Tuesday, November 2, 2010

NaNo NoNo?

Okay, things have conspired to make NaNoWriMo a little bit impossible for me. The time that I could use writing extensively has been taken from me. My sister volunteered me for one thing. And then there's a giant project at work that I'm going to have to do as well. So until the eighth or ninth of November, my time will be scarce.

So, I was wondering, it's still just as good if I start on November tenth and write to December tenth isn't it? I mean, I won't get a NaNoWriMo super star student sticker to put on my shirt, but in reality, it'll accomplish the same thing for me in my life, right?

I really liked the idea of trying to use NaNoWriMo to jumpstart myself as a writer, and I'm not ready to let it go just because the week that it starts is shot for me. Then again, I suppose it's fairly likely that something else will come along to screw me over on the tenth. If that happens, then it's time to say this is it...fish or cut bait, son...sh*t or get off the pot...do or do not, there is no try...or some other platitude like that. Platitudes are good for a writer to use in abundance aren't they? I wish I knew...I guess I have a lot to learn about writing. I really need to get started.

6 comments:

Leo Godin said...

I bet most people who start NaNoWriMo ultimately fail. The reason is that it sets an artificial schedule that many people will not have the ability to follow. Setting a realistic schedule and sticking to it would bring much better results for most people (myself included). Why not schedule fifteen minutes to write each day. You probably spend a considerable amount of time thinking about your stories. Fifteen minutes would capture a significant amount of your thoughts each day.

Anonymous said...

I already gave up this year. Hey, I've 'won' three times, but the only stuff I've gotten published have been short stories not within the Nanowrimo framework. They've all been contest stories, but nevertheless...

Rish Outfield said...

You must unlearn what you have learned. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. There is another Sky . . . walk . . . er.

Bosley Gravel said...

Leo is right, a little a day really adds up. I've written a few novel manuscripts that way. I've done NaNo a couple of times, but always quit when the word count started stressing me out. Might be fun if you could find a couple of friends to start at the same time you did ... never know where it might go. (I had my 'winning' 2007 attempt published, and a novella based on my 'losing' 2008 attempt also found a home.) Something to be said for keeping it fun, I think.

Camostorm said...

I agree. give it a try and see what happens. If you get it done on time that will make the accomplishment that much bigger!

Leo Godin said...

I've read that it takes about 30 days of conformance to make a habit. If you force yourself to write daily or 5 times a week for a month, it will probably become a habit. Once writing becomes a habit, it will not likely be subject to the whims of feeling, alertness, laziness, etc....
(I think I just convinced myself to do this)