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writercises2012-01-03 11:41 am
mbarker.livejournal.com) wrote in writercises2012-01-03 11:41 am
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TECH: Nanowrimo at the bend? #10 or thereabouts?
Original Posting 11 Nov 2011
First of all, over here
http://writercises.livejournal.com/143199.html
There are some comments about Chekhov's gun -- the idea that when you talk about something early in your story, later on something should happen with it. A gun hanging on the mantle really deserves somebody taking it down and shooting it, sooner or later. Or perhaps you prefer a MacGuffin, a Maltese falcon, a holy Grail, or one of those other things to be searched for. There's also plot tokens and plot vouchers -- if you get the six parts of the ancient crown, you too can reign incandescent or something like that.
The key here is that some of the objects and bits and pieces floating around in your story imply things, and you want to show them to the reader sooner or later. A bear trap being set up in Chapter two will turn up later, probably with something or someone's leg in it. Or perhaps the music box on the dresser will eventually be played, revealing that someone really did like Fantasia? Whatever, keep those keys ready to turn in locks, alright?
Another thought, while we're at a turning point -- one third of the month roughly behind us, two thirds ahead. You might want to consider what you learned about your protagonist and antagonist. Quite simply, by writing to this point, you've probably figured out more about what's going on. Even if you had a detailed outline, character sheets, and all that planning, when you start writing, you start inventing, and suddenly you realize where the scar on your protagonist's shoulder came from, what happened to the antagonist's favorite cat, and all those little details that bring your story to life. You may also find yourself getting a bit confused.
Which makes it a great time to sit down and remind yourself who everybody is and what they're trying to do. Based on what you've already written, take a little time and write up again who your protagonist is, what their goals are, what the blocks and conflicts are that they face, what they plan to do about it, and just what's ahead for them, as you see it now. Then give the other guy equal time, and think about your antagonist. What are their goals? What about the conflicts and problems that they face? As they wind up their thin black mustache, what kind of an evil plan do they have? And what's ahead for the antagonist? Are there any other important secondary characters that you need to reconsider, now that you've come this far?
What about your plot? Are there events that you want to add to the mix at this point? Perhaps some that you want to take out? Take a look back at the 10 days worth of writing that you've done, and consider the next 20 days or beyond. You might want to think about the promises that you've made and consider when and where you're going to pay them off. What questions have you raised for the reader, and what kind of answers are you going to give them?
Okay? 15,000 words more or less already out of the way, and you probably have a feeling for what it's going to take to keep going. Frankly, I don't think it's as important to hit the quota as it is to set your own goals and keep going. Be consistent.
So, sit down and write. Word after word after word, a bit here, a bit there, and watch the pile grow.
Incidentally, as Nanowrimo likes to remind you, back up your work! You don't want your writing to fall into the great bit bucket and disappear!
First of all, over here
http://writercises.livejournal.com/143199.html
There are some comments about Chekhov's gun -- the idea that when you talk about something early in your story, later on something should happen with it. A gun hanging on the mantle really deserves somebody taking it down and shooting it, sooner or later. Or perhaps you prefer a MacGuffin, a Maltese falcon, a holy Grail, or one of those other things to be searched for. There's also plot tokens and plot vouchers -- if you get the six parts of the ancient crown, you too can reign incandescent or something like that.
The key here is that some of the objects and bits and pieces floating around in your story imply things, and you want to show them to the reader sooner or later. A bear trap being set up in Chapter two will turn up later, probably with something or someone's leg in it. Or perhaps the music box on the dresser will eventually be played, revealing that someone really did like Fantasia? Whatever, keep those keys ready to turn in locks, alright?
Another thought, while we're at a turning point -- one third of the month roughly behind us, two thirds ahead. You might want to consider what you learned about your protagonist and antagonist. Quite simply, by writing to this point, you've probably figured out more about what's going on. Even if you had a detailed outline, character sheets, and all that planning, when you start writing, you start inventing, and suddenly you realize where the scar on your protagonist's shoulder came from, what happened to the antagonist's favorite cat, and all those little details that bring your story to life. You may also find yourself getting a bit confused.
Which makes it a great time to sit down and remind yourself who everybody is and what they're trying to do. Based on what you've already written, take a little time and write up again who your protagonist is, what their goals are, what the blocks and conflicts are that they face, what they plan to do about it, and just what's ahead for them, as you see it now. Then give the other guy equal time, and think about your antagonist. What are their goals? What about the conflicts and problems that they face? As they wind up their thin black mustache, what kind of an evil plan do they have? And what's ahead for the antagonist? Are there any other important secondary characters that you need to reconsider, now that you've come this far?
What about your plot? Are there events that you want to add to the mix at this point? Perhaps some that you want to take out? Take a look back at the 10 days worth of writing that you've done, and consider the next 20 days or beyond. You might want to think about the promises that you've made and consider when and where you're going to pay them off. What questions have you raised for the reader, and what kind of answers are you going to give them?
Okay? 15,000 words more or less already out of the way, and you probably have a feeling for what it's going to take to keep going. Frankly, I don't think it's as important to hit the quota as it is to set your own goals and keep going. Be consistent.
So, sit down and write. Word after word after word, a bit here, a bit there, and watch the pile grow.
Incidentally, as Nanowrimo likes to remind you, back up your work! You don't want your writing to fall into the great bit bucket and disappear!