Southern Cross Novel Challenge

Writing so many words in such a short period of time makes lessons more apparent and easier to learn from. I've already shared what I learnt in my klog post Pacing.

What did you learn?

No Excuses. Just Write.
WIP - Freeing the Flame: 31/66 scenes of scene review #3.
Eve's Vineyard: 3,375/6,000 (Sept Zing Thing)

Oh I learnt lots Kerryn, being the first time I've ever done this. In fact I think my story came out well considering no background into writing structure. The ideas just kept flowing as I typed. It was great!
The forums were a great help too, lots of sharing, and caring. :)

http://gay_belle.livejournal.com

'Southern Scriber.'

I really enjoyed doing SoCNoC and also realised that I could stay on target for the whole month.

I learnt a number of things but the main thing regarding writing was that this time around I finally wrote some proper dialog.

It was a bit ropey at the start but became better towards the end. My previous NaNo novel only had little bits of dialogue but this one had a lot more. I became faster too since beforehand my dialogue was also slow to write.

Andrew Chilton - http://kapiti.geek.nz/

I feel like I learned a lot about myself and about my writing through SoCNoC, it's been an amazing experience. I feel like my writing has a lot more depth now, and that I've really learned to let myself go more than before, so I no longer have a strict destination in mind I can let the story unfold in a more natural way which makes my writing seem a lot looser and makes it flow better.
It's been wonderful working through everything with everyone here as well, knowing that any time i had a worry or question i could make a post and get some other perspectives on things.

WIP: Ayden: 92,043/95,000 (estimated total).
Rough Editing: Lifelines: 104/104 pages.

J.C Hart

A few positives, a few negatives.

positives:
- I'm finding it easier to just let go and type and write - much, much better than Nano
- I love the idea of a background that is set up ahead of time, a big secret which you know all about, but the characters and the readers are only getting a bit at a time as you write. It's always fun to reveal a piece to the puzzle
- As always, the secret to writing is writing. Simple, but powerfully true.

negatives:
- Don't like 1st person - much switch, even if it's slower to write in.
- I find that while I was writing a lot, it's relatively unfocused, and I would like to plan more.
- Found I didn't know my characters or my world well enough, and need more depth and background
- While I like the big secret to reveal as I go, I thought that all in all, it was a weak one that didn't really give the punch I wanted

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

I learnt how much easier it is to write if you've got a rough plan to work to. I think the fact that I planned out what was going to happen was the only reason I got this finished.

I learnt that I really, really suck at writing endings. This is only my first ending (ever!) though, so I'm sure I've got room for improvement.

Sanity: Ha ha ha ha...look! A caterpillar!

I've learned that my mother is a demanding reader - having hinted (heavily) that I was neglecting my child during Nano - then hinting (even more heavily) that my child need my attention during Socnoc - she read the first draft of the novel and wants to know when I'll do part three!
The only note I have for part three is:
"No dogs allowed" - seriously.

Oh, and I learned that novelling really is as good and satisfying as I always thought it would be.
And it gets easier the more you do it.

maggenpye -
"He's not my dad, he's just my father - big difference."

lol, maggenpye! Love the quote in your sig too. :) We're all about the stars.

No Excuses. Just Write.
WIP - Freeing the Flame: 31/66 scenes of scene review #3.
Eve's Vineyard: 3,375/6,000 (Sept Zing Thing)

What did I learn, well I learnt alot about poisons, and police give you strange looks when asking them questions if you forget to tell them its for a book..LOL
I learnt that others are just as competitive as me and will happily write an extra word or two just to be ahead.
I also learnt that my coworkers are alittle afraid of me now and they wonder what I am up to.

Go Team Kiwi!

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

I learned that with competition novels are really easy to write. Also, if I come up with the beginning beforehand, everything goes much better.

On the bad side, I learned not to use psycho ideas my sister gives me if they don't actually make sense. And that I really need to come up with character names before I start, because I'm incapable of doing so during the story.

trying to beat my record - complete novel in 17 days (set last SoCNoC)

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