Jessica Day George

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

NaNoWriMo, in a desultory fashion. . .

So, it's National Novel Writing Month! YAY! And this year I'm actually participating. Sort of. I haven't registered with the website or anything, but I have a fun little idea in my head, and I'm seeing what happens. I finished the Big Edit of Princess of Glass (HALLELUJAH!), and last week I had this fun little idea spring to mind. I thought to myself, Self, if you really went to town on this during November, you could probably get a pretty fun little rough draft out of this fun little idea. And lo, as it is NaNoWriMo, you might as well!

So if you've had a nice little idea in your head, now is the time! Go, go, go! You can register with the site, or not, depending on your whim. And at the end of the month, you can rest on your laurels and think, Hey, I did some writing! Now I deserve a little Christmas break, and maybe some chocolate. . . .

But Jessica, some of you are saying, I don't want to write a novel at all, let alone in one month! What can I do in the month of November?

Why, that's easy! Become a big book nerd like me! You think this big thing on top of my neck is just hair? Why no! It's an enormous head, filled with an enormous brain, filled with an enormous amount of words I've read. Read some for yourself!

Jessica's Giant Book Recommends! Each one chunkier than the last!

Dune by Frank Herbert
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein (Uncut Anniversary Edition)
War of the Flowers by Tad Williams
The Dragonbone Chair, The Stone of Farewell, To Green Angel Tower by Tad Williams
A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay
Titus Groan, Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
Household Gods by Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (Book Twelve just came out, and it's still not the end!)

Not sure you've got it in you to take on 1,100+ pages? (Think I'm joking? To Green Angel Tower comes in two volumes!)

Try these on for size!

Magic Kingdom for Sale! by Terry Brooks (There were sequels . . . meh . . . but the first is fun.)
Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones (If you've ever been to a sci fi/fantasy convention, you'll cry from laughing. If you haven't: still funny!)
The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The Rolling Stones by Robert Heinlein
Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly
Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor
Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
Jack the Bodiless, Diamond Mask, Magnificat by Julian May

For the rest of you, those who are embroiled in the madness that is NaNoWriMo . . . enough yakking, start typing!

9 comments:

Stacey said...

Yay! I signed up for NaNoWriMo this year and I am loving the motivation! So excited for hearing that your big edit for Princess of Glass is done! I can't wait for it!

Ariadne said...

"Yay!" for the big edit being finished for Princess of Glass. (My little sister just had surgery and she'll love to know there is a sequel coming!)

And some of those books suggestions look very good...

I have an idea for a story, but with my sister's condition, not sure they'll be time to write, but I am going to give it a shot:)

Cara said...

Oh gosh I know so many people who are doing this! It makes me feel like I should jump on the bandwagon but I actually can't write but oh I will read! I'll read to my eyes can't take it. *sigh* I love to read...

Alice said...

Oops. I was way off on my spelling of NanoWriMo in an earlier post, but I'm still doing it and have met my 12,000 word count for the week—a huge accomplishment for someone like me who usually takes a year or two or three to write a novel. In fact, I'm not sure if I've finished one yet to my satisfaction, so this is a real challenge. Glad to hear you and others are doing it too. Your idea sounds "fun". We should have a big party when we're done! Hey, those last two lines rhymed. I'm a poet! I'm excited to see what your idea is all about when it comes out.

Julie Wright said...

I think I'll do my book in a month in december instead. But your list is awesome!

Rachel!!! said...

Oh!!! I'm MEGA excited to read your new book. When will it be available? I'm writing a novel at the moment, just started it. But I don't think I could complete it in time for NaNoWriM... Ach! I dunno. I'm writing two actually, entitled; The Flowers of the Kingdom, and The Masquerade. Fictional, and pretty much fantasy I s'pose. At least that's how I'd categorize them.

Anonymous said...

It was rather interesting for me to read this blog. Thank author for it. I like such themes and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more soon.

Anonymous said...

You are so inspiring! I might just break out the pencil and paper and write a novel! Thanks!

Amy said...

I love how you are doing NaNoWriMo too. I'm a big fan and I think it's awesome that you are actually going to write a novel in a month (or attempt to anyway).

There are only 5 days left (eek!) and this actually kind of motivating to know that you're doing it too. I'm interested to see what comes out of this from you.

~ Amy 21,445 words and counting!