NaNo2010 > The List
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NaNo 2010
Hooray! Quite a lot of you spoke up in the initial NaNoWriMo 2010 post, saying that you’d like to participate! *cheer* That’s awesome!
Of course, the whole reason for thinking about NaNoWriMo now instead of the more traditional October planning session is because we want to be prepared, right? Right.
So let’s get started.
These won’t be daily posts, but there may be multiples in a week if I’m feelin’ frisky.
Today, Jadies and Lentilmen, we are making The List.
The List
Brainstorming time! Take your favorite brainstorming material – paper, pencil, pen, computer, chalkboard, whiteboard – and start scribbling down ideas.
They don’t have to be GOOD ideas to go on the list. And don’t erase anything.
This thing is intended to be messy and ugly. When you’re done, you can slip it into your Idea Box.
Even if you think you already know what you want to write for NaNoWriMo 2010, make The List. You are engaging your creativity here and allowing yourself to shoot for the moon.
I repeat, this is SUPPOSED to be an ugly, nasty, scribbly list.
What Goes On The List
- Idea Box Things > that come from your idea box are likely to be slightly more fleshed out to start with than a brand new idea. For me, those ideas have keywords I can use to remember them. “Keystone” “Stained” and “Taven” on my list are examples of Idea Box ideas.
- Genres > This is brainstorming country. Writing down a list of genres you’re interested in writing or trying can spark your imagination in unexpected ways.
- Gimmicks > For me, this would be akin to “rewrite a fairy tale”.
- Misc > Anything and everything else! The spark of an idea or story or plot or world. Go wild!
What does NOT Go On the List
Remember, NaNoWriMo rules state that you must enter with an un-started project. You may choose to break the rule and write something you’ve already begun (I know of multiple people who chose that option in 2009) but make sure you know the rule before you break it. There are no NaNoWriMo police to stop you.
I will be following the rules for NaNoWriMo 2010 and starting a new project.
A Snapshot of My List
- Keystone
- Stained
- Chordak
- Taven
- YA
- Werewolf Librarian
- Quirky, Funny, Cute
- Mutant High
- Rewrite a Fairy Tale, Myth, or Legend
- Urban Fantasy
- Mermaids
- Cowboys
- Arabian
- Regency
My actual list is longer and far more scribbly. I have a list of fairy tales, myths, and legends, for example.
Coming Up Next
Next, we’ll be crossing items OFF the list and narrowing down our focus. I’d like everyone to spend a day or two (or three) adding to the list before you start taking away from it.
We’ll be working on plotting and worldbuilding and characterization in further assignments as well. Don’t worry about fleshing your ideas out now.
Now
For now, just have fun. =]
If you’d feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to share part of your idea list in the comments.
“Jadies and Lentilmen”
If the snow hadn’t made my day, this would have :-)
Am I too easily amused?
I’ll share some snipets from my List later this week!
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..A New Story =-.
@Lauren
*laughs* No such thing as too easily amused, methinks.
Woot for Listmaking! My list has doodles on it now. you know. To illustrate the … um … possibility of a story with unicorns.
.-= Tami´s last blog ..NaNo2010 > The List =-.
I vote werewolf-librarian. It’s unfortunately close to “werewolf bar mitzvah, spooky, scary, boys becoming men, men becoming wolves,” but I’m sure you could deviate enough.
@Brad-o
*laughs* Is that a quote from something, or are you awesome enough to have that planned for a novel?
.-= Tami´s last blog ..NaNo2010 > The List =-.
@Tami
It’s a quote from 30-Rock.
I did come up with an idea at lunch one day that I’m probably going to turn into a story. Somehow. Really, I just want to watch a version of it as a B movie. I kinda want to write it about 5 or 6 different ways (some more seriously toned than others) and am contemplating trying them all. I’ve been trying to plot it, but I keep reworking it and work is about to get crazy busy for me again. I’m considering just sitting down and writing some weekend and seeing what I end up with (about like I do everything else…under extreme deadlines). We’ll see.
A teaser (or two) from my list.
*Evil Rubber ducky
*”Stop flushing me!”
.-= Byrd´s last blog ..Stardate… er… Feb. 18th 2010 =-.
@Byrd
Ha! Those are hilarious, and oh-so-you!
@Brad-o
You could always plan on doing it for NaNoWriMo this year. Talk about an extreme deadline!
@Tami
Nah. I don’t have that type of time comittment for writing currently. I’m just going to slowly plug away at it and jump between it and other things (like Writer’s Block, goofing off, and housework).
@Brad-o
That makes sense, and it’s good to be able to say that rather than just piling constant projects on your plate. Not…not that I would know anything about that *coffcoff*
.-= Tami´s last blog ..The Fate of Blue Moon =-.
Step the Second: The List started, if not complete
Sample items:
black-haired old man
black dagger
romance?
surprise ending
The Quest
dragon prince
dragon blood?
YA?
.-= Steve Hall´s last blog ..How to Redirect Blogger to Your WordPress Blog and Update Your Blogger Identity =-.
[...] NaNo2010 > The List [...]
I just ran across this– mind if I use it as prep for this year with my wrimos or a writing club I’m starting at my school? I will totally give you credit, of course.
Thanks for sharing this.
hob
Please do! Thank you for doing so and offering credit as well. =]