Our next Nano Prep session is theStory Wall Partyon Saturday, Oct 14thfrom 1-4 pm at the Glen Ellyn Public Library hosted by Sam McAdams (samcadams).

What is a Story Wall?

The year round writing group spawned from NaperWriMo, called the Journey, has been using story walls over the past several years to help authors brainstorm solutions to issues in their with their novels. The concept is to provide a brief summary of your story and its main characters, so that other authors can brainstorm ideas to solve trouble spots in your novel, such as:

• How do I end my novel?
• I've built this great world but not sure what the story is?

• The middle is too boring. What can I do to add excitement and keep the reader engaged?
• Where should my novel start?

Description of the event:

During this brainstorming event, participants will present their novel plans/ideas and receive advice on anything they're struggling with. Come prepared with note cards or visuals to quickly describe your novel ideas and explain your trouble spots. We will do our best to group Story Wallers by genre. Then let the brainstorming begin.

• The story wall time will be only 30 minutes per author
• We plan to keep the author'scharacter and story summation to 5 mins, allowing for 25 minutes of brainstorming
• It is recommended you create the following set of index cards:
  • Protagonist card
  • Antagonist card
  • Support characters card
  • 1 to 3 cards summarizing your story (for example 1 card for each Act)
  • Cards with your brainstorming questions/prompts
  • Example (for my BarnYard Heroes Cow Novel):
    • Protagonist - The Cow:Self proclaimed leader of the BarnYard Heroes, who wants to keep the gang together and safe. She regrets suggesting they join a secret government agency because it has put all the other animals at risk.
    • Antagonist - Agent X:Traitor who sold out for countless riches to an alien corporation that wants to wipe out the human race and take over the Earth. He relishes in the suffering of the cow and his fellow human beings.
    • Secondary Villain - Grandma Marjorie:Appears to be a sweet old lady, but is a ruthless sociopath who has also sold out to an alien corporation that wants to wipe out the human race and take over Earth.
    • Story Summary: The cow unwittingly started a cow zombie apocalypse and then lost the human strain of the zombie virus to Agent X, who plans to use it to wipe out the human race. After watching her mentor die, the cow becomes a zombie. She is cured of zombism and is ready to stop Agent Xs evil plan.
    • Questions/Prompts
      • I want better motives for the villains than greed
      • Should the two main villains be working for different companies?
      • Looking for creative way for the cow to stop Agent X from unleashing the human zombie virus

I SOOO want to go tomorrow (and sunday)...however, I woke up sick this morning with a cold (i could feel it coming on last night) and while i know i'll feel physically ok to go (my sore throat will be gone)...germ wise....I don't want to get anyone sick...but i SOOO want to go!!

if i sat in the way way way back maybe....or i got a face mask i grabbed last time i was at the doctors office waiting room lol!

thoughts? I really want to go (knowing i'll be physically able) and know it'll help my novel...but i don't want people around my germs and getting sick because of me...

Goddess_Astra wrote:I SOOO want to go tomorrow (and sunday)...however, I woke up sick this morning with a cold (i could feel it coming on last night) and while i know i'll feel physically ok to go (my sore throat will be gone)...germ wise....I don't want to get anyone sick...but i SOOO want to go!!

if i sat in the way way way back maybe....or i got a face mask i grabbed last time i was at the doctors office waiting room lol!

thoughts? I really want to go (knowing i'll be physically able) and know it'll help my novel...but i don't want people around my germs and getting sick because of me...

Speaking for myself, if you'll wear a face mask, that would probably be sufficient:

Quote:

3. If you're sick yourself, wearing a mask might be a good idea.

The polite Japanese person who must be out and about with a cold or flu is right to think a surgical mask might protect strangers from picking up a pathogen. After all, the masks were originally designed to protect patients from the coughs and sneezes of a surgeon.

--Tim (glad you'll be feeling better)

I think a mask would be more than sufficient. I hope you can make.

I spoke to Dr. Brother earlier...and my dearest sibling said that i should be ok to go with minimal risk to being THAT guy that gets everyone sick! LOL!

My novel could really use it

Think i'll be able to make it...but...unfortunately, hubby has either a stomach bug or the flu...so the wee one may have to come with me since hubby is in no condition to do baby care...hopefully, she will be somewhat quiet...thankfully...that's during her nap time...so...cover the stroller with a dark blanket...she should pass right out LOL!