As if I don't have enough to keep me occupied, or pre-occupied as the case may be, I've decided to participate in the 2008 National Novel Writing Month - affectionately referred to as NaNoWriMo. It's basically a pledge to write 50,000 words of your novel in the month of November.
I've been writing fiction off and on for - oh - as long as I can remember. I've never really tried to get anything published, and honestly, I've only ever showed my stuff to fellow classmates and of course my beloved GR Writing Group. I've been getting the itch to write something a bit lengthier lately so this is the perfect catalyst!
50,000 words equates to about 1,667 words per day Nov. 1 - 30. I know myself well enough to know that I will not be able to write every day. So, I'll have to do fewer sessions with more words. For example, I'm fairly certain I won't be writing on Thanksgiving. So I've got to make up those words another day.
But, it's not the words that scare me the most ... it's the plot. I don't have a problem putting words to paper - or screen as the case may be. However, for this project, I'm going to have to pick a story line ... and stick with it for 50,000 words! Eek! I've never written a story that lasted more than 4,000 words I don't think. So, I've got about 2 or 3 different plot ideas swimming around in my head. I've been letting them marinate for a while and hope to put together a basic working outline of the story over the next week so I can just get writing come November 1.
The best thing is that this is meant to be an exercise in just getting the words out there. These aren't meant to be perfect, publishable novels by December 1. They are supposed to be messy, full of holes, and totally off track. You're supposed to allow yourself to write something awful, knowing that you can fix it in December. It sort of gives you permission to let the gaps sit there, no need (and frankly no time) to mull over word choices and motivation for hours on end. Being the kind of person who doesn't like to do something unless I'm going to be good at it ... this could be tricky - and very therapeutic.
In the right-hand column I've added a word count widget via the NaNoWriMo website to let everyone know how I'm doing on my quest for 50,000 words in November. If you're curious about the whole thing, visit the official website at www.NaNoWriMo.org. Heck, maybe you could join me in this crazy quest!
Wish me luck!
