WOW: Getting Ready for Nanowrimo?

[mbarker]

 Original Posting Oct. 5, 2018

Oh, ho! Nanowrimo, which means National Novel Writing Month, is coming up! That's write, November is the time when people everywhere fire up their pen and paper, computer, tablet, or even cell phone, and scribble, scribble, scribble! The goal? Simple. 50,000 words in one month. Roughly 1,666 words a day, but I like to think of it as 2,000 words a day, to give myself a buffer.

https://nanowrimo.org/

has all kinds of information, and you probably want to sign up.

Now, one of the tricky questions about Nanowrimo is whether or not you can prepare ahead of time. While everyone agrees that you need to write the words during November, for at least some people, it works better to go ahead and do outlines and such ahead of time, and then settle down and just write during November. Of course, some people do eschew any preparation, preferring to start fresh on November 1 and just write madly... Personally, I think it's okay to do some brainstorming and outlining ahead of time. So, I'll probably post some exercises and such aimed at helping you to get ready. Okay?

In any case, along with the Halloween contest, it is something else to think about. Just 2,000 words a day makes November go by, November go by, November go by...

WRITE!

Tech: Stories, piece by piece (part 1) (200 words?)

[mbarker]

 Original Posting Oct. 12, 2018

[Halloween stories? Nanowrimo plotting... it's all about stories, right?]

Let’s start with a simple definition of a story. “A likable character overcomes opposition and conflicts through their own efforts to achieve a worthwhile goal.”

Simple, right? Likable character, opposition and conflicts, their own efforts, and a worthwhile goal. Mix well, and write!

I’ve also seen people suggest starting with the character and their goals, then add in the opposition and conflicts, and work out the efforts. Same four pieces, just a little different order. Of course, there are people who like to start with the goal, add opposition and conflicts, then efforts, and figure out who is doing it last?

Well, that’s the core of the story, anyway. Now, in the next few pieces, we will take a look at some points about that character, the purpose or theme, the plot, and even the setting. But for now, you might think about how Halloween, horror, and such might tie into ... a likable character overcoming opposition and conflicts through their own efforts to achieve a worthwhile goal. Perhaps little Jack really wants to collect a nice bag of treats for Halloween, but... there’s a black cat in the path? A gang of zombies marauding? A ....

Okay, write!

EXERCISE: Literary themes?

[mbarker]

 Original Posting Oct. 13, 2018

Over here

https://writersedit.com/fiction-writing/10-most-popular-literary-theme-examples/

They provide a list of the 10 most popular literary themes! So... pick a number from one to ten (hah! Roll a D20 and divide by 2? Pull a dollar bill out of your pocket, and look at the last digit of the serial number? How about look at a digital clock, and take the last digit of the time? One way or another, pick a number from one to ten, okay?)

Here's what you have picked:

1. Love
2. Death
3. Good versus evil
4. Coming of age
5. Power and corruption
6. Survival
7. Courage and heroism
8. Prejudice
9. Individual versus society
10. War

If you want to, go over to their site and check out the examples they provide for each category. But basically, take that theme, which is probably reasonably familiar, and try wringing your own version out of it. Short story, poetry, a novel, a series... take your pick, but try to tie that theme into the story, and make us laugh, make us cry, make us feel the story come to life...

WRITE!

TECH: Go for the feels! (Halloweenie?) (300 words)

[mbarker]

 Original Posting Oct. 15, 2018

Alright, it's Oct. 15, halfway through the Halloween contest period (opened Oct. 5, deadline Oct. 25, get those cards and letters to [elided]!) and over here, there's an article about writing short stories! by Sarah Hoyt...

https://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/how-to-write-short-stories-part-4-go-for-the-feels/

This is part 4, you may want to go back and review parts 1-3, but... let's see what she says here. The feels short story! A short story devoted to messing with your reader's feelings. Aha, like scaring them? Evoking feelings...

Start with something that you think will excite "feels" in your audience. Pick something that you know people will react to. Kittens, childhood, puppies, innocence...

Outline? Sure...

Start with a character who has sacrificed everything to achieve a goal, losing their soul and joy in the process.

BUT the character gets a chance to do something good, something that reminds them of what they have lost. They try to ignore it.

Push the stimuli, make the character do what they are avoiding. Yes, they are trying to avoid those feelings, but... raindrops keep falling on my face...

And pop! Over the edge...

DO IT! But there are adventures and complications. Drat, why did I start this? Oh, yes...

More dealing with the situation, ignoring the goal.

Payoff! Realization that even though the goal is still there, they really need that feel. Go ahead, pull out the stops and make us cry...

Hum. Halloween? Oh, ho, how about the guy who is so wrapped up in his work that he doesn't even realize that it is Halloween, but... there's a knock at the door, and a little ghost in a sheet lisps, "Twick or tweet, mithter?" And he remembers that day when he went with his brother, wearing a sheet with two holes cut in it...

Well, maybe. Anyway, don't forget! Just ten more days to get that story (or poem! Can't forget the poetry!) in for the 2018 Halloween Contest! Go...

WRITE!

Tech: Stories, piece by piece (part 2: Character!)

[mbarker]

 Original Posting Oct. 16, 2018

Okay, for Halloween or Nanowrimo or whenever, you want to get your likable character together, so that through their own efforts, they can overcome opposition and conflicts to achieve a worthwhile goal, right? But... characters? What do you need to know about them? What do you want to know about them?

Well, one approach is to think about these questions. Who are they? What are their goals and desires? What are their problems and their faults? That should give you a pretty good idea of who these people are.

You might also tackle it from the situation or plot side of the world. Who hurts? Who hurts the most? What is their self-concept? What changes in the character? That gives you another look at the characters.

Of course, you can tackle it with the simple questions. Who is there? Where are they going? This let you look at their goals and motivations.

Now, you might want to take a look at their desires. One list is:

Power, independence, curiosity, order, savings (possessions), honor, idealism, status, acceptance, social contact, family, vengeance, romance, eating, physical activity, tranquility.

I know, I know, the checklists that some people use are more generic where did they grow up, where did they go to school, what color is their hair, and so forth. But I think looking at what they want to do and why is probably good, too. Names and such, well, yes, you need those details to bring the person really to life. Just think about them sitting there, explaining why they want to make exploding pumpkins, or whatever it is.

Write!