Sunday, October 26, 2008

It's NaNoWriMo Time

It's official. I signed up for my first NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. That would be 1667 words per day. whew. It's quantity of words that count, not quality. That's good, because I can't imagine my manuscript turning out to be much more than a ramble. But that's not the point. I mentioned yesterday that I am having trouble finishing the last few pages of a work in progress. I write a few lines then edit. I write a few more lines then edit again. I'm hoping that the NaNoWriMo experience will help (force) me to learn to spill the ideas onto the page without worrying about the immediate results. The slash and burn edits can wait until December. What's the worse thing that can happen? I'll have participated in an exercise that helped me grow as a writer. Who knows? Maybe I will come up with a workable manuscript. I'll keep you posted!

12 comments:

Cate Gardner said...

CONGRATULATIONS on your new blog, and good luck with NaNoWriMo.

catephoenix (Verla Kay)

Nora MacFarlane said...

Thanks, Catherine!

Annette Gulati said...

I'm also doing my first NaNoWriMo. It'll be a challenge, but nice not to have to worry about edits right away. Good luck!

Jacqui said...

I think quieting your inner editor is what NaNo is best for. I have to write so fast to make it to the finish that I don't have time to worry about what I'm writing. Sometimes I use words that don't even mean what I think they mean.

Nora MacFarlane said...

Good luck to both of you, Annet and Jacqui! I'm a little nervous about it. I'm not exactly sure WHEN I can get all of those words on the paper. It's looking more and more like 5 a.m...

Rena Jones said...

I still consider myself new to writing and am just learning what NaNoWriMo is. I want to do it, but don't know if I can/should. I wish someone could make up my mind for me!

Nora MacFarlane said...

Rena, The reality is there is no risk involved...unless, like in my case, you publicly announce that you are going to participate and your word count comes up miserably short. Did I mention the word "publicly?"

Rena Jones said...

LOL Nora -- thanks. I decided to give it a go. Not exactly sure what I'll be writing about yet, so that should keep me up the majority of the night. 8-|

Carol Anne said...

Good luck! 50,000 words or bust! And your blog site is fabulous...much more creative than mine...I'm still feeling my way around

Carol Anne

Nora MacFarlane said...

Thanks, Carol Anne!

Brenda said...

Congrats on joining NaNo! And good luck with your NaNo story...

This will be my third year...the first I wrote my 50,000 words and last year...well I didn't make it quite that far...grin...I am hoping this is going to be another good year...

I have a word counter on my blog so everyone will know how I'm doing...I was drunk when I did that...no, not really, but I couldn't think of any other reason why I would do something like that...grin...

Lilfix (blueboards)

Rena Jones said...

LMHO @ Brenda saying she was drunk. I'm not sure what possessed me to sign up either. Must be demons. It does start at midnight, right after Halloween. That has to be it.