At the beginning of October, I had no intention of participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year. I’m still working on revising and editing my current manuscript, so I wasn’t going to take on a new project.
But then things changed.
Life Imitates Art
Writers often craft stories of loss. If you read my previous post, you know I recently lost my cat after a sudden illness. Between three weeks of caring for him, multiple vet visits, and the inevitable period of tears and letting go, I have done NOTHING on writing or editing projects in basically a month.
While the break was much needed to deal with real-life issues, I’ve struggled to get back on track. I couldn’t bring myself to pick up my manuscript. My brain couldn’t focus on anything. And now, as I’ve worked through the process of cleaning up everything and saying goodbye to my fur boy, I haven’t been able to get back into a regular routine.
As November approached, I kept hearing writer friends talk about NaNoWriMo. I started getting a twitch to start something new. But with still working on finishing my current work-in-progress, and also knowing I’ll be out of the country the last week of November, participating didn’t seem realistic. With the last minute decision, I also wouldn’t have time to do any real planning or outlining. I told myself trying to start a new project now was pointless.
Why I Decided To Participate Without a Plan
As I thought more about NaNo, I thought about ideas for new projects that have been swirling in my head for some time. And I thought about how long it has been since I have felt creative and productive
So, with 36 hours to spare before November 1, I decided to participate in NaNo 2019. I know I probably won’t “win” due to missing out on a week and lack of planning. But this year’s attempt isn’t about winning. It’s about the act of writing and getting my creative juices flowing again.
The problem is I don’t have a plan. While I’m not a full-on Plotter (someone who maps out every scene and character trait), I like to have a basic idea of what I’m doing. Since I haven’t had time to really plan anything other than a rough idea, this year will be an experiment in being a Pantster (someone who doesn’t plan out the narrative ahead of time and lets the story go wherever it wants as you write).
What I Hope To Get From NaNo This Year
While I don’t expect to complete the 50,000 word goal (although I’ll do my best), I decided to participate on a whim for several reasons.
1. Jump-start my creativity and writing routine
It’s been a month since I’ve done any regular writing. outside of a couple blog posts. I need to get back into a routine. And as much as I like my current project, editing isn’t the same as playing with a new idea. My hope is that the creative excitement of a new idea will help me get back to writing everyday. And ultimately, that regular routine will also help me get back to finishing my previous manuscript.
2. Personal challenge of trying a new genre
I’ve always enjoyed thriller/suspense novels, but I never thought about writing one myself. I never felt I had the technical skills to create a believable plot and structure. But I’ve had an idea for a thriller/suspense book, and possible series, for some time. I figure this is the perfect chance to test out the idea. Since NaNoWriMo is all about getting the ideas down without regard to editing or craft, I can use this project to challenge myself to write a genre I enjoy but have never tried writing before.
3. No pressure
The good thing about going into this project is that there is no pressure for it to get finished, or even to be good. Not having a plan would normally make me a tad nervous. But this year, knowing I won’t stress about “winning” makes it easier to be excited about the idea. I can always fix things later if I want to keep going with the story line. This year will purely be about trying a new genre, getting down the basic ideas, and allowing myself to have fun writing again.
Let’s Go!
As I write this, there are six hours before it’s officially November in my time zone. Since I don’t have to be up early for anything tomorrow, I’ll plan to stay up until midnight and get a quick start. I already have the first scene of my new project mapped out in my head. So here’s hoping that will kick off a big day of writing.
Normally, the goal is 1,667 words written per day in order to hit the 50,000 mark by the end of the month. But with being gone for a week, I’d need to do 2,380 words per day. While I’m sure I can hit that some days, I’m not going to stress if I get behind.
In addition to writing on this new project, I’m planning to set aside two hours a day to work on revising my other novel. I’m looking forward to getting back into that world as well.
Here’s to a creative month!
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