2006/10/28 22:54
NaNoBloPoWriWoMoLaTi ... Ah, Just Friggin' Write
November is just around the corner, and you know what that means! No, not a hog trough of cranberry sauce, although that is another bonus. I'm talking about exhortations to write from strangers on the Internet.
By now, I'm sure we all know about NaNoWriMo, a worldwide challenge to write a novella-length narrative in a month. The general undertone here is "writing good," but many are daunted by the thought of writing a novel. Fortunately for the cause, several permutations of pursuing perfection of the pen over the course of thirty days, most in shorter forms, have sprung up to cover the bases NaNoWriMo leaps over. Most recently, I learned of NaBloPoMo, in which as a new blogger I'm essentially required to participate. However, I will also be pursuing the lofty goal of NaNoWriMo, as I am certifiably batshit insane.
I've tackled the one-month novel project in the past. In fact, before it was ever an Internet phenomenon (indeed, before you had the Internet) I attempted to write a full novel between spring break and graduation of my senior year. I thought the pressure of my creative writing grade riding on its completion would push me through, but I quit about thirty pages in (and still got an A, mind you). When I first learned of NaNoWriMo in 2001, I tried again, and failed again. It took two more Novembers before I realized the story just wasn't very good.
So by 2004 I'd had enough. I'd fought this one story idea, a story I've carried since sixth grade, to the death, and I wouldn't be trying again. But then I had the right idea. The story very nearly leapt fully-formed from my head, like Athena but with fewer swords. I had an outline within hours (as you technically can't start writing until November 1), broke the 50,000 word tape on the 18th, and wrote the final word a few days into December.
It needs a lot of refinement, though. Sure, they have a NaNoEdMo in March, but I wasn't ready to revisit it quite that soon. Besides, I've let it breathe for two years, and the more distance I get from that initial spurt the more I realize I haven't quite told the story I wanted. What's more, I don't think anything short of a full rewrite will get me there. So here I go again, telling the same story, with fewer characters, more location detail, and as always 50% fewer insect parts. But I don't think I'll abandon this one.
(For the curious: I did try again last year, but it's difficult to focus on a story when all of one's mental energy is devoted to blocking out the fact that one works in a buffet at Disney World. Except the interactions with a half-undressed Cinderella.)
By now, I'm sure we all know about NaNoWriMo, a worldwide challenge to write a novella-length narrative in a month. The general undertone here is "writing good," but many are daunted by the thought of writing a novel. Fortunately for the cause, several permutations of pursuing perfection of the pen over the course of thirty days, most in shorter forms, have sprung up to cover the bases NaNoWriMo leaps over. Most recently, I learned of NaBloPoMo, in which as a new blogger I'm essentially required to participate. However, I will also be pursuing the lofty goal of NaNoWriMo, as I am certifiably batshit insane.
I've tackled the one-month novel project in the past. In fact, before it was ever an Internet phenomenon (indeed, before you had the Internet) I attempted to write a full novel between spring break and graduation of my senior year. I thought the pressure of my creative writing grade riding on its completion would push me through, but I quit about thirty pages in (and still got an A, mind you). When I first learned of NaNoWriMo in 2001, I tried again, and failed again. It took two more Novembers before I realized the story just wasn't very good.
So by 2004 I'd had enough. I'd fought this one story idea, a story I've carried since sixth grade, to the death, and I wouldn't be trying again. But then I had the right idea. The story very nearly leapt fully-formed from my head, like Athena but with fewer swords. I had an outline within hours (as you technically can't start writing until November 1), broke the 50,000 word tape on the 18th, and wrote the final word a few days into December.
It needs a lot of refinement, though. Sure, they have a NaNoEdMo in March, but I wasn't ready to revisit it quite that soon. Besides, I've let it breathe for two years, and the more distance I get from that initial spurt the more I realize I haven't quite told the story I wanted. What's more, I don't think anything short of a full rewrite will get me there. So here I go again, telling the same story, with fewer characters, more location detail, and as always 50% fewer insect parts. But I don't think I'll abandon this one.
(For the curious: I did try again last year, but it's difficult to focus on a story when all of one's mental energy is devoted to blocking out the fact that one works in a buffet at Disney World. Except the interactions with a half-undressed Cinderella.)
