Nanowrimo has begun. We’re ending day two here, and I have 165 words accomplished. Really, really bad start. Now I’ll give myself a couple of excuses of other commitments already in place that I couldn’t, shouldn’t, or wouldn’t give up. There was also all the fun I was having in the writing chat room when I could actually get in. All excuses, some of them not excusable, but I’ll accept my fate on those. After writing some of those 165 words, I discovered another flaw that’s kept me from getting any further. My obsessing over what I already wrote. It’s less than 200 words, and I can’t stop rereading and analyzing the words! Gah! No wonder I can’t move on. I’ve forgotten some of the push on rules. Last year, I utilized the rule not to reread during the month of November, not to correct things you know are wrong, and to just keep moving forward with speed over quality. This is opposite of my normal writing procedure, but might be another key factor in winning that I didn’t realize until I found my old patterns creeping back up at the wrong time. I have to relearn and reapply those important Nanowrimo rules.
Of course this is a guideline, not a rule. A recommendation by those who have made the 50K accomplishment. I am definitely an edit as I go along writer. I actually feel confused at the idea of one day finishing a novel that I feel worthy of editing and trying to go back and edit it. I feel like I don’t even understand the concept. Pretty sure I was taught that in school. Kinda remember the drafts, but I’ve been doing it so differently in the past countless years that it’s going to take time. The important thing I need to keep in mind here, and maybe you too, is to forget editing at this time of Nano need. Just keep pushing forward. Stare at the horror later…when your stomach is off the speed train and can ride the love/hate coaster.
So first, I need to hit 50K before the end of November. Second I need to finish a novel…beginning to end, even if it’s well beyond 50K. Third, I have to determine if it’s worthy of editing. Then I have to edit and/or get up the nerve to show someone. I have novels in mind, novels that are “THEE” story, the one you are so in love with that you want everything to be perfect. They aren’t written yet. I still have a long way to go and a lot of love for those ideas that I don’t want to destroy them too quickly. Let’s finish these goals first. Last year I did 50K, but the story was far from finish, and I dropped it. This year let’s hope I can kill two birds (or a lot of characters as we like to relate things in our world) with one stone and go 50K and beyond. Yeesh…what a goal for someone already so far behind.
Jennifer
Oh, I seriously need a P.S. cause this is crazy. I’m so particular with my story but an email or forum post or let’s say…blog post, get’s little to no editing treatment. I have things really screwed up in my head.
