The Info Dump

I really want to whine about my novel writing, complain about the doubt gremlins and the doldrums of Week Two, but instead, I'm going to do an actual blog post about writing. Here it goes.

We writers like to call a dense block of information that doesn't move the story forward an Info Dump.

Incoming Info Dump - watch your toes

Have you ever been reading a story that is moving at a good clip, and then all of a sudden, the action slows down and you are innundated with all of this information - about the character, the magic system, the class structure, the geography of the world, or a long-winded story about how everyone knows each other or the origin of everything?

I hope not, because that's poor writing. The writer should feed you that stuff gradually, so you don't even notice it, because you absorb it along with the story as it plays out.

Or rather, I suppose a blatant info dump is more poor editing, not poor writing.

Because the info dump is actually a very useful tool for writers in our early drafts. It sometimes will read like a flow of consciousness, where we work things out as we type. We tap into the creative side of our brains and give it free reign.

It is like we are walking around in the world, describing what we see, feeling our way along, watching the details unfold. It helps us establish the world we are creating. Helps us get to know our characters - we listen to their backstories and their opinions on various topics that are sometimes irrelevant to the story itself. We work out the intricate details of government organization, or religion, or society structure.

All of that is important information for the author to know, but how much does the reader need to be exposed to? Small, edible chunks that flesh out the world or characters without detracting from the story that is being told.

What it comes down to is that a lot of the info dump details might not make it into the final book itself. But the writer knows, and can therefore write a convincing story in a fully formed world with those details in mind.

I stagnated on my Nano story for a couple of days, but I sat down and did some timed word sprints with my Wrimos last night, and got about 1500 words written. Those words, I realized when I was done, are a giant info dump. I know a lot of it will either be cut up and inserted/distributed elsewhere, and the rest will be shucked off for the second draft, remaining only in my mind and my notes.

But I also know that I was in desperate need of that info dump. I hadn't delved too far into this new world of demons and humans that I created off the cuff for this story. I have a better understanding of it all now. I was so focused on the needs of my individual characters, I hadn't thought about the demon population as a whole. What does this entire species want? Why would they even need a dating website?

And so I came up with the past, present, and future of the demon races.

So while many of you may never see what I wrote last night, it was an enlightening evening of writing, and it boosted my wordcount significantly.

And now I am moving on to the point of view of my serial killer. Should be an interesting couple of days.

The True Meaning of Nano (for me, at least)

My job is to keep my Wrimos
stocked in sugar and motivation

Day One started with a bang, but since that intense opening scene, I've been whimpering. The words are coming, I really like my idea, and the characters are starting to take shape...but something has been missing.

I finally figured out what it is.

November is no longer the only month of the year that I write. I am missing the excitement I usually feel when embarking on 30 Days of trying to write every day, because I've been writing every day for the last three months already.

So while all the newbies and the weekend warriors who only write in November are blasting through Week One excited and motivated and clocking huge word counts, I am plodding along at the 1,667 words to stay on track, feeling more like it's Week Two.

I know this slow and steady pace will get me to the end. But I want this to be fun! I want to be excited. I want to love my story so much that I keep going back to read over it.

My opening scene is that way. I still read it and love it (you can read it, too - I have it posted on the Current Writing Projects page). I need to find that magic again.

On the upside, I am still having the time of my life this November. I have a whole crew of writers that I get to boss around and administer sugar to. It brings me back to the Christmas analogy: I love getting and giving gifts, of course, but to me, the holidays are more about spending time with family.

I've realized it's the same for Nanowrimo. I love writing. Really. I'm a writer. It's what I do. But for Nanowrimo, it's about the community that forms during November that I look forward to the most now. Anyone can sit and try to write 50,000 words in a month by themselves. Some will succeed. Many will fail. The magic of Nano is in the writers themselves.

Photo compliments of Dave DeHetre

It's like I told Jason in the comments of my last post: my writers are my adoptive family. They are the people who understand exactly what I'm going through because they've been there themselves, who will celebrate my successes with me and comfort me through my failures, who will push me to be a better writer and put myself out there.

I hate to be sappy about it, but it's true. And it's important.

And if any of you make fun of me for this, I will probably cry.

So this year, between painful sprints of writing, I troll the forums, exchange tweets, and haunt our Facebook page to stay in touch with the family.

And I am really looking forward to this Sunday's write-in.

Online Dating for Demons

Everybody's favorite serial killer

National Novel Writing Month is officially underway, and Online Dating For Demons now has an opening scene. I started the month unsure of a lot of things about my novel. After the first day, I still am unsure about most of those things, but I've settled into the spirit of NaNo, so I have confidence that things will work themselves out as I write.

So far I've got demons named using Latin, a demon serial killer who I've just discovered likes Stevie Ray Vaughn, and a fat, insecure demon on a blind date from the online demon dating service.

Oh, and a gruesome murder. That I enjoyed writing way too much.

For some reason, everything I've tried to write lately has turned into horror. Or at least, I thought it was lately. I've been thinking back to some of my old stories, and it seems I've had a horror fixation for awhile. I blame Joss Whedon and Clive Barker.

It doesn't help that my Dexter calendar this month has a picture of Dexter smugly holding an axe.

There will still be love stories in what was originally supposed to be a somewhat fluffy paranormal romance, but they are going the way of Shakespeare's tragedies. Or his comedies, even.

I will admit to something: I had serious concerns about my ability to start another book so close on the heels of my last one. I had no motivation to write, and couldn't get my head out of one project and into the next.

But NaNo is truly magical. The second midnight struck I was writing, and by the end of the first day, I was in the zone. My head was buzzing, filled with ideas and pride, as I tried to fall asleep. I am only 1700 words in, I'm not sure what my next scene is going to be, but the words are solid, and I have big hopes for this story.

It makes me a bit nervous to have high hopes, though. Makes it too easy to disappoint myself, and adds more pressure to try and make it good. And then Publishing Paralysis sneaks up and Writer's Block plops itself in the middle of my keyboard and my muse runs off with another writer.

But. I'm getting ahead of myself. Those are more likely to be Week Two problems. Right now I am definitely wrapped in the warm fuzzies of Week One. I really love my story so far. I'm excited to write it and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!

I'll keep track of my word count and my favorite lines on the Current Writing Projects page, so check back frequently. I'll let you know how things are going in another blog post after a few days.