Hey all,
I hope it's okay to post this here. I know there are the larger NaNo "forums" - but I was kinda hoping for friendly advice from the "regional" crowd.
So anyway, here's the thing. This is my first WriMo, and consequently, my first attempt at writing anything longer than a short story or "blog" entry. Yesterday when I sat down to start my first few pages I was all excited about participating in the event, the idea of actually attempting to 'write a whole novel'... yadda, yadda, yadda. It was a pretty good experience and it didn't take me long to churn out the first few pages. All in all I felt quite cheekily satisfied with myself. *chuckle*
TODAY however, is an entirely different story. I re-read what I'd written last night, now that the euphoria of the start of the event has worn off, I've discovered that I hate almost everything I wrote (except the first paragraph - that's pretty good). I KNOW the story I want to tell in my head - well, let's say I know the beginning, the general premise as well as what is supposed to happen at the end - and a fair amount of the plot in between. And I did a tone of research to get ready for this month - including installing two bulletin boards with time-lines, scientific terminology, archaeology research, etc. pinned all over them next to my kitchen table (my spot for writing this month). But suddenly, it's like I can't write. Everything I write sounds like something I wrote in 3rd grade English class (or worse).
I mean, is the goal to just sort of do a stream of consciousness dump of the story in my head, or am I supposed to be trying to write artistically at the same time? Or does today's experience indicate maybe I'm not cut out to do the "writing thing"? Just curious about others' experiences and any sage advice anyone might care to share.
I'm not quitting or anything, but the wind has definitely gone out of my sails already and I feel like I'm typing just to hit a word count rather than typing anything of substance that I like. Anyone else going through that? And this so early (day 2) during NaNo?
Anyway, thanks for reading and any and all advice is welcome.
----------
.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.
"Jerrh'neh megh stail taeyrrh'gahj purrgh argh la-jaej"
Trans: "The forest may hold many secrets, but you will know them if you listen to the trees.
21,021 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 17 34
My understanding of nano is that you're writing as fast as possible and not worrying at all about quality until after November is over. Just dump the words on the page.
My first year, I tried to fix things and write artistically, and I managed about 15,000 words. Last year I just wrote and didn't look back and I hit 50,000 words easily.
So my tip is that if you want to write 50,000 words in November, DON'T reread ANYTHING you've written until December!! You have eleven whole other months to make it look pretty! :)
47,076 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 18 05
November is for writing; March is for editing.
I know for a fact that if I ever reread what I was writing in November when it was November, I'd never win nano!
It's all about getting the ideas out this month. Then, over the holidays, letting them age like a fine wine, and reopening the file in March to review and edit. So, don't worry about what you're writing right now -- just write!
I can't tell you how many 'nanoisms' I've run into in March of each year...
He coughly lightly -- that was one I was teased most about at write-ins
It was a night that was very dark at night. -- that was another
Terrible things get written this month. Trust me. BUT... great ideas find their way on paper, and there's always diamonds in the rough.
----------Yahoo IM :: jubatus_rex
MSN IM :: zhie@live.com
If I'm online and it's November, it's a good time for a (word) war.
2005 :: Consequences :: 52K+ (complete)
2006 :: Koko :: 50K+ (dreadfully unfinished)
2007 :: Unforgettable Book II :: lost count...
11,651 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 18 12
Gracias for the posts. This is my first Nano and although this story's been in my head for three years, it's different actually writing it out, bringing ideas of maybe a paragraph or two together to form something. I am typing and getting it out. Worrying about the edit much later. Just for today, I'll write a few pages. Thanks again.
19,231 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 18 26
Yes, thanks much for the advice and examples. I'm feeling slightly less like a lump at the moment and about to get back to my writing for the evening. :)
----------.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.
"Jerrh'neh megh stail taeyrrh'gahj purrgh argh la-jaej"
Trans: "The forest may hold many secrets, but you will know them if you listen to the trees.
15,146 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 20 56
Thanks for the encouragement. I am so happy that so far I am running a little ahead of myself. That word count is current as of today I started today. I am using the timer to keep me writing in 15 increments LOL it seems to be working.............I hope to write more in a bit.
----------Dogs have owners, cats have staff
Heaven is a free gift, don't miss out
40,574 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 21 32
Different people write differently. Their brains work differently. If you think of blogging, some people start with a clear idea in mind and polish each sentence as they go, while others lay down a first draft and tear it up. How was it writing your first few blog postings? I bet you tried doing it different ways until you learned what works for you.
Novels are similar, and different. You have to hold a LOT more information in your head while you write the first draft. You're mentally juggling--and not three balls, three dozen or more of them. And this is your first try, your first experiment as to how to actually write while remembering all that stuff you know about the story and the world and the characters and the plot and sub-plots and so on.
It would be quite a feat if you could write artistically perfect prose without losing track of all those balls! Especially on your first try. Most writers say their first drafts are crap. But, they add, that's what first drafts are for. You're not doing it wrong, you're just at the first step.
Once you have the story down, most of the balls are woven securely into the cloth of the story. Then you can adjust things, move the balls around, substitute in better ones, remove ones that make unsightly bulges--in short, make sure the basic weave of the story works.
Once you've reached this stage of the process, you'll find don't have all that juggling distracting you from the artistry of the words themselves. Then you can use that artistry to strengthen characterization, plot, and so on.
Sometimes its easier if you don't have too many words you love, as words and phrases and sentences, early in the process. It makes it easier to delete the stuff that's not working when you know you can write better than that!
37,600 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 11 44
wyld_dandelyon, I adore that juggling and weaving analogy you just used. As I write this novel (and last year's novel for that matter), I sometimes get discouraged when I reread some of the things I've written because it all sounds so dry and wooden at this point in the game. I start to get this feeling that maybe I'm "just not a good writer." But you're right, once the basic structure of it is down, THEN it's time to go back and make things sound pretty and artistic. :-)
15,204 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 13 16
Don't panic, Dee. Just keep writing. You are doing great - look at your word count. The problems will fix themselves - I know it doesn't make sense, but it still works. Important! When you start writing, do not reread what you've written before, except maybe the last FEW paragraphs so you can orient yourself in the story. If you reread, you will start editing, revising, rewriting - and totally lose the momentum of the story. Just keep writing. Last year I had my heroine trapped in a burning barn and thought "Whoa, I really messed up. I can't logically get her out of here." So I stopped for a minute and took it up later - and she magically saved herself, thru a means I never would have thought of on my own. This is a magical process. The entire point is to JUST KEEP WRITING. You will amaze yourself. I promise.
----------** I write to calm the voices in my head.**
39,002 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 13 43
This is my 4th NaNo, so let's see if I can find anything productive to say. =P
Every year, I feel the "oh my goodness this is all crap" coming down on me. The story never goes exactly how I want it to, characters change from how I originally picture them, and I decide I don't like my plot. But after, months after, you'll reread your novel and you'll find that, after those 14 pages of horrible prose towards the middle, there's one paragraph that's a complete gem, that reminds you why you write and amazes you. The point is, you have to get through the bad writing to get to the good part.
I'm convinced that the majority of writing is just pounding it out, whether you want to or not. NaNoWriMo helps with this. You HAVE to follow the ABC (apply butt to chair) method and grin and bear it because, as I've also learned, I enjoy having written more than the writing process.
Remind yourself why you chose your story. There has to be something special about it, something that made you keep researching and planning. I'm not a planner, but I get excited about my new characters and places every year. Recognize those things that made it special to begin with, and hold onto those. It's okay if it morphs into something completely different--that's what a first draft is, a discovery draft.
It gets easier to get through novels. As you write them, you begin to get a feel for how all the different parts fit together and the pace.
Oh.
One more thing.
When you cross the finish line of 50,000 words? It's pretty much a fantastic feeling. Think of that!
Good luck!
19,231 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2009 - 19 58
So I just had to come back and follow-up. After my initial "woe is me" and my visions of grandeur as the next ___fill in name of great literary giant___ had completely collided with reality (grin), I really read and took to heart what all of you said here. I want to tell you - every single comment was DEAD ON in some way and then some - LOL!
Here's what I've discovered over the past couple of days:
1) You HAVE to write and NOT NOT NOT re-read or edit what you've written. It's like creating an infinite loop and its awful. Not only was I NOT adding to my word count, I ended up actually decreasing it more and more with my edits, which in turn had me getting even more down on myself...
2) the process of just getting the story down is BOTH magical and horrific (at least for me). I still absolutely detest most of what I've written - at least the style of the prose itself. But I also discovered I LOVE my story!!! I've pretty much stopped re-reading except to get back into the swing of things now, as was suggested.
3) And wheeeee - what a story it has become. I can't remember who specifically commented on this (I think several of you did) - but as I tried to practice some of the advice I'd been given and just sort of gave myself up to telling the story, throwing out the whole "starving artist perfectionist" thing, the story STARTED TO TELL ITSELF for me. I mean I knew this story when I sat down - BUT, I didn't know all the amazing twists, turns and wonderful little Easter Eggs it would LEAD me to.
4) Right now I'm in the - "I can hardly wait to sit down and see where I end up next" mode which is great. But I'm fully aware that I'll likely be back to that, "I can't write for crap" phase many times. Hopefully, however, I'll be armed with knowing that the "just sit my butt down and write" advice really does work.
You guys are great and this experience is already teaching me some amazing things about me and my ability to write - and its just a little past week one! W00t! Thanks again everyone who commented here (Those pep talks from WriMo help a lot too! It's like you're all a little prophetical or something *insert spooky music here*). I'm sure there will be a lot more bumps along the way to come - but I'm finally starting to believe, just a little bit, that I'm writing a story worth telling. I really needed that! (The artsy re-working of the prose stuff can come in December and beyond)
Just me, Dee
PS: I'm really sorry that I missed out on the write-in - sick hubby (flu) and transportation issues. Hopefully will make it to at least one gathering before the month is up.
----------.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.
"Jerrh'neh megh stail taeyrrh'gahj purrgh argh la-jaej"
Trans: "The forest may hold many secrets, but you will know them if you listen to the trees.
49,100 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 07 53
I agree, no editing-as-you-go allowed!