Right now I am just trying to find out what the main scenes are. The opening scene became more interesting last night with a hit of inspiration. I have a very dramatic scene near the end, as well as a final scene. Then there's the game-changer scene, but I'm not sure if it's in the middle or 2/3s through. I added another character, who, though not the focus of the novel, is extremely important, and his actions make him a source of great consternation. I have some of the main character development done, but I will probably let things fall into place as I write.

I want to start writing now! I am certainly getting nervous about time constraints. I'm actually a young man with certain responsibilities and commitments, not to mention a real job that's 40-hours a week! I can see that some of my activities are going to have to be majorly curtailed next month!

I've just about finished planning, I wrote out the names of the characters, their descriptions, I also jotted down the basic plot of my novel so I know the basics of the story
I've just about made up my mind to write two novels for NaNo instead of one, my first will be my main focus but I hope to finish it early and start on the second one I've planned it all out as well

I can hardly wait, only 6 days left to go

Less than a week to go, folks! It's hard to believe! October seems to have flown by.

I'm outlining some, even beyond the "outline" of the original fairytale. I'm building the story a lot, and I plan to make things a lot more complicated—and I tend to be very adept at complicating things.

I'm pretty much just jotting down stuff like "be sure to get this element in" and "don't forget that thus-and-so has to happen before such-and-such," as well as writing mini-bios for the characters. Also going through the fairytale over and over again, inserting notes for any ideas that spring to mind. Hopefully I'll have some idea of what I'll be writing when the clock hits midnight next week—instead of making it up as I go along, which I found out last year really does not help me in terms of quality or coherence.

Anybody found themselves researching some unusual stuff in preparation for the start of November? That's one of the things I love so much about writing; oftentimes you'll find yourself learning about things you never would have stumbled across otherwise.

Some of my odder google searches have been on medieval hunting technique, the psychology of sibling rivalry, the symbolism of the white stag, a bunch of Celtic and Welsh mythology, the history of carrier pigeons/doves. . . oh, and bearded animals. That was probably the weirdest one.

Well, so far the only weird search I've done is "crippling birth defects" (my FMC has a gimp leg she was born with). Other than that, I don't think there's been anything weird. Hold on...*checks search history*...I've searched British nobility ranks, but I don't know if that's considered weird or not...and I've searched family crests, but I think that's all so far. I haven't done much research other than learning about chess.

Oh boy. I'm getting so excited for next month. I can't wait to dig in and get going on both of the novels I'm going to be doing. I've got a little bit of last minute planning/plotting to do for my side novel, but other than that I'm good to go.

This week I'm going to be putting together my survival kit for November. So far it consists of just a few little things that are absolutely necessary:
1. Tea.
2. Noveling music.
3. Sugar stash.
4. Laptop.
5. Notebooks/pens for the weekend I'm out of town.

Do you guys make a list of things you need to survive the insanity?

*is suddenly very afraid to let Elanor read his NaNo book if he ever finishes it*

No, no, it's not that I expect something really good. And I'm sure yours would be good (and DEFINITELY a million times better than the ones I read. ). Just I expect something other than utter trash. I want more than ONE SENTENCE WITH POTENTIAL. xD

Question to everyone: are you outlining, or are you going to completely make things up? What is the reason behind your method of choice?

I am completely and utterly for making things up - I'm worried that I have a plot and characters (and a location)! I have been trying to do a little planning, since I do have the above things, but I just keep it in my head, find some things that they can do, and stuff. And sometimes word out things in my head.

Anybody found themselves researching some unusual stuff in preparation for the start of November?

I researched the maker of the atomic bomb! xD And 40's clothing. And that's it.
Just a few days! Oh my goodness!!
I like your list, Lia.

The only weird thing I had to research was the effects of polio

oh I love you list MM, mine would be the same, except perhaps without the sugar stash

On letting others read my stories...

My 3 NaNo stories (counting this year's) are fanfiction (a sort of alternate universe for Gargoyles) and I really don't expect them ever to be published. I tend to keep them pretty close to the vest, so to speak, as in the past I've received some rather scathing remarks about fanfiction not being 'real writing' (to be sure, there's some bad fanfiction out there, but isn't that true of 'regular' fiction as well?)

So I generally write for my own pleasure, to explore my characters' growing world, and to try to improve my skills. I'm okay with this!

Having said that, I've shared some of my writing with friends (both in real life and here on the forum) and have appreciated the reviews and kind remarks they've offered. [/random]

On preparation...I've got the 'big picture' pretty much in place, and keep a notebook handy for those little ideas that keep popping up (as they always seem to do so at inconvenient moments, like when I'm driving or trying to sleep).

My NaNo stash includes the following essentials:

1. Caffeine! (usually in the form of Mountain Dew. I don't drink coffee)
2. Chocolate (truly essential )
3. Desktop or laptop
4. Notebook and pen for when I'm away from the computer
5. Gargoyles DVDs or episodes on VHS (for research purposes )

I don't plan on getting published, I just don't think about that, and I know I'm not good enough, and won't get good enough. So why try? 3 people have read my NaNo book from last year - my brother really liked it, even more than the amazing book my sister wrote - I never heard my Aunt's final say, I think she liked it mildly - and my friend liked it, or part of it. I totally agreed with all of her criticism. Other than my sister, who I'm bugging to read it, there's not really anyone I want to. I probably will this year though, because I'm fairly sure I'm going to like this one a lot better.

NaNo stash:
1. Flash Drive, so Desktop or Laptop, if the laptop decides to behave. Because computer-use could be varied, I might end up typewriting or handwriting my manuscript.
2. Music. (specifically, soundtracks. I learnt about The King's Speech Soundtrack and will definitely be utilizing it to get brain juices brewing.)
3. Notebook for planning-as-I-go, I guess.
I have no idea how to plan and have 0 word of planning and 5 & 1/2 days to do it. This is going to be soooo fun. I really think I'm one of the write-as-you-go people, though that does complicate things very much.

I've never let anyone read my writing except for showing one or two stories/beginning of stories to my sister, and a few poems/short paragraphs to my mom. (as well as a few poems and short stories online for whoever among my facebook friends or NW friends wanted to read them. ) I'm really nervous about letting people read what I write, especially if it's longer than poem or short paragraph. I would like to get published... but who knows.... right now I have to focus on writing better and you know, actually finishing a novel.

Where planning hits a roadblock: Upon recieving fairy-like fantasy inspiration, I'm considering switching the genre of my book from WWII era (which I really would love to write) to medieval, with a touch of fantasy. (kind of like my major NaNo story two years ago, taking place during the Middle Ages, with castles and kings and knights.) We'll see...

I just finished my outline! If anyone wants to read it's on my tumblr. I can't wait to start writing!

Oh my. I haven't been in here since the third page. That's a trifle too long, don't you think?

I'm a bit out of any discussion loops right now, so forgive my ignorance. My NaNo novel's progress hasn't been too bad! I'm working on an outline right now, which feels like a terribly stripped down 'mini' story. XD But I'm sort of ironing out the plot as I do so, working out the folds you might say. I don't have a summary or a title yet, which are two more important things. I seem to struggle with titles though, and with a 'Beauty and the Beast' story, I want something unique, and not of the normal.

I think "Beauty's" name is going to be Lilia, which means: "purity and beauty." And the 'lily' flower represents innocence. I think the purity and beauty especially fit the way I want to craft my "Beauty" character.

I have a good look for the Beast, but a nice name for him escapes me. I'm thinking of something more English, possibly Spanish. I'm just exploring various avenues, trying to thinking of names more relevant in the 1600/1700's.

As for a title for the Novel, I've becoming especially attached to a gorgeous name Ithy (Ithilwen) suggested: A Rose Under Glass. Somehow it's so graceful and poetic. Though, I'm still unclear on the plot point surrounding the rose and the curse and the glass. That's the only reason I haven't taken it on.

While searching for different Beauty and the Beast illustrations I came across one which is very creative, and has become my favorite though it doesn't fit the story I want to tell.

I've never seen any 'beast' portrayed in that fashion, and that is what I loved the most. I also found another with a faun looking beast, which I might share later.

Yes, I'm afraid my novel doesn't really seem like much, but it's more developed on my word document and I'm really looking forward to it. November is coming so fast! I'm trying to work out an agenda for my writing, while juggling life. We'll see how well this goes. Any suggestions for names and such are greatly appreciated, and I'll be happy to help any of you as well.

Hullo, everyone!!!!

It's so exciting to be here again! I was hoping I could read all 12 pages before I posted, but I really don't have time.

I got my story idea in the middle of summer, but I am much less prepared than last year. Since I don't like ever trying to describe my stories, I'll just let anyone who is interested look at the summary I came up with at 1:00 in the morning on the NaNo site. For my third time around, I'm finally discovering what kind of plot I can write well. I'm describing it as an emotional plot, with the climax and everything being internal instead of external. Plots for me have to be characters, not events, since that's what I like and do best. This is also the most serious novel yet, so I'm kind of getting ready for it to flunk. Not that it will. Just, I won't be surprised if it does.

Another reason for flunking, is that I'm really unprepared. I've had a really busy month, or what I think is busy, and haven't made myself think about my story and get to know everything. I have a good feel for my main characters (well, one of them. The other still wants to be the man from my last book), but I don't know any of the little things that will happen, which is my favorite part to plan for. There are several important characters who need development. I have about as many characters as any Russian epic, so I guess that isn't a surprise. The Elusive Best Friend is finally starting to take shape today. I know that she was wide set eyes and curly hair. She has no name, though, which is really worrying me.

Well, enough blather for now. Destined and I are going on a road trip this weekend, and that has quite overshadowed all NaNo thoughts. Maybe, no most assuredly, we'll get it all planned out together.

So, in what may be my craziest idea yet, I have decided to work on a second NaNo novel this time around. (Although, for this time around, my goal will only be 25,000 words for this second novel.)

I have more of a planned world and story for this second novel. It is a fantasy story, taking place in a world not unlike that of Narnia/LotR, but in this world, there are two races: humans and "blades".

Blades are humanlike beings with magical attributes, who form pacts with humans. Once a pact is formed between a blade and a human, that blade can then turn into an actual sword which the human can wield. Different blades can turn into different swords with varying magical properties. However, because blades cannot use their powers without forming pacts, they are considered servants and lower-class beings by many humans in that world. (The exception are Legendary Blades, such as Excalibur, Durandal, and Kusanagi, who are extremely powerful, do not need humans to use their powers, and typically avoid humans, interacting only with the very few they deem worthy.)

For that reason, there are conflicts where some groups want blades to have a higher status or to be freed from the humans they are bound to, and other groups that want things to be the same, and there are many extremist groups on both sides. Caught in the middle are the group of humans who have friendly relationships with their blades and enjoy being with each other.

It is this group that my three main protagonists belong to. As children, they had found a blade who was running away for some reason, and agreed to keep her safe in their village. The story features them grown up (at 16, the age when humans can make pacts with blades) as they head out to participate in tournaments and go on adventures, all while watching out for the attacks of the aforementioned extremist groups and trying to figure out more about the mysterious blade that they had befriended six years ago...

And thus, Wandering Blade, Book 1: The Shrine Atop Mount Arthur shall start in November...

I have no title (although "The Man From Yesterday" sounds like a decent working title right now ), no cover, and the barest framework of a plot.

All I can say is that my book will be about a man who awakens inside of an old and abandoned scientific research facility in a cloning tank. He emerges to find a post-apocalyptic landscape where the US has been dead for 100+ years, major geographical changes have taken place (the Mississippi River is now a series of large inland seas, Louisiana is half underwater, as is Florida, and much of California west of the San Andreas is an archipeligo of small islets), cities lay abandoned and decaying, and new nation-states have arisen to fight over the scraps. Technology has devolved to 16th and 17th century levels and there are hints that some supernatural force has been unleashed on the entire world which makes previously impossible things quite possible. And it all began when something was inadvertently awakened in the deepest part of the ocean....

I'm looking forward to the anachronisms that will be abundant in the book. Airships alongside of war elephants (which in the 150 years since the fall of man have grown dramatically in number and now roam the former Great Plains alongside of horses and bison). And many thanks to the great History Channel program Life After People for inspiring me to write this many, many months ago.