mechanics
Now while the image of a greasy shirt, black fingernails, and a cough inspired by decades of car exhaust might be coming to mind, my title refers to the mechanics of writing not those of car repair.
I guess if you never think about it, writing a novel might seem as simple as starting at the beginning, describing the action that ensues, and then stopping when all has been said and done. There are novels like that, some quite good, but that approach is risky and takes a lot of talent. Writing mechanics can take some of that risk away.
The reason this is topical for me is that it's November and while that means Thanksgiving here in the US along with turkey and cranberry sauce, for a certain segment of the population it also means NaNoWriMo.
What's that you say? Well, NaNoWriMo is National November Writing Month. It's a very informal contest that requires a person to write 50,000 words--not really long enough to be a novel but don't get technical--within the month of November. With close to 2,000 words a day, this isn't about quality it's about quantity. And that's the unabashed goal of the contest. Quantity.
But just because quantity is the main goal, it doesn't mean that you can't do a few things to improve the quality or at least the appeal of the writing. Any writing be it a greeting card, newspaper column or especially ad copy needs a hook. Novels are no exception. You want to grab a reader in that first page, better yet, the first paragraph. Starting at the beginning isn't usually the best approach.
I know it sounds odd, but it's a lot easier to get a novel moving if you start near the end, or at least in the middle. You get a point in the narrative where there's a lot of action, then once the reader is hooked, you backtrack and explain how the protagonist got into the situation at the beginning of the book. Once you catch up to that initial scene of the book, then you rejoin the action and move towards the endgame of the book.
Another thing that helps is to have some thread going through the book that adds to continuity. It'll often have nothing to do with the plot. A book I read last year by John Sandford used a chart from Rolling Stone Magazine for this. The main character in the book had read the list of the top 100 rock songs and didn't like it. So for the remainder of the book he, and others he met, kept a running commentary on songs that should be on the list. A thread like this is also a way to allow the reader to bond easier with the central character. It's all good. :-)
More on this later...
I guess if you never think about it, writing a novel might seem as simple as starting at the beginning, describing the action that ensues, and then stopping when all has been said and done. There are novels like that, some quite good, but that approach is risky and takes a lot of talent. Writing mechanics can take some of that risk away.
The reason this is topical for me is that it's November and while that means Thanksgiving here in the US along with turkey and cranberry sauce, for a certain segment of the population it also means NaNoWriMo.
What's that you say? Well, NaNoWriMo is National November Writing Month. It's a very informal contest that requires a person to write 50,000 words--not really long enough to be a novel but don't get technical--within the month of November. With close to 2,000 words a day, this isn't about quality it's about quantity. And that's the unabashed goal of the contest. Quantity.
But just because quantity is the main goal, it doesn't mean that you can't do a few things to improve the quality or at least the appeal of the writing. Any writing be it a greeting card, newspaper column or especially ad copy needs a hook. Novels are no exception. You want to grab a reader in that first page, better yet, the first paragraph. Starting at the beginning isn't usually the best approach.
I know it sounds odd, but it's a lot easier to get a novel moving if you start near the end, or at least in the middle. You get a point in the narrative where there's a lot of action, then once the reader is hooked, you backtrack and explain how the protagonist got into the situation at the beginning of the book. Once you catch up to that initial scene of the book, then you rejoin the action and move towards the endgame of the book.
Another thing that helps is to have some thread going through the book that adds to continuity. It'll often have nothing to do with the plot. A book I read last year by John Sandford used a chart from Rolling Stone Magazine for this. The main character in the book had read the list of the top 100 rock songs and didn't like it. So for the remainder of the book he, and others he met, kept a running commentary on songs that should be on the list. A thread like this is also a way to allow the reader to bond easier with the central character. It's all good. :-)
More on this later...
Comments
In my life, I'd probably started and abandoned at least a dozen novels, bogged down in dull detail, or lost in aimless development, or just confused about where WAS it really going, after all?
then last year, voila; NaNo. First time ever i quit worryin about writin perfect, and just wrote! It was fantastic for me that way, dont look back, dont edit, and it's so fresh in yer mind there's no fumblin for where ya left off, it just flows.
for me? the best writing i've ever wrote was with the least thought and planning, and i'm continuing in that vein. Go David go... NaNo yer brains out, and tell us where; i wanna read.
Utenzi, the meme you tapped me for is up now.
I think. Might help me to quit obsessing about my problems!
Best of luck Dave :)
Samantha, don't be afraid--just do it. Writing is like talking. You just have to work a little at the cadence of your voice on paper.
I guess that's a little different.
I'm writing a good 2500 words a day so far. Not enough, but I haven't run out of content yet.
Michelle sent me today, but I'm linked to you anyway :o)
I have :-) god help me....
here from Michele's - again!
cq
But I'm glad she did. Great post. I haven't had time or brain capacity to write anything in years. Are you writing a novel this month?
I should register for NaNoWriMo, but I don't know.
My wife got a great book (I've read only part of it so far) where the protaginist has autism and is written from his voice. I wish that I could remember the name of the book.
I'm here again, I still don't remember the name of the book.
I like the picture on top of the blog, though.
I am returning the favor and Michele sent me too!
Starting near the end makes sense - I always have the toughest time thinking up endings.
Thanks for stopping by, Utenzi. :)