NaNoWriMo Week #1 Lessons

What have I learned from a week of writing dangerously?

1. My novel's not all bad.

Yesterday I reread a few scenes I'd written since NaNo began, and actually found myself amused by them. I was encouraged by this feeling, and it buoyed my spirits for continuing on my NaNo journey.

Regardless of those warm fuzzies, I've stalled today--but not quit running. Still, I've only made half my word goal. I am a few days ahead in word count, so I'm not too worried about words. 

2. However interesting those opening scenes were, the state of my plot does concern me. 

18K words in, and my plot is struggling for breath. I know I need to dream up some complications, but part of my problem in doing so comes from not really knowing where I want to take these characters, and from still developing my characters and plot in my mind. 

It comes down to this: I'm not sure where this novel is going. I have a few loose ideas, but nothing I'm fully committed to yet, and I'm a little afraid to commit to any one direction at this point.

I say I'm a pantser writer, but I at least like to know who my characters are before I begin. This year I failed to write character bios and histories for any of them. I'm really starting to wince as I get further into my novel and feel the time crunch. I don't have the chance to stop and write those bios now. (Note for next year: write character bios and backstory--no matter what!)

3. There's absolutely no time for writer's block.

That's the great thing about NaNoWriMo. I just have to power through the writer's block and find out what lies ahead on the path, what's inside the pretty little package I've begun unwrapping.

So I keep sitting down before my laptop and typing away, pretending like I know where I'm going with this novel, when in reality, the little I know about it is starting to scare me. 

What if it's not a genre I want to write? What if I aim for one audience and it's actually aimed at another? What if I do it all wrong? What if there's absolutely nothing special and unique about this novel? What do I do when I get to the end of my 50K and think it's all worthless?

Those are the questions that try to keep me up at night. But the answers are why there's a delete key.

No time for questions. Just write.

Unwrapping A Novel's Promise

I love the beginning of a novel.

It holds such promise, such unexpected blessings. It's like a Christmas present, all wrapped and sitting under the tree. Carefully, I give the box a shake, trying to figure out what might be inside. This is what I do to my novel the week before NaNo (or for the entire month of October, if I'm organized and have my present wrapped ahead of time).

When November arrives, I get to unwrap my present in many, painstaking stages. 

November first, I get to remove the bow. I set it aside, the present's adornment quickly forgotten as I focus on what might be inside.

Then, I peel off the ribbons--deliberately, tentatively--unsure of whether it might fray or dissipate under my eager, grasping fingers.

But when the ribbons come off in one piece, I toss them with the bow, where they'll wait. I can see them hoping they might come in handy, as if thinking I might want to rewrap the present after I open it, to once again adorn the present inside.

Then I turn my attention to the tape. I'm a notorious taper, and cement my presents in its sticky residue. So I take my time with this, peeling off tape carefully and trying not to rip the paper. I also like to reuse my paper--especially if it's pretty or distinctive.

When I get the paper off, I fold it along the creases--I don't want to get it too raggedy for the next use. I might have a box sometime which this piece of paper will just fit, so I want it to be in good shape for the next time.

Now, I have a brown box in front of me. Another piece of tape, carefully slit so that it doesn't tear. The tension in my heart is building. Pounding, my mouth goes slightly dry with anticipation. Here it is--all I have to do is open the box.

NaNoWriMo Day #5

I feel as though I've already hit my NaNo wall, and I'm not sure why.

Yesterday I was feeling oddly thrilled with where this novel was going, how the voice of my main character had come out, and the conflicts that had already occurred. Things were smooth sailing.

Then today. 

I had a busy morning so I didn't have any time to write, but even when I did have moments, I didn't have the words.

Instead, I found myself thinking about what I might write, about where I might want to take this story, how I might want to get to the end. Indeed, if I even knew what the end was. But for all the thinking I've done today, I still don't have many answers.

I must confess: I'm disappointed with what I've accomplished today. Although I've written my goal word count, I don't feel like it advances the plot (if I even know what it is yet), and if these scenes stay in this novel in any way, they'll probably require being moved to a much later point in the story.

But they're written. I haven't let writer's block prevent me from putting words on the page, and that's the most important thing.

That's what NaNoWriMo is all about: getting the words out. 

So they're coming out. Some days are just slower than others, in both plot and word count.

Word count to date: 12,016
Word goal to date: 8335

NaNoWriMo Day #4

Argh! I missed a day of my NaNo blog update.

Well, yesterday I had planned on taking the day off to chill out and relax. I had other things going on, decided to enjoy the overcast but dry weather in the Pacific Northwest, and took my dogs on a walk.

It was a nice day to relax.

But then, like always, I started feeling guilty that I hadn't written anything. Especially given the month of November and NaNo.

So, no sooner than 7:30 p.m., I sat down to write. And pumped out about 3200 words.

Days like that make thrill me.

Word count: 10026
To-Date goal: 6668 words

NaNoWriMo Day #3

Photo source

Well, I have to confess that I haven't gotten much on my NaNo novel accomplished today. 

I had a book club to co-lead this morning, which meant I was reading that book late into last night, as I'd not started reading it as of Thursday, and was only a chapter in by Friday morning. So I read almost an entire book yesterday--and caught up on my NaNo word count. 

Yesterday was super productive. It's only right that today should be super unproductive, right? We can't produce every single day of our lives...we need rest! Well, that's how I'm validating today's slacking off, at least.

So after book club, I took a bit of time to edit a different WIP, and although that was valuable time spent, I am well aware that it is NaNo Month, and I failed to write anything on it today.

Yet. There's always time--and today, since tomorrow is Daylight Savings Day, I get an extra hour to write.

Sounds like a plan to me.

NaNoWriMo Day #2

Day two of National Novel Writing Month, and I've decided to commit.

It was a bit impulsive, in continuing with my impulsive month of October, where I overcommitted in more than one aspect of my life. This included running a half marathon on a "whim" and injuring a tendon in my foot bad enough where I had to walk around in a boot for two weeks (and am still not healed). So, while I heal from said injury, I'm going to commit to NaNoWriMo again this month.

Like I said, it's a bit impulsive, and I have no real plot in mind. Just a character and an opening scene which has made me laugh more than once at the ridiculousness. Inspiration: the last year of my life. Where everything goes wrong.

Sounds like a good plot, eh?

NaNoWriMo Day #1

And I still haven't decided if I'm going to attempt NaNo this year.

50,000 words? Should be no problem, right? Only I have no plot, and no main character. It's the lack of a character that truly frustrates me. I need a strong, alive character before I can begin a novel with them. And I'm empty.

So tonight, instead of writing my first chapter, I will be dreaming up a protagonist. What will you be doing tonight?