Since it's NaNo, I thought about resurrecting my pitfall posts, but I'm kinda past that. If you're interested, go over to my frozen-in-place blog The Unpublished Writers' Guide to Survival - they're all there in links on the left hand side.
This will be my unofficial 6th or so year doing NaNo. It's unofficial because I spent time over here doing it on my own before I actually joined the site, and I've also done the 50K in 30 days thing during other months when my November has been busy.
What I've learned is that NaNo isn't for everyone. I get that. Sustained sprint writing takes a certain kind of masochistic mindset. I put down just over 3K on the first night, and my hands were cramping so bad at the end there I wanted an Aspercreme bath afterwards. But the book is worth it.
Additionally, if you haven't been following The Writing Spectacle in the
past years, I've got a severe case of NaNo brain. (It's like pregnant
brain without the cravings.) All my creative juices are being diverted
to this book, so I'm kinda lame elsewhere. This too shall pass.
I've also learned that you can participate even if you don't have new words to put down. This year, I'm rewriting the beginning of a novel so I can finish writing it. Which means right now, I'm throwing down the words like I'm feeding chickens. (You know, if words were chicken feed.) When I reach the end of the words I already have, I expect I'll slow down a bit. Especially if I haven't figured out the last half of this book before I get there. That'll totally suck.
Anyway, if you're in this, you have my empathy. If not, I need your understanding for the next month or so. I might not be here. I might be here but not HERE, if you catch my drift. And some of the things that come out of my fingers might be totally off the wall. (Okay, maybe that last part isn't so unusual.)
Thanks for your support. Have an awesome day.
Have fun NaNo-ing and good luck in reaching your goal. I can see why some people do that, but it's not my thing. I'll just gripe about my word counts on the group I belong with on Facebook (Word Counts Daily). You're welcome to join if you want! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stacy! I totally understand about it not being your thing. Thanks for the invite. I'll go check it out. =o)
DeleteI'm obsessing because I'm behind. I'm NEVER behind! Well...except for that one year with two family deaths a week apart and a harried trip to northern California during the month. But I managed to choke out words and win. AWFUL words, but words. I'm STILL trying to fix that MS. LOL But yeah, I'll get in the groove. I'm normally not mulitasking between projects. And I also started this novel in the wrong place. I discovered that about 9 p.m. last night. Luckily, it meant more words instead of fewer. Where I started will just come into play later in the story.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm off to vote. And procrastinate some more will waiting for the answer to an email I sent my editor because until I get it back, I can't do that other multitasking thing. *flail*
That has got to be driving you nuts, Silver, but you can do this. After your deadline, you'll pick it back up again.
DeleteHope you had an easy time voting. :hugs: And got that answer so you could move forward.
Hey, you're allowed to be spacy during NaNo. That's a lot of words to pour out each day.
ReplyDeleteWishing you luck catching up, Silver.
I have a bad case of the postpartum blues, for lack of another term. I sent my book off to Createspace (still waiting to see it!), but now I can't seem to settle on a new project.
LOL, Debs, thanks. It is a lot of words, but I have a lot of time. It's 5:30 here and I haven't even started yet. Bleh.
DeleteSorry about your blues. Write something off the wall and fun, just to change things up. No worries about it being publishable - just enjoyable!