Count me in. I have a novel I've been wanted to write since last week.
[editline]5th November 2013[/editline]
But I just fear something. What if I end up writing the worst novel ever?
Uh, post it and let everyone in on the fun, of course?!
Okay, I must confess I cheated a bit. I used a story I had already started earlier during the year that was sitting at about 5000 words. However, I feel justified because I had to work damn near all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Sometimes you just don't have free time in the National Guard. But I made sure my story lined up roughly with the 1667 words per day or whatever, so I could start today and be alright.
Gonna try to do this, I've already had a story idea in my mind twirling for a half a year or so- well, more like stories, shittons of them, all in the same universe, interconnecting in a way or two. Going to try the smallest one on this, the one about a scientist who engineers robotic modifications for the human body, and everything that stems from his discoveries.
Doing this. I have a novel I've been working on since like, March called Inkim that I really need to get working on. Even if I don't complete my first draft this month, it'll be good to have a motivation to keep working on it.
The basic synopsis is about a detective in a post-economic-collapse post-war US where cybernetics are rather common. He was nearly killed in a hostage situation three years beforehand and has considered himself a dead man walking ever since.
By the time it takes place, he's been working on a dead-end case involving the death of an executive at the firm which built the city he lives in, Inkim Technologies. In the process, he makes a surprise friend in a borderline psychotic albino hacker named Zee. And together, the duo find out a dark secret they have to make a decision over, as releasing it will topple the fragile class balance.
Hey, I'm minorly famous! I decides against doing it this year because of exams and after 3 years in a row I decided to take a break.
The point of creating a draft in this sense is advantageous for some individuals I feel. A lot of people end up having ideas and making things like maps or charts, but never getting around to writing it are always deleting what they have to make it "perfect." In this way, Nanowrimo allows those who have a hard time starting or finishing to complete a novel, and in this way allows people to have a basis for their own style and writing techniques. You have to have a foundation in order to keep improving, so I believe that this kind of experience is really helpful in that regard.
I have such a good idea for a story, I signed up for it and everything and the second it started I had nothing.. No urge to write, nothing, ugh.
Used to do this all the time, but studies have gotten in the way. Hopefully I can attempt it next year.
I'm so in
But it'd be nice if I could get a friendly reminder or else I'll forget.
[QUOTE=Diago21;42762216]I have such a good idea for a story, I signed up for it and everything and the second it started I had nothing.. No urge to write, nothing, ugh.[/QUOTE]
It can be real hard to just push yourself into "writing mode" from the get go. NaNoWriMo kind of feeds off the idea that you will force yourself to start banging out words words words because you "only get" November to write. Don't let it pressure you!
Keep your ideas fresh in your mind throughout the day, and when you have some time, start typing up anything. Like, literally anything that leaps off of your mind, even if it's complete and utter boredom at trying to think of something to write about. Get your hands moving, and starting thinking about the story elements that you are excited to write about. Figure out a way to get those elements connected to someone with no knowledge of the story in your head. What important characters do they need to know about? What settings? How do those characters act? Why should we care about them? If you have a real rough idea of your story, it will be harder to know where to start and where to go to. The more you familiarize yourself with every little inch of your world, the easier it will be to sort that information into the part you want to tell.
I stress the sorting of information part, because some people love to world-build but cannot filter it into a dramatic story. And some people are bad at world-building, too. It isn't always necessary, but I figure most people here like to write about sci-fi or fantasy settings that need to be created anyway.
If it still isn't coming to you after days and days, then don't let it throw you. You can't always time sparks of creativity with deadlines (one reason creative projects as a job can be a nightmare), and NaNoWriMo is as trivial as deadlines get. Worry more about saving your ideas for when you are ready, don't focus on what has to be done by November. Hope this helped!
anyone have a link to a nanowrimo novel someone from FP has posted
I'm a terrible writer, but I started writing something, by coincidence, on November 1st, and figured I'll just go through with it. But my target is 5000 words, not 50000, for various reasons.
This is the first bit of it. I say machine and computer a lot because I haven't thought of a plausible vaguely futuristic-sounding word for something that is essentially a high-powered smartphone. And I am already aware that I use too many line breaks.
“Report to friends about my situation: stoic acceptance with an optimistic spin. Keep it short, but not laconic.”
The computer whirred for a while, as if it were thinking. Nico knew it was not thinking. Any semblance of intelligence in this unsophisticated device was an illusion. Machines like this one were linked into a vast network of hardware. They shared their work, communally sweating under the weight of each other’s problems. Nico’s order was made public to other devices, solved piece by piece, then returned to his device and reassembled. This took a fraction of a second; the rest was stalling. A delayed response made his machine seem more human. He didn’t want it to be human.
Interrupting his musings, the machine dictated to him:
“Well, friends, it appears that I have Ocular Melanoma. My computer caught it early and there is a 68% likelihood that no complications will arise from the operation. I am blessed to be so lucky.”
Nico was hunched over his car’s dashboard, tense and pale. Reality came back one sense at a time. He felt brittle. His teeth were clenched and knuckles were white around the steering wheel. He remembered how to breathe and the black faded from the edges of his vision. He leaned his chair back and felt blood fill all the limbs that had seemingly gone without it. He closed his eyes as the car drove itself. Alone with his thoughts.
Nicodemus hadn’t confronted it yet.
Cancer.
He had always known that it would happen eventually. At his age, cancer or heart disease were inevitable, but the risk of death had never seemed so present. This was not as easy to ignore as the constant cloud of existential dread that darkened the skies of humanity. This was a fog, encircling his eyes, growing unremittingly and grinning like a specter, opaque and insubstantial.
The impatient machine interrupted again: “Is this wording correct?”
It wasn’t. The second sentence was far too morbid. Talk of percentages and operations turned his stomach. “Computer, change the second sentence to read ‘…there is a high chance that it can be fixed with no problems.’”
The whirring again, shorter this time. And it said, “Is that all?”
“Yes,” Nico snapped, “Tell the people already. Let’s get it over with.”
And then he went to sleep.
My biggest problem is I don't think any of the stories I've been writing can reach 50,000 words without feeling insanely bloated. I don't like wasting words when writing.
Reached 10 027 words today, going steady!
FUCK I lost EVERYTHING
Where do I get a refund for my 999.95 words?
I'll probably pick it back up again on the long weekend- only got one more day of school to get through, and then Monday of next week is a vacation as well.
I'm writing about 1000 words every night (which takes a solid hour) so with some extra writing time here and there I'll probably reach my set goal of 30k words before the deadline.
I'm gonna try to shoot for 40k, or even 50k though.
[QUOTE=Baboo00;42762897]“Report to friends about my situation: stoic acceptance with an optimistic spin. Keep it short, but not laconic.”
The computer whirred for a while, as if it were thinking. Nico knew it was not thinking. Any semblance of intelligence in this unsophisticated device was an illusion. Machines like this one were linked into a vast network of hardware. They shared their work, communally sweating under the weight of each other’s problems. Nico’s order was made public to other devices, solved piece by piece, then returned to his device and reassembled. This took a fraction of a second; the rest was stalling. A delayed response made his machine seem more human. He didn’t want it to be human.
Interrupting his musings, the machine dictated to him:
“Well, friends, it appears that I have Ocular Melanoma. My computer caught it early and there is a 68% likelihood that no complications will arise from the operation. I am blessed to be so lucky.”
Nico was hunched over his car’s dashboard, tense and pale. Reality came back one sense at a time. He felt brittle. His teeth were clenched and knuckles were white around the steering wheel. He remembered how to breathe and the black faded from the edges of his vision. He leaned his chair back and felt blood fill all the limbs that had seemingly gone without it. He closed his eyes as the car drove itself. Alone with his thoughts.
Nicodemus hadn’t confronted it yet.
Cancer.
He had always known that it would happen eventually. At his age, cancer or heart disease were inevitable, but the risk of death had never seemed so present. This was not as easy to ignore as the constant cloud of existential dread that darkened the skies of humanity. This was a fog, encircling his eyes, growing unremittingly and grinning like a specter, opaque and insubstantial.
The impatient machine interrupted again: “Is this wording correct?”
It wasn’t. The second sentence was far too morbid. Talk of percentages and operations turned his stomach. “Computer, change the second sentence to read ‘…there is a high chance that it can be fixed with no problems.’”
The whirring again, shorter this time. And it said, “Is that all?”
“Yes,” Nico snapped, “Tell the people already. Let’s get it over with.”
And then he went to sleep.[/QUOTE]
I really like what you have here. I had to read it twice to get the full picture in my head (the second reading I caught your description before the section quoted, mentioning this interaction is with a smartphone-like device), but it is looking good. I don't have the whole context here, but from what you provided, there is a very nice connection with Nico, and the interactions between him and the computer.
Things that could be cleared up include altering the first line so we know either who is speaking or who is receiving the message. My first reading made me think the computer said that. In addition, the first quote is a little mechanical-sounding for a human to say, especially if they just recently found out they had cancer. Using both stoic and laconic are fine, but keep in mind many people don't know these words offhand. If he is in shock, he might have trouble coming up with these very specific words.
I like the following description of the computer processing the information, as it pads the time between his input and the computer's reply, and it helps to establish that Nico is sort of fiddling around in his thoughts to avoid the reality of his situation. I like that a computer's idea of a message someone would send would include an ultra-specific percentage, too. Even the cancer reveal, being isolated to itself on one line, works just the way you would want it to.
But then we get back to confusing territory. We are told Nico is gripping the steering wheel, but the car is driving itself? I thought it was just poetic, like he is so absorbed in thought he isn't focused on the road, but then at the end he falls asleep! At least, I hope the car is driving itself. This doesn't necessarily need changing if the cars are explained ahead of time, but it can cause a little bit of internal on an otherwise great section. The other confusing spot was "This was a fog, encircling his eyes, growing unremittingly and grinning like a specter, opaque and insubstantial." This sentence is a little contradictory, although seemingly on accident. If this "fog" was hard to ignore, it would still be growing unremittingly, but it would not be insubstantial. Even if you meant insubstantial as in intangible, it still wouldn't make sense because the fog is described as also being opaque, which is as solid as solid can get. Be careful on which words you use, because cracking open a thesaurus or whatever can make some sentences stronger, but ultimately lose the subtlety of what you meant. Also if you replace too many words it sounds really weird and inhuman (like I warned about the first sentences).
But, those things aside, it is sounding very good, both what is there and what could come of it. I look forward to what else you can make of it. Keep it up!
[QUOTE=cis.joshb;42762656]anyone have a link to a nanowrimo novel someone from FP has posted[/QUOTE]
Are you looking for one in particular, or just any?
I'd love to do this if I didn't actually have classwork that comes first.
[QUOTE=Ramen;42772531]The other confusing spot was "This was a fog, encircling his eyes, growing unremittingly and grinning like a specter, opaque and insubstantial." This sentence is a little contradictory, although seemingly on accident. If this "fog" was hard to ignore, it would still be growing unremittingly, but it would not be insubstantial. Even if you meant insubstantial as in intangible, it still wouldn't make sense because the fog is described as also being opaque, which is as solid as solid can get. Be careful on which words you use, because cracking open a thesaurus or whatever can make some sentences stronger, but ultimately lose the subtlety of what you meant. Also if you replace too many words it sounds really weird and inhuman (like I warned about the first sentences).[/quote]
Yeah, I figured this section would grate. The sentence was intended to be strange and jarring to reflect his inner turmoil. The bit about fog is supposed to be both a metaphor for his mental state and a literal description of the cancer's progression / how it affects his vision. Following that metaphor, calling it insubstantial was supposed to reflect his frustration at the lack of control over it. Then that whole section was supposed to be a sharp contrast to the following statement about the computer's morbidity, showing that he is still refusing to emotionally confront the news despite having an internal dialogue about it. I suppose the whole paragraph is not as subtle as it should be.
I really appreciate the feedback though, thanks very much.
Shit. I told myself last year I'd try it this year, and then I forgot about it until now.
Count me in, I've got nothing on this month and I've got an idea to try.
By this weekened I'd better get started, though I won't have much time, with coursework and stuff.
I guess I can set aside one day of which to push 15,000 words out, I hope.
You're damn right you weren't. You don't even have periods at the ends of your sentences.
Still, packing away nine words must be deeply satisfying. You only need to write two words every minute from here on out to hit the 50k!
Good luck! Try not to sleep (or sleep in between the minutes)!
I'm in this with some friends. Right now it doesn't look like they'll hit the deadline, and I've been swamped with IRL issues so I might not either, but this is the best thing I've done in a long time. I've wanted to get my ideas on paper for a long while and this is an awesome way to do it.
[QUOTE=UberMunchkin;42791990]I think I can give it a shot
"Hi," Tim said.
"Bye," Tim said a second later.
I was never good in my English class :v:[/QUOTE]
I'm trying this year, but I'm already falling behind on the pace. Fuck you, depression. :v:
In gonna do it, though. I'm working on a novel idea I've been developing for a good five years. Working on a fresh tack, I hope, on the scifi concept of generation ships.
20 000 words reached.
Three days, 2300 words In my native language.
Worst Is, It's a fucking pokemon sci-fi fanfiction.
Should I stop?
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