Hey! Long time no… see, read, whatever.
As some of you will recall, I haven’t been blogging because I’m participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), in which writers endeavour to write a 50,000 word novel. I thought, ‘hey, this will be insane. I can’t blog’. And, I was wrong-ish.
Here’s how it’s going so far.
Today is 18 days in, just past half, and I am sitting at 40210 words–well past target. I’ve had several days when I have been able to write 5000+ words. Making 1700 words isn’t as hard as I thought. Not to say it’s all been wine and roses. It has really pushed me to write when I don’t feel like it, am tired, or can’t think of anything–to get out and push, or shovel, when I got stuck.
And that is the sort of discipline that every writer needs.
I’ve also learned about structure and organizing. I am writing from a scene-by-scene outline, and while it hasn’t been perfect, it has helped keep things moving, on target, and in a proper structure. I’m a by-the-book person. I want a perfect 3 act structure (not possible, but we’ll try).
I’ve learned that whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. Cliche, I know, but my big reason to NOT do NaNo was that the most I’d written in a month was 30,000 words, and that was when I was unemployed. Definitely NOT unemployed now. But, it turns out I am far more disciplined than I was just six months ago.
I’ve learned a few random things as well. For instance, while procrastinating I learned that the Graham Norton show is very entertaining. And, while writing at McDonalds, I was watching the TV from the corner of my eye and got a small education about the UFC. I don’t understand it at all, but I find it a most interesting psychological study (bet you never expected to see ‘UFC’ and ‘psychological’ in the same sentence). As a Mennonite and a pacifist, I don’t know what to think about it. Anyone care to ‘splain?
I’ve drank way too much coffee, and listened to way too much music, and watched at least one really weird movie.
Good times, in other words.
Stay tuned for scenes from “Sons of Earth”.
The possibilities are endless.
Over and out.
Geralyn Wichers 