Wednesday, November 09, 2011

NanNoWriMo Report One

By the end of Week One I had reached 11,527 words - and I'm very happy about that especially as along the way I've also written and discarded around 2,500 words that just weren't working. Day One was an effort. I struggled to even reach the magic number needed to ensure there will be 50,000 words at the end of the month (it's 1667 in case you're wondering). For some reason I just couldn't get my writing rhythm flowing. Tried all the usual tricks. Irish harp music - I wrote all of the novel that this one is the sequel to listening to that and it usually switches on my brain. Reading over the plotline - very rudimentary but it does exist. Eating - I suspect it's just as well my scales need a new battery. Nothing worked. Then Day Two and I was away.

All in all I'm happy with the progress. Fingers crossed I can keep it up. I think I can. One of the great things I brought from my experience at Clarion South was the knowledge that I can write to a deadline. It really is just a matter of deciding to do it and not allowing yourself to be distracted.

2 comments:

Rosanne Dingli said...

I think what you are doing is super brave and disciplined. But you must do something creative with that 1667 - it is an extraordinary number. Make it eternal and incorporate it in your story.

I think your experience shows when you say you let 2500 words fall to the cutting room floor... a novice would never do that. I think this might work for you.

I am not the kind of write who could do NaNoWriMo - I would never be able to work up the desire to start.

Helen V. said...

Thanks, Roseanne. I like the idea of enshrining the magic number. Hmm. Ideas coming.