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Post by Kessie on Nov 19, 2011 1:06:28 GMT -5
Dave: That is some AWESOME advice. I hope it helps out Teskas!
I got 1854 words tonight, putting me at 10,093. One character tore up another character's car. I had not expected this. Neither had the other character.
Saturday night: I got a measly 478 words, bringing me to 10,571. Why are some nights so good and others just aren't?
Monday night: 1328 very difficult words. I saw a quote somewhere from some musician who said, "If I leave my craft for one day, it leaves me for three." And boy, it's the truth.
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Post by Teskas on Nov 19, 2011 20:16:56 GMT -5
Dave, I really like what you have had to say. It certainly gives me plenty to think about as I develop this character. NaNoWriMo deprives a writer of that precious commodity, time for reflection, but certainly, after I have delivered the 50K word count, there will be plenty to think about as I rework the material I've generated this month.
Thank you for your contribution--both the theological and psychological elements. I know it takes a lot of time to create a post like the one you have added. I truly appreciate your generous gift of time and thought in helping me create this character.
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Post by almarquardt on Nov 21, 2011 19:12:54 GMT -5
I knew there had to be a Nanowrimo thread around here! Yay!
Teskas, I'm reminded of a line in the movie "Finding Forrester" with Sean Connery. His character said (paraphrased), "The first draft you write with your heart. You rewrite with your head."
To keep my internal editor happy (and relatively quiet), I use Microsoft's One Note open to keep track of the things I either want to add or change later. With my memory, it's a necessity.
It's my second try at a fantasy (the first one bombed), and so far it's exceeding my expectations. I don't necessarily proclaim it to be any good, but it's gripped me like no other story idea I've had in a long time. I couldn't be more thrilled, and can hardly wait to get back to it. Right now, my three-year-old is begging for my attention . . .
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Post by newburydave on Nov 21, 2011 20:34:34 GMT -5
Dave, I really like what you have had to say. It certainly gives me plenty to think about as I develop this character. NaNoWriMo deprives a writer of that precious commodity, time for reflection, but certainly, after I have delivered the 50K word count, there will be plenty to think about as I rework the material I've generated this month. Thank you for your contribution--both the theological and psychological elements. I know it takes a lot of time to create a post like the one you have added. I truly appreciate your generous gift of time and thought in helping me create this character. =============== If the few things I've gleaned from 40 years of trying to walk with Jesus and 30 years of trying to preach the Gospel are useful to you, I give God all the thanks and glory. That He could use such a flawed vessel as I am to help another Christian on the Way is a miracle in my sight. ================ One thing I was trying to remember the other night that kept falling out of my brain is that there are two types of "Maturity" described in the Epistles and other scripture. There is the spiritual maturity described at the end of Colossians chapter 1. This type seems to be determined by how fully we have "put on the Man Jesus Christ" and put Romans 12:1 into practice. The other type of "Maturity" is the maturity and wisdom of extensive life experience which is typically only found in older, committed Christians. One thing that the King James does that I think is a plus is that it calls Spiritual Maturity by the name "Perfection" in the sense of "Perfection in Christ" while it calls the Extensive Life Experience kind of Maturity simply "Mature" or "being an Elder". I believe that it is common to feel that "life experience maturity" is essential before we can be really useful in God's kingdom. I've come to feel that this is a misapprehension. What I have observed in the Church and those who labor for souls is that those who have "truly learned from their life experiences" seem to have learned how to more fully step out of the way to let Jesus work through them without the impediments of their own opinions and prejudices. (even the best of us still have those) I think Peterson captures this though about the best that I've seen in his translation of 1 Col. 1:28"To be mature is to be Basic. Christ! No more, no less." (Message) The degree to which we can do this is the degree to which He has been able to make us Spiritually Mature. Though there frequently is a correlation between the two types of maturity, it is not a one for one kind of relationship. I've seen some older church people who survived to an advanced age with their selfishness robust and intact. I've seen others, who were relatively young in the faith, that were able to learn from the experience of others and they effectively "jumped the line" into full consecration and the Rest of Faith in Jesus. What this all means for us in the Craft of Writing is huge. I have only begun to unpack it for myself. ====================================== But one application I can suggest speaks to your original concern, Teskas; I don't think it's a problem for your "immature" character to have a reputation for ministering grace and healing to others. I was a living breathing example that God does use people in this manner in His work in the real world. The only caveat I would suggest is that somehow you make it plain that the grace and healing was because of God's spiritual gifts to him, not because of his innate abilities or wisdom. Whenever I had to preach or give counsel I always felt that I was merely passing on the truth, words and scriptures that The Spirit was speaking in my heart for that congregation or person. I usually learned more from such experiences than the people I was seeking to help. The act of reaching out in Christian love to another seemed to bring special insights that mere studying never achieved. SGD dave
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Post by Teskas on Nov 22, 2011 20:06:52 GMT -5
Dave, your distinction is a good one. I've been pretty much working out something along similar lines.
NaNo is quite a demanding exercise. I had reached the point I had decided what I was writing for the 50K word count was drivel, but actually about a quarter of it is okay for a first draft. So, after November is over, I can take some time and sort through the story. Although a word to anyone else thinking of trying this next year--no matter what the pep talks say to the contrary--plan ahead. Seriously consider doing the preliminary work that Jeff has been trying to teach us before you tackle NaNo 2012. The reason I say this is that it is hugely demanding on a family to be out of action for a month. Invariably the housekeeping, the shopping, the cooking, etc., either falls on someone else, or is badly done. By being organized before starting NaNo, you will lessen the negative impact it will have on the people around you.
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Post by yoda47 on Nov 22, 2011 20:17:44 GMT -5
I'm somewhere over 41k words right now.
I'm averaging around 1,900 words a day. So far, I've written at least something every day. One or two days, I've only made 300 words, yesterday I got 4,000... today, nothing yet...
This has been a fascinating experience, as I've never written this much, this fast.
Of course, it does help that I'm writing a sequal, so I already know most of my characters...
And yes, planning ahead helped a LOT. (and I don't usually plan....)
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Post by Teskas on Nov 22, 2011 21:42:14 GMT -5
I'm a little over 44K right now. I am trying really hard to pack in a lot more tonight and tomorrow. Thursday and Friday I'll be with family so don't expect to get a lot written. Saturday I will write, and maybe some more Sunday evening. I hope to be finished by Monday night. It has been a demanding month. My hat is off to all of you who have done this before or are doing it now. It has been quite an experience.
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Post by Kessie on Nov 24, 2011 0:28:34 GMT -5
Got a bit of writing in tonight, but most of it was spent applying some crits from the Sandbox to a short story. Thanks for the crits, guys! They're awesome. Someday I'll have to show you the kind of crits I got back in my fanfic days. They were brutal.
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Post by dragonlots on Nov 24, 2011 1:14:26 GMT -5
19279 words so far and two major goals achieved. 'God's Gift' is finished and the romance I was working on 'Worth the Wait' is revised and ready for submission.
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rjj7
Full Member
Today I'm a drake
Posts: 202
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Post by rjj7 on Nov 25, 2011 0:23:15 GMT -5
Well, I've proven myself to be all talk and no staying power. I'm nowhere close, and haven't touched my stuff in days. Just too much going on. I am going to be so glad when this semester is over. Congrats to all you folks who have made some nice progress. Keep it up! You can only get better with practice.
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Post by pixydust on Nov 25, 2011 19:24:41 GMT -5
Wow, you guys are amazing!!! Good job all around! Only a few days left!!!!
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Post by Kessie on Nov 25, 2011 23:06:53 GMT -5
I've finally had a breakthrough in my story, and it's finally starting to flow the way I want it to. I realized that one character was such a jerk that he was bogging down the whole story. I ditched him and all the other characters breathed sighs of relief.
Also, I have the most awesome picture in my head to work toward. I'm going to draw it in my blog tonight.
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Post by Teskas on Nov 27, 2011 12:36:57 GMT -5
Good for you, Kessie. It's great when things come together.
I'm past the Wrimo post this afternoon at 51057. The End.
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rjj7
Full Member
Today I'm a drake
Posts: 202
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Post by rjj7 on Nov 28, 2011 1:44:37 GMT -5
I've finally had a breakthrough in my story, and it's finally starting to flow the way I want it to. I realized that one character was such a jerk that he was bogging down the whole story. I ditched him and all the other characters breathed sighs of relief. Alas, if only Robert Jordan had been as wise as thee.
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Post by metalikhan on Nov 28, 2011 10:43:31 GMT -5
With only a couple more days to go, a hearty congrats to all who participated! And to those who've already completed this writing marathon -- Woohooo! Good job! ;D
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