Tag Archive: NaNoWritMo

Oct
27

Deadly Writing Sin NaNoWriMo Post 4

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Continuing my NaNo Writing Sins posts.

Giving the Game Away too early

Ok so in my writing I have started to notice that I feel the the need to explain too much and explain it too early in the story. Once again becuase I have stewed this story I have had a chance to see the faults at the structural level rather than the finished level. It has been very enlightening.

I’m sure by now I know the following points as well as the next writer…

  1.  Readers don’t need the info dump
  2. If the really really need the info don’t give it to them in one indigestible lump
  3. KEEP THE CONFLICT AND KEEP THE TENSION = Happy reader

However –>

I noticed that I was explaining things too early in the book. For example. If someone went missing, there was an explanation scene very soon after explaining what happened. WRONG –> keep them guessing

Example: My characters get put in a cupboard when the do naughty things. This cupboard has a second purpose. I planned on telling the readers this early on –> WRONG –> add the tension, keep them guessing.

HOW HAVE I FIXED THIS?

Well as it is NaNo and I haven’t started writing yet I did the following:
I wrote a list of all the potential tension building / conflict creating scenes and then looked at where I was going to resolve them. I pushed them all further into the novel. Some to the end. Kept a few little ones to ensure the reader was not feeling totally bamboozled. Kept a couple of SUBTLE forshadowing comments to go in. (see list below)
Why subtle? You know what I mean by over foreshadowing.
Those books that keep giving you the hint that something bad is going to happen to a character or… that a character is a bad egg.
I really hate this!
Seriously!
It’s treating me as stupid. I got it the first or second time. I didn’t need the constant foreshadowing on every page until the dramatic reveal. What is the worst that can happen? –> Your reader won’t pick up on the foreshadowing and the action comes at a surprise. I bet though, most people that didn’t get the foreshadowing will pick in up after the event and go “oh…. so that was why this happened…” They will continue a happy reader.

The Conflict/Tension List:

Evangaline got thrown out into the streets in chapter one –> kept any knowledge of her till right at the end of the book (rather than 1/2 way through) in fact I might even save this info for book two.

The girls know that Katherine is different. –> we pick up on this the whole way through but the reasons don’t come till quite at the end when the Professor explains it to her. (Rather than Katherine guessing at the reasons early in the book)

Clara is missing –> I removed all the really heavy “where is Clara” from early in the plot as MC won’t know there could be a serious problem with her friend. Katherine eventually finds what happened to Clara about 1/3 the way through. However the tension is continued as she can’t free Clara at that time. When she does, Clara has been badly traumatised and the reader will be left concerned about her future.

Sophia –> General conflict between the two girls. Sophia is always creating problems for Katherine

Main Protagonist –> I was planning on writing a scene where the goals of the protagonist where clearly displayed. I removed this scene. We know he is bad. We know he is planning something big. We know that it is related to some sort of plan to take over the city or government or royalty. We know he is manipulating and keeping young girls against their will. However I have removed the scene that explains this. For the moment I decided that he was much better as this mysterious figure that was just evil, and we are not sure just how much.  –> Fear of the unknown is much harder to deal with that fear of the known. I think it will add suspense. The actual specific plot will come out in book II. (I saw this work quite well in Clockwork Angel by Cassie Clare.)  We shall see.

Eleanor and the Master –> I added in a conflict mini subplot here. Which I am surprised I didn’t think of earlier! Eleanor has a young man trying to break her out of the Establishment. (that was always there) How much more motivating is it if she is the object of the Master’s affection. Especially with the hint at how he treats some of the older girls. Eleanor was always the beautiful graceful quiet one. Most likely to be an ‘object of affection’.

Katherine’s initial dislike of Ned was resolved too early in the plot. I have continued this dislike much farther into the book and increased the potential for conflict between Ned and the Master’s son.

Eleanor seems to silently oppose Katherine’s plans. –> I had planned on Eleanor confiding to Katherine early on in the plot about her secret love affair and plans to escape. However I have kept the two girls in wary opposition right through to the last quarter of the book. I think this will work lots better.

Obviously there are a lot more, these are just the main ones (Or ones I could think of)

Conclusion:

Being able to think about the plot in this was has really helped me examine and tease out the structure of the book. While I am sure that while I was writing the book I would have realised the tension needed ramming up a little, i would prefer to have a more detailed plan rather than having to fix things up. This method has really helped me see the structure, the bare bones of the plot. I have seen a problem and have tried to fix it before I started to write. I hope that this will help the first draft to be a lot tighter.

Coupled with reading James Scott Bell’s Book, On Plot and Structure, I really think this mini pre writing exercise has helped me understand plot elements and story construction a little better. Hopefully it will improved the writing as well.

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PERSONAL NOTE:

I really must appologise for being offline for nearly 3 weeks. We moved house rather suddenly and the internet was only just installed 2 days ago. Basically the internet company buggered up and connected a house in NSW rather than here in QLD. It was a REALLY big stuff  up on their behalf and has taken the best part of two weeks to fix. However it appears to be fixed now and I am back online.

We are now in the new house:-) Horray!! –> Spa pool included outside and it is awesome!

We have no furniture of course, but hey, I don’t need a couch or a flat screen TV. As long as I have binocular’s to see the minuscule TV screen that is ok. Besides I watch about 2 hours of TV a week, if that!

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See you all soon:

Thanks to Mark Greenmantle Photography

Sorry Just a little plug for my fantastic Wedding Photographer – Mark Greenmantle. If you live in Brisbane, this is the person you want doing your wedding photos. –> Click here for his Website <—
Sarah

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Oct
12

Deadly Writing Sin NaNoWriMo Post #3

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Today the writing sin is re-reading your work over and over

 

Come on please tell me you do this too…

Seriously, this is a big problem of mine. I like to read the words I have written. BIG time waster. There are pros and cons for this.

Pro Re-Reading:

  1. You get back in the mindset
  2. If the writing was awesome – It makes you feel just awesome
  3. You might get better continuity.

Pro NOT Re-Reading:

  1. Seriously how much can you forget in one day away from the novel Sheesh.
  2. If it is crap it might make you cry and stop NaNo
  3. If you start “Just fixing that one thing…” You will never get started for the day.

My Approach

So with this in mind, and with the premise of NaNo being all about “just writting” I really must avoid too much of the re-reading. I have a really good outline for the book. (Well sort of, that is another post) That will suffice.
I will allow myself to read the outline for the new writing.  When I have finished my writing for the night i’m allowed to read it back then. ONLY then. If I read it before i’m either going to get distracted or start crying, or start imagining myself as the next J.K Rowling. Seriously.
I’m not sure how i’m going to manage this deadly sin. I find this one super super hard.
Anyone got any tips for me? –> Much appreciated.
Sarah
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Personal Update:
Very busy at the moment, super sorry to all writing friends I have been very slack. We technically move into our first real home tomorrow. (As in we bought it rather than renting it.)
Work is very busy as i’m trying to get every shift i can so that I can pay the mortage while the husband is on his medical placement rotation in India. Yes, India.

 

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Links:

Awesome post for NaNo Resources: Try LYN MIDNIGHT’S site :-) She is awesome stuff!

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Oct
07

Deadly Writing Sin’s NaNoWriMo Post #2

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The following posts are a series of writing lessons that NaNoWriMo has taught me. Like today’s, they are things that i have picked up because of the way NaNo is run. My Deadly Writing Sins are a few things i know that I do that might hinder my NaNo Progress. By getting them out in the open, airing the dirty laundry so to speak, i’m hoping to conquer them.

Characterization Pitfalls

One of the benefits of writing NaNoWriMo is that I have had months to stew and ponder over the novel I’m going to write. (Here is the link to the short synopsis teaser) and (here is my last post about stewing over the plot of this book.)

In doing so, it has allowed me to pick up potential problems before I write them. Yes I have spent months procrastinating (preparing) for NaNo, rather than writing, but for me this is a good thing. I haven’t written the ideas that didn’t work. Yes, stop pestering, I know that writing is about trying ideas and when they don’t work you try another. I know this is just practice. I do actually believe in the “Just Write” philosophy. But at the same time I really enjoy the fact that this book has been stewed. Rather than loosing excitement for it by waiting, I have a crystal clear idea of this book in my head. I can see the movie setting, see the clothes, see the characters that will play the main roles. This is what has lead me to this point.

I was reading James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure last night, reviewing the LOCK principle and looking at the “gateways” that I have in my book. “L” stands for Lead. You need a great lead. We need to be interested and care about the main character. You have to make the readers read the book desperate to know what is going to happen to him/her. Will they reach their goal, or will the fall into a fiery pit before they get there.

Then it it me.

My Main character will have interesting things happen to her, but she in herself is not that interesting!

duh.

Super embarrasing. The supporting characters have quirks a-plenty. they have their insane personalities and they are so much more developed. I mistook exciting things happening to my main character for my lead character being likable.

Now I’m really glad that I stewed this book and had the chance to pick this up now. Granted I could have easily gone back into the book and added the characterization later BUT now I have the chance to re-develop the most important character in the book. To make sure that I start with the best chance possible. As I have said before, I do have a perfectionist streak in me. If it starts out tooooo crappy then chances are i’ll throw it against the wall before i finish. Don’t get me wrong, I like editing and am good at editing, but I like to start with some thing that has a chance of working first.

Back to the drawing board

So for me it is back to the drawing board and i’m going to try and weave some magic into the main character. The supporting characters are full of exciting quirks to start off with but the MC. Bland Bland Bland.

NaNoWriMo Deadly Writing Sin – Identified and Rectified

Tip for other writers:

Make sure your main character is an exciting character, don’t think he/she is exciting just because exciting things happen to him/her. Add the characterisation layers and make that main character as memorable as you can.

By exciting I do NOT mean they need to swing around a gun, or swear at authority or anything, they just have to “Pop, Pop, Pop”

Today I will give away a free kindle copy of  Sleepers by Megg Jensen to the first person than can tell me which movie the quote comes from in the above paragraph.

:-)

Note: you must have a kindle device, or someway to read the e-copy that i send you the link to

Happy NaNoWriMo everyone,

Sarah

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TODAY’S LINKS:

National Novel Writing Month Website

Buy James Scott Bell’s Plot and Structure - Buy from Amazon here (Kindle copy available)

Support an Author – Authorlove Website 

My NaNo Story Premise - Steampunk YA :-)

The NaNo Blogchain

Kristen Lamb’s Website – Awesome info on writing topics. Check it out! – Post on Novel Structure

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Oct
05

The NaNoWriMo Post

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What is NaNoWriMo? –> National Novel Writing Month. –> In short you write a novel in a month. For longer details, please visit the NaNo home page here.

New Novel by Sarah Ketley

My Untitled Steampunk Novel for NaNoWriMo

Dear Readers,

Here starts my NaNoWriMo posts.

Now some of you will be asking, “Why are you starting your NaNo Posts now?” The answer is simple. Because in November I intend on writing a novel in a month. “duh.” I will be too busy to be posting every single blessed day. Ok so there is also the part about psyching me into the whole NaNo thing, and also trying to encourage a few more people to give it a go.

Oh and don’t forget about the part where I will be “naming and shaming” my poor writing habits, my “Deadly Sins” as you might call them, out in public. NO, you might say, be positive. My answer is simple, I know I can do NaNo. I have to believe that I am capable. My problem is I need to identify, to myself, the key areas that will be my downfall. Then fingers crossed, the road will be studded with “Go back now” posts and I can find my way back to the NaNo highway before I plunge off a cliff and end in the heap at the bottom.

 

My Problem #1 – Procrastination

As with anything, there are many ways to approach NaNo. Some like to Panster their way through, some like to plot their way through. I have chosen to plot my way through, while allowing my creativity to flex when it needs to. Here is the reason why. I Procrastinate. Yep, it’s true. I am the world’s best procrastination artist. Ok, so perhaps not totally the best, but believe me I could teach you a thing or two about the fine art of dithering.

I’m not sure about you, but I can write Panster style just awesome… for the first 10,000 words. Then my story falls into the pit of ‘ hasn’t been opened in 4 months because I didn’t know what to do next land”. From which point it is a hard slog for me to get it back up the hill and rolling down again. Like I said, I don’t want to tumble off the cliff and I need to take every precaution possible to avoid holdups and stopworks.

Hold-ups are not going to work in November. I have to average 1666 words every single day of the month. Yep if I flake out for a day, I have to do 3333 words the following day to make up for it. Sure, you might say, 3000 words a day is easy. You would be right. I have often written 3000 words in one day. I have even written 6000. I have never done this for 30 days in a row.

These posts are my road map of where NOT to go, and my plot outline is my road map showing where I want to be.

 

My Problem #2 – Perfectionist

The second problem I see here is that I don’t like doing things that are pointless. Sure writing 50,000 words in a month is a great way to avoid procrastination, but it does nothing for my sense of achievement and value in my writing. In other words, I want to give this novel the best chance of not being crap. Yep I don’t actually want a stinking, festering pile of pathetic, writing crap sitting in a hole marked “NaNo folder”.  I don’t expect it to be awesome and I do expect some parts to be utter garbage, but I would like to see the “ray of hope” filtering out from corners of the novel. I want this book to work. (See here for the very brief teaser of a synopsis.)

This must also be overcome. I intend of helping this along with some great plotting. Dialogue and things can be fixed up. Characterization can be tweeked and strengthened, however the actual plot – what happens needs to be strong.

A Novel is like a house:

Strong foundation = Premise

Well placed/built frames = Structure

How the rooms flow into each other (or are placed next to each other) = Plot

Furnishings and fittings = The fantastic characters that just ‘work’

Ambient music playing and the colorful inflections from the decor = The dialogue that just ‘sounds so right’

 

Sure you can cover bad frames with fancy paper, but at the end of the day if the bedroom is in the kitchen and the toilet is in the lounge room you will end up in a whole pile of… well lets face it… shit.

On the flip side, if the foundations are strong, and the covering are crap – they are much easier to edit. However nothing is going to hide the fact that the toilet opens into the bathroom instead of the hall. You will need to whack a great big hole and re-plaster it in.

Now i’m sure that some of you will disagree… I’m sure someone will send me an email saying how ‘easy they find it to adjust the house frames in the middle of the novel build’. That is great, I’m glad you do. However, I don’t.

That is why I need my frames in place before I build.

Period.

So here are my Deadly Sins that I intend on purging over the next two weeks:

  1. Don’t read the chapter 5 times in the day – Procrastination and time management
  2. Don’t treat the reader like an idiot - Foreshadowing too much
  3. Giving the game away too early – Keep the readers guessing till the next scene
  4. Distractions – Need I say more.
  5. Fussing over minor details – Get on and fix later
  6. Stay positive – Won’t get through NaNo if I give up. lol
  7. Telling instead of showing (This includes over using words) -This is an easy fix later but I really want to focus on showing the story. I’m sure however that as a first draft it will be full of horror.

 

Conclusion: – I have now nearly written 1000 words in this post tonight. 1666 for NaNo is easy. Easy I tell you!

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TODAY’S LINKS:

National Novel Writing Month Website

MY page at NaNoWriMo

Support an Author – Authorlove Website 

My NaNo Story Premise - Steampunk YA :-)

The NaNo Blogchain

NaNo folks on Google+  Thanks to the awesome Lia Keyes

 

Now you all have yourselves a fantastic day!

 

Sarah

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