As much as it pains me to do so, I'm quitting NaNo.
I gave it a go. I really did. I got myself almost halfway to 50000.
But a good portion of that was forced, and, well... I just couldn't get into the story.
I'm not giving up on the story. It's a good idea - one that I've been kicking around for years now - but I just couldn't project myself into the story like I could with the last NaNo or the Darian Hunter Files. I could see myself in those roles and seeing the events occur around me, and I wrote what I saw.
I just... couldn't do that here. And the pressure I'm feeling about forcing myself to "get 'er done" is making me feel less creative, rather than more.
So it's done for this year. Stick a fork in it. I'm not disappointed in my failure, but relieved of the pressure of forcing something that wasn't there.
Its time will come. Believe me. But not now.
In the meantime, I feel like I re-opened some creative avenues, and will be working on other things.
To give you an idea. I spent the day watching the first video reviews of my favorite internet reviewers: Todd in the Shadows, the Cinema Snob, and Linkara. For inspiration.
Coming soon to Cover 2 Cover (I hope): "Calling All Stations"
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Appeal for help with my writing. Please?
I'm experiencing some massive writer's block in my story, and it's mostly centered around one of my characters.
Whenever I try to write for him, my mind locks up like a freakin' steel trap.
For background, here are the four primary protagonists with some notes about their traits and personalities:
Selena: psychologist, clinical, analytical, rationalizes everything - even the weird, uncomfortable with praise
Christopher: paramedic, open-minded, knowledge-seeking, caring, never satisfied with any answer
(As a side note, I'm realizing these two are almost polar opposites of each other. Anyway, moving on...)
Leeann: Professional thief. Cynical, cold, mistrusts everyone, doesn't open herself to anyone, even those she cares about. Feels like nobody can understand. Struggling to hold on to the happy moments, even if it means alienating everyone around her
Taylor: Pastor, denies his past, has allowed his devotion to God to be his purpose, even though it was not originally his choice, tries to win the praise of his overbearing father, answers self-doubt by burying himself deeper into his work
These four met as children and (without spoiling too much), they are reunited as adults to confront something from their mutual past.
Given that it's me doing this, you can guess that this "something" is nothing ordinary.
Anyway, in typing this just now, I can see Selena and Christopher seem to be a tad underdeveloped, Leeann is very easy to write for, and - this is the issue - Taylor is almost impossible for me to get into.
I think it's the religious thing. I had some very poor experiences with religion growing up and, thankfully, I've moved beyond them. But my mind slams shut every time I try to write for him.
If anyone has any suggestions, or any hints on something I may be missing, please let me know. I want to win this year, and will accept any help you can give me, my little Empire.
Whenever I try to write for him, my mind locks up like a freakin' steel trap.
For background, here are the four primary protagonists with some notes about their traits and personalities:
Selena: psychologist, clinical, analytical, rationalizes everything - even the weird, uncomfortable with praise
Christopher: paramedic, open-minded, knowledge-seeking, caring, never satisfied with any answer
(As a side note, I'm realizing these two are almost polar opposites of each other. Anyway, moving on...)
Leeann: Professional thief. Cynical, cold, mistrusts everyone, doesn't open herself to anyone, even those she cares about. Feels like nobody can understand. Struggling to hold on to the happy moments, even if it means alienating everyone around her
Taylor: Pastor, denies his past, has allowed his devotion to God to be his purpose, even though it was not originally his choice, tries to win the praise of his overbearing father, answers self-doubt by burying himself deeper into his work
These four met as children and (without spoiling too much), they are reunited as adults to confront something from their mutual past.
Given that it's me doing this, you can guess that this "something" is nothing ordinary.
Anyway, in typing this just now, I can see Selena and Christopher seem to be a tad underdeveloped, Leeann is very easy to write for, and - this is the issue - Taylor is almost impossible for me to get into.
I think it's the religious thing. I had some very poor experiences with religion growing up and, thankfully, I've moved beyond them. But my mind slams shut every time I try to write for him.
If anyone has any suggestions, or any hints on something I may be missing, please let me know. I want to win this year, and will accept any help you can give me, my little Empire.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
NaNoWriMo 2011 - It's ON!
Day 1: Decided to go with introducing the main four characters, one at a time, while interlacing it with a flashback to their last meeting as kids. I think this will work. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to piss off some Christians. Win-win! Word count: 1815
Day 2: I'm getting the things down, and will probably go back and expand two of the sections when I get close to 50k, like I did in '09. I'm thinking this will be book 1 of a trilogy, but I haven't thought of a title for the first book yet, but (mild spoiler) the series will be called Syrrennia. I'm liking where this is going so far. Word count: 3412
Day 3: I got pretty tired around 9:30. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to write today, Glad I was able to do so. Got a little more backstory on one of the characters than I anticipated, and am well into my first climax. This story I think will be pretty nice. Word count: 5369
Day 4: Not much done today as I went to Pentacon and ran a game of Nuclear War. Had a blast, but got a little work in. I'm getting to the first real narrative hook of the story. Word Count: 6407
Day 5: I knew this weekend was going to be a slow one. I'll make up for it this week. I also came up with a really cool plot twist, but it likely won't be seen until Book 2. I need to figure out how to slip hints into the narrative, but I can do that during the cleanup phase near the end. Word count: 7866
Day 6: I'm starting to think that one person is dominating the story. I need to expand on the other three a bit more. I'm also not getting a lot of word-work done. Need to play catch-up this week. Word count: 8660
Day 8: Day 7 was skipped due to a massive headache. Day 8 is nearly skipped due to massive writer's block. 8 days in. FML Word count: 9364
Day 11: I've been kinda slacking. I have no idea how to proceed from here; I've been expanding the backstories up to this point. I actually need to have a plot instead of just a cool idea. Once I get there, the words will just flow.[/self-delusion] Word count: 12300
Day 12/13 Part 1 - Bad news: Day 12 word count: 12817. Good news: one hour into day 13: Word Count 14251. I think I have a good direction in this. Problem is going to be getting it all down and keeping it interesting. Instead of a trilogy, it may just be a single book in three parts. Once I reach 50K, I may not even remotely be finished. I have the general plot outline started, involving many twists and turns. I just hope I can play catch-up on the weekends and my days off. Oh, well. I fell behind last time and still finished with days to spare. I may be a bit closer to the deadline this time, but if I hammer it down, I should make it okay.
I think I just need to write the parts of the story as they come to me, like I normally do instead of trying to write it in sequence. Connect them afterward. Thing is, I just need to do it.
It's back on, everyone. Here goes.
Day 13 Part 2: Word count 15521. I went ahead and wrote out the plot twist. It was pretty cool. I'm going to sit down and plot out the... um, plot, so I can have an idea where I'm going with this.
I want to win this year. I think Thanksgiving is where I get this down, just like last time.
Day 14: Word count: 17050. Now I know I'm going to hit 50000 and not have a whole story. But finish it, I will, even after NaNo, even if I don't win this year.
Watch this space for daily updates!
Day 2: I'm getting the things down, and will probably go back and expand two of the sections when I get close to 50k, like I did in '09. I'm thinking this will be book 1 of a trilogy, but I haven't thought of a title for the first book yet, but (mild spoiler) the series will be called Syrrennia. I'm liking where this is going so far. Word count: 3412
Day 3: I got pretty tired around 9:30. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to write today, Glad I was able to do so. Got a little more backstory on one of the characters than I anticipated, and am well into my first climax. This story I think will be pretty nice. Word count: 5369
Day 4: Not much done today as I went to Pentacon and ran a game of Nuclear War. Had a blast, but got a little work in. I'm getting to the first real narrative hook of the story. Word Count: 6407
Day 5: I knew this weekend was going to be a slow one. I'll make up for it this week. I also came up with a really cool plot twist, but it likely won't be seen until Book 2. I need to figure out how to slip hints into the narrative, but I can do that during the cleanup phase near the end. Word count: 7866
Day 6: I'm starting to think that one person is dominating the story. I need to expand on the other three a bit more. I'm also not getting a lot of word-work done. Need to play catch-up this week. Word count: 8660
Day 8: Day 7 was skipped due to a massive headache. Day 8 is nearly skipped due to massive writer's block. 8 days in. FML Word count: 9364
Day 11: I've been kinda slacking. I have no idea how to proceed from here; I've been expanding the backstories up to this point. I actually need to have a plot instead of just a cool idea. Once I get there, the words will just flow.[/self-delusion] Word count: 12300
Day 12/13 Part 1 - Bad news: Day 12 word count: 12817. Good news: one hour into day 13: Word Count 14251. I think I have a good direction in this. Problem is going to be getting it all down and keeping it interesting. Instead of a trilogy, it may just be a single book in three parts. Once I reach 50K, I may not even remotely be finished. I have the general plot outline started, involving many twists and turns. I just hope I can play catch-up on the weekends and my days off. Oh, well. I fell behind last time and still finished with days to spare. I may be a bit closer to the deadline this time, but if I hammer it down, I should make it okay.
I think I just need to write the parts of the story as they come to me, like I normally do instead of trying to write it in sequence. Connect them afterward. Thing is, I just need to do it.
It's back on, everyone. Here goes.
Day 13 Part 2: Word count 15521. I went ahead and wrote out the plot twist. It was pretty cool. I'm going to sit down and plot out the... um, plot, so I can have an idea where I'm going with this.
I want to win this year. I think Thanksgiving is where I get this down, just like last time.
Day 14: Word count: 17050. Now I know I'm going to hit 50000 and not have a whole story. But finish it, I will, even after NaNo, even if I don't win this year.
Watch this space for daily updates!
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