Wednesday, October 26, 2011

NANO DARES 2011



Dares I like from the NANO boards (I'll add more here as I find them!).

1)Include a strange shop somewhere in your novel that sells things you could use in a story (e.g. a good quality description of the house next door, a second-hand, slightly dusty suspenseful pause, etc.)
BP if none of your characters find this strange
DBP if one of your characters buys something
TBP if it turns out to be a major plot point/resolves the conflict

2)~Have an MC that reads the obituaries daily.
~~Bonus points if it is turned into a ceremonial ritual. With trappings!
~~DBP if it is a deep, religious sort of thing for this character. Even more if they try to convert the others in the party.
~The Next Step: have the name of an MC turn up in the obits. While that person is still alive.
~~Bonus points if the other members of the party proceed to act as if that person has indeed passed away, holding a memorial service, crying, and carrying on.
~~DBP if the character participates in the proceedings.
~Additional Fun: Let there be one party member that does not subscribe to this belief, and thinks the whole thing is silly, possibly making snarky comments, or at least thinking them. Bonus points if s/he gets shunned at some point for not participating in the daily Reading of the Obits.
~~Either way, TBP if the character listed in the obits then dies.
~~reDoubled BP if it's the non-believer whose name turns up in the obituaries.
~~Alternative Bonus Points if it is not the non-believer, but that person decides converting is a good idea.
~~Character points if the person still refuses to believe. Because it's funny.

3)

NANO 2011!!!!!!


Once again it's almost NANOWRIMO time! First I can't believe how quickly 2011 has flown! What, November already!? WHAT!!! The good part- NANO is here soon! I signed up for Gothic Novel Writing month in October- have I been able to write 1 word?- NO! Not even one single word! But NANO is here and hopefully the gothic novel style book I was planning will come out for November instead.

This year I gave my AP students the option of doing NANO or a research project- 99% are choosing to try the full 50,000 NANO trip! I'm proud! WOOT! I'm hoping that the immediate competition will spur me on to complete this novel! YEAH! That and pirate stickers for every 1000 words!

I've decided to also post a list of my favorite 2011 Dares. Somehow I shall work at least a few into the mix.