Not in any real sort of way, but November’s going to be inSANE. Work is incredibly intense right now, and with NaNoWriMo starting in 20 minutes, almost the entire month is going to be consumed by writing, or thinking about writing. Worse, I’ll be writing about someone who makes games, which means I’ll be writing about my job where I’m writing. Bleah!
I’m excited about it – It’s a little weird because I know that 50K words is definitely possible, and I don’t need to really keep the blistering pace I had last year. But I’m worried also that because I’ll be so busy, I’ll end up slacking and not finishing. I’m hoping that maybe I can do it, even if the only time I write is on the weekends. We’ll see, I suppose.
I have what I think might work as an introduction in my head, and a fistful of other “scenes,” but I don’t really know how it all ties together, which may be a problem in the long run. Last year, I started with a general plot outline, and some general character outlines. Most of those changed in the course of writing, but they were there to fall back on if necessary. This year, I’m flying almost totally blind. I do have the consolation that the main character is basically me, so, at least that’s taken care of. We’ll see.
Anyway – if I don’t see you this month, that’s why.
What with the holidays and everything, November is probably the 2nd worst month to do something like this, December of course being the worst. What were they thinking?!
“Hell”
I don’t understand the impetus to do this writing project in the first place, other than a diversion an entertaining diversion, so I’m not really one to talk.
But if it’s going to make your life “Hell” to do it this month, why not do it some other month or not try to write it in only a month?
If you have an idea you like and want to write about, wouldn’t it be better to develop it over a reasonable period of time rather than cranking through it?
Is it the artificial deadlines that act as the encouragement to do it at all? I’m just puzzled why, if this is something you want to do, why you’re calling it “hell.” It sounds like it’s actually not much fun.
Because it is still fun, and even if I have an idea about what to write, if I’m not doing it during NaNoWriMo, chances are, I’ll never do it on my own.
Because the challenge is fun, and the result is rewarding. Is it always going to be pleasant? Undoubtedly not. But that’s fine – it’s a choice I’ve decided to make.
I wouldn’t say home repair, for instance, is fun – if I had set myself up for a month of solid home repair, I’d also have labelled it “hell.” But it would certainly be rewarding, and I’d be doing it anyway.
Certainly, we’ll be scheduled pretty tightly, and in that sense, it’ll be “hell” but in every other sense, I love this experience.
It’s exhilarating, partly due to the pace and partly do to the feeling of “I can’t believe I’m doing this!” and partly because of lack of sleep. 😉 I find myself really enjoying month-long projects. I have to think of more things I can do within the frame of a month.
It’s also great to do during official NaNoWriMo because the website support is pretty good. There is plentiful, timely advice. The “racing your friends” aspect of it is great too.
Not to be so touchy feely, but it’s more about you, the writer, than the book you end up writing. It’s about the journey.
Ok, try not to hurl. 😉
Seppo is already 700 words ahead of me!! Ack!
Interesting. I hear “hell” and I have flashbacks.
For me, the grind of doing the work to make some “creative” product isn’t the reward. It’s the end product that’s my reward. I look at stuff I’ve done, and I absolutely, positively hated the process. It was hell almost hell for me. 3 hours of sleep a night for weeks. Big chunks of time, of which I have no memory. Coming down with illnesses because of the grind, but not having the opportunity to rest and recover. I stopped wearing contact lenses because of this period (too much time wearing them, no sleep, eye infections, etc.).
But I really like the final results.
The NaNoWriMo thing would be nothing more than a method of tricking myself into working. But that’s just me.
I think it boils down to the fact that you guys threw me off with the use of “hell.” NaNoWriMo sounds like a lot of work, but you enjoy it to a large extent.