*************I'm in day six of my month long attempt to write a 50,000 word novel. For me, getting started was the hardest part so far. Along about the third day, I sensed the beginnings of an actual story were gradually working their way from the depths of my muddled mind to the conscious level.
I made my first notes on Wednesday morning on a pad of paper in the bathroom in between applying deodorant, putting on mascara and brushing my teeth. I'm on a roll and even came up with some possible titles for my novel. (Did you notice I didn't put quotes around the world novel? That's a good sign, don't you think?).
I even went so far as to promise the instructor of my very first online creative writing class that I'd dedicate the book to her. She's the facilitator of a writer's website that I have fun hanging out at. Needless to say, I'm feeling good about my past six days worth of novel-writing accomplishments.
I entered into this challenge thinking I'd be free-writing my way from page to page. For unknown reasons, that's not the case so far. I'm doing quite a bit of thinking as I write and I don't know if that's good or not. I'm ahead of my word-count quota so my gut tells me not to worry.
My only real concern is that I'm not having as much fun as I thought I would. I'm hoping that I'll loosen up one of these days or get tired of picking and choosing my words. I'm looking forward to spending a big chunk of days writing without forethought and thus drawing from the side of my psyche that tends to hold back.
As far as pages go, I'm on page twenty-four. I've been reading my story to Lon, my husband, day by day. He's chuckled at nearly every page and tells me I'm doing a good job. (After forty years of slightly tarnished wedded bliss, he's no dummy!)
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I'm looking forward to dinner and the Buddy Holly Show this evening. I trust the diversion will be a good thing.
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(I can honestly say that I haven't harmed a single "furlet" on Chris's head. Chris is my inanimate yet indisposal writing companion. That's him way up yonder, posing with my All-Star badge. In lieu of tearing my own hair out, I'm keeping him close by should I need something to yank. It's alright, really. Remember, he's not a real live critter. We had a couple of dogs in the past but...)
Have a great weekend, y'all!
10 comments:
Shaddy,
Were you in Ann's class also? I thought your name sounded familiar (on our other friends' blogs), but I am kinda dense, so....
"My only real concern is that I'm not having as much fun as I thought I would." That's the same with me. I feel a sense of accomplishment that I'm doing this, but truthfully it's not as much fun as I thought it might be. It could be the topic of my book, which is sad, but still. Here's to more fun!
kathan: I took Ann's Beginning Writer's Workshop in the fall of 2006 and then again a year or so later.
We really should make a wholehearted attempt to enjoy our novel-writing. Whether we do or not, we will definitely come away with a sense of accomplishment. We're learning as we go. If this year's challenge isn't a blast, maybe next year's will be.
Thank you for commenting. I'm sure we'll stay in touch.
You're doing great and like you said you shouldn't worry because you are ahead of your word count.
Chris still has his fur, you have written 13K+ words, and in the midst of all of this you can still enjoy an evening out on the town. I say you have it going on my friend.
The challenge is fun, but should not take place of your other life, you know the one where Lon and your friends live.
You are doing it right! I am very proud of you!
Besides who ever said writing a novel was fun? It's work, don't let Chris Baty brainwash you! Remember the angst in Bird by Bird. LOL
I'm glad we are all doing it together. Having written my first novel by myself - I can say the joy in NaNoWriMo comes from knowing your friends are going through the same things you are. Did that sound a little sadistic? LOL
Chris reminds me of Ann's hippo.
If you're husband chuckles at your writing then you're doing something right.
Picking and choosing your words too carefully can take the fun out of it. Try to enjoy, maybe throw in Nancy Drew Too's tap dancing grandma.
You're doing a ton right, Shaddy! That you're doing this at all, working, and are still able to fill your blog with interesting pictures and stories that are about that whole big world out there outside of NaNoWriMo. (Oh! Is there another world out there?)
I have two different story lines going on in my novel. One is totally silly and I'm having a lot of fun with that one. The other, eh, not so much. It seems like a struggle to keep that story line and those characters going.
I am trying NOT to edit at all as I go along which is really difficult for me but very liberating.
And, hey, my tap dancing granny is happy to dance with anyone, so give her a holler and she'll be over!
Go, Shaddy and friends, go. And not to worry about carefully chosen words. That isn't the point of NaNoWriMo. Just get the thoughts out this month. Then next month, after the thing has cooled and you still want to revisit it, you can start the editing and rewriting process. In other owrds, don't get hung up writing literature. Just sail!
Ah you're doing so very much better than I on the writing. Ahem, let's just say I'm not exactly keeping up. But I shall keep, keeping on.
Kudos to you for staying so very much on track!
darksculptures, Dayner, Natasha, Gully and Rob: Thanks to all of you for commenting. On my morning walk today, Saturday, instead of listening to an audiobook, I carried a small notepad and a pen. I jotted down ideas for my novel as they came to me.
I've enough fresh ideas to get me through quite a few writing sessions. In other words, I anticipate my writing sessions will be more enjoyable at least for a while. You might want to try that way of snagging fodder for writing. Repetitious mindless activities provide fertile ground for creativity.
I plan to carry a notepad wherever I go. I learned that technique long ago but haven't had a real need for it until now.
Don't get me wrong. I've been enjoying my writing all along, although, it's been more of a struggle that I expected. Fortunately, I have a satchel of knowledge from past online writing classes that I can dig into when the need arises. That's where I resurrected the notepad idea.
We all need to remember that no matter how we are managing on our journey to 50,000 words, we'll be learning valuable lessons that can't be learned by less daunting means.
Dear, what happened to your job? I hope you're fine.
xo
Shokoofeh: I still have my job. I don't know what made you think something happened to it. Don't worry anymore. All is well with me. Thanks for visiting my blog.
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