I'm doing NaNoWriMo this month. That's right, folks, it's time I got around to writing a novel. By the end of November I should have at least 50,000 words and an ulcer because the truth is, I've never written that much in my life. Well, that much of one thing. I do better writing short things like blog posts and thank you notes. Every time I have attempted a novel I've gotten about 30 pages in and decided that 1.) I'm a talentless hack, 2.) I have no imagination, and 3.) I'm going to give it all up and learn how to do something that will actually make me money like cosmetology.
But can you think of a better time to do it than right now? I'm a woman of elegant leisure. I have all the time in the world. So what if I don't have an imagination. Or a plot. Or realistic and interesting characters. They say that all you really need is a deadline and November 30th is pretty firm.
But take a look at my list of activities this morning and see how this could play out:
Turned on my computer, all set to write
Checked my email
Checked Google Reader
Read a few articles in the LA Times
Read up on Kim Kardashian getting a divorce (I'm pretty ashamed about that one)
Fixed myself some breakfast
Talked myself out of playing a round of online Scrabble
Wrote this blog post instead
David Franzen (who writes big books) said he removed all games from and physically disabled the Net portal on the computer he writes on. I totally get why. Distractions are the death knell of my creativity.
But I'm determined. So feel free to ask me how the writing is coming along. Check in to make sure I'm keeping up with my daily word count goal (2000/day). Ask me if I have finally come up with a plot line that involves the characters doing more than just sitting and watching TV for 100 pages.
Tyra did it (sort of)(I mean, she wrote a lot of words). Surely I can too.
8 comments:
I know what you mean about feeling like a hack. I write fanfic (and I'll never, ever tell you what kind so don't even ask) and I'm 81 pages in on an opus and just saying "OHMYGOSH THIS IS CRAP." I will tell you, having a beta/editor/cold reader helps immensely. They nag. And I'm reading your blog right now as a distraction from writing. Because I'm pathetic.
It is about time. More than time. I heard Norman Mailer say that it doesn't matter what you write, as long as you sit down, every day, and just do it. And that dude stabbed someone, so he knows what he's talking about.
Honestly, the best writing advice I ever got was to think with you pen (or keyboard, as the case may be). Don't self-edit too much, that can come later.
Okay, I don't know why I'm giving all this advice, I've never written a novel.
I'm just excited for you. Have at it.
How about including a character, let's call him Christov, who's actually an assassin with an innocent looking face. All the other characters would think he was the antagonist, when in reality he's a super nice guy. Maybe he could own a bedazzler, too.
In a writing class in college, I was told that real writers have the cleanest houses and the best gardens because they will do ANYTHING before they sit down to write. I'm in agreement with that.
I will also read anything you write. I love your style.
Keep it up! And good luck!
I have no advice on writing a book. Someday I want to write a book about how crappy it is to date in Provo, but I can't manage to get anything decent written. Probably because I'm not really a writer. I will read anything you write, because I'm pretty sure you're the funniest person I know, and everything you write on your blog is pure joy.
You know what I did last night instead of starting my NaNo novel:
1)changed my shower head
2)cleaned out my art supply closet
3)went through some magazines (for "research")and
4)worked on my plot diagram
I didn't start writing until 7:30pm.
Maybe you could write your novel in diary form, then it would be just like blogging. I love books in diary form. Georgia Nicolsen ex. #1. Or all in email, IM, text, lists, memo, etc.
Hey weren't you going to send me the transcript?
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