Congrats on finishing your novel, MountainFireFlower! It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it?

My problem is the irresistible urge to edit. My last 2 NaNo stories are technically complete, and I've written several other short stories set in the same universe, but even now when I read them I can't resist those minor tweaks.

Script Frenzy is coming up fast! I've never seriously considered entering it, as prose writing is more my thing. But their email today suggested adapting your NaNo novel...I may consider that.

And whilst perusing the Script Frenzy forums I found a link to this page, which talks about a 'snowflake method' of writing a novel. Some of those tips might be helpful - I've done some of them, but not in such an organized fashion. I think it depends to some extent on the personality of the writer. But still, every useful tip can be quite helpful in writing.

I have never, ever finished anything. I still keep starting stories, sure I'll finish them (they're so exciting!) then...they become blah and I don't finish. Ugh! This year I will start on time (I tried Nano in 2008 and 2010 but started late both times and finished neither- got no where near 50k, in fact) and it is my first year doing Script Frenzy. Although, a while ago I started my own script- a Revolutionary War time period movie set in England where the girl is a Loyalist and she finds out that her brother and the man she loves- and who she helped in his cause- are actually rebels, helping the American cause. I did not finish it (of course!) but I did get to 42 pages and 8,000-something words- not too far off from the half-way point. And, maybe it shouldn't be, but that made me feel good. Even to have gotten almost half-way...I guess that says something about my writing habits.

Anyway, this year I will actually be in the event. And this is gonna be my year- I'm gonna make it happen. Mark my words: I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.

There. Now I'm accountable.

Lu

I'm big on ideas, short on follow-through.
I have a bunch of totally awesome essay titles sitting around, but no time to write the essays. They mainly have to do with stereotypes, race, double standards, and political correctness.
Recently in my novel I've been writing from the point of view of my immortal heroine, who is having mortality explained to her. Its fascinating to consider what being immortal might be like.

Thank you everyone for your advice and tips, I started writting a bit today and so far I am pleased with what I have written. I'm going to write the novel from third person, but, as Princess Anna suggested, there will places with parts from Liza's diary, and that will be, naturally, in first person. I'm still not completely sure if the way I've started is the best way, I guess I'll see as I go. I have yet to decide how I am going to introduce Liza, I've made up how to introduce her grandfather, but Liza is a bit more tricky

I am working on my Script Frenzy idea, and this is what I have so far (in short):

Evil genius guy plots destruction of entire country, setting a time bomb underground to explode in 200 years

The only people who can do the job are six kids-

I have a lot more info but those are the very basics. I have yet to decide what goes on during the kids' journey, but of course it will be happily ever after- I mean, who wants to read the closing lines:

They failed. Their country blew up and everybody died. THE END .

Lu

P.S. What do you think of my idea, the little bit I've written?

oh wow Lucy of Narnia, that sounds like a really cool idea
Thanks to a very terrible thing known as SCHOOL, I haven't been able to do any writting at all I have been planning what I am going to write in my head though, been thinking about description, how I am going to introduce the other characters and so on, and I hope as soon as I get my school done and over with (at least the bulk of it) I will be able to start writing again. And I really have to hurry, cause I keep making up stories and storing them in my head.....and I think I am running out of space

That idea sounds great!

I haven't done any writing since November. Other than a tiny bit of editing to my NaNo novel: just spelling changes and correcting incorrect dates.

I have no new ideas for Screnzy so I'm going to try to turn my NaNo novel into a script. Perhaps that will also help me finish it. *hopeful look*

Thanks guys! Right now I've been in the Screnzy thread here on NW a lot. This time I'm prepared but I'm still a bit nervous. A well, I should feel betteer (I hope) once I start putting 'pen' to 'paper' (or finger to key ).

Lu

Very interesting idea Lucy of Narnia! Good luck!

Your book is amazing FencerforJesus! I couldn't get my hands off it (except for when wild_rose or Narnian_Archer would take it from me ). I haven't finished it yet (I'm on chapter 15), but it is one of the best books I have ever read! It really builds my faith. Once I have read the whole thing I will send you a detailed report ! Thanks so much for writing it (and sending it to us)!

I had a feeling you'd jump on it whenever you got a chance. And I could see you and your siblings arguing over who gets to read it then. I do look forward to your report. The more feedback I get the better it will help my sequel. And speaking of that, I've been lax on trying to finish it. My Software Engineering class is just plain rough and takes away any desire to do anything that requires a remote bit of brain activity. (It's the instructor, not the work load). I'm close to finishing it then getting in position to send it off for feedback. I still want it ready to go to a publisher by end of the year. We'll see how realistic that is.

Anyway, I am glad you are enjoying my book. I hope it helps with your family's re-enacting ministry as well. As I told your sister, I'm available to help out with that in whatever long-distance way I can.

arguing....oh my that is a bit of an understatement....we literally fought over it (and amazingly so far we have managed not to damage the book )
It is an amazing book, I couldn't put it down, it is very captivating and once I started I couldn't stop. The parallels are very amazing, the book is truly faith building. Thank you so much for sending it to us.

Just wait until the 2nd time through. You should pick up even more stuff. I've been getting a lot of those kinds of comments as more people finish it. But unfortunately I don't have the means of publicity for the book at this point. So I am relying on word of mouth. I'll be expecting several PM's when the three of you (or all six) are finished.

I need advice!

I want some advice as to how to pull off subplots/multi-plots, etc. I've seen many good books and movies who have them -- POTC, LOTR, etc. My question is, how do you get them into the story without it seeming random -- especially if it isn't introduced until later. It seems impossible when you have a main character and their plot, then you start creating something with a different character and what they're going through. Any ideas as to how to make it seem natural and in-place?

~Riella

I want some advice as to how to pull off subplots/multi-plots, etc. I've seen many good books and movies who have them -- POTC, LOTR, etc. My question is, how do you get them into the story without it seeming random -- especially if it isn't introduced until later. It seems impossible when you have a main character and their plot, then you start creating something with a different character and what they're going through. Any ideas as to how to make it seem natural and in-place?

Hi Riella! I have a couple of mini-plots going on in my book as well, so I think I can help. Let's see...

The first thing you want to ask yourself is whether the sub-plots are necessary for the storyline. In LOTR, the answer is obviously yes, since otherwise half the story would be lost. But looking back at some of mine, I'm not sure whether I really need them or not since all they really do is introduce characters and settings that my main character would learn about on his own eventually anyway. So I'm considering taking them out. I don't regret writing them though, since through writing them I discovered a lot about the characters involved as well as their home which I might not have learned otherwise. So we'll see.

Anyway, next you'll want to think about how to break up your book to incorporate those sub-plots. I heard somewhere that it's best to do it by chapters (a chapter or two of the main plot followed by a chapter (or two) of the sub-plot), but mine always end up being shorter than a chapter, in which case I just break up my pages using little * * * signs. Or you could do a bunch of spaces - it doesn't really matter. You just need something to let the reader know you're switching points of view and/or jumping across half the country for a little while.

I think the best thing to do is just make a nice, smooth transition from one scene to another. Find a good stopping place in one plot, maybe ending with a sentence that leaves the reader with something to think about. (What's going to happen?) You could even include an element of some sort that ties into the scene you're about to describe. (For example, in one such transition, I have my first group of characters looking up at the stars and wondering about the existence of a second group of characters that they've never met. Then I switch to the second group of characters, and they're looking up at the stars too. I was quite pleased with the way this one turned out.) And then start up in your other plot. You'll want to introduce the character of your other plot right away so the reader knows who they're following. As long as you have some sort of overarching plot that those two characters are somehow involved in (for example, in LOTR you have the threat of Mordor, and both Frodo's plot and Aragorn's plot tie up in that struggle to save Middle Earth) and you emphasize that in both plots, it will make the existence of more than one storyline seem natural.

I hope this helps a little with your problem!

Let's see...multiple plots and subplots. I have quite a few of those in my book so...

Silver gave a lot of good tips. A character's subplot should not just be there to give a character depth. That kind of thing is for the author to know the character better. The subplot needs to have some kind of function or role in the overall main storyline. In LOTR, the Smeagol and Aragorn subplots are pretty obvious in how they tie in. But what about Legolas and Gimli? It's been a while since I've read the books, but the common goal of seeking to destroy the Ring took two bitter rivals and made them the best of friends. We see the same thing with Reepicheep and Eustace in movie VDT. (Not as standout in book). So first thing about subplots is determining its use. Does it help the overall plot? Does it make the characterization better? Does the subplot detract from the main plot? That just for the whole subplot idea.

To take this further, I have several characters that to some people may appear to be more mature for their age (teenagers) than what most people expect. So as I was working on my novel, I actually toyed with the idea of using a flashback involving a mission trip. It would have given the characters a greater depth, established the world more so, and filled out the story more than without it. But this subplot had little to do with the actual story other than to establish what the characters had been through to build up to the start of the story. It would actually be better to just mention the subplot in dialogue and everything the subplot would actually do would be accomplished in just a few sentences.

So there is a balance. Some subplots need full development. Others need little more than just a few sentences. Other still should not be included at all. It can be tricky but it takes playing around with it. I recommend writing the subplots out because they will help you as the author to understand the characters better, where the story really needs to go, and stuff like that. You may discover something that needs to happen that you may not have found otherwise. So I hope that helps.