Southern Cross Novel Challenge

I'm the first to admit that I'm not a prep. person, though I do think about it a fair bit. I told some of the others at the Wellington Meet-up last month that I'd probably think of 3 ideas each for about two days, reject them and finally settle on one I like.

Up until that point nothing is written down, then in the space of either a train or bus journey, I write down the main plot in (sparse) outline form. As long as I have a beginning, a middle and an end, I'm happy. Maybe a few details about each of the main characters.

And that pretty much sums up my prep for a 50,000 word challenge like SoCNoC. Anything more than that sounds too much like hard work :-)

So how do you prepare for such a monumental task? I'd be keen to hear anyone with bizarre or strange ways.

Andrew Chilton - http://kapiti.geek.nz/
SoCNoC 2008 - Unknown and Untitled

Great topic!

I always start with a one-sentence hook or logline. The instant I have that, I normally know what style I want the novel to be, roughly who the main character is, how I want the novel to end (although in no more detail then a sentence or two) and I have an image of one or two scenes in my head.

I write those scenes, no matter where they occur in the novel, and then I write more. At around 20k I go back over what I've got and fix up the continuity, writing in details I figured out later, then I write the rest.

I'm not a big fan of OUTLINING a novel - scene by scene, chapter or chapter. If I did that, I wouldn't have any need to write the novel. However, I think before you begin it's crucial to know WHAT you're writing, HOW you want your book to make the reader feel (it's atmosphere, it's themes) and WHERE your book will take them (the ending).

With my first NaNO I did no prep for the story I actually wrote.
The story I did actually do prep for I wrote the year after (Rise of Emporer Mole).
SoCNoC last year was the first time I sat down and do alot of research before writing. I am very glad I did do it BUT I do not think all stories need it.
Fantasy, I do not bother with alot of prep work, basic plot lines, character ideas is all I do.
Mystery- this is where I do research the most.
Sci Fi- need alittle done but mainly because of technology advances.
Horror- um none maybe basic plot.
This year I am reallly torn on what to write. I have many ideas but none are really jumping at me to be written.
Gnomes, ducks, time travel, blue ringed octopus deaths, and a sequal to the Emporer Mole novel are all possible.

Lysistrata- I also do not outline my stories. I either would write too little and it would be useless information or write to much, end up writing the whole novel. LOL
I generally go with the flow of my ideas too but usually write in order rather then different scenes.

My idea of hell is being trapped in a room with no books!

Everyone around here knows how much of a planner, preparer, list making outliner I am.

"It's [writing] like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." - E. L. Doctorow

Slowly I'm learning to Drive at Night.

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Untitled Chick Lit
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

hehe, yes we know all about your planning Kerryn ;-) I've tried hard to be better at planning but it doesn't seem to work so well for me all the time.
I'm with those who end up not writing the thing at all if they outline much - I already know whats going to happen so there doesn't seem much point hashing out the details of it.
I am an explorer, I like to start with an idea and quite often I'll have an image in my head of a small event, or a line of dialogue or thought and I'll just develop things from there. I'll usually have a vague idea of where it's heading in terms of conflict/climax but if things crop up and change that idea along the way then I am happy to go where the story takes me.
That said, I did do last years prep challenges and they didn't stop me from charging ahead and completing SoCNoC, so who knows lol.

http://vyanae.blogspot.com/

I'm a bit like you cassie, bum on seat, fingers ready to type, with a basic idea. Then work out who is the the weak and the strong characters, conflict and climax finds its way amongst everything.
Clutch to my characters for a while, then let them loose, when I need nore words. I suppose one would write differently if it wasn't a challenge in a limited time.

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!

nore - more. Where is the 'edit' button?

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!

Seems like most people here are pantsters rather than plotters! My first few NaNos were just *write like the wind and fix it later* things. It's only been in the last year or so that I've started to plot, but I'm still 50-50 between a panster and a plotter.

I do use a vague outline now - no more than a sentence or a scrap of dialogue for a scene or chapter - but I tend to nail the last line long before I get the first line! It certainly helps to know where you're going, even if you're not sure how you'll get there yet!

I have 4 stories that are outlined right now and I don't know which of them will get lucky with SocNoc! My attention span can shrink amazingly so I may end up with 10k on each of them and 10k on something completely different *sigh*

http://blog.yam.com/venomouswest

Mmmm, I think I am doing some preparation. Have a plot, an outline, start, middle and end in sight. Characters forming, problems, conflict, obstacles and overcoming them, even a bit of research on a shakespeare play script.
Things are looking up. :)

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!

I only plan if I have an idea well in advance, otherwise I just start and see where my ideas take me.

I don't have an idea for this year's SoCNoC yet, but there's still 3 weeks to go. Plenty of time for a plot! :D

Hi jencatd, long time no hear, good to see you up for the socnoc challenge. :)

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!