NaNoWriMo: Week 2 – What my characters taught me

Here’s to another week of NaNoWriMo, where freaks called writers attempt to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of November. Two weeks down, two more to go! (*clinks beer glasses*)

So how’s my novel-ing experience looking this week? Better than last week, that’s for sure. (Flashback: I’m using the “make-it-up-as-you-go-along” approach). I think I’m finally settling into my world, and have a better sense of what everything looks like. I was also pleasantly surprised by one of my characters. Initially she appeared out of the mist (literally and figuratively) just to fulfill a short-term task. But now that I’ve gotten to know her better, I can see she has way more potential than misty appearances. In fact, I plan on making her one of the more developed, central characters in my story.

I also noticed another character isn’t playing the same role I expected her to play. So far, she’s more of a thing being affected than something that affects. I’m not sure how I feel about this, but I’m focussing on fleshing her out a bit because she is the main character’s significant other.

As for the other major characters, the guy that was meant to be a douche is looking less like a douche and more of an ally. And the soft guy who was supposed to play an emotionally supportive role to the main character is becoming more and more distant.

So I feel like my characters are taking the rein on this story, steering it as they evolve.

As for the plot, I’m doing a weird structure that’s more like a TV show than a novel. My first two chapters were the “opening episodes 1 and 2 back-to-back special” with a high-stakes plot. I’m somewhat satisfied with the resolution seeing that I didn’t know the ending back in November 1. (Honestly, I’m satisfied I resolved stuff at all!)

Now I’m writing episode 3, and hoping to introduce more long-term stakes and plant some seeds for the future. Maybe get a little character tension going, and of course shape out the world a little more.

It’s all adventure from here.