NaNoWriMo woes

[hermitknut]

Well, ladies and gentleman, it is day 18 of National Novel Writing Month. The word target is 30k. I have, right now, 20909 words.

This is a little scary...

I know I can get back on top of it. Writing 5k a day this weekend wouldn't usually kill me - my story, however, really is. I've never had this much problem during NaNo before. I know what's got to

Comments

[b_c_draygon]

*big hugs*

Seems like we have quite different writing styles! I find that if I have a scene completely worked out in my head in advance, unless it is setting my mind on fire, I kind of lose interest. :/ And if I have an ending completely worked out ... well. That's like the death-knoll for any story. I have seen it happen so many times with both fanfic and non-fanfic writing, it's a little depressing. (Vague ideas are OK, but as soon as I have the final scene worked out, it's like I don't have to bother writing the whole thing any more because I've already done it, just in my head. It is a really strange thing and I wish I didn't have it

[hermitknut]

What are your Good Guys up against?

It's HP fanfic, AU, follow on from my alternate version of Deathly Hallows. My good guys - the Weasley clan, so I've got a few characters from the books (Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny) and a bundle of next-gen OCs (Eddie Potter, Henry Weasley, Joe and Casper). With Lord Voldemort dead and long gone, no one's trying to wipe out muggleborns/muggles anymore, but the big argument is between integration (slowly letting more and more muggles into the society) and anti-integration (keeping the two societies entirely seperate). At the point I've got to, at least comfort-wise, my hardcore anti-integrationists who as of yet do not have a name have managed to reveal the wizarding world to the muggle one (they figure that the two will fight and separate, and they're planning on helping it along). The Wizards, along with most of my MCs (but not all) are holed up in Gringotts (the Goblins have legged it) while the anti-integrationists are posing as a muggle political group and advocating complete segregation.

[b_c_draygon]

Ooooooo, this sounds really interesting and excitingly political! :D

OK, first thoughts: have you thought about looking at how segregation was abolished in America? Because the similarity between wizard/muggle integration and black/white integration was literally my first thought when I read what you wrote here. :)

So, all muggles now know that wizards exist? Hmm, that's kind of a big deal, heh. No pressure at all there, then! :S

My first thought on that is that revealing the Bad Guys to be Bad Guys to the muggles won't help the integration of the worlds, because ... well, then wizards look like bad guys. (And let's face it, human beings - magical or not - are really great at stereotyping and if someone comes along and says, "These wizards are bad, bad wizards who have been lying to you." the muggles could potentially think that all wizards a like that.) I think wiping out the bad guys or proving categorically that they're wrong about separation is probably your best bet

[hermitknut]

have you thought about looking at how segregation was abolished in America?

I haven't - that's a good thought, thanks :D

So, all muggles now know that wizards exist? Hmm, that's kind of a big deal, heh. No pressure at all there, then! :S

Pretty much. I have cheated a bit, though - I decided that one of the Ministry's failsafes, should the muggles discover them, is to through up a national ward that blocks all communication in and out of the country. This way I don't have to deal with the whole planet, lol, just the UK.

I think my bad guys can be a mixed group - muggles and wizards - which helps. The muggles will all be people who have been associated with the wizarding world through family or have found out somehow, and still believe they should be seperated. That way I can blame both sides. But your point is a good one

[hermitknut]

My MCs are stuck under seige from the muggle world (which now knows that the wizarding world exists and does not know how to deal), and the bad guys are pushing the idea of total muggle/wizard segregation. The simple stuff is fine - but at detail-level, the whole thing is in knots. :( But I've found some blank revision cards, and I think I'm going to try a way of writing out a plan that means I can fiddle around with it instead of it being fixed.

I love your icon, by the way :)

H

[hermitknut]

I can imagine the talk shows after finding out about wizards. :P

*nods enthusiastically* I love that. I have the mental image of them bypassing the "technoology blows up in hogwarts" rule and sending a camera crew into Hogwarts, as well. I don't know why.

Common enemy is a good one. So maybe "outing" my bad guys for what they really are would be a plan - they've been manipulating and damaging both sides. Huh. Thanks for that! :D

H

[fiwen1010]

You remain ahead of me. I'm running into a wall of confuse pretty regularly too *sighs*

[hermitknut]

*hugs* It completely sucks. Currently I'm making character cards and situation cards and event cards out of revision cards. I have no idea if it'll help, but it's getting me to think at least.

HK

[calistomyth]

Herm, your ability to use your revision cards in so many diverse ways astounds me! Mine are one of two things: for revision or for shopping lists.
And I suppose on the odd occasion an origami frog.

Anyway, I sorry I can't help.... RANDOM ENCOURAGEMENT! Hope that will suffice :( You can do it!xx

[hermitknut]

Hahahaha, random encouragement is always good :D

Also... origami frog??

H