We are, yes, already at the one third mark for NaNoWriMo—the goal word count for today is, depending on how you calculate it, 16667 or 16670, and I may or may not be on track. Still, in order to create enough content for blog posts this month, we need to step back a little to the planning stage.Probably the most important point to note is that I'm not usually a planner when it comes to NaNoWriMo. I like to just let my mind run wild all month and see what it turns up. And it's usually more coherent than you'd expect. I mean, sure, I've only edited one of my NaNovels so far, and I only managed to salvage about 3% of it, but that's not the point.
The point is that on NaNoWriMo Eve (aka Halloween), I cobbled together a quick outline based on a few notes I'd scrawled in my day planner and the notepad beside my bed, and then just forged ahead. I didn't bother figuring out settings or writing character sketches (I haven't done one of these since my early or mid teens, I think, but maybe I'll try to find one and share the Mary-Sueishness with you). Romance novels are a lot more plot driven than you would expect.
Although I mentioned that I was choosing the Harlequin Romance category, I've actually changed my mind and put three sex scenes in my novel, thus switching over to the Harlequin Presents category. Similarly, I've already found a gaping plot hole built into my outline. I guess I probably could've spent a bit more time on it.
I can fix all of these problems later, in the editing stage (which I'll probably be posting about at the end of this month, far in advance of the actual editing stage). The plot is basically just for the sake of having something to hang the romance on, a series of roadblocks on the way to the happy ending, or "Happily Ever After (HEA)" as it's known in the biz.
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