It’s November 1st.
And we all know what that means, right? National Novel Writing Month!
Yep, it’s time for that annual madness when thousands of writers from all across the world attempt to write a 50,000-word novel (or part of a novel) in 30 days. If you listen carefully, you can hear the click-clack of thousands of fingers flying over thousands of keyboards.
It’s an exciting, heady time.
Once upon a time, before I homeschooled… or had children… or a big house to clean… or a job… I attempted and won NaNoWriMo (and I will forever love the book I got out of it: my first novel, The Changeling). Nowadays, though, NaNo just seems a recipe for burnout and exhaustion.
However, I am inspired to set and reach for some personal writing goals this month–just not as crazy as NaNo’s. Liv Rancourt calls this NaNo-lite. It sounds healthier, at least. 😀
The goal: 25,000 words on my current WIP
The daily breakdown: David’s handy self-adjusting wordcount tool (WriteTrack) tells me that I only need 800 words a day, with 1500 words on Saturdays and Thanksgiving Day off (I rounded the numbers). I got 872 words today, which puts me a wee bit ahead.
The project: Rafe and Isabella are baaaack! Flare is the sequel to Quartz, picking up two years after the end of the first book. I’ve never written a sequel before (yes, True Confessions of a Fantasy Writer). I figured I could use the exercise–plus I need to know how these kids are going to save the world! (Okay, they’re not kids, but I’m the lofty writer, so I get to call them whatever I want… er, hi, Isabella *grins nervously*).
Who’s doing NaNo? Who’s doing NaNo-lite?
And who wants some Halloween candy? I have plenty left over. *eyes heaping basket warily*
Note: I want to read The Changeling. And Quartz.
And I’m glad you’re okay! I was praying for you during the storm and hoping all would be well.
Also, working away at City of Glass on this first day of November. I’ll consider it a success whether I write 25,000 or 50,000, but NanoLite just sounds awesome.
:hugs:
Thanks, Liana! And yay for working on City of Glass! Are you going to continue serializing it?
I’d be happy to send you The Changeling. I’d love to see what you think of it.
I will serialize after I’m done mucking around in the messy bit of initial drafting. My get it down on paper method, when used en masse, requires giving myself the opportunity to sketch, then layer, then sketch in the next section, then layer, etc. ad nauseum. Until I get my flow with it, I’ll wait to start posting.
And yes, yes, yes! Send her over! :dances around and throws confetti:
*nod* I’ve thought about serializing, but my first drafts are always so messy–and for *me*!–that I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. I need to tell the story to myself, before I can tell it to anyone else.
All righty, I will go dig it up right now and send. 😀
Nano sounds fun, but my writing style really doesn’t lend itself to NaNo at all. I’ve spent three decades ignoring word count until I’m done and revising like crazy along the way. Not that NaNo might not work, too, but… I’m supposed to change NOW?!? {Laugh, GRIN}
Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
*nod* NaNo doesn’t work for everyone. That’s all right. There are plenty of us who are NOT doing it. We’re just not as vocal about it as the folks who are (“Guess what? I DIDN’T get 4,534 words on my NaNo project today!” 😉 ).
Doing a variant of nano-lite this year. I have two stories due to anthologies in December, so my goal is simply to finish both in November. I suspect each will be around 10K, though I’d like to keep them shorter. I got 500 words last night on the first, so at least I’m underway!
*cheers on*
Full-on Nano for me! I’m still learning about how my process works, but I strongly suspect it involves lots and lots of words hurtling onto my screen as my thoughts sort themselves out.
Lots of editing to follow …
Good luck with your Nano-Lite, and I’ll take a bit of that Halloween candy. I like Skittles best because you can eat them while typing and not get chocolate all over the keyboard. 🙂
I think I ate the Skittles. O.o
😀
Good luck with NaNo! I have some website work and editing to squeeze in this month, so I need to keep my goals manageable. 😀