OK, so a bunch of us East Siders were at Downbeat today (hi peeps!) and we were tossing out ideas for how to plough through writer's block, how to fill out the story when you (momentarily) don't know where to go, and basically how to "fluff up" your novel when you've reached a "blah" point. In other words: empty carbs!
We shared some ideas:
1) Have one of your characters say: "Did I ever tell you about my family?" And you're off and running.
2) Have a dream sequence - never too hard - one of your characters takes a nap and voila! Anything can happen.
3) Have two characters engage in random sex. Never totally random - it could happen! Just do it. Again!
Please, more ideas. Help us all out.
What are your favorite fillers? Do tell!
-Jill
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50,061 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2008 - 20 40
(Don't miss this thread! :)
51,252 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2008 - 20 59
Hi, Jill ~ It was great to finally meet you today, and look forward to seeing you either tomorrow or Sunday around 3-ish. Oh, and thanks or posting this.
(I am also posting my filler suggestions in the thread that Dianne mentioned.)
My first NaNo was based on a poem, The Highwayman (I forget who wrote it). It's nice and long. I used the verses of the poem as chapter titles.
The second year, I used quotes from Shakespeare for chapter sub-headings.
This year, it's rock and roll lyrics from the late sixties.
*whistles while walking nonchalantly away, hands behind back, trying to look innocent*
Mary w/a Storeetllr
http://storeetllr.livejournal.com/
'06: The Landlord's Other Daughter
'07: Temping a Desperate Man
'08: The Last Dog
Be nice to me or I'll put you in my NaNo novel.
>^..^<
77,123 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2008 - 22 06
Prequel.
Sequel, or, the first chapter of your sequel, something you frequently see in popular trade series nowadays
Have a character reminisce.
What does your character think about in their near death experience?
Find an excuse to describe: a dance, a play, a picture, music, or a meal.
Pick a random peripheral character and develop them for a chapter. Bonus if you find a way to weave it back into the narrative.
Insert and use a recurrent troublemaking element. Examples include: a child (baby? toddler? teen?), an animal (wild or tame), the weather, a leprechaun, a sentient computer/robot, the stock market, a sentient plant, a relative, gods or goddesses, djinns, an enchanted object, an evil teacher, an evil appliance...
Take a scene which you're describing as an overview, and turn it into specific actions or dialogue. Do not be afraid of it turning out boring. You won't know if it's boring or irrelevent until you've finished and re-read the whole book. Chances are you will actually be making your story more interesting.
Example:
can become:
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Silencio ranas, que va a cantar el sapo.
65,150 / 50,000
Nov 29, 2008 - 16 41
This year I had a character who loved telling funny stories and limericks. Thank you Google for a few words and a few extra minutes searching for good ones. Another, was writing a book retelling his stories, which added a couple more. Plus, one began singing part of a song from My Fair Lady while she danced around. Whatever works.
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Nov 29, 2008 - 17 46
The guiding light question that's served me well is, "What's the worst that can happen?" followed by "How can I make it even worse." The only thing better for word count than random sex is random sex that doesn't happen due to extenuating circumstances.
I've got several characters who are destined to have sex, but have so far been interrupted by their starship being knocked out of hyperspace and into the midst of an alien mine field, being mauled by a giant, poisonous cockroach and just in the midst of one of the most tender scenes I've written arrived an urgent summons...
77,123 / 50,000
Nov 29, 2008 - 19 43
Oh yeah, you said it.
I had two lovers who became astonishingly boring when they finally got around to being lovey dovey. So the next time around I punished them with some rude and scary interruptions. Now they're interestiing again!
(And just you wait for what happens next scene, Mr. Love Interest...you're going to get *really* interesting, oh yeah...she's going to be sobbing her heart out over you...what's that, you say? You'd follow her to the ends of the earth? How sweet...*yawn*...so romantic...I get it, you'll love her till the day you die...)
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Silencio ranas, que va a cantar el sapo.