It's that magical time of year, where the weather gets cold, the leaves turn crispy and brown, and writers across the country--nay, world--start preparing for the biggest writing event of the year. I'm talking about NaNoWriMo, and I am FINALLY going to participate!Every year one of my writer friends invariably asks the question: "Are you signing up this year?" and I've always had a ready excuse to rescue me from the dreaded event. This year, I started to see the signs go up at the library, or I'd happen to come across a blog post, and I finally sat myself down and gave myself the third degree. It's not like writing 50,000 words on a 1-month deadline is going to kill me...is it?
"I can do this!" I told myself, over and over. "I can write a novel in a month! What's the big deal?"
My weaker, cowardly side finally caved. (She's a pushover.)
On Friday I signed myself up before I could change my mind. I'm sure the cowardly part of me is going to be really annoyed somewhere around November 10th, when I'm behind on my word count and the "rational" portion of my brain has completely shut down. But it's still the first week of October, so I have plenty of time to freak out. I don't have to start just yet.
For now, I'm outlining. And keeping extremely lengthy notes. I sleep with paper and pencil under my pillow. My story has a lot of musical concepts that I'm only vaguely familiar with, so I'm doing my homework and nailing down all the details ahead of time. (No, I'm not writing yet. I know the rules!) I'm finishing any outstanding projects that might try to tempt me away from the work at hand. And I'm getting--dare I say it?--a little excited.
(Those of you who have already participated in the past are probably smiling indulgently and shaking your heads. That's okay. I'll learn my lesson soon enough!)
Writing on a deadline is going to be good for me. I have a friend (you know who you are) who keeps extolling the virtues of deadlines, and I'm finally willing to concede. You're right. Deadlines are effective, so long as you have something burning a fire under you to keep you going. I'm willing to test this theory out, and NaNoWriMo is my kindling.
So what's on your agenda for November, Proser? Are you going to come write with me and over 300,000 other people as we push ourselves to hit that magic 50k? C'mon. You know you want to.To those NaNo veterans out there, us newbies would love some advice. Give us your good, bad, and ugly--anything you think will help get us through this challenge unscathed. (Or at the very least, alive!)
Good luck to everyone who is going for 50k this year. To anyone who has to carry on a conversation with me during the month of November, I'm sorry. Cognitive thought will probably be too difficult for me. I'm working on a system of blink-messages. One blink for yes, two for no, and if I stop blinking altogether then I was wrong about the 50k/1-month deadline killing me. Bury me out behind the library with a copy of John Donne and a book light. Just in case.
Outlining is key so you can at least have a little road map. I also recommend the Write Or Die writing motivator. If you spend too long not typing, it... uh... motivates you. There is a free version to use online, but it's also cheap to buy.
ReplyDeleteSetting it for one hour and a thousand words is my favorite gig. I may not like everything I get down, but I have a chunk of text to work with.
I'll look up the Write or Die this week. Thanks for the advice!
DeleteI may do my own cheating version of Nanowrimo this year. No brilliant plot ideas are forthcoming, and I've got a manuscript I'd really like to chuck out the window and start over on...the problem is that the rules say it has to be something NEW. So maybe I'll be doing NanoCheatMo this year. :) I'm not quite sure yet. But I would never miss it completely. I love it too much.
ReplyDelete(I won't tell anyone you cheated if you don't...wait, people are reading this. Too late!)
DeleteBy the way--YAY that you're doing Nanowrimo! The deadline will be your friend. See if you can find a copy of No Plot? No Problem. It will help you through the mood swings.
ReplyDeleteI should be able to find a copy. I saw it on their web site, though I'll probably check Amazon, too. Good luck Melanie! Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteI am on the fence about attempting NaNo this year - I'm in the middle of a project right now, and my 7 day novel challenge has left me somewhat damaged in the sanity department to this very day (what do you mean briefs can't be used as hats??? Restrictive thinking, right there, ladies and gents).
ReplyDeleteBut I am a glutton for punishment as it were, and the voices in my head might chivy me into doing NaNo this year.
The only piece of advice I can think of is that 1660 words are much more easily written in chunks - meaning that getting up and hour early can do wonders to your schedule. Plus it won't disturb your sleep schedule, so you won't fall asleep while in the middle of wri
Get up earlier? Aawww, I don't want to! But it's sound advice, so I'll give it a try.
DeleteAnd while I'm tempted to join the voices in your head and urge you to sign up for NaNo, I won't. Whatever you decide, I hope all your projects turn out well!
I've never done nanowrimo. Someday maybe, but not this year. I have too many projects that are too close to being done to donate an entire month to something new.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all who are participating. :)
Thank you, MaryAnn! Good luck with your projects. :)
DeleteYou go, Trisha! Nano can be a lot of fun. I love the boards and the energy. I finished once, and I think the most important thing I learned is that, for me, I don't write well like that. OTOH, look at Sheena's recent post. That was a Nano story, so - wow - amazing things can happen!
ReplyDeleteMuch luck to you. You'll have a lot of fun.
Thank you, Susan. Whether I finish or not, I am sure it'll be fun. :)
DeleteGood luck indeed! Or maybe luck is the wrong term? Shall I send you good inspiration and dedication instead? In any case, I hope you have fun.
ReplyDeleteNANOWRIMO has never seemed right for me; in my case, it's not putting words on the page that is hard for me, it's sticking past the first draft and still loving the story in the second or third or twentieth draft. But I'm sitting here with my pompoms waiting to cheer on all you brave souls.