A tale of 10,000 words

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So this November, I'm taking part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The goal is to write 50,000 words in a month. It doesn't have to be polished words, or even pre-planned words. It's quite acceptable for it to be an outpouring of 50,000 words of garbage (although I'm sure that doesn't happen).

I started off with my chapter plan complete and for the first few days was keeping up with, and at points exceeding, the daily average of 1,667 words (to accomplish 50,000 by the end of the month). Then, I hit not exactly a brick wall so much as a sticky patch. Here was the problem - my chapter plan didn't work. Now, I know that the premise of NaNoWriMo is to plough on regardless but I just couldn't carry on without rethinking my plot so I had a few days where I went back over what I'd written. I realised that a 'method' to find clues in my novel was ridiculous. It just didn't work. I thought up a new one, made a few amendments to what I'd already written, and carried on with my writing.

Then, I came across another problem - research. For various reasons, I needed to research certain alchemical symbols and work out a way to include them in my writing. That took a little time and rethinking (jumble, jumble, juggle, drop (whoops), a little here, a little there) and then I was off again.

In the meantime, my wordcount had lagged. I was running behind the daily word count. Oh no, must write faster, must write more (forget about feeding children and the ironing - argh). On Sunday, in the middle of a family food shop, I came to a new conclusion.

This month, to keep my sanity and my target realistic, I will not aim for 50,000 words. Instead, I will use the month to finish the first draft of my second Haven novel. It may end up being 50,000 words but if it's less than that, then I'll still be over the moon.

So back to it today. I have an exploding shop and a rescue to write. Now, should it be before they open the front door or after? Hm.

Comments

  1. Kelly Hashway10 November 2014 at 11:52

    Good luck, Fi! You can do it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown10 November 2014 at 12:05

    See, this is exactly why I haven't even considered NaNo. Sure I could turn out 50,000 words. I could probably start now, a week late, and still hit the magic number. That's kind of how I wrote my first novel. But my plot would have more holes than our road after a bad winter, my characters reactions and emotions would be full-blown schizophrenic and it would take me the next four years trying to sort it all out. And no, this is not an exaggeration, I know this from bitter experience.
    I wish you luck with hitting your new target (and the exploding shop and resuce).
    I know you can do it :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fi10 November 2014 at 13:09

      Thanks, Suz.

      Delete
    2. Kiersi10 November 2014 at 16:15

      That's a smart decision. NaNo is not for everyone, and it's certainly not for everyone every year. I think it's best used as a tool just for making yourself sit down in the chair every day and write :) Good luck!!

      Delete
    3. Fi10 November 2014 at 18:20

      Thanks, Kiersi.

      Delete
  3. brenda10 November 2014 at 19:53

    I try to think of every day as a Nano day. Don't stop you can do it,.

    ReplyDelete

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