NANOWRIMO 2011

Well, I'm going to try it again. Just like last year though, my busiest month at work is November, so I'm not expecting to finish, but it's still fun to give it a try!

For anyone who doesn't know what in the world I'm referring to, November is National Novel Writing Month, or NANOWRIMO. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. This seems to send would be novelists into a frenzy, and makes professionals in the industry cringe at the flood of unpolished works they may be subjected to.

For me, I'd just like to get back in touch with my ability to write, as I feel like I've lost that as I've moved to adulthood and have been in the working world with most of my concentration going to my job. Being an accountant/analyst really doesn't channel my imagination a lot, though it does sap my energy for sure!

If this sounds at all interesting to you, check out the NANWRIMO website where you can sign up, choose a region, and join the fun!

NANOWRIMO - one week down!

I've made it through week one! It's been an interesting experience, I like the pep talks from authors, and also from my region's leaders, in fact I have to credit them with keeping me going on the second day! I wrote every day of the first week except for Saturday, but even missing a day didn't seem to hurt me too bad as I watched my stats during writing on Sunday. Which is good, because I'm probably missing today as well. I've crossed the 10,000 word mark, so I'm about 1/5th of the way done, and today I just don't have any motivation, or ideas. My story has gone in a bit of a different direction than it's taken in my head for years, there just isn't room for a character that was an integral part originally, and the characters that I would have thought I'd have an easier time writing, just aren't saying anything to me, so their parts are relatively short and boring so far. Ah well, it's all part of the process, and even if I don't write another word this year, I've at least proven to myself that I can sit down and create, which is something I was a little concerned I'd lost as my real world job has become more challenging and required more of my attention over the last few years. I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet, I just need to think about things for awhile, and see what comes! Hope everyone else is doing well and enjoying themselves!

Negative Much?

Saw this rather mean-spirited article about NANOWRIMO: Laura Miller's take, and then Orbit's fantastic reply.

So tell me, who is Laura Miller again and why should I respect her opinion? Oh yeah, no one I'd ever heard of before who is writing articles on her own co-founded website, oh and she doesn't write novels, but she reads rather a lot of them. Yeah, whatever. You missed the point lady. I've written off and on since junior high, for one reason, because I enjoy it. If I ever get something published, that would be an amazing thing, but it's not the sole purpose of writing. What is a waste of time to one person may be a cathartic and healthy experience for another.

I'm a first timer, it's only day 4, so far I'm on track, and tonight, in an idea I've had floating around in my head for probably close on 5 years now, something I wrote completely opened a new avenue in the story I hadn't considered before, and believe me I've been over this story in my head a million times. Now that is magic, and I for one don't consider it a waste of time.

NANOWRIMO

So, November is National Novel Writing Month. I have never attempted this before, but against my better judgment, I've just signed up to give it a try. Even though November is shaping up to be my busiest work month EVER, what with trying to get our 2011 budget complete and a physical inventory which I'm heavily involved in, I'm still going to give this a shot. Am I insane? I think so, but I'm also going to give myself permission to not stress over it and not feel like a loser if I don't finish. I just would like to get back to writing. I used to think I was pretty good, at least I usually enjoyed my own writing. I used to write with friends for fun. I've done no plain old writing for fun in several years, it's time I got back to it. I miss it, and I think it was a stress reliever. It got me through college quite honestly, and I would lose hours at a time writing, only to resurface when my roommate got home from work, blinking and amazed at how much time was just gone. I still go back and read some of those stories and think wow, I did that, how come I can't still do it?

The NANOWRIMO site talks about whether you are a planner or a pantser, and I'd have to say I'm definitely a pantser this time, though I do have some ideas taking shape in my head as I write this, I don't think I'll have much a plan going in. They also ask how you're going to spend your last weekend of freedom before the event, me? Playing Guildwars and collecting as many virtual trick or treat bags as possible, reading other people's novels, and eating candy! Now to go pick out a cool widget to keep track of my word count!