It is the eve of NaNoWriMo 2009.
What is NaNoWriMo? Well, chances are that if you’re a writer/aspiring writer, then you’re fully aware of the insanity that is the month-long event, but those curious, NaNoWriMo is a pledge of sorts, a conscious decision to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Yes, it is crazy. BUT, it is also thrilling.
I am really excited for this year’s festivities. The past two Novembers found me scrambling to grade speeches, teach classes, write papers, and survive a grueling graduate semester. While I attempted to participate in both 2007 and 2008, I found myself bowing out after the first week. I wasn’t heartbroken, though. I gained two awesome ideas from the experience, and have since fleshed them out.
This year, however, I am a graduate and therefore free from the world of academia. SCORE. And, it just so happens that I’ve had an idea sitting on the back of my mind since last spring, and it is stellar, exciting, and suspenseful. At least that is what I am going for.
I’ve finished my outline, created my music playlists, polished my character sheets, and am no ready to bestow words of wisdom. Now, that is so not me being pretentious. I don’t know the first thing about legit writing, I only know what works for me. I have some guidelines, pep talks if you will, but they are just as much for my benefit as they are for anyone else who finds themselves in need of some encouragement.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Don’t panic. I know, I know, but it happens! Everything is going great and then BAM, you hit a wall. Some people give up, some cry, some get angry, and some drink. I usually pout at the screen until I decide to make coffee. But I always come back! Take some time away. Try writing on a notepad. Watch an episode of your favorite tv show on Hulu (hello, Bones!), but don’t let the panic own you. You are bigger than it is!
- Push through. Sometimes scenes get stale, sometimes things don’t come out as perfect as you envision in your head, but think of NaNoWriMo as a crash course in your story and your characters. There is ALWAYS time to go back later and make things perfect.
- Reward yourself! You work hard! If you finish a chapter, double the target word count, or hell, make word count, do something! Eat chocolate, buy a book, sleep in, take a bubble bath. Writing is fun, and let’s face it, bubbles makes everything fun.
- Talk to someone. I happen to have a LOVELY writing partner, Lina. Whenever I get stuck, discouraged, confused, etc., I turn to her. She’s a great encouragement, and so patient as I run down my thoughts and talk out what is happening. I always come away from our conversations better.
- Cut yourself some slack. I am a perfectionist. My biggest vice is that what I write is never as great as I envision it, and this can get very distressing. I somehow carry around this notion in the front of my mind that whatever I have at the end of my first draft is what I’ll be stuck querying, but thank GOD that is not the case. There is always time to make things better, later. If something doesn’t come out right the first time, make a few notes. Don’t berate yourself, and don’t hover around the scene forever. You’ll just burn out.
- Remind yourself why you love writing. For me, this comes in many forms. Sometimes I talk out my story to a friend, or someone in my family. As I pour out details and secrets, I find myself reanimated when it comes to my plot and my characters. Sometimes I read scenes or old chapters that wrote really well. My other favorite thing is to go to bookstores and just wander around. I find it very invigorating. Also, and if you tell someone this I will deny it to my grave, but I sometimes find myself in the YA section, making room on the shelf where my books would go. I’m not in it to publish (thought let’s face, that would be nice?), but I like to think of myself as a storyteller just as the other authors are. But, the take away? Do something that reminds you why you are doing NaNoWriMo, or just why you are writing in general. It’s supposed to be fun, to be something you love and enjoy! Don’t ever forget that!
Is that all I have? I feel like it might be. For kicks and grins, I might add more nuggets later, but probably as I continue to post. Reminder: Those little tidbits are meant to encourage. My intent is not to make you do anything, or to imply that I have it figured out (because that is an epic LIE). I just know that I sometimes get down during the process of writing, and I like to remind myself of these things because it helps keep me motivated and focused.
So, with that, I wish everyone the best with NaNoWriMo2009!! If you need a writing buddy, feel free to add me here. I would love to watch your progress!
