Luckymoose
The World is Mine
This thread serves the purpose of containing writing topics, so we don't have to spam the subforum. So use it, please.
The Great 2014 Writing Thread
- Thread starter Luckymoose
- Start date
Are you doing Camp NaNoWriMo this month?
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
I am, with a 30k goal due to other commitments. I may push to 50k in the last week.
Also, this thread isn't by any means exclusively targeting NaNoWriMo. It was intended to be a thread for general writing chitchat. Feel free to discuss whatever.
I registered, but had to give up this time around. Fibromyalgia makes typing very difficult, as it all comes out like alphabet soup until edited to even resemble English. I don't have either the time or the energy to keep that up every day.
So I've been encouraging my writing buddy from Dragonloft forum, to reach his goal.
So I've been encouraging my writing buddy from Dragonloft forum, to reach his goal.
cybrxkhan
Asian Xwedodah
So about a month or so I inadvertently started doing the thing where you work on multiple projects at once - if you get bored with A, you move onto B, when you get bored with B, you go to A or C, etc.
Right now I think I'm juggling about 5 projects, of varying style and topics, though I think I only focus on 2-3 at a time. Actually one of the projects is based on an extremely old idea I've had since middle school, that I never gotten to because I felt I wasn't wise enough to handle it (since slavery plays a very important role in the story); I still don't think I'm wise enough to handle it, but I don't really care now.
I don't know exactly how much I've written in the last month or so, but it's probably been the most I've written since maybe high school. I'm estimating around 30-40k words, and while it's spread across different projects (the largest one I think is ~20k), it's a good sign, if any.
Right now I think I'm juggling about 5 projects, of varying style and topics, though I think I only focus on 2-3 at a time. Actually one of the projects is based on an extremely old idea I've had since middle school, that I never gotten to because I felt I wasn't wise enough to handle it (since slavery plays a very important role in the story); I still don't think I'm wise enough to handle it, but I don't really care now.
I don't know exactly how much I've written in the last month or so, but it's probably been the most I've written since maybe high school. I'm estimating around 30-40k words, and while it's spread across different projects (the largest one I think is ~20k), it's a good sign, if any.
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
Great work. I can't write on that many projects at once. I tend to do best when I focus on one or two. So, it is pretty cool that you can. I like to knock out one at a time, if possible, so I don't have to worry about losing a particular character's voice. I don't know if you do this when writing multiple point-of-views, but when I write them I do a block of one character and a block of another so I keep the same momentum and voice.
I'm about 7k behind on my NaNo, but it won't be hard to make up.
I'm about 7k behind on my NaNo, but it won't be hard to make up.
cybrxkhan
Asian Xwedodah
I'm the kind of person who tends to lose focus and interest with these sort of things very easily, so switching back and forth between multiple projects helps boost morale and ensure constant interest in whatever I'm doing. I'm not sure if this is correct but I think Asimov did something similar for similar reasons, which was where I got the idea, though I've never ever done it to this extent (most would be two stories or so).
As for character's voice it's not too difficult for me, as my main characters tend to be similar enough (actually, that might make it harder, trying to find ways to bring out their uniqueness despite their similarities). Actually in one of my projects right now I'm experimenting with switching between up to 8 different characters within the same scene, Rashomon style, and I don't find that too hard to my surprise. I guess I've never had much issue with that - characters have always been my strong point, as opposed to plot, in my opinion.
You're right about Asimov. He liked to have a couple of stories, a nonfiction article, a column, and novel on the go at the same time. Mind you, he could knock out columns in practically no time flat...
Juggling characters is interesting, especially when they're alternates of themselves. My Sliders/Handmaid's Tale crossover involves several of Atwood's canon characters, a few of my own creation, plus five Sliders from both universes (10 Sliders characters in all; in my story, Arturo doesn't die, so after Maggie joins the group there are five).
cybrxkhan
Asian Xwedodah
I've found the Rashomon-style exercise very refreshing and insightful, even though I've only done one scene so far (and haven't finished with all the characters), enough that perhaps I'll even use it in the 'final' product. I've learned a lot about my characters. It not only allows you to see events through different characters' POVs, but also how other characters are seen through different perspectives (i.e. one character is a slut to one, a smothering maternal figure to another, etc.; or, when a character wolfs down a pizza, one character is amazed at her eating ability, another is concerned about her unhealthy eating habits, yet another might be a bit jealous about how the character looks attractive while doing something so ungraceful, and one character might not even care) and how all these different perspectives work together to help build a character, and the unique relationships a character has with each other character. Since this project is one of my most character-heavy (even by my standards) it works well, but even a plot-heavy story it can probably work well.
I'm definitely going to keep these Rashomon-esque thing on hand. It's been one of the most useful writing exercises I've encountered in a long time. I suppose if I were a writing instructor it'd be one I'll use a lot.
As a side note, I decided to try this out after reading a classical mythology fanfic - well-written for its purposes, I'd say - that depicted a council meeting of the Olympian gods where each chapter was the same meeting from a different deity's POV. Sadly the writer only did six chapters before abandoning the project, but it was enough to help me understand how to proceed
Evie
Pronounced like Eevee
I'm lagging horribly behind on my Camp attempt - I thought shooting for 50K was likely, but turn out that without the motivation and constant writing regimen of a true NaNoWriMo, I'm not nearly as fast. Then I got involved in a major project unrelated to writing and my Camp Nano story started falling behind.
So, rejoice! I am, after all, merely human
So, rejoice! I am, after all, merely human
Luckymoose
The World is Mine
I'm lagging horribly behind on my Camp attempt - I thought shooting for 50K was likely, but turn out that without the motivation and constant writing regimen of a true NaNoWriMo, I'm not nearly as fast. Then I got involved in a major project unrelated to writing and my Camp Nano story started falling behind.
So, rejoice! I am, after all, merely human
Oh, I'm way behind, but writing is still better than not writing.
Some of you will know that I've written a few books in the past, all non-fiction.
But I've been toiling away secretly in my lair and have now completed a novel. It's a sort of alternate-history religious conspiracy thriller. Publishing fiction is very different from publishing non-fiction, so I've stuck it up on Amazon (and elsewhere) myself.
I'm using a pen-name for this, as I don't want to get it mixed up with my other stuff. So those of you who know my real name, please don't spread it around!
I won't link to Amazon etc. here, but if you're interested, have a look at my website for more information and links. I'd really appreciate comments, discussions, and honest reviews, as work begins on the next one...
But I've been toiling away secretly in my lair and have now completed a novel. It's a sort of alternate-history religious conspiracy thriller. Publishing fiction is very different from publishing non-fiction, so I've stuck it up on Amazon (and elsewhere) myself.
I'm using a pen-name for this, as I don't want to get it mixed up with my other stuff. So those of you who know my real name, please don't spread it around!
I won't link to Amazon etc. here, but if you're interested, have a look at my website for more information and links. I'd really appreciate comments, discussions, and honest reviews, as work begins on the next one...
You mean your real name isn't Plotinus?
Next you'll be telling us Padma isn't really a Basset Hound!
Okay, I've downloaded the sample chapter from Amazon.ca (sorry, but I even "auditioned" Ben Bova's latest novel before buying).
Wrymouth3
Emperor
Well, you know the Russians are after you now! Shouldn't have gone public with all those secrets about nuclear weapons
Heretic_Cata
We're gonna live forever
@Plotinus: Have you ever read the Nicholas Eymerich series by Valerio Evangelisti ?
Thank you!
I haven't, but it looks great. I'll have to check that out.
cybrxkhan
Asian Xwedodah
Thrillers aren't usually my thing, but I'll look into that, conspiracies and stuff can be cool. 
