Need opinions.

AtomicClockwork · 09-25-2008

Okay.

I had something plotted out for this year's Nano.

Under great duress I had to go to....ug...church.

Well, during the incense and chanting and the run of the mill dogmatic procedures I finally figured out what I could of done with my story last year.

My problem last year is I had all actions figures in the sandbox, but nothing for them to do.

I had no outline.

That is the problem with working without a net. When you fall you fall hard. I only made i to 2500 words.

Pitiful.

So my question is. Do I go with my new plan, or do I attempt to put 50,000 words to my last endeavor.

Help me Obi-one Kenobi. You're my only hope.

Wesley · 09-25-2008

	Quote:	AtomicClockwork
	So my question is. Do I go with my new plan, or do I attempt to put 50,000 words to my last endeavor.

This is one of those hard-to-answer questions. I've thought about doing just this with failed books from past NaNos. You're a bit lucky here in that you only had 2500 words so you really didn't get that far (5 percent of the goal) whereas the book I want to fix the most, I broke 50k (!). Yeah, talk about how not to write a novel.

I'd say go for it, but only if you want to. Otherwise, do the other one. Cheesy? Of course

*goes back to his character summaries from step 3 of the snowflake *

alexachipman · 09-26-2008

If you take writers like Tolstoy who were capable of writing large volumes, to me his finest works were his short stories. Not all tales were meant to be told long and those who simply drag them out can ruin them. It is better to have a good novel that is a bit short than a lengthy one that is simply a bore-- a tale stretched too far.

Janice · 09-26-2008

1) How much fun were the characters having in the sandbox last year, and how much more fun would they have with the activities you have planned for them now?

2) How much fun were the characters having in the novel you were starting to plan for this year?

-Janice

Jack J Ward · 09-26-2008

	Quote:	AtomicClockwork
	Okay. I had something plotted out for this year's Nano. Under great duress I had to go to....ug...church. Well, during the incense and chanting and the run of the mill dogmatic procedures I finally figured out what I could of done with my story last year. My problem last year is I had all actions figures in the sandbox, but nothing for them to do. I had no outline. That is the problem with working without a net. When you fall you fall hard. I only made i to 2500 words. Pitiful. So my question is. Do I go with my new plan, or do I attempt to put 50,000 words to my last endeavor. Help me Obi-one Kenobi. You're my only hope.

I'm just glad my friend that Church was such a fertile ground for your imagination.
Honestly, in my opinion, you have to ask yourself if every story you attempt is a slice of a life short, or if its got enough twists and turns to WANT to be a novel.
I knew the Age of Adventure had at least three books to it. I knew that telling everything I wanted to tell was going to have to be in a long term between chapters of adventure.

Jerm · 09-26-2008

I'm not sure that's a question that can be answered for you. I understand the frustrations, but I think it's very much one of those follow-your-gut-feeling questions.

That said, if it were me, I'd probably start a new for fear of this year's project being tainted by the bad karma (or whatever) from last year's.

Betani · 10-14-2008

Wow, I'm in exactly the same boat! The fate of my decision was sealed when I woke up out of a dead sleep the other morning and FINALLY figured out how to knock my main character unconscious. Long story, don't ask.