Just finished the climax of this story for NaNoWriMo. Something I've noticed, if you include a word like "climax" in the title or body of a blog post, you get a few more hits. No mystery there, eh.
Zoomed past 50,000 words on the 29th. My fingers got into a groove, and more than 3000 words flowed.
As stated earlier, all pretense to literary excellence was abandoned in this first draft.
But. It's done. In 30 days.
Haven't produced that much writing since my days at Bloomberg. And without an editor in the background, yelling for a new quote.
My husband got me a framed and mounted Certificate of Completion. He's the best a girl could ever want.
Showing posts with label NaNoWriMo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NaNoWriMo. Show all posts
Friday, November 30, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Have abandoned the idea of literary excellence
NaNoWriMo's tag line is:
30 Days and Nights of Literary Abandon
For much of this month, I have edited my efforts as I go, ruthlessly cutting substandard words.
Somewhen recently, I abandoned the idea of literary excellence.
I'm pretty much just slapping words at the page. The manuscript has become the equivalent of a sketch in charcoal. At times, a not very accomplished sketch in charcoal.
I am taking it on faith that there is a possibility that I will be able, later, to work this rough sketch as far in the direction of a refined oil painting as whatever talent I have will allow.
If I have any talent.
I'm wondering about that.
On the other hand. I can produce words. Now have more than 40,000 words in the manuscript.
Aiming at that 50,000 before midnight on Friday.
Husband has been informed that it's his job to go get lunch every day this week.
30 Days and Nights of Literary Abandon
For much of this month, I have edited my efforts as I go, ruthlessly cutting substandard words.
Somewhen recently, I abandoned the idea of literary excellence.
I'm pretty much just slapping words at the page. The manuscript has become the equivalent of a sketch in charcoal. At times, a not very accomplished sketch in charcoal.
I am taking it on faith that there is a possibility that I will be able, later, to work this rough sketch as far in the direction of a refined oil painting as whatever talent I have will allow.
If I have any talent.
I'm wondering about that.
On the other hand. I can produce words. Now have more than 40,000 words in the manuscript.
Aiming at that 50,000 before midnight on Friday.
Husband has been informed that it's his job to go get lunch every day this week.
Monday, November 19, 2012
NaNoWriMo: 3000 words behind
This is a blog about writing about Enlightenment developing via a life of adventure.
I just returned from a four-day trip, to teach a course of the Transcendental Meditation technique, arguably an activity that has everything to do with the development of Enlightenment.
In my excellent adventure, I fell behind in my writing.
My husband drove the two, five hour trips to Kansas City, where I've been teaching TM for seven and a half years (>250 trips during those years). And I wrote in the car, both ways. We stayed four days and three nights, and I wrote in the odd 10 minute spaces between various meetings, or shopping, or visits with friends.
We did this trip in about the shortest amount of time possible. And I still fell behind by about 3000 words.
I admit that when I'm at home, I have a rather flexible schedule. I now am REALLY impressed with anyone who accomplishes the NaNoWriMo goal and also has a full-time job. Whatever those people are doing, they are way ahead of me. More power to them. They're also probably way closer to Enlightenment than me....
Today is November 19. I have until November 30 to complete the 50,000 words.
I remain optimistic. Maybe that's an enlightened outlook?
I just returned from a four-day trip, to teach a course of the Transcendental Meditation technique, arguably an activity that has everything to do with the development of Enlightenment.
In my excellent adventure, I fell behind in my writing.
My husband drove the two, five hour trips to Kansas City, where I've been teaching TM for seven and a half years (>250 trips during those years). And I wrote in the car, both ways. We stayed four days and three nights, and I wrote in the odd 10 minute spaces between various meetings, or shopping, or visits with friends.
We did this trip in about the shortest amount of time possible. And I still fell behind by about 3000 words.
I admit that when I'm at home, I have a rather flexible schedule. I now am REALLY impressed with anyone who accomplishes the NaNoWriMo goal and also has a full-time job. Whatever those people are doing, they are way ahead of me. More power to them. They're also probably way closer to Enlightenment than me....
Today is November 19. I have until November 30 to complete the 50,000 words.
I remain optimistic. Maybe that's an enlightened outlook?
Thursday, November 15, 2012
NaNoWriMo: No Idea if this will flow
NaNoWriMo: 50,000 words in 30 days = first draft of a novel
Being a perfectionist, I find a nagging worry that the scenes I keep throwing at the page (gotta get those 1666 words/day done) may end up producing -- just a series of scenes. Will they flow, keep the reader engaged from one scene to another, wanting to find out what happens next, all the way to the end? (oh, please, oh, please)
I read to my husband. He loves it. Of course, he has no bias, at all.
I take the, probably stupid, chance of reading to someone out of the family. My question: "Does it sound like a book? One you'd read off the bookstore shelf?"
I even offered to read a scene at my husband's birthday party. Yes, I did. Pity me, please.
Nobody took me up on my offer. My husband has very wise friends.
As a journalist, I'd produce 1666 words in a day, in a finished news piece, easy. Of course, when one has an editor yelling "where is that quote!" you find the way to locate the data, to fit into the sentences, to tell the news, to make the editor happy, to keep your job.
Now, I pick up a pen and notebook, during the 15 minute break in a performance. Or I sit down, open the computer and try to figure out what NEXT should I do to my protagonist, because I now realize there needs to be SOMETHING happen, before I can get her to that next important turning point.
It's harrying. It's exhilarating.
Being a perfectionist, I find a nagging worry that the scenes I keep throwing at the page (gotta get those 1666 words/day done) may end up producing -- just a series of scenes. Will they flow, keep the reader engaged from one scene to another, wanting to find out what happens next, all the way to the end? (oh, please, oh, please)
I read to my husband. He loves it. Of course, he has no bias, at all.
I take the, probably stupid, chance of reading to someone out of the family. My question: "Does it sound like a book? One you'd read off the bookstore shelf?"
I even offered to read a scene at my husband's birthday party. Yes, I did. Pity me, please.
Nobody took me up on my offer. My husband has very wise friends.
As a journalist, I'd produce 1666 words in a day, in a finished news piece, easy. Of course, when one has an editor yelling "where is that quote!" you find the way to locate the data, to fit into the sentences, to tell the news, to make the editor happy, to keep your job.
Now, I pick up a pen and notebook, during the 15 minute break in a performance. Or I sit down, open the computer and try to figure out what NEXT should I do to my protagonist, because I now realize there needs to be SOMETHING happen, before I can get her to that next important turning point.
It's harrying. It's exhilarating.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
NaNoWriMo: Relentless flow of words
Day number 7, of 30, with a goal of 1650 words per day.
Without a detailed outline, I can't see how anyone would complete this task. Unless they're willing to accept filler and tangential musings, which if that's how someone is able to write their story--more power to them!
Me, I'm doing it the hard way (of course), and editing into a fairly cohesive manuscript as I go along.
My goal is to produce those 1650 words each day, since if I miss a day, then the next -- or some other day -- will have to be twice or thrice as productive.
Honestly, I find myself too often in the evening checking the word count, and going for one more sentence. Then checking again. And another sentence. How much closer to the goal?
For example, today, I feel like I've written a lot. But the page demands 660 more words.
Okay, I can go back to my outline, and see the next goal, so my characters better get cracking on this scene to fulfill that goal.
In my first story, there was a six-month period when I wrote nothing, because I had no idea of what I should write in order to get to the end.
In the end, I am assured, it simply comes down to putting one more word on the page. Just like walking through life, I'm guessing. One step at a time.
Without a detailed outline, I can't see how anyone would complete this task. Unless they're willing to accept filler and tangential musings, which if that's how someone is able to write their story--more power to them!
Me, I'm doing it the hard way (of course), and editing into a fairly cohesive manuscript as I go along.
My goal is to produce those 1650 words each day, since if I miss a day, then the next -- or some other day -- will have to be twice or thrice as productive.
Honestly, I find myself too often in the evening checking the word count, and going for one more sentence. Then checking again. And another sentence. How much closer to the goal?
For example, today, I feel like I've written a lot. But the page demands 660 more words.
Okay, I can go back to my outline, and see the next goal, so my characters better get cracking on this scene to fulfill that goal.
In my first story, there was a six-month period when I wrote nothing, because I had no idea of what I should write in order to get to the end.
In the end, I am assured, it simply comes down to putting one more word on the page. Just like walking through life, I'm guessing. One step at a time.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Outline Plot for 2nd Book for NaNoWriMo; thanks
My first efforts at fiction were like jumping into the pool, and figuring out how to get to the other side. It's a technique, that took two years.
This time, since I will (in order to "win" in NaNoWriMo) complete a first draft with at least 50,000 words, within the 31 days of November, I am trying another technique: outline first, write second.
In these last few months, I have taken a few writing courses via the Internet. For example, the Writer's Digest is a a very good source of guidance.
I have a growing sense that there is a renaissance in the craft of story telling. Perhaps after decades of people playing the passive game of just watching television or movies, now there is more interest in reading. Maybe Harry Potter really did have a magical effect, other than what requires the support of Hollywood.
Anyway, there is now a LOT of superior support out there for writers. The Creative Penn, K.M. Weilland, and StoryFix by Larry Brooks are several that stand out, at least for me.
Larry Brooks, in particular, has been massively helpful in helping me understand the technology of a gripping story, the type we all know -- mostly by watching our favorite movies.
Brooks' details on what types of information for the reader should come at which point in the story (since we all feel comfortable with certain turns of events at certain times) seem to be VERY helpful.
Of course, the proof will be in the pudding, or the reading.
This time, since I will (in order to "win" in NaNoWriMo) complete a first draft with at least 50,000 words, within the 31 days of November, I am trying another technique: outline first, write second.
In these last few months, I have taken a few writing courses via the Internet. For example, the Writer's Digest is a a very good source of guidance.
I have a growing sense that there is a renaissance in the craft of story telling. Perhaps after decades of people playing the passive game of just watching television or movies, now there is more interest in reading. Maybe Harry Potter really did have a magical effect, other than what requires the support of Hollywood.
Anyway, there is now a LOT of superior support out there for writers. The Creative Penn, K.M. Weilland, and StoryFix by Larry Brooks are several that stand out, at least for me.
Larry Brooks, in particular, has been massively helpful in helping me understand the technology of a gripping story, the type we all know -- mostly by watching our favorite movies.
Brooks' details on what types of information for the reader should come at which point in the story (since we all feel comfortable with certain turns of events at certain times) seem to be VERY helpful.
Of course, the proof will be in the pudding, or the reading.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Challenge with First Draft? Write the Sequel: NaNoWriMo
As I wrote the first draft of my story, the characters and line of logic became stronger and more focused. And, the beginning third got left behind.
Come up with more drama, less prose, and that first part stands a chance of keeping the reader's attention.
Probably not a good idea, however, to introduce a completely new source of drama in the first part. On the other hand, I could move some sources of tension into the story sooner.
A decision must be made. Is one of the current bad guys really bad, or is he just inept? If he's really bad, then he would be capable of the action I planned for him in the second book of this trilogy. But if he's inept, then he fits the need for the first book -- and all badness focuses on the one, true evil guy.
My solution: write the second book. Then I will know with certainty the threads that must be laid in the first book.
NaNoWriMo, or more specifically NoNaNoWriMo (November National Novel Writing Month), is close. Can I do a first draft in one month? Gulp. It took me two years for this first draft. Nothing ventured out onto the NaNoWriMo limb, no potential leap into the multiple book realm gained.
I'm in.
Come up with more drama, less prose, and that first part stands a chance of keeping the reader's attention.
Probably not a good idea, however, to introduce a completely new source of drama in the first part. On the other hand, I could move some sources of tension into the story sooner.
A decision must be made. Is one of the current bad guys really bad, or is he just inept? If he's really bad, then he would be capable of the action I planned for him in the second book of this trilogy. But if he's inept, then he fits the need for the first book -- and all badness focuses on the one, true evil guy.
My solution: write the second book. Then I will know with certainty the threads that must be laid in the first book.
NaNoWriMo, or more specifically NoNaNoWriMo (November National Novel Writing Month), is close. Can I do a first draft in one month? Gulp. It took me two years for this first draft. Nothing ventured out onto the NaNoWriMo limb, no potential leap into the multiple book realm gained.
I'm in.
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