Thoughts and Questions
September 10th 2010 12:01
While I do have big things in progress for Fictional Worlds which I'm hoping to reveal over the next two weeks, I don't have much to say today. My first week back to school, while awesome-for a week of school-has been more tiring than I would've expected.
I've started working-albeit slowly-on my Pre-Nano workshop in October. It will consist of three weekly worldbuilding exercises-probably Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, or perhaps one on Monday, one on Friday, and one on the weekend-and a weekly prompt. I'm probably going to focus more on plot this year, with a couple of characterization exercises; this workshop will be for those of us working in a familiar world.
I'm also looking for Nanowrimo participants from previous years who would like to write a pep talk here at Fictional Worlds during November. I'm sure many of you have something great to say about Nanowrimo, and I'd love to hear it. Pep talks should be around 500 words. Write up a draft and send me an email at diannalgunn@gmail.com
Last but not least, I've got one question:
What kinds of exercises would you like to see in my Pre-Nano workshop?
I've started working-albeit slowly-on my Pre-Nano workshop in October. It will consist of three weekly worldbuilding exercises-probably Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, or perhaps one on Monday, one on Friday, and one on the weekend-and a weekly prompt. I'm probably going to focus more on plot this year, with a couple of characterization exercises; this workshop will be for those of us working in a familiar world.
I'm also looking for Nanowrimo participants from previous years who would like to write a pep talk here at Fictional Worlds during November. I'm sure many of you have something great to say about Nanowrimo, and I'd love to hear it. Pep talks should be around 500 words. Write up a draft and send me an email at diannalgunn@gmail.com
Last but not least, I've got one question:
What kinds of exercises would you like to see in my Pre-Nano workshop?
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Comment by Anonymous
I'm not entirely sure what kind of exercises I need for Pre-Nano. For me - if I do too much pre-nano, there's nothing when the flag drops and Nov 1 hits.
Having said that ... finishing up stuff and getting my life prepared for the month of Nano is useful (but not really writer-specific).
If I were projecting out to the newbie, I might be tempted to get used to writing wind sprints (word wars). The ability to write like hell for 10 minute segments is hugely valuable to success. And oddly, I have anecdotal information that says that the newbie can only sustain the intensity for 10 mins while the vets can go for 20 - 30 minutes. This is very much like running ... when you start - you start quick and then build.
This is a huge lesson of Nano ... that writing is actually a set of muscles and skills that have nothing to do with the sitting and waiting for perfect prose to hit. Writing is a practical, describable and improvable set of skills.
The other thing that is interesting is related to approach. I think there are two or three basic "types" of writers. Knowing what type you are before going in will help focus on the things that will make you successful (ie you will know NOT to do things that are good for other writer types and focus on the things that are good). For example ... the second I put an idea to a cue card, I am doomed. I am a "make it up as I go along-ish having given it some basic thought" type. Other people can't do a thing before there's a good outline and a stack of cue cards.
In other news ... I loved your comments about the world needing more Scottish Vampires ... LOL!
: )
Cheers!
RP
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I'm sure I wrote a really long response to this comment but it seems to have disappeared...
Basically I asked how much work you do on characterization Pre-Nano, and if you would be interested in characterization exercises.
~Dianna