It's beyond obvious that my attempt at NaNoWriMo failed. There are way too many reasons/excuses/difficulties/etc. Honestly though, I think this recent blog post explains it: Is the Fear Monster Eating Your Words?
I qualify for at least two of those reasons. I think the idea of writing got too big for me and I got scared. Instead of sitting down with Scrivener and actually writing, I was writing scene "notes" in a spiral notebook. Basically, I had the scene in my head so strongly, but in being too afraid to write it all down, I wrote what I wanted it to do and where I wanted it to go, so that I wouldn't lose it and I'd be able to come back to it when I was ready to write. That hasn't happened.
School is getting ready to start soon, and I'll be back into my studently ways of falling behind in my classes. While at the same time, I'll be teaching for the first time ever, teaching two classes, teaching two college-level classes! I'm just going to have to go with the flow and keep writing down my notes until I can address them and write.
Although I failed at NaNoWriMo, I don't consider it a fail because I finally started writing something. And starting is the hardest part for me. So now that it's started, I fully intend to finish it. And I only give myself until the end of the year to get my first draft done because I have to pay for my student loans somehow when I graduate in two years....
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Beginning of week two
I got in a pretty good word count after my last post, adding the the count I had already done that day. However, I didn't get any writing done yesterday or today. Not the greatest way to start week two of my NaNoWriMo of course.
The thing is, although I wasn't actually writing today, I was working out scenes in my head all last night and today. I wrote a lot of notes down to at least remind me of directions I wanted to go and thoughts I came up with, so that when I do get a chance to sit and just write, I can write way past my daily goals.
One of my biggest fears has been writing out of order, and that's what I'm trying to overcome now. At the moment there is just no way to write from beginning to end because I'm not sure what's happening. I'm writing the big scenes, the scenes that stick out most in my mind and also scenes that are most essential to the overall plot. I'm hoping that it means that by the end of week three and beginning of week four, I'll just have to go back into the story that's there are fill in the gaps. I have to do that anyway of course, but it's a start. NaNoWriMo has a word count of 50,000 words. The typical YA novel is 80,000 - 90,000 words. So I know that even if I make my NaNoWriMo count, I still have a long way to go. The thing I'm most worried about is when I start filling in the gaps because I'm known for second guessing myself and revising while I write which I'm stemming off for this challenge as suggested by the challenge founder, but when I have to go back in and fill in gaps and lengthen what's there....there's bound to be some revising going on. I just have to fight the urge so that I can get my first rough draft done.
The thing is, although I wasn't actually writing today, I was working out scenes in my head all last night and today. I wrote a lot of notes down to at least remind me of directions I wanted to go and thoughts I came up with, so that when I do get a chance to sit and just write, I can write way past my daily goals.
One of my biggest fears has been writing out of order, and that's what I'm trying to overcome now. At the moment there is just no way to write from beginning to end because I'm not sure what's happening. I'm writing the big scenes, the scenes that stick out most in my mind and also scenes that are most essential to the overall plot. I'm hoping that it means that by the end of week three and beginning of week four, I'll just have to go back into the story that's there are fill in the gaps. I have to do that anyway of course, but it's a start. NaNoWriMo has a word count of 50,000 words. The typical YA novel is 80,000 - 90,000 words. So I know that even if I make my NaNoWriMo count, I still have a long way to go. The thing I'm most worried about is when I start filling in the gaps because I'm known for second guessing myself and revising while I write which I'm stemming off for this challenge as suggested by the challenge founder, but when I have to go back in and fill in gaps and lengthen what's there....there's bound to be some revising going on. I just have to fight the urge so that I can get my first rough draft done.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Overwhelmed and slacking it already
So I haven't written in the last three days. There are a list of reasons, and one of which does include procrastination. July 3rd, I woke up with a horrific migraine that persisted throughout the day. July 4th, I wasn't feeling well, and after a particularly earth shattering reaction to the end of a book I was reading, spent the rest of the night in a deep depression. Yesterday, I was reading another book, one that considerably cheered me up, but I was also procrastinating believing that NaNoWriMo was a bad idea for me.
The conclusion? I realized that I hadn't really tried yet. Writing 1,704 one day towards a novel wasn't putting in even half the effort it deserved. Although I wasn't writing the last three days, I didn't stop thinking about the novel and what I might write about if I actually sat down to do it. Today I finished up the novel I was reading and decided I needed to throw myself into this again.
As of this moment, I have added another 1,881 words to my word count. 3,585 words. I know that's about 15-16 pages. And you know what...that's the longest I've written towards one story in a long time. Most of my stories don't go past 5 pages, in fact, it's usually a struggle to make it to 5. My requirement I've gotten some up to 10 pages, but I don't think I've exceeded that in years. And the best part...I'm not done. I don't even feel close to being done. I'm actually seeing my novel through. This gives me hope. I've always wanted to be a novelist, but when you can't write a story more than 5 pages, the dream starts to die. So regardless if I finish my NaNoWriMo or not, I've started the novel, it's actually going somewhere and reaching large page counts and I can get this done.
My NaNoWriMo guide book says, "You'll need to put away 11,669 words by the close of the first week or risk feeling overwhelmed at the start of week two." Tomorrow is the close of the first week. I'm already overwhelmed. And yet, contrary to what the book suggests, I think week two will be easier for me than week one because the material is still being developed. Still, that's 7,084 I need to get in tonight and tomorrow. Good luck to me...
The conclusion? I realized that I hadn't really tried yet. Writing 1,704 one day towards a novel wasn't putting in even half the effort it deserved. Although I wasn't writing the last three days, I didn't stop thinking about the novel and what I might write about if I actually sat down to do it. Today I finished up the novel I was reading and decided I needed to throw myself into this again.
As of this moment, I have added another 1,881 words to my word count. 3,585 words. I know that's about 15-16 pages. And you know what...that's the longest I've written towards one story in a long time. Most of my stories don't go past 5 pages, in fact, it's usually a struggle to make it to 5. My requirement I've gotten some up to 10 pages, but I don't think I've exceeded that in years. And the best part...I'm not done. I don't even feel close to being done. I'm actually seeing my novel through. This gives me hope. I've always wanted to be a novelist, but when you can't write a story more than 5 pages, the dream starts to die. So regardless if I finish my NaNoWriMo or not, I've started the novel, it's actually going somewhere and reaching large page counts and I can get this done.
My NaNoWriMo guide book says, "You'll need to put away 11,669 words by the close of the first week or risk feeling overwhelmed at the start of week two." Tomorrow is the close of the first week. I'm already overwhelmed. And yet, contrary to what the book suggests, I think week two will be easier for me than week one because the material is still being developed. Still, that's 7,084 I need to get in tonight and tomorrow. Good luck to me...
Monday, July 2, 2012
The beginning of a blog and the beginning of NaNoWriMo
So, I figured it's about time that I start a blog in relation to my writing. One day I'll be published and I have to direct people somewhere. And of course, it's always cool to read about the thought process behind a novel you've just read.
My summer goal was to start at least one of my novel ideas. There's at least four. I figured if I started at least one, I could take about a year to write it, and another year to edit it and try and get it published. I have two years of grad school left before I'm kicked out into the real world and have to figure out how to pay rent and student loans. It's not like all writers make millions of dollars. Hell, most don't. Especially not on the first book. But any money is better than no money, and getting one thing published is motivation to get more things published.
But I've spent most of the summer reading and procrastinating. I'm great at procrastinating. The last semester, I did an entire semester's worth of readings, quizzes, and online discussion boards in the last two weeks of school because I had procrastinated all semester. It was the roughest two weeks ever, but somehow I pulled it off. You'd think I'd learned my lesson. But I guess I hadn't put enough importance on writing this summer.
During some summer cleaning (my other goal) I found two box writing kits that my mom bought me a couple years ago in an attempt to help me with my writer's block. I figured it was about time to open them. One turned out to be from the founder of NaNoWriMo, called No Plot, No Problem. Basically, it was an overview of how NaNoWriMo worked, with daily motivations and motivations to get through the month. The instructional booklet that came with it really hit a chord with me and I decided I had to do it. The founder of NaNoWriMo says to do the 50,000 words in one month in any month that you have the least distractions and responsibilities. It doesn't have to be in November when the actual competition takes place. July is the only month when me and my son don't have school.
Daily word goal: 1,613 words a day.
The problem? I stupidly thought today was the first week of July when it turns out to be the second. So I'm already a day behind. I procrastinated unintentionally.
I just got done finishing 1,704 words. So hopefully tonight I can get in another 1,600 to catch up.
.....or, I just realized another plan. This is a 31-day month. The kit is set up for a 30-day or 31-day month. If I pretend it's 30-days, I can follow the goal of 1,667 words a day and not be behind at all. I guess I'll see what I can get done later tonight.
I hope this doesn't kill me.
My summer goal was to start at least one of my novel ideas. There's at least four. I figured if I started at least one, I could take about a year to write it, and another year to edit it and try and get it published. I have two years of grad school left before I'm kicked out into the real world and have to figure out how to pay rent and student loans. It's not like all writers make millions of dollars. Hell, most don't. Especially not on the first book. But any money is better than no money, and getting one thing published is motivation to get more things published.
But I've spent most of the summer reading and procrastinating. I'm great at procrastinating. The last semester, I did an entire semester's worth of readings, quizzes, and online discussion boards in the last two weeks of school because I had procrastinated all semester. It was the roughest two weeks ever, but somehow I pulled it off. You'd think I'd learned my lesson. But I guess I hadn't put enough importance on writing this summer.
During some summer cleaning (my other goal) I found two box writing kits that my mom bought me a couple years ago in an attempt to help me with my writer's block. I figured it was about time to open them. One turned out to be from the founder of NaNoWriMo, called No Plot, No Problem. Basically, it was an overview of how NaNoWriMo worked, with daily motivations and motivations to get through the month. The instructional booklet that came with it really hit a chord with me and I decided I had to do it. The founder of NaNoWriMo says to do the 50,000 words in one month in any month that you have the least distractions and responsibilities. It doesn't have to be in November when the actual competition takes place. July is the only month when me and my son don't have school.
Daily word goal: 1,613 words a day.
The problem? I stupidly thought today was the first week of July when it turns out to be the second. So I'm already a day behind. I procrastinated unintentionally.
I just got done finishing 1,704 words. So hopefully tonight I can get in another 1,600 to catch up.
.....or, I just realized another plan. This is a 31-day month. The kit is set up for a 30-day or 31-day month. If I pretend it's 30-days, I can follow the goal of 1,667 words a day and not be behind at all. I guess I'll see what I can get done later tonight.
I hope this doesn't kill me.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)