Reading Type

[redikolous.livejournal.com]

I always thought there was three types of readers: the ones who read and they see it completely as a movie, the type who hears the narrator or MC speaking in their head, or some mixture of the two. I'm a mixture, with more of the narrator or author speaking and limited images. I also thought this influenced the types of books they read, with the first gravitating towards more description-heavy books and the second towards more dialogue-heavy books.

Anyway, this came up because I'm typing up someone's novels, who is the first type. Her dialogue is more awkward and she has lots of great description. My novel is more dialogue, and I have trouble adding description. (I felt so great when I wrote "Her green eyes narrowed.") What do you think of this theory? How does it apply to you and your writing?

Reading Type

[redikolous.livejournal.com]

I always thought there was three types of readers: the ones who read and they see it completely as a movie, the type who hears the narrator or MC speaking in their head, or some mixture of the two. I'm a mixture, with more of the narrator or author speaking and limited images. I also thought this influenced the types of books they read, with the first gravitating towards more description-heavy books and the second towards more dialogue-heavy books.

Anyway, this came up because I'm typing up someone's novels, who is the first type. Her dialogue is more awkward and she has lots of great description. My novel is more dialogue, and I have trouble adding description. (I felt so great when I wrote "Her green eyes narrowed.") What do you think of this theory? How does it apply to you and your writing?

2nd week crisis, what else is new?

[pincita-lopez.livejournal.com]

Hi everybody, hope your stories are growing healthily and happily.

Today's been the day I've started to hate myself, my life, my characters, and my lack of plot at this point. I was considering going to bed and let tomorrow be another day, but then I signed up for reaching 20K today and now I'd feel really bad if I didn't at least try. But I've been procrastinating for two hours now and I'm hating myself even more. So I thought maybe you guys could push me a little in the right direction.

I have a married couple in their mid-thirties. Life have treated them well. They live in a nice neighbourhood, have promising careers. But they're nothing like what they thought they'd grow up to be when they met and fell in love (yeah, how original, uh?). The story starts two weeks before he loses his job due to his company being bought out by a bigger one, and he isn't motivated enough to look for a new one (money is not an imminent problem). One day she starts to suspect he's been reading her mail and email behind her back, and she's clueless on why he's doing it or what he expects to find out by doing so. But he doesn't mention it, so neither does she. But she can't take it out of her mind, and starts emailing herself as some guy she makes up, just to test how his husband would react and as a way of showing him up and making him confess he's been "spying" on her. But her husband doesn't react in any way, and that worries her a lot. She goes on with her charade, emailing her daily, arranging meetings with this imaginary man, all to provoke a respond on him. To make it look real, she starts making up excuses at home to spend time with her "lover", but she has no lover to go to, so she finds herself spending a lot of time out on her own. She's using that time to do things she'd always wanted to but had never gotten around to, like taking French lessons, or spending a lot of time at the library (as a girl, she had wanted to be a librarian), all behind her husband's back. And her husband still doesn't seem to care she's having an affair, so to speak.

And that's how far I've gotten. I have a slight idea of where I want to take this, but I'd like to hear somebody else's ideas of how this should develope, too. So, what would you do with that? Thanks a lot for your time, I know none of us is in a position to be wasting it. :)

Is it still possible?

[thebaney.livejournal.com]

So, I'm really busy. I work 40 hours a week and I'm going to school full time, too. Besides that, I've got an apartment to keep clean and a boyfriend to keep happy. I decided to take the plunge this year and do (what would be the acceptable verb, there?) NaNoWriMo. It is the 13th, almost two complete weeks in, I should have had 20,000 words yesterday and so far, I am up to a grand total of 4,100. Four Thousand One Hundred words. Is there any hope for me? Please tell me that there is!

Is it still possible?

[thebaney.livejournal.com]

So, I'm really busy. I work 40 hours a week and I'm going to school full time, too. Besides that, I've got an apartment to keep clean and a boyfriend to keep happy. I decided to take the plunge this year and do (what would be the acceptable verb, there?) NaNoWriMo. It is the 13th, almost two complete weeks in, I should have had 20,000 words yesterday and so far, I am up to a grand total of 4,100. Four Thousand One Hundred words. Is there any hope for me? Please tell me that there is!

Books my character might read

[xoshimmystarox.livejournal.com]

Ok, so I have a character who's 18 and is helping to run a pub in Camden over the summer before she goes to uni.  She's met a guy from Oxford, Mr law student [if it helps, in my head he looks like Ben Barnes] who is all educated and sophisticated.  Now for some nitty gritty in case that helps you - her mum is a writer and has an English degree, her dad is a psychologist and my character is a bean sidhe/banshee.  She comes from a family that has a curse from the maternal line meaning all girls are bean sidhe [sorry, I really prefer the Gaelic spelling] and all the men are werewolves - also, the pub she's working at is 'supernatural'.

Now, I need recs for books she could read if she's trying to look deep and intellectual and sophisticated but also witty and arty at the same time if that makes any sense.  Links [ie Amazon with reviews or such sites] would be greatly appreciated!

ETA: I forgot to mention that she's not actually from London, she's from Edinburgh [I have no idea why I'm pointing that out because it probably doesn't help at all]
ETA 2: Thank you so much to everyone who gave me recs.  I'm going to hopefully conduct some research [and see if my library has copies of any of these books because they sound very interesting] I could seriously hug and kiss you all for all your lovely suggestions and help!

Books my character might read

[xoshimmystarox.livejournal.com]

Ok, so I have a character who's 18 and is helping to run a pub in Camden over the summer before she goes to uni.  She's met a guy from Oxford, Mr law student [if it helps, in my head he looks like Ben Barnes] who is all educated and sophisticated.  Now for some nitty gritty in case that helps you - her mum is a writer and has an English degree, her dad is a psychologist and my character is a bean sidhe/banshee.  She comes from a family that has a curse from the maternal line meaning all girls are bean sidhe [sorry, I really prefer the Gaelic spelling] and all the men are werewolves - also, the pub she's working at is 'supernatural'.

Now, I need recs for books she could read if she's trying to look deep and intellectual and sophisticated but also witty and arty at the same time if that makes any sense.  Links [ie Amazon with reviews or such sites] would be greatly appreciated!

ETA: I forgot to mention that she's not actually from London, she's from Edinburgh [I have no idea why I'm pointing that out because it probably doesn't help at all]
ETA 2: Thank you so much to everyone who gave me recs.  I'm going to hopefully conduct some research [and see if my library has copies of any of these books because they sound very interesting] I could seriously hug and kiss you all for all your lovely suggestions and help!

Morning sprints!

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

Who's ready for a morning round of sprints! Join the chatroom morningsprints or IM me at thirteenthdancer on AIM. We will be doing ten-minute sprints starting every :10, :30, and :50!

Morning sprints!

[imaginepageant.livejournal.com]

Who's ready for a morning round of sprints! Join the chatroom morningsprints or IM me at thirteenthdancer on AIM. We will be doing ten-minute sprints starting every :10, :30, and :50!

2009?

[wfeather.livejournal.com]

Only 11-1/2 months left to plan for NaNoWriMo 2009!!!  I haven't finished for this year, and I'm already starting to plan for next year :-|   Anyone else doing likewise?  

2009?

[wfeather.livejournal.com]

Only 11-1/2 months left to plan for NaNoWriMo 2009!!!  I haven't finished for this year, and I'm already starting to plan for next year :-|   Anyone else doing likewise?  

Hello there 50K!

[ultimatefate.livejournal.com]

So I've done it! Due to starting work an not having much time to write, I spent my day off yesterday aiming for the 50K goal and I got it :D



Yaaaay!

Just a message to all you nanoers out there, it IS possible to reach that 50K goal, so keep going!

"Write or Die" ideas

[with-new-eyes.livejournal.com]

So, "Write or Die" has been immensely helpful to me for getting alot of writing done. My partner and I have wars to see you can write more by the time time runs out. And when I'm alone, I try to beat my word count for the 10-minute increment each time I write (so if I just got 380, I try for 390 the next time).

But I was wondering if anyone else had any other creative ways to use it? :)

"Write or Die" ideas

[with-new-eyes.livejournal.com]

So, "Write or Die" has been immensely helpful to me for getting alot of writing done. My partner and I have wars to see you can write more by the time time runs out. And when I'm alone, I try to beat my word count for the 10-minute increment each time I write (so if I just got 380, I try for 390 the next time).

But I was wondering if anyone else had any other creative ways to use it? :)

Daily Word Count - November 13th

[alison-sky.livejournal.com]

mmm, lunchtime. The time I get to go online and post the crap I forgot to in the morning :)

So, on with the program!

POST YOUR DAILY WORD COUNTS HERE


Celebrate your word counts, congratulate others, and spur the slowpokes on with encouragements!

Text and word meters both welcome.


And if this is your first time in the community, feel free to introduce yourself in this thread.


Community Rules

Daily Word Count - November 13th

[alison-sky.livejournal.com]

mmm, lunchtime. The time I get to go online and post the crap I forgot to in the morning :)

So, on with the program!

POST YOUR DAILY WORD COUNTS HERE


Celebrate your word counts, congratulate others, and spur the slowpokes on with encouragements!

Text and word meters both welcome.


And if this is your first time in the community, feel free to introduce yourself in this thread.


Community Rules

Daily Excerpt - November 13th

[alison-sky.livejournal.com]

POST YOUR NOVEL EXCERPT HERE!!!!

Please keep it relatively short, and only in this thread. Thanks!

No more than 4000 words, and please no multiple posts!


Also! Need help with a plot point? Want something to do while you procrastinate? Please utilize the Weekly Plot Help thread to get and give help!



And if this is your first time in the community, feel free to introduce yourself in this thread.


Community Rules

Daily Excerpt - November 13th

[alison-sky.livejournal.com]

POST YOUR NOVEL EXCERPT HERE!!!!

Please keep it relatively short, and only in this thread. Thanks!

No more than 4000 words, and please no multiple posts!


Also! Need help with a plot point? Want something to do while you procrastinate? Please utilize the Weekly Plot Help thread to get and give help!



And if this is your first time in the community, feel free to introduce yourself in this thread.


Community Rules

Done!

[kuhori-rei.livejournal.com]

Alright, so I'm not DONE done, but I hit 50k! And a week earlier than I hit it last year! Whoo!!

I've been really sick the last week or so and I've been in and out of the hospital, so getting to 50k feels really, REALLY good. :) My goal for the month is still 100k, and I'm still going to try and push for it.

Thank you for entertaining me so far this month and making me think and smile with all your lovely posts, nanowrimo ! I adore all of you.

*hugs*

Done!

[kuhori-rei.livejournal.com]

Alright, so I'm not DONE done, but I hit 50k! And a week earlier than I hit it last year! Whoo!!

I've been really sick the last week or so and I've been in and out of the hospital, so getting to 50k feels really, REALLY good. :) My goal for the month is still 100k, and I'm still going to try and push for it.

Thank you for entertaining me so far this month and making me think and smile with all your lovely posts, nanowrimo ! I adore all of you.

*hugs*

Pep Card: Day 12

[age.livejournal.com]

...Pretend this is backdated to sometime yesterday!

One of the most famous mountain climbers of the last twenty-five years is Joe Simpson, known not for the number of peaks he's scaled, but for a nightmarish climb gone awry in 1985. As captured in the book (and later the movie) Touching the Void, Simpson shattered his leg on a snowy, stormy descent, and fell hundreds of feet, landing on a ledge overlooking the maw of an ice crevasse. Staying where he was seemed untenable, but the only direction he could go was down, lowering himself into the dark, claustrophobic slit of the icy canyon. Getting back out would be impossible. His thought at that juncture: "You gotta keep making decisions. Even if they're wrong decisions. If youdon't make decisions, you're stuffed." Simpson made it off the mountain with all his appandages intact, and you should take his good advice to heart throughout Week Two. Resist the impulse to sit back and ponder. Keep moving forward.

Today's flashcard from the No Plot? No Problem! writing kit, the genius brainchild of Chris Baty.

Pep Card: Day 12

[age.livejournal.com]

...Pretend this is backdated to sometime yesterday!

One of the most famous mountain climbers of the last twenty-five years is Joe Simpson, known not for the number of peaks he's scaled, but for a nightmarish climb gone awry in 1985. As captured in the book (and later the movie) Touching the Void, Simpson shattered his leg on a snowy, stormy descent, and fell hundreds of feet, landing on a ledge overlooking the maw of an ice crevasse. Staying where he was seemed untenable, but the only direction he could go was down, lowering himself into the dark, claustrophobic slit of the icy canyon. Getting back out would be impossible. His thought at that juncture: "You gotta keep making decisions. Even if they're wrong decisions. If youdon't make decisions, you're stuffed." Simpson made it off the mountain with all his appandages intact, and you should take his good advice to heart throughout Week Two. Resist the impulse to sit back and ponder. Keep moving forward.

Today's flashcard from the No Plot? No Problem! writing kit, the genius brainchild of Chris Baty.

Pep Card: Day 13

[age.livejournal.com]

And we're back to today! I think last year, Day's 12 and 13 procuded an outpouring of Finding Nemo quites, most notably Dory's "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

*raises a toast to aquatics everywhere*

Recent studies of marine mammals have revealed the perplexing fact that baby killer whales don't sleep at all during their first month on Earth. The explanation concocted by scientists is that the whales are at risk of freezing to death in the inhospitable waters until they acquire the blubber that insulates them. As you head through ideas of your novel month, take inspiration froom these creatures and know that with each passing day of writing you're developing the kind of thickened skin and world-wise writing experience that will serve you well for the rest of your life. Even if it just feels sometimes like you're swimming in circles.

Today's flashcard from the No Plot? No Problem! writing kit, the genius brainchild of Chris Baty.

Pep Card: Day 13

[age.livejournal.com]

And we're back to today! I think last year, Day's 12 and 13 procuded an outpouring of Finding Nemo quites, most notably Dory's "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

*raises a toast to aquatics everywhere*

Recent studies of marine mammals have revealed the perplexing fact that baby killer whales don't sleep at all during their first month on Earth. The explanation concocted by scientists is that the whales are at risk of freezing to death in the inhospitable waters until they acquire the blubber that insulates them. As you head through ideas of your novel month, take inspiration froom these creatures and know that with each passing day of writing you're developing the kind of thickened skin and world-wise writing experience that will serve you well for the rest of your life. Even if it just feels sometimes like you're swimming in circles.

Today's flashcard from the No Plot? No Problem! writing kit, the genius brainchild of Chris Baty.

11/13 - Nanosprints

[callita623.livejournal.com]

AIM ROOM: nanosprints
TIME:9pm EST/8pm CST/7pm MST/6pm PST UNTIL 1am EST/12am CST/11pm MST/10pm PST
WHAT: NaNo sprints! Write as many words as you can during the allotted time, and see how many words other people can manage.

Come and sprint in 10 minute bursts, at the :10, :30 & :50. There will be a 10 minute break between each sprint. That works out to be 30 minutes of sprinting for every hour. If you've read this post, please don't ask when the next sprint will be or how long it will run. I will give a two minute warning before each sprint.

I know the schedule might not work for everyone. If that's true for you, explore other options.

Fun fact: it is actually possible to write without sprinting.

Feel free to come in ahead of time and chat to fellow NaNo'ers.

Any questions, AIM me at 'callita623'.

You can invite yourself! All you need to do is in the menu click AIM/Chat/Buddy chat. Put your name there instead and in the place of room name, put nanosprints. Easy!

Rules are same as always:

- Discuss your novel. Ask people for ideas if you're stuck.
- DON'T discuss religion, politics, lifestyle choices.
- Don't tear each other down. Not on plot choice OR word count.

please remember that while the sprints are taking place there will be no talking as it distracts from the 'stop' time. some have their chats set to blink and the blinks take away from knowing when to stop. if you are asked to stop talking, please do so immediately.

Never, ever be the first to talk in the Sprint room. There MAY be a Sprint going on.


if you live outside the U.S. and are unsure what time this is for you (or inside the U.S. and don't really have a grasp of time zones), please refer to this handy website. http://www.worldtimezone.com

11/13 - Nanosprints

[callita623.livejournal.com]

AIM ROOM: nanosprints
TIME:9pm EST/8pm CST/7pm MST/6pm PST UNTIL 1am EST/12am CST/11pm MST/10pm PST
WHAT: NaNo sprints! Write as many words as you can during the allotted time, and see how many words other people can manage.

Come and sprint in 10 minute bursts, at the :10, :30 & :50. There will be a 10 minute break between each sprint. That works out to be 30 minutes of sprinting for every hour. If you've read this post, please don't ask when the next sprint will be or how long it will run. I will give a two minute warning before each sprint.

I know the schedule might not work for everyone. If that's true for you, explore other options.

Fun fact: it is actually possible to write without sprinting.

Feel free to come in ahead of time and chat to fellow NaNo'ers.

Any questions, AIM me at 'callita623'.

You can invite yourself! All you need to do is in the menu click AIM/Chat/Buddy chat. Put your name there instead and in the place of room name, put nanosprints. Easy!

Rules are same as always:

- Discuss your novel. Ask people for ideas if you're stuck.
- DON'T discuss religion, politics, lifestyle choices.
- Don't tear each other down. Not on plot choice OR word count.

please remember that while the sprints are taking place there will be no talking as it distracts from the 'stop' time. some have their chats set to blink and the blinks take away from knowing when to stop. if you are asked to stop talking, please do so immediately.

Never, ever be the first to talk in the Sprint room. There MAY be a Sprint going on.


if you live outside the U.S. and are unsure what time this is for you (or inside the U.S. and don't really have a grasp of time zones), please refer to this handy website. http://www.worldtimezone.com

(no subject)

[henada.livejournal.com]

Hey everybody, I'm new to the community but that's not why I'm posting.

I'm participating in NaNoWriMo, but I've lowered my word count to 20,000 words. I don't plan on getting a certificate or anything if I reach my goal, so I don't feel guilty about lowering it at all.
However, recently I have been really involved in my region. I've gone to a write in and talk to them a lot on the forum, but since lowering my word count I haven't talked to them much.
I feel like I'm not aloud to go to the write ins because I've lowered my goal so much. Of course I haven't talked to them about my change in plans or whether or not they want me there or not, but I don't know how to approach the subject.

Any advice for me? Do you think it's inappropriate of me to attend write-ins when I've lowered my word count so much?
Please and thank you.

(no subject)

[henada.livejournal.com]

Hey everybody, I'm new to the community but that's not why I'm posting.

I'm participating in NaNoWriMo, but I've lowered my word count to 20,000 words. I don't plan on getting a certificate or anything if I reach my goal, so I don't feel guilty about lowering it at all.
However, recently I have been really involved in my region. I've gone to a write in and talk to them a lot on the forum, but since lowering my word count I haven't talked to them much.
I feel like I'm not aloud to go to the write ins because I've lowered my goal so much. Of course I haven't talked to them about my change in plans or whether or not they want me there or not, but I don't know how to approach the subject.

Any advice for me? Do you think it's inappropriate of me to attend write-ins when I've lowered my word count so much?
Please and thank you.

(no subject)

[mollying.livejournal.com]

firstly: you know the createspace deal, where your novel will be published for free? well, does anyone know if it's available outside of the us? because i've looked on the site and i can't find anything which explains, and as an english nanowrimo'er i'd really love to know.

and secondly: describe a minor character in your nanowrimo novel. just because i love minor characters, and they're a lot of fun. :) my favourite minor character so far is my main character's aunt rosalynn, who has drinks a lot and complains about everything and was one of the three people to be sad when evie's grandma's dog died. i may have to feature her in an upcoming chapter, actually... she's only been mentioned once so far, in the second chapter, and it was only her name.

(also, if anyone actually likes this icon, feel more than free to take it!)

(no subject)

[mollying.livejournal.com]

firstly: you know the createspace deal, where your novel will be published for free? well, does anyone know if it's available outside of the us? because i've looked on the site and i can't find anything which explains, and as an english nanowrimo'er i'd really love to know.

and secondly: describe a minor character in your nanowrimo novel. just because i love minor characters, and they're a lot of fun. :) my favourite minor character so far is my main character's aunt rosalynn, who has drinks a lot and complains about everything and was one of the three people to be sad when evie's grandma's dog died. i may have to feature her in an upcoming chapter, actually... she's only been mentioned once so far, in the second chapter, and it was only her name.

(also, if anyone actually likes this icon, feel more than free to take it!)

(no subject)

[majesticjac.livejournal.com]

How important is it to you to have characters' appearances described in the books you read? Do you prefer to have it described or do you like it to not be, so you can form your own picture based off their character?

I know some books ignore appearance-descriptions altogether, while others describe just about every character. But in the book I'm writing, I tend to have very specific pictures of my characters, and explain some of them enough to give an idea. However, I've met one character who is one of the main characters and for the life of me, I can't figure out how I'd imagine him to look. Should I just pass over it and let people decide for themselves how to picture him, or do you think, for the sake of my writing-patterns, I should try and come up with something?