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| photo by The B@man |
I have never written a novel, although the idea intrigues me. I tried NaNoWriMo last year and crashed and burned without even getting off the runway.
Always fascinated when writers open up their heads and let us take a peek under the hood, I thoroughly enjoyed Clara Gillow Clark's interview.
When you get about halfway down, study her answer to the question, "Do you plot, or not?" Writers are supposed to know what is the pockets of their characters. They are expected to know what a character's space looks like. But Clara's answer gives us some tips on things we should decide that will help us shape a story.
And now your mission, if you choose to accept it. I am putting it out publicly: I plan on trying NaNoWriMo again. Perhaps the second time is a charm. For all those novelists, how about some helpful hints? For those who have survived the hellish November experience...any advice?
Thanks for visiting our blog today. Good luck with NaNoWriMo, you are much braver than I am. My current WIP is a historical novel and I would never attempt to do it in a month.
ReplyDeleteSue
Yes, I have tried writing as well and it just isn't as easy as I thought it would be. When it comes to actually writing I can't maintain the concentration and stories just don't come out the same as they were in my head. I respect people who can write novels for a living.
ReplyDeleteSue--I think YOU are the brave one. You're writing a historical novel...Come on! My idea of trying NaNoWriMo is to flesh out--sloppily--a novel, and then go back and tinker with it after slashing and burning.
ReplyDeleteMike--I too admire novelists. I also admire writers who regularly submit their short stories, their essays, their articles, their poems.
Thanks for the shout out, Sioux! And thanks for stopping by to leave a comment on Suzanne's blog!Best wishes with NaNoWriMo! I truly admire those who give it a try! Write on!
ReplyDeleteHi Sioux,
ReplyDeleteI read Clara's interview. She is such a wise and generous writer.
Sorry, I crashed and burned on my first try at NoNoWriMo. Maybe one of these days. . .
donna
Sorry to be of no help. I have never been, nor will I ever be, a novelist. I've had the same story kicking around in my head for a dozen years. I can see it, I know where it's going, I know what motivates the characters, I know their backstory...but when I try to write it down, it becomes a Dick and Jane primer.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your upcoming endeavor! "See Sioux write. Go, Sioux. Write the novel."
Well Sioux, I have no idea how I did NaNoWriMo. It was more out of wondering what happened to my great aunt (and I couldn't find anything out about her) so I made up something. Had it been anything other than that, I don't know that I could have written 60,000 words in less than 30 days. Now to do something with that mess is another story. I did make a little ritual of sitting down to write - I'd light a candle, had my totem, and a picture of my great aunt and I'd make sure I was in the same spot each day. I read the prior paragraph to get back into the story and then I'd write. Some of it is down right pitiful though :-).
ReplyDeleteIf you tried, you got farther than I did and I admire that. In fact, just planning to try is cause for admiration in my book! Wishing you the best.
ReplyDeleteNah, not I. I usually write as I go; I do not outline. The plot develops as I go. Hmmm, maybe that's why I'm not a novelist. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteWhen I sit down to write I don't know whether what I'm writing is going to be a short story or a novel. It ends when it ends. I've often changed the whole plot mid-stream because something just slips onto the page that's better than what I started with. The rewrite is where everything falls into place. Don't you just love cut and paste?
ReplyDeleteI refuse to participate in anything that sounds like toddlerspeak.
ReplyDeleteplotting leaves me cold - but works for some - each must follow their own direction.
ReplyDeleteNo advice from me - I haven't a clue. But good luck.
ReplyDeleteNaNo was exhausting, but fun. For me it was just a matter of being stubborn about it. I wrote every night after dinner and knew how many words I had to hit. Some days I fell short, other days I went way over. But I had a goal, and that kept me on track. Anyway...advice...I don't have any except to say make up your mind to do it, and then do! As Yoda says: "Do or do not. There is no try." You just gotta plant your butt in the chair and write! (An unlimited supply of your favorite beverage plus Veggie Straws and Cheese Doodles--and chocolate, of course--is also recommended. You, know, to keep up your strength.)
ReplyDeleteI've never tried NaNo, and I probably never will, since I don't like group activities :) That being said, I was able to write both my novels in about 8-9 weeks, and I loved every minute of it. I allowed the plots to unfold, and for me, the key is casting. I assigned most roles to actors and actresses, and I gave other roles to people who have crossed my path. Doing that gave me a sense of those characters' voices, carriage, quirk potential, etc. Another key for me is not trying to control it. I just let the characters speak, and I write down what they say. In both novels, I found that if I didn't worry about the plot initially, it would eventually present itself and ultimately drive the second half of the novel. Good luck with NaNo!!!
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