Camp NaNoWriMo August 2011 - Day 5

[ladyseishou]

Day 5 - 26 days remaining



In nearly all good fiction, the basic - all but inescapable - plot form is this:
A central character wants something, goes after it despite opposition,
perhaps including his own doubts, and so arrives at a win, lose, or draw.

- John Gardner

Five days in Nano Writers! Today's word count is 8,064! How is everyone doing? Often it's around this time that your story seems to lose its steam - you've introduced your main characters and their "normal" world. You've provided tantalizing glimpses of the thing, the Big Important Thing that your protagonist really, really wants (the girl, the boy, world peace, escape from the zombies) and whatever it is that nastily keeps your character from getting a hold of it (an incredibly handsome and/or beautiful rival, an international cabal of evil bad guys, more zombies).

You might have even gotten to the part where you're character needs to decide after all how much he really, really wants this thing: is it worth taking on all those bad guys, does he or she really want to risk taking on a whole world of pain/embarrassment/death to have his or her heart's desire? Well of course they do! But do you?

If you find that you are becoming less interested/bored with your character's story, don't abandon him or her just yet! It may be that you just need to raise the stakes or rethink what rewards actually lay ahead for your character. Re-tweak your storyline but don't give up! If nothing else, take your story in a whole new direction!

Change your setting. Instead of a steam-punk dirigible, what happens when a dimensional hopping train suddenly rolls into town? If it's the weather's too hot for writing, change your story's timeline to winter and write about the ten foot high snow drifts and "zombie" snow men.

Introduce new complications, play the "what if" game. What if, for example, your main character were to discover that he only has two weeks to live on top of all his other problems, how does that change the story? Does he start planning how to become the king of the zombies/vampires/other things that go bump in the night?

Consider ways of making the story fun and exciting again... after all it's the first draft and anything is possible! You just have to go for it!

Questions? Comments? What ifs? It's all good, Nano Writer! Keep writing!

Comments

[merzibelle]

I'm seriously behind - I only have 1350 words - but I do finally have words!

[ladyseishou]

Yeah for words! So what if you're behind? You have a beginning! I'm sure that you'll be able to catch up in no time!

[dark_kana]

*headdesks* So, as predicted... I'm running behind again. I might have some stolen seconds to write in the weekend... And Monday I have a new busride to look forward to. :p But still ... I am seriously running behind. I think I only have little more than 2000 words. *pouts* Oh well ... I'm writing. :p

Introduce new complications ... I might burn down the library... *ponders* My MC loves the library, spends lots of her free time there...

[merzibelle]

Words be good. :D I decided so what if I can only manage to write background stuff for the characters I want to play with... character study is an acceptable starting point!

[rhosyn_du]

I won't have a chance to write today until I get home from work, but so far, so good. I still like my plot and my characters, and I got to write some really creepy stuff last night, which was fun.

[ladyseishou]

Perfect! And I bet that somewhere along the way, as you get to better know your characters, their story will emerge. That's what great character-based fiction is all about!

[medicalmouse]

8700 words! Possibly would have been more, but I got distracted by the baseball game. Oh well, I got plenty of stuff sorted out today, so I don't mind too much.

[ladyseishou]

Seconds count and a few words written here and there will add up! You'll see.

Fires are definitely game changers and should really move your plot forward! Good luck!

[ladyseishou]

Yeah for fun! Sounds great!

[ladyseishou]

A beautiful word count! And I wouldn't worry about taking some time off - you're keeping up very well!

[geminianeyes]

5k++ words only, but I like that my characters are at least talking, even if I have to make them talk. Will go for a nap and then hopefully try to catch up later. XD

[lacygrey]

I just wanted to thank you for these daily entries, the pictures, the quotes, they're great inspiration.