Today's post will be a little out of the normal. Mainly because this national novel writing month, I returned to my roots as a writer and did something I haven't indulged in for a long time: I pantsered this book.
I am usually a fan of my plotting and my careful details. However, this time I said screw it, threw away my plot (which I had spent an entire month working on) and decided that I would dive in with nothing but my poet-possessed laptop and my brain.
Really, it was a great idea.
This novel does not use a unique concept. It uses a plot mechanism used before, but done in a way unique to me. This is also outside of my usual method of operation. While I won't quite say it has a cliche plot, I focused more on telling a good story than trying to tell a unique story. There is a little irony in that I think I managed to come away with one of my better stories just by focusing on having fun.
This got me thinking a little. When I stepped back and viewed my book on the level of telling a good story, there are often similar plot mechanisms I like in a story. 'Snicker's' bars versus fillet mignon, but.... I think this month I went for a book that would be a fun read.
And somehow, I think I have succeeded.
By throwing off the usual controlled style of writing, I think I touched back on why I love to write. I think this let me relax and do what I love the most. This reflects in the quality of my writing, as well. This book will need edits, but I am not so certain that it will need a rewrite. I know scenes that I want to tune, but so far there are none I want to scrape.
It is a pleasant, uplifting feeling. While I am usually able to write a good quantity of words when I apply myself, I do not usually feel so eager to get up in the morning and get to work on a book.
Thank you, November. Thanks for letting me get back in touch with my roots and remember what it is like to write a book off the seat of my pants!
This is the book that I will send to a publisher and agents. It will need work, it will need polish, but this is the one that I will take all of the way.
Showing posts with label national novel writing month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label national novel writing month. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Purpose of the Plot
Greetings, Pantser. Hello, Outliner. Warm welcome to those in-between.
No matter what type of organizer you are it is important that your story has a plot. There is one exception to this which I will go over at the very end of this post. Please deal with my humor until then.
First, no matter how good or how bad a story is, no matter what genre that story belongs to, it shares one simple thing with all stories. There is some form of plot. When you put a sentence down to the paper, you are writing about *something*. That something will become your plot. Or at least part of it.
When you write your first draft, you may not know what your plot is until you get there. That is one of the joys of being a pantser -- or someone who writes by the seat of their pants. I have served my time as a pantser. It can be a great deal of fun. It keeps the mystery alive. Until the last word, the last page, when you sigh and realize that you are 'finished'. Crossing the finish line as a pantser can be very rewarding.
But let us not forget about the dedicated outliner. These folks -- I've done this as well -- plan their plots, their conflicts and their characters in advance of writing. These folks know where their story is going. These folks sit through the hard moments where they know exactly what is to come and cope with having to wait to get there. In a way, the outliner may feel as if they are putting the finishing touches on a story by writing the dialogs, the descriptions and the scenes out true to their outline.
Then there are the few who are both pantser and outliner. I fall into this category. After having done dramatic experimentation with both outlining and pantser'ing. These folks have a direction but leave the details up to chance. Many pantsers will often have a concept of where they want to go, but it changes on the fly. The hybrid will know where they want to go, the getting there is just an adventure waiting to happen.
All of these methods are correct. The magic is in the editing, but that is a different subject altogether.
Now that we have covered the three basic types of writers, let us dig right into the heart of the issue.
What is a plot? Why do I need it? And why do *you* feel like you need to tell me why *I* need a plot? Who the hell are you anyway?
There are many more questions that could suffer answering, but I will start with these.
What is a plot?
A plot is the driving force behind a story. It is your story. It is your synopsis, it is the reason your reader wants to keep reading your book. It is the conflict. It is the drama. It is the breath-taking moment when your character's dream has come true. It is every defining moment of your book. It is the why of your book. It is also the how of your book. It is the purpose of your book.
The plot, in the nitty-gritty world, is the series of events that take your book from the start to the end. It is the tangled weave that your character spins as he or she goes out on their adventures. It is the series of events that take your character to the conflict and the events that allow them to resolve the conflict.
Wikipedia defines a plot as: A literary term, a plot is all the events in a story particularly rendered toward the achievement of some particular artistic or emotional effect or general theme. An intricate, complicated plot is known as an imbroglio, but even the simplest statements of plot can have multiple inferences, such as with songs in the ballad tradition. Basically a plot is the story line or the way a story is written.
Why do I need it?
Why do you need air? Why do you eat? Why do you sleep? Why do you ask me this question?
This has been something that I have been answering a lot lately. This is actually what spurred me into writing this post. With National Novel Writing Month quickly approaching, many writers are struggling with this concept. Some are even throwing their hands up in disgust and giving up because they focus on their characters and end up with no plot, no world and no purpose for them. When asked about this.... they'd get offended and say their characters are the plot.
No, your characters -- no matter how beautiful or wonderful -- are not your plot. You need a plot. Get over it and make one. Start with your conflict. Once you know what the main conflict and the climax (The most tense, story changing event in your novel) it is MUCH easier to figure out the rest of your plot. Just remember, you do NOT have to have all of your plots tied to the climax. Side-adventures are allowed. In fact, they are encouraged. They can add a lot to a story even if it may not be directly related to the climax. Your climax is very much your defining moment in the book.
And why do *you* feel like you need to tell me why *I* need a plot? Who the hell are you anyway?
I am just a writer like any other. I just love the craft so much I feel the need to ramble on about it. You don't have to follow my advice. It is, after all, just advice. Do what you want. But, your story will be much better off with a good plot.
And if you somehow manage to get me to critique your book, you won't get the lecture about plots and realize 80,000 words in that your story is actually lacking a defining plot and you need to rewrite the whole thing -yet again-. If you fail to get a good plot, you will end up doing a full rewrite.
I know I have fallen into this trap.
As a side-note, a good plot does not need to be a complex plot. Sometimes the best plots are the simple ones.
Now, as I promised early (Look, Ma, I kept my promise. Really, I did!) there is a situation where plot... well, who needs it? National Novel Writing Month!
All the rules are gone for this. If it is fiction, have fun. Write whatever. No plot? Pfffft. Who needs a plot anyway? The point and beauty of National Novel Writing Month is to enjoy writing. To accomplish something you haven't before. By all means, throw aside the wicked plot and just write. You might be surprised at the plot that sneaks in, but do not be afraid to experiment and play. It isn't for the professional, but for that scared little writer who really wants to write a book but needs the experience.
Don't worry. You can worry about your plot on the next book. November is for you, new writer.
No matter what type of organizer you are it is important that your story has a plot. There is one exception to this which I will go over at the very end of this post. Please deal with my humor until then.
First, no matter how good or how bad a story is, no matter what genre that story belongs to, it shares one simple thing with all stories. There is some form of plot. When you put a sentence down to the paper, you are writing about *something*. That something will become your plot. Or at least part of it.
When you write your first draft, you may not know what your plot is until you get there. That is one of the joys of being a pantser -- or someone who writes by the seat of their pants. I have served my time as a pantser. It can be a great deal of fun. It keeps the mystery alive. Until the last word, the last page, when you sigh and realize that you are 'finished'. Crossing the finish line as a pantser can be very rewarding.
But let us not forget about the dedicated outliner. These folks -- I've done this as well -- plan their plots, their conflicts and their characters in advance of writing. These folks know where their story is going. These folks sit through the hard moments where they know exactly what is to come and cope with having to wait to get there. In a way, the outliner may feel as if they are putting the finishing touches on a story by writing the dialogs, the descriptions and the scenes out true to their outline.
Then there are the few who are both pantser and outliner. I fall into this category. After having done dramatic experimentation with both outlining and pantser'ing. These folks have a direction but leave the details up to chance. Many pantsers will often have a concept of where they want to go, but it changes on the fly. The hybrid will know where they want to go, the getting there is just an adventure waiting to happen.
All of these methods are correct. The magic is in the editing, but that is a different subject altogether.
Now that we have covered the three basic types of writers, let us dig right into the heart of the issue.
What is a plot? Why do I need it? And why do *you* feel like you need to tell me why *I* need a plot? Who the hell are you anyway?
There are many more questions that could suffer answering, but I will start with these.
What is a plot?
A plot is the driving force behind a story. It is your story. It is your synopsis, it is the reason your reader wants to keep reading your book. It is the conflict. It is the drama. It is the breath-taking moment when your character's dream has come true. It is every defining moment of your book. It is the why of your book. It is also the how of your book. It is the purpose of your book.
The plot, in the nitty-gritty world, is the series of events that take your book from the start to the end. It is the tangled weave that your character spins as he or she goes out on their adventures. It is the series of events that take your character to the conflict and the events that allow them to resolve the conflict.
Wikipedia defines a plot as: A literary term, a plot is all the events in a story particularly rendered toward the achievement of some particular artistic or emotional effect or general theme. An intricate, complicated plot is known as an imbroglio, but even the simplest statements of plot can have multiple inferences, such as with songs in the ballad tradition. Basically a plot is the story line or the way a story is written.
Why do I need it?
Why do you need air? Why do you eat? Why do you sleep? Why do you ask me this question?
This has been something that I have been answering a lot lately. This is actually what spurred me into writing this post. With National Novel Writing Month quickly approaching, many writers are struggling with this concept. Some are even throwing their hands up in disgust and giving up because they focus on their characters and end up with no plot, no world and no purpose for them. When asked about this.... they'd get offended and say their characters are the plot.
No, your characters -- no matter how beautiful or wonderful -- are not your plot. You need a plot. Get over it and make one. Start with your conflict. Once you know what the main conflict and the climax (The most tense, story changing event in your novel) it is MUCH easier to figure out the rest of your plot. Just remember, you do NOT have to have all of your plots tied to the climax. Side-adventures are allowed. In fact, they are encouraged. They can add a lot to a story even if it may not be directly related to the climax. Your climax is very much your defining moment in the book.
And why do *you* feel like you need to tell me why *I* need a plot? Who the hell are you anyway?
I am just a writer like any other. I just love the craft so much I feel the need to ramble on about it. You don't have to follow my advice. It is, after all, just advice. Do what you want. But, your story will be much better off with a good plot.
And if you somehow manage to get me to critique your book, you won't get the lecture about plots and realize 80,000 words in that your story is actually lacking a defining plot and you need to rewrite the whole thing -yet again-. If you fail to get a good plot, you will end up doing a full rewrite.
I know I have fallen into this trap.
As a side-note, a good plot does not need to be a complex plot. Sometimes the best plots are the simple ones.
Now, as I promised early (Look, Ma, I kept my promise. Really, I did!) there is a situation where plot... well, who needs it? National Novel Writing Month!
All the rules are gone for this. If it is fiction, have fun. Write whatever. No plot? Pfffft. Who needs a plot anyway? The point and beauty of National Novel Writing Month is to enjoy writing. To accomplish something you haven't before. By all means, throw aside the wicked plot and just write. You might be surprised at the plot that sneaks in, but do not be afraid to experiment and play. It isn't for the professional, but for that scared little writer who really wants to write a book but needs the experience.
Don't worry. You can worry about your plot on the next book. November is for you, new writer.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
NaNoWriMo looms on the horizon
It is that time of year! NaNoWriMo is looming on the horizon and many people are trying to decide whether or not they wish to participate.
Here is my guide for diving into NaNoWriMo face first and surviving it.
For those of you in the Montreal area, I will likely be covering these subjects in an upcoming workshop in October as well as at Con*Cept. While I am still in talks with the good folks over at Con*Cept, an appearance by the Montreal ML crew is likely.
1: What is NaNoWriMo?
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. While National implies it belongs in one country, don't worry. It takes place in many countries around the world. It does not matter what gender, age or occupation you have.
The concept behind NaNoWriMo is to write a novel in 30 days. Starting November 1st and ending at midnight on November 30, your goal is to write 50,000 words. This is technically shorter than some published novels, but it is long enough to properly classify as a novel.
You can view the rules of NaNoWriMo here.
Here is a glimpse of what is required to be an official participant: (Yes, this is a direct copy paste from the link above.)
* Write a 50,000-word (or longer!) novel, between November 1 and November 30.
* Start from scratch. None of your own previously written prose can be included in your NaNoWriMo draft (though outlines, character sketches, and research are all fine, as are citations from other people's works).
* Write a novel. We define a novel as a lengthy work of fiction. If you consider the book you're writing a novel, we consider it a novel too!
Be the sole author of your novel. Apart from those citations mentioned two bullet-points up.
* Write multiple words (not the same word repeated 50,000 times).
* Upload your novel for word-count validation to our site between November 25 and November 30.
Pretty easy, huh?
Not quite.
2: Just how hard is it to win at NaNoWriMo
From my personal experiences, I have years I have won and years that I have not won. However, it is important to realize that the point of NaNoWriMo is not to win, but to experience the thrill of writing your own book. Sometimes victory is not in reaching 50,000 words, but the journey you took when you set out to do it. It does not matter if you succeed or fail. It matters that you tried at all.
3: I am not certain I have enough time to dedicate an entire month to NaNoWriMo! I have school, work, exams, etc...
Excuses get you no where. Do what you can as you can. Your goal is to write 1,667 words a day. If you know that you cannot reach that goal, set a smaller goal for yourself that you can win.
4: I really want to reach 50,000 words, but I don't know how to do it. Help!
Practice makes perfect. Writing a novel in 30 days is hard no matter how you look at it. Break your novel down into sentence sections. Sit down and force yourself to write a sentence. That goal is not difficult to meet. Anyone can write a sentence. Stop viewing your writing as 50,000 individual words that make a plot and a story. When you sit down, focus on the sentence you wish to write. If you're stuck and you do not know what to write, I find it is easier to focus on a small little piece rather than the overview.
5: This doesn't make sense. Novels are supposed to be good and well written. Why are you suggesting that I ignore my plot and focus on sentences? One sentences does not make a plot!
Oh dear. You're right! How could I have missed that? Why? Because NaNoWriMo is not meant to make a great story. In fact, I would state that NaNoWriMo is more about writing the crappiest story that you possibly can. If you do not care about quality, quantity will come. While professional writers do participate in NaNoWriMo, this month is not for them. It is for the person who has sat at their computer and wished that they could write a book. It is for those who have never accomplished something so large. It is for the unpublished writer who wants to taste sweet victory without a looming rejection on the horizon. There are no rejection notices in NaNoWriMo. The only person you have to please is yourself. If you do not have a plot but 50,000 words of rambling sentences, you have still succeeded.
You can try to write a book that makes sense later.
4: Seriously. Quantity over Quality.
It is worth a second look at. For the person who has never written a novel before, it is important that you get that first story under your belt. If your dream is to be published, use NaNoWriMo as a stepping stone. The first draft of a novel is there to find out what the novel is about. Use NaNoWriMo to make that first draft. You can repair the plots and do the other things this blog suggests in December.
5: Who should participate in NaNoWriMo? Who should not participate?
While I believe anyone can benefit from NaNoWriMo, or at least have a little fun, I think it is harder for the professional writer to get something productive out of it. Their livelihood is based on the quality of their writing. If you do not have a deadline and need to do a draft anyway, then it may be the ideal situation for a professional author. However, it really is meant for the amateur who doesn't know if they can reach 50,000. It won't stop me from participating, but I always keep in mind that I need to make certain I meet all of my requirements as a professional writer before I have fun with NaNoWriMo.
I have, however, made a point of ensuring that I won't have any contracts for November this year. /innocent
6: What do you suggest I do to survive NaNoWriMo?
I have hours of content on what you can do to survive NaNoWriMo. It won't all fit here. Not without writing a novel on the subject. To make a long story very, very short, here is a list of things that you can do to help yourself survive November.
* Get a writing partner who is working at NaNoWriMo with you
* Hook up with your Municipal Liaison. They are there to help you.
* Set aside a time specifically for your writing.
* Use sites like 750words.com or WriteorDie.com to help you focus
* Keep high supplies of caffeine and sugar within easy reach.
* Turn off IRC, Twitter, Facebook, Instant Messaging and your phone when you write. They do not help you.
* Believe in yourself.
* Ask for plot help on the forums if you get writing block. Do not sit and stare at a blank screen.
* Write something. Anything. If you're blocked, writing angry commentary about how you're stuck might help you get unstuck. It may not make sense in your book, but you are writing and that is the entire point of NaNoWriMo
* Have fun. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, but this is a chance to do well without needing quality. Take advantage of it. You don't get the chance often.
* Help others as they have helped you. Take a break from your writing long enough to help someone else. How much they help you later may really surprise you.
* Remember -- there are thousands of people just like you participating. This can quietly lift your spirits even when you question why you are putting yourself through the nightmare of 50,000 words in 30 days.
7: How can I help someone else succeed at NaNoWriMo?
Sometimes the best support is quietly letting someone know that you are rooting for them and making yourself available if they need someone to listen. However, you help someone best when you tell them they should be writing rather than chatting if they have overcome their plot problem or have cracked through their writing block. Listen if it is necessary. Nudge them back to writing when it is not.
Good luck, everyone! I will be right there with you this year, rooting you on and hoping that all of you experience and enjoy NaNoWriMo as it was meant to be enjoyed.
Here is my guide for diving into NaNoWriMo face first and surviving it.
For those of you in the Montreal area, I will likely be covering these subjects in an upcoming workshop in October as well as at Con*Cept. While I am still in talks with the good folks over at Con*Cept, an appearance by the Montreal ML crew is likely.
1: What is NaNoWriMo?
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. While National implies it belongs in one country, don't worry. It takes place in many countries around the world. It does not matter what gender, age or occupation you have.
The concept behind NaNoWriMo is to write a novel in 30 days. Starting November 1st and ending at midnight on November 30, your goal is to write 50,000 words. This is technically shorter than some published novels, but it is long enough to properly classify as a novel.
You can view the rules of NaNoWriMo here.
Here is a glimpse of what is required to be an official participant: (Yes, this is a direct copy paste from the link above.)
* Write a 50,000-word (or longer!) novel, between November 1 and November 30.
* Start from scratch. None of your own previously written prose can be included in your NaNoWriMo draft (though outlines, character sketches, and research are all fine, as are citations from other people's works).
* Write a novel. We define a novel as a lengthy work of fiction. If you consider the book you're writing a novel, we consider it a novel too!
Be the sole author of your novel. Apart from those citations mentioned two bullet-points up.
* Write multiple words (not the same word repeated 50,000 times).
* Upload your novel for word-count validation to our site between November 25 and November 30.
Pretty easy, huh?
Not quite.
2: Just how hard is it to win at NaNoWriMo
From my personal experiences, I have years I have won and years that I have not won. However, it is important to realize that the point of NaNoWriMo is not to win, but to experience the thrill of writing your own book. Sometimes victory is not in reaching 50,000 words, but the journey you took when you set out to do it. It does not matter if you succeed or fail. It matters that you tried at all.
3: I am not certain I have enough time to dedicate an entire month to NaNoWriMo! I have school, work, exams, etc...
Excuses get you no where. Do what you can as you can. Your goal is to write 1,667 words a day. If you know that you cannot reach that goal, set a smaller goal for yourself that you can win.
4: I really want to reach 50,000 words, but I don't know how to do it. Help!
Practice makes perfect. Writing a novel in 30 days is hard no matter how you look at it. Break your novel down into sentence sections. Sit down and force yourself to write a sentence. That goal is not difficult to meet. Anyone can write a sentence. Stop viewing your writing as 50,000 individual words that make a plot and a story. When you sit down, focus on the sentence you wish to write. If you're stuck and you do not know what to write, I find it is easier to focus on a small little piece rather than the overview.
5: This doesn't make sense. Novels are supposed to be good and well written. Why are you suggesting that I ignore my plot and focus on sentences? One sentences does not make a plot!
Oh dear. You're right! How could I have missed that? Why? Because NaNoWriMo is not meant to make a great story. In fact, I would state that NaNoWriMo is more about writing the crappiest story that you possibly can. If you do not care about quality, quantity will come. While professional writers do participate in NaNoWriMo, this month is not for them. It is for the person who has sat at their computer and wished that they could write a book. It is for those who have never accomplished something so large. It is for the unpublished writer who wants to taste sweet victory without a looming rejection on the horizon. There are no rejection notices in NaNoWriMo. The only person you have to please is yourself. If you do not have a plot but 50,000 words of rambling sentences, you have still succeeded.
You can try to write a book that makes sense later.
4: Seriously. Quantity over Quality.
It is worth a second look at. For the person who has never written a novel before, it is important that you get that first story under your belt. If your dream is to be published, use NaNoWriMo as a stepping stone. The first draft of a novel is there to find out what the novel is about. Use NaNoWriMo to make that first draft. You can repair the plots and do the other things this blog suggests in December.
5: Who should participate in NaNoWriMo? Who should not participate?
While I believe anyone can benefit from NaNoWriMo, or at least have a little fun, I think it is harder for the professional writer to get something productive out of it. Their livelihood is based on the quality of their writing. If you do not have a deadline and need to do a draft anyway, then it may be the ideal situation for a professional author. However, it really is meant for the amateur who doesn't know if they can reach 50,000. It won't stop me from participating, but I always keep in mind that I need to make certain I meet all of my requirements as a professional writer before I have fun with NaNoWriMo.
I have, however, made a point of ensuring that I won't have any contracts for November this year. /innocent
6: What do you suggest I do to survive NaNoWriMo?
I have hours of content on what you can do to survive NaNoWriMo. It won't all fit here. Not without writing a novel on the subject. To make a long story very, very short, here is a list of things that you can do to help yourself survive November.
* Get a writing partner who is working at NaNoWriMo with you
* Hook up with your Municipal Liaison. They are there to help you.
* Set aside a time specifically for your writing.
* Use sites like 750words.com or WriteorDie.com to help you focus
* Keep high supplies of caffeine and sugar within easy reach.
* Turn off IRC, Twitter, Facebook, Instant Messaging and your phone when you write. They do not help you.
* Believe in yourself.
* Ask for plot help on the forums if you get writing block. Do not sit and stare at a blank screen.
* Write something. Anything. If you're blocked, writing angry commentary about how you're stuck might help you get unstuck. It may not make sense in your book, but you are writing and that is the entire point of NaNoWriMo
* Have fun. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, but this is a chance to do well without needing quality. Take advantage of it. You don't get the chance often.
* Help others as they have helped you. Take a break from your writing long enough to help someone else. How much they help you later may really surprise you.
* Remember -- there are thousands of people just like you participating. This can quietly lift your spirits even when you question why you are putting yourself through the nightmare of 50,000 words in 30 days.
7: How can I help someone else succeed at NaNoWriMo?
Sometimes the best support is quietly letting someone know that you are rooting for them and making yourself available if they need someone to listen. However, you help someone best when you tell them they should be writing rather than chatting if they have overcome their plot problem or have cracked through their writing block. Listen if it is necessary. Nudge them back to writing when it is not.
Good luck, everyone! I will be right there with you this year, rooting you on and hoping that all of you experience and enjoy NaNoWriMo as it was meant to be enjoyed.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Motivation and making excuses
It seems like one of the most common threads of discussion among writers is how to stay motivated. It can be hard. I fail at it myself. However, there are a few things that you can do to keep yourself going.
For me, I think one of the biggest things that helps keep me on pace is one very simple tip:
A novel is much larger than a sentence.
When I think of a novel and writing one, it is difficult to get past the scope of what I am doing. No matter how I look at it, the idea of undertaking a novel is enormous. You cannot sit down and write a completed novel in a day.
Really. I don't think it is statistically possible. Maybe if you were superman.
For those interested, you would have to write 2083 words an hour (34 words a minute) for 24 hours. Without stop. Maybe a very fast typer could manage it, but the whole lack of sleep and plot bunnies thing would probably prevent a successful completion. If you have managed 50k in 24 hours, however, I'd be interested to hear from you. What color would you like your shrine in? :)
I stray.
The point remains that the average person cannot write a novel in a day. However, the average person *can* write a sentence in a day. In fact, I would hazard that most people could write a sentence every few minutes, if they were really interested in doing so. Enough people manage to write many sentences in a few minutes on twitter.
Do not view your novel as a novel. If you have trouble maintaining your motivation when you consider your novel, view it as a connected series of sentences. Sit down, every single morning, and tell yourself the following:
Today I will write one sentence.
Sit down and write one sentence. Sometimes, just sometimes, that one sentence can bloom into several sentences. Time twists and warps, as your fingers settle into the steady rhythm of typing. Because you sat down with the goal of writing one sentence, you may find an hour has passed you by, and your moment of dedication evolved into something much better than a moment.
Do not tell yourself "I cleaned, I edited, I walked the dog. I took care of the children. Maybe I will find time tomorrow to write.
Do not push off to tomorrow what you can do today. If you have enough time to log onto twitter, check your saved searches, see who messaged you and respond, you have enough time to sit down and write your sentence.
The only person you fail is yourself. The instant you have time to go to a website like twitter, visit my blog, or go to facebook, you have enough time to write a single sentence.
After all, the greatest stories of all times began with a single sentence.
The only person that you fail when you choose twitter or facebook or a blog is yourself.
I wrote 2846 words so far today. That is many sentences.
It all started with one.
Stop viewing your novel as a novel, and start viewing it as a sentence that happens to have a lot of other siblings. Are you stuck? Don't think of the plot. Think of the next sentence. If you are still stuck, write something -- anything -- onto the page.
Even if it is something as simple as:
"I can do this."
Excuses hurt you and do not define your character as a writer. The difference between an author and a writer is quite simple:
The Author didn't make excuses.
They corrected what they were doing wrong, sat down at their computers or typewriters, and wrote their sentences.
You can do it, if you stop making excuses and start making sentences instead.
Quality will come with time.
National Novel Writing Month is coming up in November. Starting today, you can see what results practicing your sentences today can do for your writing of tomorrow.
For me, I think one of the biggest things that helps keep me on pace is one very simple tip:
A novel is much larger than a sentence.
When I think of a novel and writing one, it is difficult to get past the scope of what I am doing. No matter how I look at it, the idea of undertaking a novel is enormous. You cannot sit down and write a completed novel in a day.
Really. I don't think it is statistically possible. Maybe if you were superman.
For those interested, you would have to write 2083 words an hour (34 words a minute) for 24 hours. Without stop. Maybe a very fast typer could manage it, but the whole lack of sleep and plot bunnies thing would probably prevent a successful completion. If you have managed 50k in 24 hours, however, I'd be interested to hear from you. What color would you like your shrine in? :)
I stray.
The point remains that the average person cannot write a novel in a day. However, the average person *can* write a sentence in a day. In fact, I would hazard that most people could write a sentence every few minutes, if they were really interested in doing so. Enough people manage to write many sentences in a few minutes on twitter.
Do not view your novel as a novel. If you have trouble maintaining your motivation when you consider your novel, view it as a connected series of sentences. Sit down, every single morning, and tell yourself the following:
Today I will write one sentence.
Sit down and write one sentence. Sometimes, just sometimes, that one sentence can bloom into several sentences. Time twists and warps, as your fingers settle into the steady rhythm of typing. Because you sat down with the goal of writing one sentence, you may find an hour has passed you by, and your moment of dedication evolved into something much better than a moment.
Do not tell yourself "I cleaned, I edited, I walked the dog. I took care of the children. Maybe I will find time tomorrow to write.
Do not push off to tomorrow what you can do today. If you have enough time to log onto twitter, check your saved searches, see who messaged you and respond, you have enough time to sit down and write your sentence.
The only person you fail is yourself. The instant you have time to go to a website like twitter, visit my blog, or go to facebook, you have enough time to write a single sentence.
After all, the greatest stories of all times began with a single sentence.
The only person that you fail when you choose twitter or facebook or a blog is yourself.
I wrote 2846 words so far today. That is many sentences.
It all started with one.
Stop viewing your novel as a novel, and start viewing it as a sentence that happens to have a lot of other siblings. Are you stuck? Don't think of the plot. Think of the next sentence. If you are still stuck, write something -- anything -- onto the page.
Even if it is something as simple as:
"I can do this."
Excuses hurt you and do not define your character as a writer. The difference between an author and a writer is quite simple:
The Author didn't make excuses.
They corrected what they were doing wrong, sat down at their computers or typewriters, and wrote their sentences.
You can do it, if you stop making excuses and start making sentences instead.
Quality will come with time.
National Novel Writing Month is coming up in November. Starting today, you can see what results practicing your sentences today can do for your writing of tomorrow.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Handwriting versus Keyboarding
Hey -- sorry for such the long delay in making any posts. Things have been busy.
Today, I am going to throw to the table the classic argument of which is better: Handwriting versus Keyboarding. By Keyboarding, I mean typing your story directly to the computer.
This is not as easy of a subject as it sounds. There are lots of arguments for both. In fact, there is no one right way to do it. This is completely subjective.
This level of subjectiveness is what makes this a *fun* topic of discussion. What do *you* do?
I do both. It depends what mood I am in when I start a project. This is the key point: What mood I am in when I *start* a project. I think a very costly mistake is trying to do both at once. I write completely differently on notebook paper when I do to the computer. I don't know what it is about notebook paper, but I write to the plot, plot bunnies abound, and I usually tell an entertaining, if not horribly written story.
That said, once I go to the computer, I often end up with a better product at the end of the day. I lose the tendency to edit while I am writing, so every word I add is being directly productive.
This is just me, of course.
Here is a very small list of pros and cons for handwriting -- specific to me:
Pros:
Inability to edit
Inability to see word count
Pure story-telling
PENS.
Cons:
Inability to see word count
Aching Wrists and Hands
Need paper + Pen. Lots of pens, and lots of paper.
I really like pens. No, seriously. I love pens. You want a friend for life? Give me a pen. Costco sells pens in bulk. My husband tries very hard to avoid that section of the store.
There is one benefit to handwriting that is hard to list as a con or pro. It is the primary reason I still use what many view as an archaic form of writing. When I transfer the handwritten work to the computer, I am able to 'see' the story better. I can fix many of the plot holes, add in the descriptions I need, and track the correct character appearances. (As an aside, my characters change their looks 10 or so times each when I handwrite. Absolutely zero attempts at consistency. I will pick their 'true' appearances when I copy the writing to the computer.)
On the other hand, when I try to type directly onto the computer, I tend to develop some bad, lazy habits. This is great for projects like NanoWrimo, where the entire purpose is to write for fun and solely for fun and word count. I find I take a few steps backwards from over analyzing when I write draft onto the computer.
I think the primary source of this is my contract work as a professional writer/editor. When I see text in a word processor, my mind begins to go into editing mode.
After much thought, I realized the only way to solve it for my situation was to cease the word processor.
That said, I have not used many 'writing programs'. I consider trying them, but either they are extremely expensive or I am too lazy to follow their suggested method of doing things. I have always done things in the way that suit me best. For a more coherent example of the differences in the type styles, I will cover my thoughts on my own writing, first on handwriting and then on keyboarding.
Writing Quality - First Draft - Handwriting
Poor quality. I spend little time on spelling, while i make efforts to use somewhat proper grammar, this is secondary to getting the story told. I focus on elements that drive the story. If a description is important, I have a tendency to over-describe it. There is a lot of focus on dialog and basic character actions and interactions.
Writing Quality - First Draft - Keyboarding
Higher quality. I bog down with grammar fixes, spelling and word choice and general flow. I have a secondary focus on description, and I am less likely to include any frivolous conversations between characters. There are less plot-bunnies, but often less plot in the first draft.
Writing Quality - Second Draft - Handwriting
At this point I am copying the draft to the computer via Keyboarding. Draft quality is significantly higher. I refine what is there, kill off the bunnies and groom the ones I wish to keep.
Writing Quality - Second Draft - Keyboarding
Lower quality compared to handwriting. I am just polishing first quality draft. I end up with 'less work' because it is already on the computer, but sacrifice quality in the sense that I did not play as much outside of the box when I originally drafted.
Word Choice - Handwriting
More natural word choices. I am less likely to hit a thesaurus and more likely to just use the first appropriate word that comes to mind.
Word Choice - Keyboarding
Much more likely to use higher level vocabulary since a thesaurus is a click away.
Grammar - Handwriting
First draft grammar is laughable at best. If there is a rule for something, I have likely broken it. However, the benefit to this is learning through experimentation. Since I know sentence structure will likely not remain the same, I feel free to try new things since I know they will be corrected upon transfer to the computer.
Grammar - Keyboarding
Those green squiggles sometimes make me go back, often, and think of better ways to write a sentence. I tend to refine my grammar on the first draft. This is slower to write, but somewhat educational. That said, I don't totally trust those green squiggles. Humans are better at grammar.
Spelling...
*snort* There is no point in this entry. Keyboarding wins.
Editing - Handwriting
I have half pages chunks scribbled out. If I have made a 'this must be gone error', it is immortalized in big scribble marks. This is good for reference later.
Editing - Keyboarding
I do not track my edits on a novel to keep file size down and prevent more sources of potential crashes. I sometimes miss seeing the horrible sections I removed. If I removed a section while handwriting, it was just *that* bad.
Time - Handwriting
Counter to initial thought, I write faster when handwriting in many cases. I won't win a straight word count battle versus my keyboarding skills, but I do not stop and go. I just keep a constant stream of fairly quick writing going on. Because I am not saddled to my computers, I can write in more places conveniently.
Time - Keyboarding
If I am on a roll, I can whip out thousands of words an hour. IF I do not edit, IF I know exactly what I want to do, and IF I can ignore facebook and twitter. That is not often the case.
In a way, it takes longer to deal with handwriting because of the fact I have to copy it to the computer after. However, when I am copying, I am not using facebook, twitter and other distracting websites.
All in all, handwriting wins for when I want to write something seriously. Sigh. Now if only I could convince my husband that yes, I really need the hundreds upon hundreds of pens I want and that he refuses to buy for me...
Today, I am going to throw to the table the classic argument of which is better: Handwriting versus Keyboarding. By Keyboarding, I mean typing your story directly to the computer.
This is not as easy of a subject as it sounds. There are lots of arguments for both. In fact, there is no one right way to do it. This is completely subjective.
This level of subjectiveness is what makes this a *fun* topic of discussion. What do *you* do?
I do both. It depends what mood I am in when I start a project. This is the key point: What mood I am in when I *start* a project. I think a very costly mistake is trying to do both at once. I write completely differently on notebook paper when I do to the computer. I don't know what it is about notebook paper, but I write to the plot, plot bunnies abound, and I usually tell an entertaining, if not horribly written story.
That said, once I go to the computer, I often end up with a better product at the end of the day. I lose the tendency to edit while I am writing, so every word I add is being directly productive.
This is just me, of course.
Here is a very small list of pros and cons for handwriting -- specific to me:
Pros:
Inability to edit
Inability to see word count
Pure story-telling
PENS.
Cons:
Inability to see word count
Aching Wrists and Hands
Need paper + Pen. Lots of pens, and lots of paper.
I really like pens. No, seriously. I love pens. You want a friend for life? Give me a pen. Costco sells pens in bulk. My husband tries very hard to avoid that section of the store.
There is one benefit to handwriting that is hard to list as a con or pro. It is the primary reason I still use what many view as an archaic form of writing. When I transfer the handwritten work to the computer, I am able to 'see' the story better. I can fix many of the plot holes, add in the descriptions I need, and track the correct character appearances. (As an aside, my characters change their looks 10 or so times each when I handwrite. Absolutely zero attempts at consistency. I will pick their 'true' appearances when I copy the writing to the computer.)
On the other hand, when I try to type directly onto the computer, I tend to develop some bad, lazy habits. This is great for projects like NanoWrimo, where the entire purpose is to write for fun and solely for fun and word count. I find I take a few steps backwards from over analyzing when I write draft onto the computer.
I think the primary source of this is my contract work as a professional writer/editor. When I see text in a word processor, my mind begins to go into editing mode.
After much thought, I realized the only way to solve it for my situation was to cease the word processor.
That said, I have not used many 'writing programs'. I consider trying them, but either they are extremely expensive or I am too lazy to follow their suggested method of doing things. I have always done things in the way that suit me best. For a more coherent example of the differences in the type styles, I will cover my thoughts on my own writing, first on handwriting and then on keyboarding.
Writing Quality - First Draft - Handwriting
Poor quality. I spend little time on spelling, while i make efforts to use somewhat proper grammar, this is secondary to getting the story told. I focus on elements that drive the story. If a description is important, I have a tendency to over-describe it. There is a lot of focus on dialog and basic character actions and interactions.
Writing Quality - First Draft - Keyboarding
Higher quality. I bog down with grammar fixes, spelling and word choice and general flow. I have a secondary focus on description, and I am less likely to include any frivolous conversations between characters. There are less plot-bunnies, but often less plot in the first draft.
Writing Quality - Second Draft - Handwriting
At this point I am copying the draft to the computer via Keyboarding. Draft quality is significantly higher. I refine what is there, kill off the bunnies and groom the ones I wish to keep.
Writing Quality - Second Draft - Keyboarding
Lower quality compared to handwriting. I am just polishing first quality draft. I end up with 'less work' because it is already on the computer, but sacrifice quality in the sense that I did not play as much outside of the box when I originally drafted.
Word Choice - Handwriting
More natural word choices. I am less likely to hit a thesaurus and more likely to just use the first appropriate word that comes to mind.
Word Choice - Keyboarding
Much more likely to use higher level vocabulary since a thesaurus is a click away.
Grammar - Handwriting
First draft grammar is laughable at best. If there is a rule for something, I have likely broken it. However, the benefit to this is learning through experimentation. Since I know sentence structure will likely not remain the same, I feel free to try new things since I know they will be corrected upon transfer to the computer.
Grammar - Keyboarding
Those green squiggles sometimes make me go back, often, and think of better ways to write a sentence. I tend to refine my grammar on the first draft. This is slower to write, but somewhat educational. That said, I don't totally trust those green squiggles. Humans are better at grammar.
Spelling...
*snort* There is no point in this entry. Keyboarding wins.
Editing - Handwriting
I have half pages chunks scribbled out. If I have made a 'this must be gone error', it is immortalized in big scribble marks. This is good for reference later.
Editing - Keyboarding
I do not track my edits on a novel to keep file size down and prevent more sources of potential crashes. I sometimes miss seeing the horrible sections I removed. If I removed a section while handwriting, it was just *that* bad.
Time - Handwriting
Counter to initial thought, I write faster when handwriting in many cases. I won't win a straight word count battle versus my keyboarding skills, but I do not stop and go. I just keep a constant stream of fairly quick writing going on. Because I am not saddled to my computers, I can write in more places conveniently.
Time - Keyboarding
If I am on a roll, I can whip out thousands of words an hour. IF I do not edit, IF I know exactly what I want to do, and IF I can ignore facebook and twitter. That is not often the case.
In a way, it takes longer to deal with handwriting because of the fact I have to copy it to the computer after. However, when I am copying, I am not using facebook, twitter and other distracting websites.
All in all, handwriting wins for when I want to write something seriously. Sigh. Now if only I could convince my husband that yes, I really need the hundreds upon hundreds of pens I want and that he refuses to buy for me...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
National Novel Writing Month
Seeing as it is early december, I think my first specialized post will be on the wonders that is National Novel Writing Month, commonly referred to as NaNoWriMo. Always performed in November, the goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words during the month. This is roughly 1,667 words per day.
The 1,667 words per day may not sound like a lot. However, unless you are into the habit of writing, it is a challenge. It is a challenge that I suggest every new writer tries to attempt at least once, as it is a very unique experience.
Having participated in NaNoWriMo several times, I can confidently say that many of the people who attempt this sacrifice a great deal of their regular life to accomplishing this lofty goal. I think this is a fantastic thing, especially for those who have never written a novel and wish to learn how.
However, NaNoWriMo is not all sunshine and cookies. Like all things, it is designed for certain audiences. While many people will get something out of participating, November is truly a hats off towards those who have always wanted to write a novel but have never had the courage to sit down and do it. With that said, below you will find all sorts of things I like and dislike about NaNoWriMo. These are my opinion. The salt pile is that-a-way, ladies and gentleman. Take some at leisure.
What I like!
1: The Community
The most powerful part of NaNoWriMo is definitely the community for me. It is the one time in the year where you can find thousands of writers converging into one place sharing something precious to each and every one of them. Ideas pour out from the fount of enthusaistic minds. People with knowledge are available to answer even the most mundane of questions. The forums are an excellent source for those who are new to the craft and need a little bit of help. The downside? People go home after December 1st and the place typically turns into a haunted house for much of the year.
2: The Need for Speed
NaNoWriMo is about writing fast, writing a lot, and meeting deadlines. These are awesome traits for a promising novelist, and a great way to get a view into the life of a professional author. Quality means nothing to the average NaNoWriMo participant, and that is how it should be. There is one simple rule for those participating: Edits are for December.
3: Quantity over Quality
Getting the words onto paper is vital for a novelist, and NaNoWriMo excels at making that happen. If you want a book, this is really one of the best ways to make it happen. Believe in yourself and go. Edits, after all, are for December. This is much like point #2, but it is important to specify that Quality is a homeless mutant freak for most participants in NaNoWriMo. If the horse is not dead and beaten yet, allow me to ensure that it is. Quantity. Over. Quality. This is a double-edged sword, however.
4: Proof of Life
In kidnappings and hostage situations, Proof of Life is a basic. In NaNoWriMo, it is the reward. If you win at the end of the month, you will be at your computer staring at a manuscript that belongs entirely to you. This is your Proof of Life as a writer. For someone who has never finished a story but wants to, this is even more rewarding that seeing your own novel on a bookshelf in some store. The first time you cross that threshold and can say "I did it" is truly a moment that will be cherished for years to come. While I did not complete my first novel during NaNoWriMo, I still remember the moment quite clearly when I could say, "I wrote a book."
For many, that moment comes in NaNoWriMo, when a month of slaving has bloomed into a beautiful flower.
What I dislike!
1: Quantity over Quality
Huh? Wasn't this in the list of what I liked? How does that work? As I mentioned, it is a double-edged sword. The concept of Quantity over Quality for a new writer is so important. I am a firm believer of the concept that it takes one million bad words to write a good word. This means that practice and dedication are what will help you succeed. Talent will only take you so far. It is perseverance that will make the difference in the long run. For established writers, Quantity over Quality can have a serious negative impact: it can lower overall writing quality. For a professional, this can be devastating. It is for this reason that it is strongly suggested that a professional writer _not_ participate in NaNoWriMo. It is hard enough to let loose as an amateur, and it can cost a contract for a freelancer. If you are someone who depends on your deadlines and writing quality to survive and get paid, this is not something you should participate in.
On the other hand, if you want to challenge yourself as a professional, paid writer, you can attempt NaNoWriMo as a Quantity AND Quality endeavor. This is a great way to force yourself to draft high quality material. Just do not expect to fully jump into the community, as everyone except you will be doing Quantity over Quality. Just remember, don't fall behind on your contracts. Not getting paid really sucks.
2: The TGIO mentality.
While it is very reasonable to say "Oh, Thank God it is over", many people say that, throw the manuscript into a closet, and that is that. The journey ends. Some people do not even finish their story, but stop writing after 50,001 words. I have always viewed NaNoWriMo as a gateway to the writing world. Writing once a year during NaNoWriMo only does not make you a writer. Even if you do not finish in November, it would be nice to see many more people go on with their story until the true conclusion of the tale. Just because November has ended does not mean the writing can not continue.
Now, granted, every person's situation is different. If that is all you want from the experience, more power to you.
3: The Formation of Bad Habits
This really should be point #1 in this section. It is very easy to develop bad habits during November, ranging from poor eating, disrupted sleep cycles and writing habits we'd rather not have occur. If you plan on participating in NaNoWriMo... take some time to sleep and eat well. You do not want to make yourself sick! (I should not have to feel compelled to say this, but after seeing just what some people do to themselves during the month, I feel I have to.)
4: Watching other's word counts
Part of the glory of NaNoWriMo is watching your word count go up. That is half the fun! However, there are those who can just write so much so quickly that it is very easy to get distressed and discouraged. Do yourself a favor and don't focus on the word counts of others.
Final Comments!
For me, NaNoWriMo has always been a great experience, win or lose. As my professional career as a freelancer has developed, I have had to take care with how I approach NaNoWriMo. However, if you are in the position to do it with no boundaries, it is a liberating experience. It is also an enabling one, where you know that you are not the only one going "I will do this!".
NaNoWriMo is open to all genres of writing. If you are interested and this little blog post hasn't scared you away, there is a fancy FAQ available that will answer most of the questions that you may have on the month.
Also, ignore the name. It isn't National, but International. InNoWriMo just didn't sound as nice. Yes, you can participate, even if you aren't sure which Nation it is for! (Don't worry, I'm sometimes not so sure myself.)
If you choose to participate, good luck!
The 1,667 words per day may not sound like a lot. However, unless you are into the habit of writing, it is a challenge. It is a challenge that I suggest every new writer tries to attempt at least once, as it is a very unique experience.
Having participated in NaNoWriMo several times, I can confidently say that many of the people who attempt this sacrifice a great deal of their regular life to accomplishing this lofty goal. I think this is a fantastic thing, especially for those who have never written a novel and wish to learn how.
However, NaNoWriMo is not all sunshine and cookies. Like all things, it is designed for certain audiences. While many people will get something out of participating, November is truly a hats off towards those who have always wanted to write a novel but have never had the courage to sit down and do it. With that said, below you will find all sorts of things I like and dislike about NaNoWriMo. These are my opinion. The salt pile is that-a-way, ladies and gentleman. Take some at leisure.
What I like!
1: The Community
The most powerful part of NaNoWriMo is definitely the community for me. It is the one time in the year where you can find thousands of writers converging into one place sharing something precious to each and every one of them. Ideas pour out from the fount of enthusaistic minds. People with knowledge are available to answer even the most mundane of questions. The forums are an excellent source for those who are new to the craft and need a little bit of help. The downside? People go home after December 1st and the place typically turns into a haunted house for much of the year.
2: The Need for Speed
NaNoWriMo is about writing fast, writing a lot, and meeting deadlines. These are awesome traits for a promising novelist, and a great way to get a view into the life of a professional author. Quality means nothing to the average NaNoWriMo participant, and that is how it should be. There is one simple rule for those participating: Edits are for December.
3: Quantity over Quality
Getting the words onto paper is vital for a novelist, and NaNoWriMo excels at making that happen. If you want a book, this is really one of the best ways to make it happen. Believe in yourself and go. Edits, after all, are for December. This is much like point #2, but it is important to specify that Quality is a homeless mutant freak for most participants in NaNoWriMo. If the horse is not dead and beaten yet, allow me to ensure that it is. Quantity. Over. Quality. This is a double-edged sword, however.
4: Proof of Life
In kidnappings and hostage situations, Proof of Life is a basic. In NaNoWriMo, it is the reward. If you win at the end of the month, you will be at your computer staring at a manuscript that belongs entirely to you. This is your Proof of Life as a writer. For someone who has never finished a story but wants to, this is even more rewarding that seeing your own novel on a bookshelf in some store. The first time you cross that threshold and can say "I did it" is truly a moment that will be cherished for years to come. While I did not complete my first novel during NaNoWriMo, I still remember the moment quite clearly when I could say, "I wrote a book."
For many, that moment comes in NaNoWriMo, when a month of slaving has bloomed into a beautiful flower.
What I dislike!
1: Quantity over Quality
Huh? Wasn't this in the list of what I liked? How does that work? As I mentioned, it is a double-edged sword. The concept of Quantity over Quality for a new writer is so important. I am a firm believer of the concept that it takes one million bad words to write a good word. This means that practice and dedication are what will help you succeed. Talent will only take you so far. It is perseverance that will make the difference in the long run. For established writers, Quantity over Quality can have a serious negative impact: it can lower overall writing quality. For a professional, this can be devastating. It is for this reason that it is strongly suggested that a professional writer _not_ participate in NaNoWriMo. It is hard enough to let loose as an amateur, and it can cost a contract for a freelancer. If you are someone who depends on your deadlines and writing quality to survive and get paid, this is not something you should participate in.
On the other hand, if you want to challenge yourself as a professional, paid writer, you can attempt NaNoWriMo as a Quantity AND Quality endeavor. This is a great way to force yourself to draft high quality material. Just do not expect to fully jump into the community, as everyone except you will be doing Quantity over Quality. Just remember, don't fall behind on your contracts. Not getting paid really sucks.
2: The TGIO mentality.
While it is very reasonable to say "Oh, Thank God it is over", many people say that, throw the manuscript into a closet, and that is that. The journey ends. Some people do not even finish their story, but stop writing after 50,001 words. I have always viewed NaNoWriMo as a gateway to the writing world. Writing once a year during NaNoWriMo only does not make you a writer. Even if you do not finish in November, it would be nice to see many more people go on with their story until the true conclusion of the tale. Just because November has ended does not mean the writing can not continue.
Now, granted, every person's situation is different. If that is all you want from the experience, more power to you.
3: The Formation of Bad Habits
This really should be point #1 in this section. It is very easy to develop bad habits during November, ranging from poor eating, disrupted sleep cycles and writing habits we'd rather not have occur. If you plan on participating in NaNoWriMo... take some time to sleep and eat well. You do not want to make yourself sick! (I should not have to feel compelled to say this, but after seeing just what some people do to themselves during the month, I feel I have to.)
4: Watching other's word counts
Part of the glory of NaNoWriMo is watching your word count go up. That is half the fun! However, there are those who can just write so much so quickly that it is very easy to get distressed and discouraged. Do yourself a favor and don't focus on the word counts of others.
Final Comments!
For me, NaNoWriMo has always been a great experience, win or lose. As my professional career as a freelancer has developed, I have had to take care with how I approach NaNoWriMo. However, if you are in the position to do it with no boundaries, it is a liberating experience. It is also an enabling one, where you know that you are not the only one going "I will do this!".
NaNoWriMo is open to all genres of writing. If you are interested and this little blog post hasn't scared you away, there is a fancy FAQ available that will answer most of the questions that you may have on the month.
Also, ignore the name. It isn't National, but International. InNoWriMo just didn't sound as nice. Yes, you can participate, even if you aren't sure which Nation it is for! (Don't worry, I'm sometimes not so sure myself.)
If you choose to participate, good luck!
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