Tag: planning

Posted in NaNoWriMo, Writing

Camp NaNoWriMo, Day 3

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

I’m happy to announce that both my collaboration and side story are progressing as planned. So far, I’m keeping up with the word count. Luckily, I know how my side story is going to end so that has helped me quite a bit.

My sister and I are working hard on the collaboration project. Since there are two of us, we’ve been making some progress. Plus, with the extra pair of eyes, we can help each other reach the word count for the way. Some of the story has been planned out so we haven’t hit any writer’s block or anything. Even if we do, I’m confident we’ll be able to push past it.

One of the biggest issues I had to deal with today was with my side story. I’ve called it Blue Moon. This morning, I  started typing up notes to myself on how the story should progress. As I typed, I realized that I started the story with a scene that could be used later in the story.

Because of this, I wrote the beginning again. I think it was a good idea because the scene before will be of use later. With this beginning, I could show more of my main character’s characteristics and basically, why she belonged in this story. Plus, it also helps put into light her motivation for doing what she does and living how she has been living. Despite being the first draft, I like to make everything as perfect as I can the first time.

I know it won’t always be perfect and sometimes I just have to push through the awkward scenes and get to the other parts. It’s fine to skip around in my opinion. If I’m having trouble with a scene, I leave a note and move on. I don’t like feeling stumped because I can’t get a scene perfect. There’s a reason revision and editing exist.

For now, everything is going well. I hope my good luck streak continues.

Posted in NaNoWriMo, Writing

The Night Before

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

Camp NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow. I can’t believe June is already ending. Where did the time go? There’s a few things to know for the following month:

I won’t be creating a seperate blog for Camp NaNoWriMo. I’ll be updating the progress of the story here on the main one. I’m not sure if I’ll post everyday but that’s up in the air.

Secondly, I’ll also be collaborating on a story with my sister. We’ll be splitting the writing but I might write another story on the side so I can actually wriite 50,000 words in a month. For this month, it’s going to be, what I call, “the spirit of participation” because mostly I like to write an actual story for NaNoWriMo. 

It should be a good experiment. The most important goal for this month is to write. Sure I’ve been writing and editing here and there but I haven’t written as I should be. There’s really no excuse and it’s time for me to really get back on band wagon. This upcoming month should be good. 

On a side note: today I created a science fiction story about vampires. They’re more like genetically engineered creatures than the mythological ones. I made the entire back story of the world and it felt good. Sure, I don’t know every detail but at least it’s something. However, I won’t be writing this story just yet. 

For my side story, I’ll be working on my fantasy story that’s been begging for attention.

I see productivity for my future. 

Posted in Game Reviews, NaNoWriMo, Writing

Of Surprises and Collaboration

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

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It has been a very productive week. A few unexpected surprises came knocking but they were all taken with a stride.

First, I would like to announce that my plans for Camp NaNoWriMo have changed. As of right now, I will no longer be writing my fantasy novel I titled “Blue Moon”. The reason for this has nothing to do with having no idea what to write about or even the desire to write. No, this has to deal with my sister.

Long story short, she was the person responsible for uncovering my innate desire to write stories. She’s the one who got me into writing. While she hasn’t been as active in writing as I have, I still envy all her ideas because I think they’re amazing and why couldn’t I think of that. She is after all my twin and the youngest (well middle child because we have a young brother). So, now and again, she sends me updates on her stories and I give her feedback.

One story in particular she wants to really write has been given her trouble and she just needs the motivation to write. What did I do? I volunteered to help. My Camp NaNoWriMo this year will be a collaboration with my sister.

While I have collaborated with other people (strangers) it hasn’t been really successful. It was definitely communication and the plot was almost nowhere to be found. I’m not exactly sure how this time will turn out. It should be better. It’s not like she’s a stranger to me. However, I’m if-y about my role in all of this. Yes, I’ll be writing the story too but I don’t want to be the ‘leader’. I think it would be best if she came up with the plot and I helped guide her.

My goal is to be the guiding hand. I’ll take a step back and have her dictate where she wants the story to go and if she gets stuck, I’ll make something up. I’ll build bridges so she can get to the next scene.

The other bit of news is that my review for Chronology  has been posted. It’s a mobile game where you play as The Inventor to try to unravel the mystery of the present state of the future. The game allows you go travel to the past and present to overcome the obstacles.

The third piece of news is that I have successfully been creating character sheets for a long standing story I have titled ‘Shadow Beasts’. I’ve planned and written the story in script format for T.V. Actually, I decided to create a television show for my brother because I didn’t like any of the cartoons/shows he was watching.

The idea has evolved and changed over the years and with each revision, I’m starting to get closer and closer to the final product I envisioned. There’s even hope that it might be developed into an actual show by a friend who has started up his own animation studio of sorts. Nothing is in the works or set in stone. It’s just talks for now but it is something I’m thinking about and I’m certainly hopeful.

Posted in Methods, NaNoWriMo, Writing

Plans for Camp NaNoWriMo & Planning

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

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As June starts, I’ve come to realize that Camp NaNoWriMo (for July 2017) is only 25 days away. While this might seem far off, it usually gets here in a flash. This is why I have started thinking about which of the many stories in my idea notebook I’m going to flush out and write.

Instead of writing a paranormal story like I’ve done in the past, I’m going to try my hand at writing in the fantasy genre. Luckily for me, I have plenty of those ideas but I have asked myself “are any of these ideas ready to be a story?” The answer is yes. There are actually two ideas that I can develop further for a plot that makes sense (to me).

However, when I tried to develop one of those stories, it wasn’t a walk in the park. I had the idea of the world and how it worked in relation to the story. I wrote the history behind the founding of a guild that was going to be in the forerunner of the story. My characters were listed and the theme of the story was clear. Yet, when I thought about the details and how the story was going to unravel, my mind drew a blank.

Well, it wasn’t exactly a blank per say. I had the beginning chapter or so but afterwards, I don’t have any idea where the story would go from there. I know the end destination; I just don’t know how to get there.

The other story however, is more flushed out. I even wrote the story as a film once. All I’m keeping from that is the core story and theme. I did have to move some characters around and add new ones but for the most part I know what’s going to happen. I have scenes planned out and I know how to get to the end. So, there’s no competition between the stories, right?

Well, there is 25 days left until July. I do have time to plan and think about the first idea. Plus, it’s not like I can’t plan out both stories and decide which story I want to write more. Even so, the only thing I want to avoid is starting a story and having no idea what’s going to happen next. If I really think about it, I guess that’s what NaNoWriMo is all about (in a way). How well can you make up a story in a month?

Okay, no. That’s not what NaNoWriMo is all about but it is my take on it. At least for the moment it is.

For now, I’ll just welcome the time I have left until July. There’s no rush and there is only so much planning I can do before I need to write.

Posted in Game Reviews, Writing

To Review

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

Although it’s been a while, beforehand I mentioned that I was going to attend a convention. It had nothing to do with writing but it was something that was on my bucket list. I can gladly say that it’s been crossed of. This particular event was Anime Matsuri 2017. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures to share mostly because I’m still rather shy about asking people (strangers) for pictures. It’s something that I have to work on.

However, due to amazing luck, I was able to attend to panels about writing at the convention. Although it is no excuse, I finally received a power point presentation from one of the spokesperson. It was a panel for self-publishing. Sarah Rothman was the spokesperson for the panel Self-publishing 101.

I won’t go into details now but I will be posting the information (a summary, you will) of the power point and general knowledge that I have about self-publishing. I’m going to ask for permission in regards to maybe uploading her power point to the blog so that everyone here can read it. Keep your fingers crossed.

On another note, two of my reviews for ANDi have been posted. You can them here and here. Later this month, I’m told that there’s going to be a newsletter going out and I’m going to get a copy. As soon as I do, I’m posting it up here.

Thanks for the patience,

Kassandra