It is also the first day of NaNoWriMo which gets lots of us in a tizzy. Will we enter? Will we finish? Will we ever finish the last twelve novels we've started on hopeful November the firsts? Okay - time for some fun facts (or recollections which might be true but remain a bit fuzzy in my head).
I think I've done five NaNoWriMo's plus a couple of BuNoWriMos (similar but in June and much more intimate).
I have one novel that is completely finished and being shopped to sell - Bright Angel. Not sure whether I started it in a NaNo or a BuNo and too lazy to check. Two years ago today I started Crooked Knife in a NaNo and last year finished it in the same - only I didn't really. I have a novel's worth of writing but the ending isn't really done and I've been pushing against that now for another year. I've also got a not-finished mystery called Earth Bound that isn't finished and is actually quite a big schmozzle though I believe still salvageable. That means I have a love hate relationship with NaNo-ing. I love the challenge and I think all but once won (meaning I did my 50 thousand words) . I'd much rather write a new novel than struggle along beating some poor dead horse - but - arggh! This year I'm struggling again. I really don't have time. I work full-time and I've taken on a Buddhist practice that takes about 45 hours a month to do properly.
I'd sort of like to do a memoir of my time in Labrador. This is our last year. Could I do it? Sure enough. I'd definitely finish my words if I promised to write them. The only NaNo I failed was because it had no word challenge attached. But it begs the question - what do you win when you hit Noveber 30th with your 50 thousand words? You win a hot mess, or a good start or maybe both. I know that if I say I'll do an edit I won't. I've tried. So I'm stymied. I'll think on it and I'll add to this tomorrow to tell you my decision. Because it isn't really November 1st here now - it is October 31st. Boo!
6 comments:
I really admire the way you've used NaNo for disciplining yourself to get those novels done, Jan. I haven't done it, yet, myself, 'though I do follow others' progress. And I would love to read your memoir of your Labrador time...
I'm not participating in NaNoWriMo this year because I have other projects that were deemed more important, but boy, I wanted to. I know the 50k I come up with will need heavy editing and revising, and will probably look completely different by the time I get around to doing that, but I love the challenge.
Haven't heard of BuNoWriMo. But I've done a couple of NaNoWriMo's summer sessions.
Hi all - checking in as I said I would! Thanks Margot and M.J. for your encouraging words. I am going to go for it. I can't resist! Will work super hard two weeks out of four. This week I'm working hard so will get going but not go too crazy. My kind of fun! And I came up with a name - I'm calling it Ruby's House - that's where we live in Labrador - in the home bought by my partner's mother. She was born near here in a trapper's cabin in January. I know lots of her stories so may try a weird double memoir/history. We'll see.
Wishing you all the best in NaNo. You've chosen a way that makes NaNo work for you. I did that last year and finished a book that is now in revision. Sometimes, I think NaNo works best if you know where you want to go with it and what you hope to achieve.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I wrote one of my novels during BuNo! Glad someone else remembers that one.
Winning with a solid first draft beats 50,000 words of mess anytime.
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