Five days ago, I undertook the greatest undertaking ever taken under by an undertaker. Just kidding. I started writing for my very first entry in National Novel Writing Month, lovingly shortened to nanowrimo or just nano. For those of you who are unfamiliar with National Novel Writing Month, possibly because you were too busy celebrating National Peanut Butter Lover's Month, it is a time of reckless abandon, hopeful outlining, and deep despair as nearly 300,000 writers from around the world attempt to write a novel at least 50,000 words long in only 30 days. From scratch. Well, basically from scratch. You're not allowed to use any existing writing but you can use outlines and character sketches. And you're not supposed to edit until December.
In previous years, I had completely forgotten about nano until about November 15. At that point, I could either elect to write a daunting 3,333 words a day instead of 1,667 and become completely dependent of round-the-clock caffination or I could just wimp out and not do it, in hopes I would remember the next time November rolled around. Well, that didn't really work out either and so here I am, finally attempting to write a novel in a month. And it's about zombies!
I will spare everyone with an outline of my story, mostly because it is usually followed by "that sounds like The Village". *grumble grumble grumble* If really want to know is that it is a novel about what happens after the zombie apocalypse instead of during like The Walking Dead and Left 4 Dead. Imagine that the survivors settle down and form a town and try to put the past behind them but can they? Don't look at me; I have no idea if they're going to survive.
The first day was filled with giddy optimism as I set-up my leading character and her home. That was nice and easy. The second day was pretty much the same, inventing new characters and trying to rename the town. The third day was not a bed of roses. Between struggling to find the time to write and running low on motivation, I was serious considering scrapping the whole business but I pushed through and wrote 1,667 words, though I'm pretty sure in December most of that section will not make it past the first round of editing. I wrote my way through a snarly part, mostly with the aid of 8tracks.com for pump-up music and now I'm back on track to finish. Wahoo!
So, you may be wondering why I don't just stop blogging and go write. Stalling, mostly, but I also want to document my writing process for kicks and so I can look back and see my mistakes. Fun for all!
To all my fellow nanowriters out there: keep going and keep writing. Sure you may have to scrap some material in December but you'll learn a lot along the way. I've know I have in the last four days. If you're registered on nanowrimo.org, message me your screen name and I'll add you as a buddy.
Labels: nanowrimo, nanowrimo 2012, writer's block
