If you're a fairly normal person (choose your definition of "normal"), the thought of November approaching means things like winter is getting closer, Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, and it's time to start baking and cooking like there is no tomorrow. Depending on the kind of person you are, these thoughts can elicit feelings of joy, anticipation, and excitement... or dread, despair, and desperation.
If you're a writer (the antonym of "normal") then the thought of November approaching means one thing.
NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month.
And it can elicit the same feelings... just maybe not in the same order.
NaNo can be a very effective "kick in the butt" for those of us who have trouble getting started and keeping going. Nothing like a deadline to inspire creativity, or, if it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done.
For the last two years, I haven't "won" at NaNo (before I go further, let me explain NaNo to those who are unfamiliar with it--November is a month designated to writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days) and, by winning, I mean completing the requisite 50k words by midnight on November 30. The last two years, I was fortunate to be able to break the 20k mark on my writing. However, because it doesn't cost a thing and a huge cash prize isn't at stake, I'm not the least bit devastated by my "losses".
The reason is because despite my "failure" to reach 50k words in 30 days, I DID get several thousand words on paper (or screen)... words that formed a story or part of a story that hadn't existed prior to November 1. Both times that I "failed" to finish NaNo, I was able to jump start the next book in my Black Horse Campground series. And that is my goal for this November of 2014: the first draft of book four in the series.
Will I make 50,000 words? Maybe, maybe not. Eventually, I know I'll get far more when the final draft of Book Four goes to my publisher.
I just need a little "kick" start!
Good luck, Amy. If nothing else it's a great start on another novel.
ReplyDeleteThanks, John! I don't think I'll be able to wait till November 1, but don't tell anyone I "cheated" by starting early!
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