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It's just hours away until NaNo WriMo starts so I'm going to fit in one more idea generator. This works weather you have an outline or not. It can even work for any project, not just NaNo.
I must admit, those of you who don't have a plan make me nervous. Not becuase I don't think you are capable of it. I realize some people work better that way. It's just the VERY thought of looking at 50,000 words in 30 days w/o a plan makes me ~twitch~ and my eyeballs go all cattywhompus; one big, one small, mouth open and drooling. (note to self: look into therapy for control issues) See the guy in the countdown ticker above? That's what I look like.
The only way I can get my eyeballs back to normal is to blog about writing plans.
So, w/o further ado . . . . Here's one more way to create an idea roadmap for your manuscript (NaNo or NotMo):
1) Find a book that you love and that you have already read.
2) Skim through each chapter (or selected chapters) and note the general story components that occur in that chapter.
Example:
The Hunger Games
Chapter 1
The Hunger Games
Chapter 1
*Introduce two characters that bring out two extreme sides of the protagonists personality (such as her mother brings out her tough, angry side, while her sister brings out her softer nurturing side)
* Show backstory that shows us the relationship w/ these characters and examples of the extreme dualilty of protagonists personality.
etc. etc.
or in chapter 13 of the Hunger Games there is an unexpected source of help for the protagonist. That made me think hmmmmmm. . . . "Is there a person in my story that can be an unexpected source of help in my story?"
I'm not sure yet, but as I'm writing, I'll keep that mysterious "unexpected source of help" in mind.
You never know what you may come up with. Your "favorite" book doesn't even have to be the same kind of book as the one that you are writing. I broke down The Hunger Games, which is sci-fi, but the book I"m working on is a current day slice of life type-of-story. I'm surprised at how much I was able to adapt to my outline despite the difference in genre's.
Good luck!
I'm going to go see if my eyeballs are straight now.
* Show backstory that shows us the relationship w/ these characters and examples of the extreme dualilty of protagonists personality.
etc. etc.
or in chapter 13 of the Hunger Games there is an unexpected source of help for the protagonist. That made me think hmmmmmm. . . . "Is there a person in my story that can be an unexpected source of help in my story?"
I'm not sure yet, but as I'm writing, I'll keep that mysterious "unexpected source of help" in mind.
You never know what you may come up with. Your "favorite" book doesn't even have to be the same kind of book as the one that you are writing. I broke down The Hunger Games, which is sci-fi, but the book I"m working on is a current day slice of life type-of-story. I'm surprised at how much I was able to adapt to my outline despite the difference in genre's.
Good luck!
I'm going to go see if my eyeballs are straight now.
12 comments:
Thanks for another great planning post Christy. I'm afraid that I will be going into NaNo without an outline. But I have tons of notes and I know where the story is going an what it's about. I just can't bring myself to outline. If I need to, I can always stop in the middle and outline to see where to go next, right?
Good luck!
I do this all the time. I think of it like painting students who recreate classic works of art in order to see how they are put together.
"I must admit, those of you who don't have a plan make me nervous." This made me giggle. It's time for NaNo to start if you're even stressing about MY lack of organization! Plus, I DO have a plan: start writing tomorrow. Write until my hand falls off...
Sruble, I think notes are as good as an outline! Good luck! It's almost here!
Jacqui, I'm so glad you're getting a giggle out of my psychosis. ;0) You're a wild woman, I tell ya! ;0) Wild'n crazy!
But hey, at least I know that you have a plan. :0P
Really nice roadmap - I'll use it for my non-NaNo writing!
Good luck tomorrow, Christy!
I'm sorry to say I also have nothing other than a character for NaNo. I'm treating it as an exercise - hopefully one that will help me quiet a very opinionated inner editor!
Oh - I'm adding your link to yesterday's blog entry. Thanks for the great ideas!
Thanks Kelly and PJ!
Nora, good luck with your character. I hope it goes well!!!!! You're making my eyeballs go all goofy! JK :0)
That is a good way to treat an exercise. I'll be interested to see how it goes!
Thanks for linking me up! :0)
I've been thinking about doing that very exercise - I'm sure one of these days I'll want to write something longer than a PB.
It sounds like you are all set to reach your goal. Good luck!
Good luck with NaNo, Christy.
It's going to be very quiet this month with everyone scribbling away.
Hey Kate! I'm kind of addicted to blogging, so I'll probably still surf around when I'm mulling over idea's and stuff. :0) I'm not going to disappear.
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