A Syndicate For National Novel Writers' Month
Hey, guys. I thought you might dig on this; Every year, I participate in a magical thing called National Novel Writers Month. I try to get more people I think might enjoy it into it, every year. Here's how it works. 1. The month of November, you write a 50,000 word novel. 2. There really aren't any rules. But preferably, to maintain the essence of the project and to spark the creative juices, you write this novel of any genre from scratch with little to no prep or editing. You just let the words fly and see what happens. 3. Have fun. You can sign up at the NaNo site for free, and log your progress; http://www.nanowrimo.org/ they have forums galore, but I've never messed with any of that. 4. If you 'win', (or complete your 50,000 word goal) by midnight November 30th, you get a certificate of achievement, little icons to put on whatever site you want, and you get mucho bragging rites. Believe me, I know. I've been fortunate enough to succeed a couple of times. They recommend using your own, original content, and I did that the first year, but you can do whatever you want; one of the story lines I hope to introduce in my blogger for Killer S7ndicate won me that 2006 badge. I'm going to log my progress on here, this year, and hopefully shed some effective light on the entire process. I encourage all who want to, to do the same, and also vent your frustrations, if you have any. It's always more fun to go to war in a party. So, let's party! For all those interested, as a heralded start to every year's writing session, and as suggested in Chris Baty's book 'No plot, No problem' (Chris organizes the project, and sends out encouraging emails, periodically, if you're on the mailing list) you choose a totem to write with. It's like an object of 'power' to encourage you. It can be a pencil, a bottle opener, (like mine was, last year) or anything you like. For those who want to participate, start picking out your totem. It'll be fun. I have a little bag of totems, this year. I'll need the luck! 'If you have knowledge, let others light their candles by it' Lucky Numbers 37, 28, 34, 11, 49, 5

HUH. :o

While I do get praised a lot for my writing, even when I was just a kid. Back then I even had several people proposing that I team up with them for their comic book projects. (I don't do super hero shit, so screw that. There's no way that I'm going to write a serious story for some costumed freak.) Hell these days I've gotten several people come up to me to write some film scripts for them. (All of which were soundly rejected by their producers, lol. IMO, I feel my plots would only be ok'ed if I were there in person to pitch my work. Since I look & act every bit as outrageous as the shit that I come up with.) Ah shit, run on sentence. Well anyway what I'm trying to say is that I know full well that I'm not cut out to be a novelist. (Nor do I want to be one. In the creative arts I only want to be a Writer/Character designer.) I'm more of a script writer. I need images to accentuate my writing. I pretty much have the same bug that Hideo Kojima has. I only want to write if my writing is accompanied by physical images. (Rather than mental ones.)

You're just bad at at describing imagery (like me), which is becoming less necessary these days with all the things that don't even require those kind of details from writers anymore, so it's okay. Most people don't even read anymore, but instead watch Grey's Anatomy. Which says a lot about our culture.

I pretty much have the same bug that Hideo Kojima has. I only want to write if my writing is accompanied by physical images. (Rather than mental ones.) Hey, that's a bug I need to catch. :) But, seriously. It's a gift when you can see your written projects as images, as well, then provide those images. I say that it's a kind of artistic stance. You obviously have a lot going on in your head, artistically, and you substantiate them well. That rocks. And designing characters is a labor of love, in general. Not everyone can do it...or should. (Thank you, Jim Lee, for Wildcats. Not.) Oh, and I love run-on sentences. It's writing's 'fuck you' to rules. Most people don't even read anymore, but instead watch Grey's Anatomy. Which says a lot about our culture. I think anyone who gives Grey's Anatomy ratings should be sternly talked to. Or...at least kicked really hard. Then, they should read 'Cat's Cradle', and cry about it. A lot, lol. You're just bad at at describing imagery (like me) I doubt either of you are bad at describing imagery...you may just use different avenues to say, 'this is what I need you to see, to understand where I'm coming from'. For some artists, presenting any kind of literary work without images is like presenting a movie without a soundtrack - you guys play em the music. What's 'Chariots of Fire' without the theme. Some guy running. It doesn't have the same impact, dry.

I agree with top about the comic thing (I HATE superheroes). I've honestly never tried writing a story, despite the fact that I'm a very creative kind of person. I seriously doubt I'd cut it as a novelist, maybe a scriptwriter, though.

An idea coincidentally popped into my head today that I couldn't bring myself to risk forgetting, so I felt the need to immediately start writing it down. I guess I might as well send it in to here. Just something that I thought up out of nowhere about the passive nature of our society, though I have no idea how long it's going to be.

Status oh.
So, here's my writing status as per my 50,000 words this Tuesday the 27th, 2007... 40,668. If I get my shit together before the 30th...I may just have greatness to report.

Good luck to ya. After the con-*test*-('") is over post your story. :D

Yeah with me I wish I could take pictures of my mental images. It would be AWESOME. I come up with some CRAZAY insane stuff in my head sometimes. I had a dream one night of myself playing a guitar with a curved neck and when I started to play the guitar my fingers grew to be at least three feet long. Yeah just, that's how it is with me. It's always *BOOM!!!!!!!!!* right there. Something pops in my head and I'm glad that this thing is there but then I can't always describe how cool it was or how in awe of this thing I was. Sometimes it's hard to fully detail EXACTLY how it looked, but heck, that's what filmmaking is for. That's what I'll be doing hopefully. As for you Topdrunkee, I'd love to hear some of these script ideas. I CURRENTLY have an idea in my head for the MOST METAL movie EVER! I've had these thing pop in my head here and there for years now but since I read the article in Game Informer about this new game called Brutal Legend (about a band roaide being taken away to a heavy metal fantasy world kind of place), it's been STUCK in my head. This idea is running wild all the time in there. Even more so when I start listening to metal. My problem is that I always seem to get so far into an idea and then, everything stops. New ideas just fully evaporate and that INSANELY frustrates me. I mean I CANNOT be getting this if I want to be a filmmaker after all. The images can still come of my previously made ideas, but new ideas can get sucked out. Well if I start developing ANYTHING I'll post it on here. Obviously this would be my work, but I'd love feedback and I'd hope no one passing through this forum would be apt to steal it or anything. :P I know that the regulars on here would be cool and all, I just don't want things leaking out if some loser needs an idea and then tries to steal mine. Well anyway, I trust you all on here though.

I've never done it before, but I bet if two people were to develop a story together they could get a lot more done, perhaps then they would alone combined, since if they ever hit a roadblock they could come with an idea between the two of them.

Yeah I'm thinking of solidifying some of my ideas and typing them all up. Then I can post some things on here for everyone so they can help. I would of course give credit if the film were ever made. :D

Shit, if you want to become a film producer, I'll give you every idea I can think of, as long as I get $50 for every idea you use. Man, I need $50.

Nano! Finish!
Well, here's the good news... and there's only good news! 53,153 words! Alright! The book isn't done, but...I'm hoping! It's gonna be an awesome next year; I can feel it. I can feel the cosmos. Now, if I can just complete my blogger for the Killer S7ndicate week, I'll be happy! Oh, and thanks for the encouragement, Dale. I'm not sure what I'll do now with 'Gan'. That's what I call ye olde flagship book. I want to try and get it published. However...I may just break down and post it. Hey guys...whatever projects you're thinking of completing, just get 'em on paper or into a computer. The rest is easy. Steph

Congrats on the completion. Just make sure you have your ass covered in terms of patenting or something.