NaNoWriMo

[Partial Topaz]

@Penny
Haha I only say that because I had been passing up my word count by nearly 200 everyday and then I get a job and I can't even reach my word count. Though for you...I wouldn't worry about names at the moment, even those can come to you later. My stories chapters are around 3,500 words each (except 1 that is 5,000). I just go with the flow and when I'm done with a particular scene, I end the chapter. I also end them when I change POVs and which characters I follow.

Do you have several main characters? I'm partial to novels like that c:


Does anyone have some good tips on how to come up with a plot?

[christa renz]

Brainstorm. :| Or create characters, and a plot will come of that.
Pick a genre first, though :)

[Sen507]

I never try to come up with a plot, they just randomly come to me. I came up with mine when I was drawing in science class and I started drawing a kid because I was bored and I had been listening to a lot of vocaloids with clockwork themes so I drew him half robotic and then I just thought what story would fit this character? And it came to me. Though I just got a rough idea of the plot then, the details came while daydreaming at school other days.

[Partial Topaz]

Brainstorm. Or create characters, and a plot will come of that.
Pick a genre first, though

I've already picked Horror & supernatural c:
And I've crossed out any ideas including zombies, werewolves, or vampires.

I never try to come up with a plot, they just randomly come to me. I came up with mine when I was drawing in science class and I started drawing a kid because I was bored and I had been listening to a lot of vocaloids with clockwork themes so I drew him half robotic and then I just thought what story would fit this character? And it came to me. Though I just got a rough idea of the plot then, the details came while daydreaming at school other days.

That actually gives me the idea to base my story on the headless man I drew the other day!

[Strawberry-Ringo]

@Penny
My story has 2 main characters and one main creature character. There's another character that will be in it frequently but he won't appear till near the middle.

[Sen507]

My story only has one real main character but then many side mains who have quite a good deal of the story from their point of view, I don't know why but I get bored when I write too much from one character's perspective, it's more fun to mix it up.

[Vulpes Rose]

Most books have from 12-20 chapters so if your writing 50,000 words (which is a pretty short novel, I've read that the "average" book is around 100,000 words) each chapter would be 2,500-4,000 words long. The length of the chapter isn't an exact thing (all chapters need not be exactly the same length), but the chapters should be broken only when a scene finishes or a real transition is required to avoid being choppy. I tend to write first and then divide into chapters later for stories written on the fly like my NaNo since I don't have a good plan in mind of where things are going and wouldn't be sure if something interesting/important would happen every chapter if I divided it up now or did so by strict word count.

A good chapter moves the plot along with one or more major set pieces and also ends on a note that makes you want to turn the page and start the next chapter right away. Editors don't like seeing 86 chapter books most of the time, as it looks like you maybe just started a new chapter whenever you got bored. It can be done, but if its your first work, its often better to show you can follow pacing rules before playing with them and ignoring them for a certain effect.

This is all advice I've gotten for trying to get books published though. If you are just writing for you or friends then its really your call and you can make your own rules. Or if you are writing something like fanfiction you might aim for shorter chapters since some people don't like to read things off of a computer screen in marathon sessions.

My NaNo novel right now is one big scary chapter, but I've already seen a few places where a chapter break will fit in very naturally. I have a few places where a scene ends and then I need some time to have passed (to later in the day, or even a few days later) and I automatically leave an extra line in between the paragraphs because I know I need a break there. But for now, chapters will come with editing, which must wait till Decemeber.

[Strawberry-Ringo]

-takes deep breath- I've only written 261 today. The only good part is that I now only have 1,920 words left. D'X
I've decided that since it's Wenesday at 8:50 pm (and the latest Bleach chapter came out that I haven't read yet), that I am going to cut my word goal down by at least 300 words before I allow myself to read the newest chapter. That's a nice way to get it down fast I suppose. I'm not sure I'll be able to conqure my word goal today (or even tomorrow because I have to work), but I shall try! XD

Wish me luck, I'm going to need it in order to beat week 2 of quitters. Why did I have to get a job right at the beginning of week 2?! Why?! (I'm not complaining too much, I do want the money).

Oh wow! On a second note, I've got so good at making large run on sentences for my story, that it's spreading into my everyday writing. How horrible?

[christa renz]

I have absolutely no motivation today and I'm behind by 4k. x.x

[Sen507]

I just reached 18K, I'm still a bit worried about how long my finished product will be since I am jumping around from place to place in writing the story and I have no idea if I can fill in enough scenes to get to 50K or not...