All right, so it’s Monday; time for a NaNoWriMo update. But don’t stop reading if you’re not a writer, because I’m going to use my super blogging powers to make my NaNoWriMo experience universally applicable. Ready? Okay, let’s go.
Five Things I’ve learned from NaNoWriMo so far…
- It is really, really hard to pump out 1,667 words a day, every day, for 30 days. (For non-writers, imagine yourself trying to pump out 1,667 words a day, every day, for 30 days.) What? It’s hard. No matter who you are.
- It is exhilarating to attempt the ludicrous. Writing a novel in 30 days is nuts. It just is. No right-minded author would attempt such a thing. Yet thousands of authors around the world are attempting it right now with me. We are ranting, raging, celebrating, exaggerating, encouraging… we are writing, right now, this month, all of us, together. That’s amazing. (Non-writers… become writers. Do NaNoWriMo next year. Become a novelist. It is cool to say at parties – “Yes, I am a novelist” – and it only takes a month! No messy degree required.)
- Leap and the net will appear. I signed up for NaNoWriMo on a whim, or, more accurately, on a hope that it might shake loose my creative impulse which had become hesitant and kind of frozen inside me. Based on past experience, I did not think for a minute that I could write a novel (even just the first draft) in 30 days. But in the act of doing it (or at least attempting it), something a bit magical is happening. Words are getting onto the page – a lot of words, in fact, 13,356! – a story is taking shape, and I’m getting excited about being the one who gets to tell it. I’m remembering why I fell in love with writing in the first place. (For non-writers… it works the same. Just leap.)
- No matter how I try, I can not play music with lyrics while I write. Unless they aren’t in English, or are utterly unintelligible. Enya works, for example, because I can’t understand anything they say. (This is just a j-thing. Plenty of writers can write while listening to lyrics. My limitations are probably not worth mentioning. You know what? Let’s just move on…)
- Friends are good. I’ve had some rough nano days this week. I post my frustrations on Facebook. I tweet them. I talk about them here on Zebra Sounds. I can’t count how many times my friends’ reminders (and admonitions) have kept me in the game. Thank you! You know who you are!
Okay, so the first week is done, and according to Chris Baty, it’s the second week that’s going to be hard. (I’m trying not to let that intimidate me considering I wanted to quit 117 times during this first week.) Keep your poms-poms out. I’ll need you now more than ever!
My current word count is abysmal….laughing…just over 7,000 words.
Chris Baty told us yesterday that we should be at 15,000 this morning….um…..WHAT? I’m a bit off that count there Chris…..
Who kicked off NaNo on my birthday week anyway? [when I had pressing social engagements to attend to] I think next year NaNo should be in March. March is a good time to write a novel in thirty days…..Hey Judy, let’s start a petition to move NaNo to the dead of winter…..instead of at the very beginning of the FREAKING HOLIDAY SEASON….. [oh sorry did I type that out loud?]
very impressed with your 13,ooo+ words… you go girl…
hugs!
Karen :0)
The excitement over writing is worth the stress … says a non-NaNoer.
But I’m with you on the the no lyrics while writing. I start singing along and then remembering when I first heard the song and why it makes me think of X and by then I’ve pulled myself completely out of writing mode.
I wish you speedy writing … and words you can actually make something of when you’re done.
Karen, I think Chris has that wrong. Today’s Day 9, so by the end of today (not the beginning), we should be at 15,003. Had to say that. I worked my ass off to get caught up this weekend. He almost killed me tossing out a number like that, damn it! (Oh sorry, did I type THAT out loud?) ;-)
Linda, Truly embracing the concept of a draft? That is worth the stress. I think. And it’s nice to know someone has the same musical limitations I do. I envy some writers’ playlists. Playlist envy. More on that later.
p.s. Sadly, I didn’t really work my ass off. Way too much of it is still here. TMI?
1. I’m sure, I was lucky enough so far to have close to fully formed ideas for short stories, but that’s as far as I’ll go for a while ;)
I need to grow a lot before aspiring to write a novel.
3. Congrats, and break a leg from now on too!
4. I first noticed this when I started blogging and my fiancé was listening to music or watching movies. It irritates the heck out of me if it’s in English, it’s very distracting as your thoughts get mixed with what you hear.
Instrumental and other languages are okay, but English music is out of the question while writing.
(Plus, for me this applies in Hungarian and Romanian the same way, except with those languages of course.)
5. I’m glad you didn’t give up, and don’t worry, I know you’ll finish that novel (at least first draft) this month!
Your readers and friends are here (I’m sure I can speak for everyone here) :)
Estrella, Send me your Hungarian and Romanian music – I have a feeling it will inspire me! ;-) I am so happy you’re writing by the way. I’m not getting to everyone’s blogs as often as I’d like, or getting to comment all the time when I’m there, but I’ve enjoyed your stories that I’ve read. Yay you!!!
I can’t do anything while listening to music. Period. If music is on, I dance and sing.
If I have music on while getting dressed/ready to go out it takes me twice as long because I stop getting ready and break out a jig.
Cannot concentrate at all when music is on . . . . lalala lalala . . . .
My pom-poms have a string like mittens for little kids (do you know what I mean?) so they are always with me so I am at the ready to cheer you whenever the moment arrives! “Rah-rah-rah . . . . do I hear music?”
:-)
Words, words, words! Here’s an idea, make your main character a stutterer! Or, maybe you could have your character sing a song for no good reason right in the middle of a scene – that could help with word count AND being able to listen to music with lyrics! It feels good to hear that others have that same problem, I was always fascinated by people who could work at ANYTHING (except dancing) and have music on . . . I get completely distracted, I’m with Terre on that! I’m sending mega, mega, super-fantastic positive vibes your way!!!!
Terre, Love the image of your breaking into dance at the slightest musical provocation! And your pom-poms on a string? VERY convenient for me! You are the friend I first thought of when I typed #5. Thank you!
Carey, That made me laugh – a stutterer! Why didn’t I think of that? I get email encouragement from the NaNoWriMo site, and one of the emails made note of the fact that dream sequences can use many words and are not, on the whole, required to make sense or fit into your plot. :-)
Finished today with 15,153 words! Still in the hunt.
you’re doing great! i’m thinking that you’re at more like 25,000 words what with the blog, facebook and twitter… those, in my humble opinion, count too! keep it up – pom poms flying around!
Peggi, I have been tempted to count all those non-nano words of mine, but Chris Baty says it’s cheating. Let the record show, I’m not above cheating, but I’ll wait until I’m in serious trouble and it’s November 29th! ;-)