NaNoWriMo 2008 #2
Is it wrong for me to get so excited at November’s imminent arrival?
I think it’s definitely wrong that I rely on NaNoWriMo to be my one great writing session of the year – I should write all year round and not wait for November. Although to be fair to myself, I’ve done better on that this year than ever before. I’ve produced more poetry, definitely, and I’ve revised and added to one of my half-baked novels. And even if I didn’t do as much as I would have liked, it’s been an improvement.
But I do enjoy the frantic, sociable creative outpouring that NaNoWriMo is for me. I love being a Municipal Liaison (and adore the Three Years service badge I got in the post yesterday) and meeting and encouraging other participants. I love pushing myself harder, of trying to discipline myself when really my self-discipline is a pitiful object. I thrive on the challenge and the deadline.
And this year, I’ve thrown myself an extra challenge. Not only am I writing outside of my usual ‘comfort-zone’ genres of fantasy and SF, but I want to see if I can write a novel from the (3rd person) point-of-view of everyone except the main character. She’ll only be seen through other people’s eyes, and I want to see if I can do that.
To that end, I’ve got quite a lot of plotting and character development to do before the end of this month. I have the outline of the plot and some characters down, but I want to expand it. I want to decide, for each scene, whose view we’ll see. I really want to draw up some detailed character sheets which include not just background and personality pointers, but also details of their relationships with the MC and with others. (These character sheets are something I have a lot of experience in doing for the online role-playing game I used to help run, where we would pre-fabricate characters for others to play.)
So I may or may not manage the 5,000 words of old-novel that I wanted to write this month (I’d like to think that I will, especially if I make a start this afternoon instead of playing Fairy Godmother Tycoon!) but I will definitely do my best to prepare for November and its 50,000 words.
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on October 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I needed this pep talk. I was just starting to feel sorry for myself that November’s come ’round so fast again!
Susan´s last post: As I Lay Dying…
on October 12th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Nope – not wrong at all. I am just as excited and feel like counting down ( I did last year too!)
November is just a good time for it, but there are other “groups” who have things like this throughout the year to get you motivated. Sometimes thats what we need – the motivation. I understand about only using November though. LOL
Good luck this year!
Nicole´s last post: Numerous Manuscripts
on October 13th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I am very excited about NaNo as well – this will be my third year and I am writing (I hope) a mystery set in Victorian NYC/Brooklyn.
I’ll be posting a link to my profile later this month so that anyone reading who is doing it too, can get on my Buddy List -
You have a great blog -
Lidian´s last post: The Felt Toothbrush
on October 13th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
You’re welcome, Susan, although it wasn’t really meant as a pep talk; just some vague blatherings. (Surely you can recognise my real pep talks when you see them by now!)
And hello Nicole and Lidian – good luck to you both with NaNoWriMo this year! I’m glad I’m not the only one in this state.
on October 13th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
You’re an ambitious one, aren’t you? I’m joining you in NaNo this year, but with a more traditionally formatted first-person novel. The story is also close to my own experience, so I can concentrate on writing and not constantly inventing things. It’s going to be fun this year!
Bill Womack´s last post: My New Blogging Buddy
on October 14th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
The first time I did NaNo I had no computer and decided to participate anyway. I used yellow legal pads and an actual pen — you know, one of those cylindrical thingys with ink in it? Yeah, one of those. I reached 20k before I had to bail.
The good news is, the surgery to repair the Terminal Writer’s Cramp was a success.
Good luck!
netta´s last post: If You Don’t Read Anything Else Today…
on October 14th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Bill – I don’t know about ambitious, I just fancy doing something a bit different this year since I’ve had 3 years on the trot of reaching 50K. My alternative goal is to finish this year’s novel, no matter how long it takes, so that I don’t end up with yet another half-baked one.
Netta – You were braver than I ever would be! I do end up doing a fair amount of handwriting during NaNoWriMo though; it helps me get past any blocks and is damn handy on my bus trips! I always end up typing it up though, and adding a few more words while I do.