Kelly and JJ kick off NaNoWriMo month! This week they talk about how to find an idea to write into a novel, and some tips about how to START writing.
Show Notes
It's all JJ, all the time this week!
Some Tips and Tricks
Keep a journal to write down scraps of ideas, or Story Seeds
Character
Premise
Plot
Match any of the Story Seeds together for a novel--need at least 2 to start writing
If Story Seeds aren’t coming:
Write a list of your favourite books
Identify which tropes are contained within them (visit TV Tropes as needed)
Divide the tropes into Character, Premise, and Plot
Pick 2, see if it sparks anything and start writing
Start telling yourself the story—DON’T START WRITING YET—write a “long, shitty synopsis”
Figure out the inflection/turning points of the first act
Inciting Incident: the thing that changes the status quo
The Point of No Return: the moment the protagonist takes action and becomes personally involved
START WRITING
Troubleshooting
Describe your character using three adjectives, without describing their sex/gender, ethnicity, looks, or profession/occupation.
Specificity helps. BE SPECIFIC.
Books Discussed
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Second Sight by Cheryl Klein
Ash by Malinda Lo
The Martian by Andy Weir
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson (and please read this review of the book by Debbie Reese, who is a librarian and Native American)
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined by Stephenie Meyer
Enhanced e-editions of Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
Apologies for some audio issues at the end of the episode.
Off-Menu Recommendations
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
That's all for this week! Next week we'll have another pep talk for you, plus answering your questions! Comment with any questions you have for us about writing, drafting, motivation, etc. or send us as ask through Tumblr.
7. NaNoWriMo 2015: Ideas