Since we're getting closer...

I'll probably be posting a lot more. I mean, I'll probably be posting my preparation as I go...and since I don't have a job then I'll be posting quite often. I hope you can handle my chaos.

I have various methods of plotting. While I use Holly Lisle's class a lot, I don't use all of her methods. Everyone has their own style, mine seems to be a chaotic mess of things. You'll soon be getting a glimpse into mine...though you won't see my color-coded bubble maps or my journaling that goes along with plotting and preparing.

...unless you really want to get a glimpse into my chaos...I wouldn't suggest that you do.

It's just a month away

National Novel Writing Month is coming up quickly. I'm still preparing for it though I haven't really been doing much on here. I'm still looking for a job as well. I've got one possible ending picked out  and I have the beginning...sort of. It's still a little uncertain. I've decided to let that part play out itself. There are some events in the middle that are a bit iffy. I'm going to sort through those soon to figure out what I need. I'm not too worried about getting everything ready for the month. I have my jar of writing prompts and some other things that can help me along. I've always been better at winging a good portion of my novel.

As long as I get the basic plot down, I'm good. And I've got the basic plot. I did most of my world building. Really, there isn't much left to do...for this novel at least.

I've decided to try to reach a goal of 300,000 words this year. I believe that was my goal last year but I failed after I finished my first novel.  The two novels I have picked out are both part of a series...but aren't the same series. One is a little more sci-fi while the other is completely fantasy. The three genres I'm going to work at are:

Cyberpunk - First attempt to see if I like it.
Science Fiction (Not Heavily) - Post apocalyptic - no dystopian/utopian societies. It may seem more like a fantasy and can easily be changed to fantasy with a little tweeking. It might change later. Then all of my reasearch and notes will be wasted. 
Fantasy - these novel I've been working on for the last nearly 7 years. I've been fine tuning them and now I have everything I need to create these novels.

I probably won't start a new novel until I finish one.

Sketch #1

Here is a sketch of something that might be in my novel. I can't draw people or wings so this is how it turned out. Yes, I'm aware she doesn't have hands. Hands are my enemy but I did try to draw them. Her hair is orange...the color changed a bit after taking a picture and editing it. I don't really mind it though. The concept of what I was trying to draw is there, so I'm happy.

To color the sketch, I used watercolor paint. I always paint my sketches because my sketch turn out better when I do. I'm much better at painting than drawing. Hopefully with practice I'll get better.

Other than the sketch, I've been working on possible endings. This is how I usually plan my novel. I have the beginning that starts the plot and then I figure out a possible ending. The one I want is a bit dark but it would work really well for what I have planned latter in the novel. Yes, I have an idea for the middle of my novel too but those ideas are very loose. All of my ideas are loose but I'm trying to nail down a few. The beginning for sure needs to stay - at least the concept of the beginning needs to stay. I've got a few characters that might play a role but I'm uncertain.

What I really need to get cracking on is my setting. That's going to be my issue. I can't jump into the novel not knowing something about the world so I have to start building that. Or at least some key things about it. In other words, I've still have a lot to do.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Talecraft Cards

Back of the cards

I ordered these cards about three weeks ago and they finally arrived! Talecraft is a storytelling game from the Philippines that I discovered through an acquaintance. You can read more about them through their site here.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to play with them. I went out to the store to see what kind of phone I wanted to upgrade to. After that, I had to get cracking on some work. I did manage to paint something for my NaNoWriMo novel. So, I still have yet to play with these cards but I'll get right on it.

Front of the cards

Preparing for NaNoWriMo Early

My Prompt Jar

November is approaching and that means National Novel Writing Month. I always look forward to November for this reason. This year will be my 9th participating in this event and I'm hoping for my 9th win.

Since I'm writing something different than I usually write so I need to get started on outlining and plotting. My first task is prompt writing. I have a jar of writing prompts that will help me continue to write. There is a chance when I won't use these but I will keep my jar at my desk throughout November.

I've decided to take my novel Nested, that I started, and write it for NaNoWriMo instead. I started it and decided that I needed to change the P.O.V. but then I decided that I would build onto the plot more before I started writing it. I have a long way to go when it comes to the world too.

Next will be my sketches and some world building. This might take a good chunk of the month if not the whole month.