I have to say, I'm really enjoying NaNoWriMo. It's the first time I've written for fun, without concern about how it comes out in a long time. Until I saw others talking about it at the blueboards, it had never occurred to me write about what I want to happen when I can't quite work out the details about how I want it to go. Usually when that happens to me, there is much staring off into space then typing, deleting and typing again. Often for days, until I decide I'm stuck and should take a break until I can work it out. SO unproductive. I think NaNo might have just changed my life!
It's so liberating to write "something happens where his stepdad does something mean and makes him feel like crap" rather than spend days trying to figure out what that something might be instead of moving forward.
So far I've written over 5,000 words. I've written out of order and I've made some huge, wonderful discoveries about my plot and my world. When I started this book, I knew there was going to be a murder. I had no idea who the murderer was or why they did it. About 800 words in yesterday, a new character I hadn't pre-planned appeared and soon after I realized they were my killer and I knew why they did it. If it weren't for NaNo, I wouldn't have even started writing this book because while I knew the beginning and the end, I didn't know the murderer and that was too important.
I hope I can keep this up. Right now I'm in love with NaNo and I hope we never break up. This is the most fun I've had writing in a long time.
How about you? How's NaNo treating you so far?
2 comments:
Wow, it sounds like you're doing great. I'm impressed with how much you've managed to write already!
I finished NaNo last year and I'd like to say it was because I put aside my Type A personality and just kept plugging along. In reality, I stressed a lot and wound up going back to tweak things, even though I knew I shouldn't.
This year my NaNo idea is even less concrete than last year. Even though the idea pains me, you've inspired me to throw aside my manic tendencies and just keep going no matter what, even if I have to put in a few placeholders.
Good luck!
I'm very type A myself, so I know what you're going through! I have tried other tips such as not re-reading before I start writing. It really does help. It's so hard not to stop and edit while I'm writing but it's also really freeing.
I think that one of the things that's really helping is the fact that I didn't have the story very planned out. Because I don't have something concrete to follow, I feel freer to just write and explore and not be perfect.
I hope you can throw those tendencies aside and dive in. It really is fun! Good luck with NaNo!
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