Responses and Determinations

[engarian]

Wow. Lots of interesting responses to yesterday's post about my return to the library and decision to attempt NaNoWriMo in November. A lot of support and interesting perspectives. My friend who is a published author of books for children and young adults was totally supportive telling me to write what I felt, that all of the rest would follow.

Comments

[ellynn_ithilwen]

I'm not necessarily going to be writing this for publication as much as writing this because I need to get this written.

The same was with me and my novel. I didn't plan to publish it, I just wanted to write it. And I did it and I was happy.
I know the feeling - the story is inside you and wants to go out. So I'll just say three words: go for it. ;)

*hugs*

[engarian]

I see the story in my head, the only question I have is whether I can make it interesting...the hook that I mentioned yesterday. The secondary hooks are in place, but that primary hook - what draws the characters together and makes the readers follow them into danger - that's still eluding me. I think it will come clear, but it might take a few more weeks of thought and discussion with friends to get a firm direction nailed. You're absolutely right, though. I do need to "go for it". Thanks so much for your support, it really means a lot to me :-)

- Erulisse (one L)

[engarian]

The research is the fun part for me - I suppose so many years of researching items for college essays and my thesis have trained me. Even for my B2ME Maglor in History pieces I did a ton of research. A lot of printed pages went into my recycling after those stories were complete.

Eventually, however, the research has to be put to use and the writing must begin. Then it will be a matter of finding the time and quiet time to actually write the daily amount I will need to keep the word goal in sight. That will be the tricky part and may well lead to some near-sleepless nights rather like some parts of B2ME did before I found my feet and was able to intersperse some shorter stories.

Good luck with your own project. If I can be of any help, don't hesitate to ask.

- Erulisse (one L)

[clodia_metelli]

I know the feeling of needing to exorcise a plot - and also how much fun it is to do, and how satisfying when it's done. Good luck with yours!

[engarian]

Thanks, Clodia. I'm spending far too much time 'daydreaming' about this plot. At least when I research I feel that I'm accomplishing something, but when I'm just thinking about plotlines and characters, it seems like I'm just whiling my time away. Silly me - I know that both aspects are important, but I get so spacey when I'm thinking about plotlines. I'm making the fleshing out of this my focus for the rest of the year with side trips into several craft projects and a few trips. No rest for the wicked (or the good, for that matter). *hugs*

- Erulisse (one L)

[chaotic_binky]

I have written things because I needed to - some of them were posted but some were not. Good luck with yours.

[engarian]

This one isn't letting me wiggle out from under it, but if I am going to be successful I need to make sure that I've done all of my prep work. At least I feel like I'm doing something then - :-D

- Erulisse (one L)

[idleleaves]

I've successfully completed a couple of NaNo novels - I say go for it! It can be a great experience. It can also be overwhelming. And frustrating. I'm still waffling on whether to participate again this year or to make myself a different writing challenge, so I can participate on the boards and bask in the atmosphere of write-write-write while not going totally insane.

[engarian]

I am only thinking about doing this because I have a novel pecking at me, or at least a plot that wants to be let go. So I'm spending the next few months doing research and working on the basics of writing skills and I'll try to see if I can establish a method of writing in November that will work for me. 2000 words a day is not impossible by any stretch, but only if I have a very clear idea of what I want to do and where I want to go. I've never done anything like this before, but I think it might be marvelous.

- Erulisse (one L)

[idleleaves]

I think it might be marvelous

It can be! 2000 words a day is absolutely INSANE by my standards, and yet, I don't know, I managed, and learned a few things that I don't think I would have learned by writing any other way.

The housework definitely suffered for it, though. :D