NaNoWriMo 2013 Reflection

Happy December, everybody! Wow, time does fly, doesn't it? Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving, and don't you fret if you're feeling down and completely stressed -- the best month is coming, and with it at least a few days of rest time again! Wheeee!

Congratulations to all the wrimos who were working hard in November. Whether you finished your novel, "won" this year, or just worked as hard as you could with the time you had, you should be proud of yourself for even taking on the challenge. It's not an easy feat, writing a novel in just one month. You pretty much have to dedicate all your spare time to it, and that time is usually spent doing important things like resting, socializing, reading, etc.

How I accomplished my 50,000 word count goal was through dedication and discipline. It didn't matter how tired I was in the mornings because I would force myself to write at least a few hundred years on the commute to work, or at a Starbucks before going in. Lunch would similarly be spent with one hand holding a pen and the other my sandwich. And, of course, I wrote on the commute back home and at night before bed. It quickly became routine, and that helped a lot. It was like my brain knew it was time for writing and nothing else.

I had No Plot? No Problem! to help me along the way, but honestly I didn't read it much. By the time I got the book, it was almost November, so I had already prepped on my own. And my own NaNoWriMo journey fell on a different timeline than what most people's writing journeys are like. For me, the first two weeks breezed by quite easily, and it was actually the last two weeks that were harder. I was running out of steam, I was getting tired, Thanksgiving was taking up a lot of time, I was sick, etc.

But somewhere around the last 5,000, I had regained motivation and excitement for my novel. I knew the ending and how it was going to wrap up, but writing it was so much more fun than I had thought because my character was now different and changed. She had truly developed by month's end and was stronger than she was before. Writing the end of my novel gave me such a rush because I was proud of her and I was proud of myself. I had finally done it. I had never written this long of a story from beginning to end before because I usually never stuck out this long for a character before.

It's going to be a monster of an edit when I get around to it. But that won't be for a while because I'm giving myself a nice, lengthy break. I will be reading again, which I'm excited about because I am now tired of how I write and want to see how other people write. I'll also be hanging out with people more to thank them for their support and encouragement throughout the month of November.

Oh poop. I'll also have to do Christmas shopping. I knew there was something important I was forgetting.

** Thanks to my friend for drawing daily in solidarity for my writing daily. Check her out here!

Nano day 29: WINNER!!!!

You guys.

I did it.

I DID IT!

On Friday, November 29, at 1:49 AM, I wrote the last words to my novel and won NaNoWriMo. This is the best, craziest, most wonderful writing experience I've had so far, and it's all because of this ridiculous challenge that I have always wanted to do but never got around to doing. I'm so thankful for everyone who has supported me and helped me through this month. I've had a wonderful time!

I just wanted to explode with happiness here before I go to bed. Not to worry, there will be a more in-depth reflection on this journey. But for now, thank you thank you thank you. And also YAYAYAYAYAYAY I DID IT I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID IT!

50,000 words in a month? Totally doable if you stick to it. I'm not saying it's a great or even good novel, but it's a novel all right, and I've never written such a long piece of anything before. I am so happy I decided to participate this year after several years of just wishing I had the energy to do it.

So, YESSSS!!!!!

Okay. Sleep time!

Nano day 17: More than halfway there!

We're now in our third week, and I'm more than halfway into my story. After flailing a little bit in my story and where exactly it was going, yesterday I finally settled on a new outline to follow and now I have the finish line in sight! I know where to go and what to do, and now I just have to write it. Finally, I've found my way again!

I am discovering how much I love outlines. It really helps to have a plan, at least for me, because I'm one of those people who like to know what I'm writing about. I've tried the write-as-I-go method before, and while it does get my characters to do fun stuff, the plot never goes anywhere. And this is just one of the few things I've learned this month about my writing habits.

I also learned that the afternoons are difficult times for me to write. Around 2-5 pm is generally a sleepy, lethargic time of the day for me where all I want to do is eat, watch TV, and sleep. I don't even get the reading bug around this time! And while I can work in the mornings, I find myself writing more quickly and easily at night after dinner. Of course this is the only free time I have from work and meals and sleep. As a kid, I did all my schoolwork right when I got home and did the studying at night, so this might also have carried on to my habits today. But just because those are the prime times doesn't mean I only write in these time slots. I got about 500 words in this afternoon after all, even if I was very distracted by the 49ers vs. Saints football game.

As for the atmosphere, writing with music or in silence is most conducive to getting into my story. It's hard to write with the TV on (which is what I do a lot anyway) because there are other story lines and actions going on. Lately I've been listening to a lot of soundtracks from Disney films and Pitch Perfect. But this doesn't help me write. It actually makes me stop writing so I can sing along and wave my arms and pretend I'm Mulan, staring into the river, lamenting about how I will never bring honor to my family. So I would recommend music that you cannot sing along to.

So how is my NaNoWriMo experience so far? I am happy to say I haven't hit any walls or encountered writer's block yet. The most negative thing I've had to deal with so far is just being too tired to write, and even then I just push through my exhaustion to get in some words for the day. I am discovering how inspiration works, too. I used to think it would hit you and suddenly everything in your story would come together, but I haven't felt this bolt during this whole month. What actually works for me is the experimentation with plot outlines. I try something out, and if it works, then something else pops into my head to follow that. For me, creativity comes from trite ideas that are used, then tossed, then exchanged and developed and eventually transformed into potentially good ideas.

November's passing by so quickly because all my attentions are put on writing my novel. Can you believe it's already the 17th? I'm working hard on this thing to try to finish on time. If you're writing for NaNoWriMo as well, good luck on the rest of November! We're halfway there!

NaNoWriMo Day 10

We're in week 2! I've heard/read a lot about the dreaded week 2, when the novelty of your story wears off and now you're heading towards murky waters. Here we go!

So far I've been keeping myself on track. I got through most of my outline I made in October of how the story was going to being and the adventures they go on -- but now I actually need to develop the story and the characters. I know what the ending is, so it's just getting the characters to that place now. I want to write a believable and gradual transformation in my main character, so that's taking a good chunk of my daily word count.

I've been tallying 1,667+ words almost every day. On Friday, I was only able to get in 900-some words because I had work and then had a birthday dinner to prepare. (It was a fantastic night and I don't regret not making my word count. Don't let writing rule your life and relationships!) But I made up for that yesterday and am pretty satisfied with what I'm doing in my story. It's kind of a mess when I think about it overall, but the point of NaNoWriMo for me is not to look back and to keep going. Material is better than a blank page!

I haven't hit the wall yet and I haven't gone crazy yet. Yay, success!

Update! What's going on, and is this NaNoWriMo Day 6?

Hello! If you are new here, then welcome to my strange little blog where I write short little stories and fun thoughts that come into my mind. I used to write a bit more regularly here in the past, and now not at all because I've been concentrating on my other blog.

But! I hope for that to change. See, the reason why I've been slacking here is because I felt for a long time that I just wasn't a writer. I don't know how to write, but I like to fake it. I'm not very creative, but I like to pretend I am. I'm not very dedicated, but I would like to be.

That last one is important, because I've decided to take on a ridiculous challenge this month. I've pledged an effort to try for a 50,000-word novel written during this month of November, and so far I've been pretty on track. Go, me! And as for not knowing how to write and not being very creative--I think these can definitely be developed over time and experience. Writers don't automatically become great at writing. Practice, practice, practice, my friends.

I've always wanted to do NaNoWriMo, but I never signed up because I felt too intimidated by the gigantic word count to even try. Last month though, there were new developments in my work life, with two internships coming to an end a new part-time position at a publisher. I knew that in November I would have more time to myself for self-improvement, and since my copywriting at least was getting tons better, I thought my writing deserved further exploration again. And hey, wouldn't it be perfect timing since NaNoWriMo was coming up? I decided to toss out my fears and just bite the bullet. So I've been writing every single day this month, at least 1,667 words! That's not to say I'm writing a masterpiece (toooooootally far from it, which I'm proud of). But writing a terrible story is better than not writing at all.

This is just a personal project for me, inspired by a national movement, to get the writing juices flowing. To keep myself on track, I asked my friend to do daily creations with me, except her project is illustration-based. It's just the 6th day, but so far we've both been keeping up.

I'll be blogging here sometimes about my NaNoWriMo experience and what I'm learning. And hopefully after this month is over, I'll be reinvigorated to write stories again. Can I get a high five? Anyone?

That's okay; I got it. I'm also learning self-sufficiency!

He'd thought to find some place in the road where the snow had melted off completely but then he thought that since their tracks would not reappear on the far side it would be no help. They kicked snow over the fire and went on through the trees and circled and came back. They hurried, leaving a maze of tracks and then they set out back north through the woods keeping the road in view.

-- The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. Vintage Books: pp 104

But there was no sign left of the bears from the night before. He put out his hand and stopped, waiting, listening in the whistling wind for the hungry animals that stalk the forest.

"I think we're safe," the girl said.

He shook his head but began moving anyway, ignoring the way the cold cut his cheeks until he couldn't feel them anymore. They couldn't stop after this, not for more than five minutes at a time, and only if they have to. The woods are never safe. He shouldn't have listened to her. Their tracks, no matter how confusing, are still a sign of food.

The girl walked beside him and wrapped her coat more tightly. Her hands were pale, probably numb, but at least they weren't blue. Yet. "Sorry I made that fire last night," she said. "Are you still mad at me?"

A twig snapped nearby, and immediately they stopped moving, holding their breaths as they took in the sounds around them.

He finally relaxed. "No," he said. It wasn't worth it, dealing with things that have already passed. The next best option would be to leave her, but they've come this far and there was still farther to go. Besides, the bears have better ears in the wintertime for careless, arguing people.

She frowned, and closed her eyes. "You're lying."

They followed the road silently for the rest of the way, stopping just once to empty the snow out of their boots. The sun disappeared in the grey sky, its silhouette just a shadow of itself until finally it wasn't there anymore, and the forest was black and angry again. But in the distance he could see faint lights blinking their way through the trees.

He could see the girl stumbling and caught her arm just as she tripped, her eyes tiredly staring into his before they narrowed into the distance. "Ah," she said, her voice a faint sigh. "We're here."