I’ve decided today is a day of writing.
I will probably regret that tomorrow when I remember the novel I have to read for Monday, the two assignments I have to do, plus all the usual household chores that just repeatedly need doing (why can’t stuff stay clean?).
But for today I’m going to try and put that out of my head, Future!Me will have to deal with that, sucks to be her haha.
Hallelujah there were some words!
Today I procrastinated a lot but I eventually did the reading for one of my modules for next week (that took pretty much all day). Then at 5pm I decided it was writing time.
I worked on the Garcy Celeb/Fan AU for Ripper because it’s the thing closest to being finished (so I can cross something off my list). It was like pulling teeth. I’m going to get down on my knees and beg for a beta as I think it’s awful and I can’t put it out into the world like it is BUT that’s a December problem.
Most of today’s words were written at the end as I really, really struggled to get going. However I discovered if I actually use my second monitor life is easier (how do you forget this self?) and also I really am motivated by small numbers ticking down and then ‘just one more’.
Words written: 1540
Total count: 1688
I’ve reached day one’s pace! *cough* on day eight. My word debt is currently 11,645 words which is quite a lot. It’s an extra 530 words a day spread out over the remaining 22 days of the month. That makes for basically 2200 words a day which is more than I’ve written in a day since… quite possibly 2016.
Looking back historically I overcame a 12,747 word debt to win back in 2013 but the situation was different. I really don’t know if I can do it again.
Anyway right now I’m set to finish June 25th 2019 which I’m finding slightly amusing so at least there’s that 🙂
Today I joined 4thewords – a site where you can battle monsters through writing words. Basically it’s like writing sprints of varying lengths and difficulties.
They have a 10 character word limit for usernames so I’m space-merc rather than galactic-pirates as the latter wouldn’t fit.
It does cost once the 30 day free trial is up. Seeing as I only joined today I don’t know if I’ll keep up with it but I figured I’d share so people could either friend me, or try it out for themselves if this is the first they have heard of it 🙂
I did write more words today than I have all month so I’m hoping that’s a good sign heh.
I want to say a thing.
NaNoWriMo isn’t for everyone but that doesn’t make it bad.
Now I could be doing my creative writing lecturers a disservice but I got the distinct impression when I had to meet with them yesterday that NaNo = negative in their eyes. That to them writing lots of words meant nothing, that there was zero benefit in that. That it was beneath them and should be beneath me, not something for ‘serious’ writers.
On one level I can understand their caution as churning out lots of words doesn’t mean someone learns from them BUT in my opinion how can anyone learn without practice? It’s only through the act of doing that someone experiments and finds out what works and what doesn’t.
The biggest bonus to NaNo in my eyes is that it gives people a greater shot at the entire process. Actually finishing something – typing The End – is hard. Looking at a complete draft is different from looking at a partial one, you can see the whole story arc for instance. Then once the first draft is done, there’s the opportunity to start the next part of the process – first stage revision.
NaNo and writing the words is to quote from Chris Baty to put an end to the “one-day novelist” (aka the I’ll write a novel ‘one day’ person) by making one-day today. It’s a tool. It’s not an end goal. It’s very unlikely that at the end of the month people will have an amazing book – because that takes time. What they do have though is an incredible starting point.
Sorry I don’t know why I’m feeling defensive, especially because I’m failing NaNo epically right now so all my waxing lyrical about how it gets stuff completed is bull in my case. I just do feel defensive of NaNo I guess because in my eyes there is a lot to recommend it. It isn’t a machine which churns out crap. It’s a tool for learning, experimentation and to open up opportunities into other realms of the writing process.
It’s what you make of it.
FIRST DRAFT
it’s a first draft
FIRST DRAFT
do you have that yet?
Honestly writing is like pulling teeth right now and I think it’s because I’ve a) forgotten how to concentrate and b) suffocating myself as I’m cringing at every single word which means no wonder the words aren’t flowing – I’m scaring them away!
It’s a FIRST DRAFT self, ok? First Draft! You can fix it later but you can’t fix what you don’t have. Please, pretty please, please with bells on, actually just write the damn thing.
So I’ve been slacking on doing these on account of there being nothing to report – I haven’t written a word – and it’s the end of Week One tomorrow so it’s really not looking good.
I’d got all my prep ducks in a row, I’d cleared my schedule. I was anticipating having most of Thursday, all day Friday and Saturday, and most of Sunday to get those words down and hopefully build a buffer. At the very least I was anticipating having a psychological success, to get going, which would then give me momentum to carry through the rest of the month.
Yeeeeaaaah No that did not happen.
I spent those days sick in bed or sick and unmoving on the couch. Those days are gone, and so is my psychological boost.
Now back in the day this wouldn’t have been much of an issue. I have never been a particularly consistent writer. Almost every successful NaNo my chart is full of spikes as I’ll slack and then have a manic catch-up day, rinse and repeat. In present circumstances? Well I’m out of practice, if I’ve written 10k this year I’ll be surprised. I have uni which shouldn’t be a problem but is due to my executive dysfunction which has got worse year-on-year. It takes me 5x as long to do everything. I waste an inordinate amount of time and the more I hate that, the more I waste (in other words I suck) so yeah I was really counting on the positive momentum from a good start.
I don’t want to give up, I hate giving up, and the fact is I can’t give up completely because I’m an ML – I have to run write-ins and so words will happen. It’s just I’m despairing at meeting any of my goals and that makes it really hard to dredge up the enthusiasm for it. I love NaNo and I love writing but this is the second year I’ve screwed up (after 5 consecutive wins) and I’m tired.
I think I wanted it too much and now I don’t know how to deal with my own disappointment 🙁
Words written: 0
Total count: 0
Yeah today didn’t happen. I am feeling a bit better than I did this morning so I’m hoping that the day of doing nothing has helped. Stupid cold.
Tomorrow is double-up day and I have committed to running word sprints on discord for my region all day (I’m an ML) and so my dream goal is to catch up to pace (as I’m two days behind) but quite frankly I’ll take pace just to not get further behind, catching up can wait for better days.
I’m just hoping my brain will work. I’m very out of practice with this writing thing. What are words again? 🙂
Taking a leaf from Worry’s book like I said.
Nothing really to report today because I’m sick. I just about managed to go to class and come home without incident. I then had a two hour nap rather than wording but as breathing is a challenge right now (and my watch is having fits because my heart rate is way too high for someone not moving) I’m going to consider day one a write-off but an acceptable loss.
Tomorrow I don’t have class so I’m hopeful that I’ll manage to scrape a few words to get off the starting block at least. It’s still only the beginning of the month, no need to panic just yet 🙂
Words written: 0
Current total: 0
#seriously I’m still annoyed that I made it halfway through the semester without getting sick#and now its my favourite time of year I get a cold and I know it’s only a cold but it’s yucky and it sucks ugh
Well 5 days ago I had a list and everything bar one thing has been completed (or at least completed to the amount required for the moment). The one thing that didn’t get done is writing so duh just going to write it next month AND get to count the words for it – no brainer really.
So yeah. Wow. Did not expect that. Go me! Hehe 🙂
Anyway, what is on the list for this month? Not sure if I’ve already said. If I have then bear with me:
– 35k of a lingering original project (aka finish the neglected first draft)
– finish the poor languishing celeb/fan AU for Ripper (Garcy fic)
– Painting Layers of Love (Chapter Eleven)
– post-season 2 fic for Ripper (Garcy)
– In You Arms: Part Three
– One night stand turns to true love (Rumbelle)
I think I’ll probably take a leaf out of Worry’s book and do a little report everyday. I’ll make sure to pick a tag so you can blacklist if it bugs you. That list is in order of priority. If the last two items don’t get done then I can live with that, but I really want the other four.
How about posting? I would like to post something during November but it definitely won’t be this week heh. Maybe next week. I don’t know what percentage of my writing time will go where during the month yet. Have to see.
I’m excited – next week I’ll be groaning heh – but for now I’m just enjoying the anticipation of my most favourite time of year 🙂
(even if I am being a rebel which doesn’t have quite the same magical sheen as a trad nano)
I am totally pants at estimating length BUT I just outlined from Day Twenty-Two (where we left off) to Day Thirty-Nine of Panting Layers of Love. Yes that is right
I’m thinking I might put a bit of a time-skip in after Day 39 but I’m not sure because I have to go out! I have to stop! Honestly stopping once something is flowing is the most annoying thing in the world I swear. I’m terrified that I’ll lose momentum and get stuck again
buuuut even leaving aside that I have no clue on length (because I suck) there are 15 scenes I just planned – that’s 4 and a bit chapters comparing to previous chapter scene allocations.
So I think it’s safe to say that I know what’s coming next for a little bit 🙂
Finally!