{"id":781,"date":"2013-10-28T00:02:46","date_gmt":"2013-10-28T08:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writinghope.com\/?p=781"},"modified":"2018-09-26T09:56:36","modified_gmt":"2018-09-26T17:56:36","slug":"odds-and-ends-nano-prep-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/untanglingtales.com\/WritingHope\/odds-and-ends-nano-prep-28\/","title":{"rendered":"Odds and Ends (NaNo Prep 28)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>

Image courtesy of Arsel \u00d6zg\u00fcrdal via stock.xchng<\/p><\/div>\n

Choosing names, collecting images, rough-mapping (working with physical spaces) and using music in the writing process– these are all on my mind as we enter the homestretch toward starting our novels this very week.\u00a0 EEP!<\/p>\n

Here we go.<\/p>\n

Names<\/strong><\/p>\n

Three years ago (2010) when I decided I needed to write again, my youngest child was 4, and I had purged my baby-name books. I’d discovered the social security name site<\/a>, and BehindTheName.com<\/a>,and realized googling things like Indian last names <\/a>actually gives me workable stuff.<\/p>\n

But I wanted a talisman, I suppose (I’ve since learned that I’m very kinesthetic: I want physical objects to manipulate, which is why story-boarding is my current organization method of choice)<\/a>. I went out and bought a couple name books, new, not patient enough to wait for them to show up at the used bookstores, and not knowing what would be most-useful to me.<\/p>\n

That afternoon when a friend came to pick up her child after a playdate she saw the new books on my kitchen counter. “Ooo, Amy<\/em>!” She waved them at me. “Is there something exciting<\/em> you want to tell me?!”<\/p>\n

“Yes!” I said, matching my enthusiasm to hers. “I’m writing a novel next month!”<\/p>\n

I’d recommend having at least one name book on-hand to jog your imagination, or as a back-up for when the internet is out. My best suggestion if you can find it (I’ve seen it used a few times):<\/p>\n