writing thoughts

[cornerofmadness]

After seeing the word nano bantered about last week I had to go look it up...hmm writing a 50,000 word novel in a month. I've been since trying to figure out the advantages of this and have to admit I see very few beyond, the novel's done...and even that's not really true. Most publishers/agents won't look at anything under 75,000. In a month you'll get 50,000 words, most of it shit, no doubt. The site readily admits that. This isn't something you could shove on a resume. I'm not sure an agent would be impressed you whipped something out in a month (okay granted no one is going to just submit it after this, everyone would, one imagines, then take the time to fiddle with it and improve it, add those 25,000 words that are needed etc).

Okay so I have a novel. I've also deprived myself of the basic joy of writing one, ie. watching the characters grow, spending time with them and relishing their story. Does this reflect in the writing? I'm sure it would. Oh course, probably one of the points of this whole exercise is to get away from enjoying hte characters so much you never finish you novel. THat happens a lot.

So would i try this? I don't know. I know I can write 50,000 words in a month. I routinuely write 30-50K every month, mostly fan crap that gets me nowhere but its fun and I like doing it but sometimes it is at the cost of my original fic.

I think my biggest concern with this exercise is what happens afterwards. Those on my flist who have done this before, can you tell me, do they plan on putting this up on their site somewhere? (I tried to find it but when your dial up slows to 2 kbps on a regular basis, it's not possible to navigate anything. If they do, then absolutely not. I wouldn't do this. Posting entire novels (or links there to) can take you out of the running for ever selling the thing and there's not point in writing it (for me) if I couldn't market it.

On the other hand, if they don't post it, it could be an interesting exercise even though I know I probably have enough commitments already that I wouldn't get it done.

Comments

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. It bothered me a lot too. It's not like I even had a sex scene in there but the mere idea upset some of them (but for the most part the older group). Me, I have very little patience for any kind of prejudice (which might be why I stopped reading X-Men which is nothing but racial prejudice exploration done up in spandax)

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

You had some gay characters in a story?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Yep. In the vampire novel, one of the vampires is bi.

In a fantasy novel, one of the main characters is bi (his lover is strictly gay and they have a cadre of warriors based on the famous Greek one...who's name I can't call to mind just now but they're all gay and 'married' to their battle partners).

Had a pair of lesbians in a story that died an untimely death with a hard drive crash and no back up...sigh.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I believe that was the Spartans. Not absolutely sure, though.

You're not a 'slash' writer, are you? I have a few slash writer friends, but I have very mixed feelings about slash and the community of slash writers. I'm afraid if I go into my feelings in a public live journal forum, things might get flamey. Not because my feelings are so negative, they're not, but there are things I've noticed in the slash community that bother me as a gay person.

Anyway, I never got the impression you were a slash writer, just a person who has a gay character now and then, which is very different thing.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Well both Spartans and Athenians practiced a great deal of homosexuality in their armies (as did samuri's both believing it was a purer love than could be foun with the opposite sex from what i've read) BUt there is a specific cadre I had in mind. Oh well, they're who I modeled them after.

Nope, don't write slash. Don't even really like it for a variety of reasons (including a certain lack of knowledge in the m/m sex scenes especially) I read it for friends occasionally but that's about it. Wouldn't mind doing Tara/WIllow some day when I get a good plot but I don't consider them slash.

I do write homosexual characters however, as the need arises and some of my original characters are quite adamant about that aspect of their sexuality.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Well, for the Spartans, the Athenians, and the Samuri, as well as one or two female slash writers I know, m/m sex has become a new way of expressing their misogyny.

I haven't read much Willow/Tara or Willow/Kennedy, but that's only because I don't read much fanfic. Although I prefer Willow/Tara as a couple, I think I would read some post-Chosen Willow/Kennedy if I read anything at all, because it seems the one thing that could make fanfic appeal to me is my desire to see the show(s) go on past their final episodes.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Yes I've noticed that misogyny too.

Me, i'm pretty comfortable reading over most of the seasonal spectrum with some exceptions. I really do want to do Willow/Tara (not necessarily anything featuring their sex life, like we both noted, we'd rather write action) but I can't come up with a good plot.

I dislike Kennedy too much to use her. Well I'm using her in BUilt on Lies so I guess I do so occasionally but only as plot demands. I'd rather write her out.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I don't mind Kennedy all that much. I'm not such a huge Tara/Willow 'shipper that I objected to her out of hand (although I prefer Tara/Willow immeasurably). I know Kennedy's personality grated on people, but so did Connor's (and Rona's, and Buffy's, and...).

But I had some personal investment in Willow remaining lesbian after Season 6, and so that's the main reason I accepted Kennedy as a character. That, and Iyari Limon is really hot. ; )

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Kennedy definitely grated on me and I'll be honest, I found her unattractive. Didn't think Tara was greatly attractive either but she was sweet (and so is Amber for that matter. I greatly enjoyed meeting her).

Sometimes when I remove Kennedy I just have Willow stag, sometimes give her a new lesbian lover or on occasion Xander. I was a W/X shipper from way back but to be honest, I stopped liking Xander right about S3

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I liked Xander when he was funny, but mostly, he was a non-blip on my radar.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I loved him S1-2 but once we hit S3 and he started in on Buffy I started disliking him a lot. Oh he was still funny occasionally (and sadly Nicholas didnot make as good an impression on me as Amber)