character stand? Do they help, or stand up for even the worst of the worsts rights?'
'Chase' (multiple novels) was a dream, which you could say was pre thought.
'Hiccup in Time' (short story) was a challenge set to write in second person - anything as long as it was in second person.
'The Gift' (short story) was 'A notebook'
'Angelic' (damn thing was a short but if festered into a novel) was a picture that was supposed to prompt thought, for me I looked at it and opened a document and typed; "I'll kill him. You know I will." ...
'Blood's Moon' (Nano novel) was Magnus Maximus, also known as Macsen Wledig, took a daughter of the High King of an area in celtic Wales in AD 365-ish. He became Govenor of Britton, High King after his father-in-law and eventually Emperor of Rome. He reported took the Celtic men who were the body guard of his wife into the Roman army. What was their story?
'TouchKnow' (novella that could be longer if I found the time) is the one that I had most pre thought. It was based upon seeing the odd bits you see at the side of a highway, things that have come out of someones car or truck by accident. The odd boot, a cusion off a lounge, someone's hat. I wondered what story those bits could tell. For months it nagged me, then one day, whilst out driving with hubby, I thought what if someone touched those things and could 'see' who they belonged to. By the time we got home I had words in my head about that someone.
'Hunt the Sea Butterfly' (novel, supposed to be a short) was a friend is feeling down at the moment, I'll write something to cheer her up.
But once started I do think, usually when driving, especially when I'm by myself. Who is the character, why are they doing this action, what is the reaction of the other characters? Or I'll 'hear' two characters talking. or 'see' them doing stuff. If I get stuck or need information I might stop and research the internet or let it simmer.
Somedays I wish I knew how I did this, so I coud shut the 'muse' up, and get on with writing one of the many unfinished stories. I should learn to ignore them and not start typing. But in the back of my mind is what if I forget how to come up with ideas.
But before I take over Val's LJ (if I haven't already) I'll end. If I could work out why I can do this I'd teach you, but I think it's just basically to open up the imagination and not be scared. After all if you stuff it up on first go, who is to know - no one else is reading it.
No, no, I want clicky boxes so I can pick more than one. I'm constitutionally incapable of only picking one thing, unless you let me come back and change it in thirty seconds five minutes.
If there were an "all of the above" option I would have picked that, but since there wasn't I let the ticky box option seduce me. Seriously, I'm interested in all of them. My first choice would probably be either writing the novel or short stories versus novels (because I have a few shorts that are dying to get out, but that never seem to work out at all) because I don't do a whole lot (or any, really) prewriting most of the time, but I still like reading how other people do it.
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I've no problems getting the stuff out (well maybe a problem keeping to one thingy) just a problem with making it good afterwards.
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Ticky Box
Ticky Box
Ticky Box
Ticky Box!
But really, I'm interested on how you gauge what a story's going to be like before you go at it, because damn, I have 135K words of shit to cram in a 65K bag, and while I am kinda windy, no one is that damn windy.
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And yes, you cannot pass up the ticky box!!!
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Suelder
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(Seriously, it's simply the radio button. But ticky box sounds sooooo much better!)
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Most are written in response to prompts or exercises (alot from Forward Motion). And most of those were done by seeing the prompt and thinking 'Oh that is interesting.' and my fingers start typing.
'Bound Rose' (novel) had a prompt; A three way tussle, protag is a vampire, antag a werewolf, main item is manacles, theme love.
'Promise' (novel-ish) = 'Your character has helped capture one of the most wanted criminals in their universe, a man so cruel that he is universally hated. But, he also holds vital information. Information some are willing to torture them to get. Where does your character stand? Do they help, or stand up for even the worst of the worsts rights?'
'Chase' (multiple novels) was a dream, which you could say was pre thought.
'Hiccup in Time' (short story) was a challenge set to write in second person - anything as long as it was in second person.
'The Gift' (short story) was 'A notebook'
'Angelic' (damn thing was a short but if festered into a novel) was a picture that was supposed to prompt thought, for me I looked at it and opened a document and typed; "I'll kill him. You know I will." ...
'Blood's Moon' (Nano novel) was Magnus Maximus, also known as Macsen Wledig, took a daughter of the High King of an area in celtic Wales in AD 365-ish. He became Govenor of Britton, High King after his father-in-law and eventually Emperor of Rome. He reported took the Celtic men who were the body guard of his wife into the Roman army. What was their story?
'TouchKnow' (novella that could be longer if I found the time) is the one that I had most pre thought. It was based upon seeing the odd bits you see at the side of a highway, things that have come out of someones car or truck by accident. The odd boot, a cusion off a lounge, someone's hat. I wondered what story those bits could tell. For months it nagged me, then one day, whilst out driving with hubby, I thought what if someone touched those things and could 'see' who they belonged to. By the time we got home I had words in my head about that someone.
'Hunt the Sea Butterfly' (novel, supposed to be a short) was a friend is feeling down at the moment, I'll write something to cheer her up.
But once started I do think, usually when driving, especially when I'm by myself. Who is the character, why are they doing this action, what is the reaction of the other characters? Or I'll 'hear' two characters talking. or 'see' them doing stuff. If I get stuck or need information I might stop and research the internet or let it simmer.
Somedays I wish I knew how I did this, so I coud shut the 'muse' up, and get on with writing one of the many unfinished stories. I should learn to ignore them and not start typing. But in the back of my mind is what if I forget how to come up with ideas.
But before I take over Val's LJ (if I haven't already) I'll end. If I could work out why I can do this I'd teach you, but I think it's just basically to open up the imagination and not be scared. After all if you stuff it up on first go, who is to know - no one else is reading it.
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thirty secondsfive minutes.From:
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