I dream about movies

Which, in my opinion, sums up the biggest problem I have in writing: lack of description. Whenever I do try to and write it, I worry that I'm over-explaining, or infodumping, or both. I write dialogues and actions, that's about it. With NaNo around the corner, it's becoming a bigger problem. I can write two people talking till the cows come home (Which goes for both the conversation as my writing it down). But at some point the reader is going to lose his interest in my story.

In a sense, I think that's why NaNo 2006 failed. I won that year, but I haven't looked at the product since. It drags on and on, and I think the amount of dialogue has to do with that. *sighs* What's an author to do?

I'm going through with the urban fantasy, and shelf the LotR-AU indefinitely.

Why no Feänor? He's a pain. I'm missing the emotional investment. I adore Middle-earth, yes, but in the end, I care more about my own creations than somebody else's. There's a lot of things I don't know, and probably can't find out short of ouijaing professor Tolkien. And he has better things to do. With the Harry Potter-fanfic I had enough trouble finding any information on vampires. For the Doctor Who-one it didn't matter as much, and it can be considered AU anyway.

Despite all the frustrations of having to think up details myself, in the end I can deal better with that than making up details for someone else's world and getting them wrong.

but it is a requirement. If I stroll around the NaNo-forums too much, that's the impression I get. I do understand that writing 1667 words each day, especially for those who aren't used to it, isn't easy. I didn't find it easy either when I participated. What I do find slightly disconcerting at times is the deeply held conviction that you can't do NaNo unless you put the rest of your life on hold until December 1. There's no consideration sometimes for the other people in your life, even small kids. They just have to fence for themselves while mummy or daddy or both are pounding away on the keyboard. Writing is an egotistical activity that shuts out other people, I know, but this seems too absurd.

Yes, I do recognise that a lot of the time hyperbole is used, and no responsible parent is going to let his four-year-old make his own hot dinner. I just don't like the attitude that the rest of the world can o hang while the NaNovel gets written.

But how many write after coming home from work? That's 4.45 am, for those playing at home. Feh! Feh I say!

Nano talks about writing totems. I just wonder whether people'd go into writer's block if they lose theirs.

I doubt I'll ever write sex. That's not to say that sex will never come up in what I write *eyes 2006's NaNo wearily*. Just that it'd most likely end up in a nice fade-to-black, leave it to the imagination of the reader(s). I feel uncomfortable writing it, and it ends up as enticing as wet cellery.

4,087 words. Still 2K behind for today's target, but blargh. I'll get there when I get there.

I hit a motivational block. I can't find the motivation to write anymore. The fact that since I can't write much tomorrow and so have like 3K for today is not a big help either. Right now I just want to trash everything and forget about NaNo.

Another year, another parody. Again by Twilight Muse, it can be found here on the NaNo-forums.

It's a parody on Lee Ann Womack's I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of marvel
May you get your word count
But always keep that ambition
( May you never take one single character for granted )

1,973 words. Not bad for the first day. Better than last year.

The NaNo-site doesn't show your stat-porgress as of this writing. But they will turn that back on soon.

Less than a week to go, and I'm getting into the mood by reading On Writing. For all his faults, the man does know how to tell a tale, and to talk quite engagingly about some of the skills required for it.

I also finally finished my copy of Elements of Style.

It's odd that I, Dutch by birth, write in English. I can't seem to bring myself to write in Dutch. Probably because most of the books I like to read are in English. It's the language that seems to produce most of the books in my favourite genre (fantasy).