I am just about 12,000 words into ELEGY! My NaNoWriMo muscle hasn't been flexed in some time (since November 2009, to be exact), so I've been taking it easy. When I run, I don't hit my stride until about halfway through, and I must have the same pattern when it comes to writing!
I'm glad I decided to do the August version of NaNo this year. November's always a crazy month! August also has an extra day... which I guess I've already taken advantage of since I didn't write on Saturday *blush*
The story has changed a LOT since Day One in terms of my character Ralph's motivation. I don't want to give away too much, but basically, in 1880 he is rescued from a horrible existence by one of the wealthiest men in Paris and introduced to a fierce rivalry - both musical and romantic - with the man's son, Henri.
The novel focuses on their struggle as they grow up, and their fates are tied to the violin, but I couldn't figure out how I was going to take them there until I actually started writing.
This is when my excessive plotting can't help, because you don't really know your characters until you "meet" them on the page. I knew that Ralph was going to be my catalyst for introducing the violin and starting its cycle of destruction, but I didn't understand how profound his motivation was until I wrote his death scene (no spoiler, he dies right in the prologue) and his last words just came out, completely unplanned.
I love when that happens! And yes, I realize that I sound like a crazy person to anyone who doesn't write. (Maybe even to people who do write, but it's okay.)
I ended up scrapping the first 5,000 words and rewriting in a whole new direction. I'm also jumping heads and decades, writing from the third-person perspective of multiple people in 1880-1900 and the modern day. It's challenging and fun to try to make the transitions as smooth and natural as possible. We'll see if my CPs/readers feel the same way next month...
How are your projects coming along?
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24 comments:
My manuscript mad small directional changes as minor things grew bigger. Glad you are making good progress!
First, LOVE the new blog look! Haven't been over in a while, so I don't know how long it's been!
Congrats on being 12,000 words in! That's incredible!
My goal for August is to finish my WIP. I wanted to do NaNo, but life is too crazy for me this month. Maybe I'll do a September version just for me :)
p.s. Your story sounds amazing. I would read it in a heartbeat!
I'm not involved in NaNo because I'm away a lot during August. Plus I was finishing my revision request and want to start the edits on my new project.
Good luck with yours. I guess there's a good reason why NaNo never happens in Feb. lol
Julie!! Your books sounds so awesome!! I am soooo intrigued. What a good idea to do nano in August. November is always impossible for me.
Shelley
I love it when that happens too :) There is nothing quite as great as characters stepping in and taking the story into their own hands. Sounds like NaNo is going well. Good luck camping!
No matter how much I plot, my characters always take on a mind of their own. Your premise sounds AWESOME!! Congrats on making so much progress!! Good luck!
Glad you're having fun :) I picked away at my 'Brake Fluid' edits this weekend, despite being in Vancouver for the funeral.
Julie, I agree that August is a much better month. When you include Thanksgiving weekend, November has even less time than just the one day missing.
I polished a YA, which is now with a reader. I've been doing bits of different stuff, but have now begun a new middle grade project. I'm on chapter 3.
Love when those kinds of things happen! I don't outline at all, so I don't have to worry too much about changing directions. I do write romance so I know an HEA is involved, just have to follow along and see how they get there :)
In a fit of nuttiness I signed up for nano the other day too. I didn't sign up until the 2nd, but I'm at 10 k so I think I'm okay! :)
So that's what it's all about. I could totally do this instead of the November one. Now I know for the future. :)
Your story sounds intriguing and interesting. It's something that may keep my interest.
Sounds intriguing, Julie!! I love that there's a violin involved.
Those moments are rare and exhilarating. I find that I slog for hours because I'm chasing that moment.
NaNo in August is a good idea. You may not get the overall support from the Nov NaNo, but you also won't have holidays and other things clamoring for your attention.
I am doing something similar on a smaller scale. Over at Laurie Anderson's blog, she has a Write 15 Minutes A Day Challenge for August, and it provides just the right amount of nudging for me at this stage.
Sounds tantalizing! Can't wait to get my hands on it!! I'm 50% finished with MF, so it sounds like everyone is on schedule!! :)
I keep saying that I'll do Nano one day, but November is hectic for me. Summer's more relaxed. I participate in ROW80, which keeps me focused.
Good luck with this project. That's a great word count so far.
You're so good at sticking with your daily writing goal! I think I've been 50/50 when it comes to writing for NaNo, haha. But I've already written more words than I did for last year's Camp NaNoWriMo and I haven't gotten stuck yet, so I suppose that's saying something. :)
Your story sounds really interesting! Is the violin cursed/haunted? I hated practicing violin when I was younger and have been known to wish destruction on mine, so I'm not surprised that a violin would be a death-causing source of evil! :P
Wow, you're doing really well - I'm so impressed! My projects are going okay. I'm nearing the home stretch for my first draft!
Alex: Sounds like it happens to most writers!
Daisy: You're sweet :) Glad you like the blog template too!! I thought it was about time for a makeover :D Great goal... I think NaNoWriMo can be done any time of the year! Good luck <3
Stina: Yeah, August can definitely be a busy month! Agreed - I think it's a sure bet that NaNo will never take place in February, even on a leap year :)
Shelley: THANKS! I cannot wait to read Trinket. You have no idea!
J.A.: It saves us work when the characters step in! It doesn't happen to me very often but I love it when it does.
Kimberly: THANK YOU! :D I enjoy characters with a mind of their own, too!
Monkey: Glad you had a chance to do a little writing. Sending good thoughts your way!
Theresa: Such a good point. Thanksgiving is always a two or three day event in and of itself!
Jemi: Ah, I wish I could write by the seat of my pants. Sometimes I wonder if it's not restricting to rely so much on an outline the way I do, but I guess it works for me! That is really cool that you know there'll be an HEA (love the acronym)... so all you have to do is connect the dots! CONGRATS on your awesome word count, that's better than people I know who actually began it on Day One :D
David: There's just something about summertime that makes it conducive to writing. I feel like blustery November is better for curling up to read :)
Livia: Oh, thanks! Glad it sounds interesting and I hope I can deliver a story that lives up to its premise!
Jessica: Music's been a big part of my life and I always wanted to write a story about it :) Thank you!
Yat-Yee: Nice to hear from you, long time no see! :) I so agree that these moments are rare and exhilarating, and that summer NaNo has less hype but less pressure/time crunch. The 15 minute challenge sounds fantastic. Anything to keep those words flowing! Hope you're well!
Don: Ditto, sir. I'm excited to hear what you think about this book and even MORE excited to read MF!
Medeia: Your ROW80 progress has been terrific, so I'd say it's working well for you :) Good luck to you, too!
Linda: Thanks! And hey, if you're writing more this year than you did last year, I'd say that's progress and something to be proud of :D Sometimes I think NaNo is more of a way to get yourself to write anything rather than hit 50K... I'm sure a lot of people don't accomplish that goal but they end up writing something really great. Yes about the violin... and LOL!! I loved it growing up but the evilness of the one in my book is certainly open to interpretation!
Talli: Thank you! Congrats on nearing the home stretch. Finishing the first draft is always the toughest part!
YAY! Congrats on your word count. You are doing so well. I need to get my butt into the chair and hack out my word count today. I've been doing okay but slower than I'd like to be.
I'm a NaNoWriMo addict but confess I haven't looked into "camp" yet. What are the differences? (besides getting an extra day!)
Good for you for participating in Camp NaNoWriMo. I wish I could do it too but I've been working on my dissertation almost every day, especially because I didn't spend nearly enough time working on it during the first half of the summer.
But like you said, it is wonderful when a character's words come out unplanned. It's fun to see how characters can surprise us.
I love how 12k in 6 days is you taking it easy!
Christina: Good luck! You can do it! The butt-in-chair method works well for me, but I still need to unplug from the internet in order to get anything accomplished :D
Margo: I think the only difference is that it takes place in August, instead of November! I like it because I'm always so busy at the end of the year.
Workaholic: Oh, wow, I didn't know you were working on a dissertation! That would definitely take time away from creative writing :) I hope you find a spare moment or two for your story!
Sophia: LOL. I like to write as much as I can at the beginning of the month in case there are things that come up later!
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