Whatever it takes.
Well, it's almost November, which means, for many folks, it's National Novel Writing Month (affectionately known as NaNoWriMo.)
The idea behind it is...WRITE. Write as much as you can in one month and finish a book. (I think the goal is 50,000 words, which is a short book but a full novel, nonetheless.) Give up TV and video games, and write!
I've never done NaNo, for one reason or another. And since I'm nearly the end of the book I'm working on now, it's not the right time for me to start, since you're encouraged to start fresh with something new. So I won't be one of those signing up, but I'll be cheering you all on.
See...anything that gets you writing seems good to me. If it takes a contest or competition, then do it. If it takes something else, try that. But you'll never sell a book if you don't write it, first. And yeah, it's hard. (Watch and see how many drop out of NaNo for just that reason.) But anything worth doing takes effort!
Me? I've set my own goals. I've been setting a timer and keeping strict goals: 30 minutes in the chair writing, then take a break. Ten pages a day, minimum, and more is a bonus. Yes, I have the luxury of staying home all day to write, but then again, writing is my job. Now, THAT is a luxury!
So, my goals might not be yours. Ten pages a day might strain you to the limit, might be impossible with your schedule. Or you might be able to write twenty pages one day, but nothing for the next three.
But whatever you're doing, if you're participating in NaNo or not; if you're starting your first book or your fiftieth, I encourage you to WRITE! Stick with it, even when it's hard. Finish that book.
I bet you'll be glad you did!
M
Agreed
I think do "whatever it takes" is good advice -- whether that means speeding up or slowing down. :) Sometimes I think there is way too much emphasis on fast in our industry, but that's just me.
I never really understood why they have NaNo right during the holidays, maybe the hardest time of year for people to take that much time off to just write, LOL. Why not, you know, February, when nothing is going on and everyone is socked in with winter? ;)
I've written 3 books and 3 proposals this year, that said, but frankly, I felt like I wrote them pretty slowly, no faster than 4 months for each and one took 8. The work overlapped, so that's how it got done. Then again, for the one that took 8 months, I wrote the first draft for that book in 2 weeks -- then spent the other 7 1/2 months refining and finishing it. ;) So I think, in the end, there is no really fast writing -- you'll put the time in on one end or the other.
Sam
Yeah, LOL...I might get the
Yeah, LOL...I might get the first draft down fast but take more time in edits than a book that it took longer to write.
For me, ten pages a day is incredibly reasonable -- allows me to work at a nice, steady but even pace, and I only write four days a week, regularly. Sometimes more, but rarely. I *can* pump out more pages a day, and I have, and sometimes I need that push of just writing until my hands fall off, but most of the time, slow and steady does the trick.
The key is to do it, no matter your pace, and to not put it off all the time.
I Love NaNoWriMo...
I signed up for NaNoWriMo back in November '06. Around that time I had completed one manuscript and was eager to start another. In thirty days I completed about 43,000 words (which was slightly less than the goal of 50,000). And yes, the Thanksgiving Holiday did knock out several days of writing.
For me it was all about discipline and pushing myself to write the required 1666 words a day without constant editing. By the end of the following month, the story was completed.
Although I skipped NaNo last year (because I was in the middle of a story), I have signed up to participate again this year. This time I'm starting with a general outline. Hopefully, it will help me reach the end!
Rita Oberlies
I have friends who are
I have friends who are passionate about NaNo, but I'm not one of them. I did try it, but found I was so stressed out about getting the word count, that the quality really sucked. Besides which, with a full-time job, it was just sucking me dry and taking up every bit of spare time I had. I'm much better off just working at my own pace, which seems to be 12-16 weeks for a finished book. But I applaud those writers who embrace NaNo and encourage anyone who hasn't given it a whirl to try it. There's a lot of support out there, and it's fun to post your goals and check out how your friends are doing and (I think) you can even post your writing for others to read.
Yeah, Karen, I don't think
Yeah, Karen, I don't think it would work so well for me, either, simply because I already write every day. I already do it, and not that I can't do it better, or longer, or more, certainly, but I don't feel I need that motivation, or the competition, or whatever. I find, in fact, I do WORSE when I'm up against others, in that I get grumbly.
But the support is wonderful and for someone who needs that kick in the pants, it seems like a great thing.
I'm NaNoing this year...
for the first time. I'm not sure if I'll make goal or not, but I figure I'll churn out a good amount of words regardless. I've been in a lull lately, writing-wise, and either this will snap me out of it or send me over the edge. ;) It's anyone's guess! I'm mostly excited to get started, but if I don't hit 50,000, it won't stress me that much. As long as I'm making progress on my overall goals, that's all that counts.
And I think 10 pages a day is a great target, Megan!
Cari
http://cariquinn.blogspot.com/
Yeah, I can see that, Cari.
Yeah, I can see that, Cari. Sometimes you need something to push you!
M
Happy writing!
Kudos to all you writers, whether you're NaNoWriMo-ing or not! Write on! :)
I'm not so much...
in it for the word count as I am for the discipline training. Getting myself to stick with it when the kids are crawling all over me and interruptions are every five minutes is something I need. I keep my count goals ridiculously low so that I'm always pleased with myself, lol.
Dee
That's a good goal, Dee. :)
That's a good goal, Dee. :)
Helping my online group do NaNo
Maybe they chose November because it just sends better than FebNoMo, LOL. But November is a hard month to write a book. Ask me--every single year, I've had a deadline that month. I have one this month, again. And a conference to go to, and a revision to complete. And here I am commenting on a blog, LOL.
My middle name is Procrastination ;-)
But I agree that the NaNo is a great thing for getting people to set a goal, join with others in helping them make that goal, and then get to it. Not everyone does, but I tell you, a lot of writing does get done. A number of members of my YahooGroup (JustWriteIt) are doing the NaNo this year, and at the same time I'll be doing an online workshop on Conflict, and posting Writing Advice handouts on my blog (it's in my sig line) every Monday. I started a couple weeks ago with handouts on ideas and beginnings, to get everyone started before NaNo begins.
Shirley
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
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conflict
Shirley, a bunch of people have been talking about conflict on the Superromance group at eharl -- maybe you want to stop by there and mention your workshop, since it seems to be a core reason that many people are getting rejected by Supers. Just thought I'd mention.
I'm actually the direct opposite. I schedule nothing due over the holidays, on purpose. I'll still be working, but I have nothing due. I wish you luck, though. ;) It just makes it all the more exciting, huh? *G*
Sam