nano_writers | Camp NaNoWriMo August 2011

Day 23 - 8 days remaining

For all my longer works, for example novels,
I write chapter outlines so I can have the pleasure
of departing from them later on.

- Garth Nix

It's an age old debate: story plotting or seat-of-your-pants writing - which is better? In the end, it really depends on you and the way that you and your muse get the job done. But that's not to say that we can't ~~steal~~ borrow an idea or two from the other camp.

For you pansters that left the dock in your shiny new canoe, confident in your ability to row across the lake armed only with your paddle and determination, how's the view from the middle of the lake? Have you become a little lost, staring across to the opposite shore which, by the way, always looks a whole lot closer before you start, wondering where the heck the other dock went...

Experienced campers will tell you, the journey is a little less scary if you identify a landmark or two before you leave the dock. And even now, it's not too late to take the time to choose an ending, else you spend your time rowing around in circles. Or worse, just give up because you feel you're not getting anywhere.

Plotters, sometimes things happen. You take the time to pack up everything that you need for the big hike including detailed maps of the route, in three colors no less. You start off down the trail, confidant that you know when and where and how long the hike will be and then... you discover a secret waterfall, a spooky old cabin, Big Foot... what's a plotter to do?

Go for it! Be willing to take the chance to see where this new adventure takes you! In the end, you still know where the road is suppose to take you but think of all the cool stuff that you'll be able to talk about around the campfire.

Today's word count is 37,096, Nano Writers! Questions, comments, Big Foot sightings? It's all good so Keep Writing!