OH MY GOD I’M SO EXCITED I COULD BUUUUUUUUUURST!
I won’t… I can’t… I won’t be able to write if I do.
I was going to let Raven do today’s post (as that has been the trend for the last fortnight), but since NaNo is my project, I thought I should be the one to chat to you. Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll be back… probably sooner than you think. *wink*
Anyway! This year, NaNoWriMo is going to be completely different. In the past I have given myself a brief; a start and a finish. Maybe a line or two of where I wanted to be in the middle, but, ultimately, I put my fingers to the keys and let my characters draw me along for a crazy ride.
Not this year. I’ve talked about this in my post over at the Phoenix Writers, but, in brief, Silk Over Razor Blades has consumed my life for too long. I need to finish it or let it go. So this year I have a detailed outline of exactly where I want things to go, meaning that plot holes, inconsistencies and weakness crippling previous versions are gone. My subplots are clear. They have a purpose. The main plot is strong and exciting (even to me!) and has (from what I can see) suitable peaks and troughs to carry it from start to finish. I’m well armed this year.
That’s why… this year the goal isn’t to reach 50k words. I can do that easily. I always have, with NaNo except for last year when the boys were still so small. I suppose I can be forgiven for choosing to sleep rather than write. Nope… the goal this year is to actually finish the story. I want to get to type the last word, enter three carriage returns and then type ‘THE END’ underneath it. That’s my goal.
I don’t want to finish it in December – I have too much other stuff to do – it must be November.
Phew!
Yes, I know it’s crazy. I know that. Believe me, I know. But I have to try. You achieve nothing without pushing yourself.
So… I’ll keep you up to date on how things are going with regular updates linked into my goal list. I’ll give you a sample every now and then and let you know how I’m feeling about it all. This is so exciting because it’s a completely different approach to novel writing; one I’ve never tried before. I want to share it with you.
If you’re taking part this year, feel free to look me up (I’m still under Ileandra Young – and that’s i- l- not double l, as I’ve seen in the past) and join me.
I would LOVE to know how you’re all doing. Please, please share with me. Writing is so solitary… for this one month, let’s make it a group activity, eh? 🙂
Good luck! I’ve taken a different approach this year, too. Other years I’ve just had an idea in the lead up to November, and started completely from scratch on November 1st. This year, I actually planned and detailed certain aspects, researched some stuff, and have been really eager to start it since about August. It’s currently 10AM here, and I’ve done 648 words so far. (Thanks to taking a day off work just for this.)
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Wooo! Best use of a day off if you ask me. 😉
Sounds like I’m not the only one going at NaNo this year with a game plan. I hope it makes things easier for you and streamlines the process. Sounds like you’re off to a great start!
Will you check back in to share how you’re getting on? 🙂
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To be honest, my usual writing process is just “see how it goes”, so this is chance for me to try something totally different in general. Just finished the prologue. And yes, I will check in 🙂
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Wonderful! Looking forward to seeing how it works for you. ^_^
Good luck! x
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Reached day one word count 🙂 Time to grab some lunch.
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Woo! Awesome sauce. 😀
I’m about 300 words away so far. 🙂
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1986 words so far today peeps. Hope you’re all doing well and feeling the NaNo lurve!
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I’ve got my own name for this month, which I’ll reveal in next Tuesday’s post. 😉 I’m not writing anything new, either, and not officially entering NaNo, but I have some rebuilding goals in mind for one of my WIPs. And the 2,153 words so far today has me off to a good start. 🙂
Good luck with your revisions!
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Excellent stuff!
Looking forward to the Tuesday reveal… *totally intrigued*
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