Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Take a break from writing to watch others write:

Beginning tomorrow, Monday October 11, thirty-four authors from the Seattle area each write for 2 hours, one chapter, at Hugo House, a local center for the literary arts, until by Saturday they complete a novel, and it all gets broadcast live here, beginning with the great Jennie Shortridge.

Looks like fun.

They need to show regular people working on a novel... I named the players in my laptop's game of Hearts Loser, Wastin' Time, Huh, and Write UR Book.

Holly - Lol.

That's interesting, Quill. I've been a part of a couple of 'just get together and write' sessions. They are always fun, and amazingly productive. Lots of chocolate gets eaten too, which is always a plus.

Mira, not sure it's really a get together, per se, although I think there are some social-hour events in the evenings. The writing is in sequential sessions, one writer at a time writing a chapter. I think we get to read over their shoulder, as it were.

Wonder if they did get together to concoct an outline, though, or whether they are just winging it.

Oh! They're not writing together? Well, still very interesting - or maybe even more so, since we could compare their different styles of writing. Sounds fun.

I'm sure they will make it interesting, but I tried to think of what people would see if they watched me write for two hours, and I don't know, it doesn't sound like a rockin' good time or anything. They'd get two hours of watching me sit on the floor at my coffee table, staring at my computer while I type a little, then stare off into space, then type a little, then stare off into space, then pull up dictionary.com because I have a sneaking suspicion I made up the word I just used or at least probably I don't know what it actually means, then back to staring and typing and deleting and typing then staring off into space then rereading the last few paragraphs which I have decided I don't like, delete, stare, type, stare, type, daydream, type, go to the kitchen for an orange Fanta, back to typing, staring, typing, staring, giving up and watching YouTube.

Sommer, you forgot my favorite part of noveling that makes my dogs look at me like I'm insane.

The acting out part.

"Wait, wait, I have to get in the floor." [lays down] "Okay, I've been stabbed. That guy tried to kill me. I'm feeling very...well...I'm very scared...upset...and a little...what? Why are you staring- No, I'm not going to play with the squeaky alligator. He's not in this scene."

Because that part of writing, when I'm trying to get in my character's head, is most fun. And the dogs get so confused. And Dotty thinks I'm either playing or about to give her food.

That would make for better entertainment than 'clicka-clicka'.

Just got home from work and am watching the novel in progress on the live webcams. Pretty weird watching someone write on one screen, reading their words as they appear on another, and reading a running commentary of the proceedings by various other viewers on a third.

I think it's cool what they're doing, though. I think sales of the book will benefit a charity.

I hear people talking in the background and what sounds like cabinet doors slamming and dishes clinking.

You're right, this would have been more entertaining if they'd staged this at the homes of thirty-four ordinary writers. Kids screaming, cats walking on the keyboard, piles of papers and clothes everywhere...

Quill wrote:I hear people talking in the background and what sounds like cabinet doors slamming and dishes clinking.

You're right, this would have been more entertaining if they'd staged this at the homes of thirty-four ordinary writers. Kids screaming, cats walking on the keyboard, piles of papers and clothes everywhere...

Yeah, that description fits my house--we could shoot our own version here. I have chocolate...

This is so weird. I'm watching it now and I'm looking at the text that has been typed in and there's a word missing in this sentence and I want so badly to reach through and fix it!!!!!

Edit:
Ok now I know why there are typos all over. She's typing in a room full of people talking and yelling and laughing. *I* wouldn't be able to type either.