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Historicals and NaNoWriMo
- Thread starter PastMidnight
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I like the idea of October being research month. I will have to remember that for next year! 
This is my first year and I'm wondering how to fit in both the writing and research. I figure I will try to get the basic plot down and will do research to fill in the gaps later.
This is my first year and I'm wondering how to fit in both the writing and research. I figure I will try to get the basic plot down and will do research to fill in the gaps later.
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I'm doing it (a historical mystery, my favorite!). I've had this idea in my head, percolating for a year, and finally figured out what to do with it a little over a month ago, so I decided to try the Nano thing and see if it works.
I've gotten my 1,667 words down for today already. Anything else will be just gravy for my Monday, seeing as how I've got a mess of dishes to do, and still quite a few rewrites for my main WIP that I need to finish before I begin submitting it to any more agents.
I went to our Nano kickoff party here the other night. It was fun, but I got seated next to an obnoxious 14 year old, and it seems as though I and one other guy are the only extroverts in our "cabin." It took forever for everyone else to loosen up. I'm hoping we can socialize more with the other folks at future events.
I've gotten my 1,667 words down for today already. Anything else will be just gravy for my Monday, seeing as how I've got a mess of dishes to do, and still quite a few rewrites for my main WIP that I need to finish before I begin submitting it to any more agents.
I went to our Nano kickoff party here the other night. It was fun, but I got seated next to an obnoxious 14 year old, and it seems as though I and one other guy are the only extroverts in our "cabin." It took forever for everyone else to loosen up. I'm hoping we can socialize more with the other folks at future events.
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I'm shooting for 50K on my WIP, a historical romance set in 10th C. Wales. I probably won't sign up & make it official, but I need to get a proposal together on this book (first in a series) by the end of the month.
As an editor of my acquaintance once said so elegantly, "Deb, just barf the book!"
One thing that helps me while I'm in speed-draft mode is to change the font color to red, for any historical or other detail I have to drill down to later. When I'm editing, it pops out at me. This might help others...it works for me.
As an editor of my acquaintance once said so elegantly, "Deb, just barf the book!"
One thing that helps me while I'm in speed-draft mode is to change the font color to red, for any historical or other detail I have to drill down to later. When I'm editing, it pops out at me. This might help others...it works for me.
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Mine is set in modern day this time but the kind of basis of the mystery in it is historical, as all the important stuff happened in the early 1900s in Prague, and those involved were referring back to 16th century stuff. One of my research books came yesterday, but for now I'm just using the comment function thing on MS Word to add notes for things that need properly researching later on. The 2010 Word is cool as it actually shows all these notes in red down the side of the page, like little speech bubbles, so it's quite easy to scroll down and find the places that need work.
10K done so far. I'm aiming to do 90K but we'll see how that goes...
10K done so far. I'm aiming to do 90K but we'll see how that goes...
I might try to write 50k on my current WIP. But for now I'm too wrapped up in that WIP, the time period/research, and trying to fix it/make it work. I can't jump into something else right now.
Good luck to those who are doing it officially!
Good luck to those who are doing it officially!
Okay...I've been out of it for a while, but I'm back here and for the first time I'm trying NaNoWriMo. Historical spook stories, that's me! I've had a hard time getting started on this one, so I thought a little outside pressure might be the kick in the butt I need. So bring on the insanity!!!
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50,000 odd done. Now just trying to get to the end of the book and at the same time doing a bit more research, particularly on the historical issues, so that next month I can make a start on editing. (And boy does it need editing....)
Sheesh! I'm just over 11K. I know, pretty sad. Trying to bust through this crazy editor in my brain. That nasty little perfectionist is make it hard to get the story typed.
How do you turn it off? I guess I need to really give myself permission to suck. (I mean, it kinda sucks already so what can it hurt?!)
11K is not sad. I think it is amazing. I think any quantity that suggests coming back day after day and slogging is amazing.
I do think historicals are tough because one sucks across two dimensions --- literarily and historically. So you have to tell yourself you can suck twice over.
I'm lucky --- I've been researching my period for the last ten years for my day job. And I still suck!
I do think historicals are tough because one sucks across two dimensions --- literarily and historically. So you have to tell yourself you can suck twice over.
I'm lucky --- I've been researching my period for the last ten years for my day job. And I still suck!
Natsuki
Registered
Hi,
I'm new here, but I'm doing a historical novel for Nano, and it's killing me!
It is so difficult to do all the research. I've researched on October (almost the whole month), and now that I'm writing, I find a lot of things I should have thought about in October, but forgot. I'm leaving these things as they are. When I edit the novel, I'll do a proper research (actually buying books on the subject, not just a google search)...
On a happier note, I've written 53k already
I'm hoping to write 90k by the end of the month
I'm new here, but I'm doing a historical novel for Nano, and it's killing me!
It is so difficult to do all the research. I've researched on October (almost the whole month), and now that I'm writing, I find a lot of things I should have thought about in October, but forgot. I'm leaving these things as they are. When I edit the novel, I'll do a proper research (actually buying books on the subject, not just a google search)...
On a happier note, I've written 53k already
I'm hoping to write 90k by the end of the month
Wow! Go, Natsuki! Thanks for the peptalk, lkp I know exactly what you mean!
No matter how much I research before I begin, I am always stopping to clarify something or research another detail that will add authenticity to the story. It's a never-ending process, even after submission.
Hang in there, historical writers!
I know exactly what you mean!No matter how much I research before I begin, I am always stopping to clarify something or research another detail that will add authenticity to the story. It's a never-ending process, even after submission.
Hang in there, historical writers!