NaNo NOW
By Kathleen Bolton | November 18, 2009 |
How’s everyone doing with their NaNoWriMo goals?
Yeah, me too.
I started with good intentions. Really. Before Nov. 1, I wrote a detailed outline that I vetted for storytelling soundness while leaving room for inspiration. I thought deeply about the characters and how I wanted them to unfold. I gave myself reasonable goals.
And all that planning went to hell around day two. Word count too.
I’m trying to be glass-half-full about this. Since Nov. 1, I’ve already started and trashed two beginnings. Yeah, I know we’re supposed to continue on regardless, but that goes against my writerly instincts. Why waste a month writing a book you know you’ll have to chuck at the end, just to make a word count, when you could stop now, begin again and have something potentially viable to work with on Dec. 1?
What I like about NaNo, and what I think is the most valuable aspect of the month-long marathon, is that you get into the habit of writing again. You also find out what’s NOT working fairly quickly, because you’re deep in the weeds, head buried in the story. I’m at peace chucking the first two attempts at this new project, because in my gut I knew I was heading down the wrong path. The 50,000 word goal? C’est la vie.
How are you doing with your NaNo story at this, the midpoint of the month? Are you still committed to your original story? Have you found that your story wants to go a place you never intended? Have you logged an impressive amount of words that you’d like to brag about in the comments?
Buddy Therese and me at Therese_Walsh and Kathleen_Bolton. If you leave your NaNo ID name in the comments, I’ll buddy you so I can cheer you on with your word count goal (and sympathize with those who may not have logged as many).
Keep on keeping on!
Art by mrcool256.
Kathleen Bolton is co-founder of Writer Unboxed. She writes under a variety of pseudonyms, including Ani Bolton.
She has written two novels as Cassidy Calloway: Confessions of a First Daughter, and Secrets of a First Daughter–both books in a YA series about the misadventures of the U.S. President’s teen-aged daughter, published by HarperCollins, and Tamara Blake, for the novel Slumber.
Thanks for the encouragement. I didn’t do NaNoWriMo this year, since it came when I was in the middle of responding to the final edits to my novel. I had good intentions of jumping in after completing the rewriting, but instead I have another novel to write, and there’s a deadline involved. Guess that’s my own version of NaNo.
“you get into the habit of writing again” — that’s what I love about Nano too!!
I’ve had a crazy and busy month so far and am no where near my word count goal. But I’m making time for writing, much more than I ever would have. And I love that!
My screenname is MeganRebekah
I hope I don’t jinx myself here, but luckily my NaNoWriMo experience has been right on target.
This is my first year – and I can in blind. I had one page of notes which was nothing more than names for characters and a beginning.
I broke 31k words today and have the ending in sight.
Will it be anything good? I’ll find that out in Janaury when I pick it up from it’s month rest to fish through and see if I have something that could be reworked into something!
My name on NaNo is JimWisneski
I posted some thought on NaNo for week 1 and 2 at http://www.wizworld.wordpress.com
Jim
I’m doing alright with NaNo. I’m a bit behind but I’m not extreamely worried about it yet. The parts I don’t like are screaming for attention but I decided to wait until I’m finished to attend to them. Writing everyday for NaNo doesn’t work as well for me. I write better when I write 10 pages and then don’t write for a day or five. :) But, I’m still learning loads from NaNo.
screenname: agricultureloverandwriter
NaNo ID: kristanhoffman
I’m only at about 10,300 words so I’m way behind, but that’s still 10,300 more words than I probably would have had otherwise! (Or at least a few K more words…)
My story has definitely evolved, but at its core are the same cast of characters that I fell in love with, and that’s what’s motivating me to keep writing.
I’m glad to know that even pros fall short of goals sometimes though. :P It’s comforting to know we’re all human.
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..New Twenty-Somewhere episode + links! =-.
I found you via twitter (go to search.twitter.com and watch NaNoWriMo – about a tweet a minute is coming across.)
I have only done 11791 words – but I also just started 3 days ago! I figure if I can average 4000 words a day I can make it happen.
Although I have been aware of NaNoWriMo for 3 or 4 years, this year is my first attempt. I finally just told myself. I have to do it. :)
Anyway, unlike you, I am not trying for anything of quality, just the word count so I can say I did it. Hopefully at the end I will have something that can actually be salvaged.
Thanks for the post!
.-= Steve Oliphant´s last blog ..Moving Novel to different section, organizing by chapter =-.
nano name write4love
I’m at 30k I’m exhausted. The story is ‘sort of’ finding itself. I find I want to quite playing with it though and go back and really write it. I may do that. What I too love about nano is getting back to the structure of writing everyday. That has been valuable to me this year.
12,818 words. Added to an already in progress work. Struggling with story a bit, which has slowed the writing, despite beginning with an outline. But moving ahead per outline to get it down and fix it later.
.-= PatriciaW´s last blog ..NaNo Groovin’ =-.
I’ve never done NaNo, but I’ve always found it interesting to read about people’s progress and all the ups and downs. Good post. :)
.-= Lydia Sharp´s last blog ..It’s All In The Details =-.
Beginnings are so hard, aren’t they? I’ve never, ever written a book where I didn’t have to scrap the entire opening at least twice before finally figuring out what it really had to look like–you’re definitely not alone! :) And I’m just the same–I can’t just keep writing when I know I’m going to need to go back and rip things out and start over. Good for you for trusting your instincts and having the courage to begin all over again–I think that in itself deserves a “win”!
I’m at about 17,0000 words. For not writing weekends, getting sick, my hubby getting sick, the death of our 7-month old cat, and my father-in-law having a heart attack (thankfully minor), I’m feeling pretty good about where I’m at. I don’t see myself hitting 50k by the end of the month, but this is a story I wouldn’t have written otherwise, and its getting me in the habit of writing consistently (which I plan to continue after NaNo).
.-= Feywriter´s last blog ..Rayna =-.
Wow, I am seriously impressed. There are some power writers amongst us. I’ll buddy all you peeps after I do my bit tomorrow, and hopefully I can at least do a respectable amount. Or break five digits. :-)
NaNo ID: Lost Wanderer
I am doing all right, though this week is rather slow. I did outline my novel beforehand, and I have pretty much followed the outline. I aimed for a full first draft at about 80K to 90K, and I am currently at 66K, so fully expect to finish by end of the month. If only I can get through this week…
.-= Lost Wanderer´s last blog ..A Smile and A Moan To Share =-.
I have five chapters done and I did it live this year, so they are up on my blog. However, daughter came down with H1N1 over Halloween and I had it soon after. I also snagged a paid blogging job which is demanding a bit more than just my sparkling presence, so word count is not stellar. However, I am pleased with the story though I know that some of the dialogue is just me being clever and not furthering plot as much as it should.
NaNo is good exercise.
.-= annie´s last blog ..The Fenns Chapter Five =-.
I don’t know what’s up with me this year but I’ve been very lucky. I hit 43,500 this past Sunday night.
What it was was four days at 8,000 (essentially 5.5-hour sprints at Starbucks each day for two weekends) and then 3 4,000 word days.
Good luck to everyone else! I think I may try to get to 80,000 before December 1 :)
xoJR
I’m “participating” as catiejames but didn’t manage to finish a bumper-crop of pending reviews before November 1st. Haven’t made much progress NaNo-wise, but I’m churning out the non fiction like crazy. :-P
I’m doing well enough to not throw in the towel, poorly enough to realize it’ll be a slog to make it, and I still might not. After tonight, I stand at 25,909 words, most of which probably won’t see a final draft (and there’s a story within my story which is almost certainly its own story–but I’m keeping every word for now!). The story has also changed as I’ve gone on, and I’m not even sure where it will finally land. BUT I’ve learned a lot about myself, what I’m capable of, how I write and how I can write in ways I told myself I couldn’t–so it’s been a positive and valuable exercise. Not sure I’d recommend it to anyone who values sleep, though. My exhaustion level probably hasn’t been this high since I had a newborn.
Thank you so much for this post… I’m in the exact same position! I’m going back and reworking parts of my novel based on the 15,000 words I DID write in NaNoWriMo (and about 12,000 I wrote before– shhh!) and my book feels like it’s coming together and getting stronger. On the other hand, I’ve accepted the fact that I won’t reach 50,000 in November this year… and that’s fine. I made it last year, I know I can do it, but this year is different!
.-= Maya´s last blog ..Grocery shopping like an Israeli =-.
I signed up for NaNo this year and dropped out almost immediately. I planned to move out of state after the holidays. A few days after NaNo began, I learned that I needed to move at the end of Nov. All I have time for is going to work and preparing for the move. Maybe next year…
I just passed 20,000 words and I’m very happy with my progress. I was about halfway into a novel when I started, so I’m breaking the rules, but I needed the competition to keep myself on target. I feel like I’ve really developed the writing habit, now, and I will keep it in the future.
I’m feeling a little behind in other areas of my life, but my family was forewarned. They are being very supportive and respectful of my writing time.
I’m intent on finishing a first draft of this novel by the end of December if all goes according to plan.
.-= Erika Robuck´s last blog ..Book Review: The Triumph of Deborah =-.