Write Brain

Amusing line with double meaning

2006-05-08T04:04:00.000-07:00

Probable unintentional. Seems they get to the best of us. Even get published. Then get notices by nitpickers like me. *g*

This one I found in a song. New country, called "Hicktown" by Jason Aldean.

"Well, you can see the neighbor's butt crack nailing on his shingles"

On first hear, I had the (I presume) intended image - of a neighbor working on his roof with his pants not pulled up far enough. On subsequent hearings, I get that image, plus a second, bizarre picture of the nether region being much more accomplished than I've ever given it credit for... Every time I hear the song, now, I just can't shake the image of a butt crack weilding a hammer.

Yes, I know, I'm weird. And I'm inflicting some of that weirdness on you. And I'm not the least bit sorry about it. *beg*

Tiffany

Lessons and Goals

2006-01-23T02:53:00.000-08:00

     I learned a lot from my first try at NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).  I learned I can do a lot of writing in a short time, if I really wanted to.  That even under deadline and word count pressures, I haven't figured out how to write every day.  That on the days I was most productive, it was on a two hours on, break, two hours on, break, etc schedule.  That if I do a full days work, even with the frequent breaks, then I don't have to write every day to accomplish my goals.
     And the most important thing I learned from NaNoWriMo is the importance of setting a concrete goal.
     I know all the books talk about this.  But I guess it takes actually experiencing the difference myself to really get it.
     Resolutions like "I will write more this year" don't really mean anything.  I may or may not write more one year compared to the last, but without some way to concretely compare my work, finished or otherwise, I end up feeling as if I bugged out on yet another resolution.
     A concrete goal, on the other hand, I can measure progress with.  Whether I'm reaching my word count, or wrote for a set number of hours, or finished a set number of stories… I can see what I accomplished.  I can feel good about what I accomplished.  I can feel great if I exceed the goal.  I can learn what I am currently capable of, whether or not I achieve the goal.
     So this year's resolution: I will create writing goals, and I will work to meet them.  And I might give myself more incentive if I make them public.  *bg*

     My writing goals for the year:
     *  Post to the blog once a week.  That is one (at least) self imposed deadline, on any topic related to writing that I care to choose.  That shouldn't be too hard.  Right?
     *  Create an attainable, concrete goal every month.  And, hopefully, meet them.

     I'm going monthly, instead of daily or weekly, because I don't want to micro-manage myself.  I think that would just constrain me.  Also, my days are currently in a state of flux.  Perhaps most importantly, I want to see what sort of patterns come up during the months, when I have to write to meet the goal, but don't have to write any particular time or day.  If/When I start noticing patterns - such as the writing, break, writing, break pattern I found during last November's NaNo - I'll be better able to use the good patterns to my benefit, and work on negating the 'bad' patterns.

     My writing goal for January (what's left of it):
     *  Finish the character sheets and setting notes for my NaNo project, Phoenix Lost.

     If I follow through with this goal setting notion, maybe I'll learn the fine art of discipline.

NaNoWriMo - Days 22-28

2005-11-28T23:38:00.000-08:00

Chronicles of a First Year Participant

Week 4:

Day 22:
Words - Today: 1,018 --- Total: 30,317
Pages - Today: 2 --- Total: 2

Day 23:
Words - Today: 2,170 --- Total: 32,487
Pages - Today: 61 --- Total: 5

Day 24:
Words - Today: 4,074 --- Total: 36,561
Pages - Today: 7 --- Total: 68

I managed three writing sessions this Thanksgiving.  Had hoped for more written, but dinner for myself took some time.  As did the nap the dinner invoked in me.  Now I'm only about two days behind schedule.

Day 25:
Words - Today: 2,148 --- Total: 38,709
Pages - Today: 4 --- Total: 72

Which I'm utterly surprised happened, as I had both jobs going today.  And I so wish I has the energy to do more and reach the 40,000 word point.

Day 26:
Words - Today: 5,343 --- Total: 44,052
Pages - Today: 10 --- Total: 82

Sic thousand words to go.  And sooo close to the goal number!  I hoped Sunday was also a productive day.

Day 27:
Words - Today: 5,158 --- Total:  49,210
Pages - Today: 10 --- Total: 92

I was so close.  Then the antihistimine kicked in, and I couldn't write in English.   But less then 800 words to go!

Day 28:
Words - Today: 1,059 --- Total: 50,299
Pages - Today: 3 --- Total: 95

Made it!!!!  And with two more days left in the month.  I'm going to try to add some more before I validate it, though.

I also started doing the Search & Replace thing right after finishing a writing session, so the figures above include them all.

NaNoWriMo - Days 15-21

2005-11-23T01:41:00.000-08:00

Chronicles of a First Year Participant

Week 3:

Days 15-18:
Nothing written. This is beginning to look like a pattern to me….

Day 19:
Words - Today: 5,241 --- Total: 24,155
Pages - Today: 8 --- Total: 45

Done in three writing sessions. I need more weekends for this project!

Day 20:
Words - Today: 537 --- Total: 24,692
Pages - Today: 0 --- Total: 45

Meant for more this Sunday, but I've been too jittery to accomplish much. I live in Tacoma, and was too close to the news for comfort.

Day 21:
Words - Today: 3,811 --- Total: 29,299
Pages - Today: 9 --- Total: 54

Also too jittery to get much sleep. Finally able to get some writing done in the wee hours of the morning. Made for a long day, but it feels good to have made the half way point.

Now, I have one week and two days to make the other half. If I manage multiple writing sessions Thursday (Thanksgiving) and the coming weekend, I should at least get into the 40,000s. I'll cross my fingers, then uncross them to keep them busy.

NaNoWriMo - Days 8-14

2005-11-15T03:16:00.000-08:00

Chronicles of a First Year Participant - Week 2

Days 8-10:
Nothing written. Lousy start to the week.

Mostly daydreamed. Got an interesting result from the daydreaming, writing related, I'll have to post about when I'm more awake.

Day 11:
Words - Today: 1,300 --- Total: 8,286
Pages - Today: 2 --- Total: 17

Day 12:
Words - Today: 3,991 --- Total: 12,277
Pages - Today: 8 --- Total: 25

Got two writing sessions in. Intended to get more, but somehow couldn't get motivated.

Day 13:
Words - Today: 5,298 --- Total: 17,575
Pages - Today: 8 --- Total: 33

Four writing sessions in. Amazed I got that much written. Will have to try this again over the next weekend and Thanksgiving to see if I can get caught up any.

Day 14:
Words - Today: 834 --- Total: 18,409
Pages - Today: 1 --- Total: 33

Sigh. Should be at 23,338 words by now. Ideally. About 5,000 words off. Maybe another on/off session like Sunday?

Just to see how much this changes everything, and to make myself feel better….

Shorthand:
Words - Added: 5 --- Total: 18,414
Changed my shorthand into real words. Not really cheating, as these would be real words if I had spelled them out properly.

Contractions:
Words - Added: 273 --- Total: 18,687
Eliminated contractions.

Connecting Characters:
Words - Added: 20 --- Total: 18,707
Space between the word and one side of a connecting character since MS Word won't count "connected" words as plurals.

Titles:
Words - Added: 71 --- Total: 18,778

Pure filler. Added titles to every occurrence of the appropriate names. Then deleted any "Dr. Dr. Rolloston", etc, from last time I added titles. Still only three people with known titles.

Full Names:
Words - Added: 136 --- Total: 18,914

Changed just last names into full names, which added a word per name for everyone except Rolloston, he's a three namer. Also replaced any multiple, concurrent full names with just one set of the full name, to correct for the last time I ran this Search & Replace. This is so I don't have something like "Frank Delaware Frank Delaware." Yes, it would up my word count, but I don't want to up it in that way. Also hadn't thought of this little bug earlier…

I'm crossing my fingers that with Week Three I'll get multiple writing sessions in. We'll see.

NaNoWriMo - Days 3-7

2005-11-15T03:14:00.000-08:00

Chronicles of a First Year Participant

The rest of week one:

Days 3-5:
Words - Over the three days: 777 --- Total: 4,223
Pages - Over the three days: 2 --- Total: 10

Mostly note taking while on the bus.  I added very little to the actual story, what little I did I didn't mark which parts were written which day.  Also worked a total of 31 hours between two jobs on those three days.

Day 6:
Words - Today: 983 --- Total: 4,381
Pages - Today: 2 --- Total: 12

Got caught up on sleep and did clean up and grocery shopping.  Told myself I'd do more during the week.

Day 7:
Words - Today: 1,179 --- Total: 5,560
Pages - Today: 2 --- Total: 14

According to No Plot? No Problem! I should be at 11,669 words.  I've got a lot of catching up to do.  To make myself feel a little better, I ran a search & replace on the story.  I kept track of each, so I know what I can (or can't) afford to undo at the end of the month.  Also to see just how much this changes everything.

Shorthand:
Words - Added: 901 --- Total: 6,461

Changed my shorthand into real words.  Not really cheating, as these would be real words if I had spelled them out properly.

Contractions:
Words - Added: 191 --- Total: 6,652

Eliminated contractions.  Three percent of my word count.  That sounds like too much, but I don't really have anything to compare it with.

Connecting Characters:
Words - Added: 61 --- Total: 6,713

Space between the word and one side of a connecting character since MS Word won't count "connected" words as plurals.  Some of those are dashes that should be hyphens.  Most, though, are probably slashes.  During rough drafts, I slash words when I have more than one that might work and I'm not feeling up to choosing which one is best.

Titles:
Words - Added: 61 --- Total: 6,774

Pure filler.  Added titles to every occurrence of the appropriate names.  At the moment I only know titles for three characters.  Rolloston and Larua are Doctors (MD and PhD's), and Delaware is a Captain (or possibly Commander - his title might change after I do research on command structures.)

Full Names:
Words - Added: 212 --- Total: 6,986

Changed just last names into full names, which added a word per name for everyone except Rolloston, he's a three namer.  Both Full Names and Titles were suggested by NaNo veterans on the boards.  Thought it would make me feel better with the word count.  But it feels too much like cheating for my liking.  If I ever catch up, word wise, I'll undo those two and then really feel better.

NaNoWriMo - Day 2

2005-11-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

Chronicles of a First Year Participant

Day 2:
Words: Today: 1,750 -- Total: 3,446
Pages - Today: 3 -- Total: 8

I think I'm throat clearing. This isn't incosistent with how Chris Baty described Week One. But I was hoping for more than bits of sceneless dialogue and bits of incomplete scenes. I wish scenes would clamor for attention while I'm at the computer as well as when I am away from it.

I write on the bus a lot. To save paper and my fingers, I use a lot of abbreviations (both real and made up) and initialisms. Unfortunately, once I get used to using the abbreviations, they crop up even while using the keyboard. So I now have a NaNoWriMo dedicated notebook with a list of characters (I'm terrible at remembering names most times), a list of my short hand for them, and any other abbreviations and initialisms I start to use. I keep it by the computer while writing, and with me on the bus.

Also started a Notes file. So far I have four section headings, each of them bookmarked for easy location, They are Scenes Done, Scenes to Do, Research, and Story Questions.

Scenes Don has a list of scenes in the order they were written. It's a basic one sentence description ("cc gets thrown around in the shuttle while still clamped down"). I am afraid I will forget what I have already written and want to repeat myself. Also, I don't write linearly, so I am hoping this will help me find where everything is for the great scene shuffle of draft two.

Scenes to Do is mostly in my notebook, as most of them want to remind me of themselves while I am on the bus. I'm going to try to refer to them only when I can't think of anything to write. Also at the end of the day to scratch the done scenes off.

Research has notes on what I will need to do research on eventually. Meanwhile, I'll write around the questions.

And Story Questions consists of such things as "shuttle's name" and "what am I calling the ship's cockpit/command area" and "gs or fm superstitious?" Basically playing with ideas.

I'm starting a new job tomorrow (that makes two jobs, now), so I'm curious to see how much writing I get done the rest of the week. I may end up a "weekend novelist."

NaNoWriMo - Day 1

2005-11-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

Chronicles of a First Year Participant

Day 1:
1,696 words
5 pages (Times New Roman, 12 pt)

Not quite two hours, and got that much done? Wow! I usually do about 3 pages in a two hour period. I didn't even have the entire two hours this time - I had to get up for real food. (Tea and unfinished toast all day just isn't conducive to writing.)

I spent the first few minutes wondering where the heck to start. Then I heard dialogue, so I wrote down random snatches of it. I get up for a bathroom break, and suddenly I've got all these scenes coming out of mental storage wanting attention, now. Unfortunately, I can't type fast enough to keep up with them all.
I splurged on two new writing music cd's for this project. Then discovered one of the soundtracks contains lyrics. I can't write to music with words in the background. To make matters worse, it's music I don't like. Sigh. I guess I liked the movie so much I forgot what kind of music was on in the background...

Looking forward to tomorrow to see if I can do so well, word and page wise. Also hoping I can get a real scene finished, instead of just bits of three and lots of random dialogue.

Naming

2005-11-01T03:53:00.000-08:00

The second time I tried to write a novel, there was a particular building which figured prominently in the story. I knew it needed a name. All prominent building have names – the Baxter Building, the Trump Tower, the Whistle Building (this last is what my brother and I called a bank building located in Denver because of the way the top looked – even as kids we named notable buildings). I didn't have a name for this building in my story when I started writing. I was eager to get going, despite the lack, so I put "BN" in place of the building's name when the name was needed. I figured I could simply replace the "BN" for the correct name when I finally gave it a proper name.

By the time I had finished the first draft of the story, I got so used to calling this building "BN" that it didn't feel right to call it anything else.

I've decided to avoid my "BN" problem with this, my third attempt at a novel. I have named all of the major characters I have thus far before I started the story. And I'm determined to name any new characters, ships, buildings, etc. as soon as I encounter them. While "Gordon's Best Friend," "the Reluctant Dr." and "Carolyn's shuttle" might up my word count, I don't want to go through the month, or the whole first draft, thinking of those characters that way. It's bad enough to refer to my unnamed characters like that in my notes and daydreaming.

The naming process ought to be easy. I'm surrounded by names. Everyone I know has a name or three. Pets have names. There are a gazillion names in the phone book. And I keep long lists of "found" names and name combinations I like. I should just be able to choose one at random and say, "here you go, 'Reluctant Dr.,' you are now named."

Hah!

I have default names. Johnson is one of them. And surnames that start with 'M'. This doesn't make naming any easier. I don't want to have a Johnson in every story. So there probably will not be a Johnson in any story. And if my cast has too many M last names, I just have to change names because it looks too strange, almost comic book-ish.

Once, I've tried naming characters based on what the name means. I discovered that means I have to have a really good idea of who the character is to name him properly. Names make a character (and place and thing) more real to me. How do you name a still growing character after a meaning when you don't know what his meaning is yet?

It seems having a method is more difficult than going random. This time, randomness was my method.

For my NaNoWriMo cast, only three were easy. Carolyn Chesapeake was christened almost as soon as she was created. I don't know where her name came from. I don't know why it stuck with me, without my having to write it down immediately. But since the name has remained with me after all this time (she isn't a recent creation), I know the name must be right. And if it's not right for her, well, it's too late, because, like my last story's "BN", I'm never going to able to think of her as one else.

Gordon Smyth was named before I even new he existed. I heard Carolyn talking to him, and trying out her name with his surname and her surname with his added as a hyphen. They're engaged. Looking at it now, I think I would have named him differently, at least have gotten rid of the 'y'. But it won't happen during NaNoWriMo, I can see too many opportunities to up my word count a little by having Carolyn and Gordon constantly have to explain he's a "Smith with a 'y'."

Frank Delaware was the only whose name came completely from my name collection. It sounded commanderish, which Frank is.

Everyone else didn't get fully named until last week. Fredericka Marlys, Garrett Menkin, and Ethan Porter Rolloston all got their surnames thanks to a book of ghost stories I was reading. I was in need of names and those popped out at me. I ran through first names at random until I found something that clicked. Here's what a "clicked" sounds like: I put Fredericka with Marlys and suddenly I found out that few people call her anything other than Marlys, only her mother uses her first name, otherwise it's Ricka. Except for Gordon, her best friend, who calls her Fred because he knows it irritates her.

Ethan was Ethan first, then I found a last name that seemed to fit, and he became Ethan Porter for a while. Then I got to looking at the names I had - Porter, Smyth, Chesapeake, and Delaware. The collection seemed... I don't know. Too regional? Something about them felt too much the same. I thought there should be more of a mix. I found the name Rolleson in the same book of ghost stories, and then promptly misspelled it. Hence Rolloston. And I couldn't give up the Porter, because I was too used to calling him that, and besides I think it rings nicely with Ethan. So, now I've got a character with two last names who is starting to sound more and more English to me.

Dr. Larua got her name because I can't spell "Laura" correctly the first time without major slowing down. I'm hoping using the misspelling will get any further misspellings out of my system – or that I will start misspelling Larua into Laura…

And finally, of the cast I know about, is Verbinski. I found the name yesterday on a Web site. Don't remember what Web site. I liked the way Verbinski sounded, and I would have added it to my name collection, if I hadn't found a use for it here. See, Verbinski looks like a name given to someone who is verbose, or is action driven. And the pilot I've given this name to is both. Every time I hear him I want to cover my mental ears, because he is loud, and has an irritating habit of giving everyone nicknames.

The ship, the Phoenix, is the only one "character" I named according to meaning and myth. I was originally going to call her the Icarus. Until I realized that any of her crew with any education in Greek mythology, would not step foot onto a starship that actually goes into a star. According to the myth, Icarus flew too close to the sun and melted his wings, and he plummeted back to the Earth, to his demise. And while a phoenix comes to an equally bad ending, at least there is hope of a rebirth from that ending.

As much as I've gotten used to the Phoenix, Frank Delaware and Carolyn Chesapeake and Ethan Porter Rolloston, et al, I know none of their names are written in stone (Thank god! My fingers hurt enough with just pen and paper and keyboard…). Works in progress are subject to change at any time without notice. I wonder how many of them, and their names, will make it into the final draft?

NaNoWriMo - Search & Replace to Add to Word Count

2005-10-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

Increase your word count by expanding on what you have already written.

Search & Replace is a friend to NaNoWriMo novelists. It aids you on your quest for the 50,000 word Holy Grail. A few simple clicks of the mouse, a couple of well chosen letters, and viola! Words are added to your manuscript.

There are three categories of words where Search & Replace is useful for expanding your word count. They are contractions, acronyms, and connecting characters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Contractions

By all means, use contractions. Save your fingers a few extra keystrokes. Keep your characters in character when they speak. Don't slow yourself down writing what is unnatural for you. NaNoWriMo isn't the time to kick the contraction habit.

In the interest of word count, however, expand the contractions every week or so. It's simple. Use the Search & Replace feature. Type in what you want replaced, then type in what you want it replaced with. Click Replace All. Just like that, you have two words for every one contracted word in your story.

Contractions add up. When my muse took an unscheduled break on me, I ran a Search & Replace on all the contractions in that story, just to see what would happen. The story paused at 22,806 words. When I finished, the word-count had increased by 1,183 words! I dare you to compare that to your daily word quota.

Common contractions:

.......'m = am
...... 's = is (sometimes has)
...... 'll = will
...... 'd = had
...... 've = have
...... 're = are
...... n't = not

Note: Be sure the Replace With starts with a space, or you'll end up with one compound word for each contraction, which still equals one word.

Possible side effects:

......If you use ain't, a Search & Replace of all instances of n't will give you ai not.

......A replacement of all instances of 's will sometimes give you interesting tense formations. For instance, he's been will become he is been.

...... Search & Replace will point out every it's that should be its with ruthless efficiency. The cat licked it's fur will become an amusing the cat licked it is fur.

...... You're instead of your problems will become very obvious. (See its/it's above.)

......You will discover just how often you use any given contraction.

However annoying they might be, these side effects are non-lethal. Most can easily be cured during edits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acronyms

You are bound to be using acronyms if your story involves military, government, or scientific speak. But the alphabet soup is not limited to those entities alone, so you may also be shortening such things as cities (LA, NYC), countries (USA, USSR), TV show titles (ST, B5), and job occupations (p.i., ob/gyn).

Most of us slow down if we have to spell out what all those letters mean every time they occur. Some phrases just don't sound natural, nor do they read naturally (try "Federal Bureau of Investigation agent" on for size), and so add to the decline in speed. Then there are words such as bureau that tend to present spelling problems – at least for me; I didn't spell it correctly either time, spell check did. Not to mention (as I will) those words that have become so common place they have become lowercase and are easy to forget they stand for something (am/pm, fm/am).

So if you go acronym-happy, don't sweat it. Run a Search & Replace on them periodically. Change LA into Los Angeles, and where you had one word, you now have two. Change NASA into National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and suddenly you have four words for every one you replaced.

Suggestion: Mark down the acronyms you use as you use them, so you will remember to expand them later. This list is also handy for changing your words back into letters.

Note: Be sure you mark the find whole words only box, (this can be found by clicking the More button when you get the Search and Replace box) or you might find some amusing side effect during your edits. I once had relationship turned into reLos Angelestionship!

Also note: Abbreviations are not acronyms. Don't bother using Search & Replace on them. Adjusting CA or cont' or TV will just change your one word into one larger word.

Side effects:

...... Spelling out your acronyms will point out redundancies. ATM machine will get you automated teller machine machine.

......You will also discover how many acronyms you use have multiple meanings. When you do your edits, you may be scratching your head trying to figure out what the heck the appointment is at five amplitude modulated means. Or you may find yourself inventing new devices, such as the ante meridian radio to put a brand new talk show on.

...... Interrupted words and amusing new words if you forget to mark find whole words only box. The LA in relate become reLos Angeleste, or the UN in function becomes fUnited Nationsction, or the US in combustion becomes combUnited Statestion, etc.

Changing your acronyms into the words they stand for may make your manuscript appear clunky upon rereading. Just remember, after November is over, you can run another Search & Replace and change the mouthfuls back into alphabet soup.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connecting Characters

Microsoft Word (at least Word 97) does not recognize hyphenated words as multiple words. The same holds true fro dashe

NaNoWriMo - What's the Point?

2005-10-16T03:20:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling adventurous this month. I've not only created a blog for the first time, I've also signed up to participate in NaNoWriMo this year.

I told my mother I was thinking about joining. I explained it as a sort of competition to get a rough draft of a novel written – or at least the first 50,000 words of it – within a 30 day period. I also told her that it was free to "enter", though there would be no prizes because it wasn't a real contest.

"No prizes?" she wrote back. "Then what's the point?"

I didn't know how to reply at the time. The cliché "because it's there" was the first thing to come to me, but that was after the conversation turned to other topics.

So, what is the point of writing 50,000 unedited words in a month?

To get the words out.

First drafts are the hardest parts for me. My favorite part of the writing process is thinking about the story, the characters, and the events. This sort of pre-writing creation happens so frequently I could make a full-time job of it. I even find rewriting and editing enjoyable.

But first I need something to work with.

NaNoWriMo gives me an excuse and a reason for a period of no-holds-barred manic writing. I can choose one of the long-feeling story ideas from the very long list of stories I've been meaning to write, and create a wonderful mess I can shape into a proper story.

At least, this is my hope.

"No Plot? No Problem!" a review

2005-10-09T04:49:00.000-07:00

No Plot? No Problem!
A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days
By Chris Baty
Published by Chronicle Books, ©2004
ISBN 0-8118-4505-2

The surest sign a reference book is a keeper is the desire to mark it up – to underline, highlight, flag, dog-ear – anything to make finding all the good parts easy. With No Plot? No Problem! that desire hit me. In force. I had a ridiculous number of page markers (over 20) for a book that is only 176 pages long, including the acknowledgements and index pages.

First, No Plot? No Problem! is not a how-to book. There are no step-by-step, follow-the-numbers procedures. There are no lessons on grammar and punctuation, character and world building, or rewriting and editing. No Plot? No Problem! instead provides a fun-sounding excuse to do what many authors find to be the hardest part of writing – getting out the pesky first draft.

Chris Baty is the founder of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). You might have heard of it; that wacky, manic, self-competition to write 50,000 words in 30 days. No Plot? No Problem! is a travel guide through that world of noveling in a month. Everything from convincing your family and recruiting your friends before the month begins, to how to woo the skeptics and nay-sayers as the weeks wear on. From provisioning yourself with time and equipment, to provisioning yourself with food and caffeine. Baty walks you through what to expect story-wise and emotionally as the month progresses, from the enthusiasm and reckless creativity in the first week to the to tiredness and gelling plot-lines in the third week.

Many tips and hints are offered for this writing expedition. Most of the suggestions, however, can be used outside of the month-long event. My favorite of these are the two Magna Carta's. One is a guideline of what you like most in a story, and permission for you to do the same. The other is a thou-shalt-not list you create to remind yourself what you dislike most in novels.

Baty does not support excessive pre-plotting. "Past a certain point, novel planning just becomes another excuse to put off novel writing." This theme makes No Plot? No Problem! especially encouraging for those of us who are not major pre-planners or outliners. "Plot happens," Baty wrote. Get enough characters together, and work with them long enough, and a story will appear.

Through his engaging and enthusiastic style, Chris Baty reminds the writer that writing is supposed to be enjoyable. By recommending wearable "writing totems", a map making break, character building games, even an Inner Editor kennel, he shakes up the creative process and keeps the business of writing fun.

"Your novel is a spastic, jubilant hoe-down set to your favorite music, a thirty-day visit to a candy store where everything is free and nothing is fattening."

My only gripe with No Plot? No Problem! has to do with the sidebars. They are black writing on grey backgrounds, but the print isn't dark enough to easily stand out. This makes the sidebars difficult to read, especially for tired or bad eyes. But the sidebars are a lot of fun.

Now, I haven't tried to write the first draft of a novel in a month. Nor have I yet tried every suggestion listed in the book. However, NaNoWriMo gets thousands (that's right, double-digit thousands!) of participants from around the world every year. Something in Chris Baty's concept of writing a novel in a month must work. I am eager to give it a try.

a short introduction

2005-10-05T05:03:00.000-07:00

Since this is an informal AA (Another Author!) meeting, I feel I am obliged to say "I am Tiffany and I am a writer."

I mostly write short fiction and poetry (most of which is also short), and I frequently post on e-mail groups and internet forums.

I've been posting stories on the internet since 1999. And I've been paper-published twice. Unintentionally. Both had started out as e-mails and took a "write" turn from there.

While not new to writing, I am new to the blogger form; please bear with me. I learn quickly, so it won't take me long to find a groove with this medium. I just need to quit playing with the way the site looks. (Thank you, Joe, for that reminder.) Fiddling with web pages is like the end stages of editing, you can spend a lot of time getting very little done by tweaking tiny details.

Test Two-a - multiple posts in one day...

2005-10-05T02:36:00.000-07:00

To see what Blogger does.