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Novel Writing. September 2010. Melanie Edmonds. Agenda. A little about me Where do I start? What then? National Novel Writing Month What happens when I’m done? Resources. A little about melanie. Writing creatively for 20+ years Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing
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Novel Writing September 2010 Melanie Edmonds
Agenda • A little about me • Where do I start? • What then? • National Novel Writing Month • What happens when I’m done? • Resources
A little about melanie • Writing creatively for 20+ years • Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing • Running writing groups for 3 years • Municipal Liaison for National Novel Writing Month for the past 3 years • Currently writing a web serial: http://www.starwalkerblog.com • Writing blog: http://writer.apocalypseblog.com
Where do I start? • Click to add text • An idea • Plot • Characters • Setting • Genre • Conflict
PLanning • Planners vsPantsers • Outlines • Stepping stones • Character profiles • World building • Research
What then? • Start writing! • Discipline • Make time to write • Sit down every day • Eradicate distractions • Fight off world-builder’s disease • Beware of re-writing and editing
National Novel Writing Month • Challenge: write a novel in a month • 50,000 words in November • 1,667 words per day • Started in 1999 • Grown from 20 writers (1999) to 125,000 (2009) • International and local community of writers • 800+ in the Brisbane region last year • Lots of events, resources, and support available • Good for silencing the internal editor http://www.nanowrimo.org
What happens when I’m done? • Editing! • Questions to ask yourself: • Does the plot make sense? • Are the characters realistic? • Is the conflict compelling? • Are all the sub-plots tied off? • The first chapter: • Should draw the reader in • Sets up the rest of the story • The ending: • Should be satisfying
Publication • Options: • Traditional/paper publishing • Self-publishing • E-publishing • E-books • Web serials • Agents
Resources • Queensland Writing Centre – http://www.qwc.asn.au • Advice • Courses • Mentoring • Writing books • If you read one, read three! • Writing groups / communities • Writer’s Festivals • Brisbane in September • National Novel Writing Month – http://www.nanowrimo.org • Write or Die – http://writeordie.drwicked.com