Action!
With Laurie slapping my wrist over the 'no successes' comment last week, I am quickly going to get one negative out of the way. I'm not going to complete NaNoWriMo. While some people might find that a fail, I don't. I've attempted NaNoWriMo twice now for different reasons, none of them being that I had to make the 50K mark at all costs. This time I'd been denying right up to the day it started that I would do NaNoWriMo this November, but I had a story in my head that I needed to get out, so I went for it. But at 21,297 The Overlord's Consort has gone as far as it currently can. I'm not at the end, but I've run out of steam and ideas, and it needs a lot of research and backtracking to make it a complete story, and that's not going to happen in the time remaining for NaNoWriMo. I'm not upset or disappointed by that. While I'm not sure what will become of the story, there's salvageable ideas and writing inside the mess, so it'll go into my WIP pile for a future project. And maybe the next NaNoWriMo I do will hit the target. :)
On the plus side, I have the final draft of Terms & Conditions Apply back from my editor, along with the tweaked cover. Squeeee! So I'll be spending this week writing a new blurb, formatting the MS to upload to Smashwords.com and Amazon, and throwing together a very small tour to celebrate the release with a giveaway.
After that it's back to working on the SFR Brigade anthology story. I, um, still don't have the edits for Gethyon yet. I feel like I've been saying I'm waiting on those forever! I probably won't have a cover reveal until after Christmas either. Ah well, the wheels of publishing grind slowly! :)
As a further note on NaNoWrimo - I've always been an advocate of writing on a regular basis, daily if possible. It was something I got into the habit of during my Creative Writing Course with the OU back before I got my contract for Keir. But one thing I learned with this NaNoWriMo is that it isn't always a good thing to force yourself to write every day. Normally I count writing blog posts, blurbs, emails etc as part of my daily writing, but sometimes there are days when you should really just step away and take a breather, and NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT! There are days when you're sick. There are days when real life things need to take priority. And there are days you simply just need to stop. One of my favourite authors - Jaine Fenn - posted this article about it here. If writing every day works for you, great! But don't feel bad about it if it isn't the right thing for you.
I've long ago decided not to stress about NaNo. I got as far as 30k words on a MS about three years ago and nearly burnt out completely. So this year I just sit on the sidelines and cheer everyone else on.
ReplyDeleteI love NaNo, but the last couple of years I have used the energy to finish a WIP that was nearly complete. I find that is so much better for me. I usually spend the first week picking which WIP to dig out and then try to get the 1st draft complete. Or if it is already complete I dive into 1st edits. This year I'm doing NaNo with my daughter and a couple of her friends and am loving watching how much they are enjoying writing their books. All but one have already surpassed their "goal" and are still going strong.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Pippa! I've been sorta doing NaNo this year, but there just isn't enough time...plus, with editing two other books...well, sheesh. ;) Sometimes we just have to know our limits and try not to stress ourselves out. Even though that is way easier said than done. :P Congrats on the upcoming release and the cover is absolutely gorgeous! Keep doin' your thing! *cheers you on*
ReplyDeleteNerine - this is exactly why I'm not stressing over not making the 50K. I've got down what I needed for this story and that's all that matters. :)
ReplyDeleteAngelos - it's always a great community event, and if that helps you to write a first novel or do edits on an old one, then that's great. :)
Karen - yeah, I've been learning my limits, and I'm not any down about it. TBH I expected to have edits right now so having the time to do that 21K was a bonus.
And thanks! :)
I have never done NaNo, because it works against my creative flow. In every way. I've been tempted a few times, but if I have high output one day, then I need a down day.
ReplyDeleteI found a couple of articles that you might find helpful, though:
http://chandlermariecraig.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/7-tips-to-writing-high-speed/
Sometimes just changing things up can unstick the flow and get things moving.
I really liked this second one, because the focus is on preparation. I can't say I've increased my output, but I'm aware that if I don't prepare, not going to be writing that day. So I'm lying to myself when I "plan" to write. (grin)
ogisaploy.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-i-went-from-writing-2000-words-day.html
doesn't look like that second link took:
ReplyDeletehttp://thisblogisaploy.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-i-went-from-writing-2000-words-day.html
I've never done NaNo either. It would be putting myself under too much pressure and I don't write well if I feel pushed! But like you, I don't think not having finished is a fail. NOT AT ALL.
ReplyDeleteThaw, Pauline, I'll check those out.
ReplyDeleteBarbara - Nano isn't right for everyone. Last time it gave me the kickstart for a new project, and this time purged me of a story idea desperate to get out. I'm satisfied with both of them regardless of not making the 50K. But doing it because you feel under pressure isn't the best way to work. Some of us have enough deadlines! :D