How is week one of NaNoWriMo going you ask?
My novel is turning out something like this:
And Lorelai Gilmore would like to add “monkey monkey underpants” to my word count as well. I relate a lot to her in this clip.
Some parts of my novel are coming out great. I really like some of the names I’ve come up with. Some of the themes in my novel blow my mind at their awesomeness and cleverness. Most of my novel, though, looks like this:
She hears rustling behind her. Her dog is dumb and doesn’t move. Someone is following her.
She dries the laptop off as best she can. She shoves it in her bag along with her other things. She walks back to the square. The ugly dude is gone. The stocks sit there, empty.
On the grounds where the ancient cathedral used to be, there is a small house with the light on. It’s where he lives with his adopted father, Garrett. Maybe Garrett has a title. Like Hippie Garrett. But that’s dumb.
My perfectionist brain doesn’t like this. Doesn’t like this at all. My perfectionist brain should have planned better for NaNoWriMo with an outline or something.
I think this experience has taught me that I like outlines.
I also think I would like the creative process a little more if I could take it slowly.
I’ve felt mostly stressed and overwhelmed through this process. I thought I could just sit down and have fun and the words would just come! Magic and unicorns!
I think I will like the editing process a lot better. I’m also trying as best I can to just have fun and not care whether it’s “good” or not. Sometimes I’m able to turn of the Doubt-inator inside my head but I haven’t been able to this weekend and I’ve only written 600 words in two days. That puts me about 2000 words behind. I spend a lot of time staring at the computer screen.
My novel has turned into a stream of consciousness and pointing out my own plot holes so that I’ll keep moving. It makes me laugh and have a little more fun when I do that. But it also gives me the sads that my novel isn’t very good.
The thing I’ve learned the most is THAT I MISS BLOGGING!!!!! SO MUCH!!!! I love knowing exactly what I need to write (i.e. a book review) and thinking of a creative way to say it. I love the satisfaction of finishing something and publishing it! I don’t get that with my novel :(
This has been a good learning experience for me. I’m learning a lot about myself that I wouldn’t know otherwise. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that I DO want to write a novel…maybe just not in 30 days next time. However, I am stubborn determined to finish this since I started it if for no other reason than I want Scrivener half off. That program delights my obsessive, organized brain.
No Joey! A dinosaur wouldn’t quit and neither will I!!
Any of you have any writing tips?
My name is Jessica. I love to read Young Adult and classic literature. I’ve been a book blogger for six years and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. I’m a very curious reader. Writing about all the questions and thoughts I had while reading a book is the best hobby ever.
Jessica, As someone who is writing her 15th book (and signed with a literary agent last year–yay!), I thought today would be a good day to de-lurk.
I’ve never tried NaNo, but I know it would never work for me. My word count goal is five thousand words a week. Usually, that’s 1K words each weekday and then I take weekends off. Some weeks, I write more. Occasionally, I don’t feel like writing new scenes during the drafting process and all I do is edit. I need that space and time off to get new ideas or just to read a book. You know?
All that said, I wouldn’t recommend giving up on NaNo. You can do it, and if all you accomplish is a messy draft you have to tear apart, learning your writing process and getting Scrivener half off, that is a fantastic accomplishment.
All the best!
Hi Jessica,
(I tried to comment from my phone earlier, but I don’t think it worked. If this is a duplicate, feel free to delete it!)
Since I’m currently writing my 15th (!) novel and signed with a literary agent last year and am working hard to get published, I thought today would be a good day to de-lurk. You know, because I have some experience to share. (That’s rare for me. Usually, I don’t.)
I’ve never tried NaNo, but I know it wouldn’t work for me. I like word count goals, but I need manageable ones. Goals that give me built in breaks, so that I can have a day or two off (or even a week if I get sick) and not stress myself out.
When I started writing regularly, I wrote 500 words a day on weekdays. At first, my books were like a (bad) screenplay–all dialogue and little of it was interesting. Within a year or so, I raised my word count goal to 1K a weekday/5K a week. And while I can sometimes manage between 6-10K words a week, 5K is what I require of myself when I’m drafting a new book. I’ve gotten better at writing first drafts, but I still prefer editing when I get to take the words and make them pretty.
Doing that, I’ve finished 5 manuscripts, am in the middle of another, and started 4 more I may return to once the current one is finished–all since my daughter was born 5 years ago. Slow and steady works for me. It gives me breathing room. Does that make sense?
NaNo demands too much word count and not enough time to daydream about my book. But I know it works for some people.
If “all” you accomplish this month is a messy first draft you may decide to start over, getting Scrivener half off, and learning something about your process, you’ve accomplished a TON. More than most people ever will. Most people just talk about writing a novel; you’re doing it. Go you! Finish NaNo strong…even if you decide you never want to do NaNo again!
Your first one did go through, but I love both your comments so I kept them :) I love love your advice. It ended up that NaNoWriMo wasn’t for me either. I’m glad I did it because otherwise I wouldn’t have learned that I love the editing process of writing, too. Thanks so much for your awesome advice and kind encourgement.
Perfect awesome recap of the experience! It’s what I tell myself over and over… that if nothing else, I’m learning. It’s a huge learning experience. I am finding it slow going this time too, much slower than last time around. You’d think I’d find it easier the second time though, ummm no. (Love BC’s eyes in the ummm no above!) I’m doing lots of stream of conscious crap too, which I have fun writing, but I’m thinking no one has fun reading! Keep it going! Do it! Finish!!! :) And remember week 2 is the hardest! Sigh.
It’s so nice to know that week 2 is hard for everyone! I got majorly behind this week but I’m slowly catching up. I enjoy reading the stream of consciousness crap that I write :) That’s something right?
My NaNo experience is pretty similar (although I’m a few more words behind!). I keep telling myself that it’s ok, actually it’s great to write badly! I really have to fight the urge to go back and edit though – that’s tough! Keep going and enjoy
Just keep saying, “Half off Scrivener. Half off Scrivener.” ;-)