What We Have Learned So Far

i've learned that i'm far more easily distracted than i remember being.

"the difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
- mark twain

i've learned that having a detailed outline helps me a LOT. Also, i've lerned that my hubby thinks i'm a dork because i keep posting my word count .. i've also got a few excel charts on my computer that help me define my progress.

i've also learned that even while writing 6k per day, i can still get a lot done. i'm also happier when i write than at any other time! ... so happy november!

2008 - The Silent Treatmet - WIN!
2009 - Awake - outline finished ... we'll see!!

I've learned that any plans I made in advance are thrown out as I write, as newer and better plot lines occur to me.

Yesterday, I learned that I write best in a quiet room with the radio playing low. Actually, I already knew that, but it just reinforced it for me.

I also learned that I can write more than 2,000 words in 90 minutes and over 700 words in 30 minutes (or so). Dude.

Today, so far, I've learned that I need to turn off all of my chat programs before I sit down to write. And that writing at lunch while at work isn't all that productive. I've also learned that inspiration comes at any moment and that I should grab it as it comes. (That led to another couple hundred words. Hee!) I've also learned that there are people who have some sort of magic wand that lets them warp time or something and hit their 50K+ word counts in less than two days. HOW???? LOL

Tonight, I'm sure I'll learn something more. :)

Sue

I have learned that not only is my attention span far shorter than I anticipated, but its difficult for me to actually buckle down and do this by myself. I got so much done yesterday with friends at a cafe than I am currently getting accomplished in between times at work and with hours available tonight. Not to mention there's that pesky championship game going on... I feel like SUCH a slacker =/

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." - Roald Dahl

How true. I often just remember the ordeal of writing, but you are right, when there is a flow -- and even sometimes when there isn't -- there is a joy that arises from the creativity and the rhythm of writing. Thanks for the reminder.

Leaves of the Body -- A journey through desire, boundaries and New England.

I've learned that it's less of a distraction when I barely have Internet access, but also that I write a low slower than I type.

"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

ML for Philadelphia

I've learned that I like writing best with my ipod nestled in my ears. I've also learned that if I approach this in the spirit of enjoyment the words flow easier (my hubby told me not to force it... I knew I married a wise man.)

I'm learning I need learn how to write better dialog and I have no gift for location descriptions. So far I like my story idea, just not as happy with the execution of the idea. Could be a long December rewrite. I also seem to be a lot slower than other people on the thread, even with speech recognition (or maybe because of it). But I was really tired yesterday so I hardly worked at this. Next weekend will be a lot of catch up for me. See you all Wednesday. I'm not going to bed though until I have the first day's count in so that I'm only down a day.

If there is an excuse to be had regarding the postponement of my homework and keeping at my NaNo'ing I will find it.

-I type/write faster than I thought I would

-It's easiest to churn out words when I have a set time limit in mind, like 30 minutes or an hour, and then I go do something else.

-I've actually been getting more other stuff done than usual (and I'm pretty excited about it.)

Even though I'm two days ahead of schedule (much to my surprise), I've learned that it's harder than I thought to keep that dreaded inner editor chained up in the basement and just let the words flow. So far, I've managed to do just that, but there have been a few fits and starts, but hey, I'm just going to keep on writing, that's the important thing.

I write, therefore, I have fun! ^_^

I found out that I write only marginally slower on my iPhone than on a computer. I had to leave the laptop at work for updating and went to the West Philly Writein with notebook and iPhone in tow.

2009-PENANCE.blogspot.com

I learned I need to get comfortable at the write in's in order to write. I write better in a large comfy chair, than I do at a table. I also learned I need to work more on defining my character in order to move forward.

Michelle

Michelle Curet-Caporiccio

I've learned that not figuring out the narrative voice for this particular story is killing it. The words come so much easier when I know how the story should sound. I really need to find that.

Also, staying up til all hours writing papers seemed doable in college. What happened? I only graduated 2 years ago, and suddenly staying up past midnight is a notion too outlandish to be entertained. Ollllddd....I'm gettin' olllldddd....

I learned that after just three days I can get pretty much done - but I can see a big empty space ahead of me and I'm not at all sure how I'm going to fill that up. Hopefully it will just keep coming the way its been coming for the last three days but I doubt it.

I've learned:

* I can write anywhere I can take my little notebook-Burger King, the coffee shop, the library, son's TKD lessons...
* If I'm at home writing, I won't stop until my chapter is done-even if it's 2 a.m. (I might have to set a timer so I stop doing that.)
* Sometimes the characters aren't what you expect! I had a secondary character who turned out to be a Goth chick when I was picturing her as a shy, non-descript average girl.
*I'd rather write than do housework, regular work, watch TV, etc.
*I drink way too much caffeine!

"What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers." ~Logan Pearsall Smith

I've learned to stop when I need to, take a break and recharge.

I've learned that when the plan isn't working, don't just go to right field, dive into it, crowd surf into it, but keep going.

I've learned that friends are not very good at supplying names when you suddenly decide to throw in about ten new characters. My first response from one of the friends was "EBONY DARK'NESS DEMENTIA RAVEN WAY." and the only reason I am considering it is for wordcount. ;D

I've learned that anything that can happen will. And that if I'm stuck for words, it means I'm boring myself. I may not talk a lot, but geez can I write a run-on sentence. So, if I find myself looking around the room being distracted, I stop my papragraph/sentence right where it is, go to a new paragraph and write the complete opposite of whatever I was trying to write before. If that doesn't work, I spin off in a different direction.

Today I wrote the following sentence about one of my characters:

"He sat there watching TV thinking to himself - what should I do? I can't
think of anything to do."

And then I wrote

"He sat there for two hours trying to think of something to
do but he couldn't think of anything."

Twenty thousand words in the first four days - and now I am staring straight into the face
of a huge empty black void.

So - today - I've learned of the existance of a huge empty black void. I hope tomorrow to have
learned how to get past that cause its starting to get really hard.

Me too! That has been the most pleasant surprise of all. This is my first NaNo, so it's all new to me.

The most important thing I've discovered about myself in this writing thing:

I need to take 10 minutes each session to insert little tidbits into the material I wrote in the previous session. Things inevitably occur to me in the interval. If I don't, it weighs on my mind and I can't get any writing done. Yeah, I know, it's against the rules to edit. But my word count is healthy and the ideas keep coming, so I put this practice into the category "whatever works." After all, the word count rules, right??

I found that just writing and not sweating the details really works well for me.

When I read, I often become my characters in some sense. This is even more true when I am writing.

The character emerges as I write. I usually don't have a plan in that sense. Maybe it is just the mood I am in that day.

Since I am writing a historical novel, I have major problems with place and time. Where are we? How do people talk etc., when that happens I just go back to my first point above. I will sweat the details later after I have hit 50,000.

WOW!! Your word count is outstanding! Nano! Nano! Nano!

Well, what I've learned so far is that plotting and having an outline for the story hasn't been of importance to me. Working with just an idea of how I want my story to run, I just sit down at my iMac and write, plain and simple as I'm crafting this story by the seat of my pants. I'm usually at my most creative in the early morning hours, while my creative spark tends to lag late at night when my brain is tired. Having KYW-1060 on instead of music which tends to distract me has been an invaluable writing partner so far, the tickertape machine in the background is so soothing. With well over 15K written after six days, I guess I'm doing something right!

I write, therefore, I have fun! ^_^

Wow, nijusjaanu

You're almost over the winners line already! I prostate myself before your word-ly magnificence. The best I've done is maintain how far I am behind. Of course, I am really ahead of where I was last year so I'm happy with that. I still think I will make it even if I don't catch up entirely this weekend. If don't get further behind in the next two weeks, I will get there during Thanksgiving holiday and get across the finish line by the 30th. But I am in awe of what you've done. So it is possible.

You are doing great, PhillyFlash. I find soft piano music works for me. I can't think with words. So it is new age or symphonic or movie music for me. Good on you for how well you're doing. Looking forward to next years kick off so I can get tips from you!

Tips? From me? Well, sure! As soon as I figure out what I'M doing, I'll only be too happy to help others! HA!

I write, therefore, I have fun! ^_^

the only reason any of us come back is the misguided hope that someday, somehow, one of us will figure out what the hell we're doing.

"the difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
- mark twain