No more Nano for me (this year)

[annathepiper]

As I've just posted over on scuzzboppers, this is me officially backing out of my "unofficial" Nanowrimo. Three general reasons:

1) I'm not writing fast enough;
2) I have no real idea yet of what's going into the next chapter and I can't just write it blind at this point;
3) Thanksgiving Day is only a few days away, and this entire forthcoming weekend will shoot the hell out of my writing time.

So. I may still top out 20K this month, which is better than I've been doing for a while, so I am not discontent. I just need to take another day or three to restructure the outline again.

More Monday miles: 2.1 (walking)
Miles out of Hobbiton: 505.45
Miles out of Rivendell: 47.45
Miles to Lothlórien: 414.55

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I never did see the point in trying to slam through 50kwords from a standing start anyway... far better writing when you do it as it comes.

IMHO, YMMV, EIEIO.

[annathepiper]

The point as I understand it is two-fold, really.

One, to make people realize that if you actually ever want to get serious about that novel you keep talking about writing, you have to actually write. Which means getting into the habit of giving writing priority in your day.

Two, to get you out of the mindset of second-guessing every single word you write and thinking it has to be perfect the first time or else you've failed in your writing. This is an extremely valuable skill to learn for anyone who wants to be serious about writing, especially if you want to be able to handle impending deadlines.

I fully support both of these goals. On the other hand, Nanowrimo's madcap pace is extremely difficult to maintain. And I've found just watching others go through the process that all too often getting that 50K becomes The Point, rather than like, y'know, writing a novel. :)

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on freeing yourself from the cult! I promised the story that it was more important to me than the word count and committed myself to writing only things that I genuinely believed would help to bring the novel into existence, and I still can't quite bring myself to give up on the word count goal. I said I would do it, and it's very hard for me to back down from things I've said I would do, no matter how foolish.

[annathepiper]

I hear you; I had to fight to admit to myself that I just wasn't making the 50K this month, given how long it takes me to change gears every time I have to rearrange the outline on this book. :)

But go you on writing so much this month! I just saw your update post come over scuzzboppers.