I’m already failing my task of participating in NaNoWriMo this year. My story hit a dead spot less than 800 words in and there’s no redeeming it. So Mack and Sarah were eaten by zombies. On a dark and stormy night. The end.
Honestly, I thought it would be easier this year, since I spend most of my time writing anyway. I thought it would be refreshing to write fiction again after all the tech manuals, website copy, blog posts and marketing language I’ve written both for freelance clients and here at Perseph. Not so much. Additionally, adding the stress of not only writing 1666.666667 words per day but trying to do it live, in front of God and everybody, was a questionable decision. I’m going to try and get back on the horse with a different story, but we’ll see.
In the meantime, does anyone else hear “NaNoWriMo” as if it were spoken aloud by the Judoon?
Are any of you participating? How are you keeping yourselves motivated?
3 replies on “NaNoWriMo: Crash and Burn”
Definitely give yourself a break. Writing for NaNo (or any novel) should be fun, or else why do it? My WP and I wrote ours and it took about two years all told – between writing in our spare time (HA!) and editing for a loooong time. The next one will be quicker, though. You learn a LOT on the first one. I also think that when you’re really feeling it, it will come (so to speak ;)). When you’re not, leave it be.
One last thought – my creativity is cyclical, like my lady body. Maybe there are times of the month when you should just know that your writing/ creative energy is nothing but blerg. God luck!
I’m doing NaNoWriMo this year too. I’m right where I should be, at about 5000+ by day three, but it’s 5000 words of garbage. I’m thinking scrapping it and starting a new one, too, since mine’s really bad. I understand the concept of “shitty first drafts,” but at what point does something become completely unusable?
I commend you for NaNo’ing online. I’m not nearly that brave.
I’m doing NaNoWriMo this year too. I’m right where I should be, at about 5000+ by day three, but it’s 5000 words of garbage. I’m thinking scrapping it and starting a new one, too, since mine’s really bad. I understand the concept of “shitty first drafts,” but at what point does something become completely unusable?
I commend you for NaNo’ing online. I’m not nearly that brave.