Doesn't the organisation get insane?! Just yesterday I was telling my husband that when I start a new chapter I have to have the full story outline open, that chapter's outline open, AND the next chapter outline open so I can see which threads to begin dangling. And then of course there's the actual chapter itself, haha.

So how did the writing day end up going for you? Did that outline work keep flowing?

- Got some decent progress on the outline, but not much on the writing front. I need to change a few things. >.<

My day off has disappeared. Ended up spending most of it waiting in lines or on hold OTL RIP.

Ugh. I hate those days with a passion. I swear, nothing saps your mental energy more than waiting around, unable to do anything.

Indeed. Fnishing up day 3 about 850 words behind. Still manageable OTL Hopefully tomorrow will go better!

How's everyone else doing?

Absolutely same here. I'm not questioning my decisions. I've decided I'm not gonna vascillate in that weird inbetween stage where I'm not quite on-board with something, but still using it at the same time (god what messes I make).

I'm sure it'll work for you, and I support you wholeheartedly. About ten years ago, NaNoWriMo helped me get past the stage of "write five chapters, then go back through them with a fine-tooth comb over and over until I strip all personality out of them."

I've since finished a lot of big, novel-sized first drafts. So many. Too bad they're all garbage. Only recently did I discover why this was so. I'm eager to see if I can fix that this NaNo.

Someday I'll write something that other people will like reading, the end

- That's true about the editing, it's really beneficial to just throw your whole story on the table beginning to end and then fix it up later. my problem ended up being that by the time I got anywhere, I had forgotten what had happened before and ended up having to re-read all my old stuff and it was slowing me down a lot. That's why a few years ago, I decided that for nano I wouldn't write a story, I'd write the outline for my story, top to bottom, no dialogue or details, just all the plot things and a few smaller events that happen in each chapter, then added more flushed out details after. Worked from the bottom up, and this year, now that the outline is finally drafted, I can work on the actual writing, but the outline still needs revising and editing, so I'm getting behind cus I'm trying to work both at the same time OTL.

What did you discovered was the reason your drafts were garbage? For me, I think it's because I really enjoy world building, and building up backstory, and then when it comes to creating and resolving conflict it's like, oh yeah, this happened, and then that's the end, after like... 20 chapters of build up.

That's a fascinating way to work! I'm always fascinated when I hear how people write best. Some intersection of our personalities and needs and brains.

My method is thus: I have to write in order, I have to be into it, and I usually work by writing about 500 words, going back to the beginning of the chapter/section, re-reading through the new stuff to make sure it matches, and then writing another 500 words. It seems to produce the best results for me. It also allows me to spin off and do unexpected organic things pretty easily.

Oh man, you know what I was doing to screw up my stories? I would create main characters that did not complement the plot/setting/themes/etc... over and over and over. And somehow I never noticed this for like, ten years.

In one instance, I had a character who was suspicious of this supposed utopia he'd ended up in... so when he ended up being betrayed, it wasn't a delicious shock, it was just expected. I didn't see this at the time--I was just trying to figure out why it wasn't satisfying to betray him.

Additionally, because he started OUT expecting the worst, he never had anywhere to go, ie, he was static. The character HAS to change; otherwise the plot is just treading water. I had recurring problems where stories dragged into awkward halts and I couldn't seem to start them up again. Nothing really seemed to matter... because nothing did. The character was already developed to a point that the plot event didn't have any impact on them, so there was no friction or interest. It was boring. And I was doing this OVER and OVER and OVER.

I have written something like 23 novel-sized first drafts of at least 50,000 words each since 2009, and I only just realized I was committing this particular sin THIS year. I won't lie, I'm ashamed about it roflll. Such an obvious fix. Such an obvious problem. I just kept on doing it like a chump.

I think that's a really cool way to go about it! That's kind of how I'm referring to my project this year; I'm calling it "a very thorough outline" hahaha - I do have like exposition and dialogue, but when I go back through and edit I'll be able to really spice up the detail.

Also for the first time ever, I'm allowing myself to write some scenes out of order as inspiration strikes. In the past I've ALWAYS gone linear, start-to-finish, because I'm so worried I'll end up with a collection of beloved drabbles that won't necessarily connect after they've had time to transform from brain to paper, Fingers crossed that won't happen!

What you said about characters is my problem a lot of the time too! Like I'll fully realize characters first, and detail their whole life and then usually I'm like "there needs to be a plot too..." and so essentially I try and force a plot around these characters who are already fully developed and they never quite fit together. That's another reason I'm trying to go a little more fast and loose with this project - I'm hoping I've planned enough to get some flow, but that I've left enough room for the story to breathe and grow together with the characters... fingers crossed.

Hi all! It's nice to see other people participating on here. Personally, I'm way behind (but then again, I've yet to "win" -- nonetheless, I always write more than I would have if I weren't participating, so it's worth it for me). This year, I'm using NaNo as a way to motivate myself to write more in my second language. I'm an editor by trade, so it's hard to turn the critical side off and just write things, even if they aren't perfectly organized or grammatical.

And irt the discussion of plot vs (or rather plot +) character, I totally agree. The important thing is that the things that happen should change the character. So, just because you know who you're starting with doesn't mean you'll know who they'll be by the end (though, I think it's also a legitimate approach to begin with the end in mind. For example, a lot of novels for younger readers are about gaining autonomy, confidence, etc. & the author creates a story where that can happen). I guess maybe that's the way to work with fully realized/"over-developed" characters, to think about how biography is not destiny and consider what circumstances would cause them to act in surprising ways, to re-evaluate their values or priorities, to challenge their self-conception; what would they consider to be a genuine dilemma?

(easier said than done, though! I run into similar issues with basically everything I write)

- I have to write in order too, I find it really hard to write stuff from later down the road cus I'm like... it's just a waste, it's gonna be changed in the end probably! lol. When I did the outline, I still worked in order, I just did so 2-3 times adding newer details every time. It's been good for me, making sure the pace and flow is a bit better. (the 'opening' section is still about twice as long as the other two sections though, hopefully it all works out in the end)

That's hard sometimes with characters not doing what you want them to for plot reasons. I've got a similar issue with my character, she makes a decision mid-way which feels really out of character for her, but like... she has to in order for the story to go on, so I maybe gotta come up with a different way to go about her making that decision. I'm thinking I might make sense to split up the MC group so that she's away from the other characters for a while, but I'm not sure how well that would go over either. >.<

- I do that too, if I'm particularly inspired, or have something in my head that I don't want to lose/forget, I'll just write the scene in the middle whatever I'm doing (and move it later). Usually it ends up having to change in the end, but some of it is still nice to have written down for reference.

- Welcome to the behind club! I'm about 3 days behind myself, but that's kinda where I thrive. If I get caught up or even ahead, I lose my drive. That pressure is off and I get less work done! haha.

Well I'm at 25k words right now, currently I writing about the consciousness and soul aspect of the human being. Are these really separate are their more than meets the eye. Since we can only glimpse in the past at look at society and history as a whole, hundred of thousands of years ago archeologists have discovered primitive burial methods etc.

My question I'm still trying to write about is that when did a higher power collectively come into being within our minds or has that idea always been there. Even within the limited consciousness of the animal kingdom they mourn the dead so its interesting to think about that as well.

Well my month is going swimmingly. Between random work hours, Christmas shopping, the million and one family members crawling out of the woodwork now that lockdown has ended, and my ever-present inability to focus, I am actually, genuinely and non-sarcastically, getting an okay amount of stuff written! Certainly not a complete novel (as if I ever expected that) but I'm seriously impressed with what I've managed to do so far.

I've given up on structuring my writing time as much as most do. The older story gets written when I feel like it, the newer one gets written when I'm in the mood, and other ideas are getting detailed when the mood strikes there. In the Kronkest of ways, it's all coming together. Aww yeah!

You're probably a Planster then, a mix of a Planner/Panster type of writing style. This one incorporates a bit of planning with going by the seat of your pants writing style. I'm a planster myself as I do a bit of research but I dont let organizational stuff guide me through the process I just more so allow it for to guide me while I do write little pieces here and there and cobble them together to form my stories and works.

- Congrats! I'm at about 20k. I dunno if anything I'm writing is accomplishing anything though. * shrug * haven't even really started on my main story, still just going through and editing the outline but I've re-written some parts, and I've written a few other short stories, but I don't feel particularily accomplished for any of it :(

- Some writing is better than none! Even if you don't write a novel, or finish a story, you still got something accomplished!

Yeah, thats how I feel about one novel I am working on. I have the main feel of the story and ideas but trying to flesh is out is another story in itself. No pun intended xD

- No kidding OTL. Apparently the 'story' isn't so much what I have a problem with, but fleshing out the 'characters' It's hard cus like, the character are in my head, and I know why they are doing certain things, but like the reader doesn't know. It's a fine line between being too 'hand holdy' with the reader, and leaving them confused.

, sometimes the best method is to leave them confused to an extent. Especially if you have a character who will eventually make themselves what the moment when some major reveal is done.

I do understand though, its hard trying to flesh out characters for me personally, to give them depth and detail of character. Etc.

All this talking is making me want to write right now lolz

- Yeah, true, but also, maybe I'm just bad at writing good characters OTL I'm a simple person, I like simple characters.

That's good, it's making you want to write again! (or maybe it's bad cus you can't write right now. lol)

I need a good pick me up. I got some really negative feedback on some of my writing over the weekend, and even though I don't think the critique actually holds any water, it's still is a downer :(

Oh for sure! I've said for ages that this is me all over. I'll come up with an outline, nice and structured (and occasionally very detailed) and then just start writing. I usually start by following the outline, and then my characters go and do something entirely out of left field and I'm left sitting there going "Well, yeah, obviously that was going to happen but now wtf do I do?"

It makes the out-of-order writing process bloody hard, lol.

Actually, while I'm here I just wanted to hit you all up for suggestions or advice with one part of my story.

My characters (three people and a shuck) are being pursued by the Great Hunt, and there are three scenes where they are found and have to flee. The first time is when they first encounter the Hunt and are magically compelled to run like prey. The second time is when they get caught by the hunt and the shuck dies while they're escaping. The third time they run one of the people dies while fleeing. The fourth time they get caught the final two die in quick succession without really getting a chance to run. And all of this comes after an earlier scene in which they've fled from dangerous wildife and run right into the Huntmaster who then draws them into the hunt, so I have four running scenes in fairly quick succession.

Now, I've got scenes in between, of course - discussions, arguments, exploration, terrible planning - but the whole hunt occurs over a space of around 24 hours at most so there's a limit to how much padding I can put in, which means even with the scenes between I've still got four very similar running scenes that occur fairly close to each other. Because what happens while running is critical to both the plot and character development I need to keep the focus on the action, and not just summarise the escapes or time-skip between "the hunt appeared" and "they collapsed, exhausted but safe, beneath a tree."

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to keep a series of scenes interesting when they're so similar to each other but still need to be in detail? I can't move them further apart either, since this section of the story needs to occur over the space of around 24 hours at most. I've so far been using the MC's increasing exhaustion to make the escapes feel different, but there's only so many ways you can say "her legs hurt more than last time," you know?

I think probably the thing to do would be to think about how to vary the 'running' set pieces while still making sure the plot-necessary events happen. Like, when I'm GMing Pathfinder and players have to run/hide, I try to give different terrain (swamp, cliff, fog, snow, open field w/ no cover, river, etc.) to present new challenges & mix things up. I think it's also a good way to convey growing exhaustion because you can make the environment more hostile as time goes on (also, tired people make bad choices, especially when under pressure & facing new situations, so that's another option: have someone make a mistake they'd never have made if they were rested or had time to think about it)