Wow, I
knew NaNoWriMo was coming fast, but I just checked my little countdown meter on
my sidebar and I didn't realize it was in three days. Okay, I've really
got to start working hard.
I'm really not a big fan of writing without an outline. In fact, every single story I’ve written without an outline has remained unfinished. Honestly, if I don’t know where the story is going, I get really bored. You have no idea how much I wish I could just start a story without much of a plan then turn it into something that people love. I think it’s good to be spontaneous. But I guess that’s just not how I work.
So, I’ve
got five days to write half of what I like to call, a skeleton. Now I’m sure
there’s an official name for it, but I kinda like calling it a skeleton because
I write everything down that helps maintain the structure of the story. The
fancy and thoughtful language (what I like to call the muscle or meat of the story) can come in later. So until NaNoWriMo begins, I’ve
got to be working on my skeleton.
All in all, writing the skeleton is really the part where I get the whole story down and out of my head. I usually break it up in bullet points and don’t write in complete sentences. At the same time, I try to be as detailed as I can be without actually and officially writing the story. And when I say detailed, I mean detailed. It kind of gets to the point of being ridiculous.
Speaking
of skeletons, what are everyone’s plans for Halloween? I’m participating in
Elizabeth Muller’s Spookfesta and if it weren’t for a reminder email I got, I
would have totally forgotten. As far as trick-or-treating goes, I’d
much rather buy a bag of Reeces Peanut Butter Cups and write all night
long.
--Jess
8 comments:
I outlined my story about two weeks ago. I can't begin a novel without knowing what is going to happen at the end. I deviate from the outline, but the ending is always what I pictured it to be.
Good luck with Nano!
Good luck with your outline! I'm excited to start writing my Nano story. ;)
I don't write with an outline either. I've never done NaNoWriMo, but if I did, I think I could do it without one. Maybe.
Good luck! I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines.
I just signed up for Nanowrimo. Scared but thrilled about it :) We can wish each other luck. I think I want to do a skeleton too, but the next minute, I want to wing it. I might just do a skeleton on Monday and see what happens...
I had an outline (and a detailed one) when I did NaNo last year. I've only written one story where I just went with it, and that came out OK, but I think I prefer the outline. Having a vague notion of where I'm going, or where I need to end up, really helped me meet the word count for NaNo last year.
I'm hiding and planning during halloween. As I currently Have. No. Plot. EEK!
Good luck - I'll be cheering you on!
BTW - Thriller won my poll, so that's what I'll be working on
Lx
I'm a plotter. I need an outline to give me direction.
Good luck with NaNo.
Good luck on NaNo. I don't use an outline...kinda write what pops in my head. Your blog is looking real nice. Have fun. :)
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