Archive for the 'Weekly NaNoWriMo Update' Category

November 16, 2009 | The 4-1-1 on Me,Weekly NaNoWriMo Update,Writer Moment,Writing Movements

CLICK ON THE ICON TO VIEW MY PROGRESS.

I didn’t write anything for three days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Not even during my breaks or lunch last Friday. With the daily required word count, and my normal writing process, I should, for all intents and purposes, be writing close to a chapter a day.

Two weeks in and I’m still working on Chapter Two.

Writing this particular book for the challenge has proven difficult for me. I’m feeling a little lackluster about it and that’s a little alarming to me. I could blame it on the interference of school and trying to readjust to that. Or that Auntie Flow is here for her monthly visit. But it’s none of those things.

I think it’s the pressure of forcing myself to write every day. Of knowing that I have to write every day, that I have to pound out a certain amount of words each day, that’s getting me down. Writing is fun for me, but it stops being fun when I have to do it. I should want to write, right? Because I can’t get the words out fast enough. Because I’m hearing conversations in my head. Because I’m picturing scenes in my head.

When I read blogs of other YA authors, I was jealous that they could write fast. I wanted to be like them and be able to crank out three chapters in one night. If they posted something about their writing process, I would try it. And then wonder why it didn’t work.

Because I’m not them.

I’m me.

It took me a long time to realize that I have to find a process that works for me.

Outlining a story first doesn’t work for me.

Answering 100 questions about my characters doesn’t work for me.

Committing to a certain daily word count doesn’t work for me.

Forcing myself to write every day when there’s nothing to squeeze out doesn’t work for me.

National Novel Writing Month doesn’t work for me.

I’d like to think that my writing process could change. Maybe if I don’t do an outline next time. Maybe if I work on an anthology of short stories instead of a novel. Maybe I can try other writing challenges and work my way up to this one. Maybe I’ll try harder to write on the weekends. That’s a lot of maybes.

I know me. I know the way my mind works. I know the writing process that works for me. I may not get to 50k, but I’ll be writing on my terms. And it’ll still fun.

November 9, 2009 | The 4-1-1 on Me,Weekly NaNoWriMo Update,Writer Moment

This first week has been utter. And complete. Suckage. Click on the icon above to see how I’ve been doing.

Then check out to see how my writing buddies are doing.

I’ll wait here. Go look.

Do you not agree? Major suckage going on on the writing front. It started off with Day One and went to hell in a handbasket after that. Didn’t feel like writing on Day One. Woke up late. Didn’t write this past Saturday or Sunday. I’ve already discussed what that means for me in my case, so I won’t bore you with the deets again.

I didn’t do very well today, either. I got to my goal of at least one page, though. That’s something. When I’m at work, I have the notebook with me and hand write everything. Then I go home and type up what I’ve written. I’ve found that when I’m typing, I change things. I know! Editing is wrong right now, it’s a cuss word right now. I can’t help it! I’ll think, as I’m writing, “I’ll make that better when I type it up.” Gah! I may have to put up a big sign that says “LEAVE IT ALONE”.

However, I’m taking heart in the Pep Talk I received in my email today from Chris Baty. Are you getting these, too?

Our mission this week is to heave ourselves up to the precipice of the 25,000-word wormhole. From where I am now, that feels woefully far away.

I agree. I think I would throw myself a party if I reached 12,000 this week.

Write every day. Even if you just knock out 75 words before collapsing into bed, those 75 words will keep you connected you to your story in essential ways, and make diving back into your book much easier.

75 words? I think I wrote that many during my first 15 min break. No prob.

For now, stop thinking about 50K. Just sprint thousands. Visualize each writing session as a tall staircase made up of 1000 steps. You are part ninja, part monkey, and part stairmaster cyborg. You were born to fly up those steps…

You’re kidding, right? Writing as exercise? Bite me. I hate exercising.

Remember that your book is important…You have a book in you that only you can write. Your story matters. Your voice matters. The world will be richer for you seeing this crazy creative escapade through to 50,000 words.

All right, all right, all right. Jeez, enough with the guilt already. I get it.

Technorati Tags: Chris Baty