NaNoWriMo

I signed up for this year's NaNoWriMo earlier this week. (NaNoWriMo=National Novel Writing Month). It starts November first and I am ready to go.

This year will definately be better. I know what i need to do, how much I need to write and I am very excited. According to the rules, you have to have 50,000 words by midnight on the last day of november. You send it in, and they count your words to see if you've won. I did win last year, with over 50,200 words total. The novel itself still isn't finished, but I came farther than I ever would have on my own.

This year, I decided to up the challenge. I'm shooting for a personal goal of 70,000 words, and a goal to actually complete the novel. Of course this means many hours sitting in front of my computer. Luckily, November is actually pretty clear of papers and exams, which works out wonderfully for me. More time to write!

I am stuck on a plot idea. I was entertaining a novel based around the four major elements (air, fire, water and earth) but have since decided that its not as entertaining as I thought it was. Plus, I was having a hard time coming up with a plot thats not overdone, not cheesy, and wouldn't make my head spin with scientific jargon.

I do have the plotline from an idea that I have worked on in the past. I have a prologue and 4 chapters done. Since i only like the prologue and the first chapter, I could simply finish it, and not count the first two parts toward the final novel I'll submit.

I could also come up with a new plot, which is what i did last year. Last year, i simply sat down, and started writing the novel, with no idea what it was going to be about, who the characters were, nothing. It turned out alright, but there were times I wanted to shoot myself and the characters. It was complicated, because I had no idea what the book was ABOUT until I got to just before the climax. Then i was at my 50,000 words and stopped writing because I was burned out. I don't want another repeat of that this year. While it was fun to come up with the plot-line on the spot, its not intriguing, some of it is cliche, and it sucks (or at least i think it does, because no one has read past chapter 11 and I have).

I also have one story idea I have been entertaining since my freshman English class with Goodson. he actually inspired the other story I mentioned above too. It involves communal living, and the world set in the future. Think "The Giver" but not so nice, not so happy, with color, and involving more science fiction elements. It's do-able and I like the idea, but I wonder where exactly the entire plot will lead me. Maybe thats why this one seems slightly more enticing to me.

But then I look at the other ideas I ahve come upw ith and shrug, because i really don't know what to write. gah.

Anyways, the entire reason i am posting is for two reasons.
1. So that my friends/family/etc will know why I won't be accesible during November.
2. I want your imput.

I know that people read this blog, even if no one ever comments. People cannot resist links in other people's profiles. I am a profile link clicker, and you are too. There is the anonymous option to post. If you decide to comment and be anonymous, thats fine with me, just don't be a douchebag and be mean. I won't like that.

-allie-