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National Novel Writing Month

by janra
Posted to Diaries, Diary on Wed Nov 19, 2003 at 05:26:58 PM PST
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As I said in my last diary entry here, I am doing NaNoWriMo. I'm on track to finish on time (yay me!) and thus am currently at just over 30,000 words.

If you'd like to read my first-draft-novel-in-progress, it's on my website for the world to see.

Ok, so that was the quick summary :-)

It feels like there was a bit of a "break" at around 25,000 words, because the setting completely changed right then and the main character had to get used to a whole new routine and new people and stuff. It was planned, but it's still a little jarring, IMO. I'll fix it in editing...

The other "break" at the same time is because most of my plotting had been for the first half of the story; now that I'm in the second half, I took a while to figure out where I was going again. I got turned around and lost my bearings, if you will. But now it's starting to get back on track and things are happening again.

Also, making up random new words is fun.

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National Novel Writing Month | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden)

Not a bad start... (none/0) (#1)
by Martooni on Thu Nov 20, 2003 at 02:09:17 AM PST

I had time to read the first two chapters this morning and I must say that it's not a bad start at all. I'll wait until I've read a few more chapters before I offer up any editorial comments, but I like what I've read so far.

Keep up the good work!

: thanks :-) (none/0) (#2)
by janra on Thu Nov 20, 2003 at 05:30:01 AM PST

Glad you're enjoying it so far. I'm sure having fun writing it...
--
Who needs to be big and burly when you can just apply physics?
[ Parent ]

Yay. (none/0) (#3)
by ana on Sat Nov 22, 2003 at 03:50:56 PM PST

I guess I haven't posted a link to my NoNo (that'd be short for November Novel). Comments are welcome if anyone cares to read it.

And yeah, first draft, unedited, etc. warnings apply.
Exploring dark places since last Thursday

Okay... I'm hooked (none/0) (#4)
by Martooni on Sun Nov 23, 2003 at 03:12:32 PM PST

I've finished reading all of what you have posted -- very well done for a first draft! The dialogue moves along nicely and so far the plot hasn't been very predictable (for me, anyways). There were moments when I was reminded of Orson Scott Card's "Ender" series, but all in all I'd have to say this is a very original story line.

My only complaint is that it's not finished! You left off with a real cliffhanger -- who's running down the street towards the confrontation in the shop??? This is why I almost never buy a book in a series unless the entire series is already complete. Gawd I hate suspense ;-)

Anyways, great job so far -- you've got me hooked. I'm looking forward to reading the rest!

hah (none/0) (#5)
by janra on Sun Nov 23, 2003 at 05:30:55 PM PST

and I took off for the weekend, too, so no updates all weekend ;-)

Not that I got any writing done this weekend at all. Rather too much socializing going on with family I haven't seen since spring.

Oh, and the cliffhanger wasn't intentional, it was approximately when I got too tired to write any more Thursday night.
--
Who needs to be big and burly when you can just apply physics?
[ Parent ]

Well? (none/0) (#6)
by Martooni on Mon Nov 24, 2003 at 12:42:37 AM PST

What are you waiting for? Get cracking!

If you didn't have enough self-motivation to complete this novel in 30 days, you'll now have me pestering you for the next six days. ;-)

[ Parent ]

: self-motivation (none/0) (#7)
by janra on Mon Nov 24, 2003 at 05:14:50 AM PST

Oh, I have enough self-motivation. But just to make sure, I told everybody that I was doing it, and I put the story online. Now I have to finish it.
Your reaction tells me that my plan is working ;-)
--
Who needs to be big and burly when you can just apply physics?
[ Parent ]

Yes, it's working... (none/0) (#8)
by Martooni on Mon Nov 24, 2003 at 06:57:28 AM PST

<tongue-in-cheek>
Your devious little plan is very similar to Stephen King's approach with his serials -- write a little bit, get everyone addicted, then dangle the next little bit over them like a carrot on a stick. When you finally get the carrot, it tastes really good but you're even hungrier for another. Then, once you're craving has reached the point where you've started banging your head against the monitor and begun gnawing on your ethernet cables, desperate to know what comes next, another carrot magically appears and the process starts all over again.
</tongue-in-cheek>

Since I'm three time zones or so ahead of you, I'll try to be a little more patient waiting for the updates -- but I *am* hooked on this story line, so *please* don't leave me hanging.

btw... I may just have to use this approach for my own novel. I'm going to have some extra down-time coming up soon so I'm hoping to get moving on it again. Of course, when *I* take a break, it may last up to three months (or longer, if it's a really good cliffhanger) ;-)

Anxiously awaiting the next installment,

Congratulations! (none/0) (#9)
by Martooni on Sun Nov 30, 2003 at 02:21:47 AM PST

I've been following your novel day to day and see that you've completed it. Congrats!

Now I can't wait for the "fleshed out" version ;-)

Let me know if you want help on the editing -- I'd be happy to read and offer up comments/suggestions.

: thanks (none/0) (#10)
by janra on Sun Nov 30, 2003 at 10:59:04 AM PST

it was fun. I'm surprised the story ended just after the 50,000 word count was reached. I expected it to go on for another couple of thousand.
The editing will happen in the new year. I think this novel and I need some "time apart." ;-) I don't think I'll post the fleshed out version though; I'm considering submitting it to a publisher after editing. I may send it to selected people via email though, the way I am with my other novel...
--
Who needs to be big and burly when you can just apply physics?
[ Parent ]

National Novel Writing Month | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden)

	Absolutely!	50%
	Sounds interesting	0%
	Maybe next year, if I feel like it	0%
	Are you crazy?	0%
	You're completely nuts, aren't you?	25%
	I mean, 50,000 words in a month?	0%
	That's insane!!	0%
	I have trouble with a 2,000 word essay with a one-month deadline	25%
	And you're writing 2,000 words every day???	0%