Nov 30 2008
Create the Perfect Plot
Well kids, today is the last day of NaNoWriMo, and I am sad to say that I didn’t make the 50K mark. But, I’m not all that bummed out about it either, as I had a lot of other things going on to keep me busy. I did manage to make it just over the 18,000 word mark. It’s not that my story got stale, it’s just that more pressing issues were at hand.
Now, for the cool part. Even though November is over, that doesn’t mean that all the fun needs to end. I’ve met a neat lady who is introducing a new portion to the novel writing world. Tomorrow, December 1st, is the start of something new. Announcing the first annual National Plot Writing Month , being held by Plot Whisperer, a.k.a., Martha Alderson.
The idea behind this month-long event isn’t going to be about how much or little you can write in a month’s time, but more about taking your basic idea, and shaping it into a creative work of art that publishers would love to read. Each day, Martha will post a different tip or idea to help your plot line evolve. Though this event is in no way associated with National Novel Writing Month, it is a creative way to take that first draft to the next level.
For more ideas each month, check out Martha’s newsletter, Blockbuster Plots. This monthly e-zine gives you more tips and tricks each month that can help with just about any storyline you’ve got in mind. You can find the link on the homepage of Martha’s site and the e-zine is free.
I’m pretty excited about getting in on the ground floor with this idea. Martha, herself, isn’t quite sure where this whole idea will go, but I have a feeling that it’s going to be fun getting there. I’d like to think that somewhere down the road, this will be another one of those things that we writers look forward to each year.
You are amazing!! Thank you so much for helping to get the word out and to articulate my fledging idea so beautifully!!
Your generosity fills me.
Thanks again.
See you at the blog tomorrow…
My pleasure, Martha. I think this is a really cool idea and am more than happy to pass on the news.
Nice and very helpful site you have here. I’m going to add your link to my blog.
Thank you Nannette, that is so kind of you. I was very impressed with your site as well, and will be adding it to my blogrolls also.
Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to stop in again.
With each year you participate in the challenge, do you continue where you left off the previous year, or do you start a new story each time?
I start new each year, it’s one of the requirements. You have to start out fresh each year, and can’t write even one word of the story until Midnight on Nov. 1st. You can write the outline, come up with your characters, plot line, come up with little details, but you can’t write any part of the story until the 1st. And all is said and done at 11:59pm on Nov. 30th.