November is National Novel Writing Month or as those crazy enough to actually participate call it: NaNoWriMo. Basically, the object is to write a 50,000 word novel entirely in the month of November. Obviously, this novel won't be a good novel per se, but that's not really the point. The point is to free your mind to take a story wherever it wants to go-as long as it's 50,000 words of somewhere. It's essentially an exercise in silencing your inner voice that constantly reminds you that your writing isn't good enough, or interesting enough, or grammatically correct enough--much like this sentence. If you are interested in reading more about NaNoWriMo, you can find the official website here.
Silly me thought it might be fun to participate. So off I started on my own less than stellar novel on November 1st. And I was doing so well in the beginning getting well over my recommended daily 1666.66 word total. But then I got a migraine headache last Wednesday, and well migraines make it hard to look at a computer screen let alone type coherent sentences. Now, a week and two days later, I still have what my doctor calls a "lingering migraine" which apparently has no guaranteed cure although the good doctor did offer to give me a prescription for steroids if I decide that the pain of the headache is worth chancing the dreaded 'roid rage. (I think no)
So here I sit on November 14 with just under 10,000 words written--approximately 1/5 of the way to goal. I will get to 10,000 today or tomorrow, so in order to meet this ridiculous goal, I will need to average 2666.666 words per day which isn't beyond the realm of possibility given how wordy I can be. But, it will take sheer force of will and the threat of embarrassment before all should I not make it. Ok--in reality I'd be happy to reach 30,000 by the last day of November, but since I'm here at all, I might as well shoot for the moon and land in the stars or something like that.
What I need from you is encouragement, and if I don't make it to 50,000 you can promise to make me eat gilfite fish or something equally disgusting. Should I not even make it to 30,000, then you must promise to humiliate me pubically--well more than I already humiliate myself. Oh and if you have any good ideas for a plot or story arc, those would be appreciated, too. Heh. I can just picture you taking bets on the likelihood of my success now...
PS--This rather short post was 441 words
PPS--I can SO do this. Right??
You're the second person I've heard mention this writing contest. A "friend" on LJ entered the contest too. She hasn't had much success at finding time to write this month either.
ReplyDeleteI feel so special -- I know an up and coming writer. :-)
Yea LJ is actually sort of like a sponsor of NaNoWriMo...they were one of the first groups to really latch on to the idea and make it so popular. A lot of journalers there participate. I guess they figure if they are already writing a journal, a novel can't be that hard. lol
ReplyDeleteRight now, you know a procrastinating wannabe writer, certainly not an up and coming one. :-) Back to the salt mines I go.