I'm not outlining at all. I don't do that. I'm probably just going to start with no idea of what I'm going to be writing about. I have grand ideas of good writing and a decent plot though, despite everything that NaNo is supposed to be. I may have already said this, but, last year I used up my hardly existent plot after about 3000 words, and with 47000 words left to go, I panicked and added time travel and alien spacecrafts and street urchins and a crumbled castle and it didn't actually turn out as spectacular as it should have with all those extra things. I like to think it was because I was writing with a destination in mind, and I came to it after 3000 words.

...Maybe I should outline a little.

How does everyone pick out titles?

So I've run into what coud be construed as a problem (or at least a hurdle): while running through my story in my head I realized that I have chosen to tell the final third of a larger story. Anybody have any advice for writing back-story/flashbacks?

I was thinking for the plot maybe a girl gets kidnapped??
Prologue:
"As (Can't think of name yet!) was walking home from her school, a black van with tinted windows pulled up in front of her. There were two men that got out. One was a tan-skinned man with a ski mask on his face, wearing all black. The other was a black man with a ski mask, and very tall. The first thing said was, "Wait! No! Please!" The man with tan skin was holding something... The very next moment the tall man grabbed her by the arms. The man with tan skin put a hankercheif up to her mouth. couldn't help it. She started laughing. For about 2 minutes he continued to make her laugh with the laughing gas. The tall man said with a gruff voice, "Stop, we don't want to kill her, you idiot!" 's sides hurt really bad from laughing.
"I wasn't trying to!" The man that was forcing withdrew the handkercheif (how do you spell that?) from 's lips. stopped laughing and took a deep breath after not being able to breath. The tall man forced her inside the black van. couldn't see the driver but knew he was the boss of the tall man and the tan man. The tan man conked with a glass vase, and that was all remembered."

That is my prologue. I want there to be a plot twist! The boss in the front seat (believed by *** to be a man) is actually a really beautiful woman! What do you guys think?

I need help with the names though! What should the "male"'s name be? The tan and tall man have a code name for her. What should the girls name be? She is the MC. Main character.

Mostly, what I do for names is just pick some out of thin air. Names can be important, but the person often gives meanings and emotions to whatever name you put with the person.

For example, I know only of only two Gerties: Gertie Pye in the Anne Books and Gertie Giggles in Spy Kids, neither of whom I liked. Therefore I don't like the name Gertie. I might have liked it if I didn't associate with those people, but I don't because I do associate it with those people. Someone that I really do like could come along and "redeem" the name for me, but until that happens, I won't like the name Gertie.

Anyhow, you can always change your names later on.

Am I making any sense at all?

Your story idea sounds neat, Emmy. Some bits I'm confused about, which I'm sure will be clarified in the actual story: Did the girl know the men? Why was she given laughing gas rather than chloroform (Chloroform knocks you out) if they just wanted to knock her out/kidnap her? How in the world did they give her laughing gas on a handkerchief? (It's a gas...I don't think they could give it on a handkerchief.) Why didn't she try to run away?

Work out the kinks and you'll be golden! Also, are you planning to tell the story from ***'s perspective, or some else's.

It's a work in progress, good grief! lol just kidding. I will edit it right now. Take out the part about laughing gas. No laughing gas. They meant to kidnap her, but they hit her so she wouldn't hear what they were talking about... IDK! I havent got that far yet. I was thinking about Emma, or Emmy, or Emily, something like that. Thanks for all your help! I will post the edited version later. From my perspective. I am the narrator, telling the story. It was a work in progress, just wanted to see what y'all thought about it!

EDIT:: I think the name will end up being Amy. Here is the summary and my NanoWrimo page: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/user/419590

2 EDIT:: Here (Is most likely not final cover) is my book cover. I think. What do you think about it? I made it. So it is not the best cover in the world. I encourage criticism so I can make it better! I will probably have a picture of a girl instead of this for the cover. If I decide to make another one I will!

Sorry, I tend to go overboard when people ask for a tiny-weeny bit of help.

Just keep working at it! You've got some good ideas in hand.

Okay, so 2008 was my first year trying NaNoWriMo.......and I failed.....miserably.
On Oct. 31st 2008, I literally went, "Oh crap, NaNo!", and I ended up winging it. Bad idea.

So this year, I am determined to be prepared! I have so far worked out my plot, subplots, characters, title, etc etc.
All that's left that I really want to accomplish before Nov. 1st is a plot timeline.

Only, what? One week left now? How's everyone's preps going?

I might do a bit of brainstorming the 31st while waiting for midnight (to ascertain what my starting scene is) but other than that I'm completely ready. Course, that doesn't entail much. I think the plot setting will include a frozen planet (lovely to crash on, eh?) and I know who my main characters are, and I know I want to destroy their ship and that's about it. Who knows what else will happen? lol I'm very much writing "by the seat of my pants" as usual. My novels have a way of developing on their own and growing subplots as I write. My last NaNo novel did a wonderful job of that, hence I "won". I'm expecting this year to be about the same in terms of plot development.

~Anna

I'm ready in all things but one: I can't decide who one of my characters is. I know his personality, that he's married to one of my other main characters...but as far as backstory, I keep switching between two versions. I may end up going with whichever one I'm thinking about on October 31st.

For the past week I have been kind of panicking about NaNo as I can now see just how much work I have to do during November. However, I keep telling myself that I managed it last year and that I'm sure I can be as organised this year. However, it meant that I was also worrying about what I was going to write. Has anyone else had this - you know that you have some good ideas spead out across about twenty different notebooks, but somehow you just can't get the ideas to mesh together and work? So I've been struggling with that too. It's been fun.

Yesterday, though, I decided to go along to one of the NaNo meet ups in my city. It was seriously good fun! We kind of took over the Cafe Nero that we met at, but we bought lots of coffee, so that was OK. One thing that was great was meeting others who are taking part, and I hope I'll be able to meet up again during NaNo and write with them. The best part though was discussing writing and what we're all going to write come November. It was so inspiring! Though I haven't had a good idea come to mind for a good week or so, just since the meet up I've been constantly reaching for my notebook and jotting something down. Needless to say, I feel a whole lot better about it now ... Yaay! I'm still a little nervous about all the work I have to do, though ...

I had decided that I'd have an outline all prepared, but I don't think I'm going to go into too much more detail with what I already have. I know where the story's generally going, and a few incidents along the way; I think I will leave it at that and see where it goes!

I'm so excited for NaNo now! Just one week!

I've gotten some ideas down, but I know it's not enough. I'm just going to hope I can continue with the 4-5 stories I have to 50k. But then I'd have to make them at least 15k to 10k each. Yikes. Anyways, I'll have the poetry to do and perhaps I'll come up with story ideas as I go.

*doesn't think she's going to make it to 50k..*
My biggest problem at the moment, though, is I have no title. I've thought of several things, but nothing works, so I'll just have to name it "Untitled Stories" Or something like that. [...]

Emmy, your plot sounds interesting! I'm looking forward to seeing how it unfolds. On names: picking a name that has meaning for either the character or their story can be a lot of fun. For example, Abigail means "bringer of joy", Eleanor means "light". There's nothing wrong with simply choosing a name you like, either.

Has anyone else had this - you know that you have some good ideas spread out across about twenty different notebooks, but somehow you just can't get the ideas to mesh together and work?

Same here. The hardest part of planning has been gathering all the notebooks, sketches, and scribbled-on scraps of paper into one cohesive idea. And I just can't include everything, no matter how much I'd like to!

My plot was coming along fairly well until yesterday, when a previously minor character popped up and demanded a whole new storyline. I really was not planning on this. I like the idea, though, so we'll have to see where it goes. Only one week left!

My biggest problem at the moment, though, is I have no title. I've thought of several things, but nothing works, so I'll just have to name it "Untitled Stories" Or something like that. [...]

How about "Shorts for Shorts"

Yikesy, yikesy! Only one week left!!!!!!!

*has written a brief outline at least*

So, the big day is less than a week away! I'm gonna be starting writing at midnight. Any east coast timezone nwebbers who'd like to join me for the countdown and word wars are more than welcome. I'll invite anyone who I see is online at the time into a conference on YIM. The more the merrier!

~Anna