Not off to a good start with NaNoWriMo this year. My heart is simply not in it and I could not put my finger on why. Then I wondered if it is because they have not got the word count widget ready yet and it is not motivating me along. (Excuse 1).
Was it because I am alone here in Cyprus with no launch party to get me in the frenzied mood. (Excuse 2).
Was I prepared enough? The answer is yes.
Am I worried about not achieving the target figure and it is holding me back? Not sure...could be the answer.
Or is it that I have done it once and no longer need the thrill of the chase? Mm, could be, could be.
Maybe I am settled into my own writing routine and do not want it tipped off balance in any way? Yes! Yes! that is the answer!
I am happy in my pantsing, plodding way. I do not want to rush through research, I want to enjoy the process. My brain is happy walking away and making a card or two inbetween scenes. My butt does not want to sit and force brain to churn out 2, 000 words a day of nothing. My inner editor had a breakdown last year and I cannot do it to the poor thing again. She enjoys editing as she plods along in the first draft. Time is not against her and she can relax.
I want to enjoy my writing process not feel I have to speed along.
I do not want to let myself down with anything under 50,000 words. If there is no target date then the pressure is off. I know if a publisher wanted me to write a book in a month I could do it, but I am no longer prepared to do it for 'pleasure'.
There you have it-my confession as to why I am pulling out of NaNoWriMo on day two.
PS: I had a wonderful birthday surprise. My husband bought me a Kindle. I am surprised he even knew what one was. He said it looked useful. :)
14 Comments:
I"m with you, Glynis! I love to feel comfortable with my own pace and not have to worry about wordcount! :o)
I'm a panster, plodder too. The idea of NaNo has never appealed to me. It motivates others, which is great. Do whatever works for you.
Happy writing!
Glynis,
I'm with you. I didn't have to pull out because I didn't start.
We have to go where we are led and I am always led to follow my inner self.
Health issues continue to take some of my time and when I get the time to write, I cannot take pressure. I write at my own speed.
My writing path over 30 years has been in and out and up and down. Sometimes I write verse, sometimes an essay and often work on my novel.
Right now I'm formatting the one and only novel I've finished and it's taking more time than I thought it would.
I have two places to send it and then I plan to e pub.
What are you into on the writing front??? Let us know.
Or just email me. Your post today could have been written by me, I so identify!
Blessings.
I don't nano either for much the same reason. :-) Enjoy your writing ways!
I can see that Glynis. I'm totally a pantster too. I'm doing NaNo again this year mostly because it came at exactly the right time - when I'm madly drafting my way into a new story. Otherwise I doubt I'd have committed to it.
Jessica, Theresa and Jessica, thanks. I think NaNo worked for me last year as it validated that I could write a novel under pressure. This year it is a case of been there done that.
Barbara, I am on novel three. The other two are awaiting publication. One is with a publisher and the other just waits for the right time. Thanks for showing interest. Keep writing and doing what you love best. Good health to you.
Thank you all for visiting me today. x
I don't do NaNo either, because I too have my own writing routine and rhythm that works for me.
I usually participate unofficially, because I like to push myself in 30 days and see how much I can do. But I've never yet hit 50K words :) Enjoy your Kindle!
I'm not doing NaNo either. But I never have. I'm always in the middle of writing a book when it starts and don't see the point of abandoning what I'm doing. Glad I'm not alone. Good to see you. Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I'm hoping to get back in the swing of visiting my friends. I missed you.
That's a good reason, Glynis!
I'm not doing it because I've got academic responsibilities this time of year that take up too much time... and I'm more accustomed to my own rhythm of writing as it is.
I completely understand how you feel. Though I'm doing NaNo this year, sometimes I don't want the hassle of feeling constrained by someone else's goal, especially when what I'm writing isn't quite as rigid (my own work is mostly serialized writing that's published online, and there's no fixed wordcount or ending date) as a 50K novella.
One thing I've found useful is a different writing marathon: WeSeWriMo, which is based on NaNo but aimed at web serial writers... and the whole point of the marathon is that each writer chooses his or her own goal. So you can be as ambitious as you want depending on your own writing style and pace. You can learn more at http://www.wesewrimo.org if you want.
I did Nano for the first time last year. It was quite an experience.
This year, my heart hasn't been in it. I've been up and down about whether or not to complete. Yesterday was a down day, and I wrote nothing. Today was an update, and I decided to give Nano a try. Of course, I'm already a day behind, but not too difficult to catch up.
Not sure if I'll drop out though. My husband and I talk about completing some of the stuff I've already started rather than start something new. *sigh* We'll see how these next few days go and if I keep up the motivation.
Good luck to those participating. And keep on trucking for those who've got their own routine! :)
Deniz, good luck and have fun!
Talli, as you know I can pull it out of the bag if I need to. :)
Karen, I think that is a good thing to do. Self targets might work for me too!
Kathy, great to see you. We are all busy so do not fret. I do understand! :)
William, I think if an author becomes comfortable with their routine it is silly to change. Enjoy your writing time.
Kira, good luck with NaNo. Thanks for the link, I will take a look.
Reena, we are in the same boat. I hope you have more up days!Good luck!
Thank you all for your lovely comments and support. I know you are all busy and I appreciate you taking time out for me.x
I have never done NaNo. My timing is always off but part of me worries that I'd stress out more than write.
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