It’s National Novel Writing Month, or #NaNoWriMo to its friends and twitter followers. The challenge has been set – to write 50,000 words in the month of November. The equivalent to a novel, apparently.
I’ve signed up for the first time and am already feeling the pressure. With 4639 words committed to (digital) paper after two days I’m on target but there’s a long, LONG, way to go and the fact is that at least half of those words were already made in note form. I started this in August after a relaxing weekend in Wales and really thought I’d carry on and see where I took it, but as usual real life got in the way and it languished on the bedside table with nothing more than the odd scribbled note or character detail added since.
In my head I’ve already changed the introduction that I published but the rules of NaNo are that you don’t edit, you just write and write, and write some more, and I’m trying to stick to them. I’m a bit gutted that what is developing appears to be chick lit – not that there’s anything wrong with that, I read loads of it – but I was hoping for something grittier, darker, Larsson-esque maybe, and instead I appear to have fluff. But still, it’s my fluff and I’ll carry on churning it out for the next 28 days or so and see where it takes me.
If you see me at any point in the next month please be kind. The chances are that I’ll look sleep deprived and slightly crazed, I may even have a pencil or four sticking out of my hair à la secretary in Ferris Bueller. The more charitable amongst you will send chocolate and fizzy laces and smile sympathetically…
Oh wow. Fabulous. And you have time to blog too? Good luck with it. Are you reading this? Shouldn’t you be writing?
*passes a Lucozade* 😉
Forgive me for the confusion last night. I had no ideaz what nanowrimo was and couldn’t comprehend the fact that you are supposed to write 50,000 in one month … and eat, and sleep and, well, everything else!
Good for you, I shall be cheering on from the sidelines in a slightly demented fashion.
Do we get to read it? Surely it’s the best thing to just write. You can edit in January. I shall send Hello Kitty jelly beans (yes, such wondrous things really exist) if you’re a good girl x
Good luck with it – I never registered in the end – my book will wait 😉
I think this is so cool. Good luck! I wonder if I can sign up late….
It’s not for me. I find normal life way too overwhelming anyway. Writing that many words on top would send me over the edge.
This is brilliant and I’m so pleased you are giving it a go! When I did an online writing course earlier this year I had exactly the same “issue” as you – what I produced was chick-lit-like rather than the literary masterpiece I was expecting. Still, if that is what floats your boat and they always say “Write what you know”, then I guess we are both destined to write in this style.
What with us being young, hip flippets of girls an’ all…..;-)
MD xxx
Hello Kitty Jelly Beans! You temptress Wallop.
MD xx
Good luck Paula. I’m doing it for the first time too – slightly off target but trucking on. Oh, and don’t worry about the ‘chick lit’ thing – I’m heading in that direction too but prefer to label it ‘Women’s Fiction’! I know – I’m such a snob 😉
*tears hair out and holds out hands for chocolate*….Mine was too dark so I’m trying to fluff it up! (story and hair)
Nothing at all wrong with chick-lit:) Once your are allowed edit you might be able to make it a little grittier. Best of luck and you never know what may come out of this 😀 Jen
Good luck!
Good luck Paula – I find it so hard to write fiction. Hope its going well and that you are enjoying it more importantly
I barely have time to read a novel in a month these days – never mind write one. Good luck!! x
Woop, woop! Go Girl. I can’t write full stop. Incredibly impressed. Kx
I have no time to do any of it! What on earth was I thinking?!
I think that you are firmly on the sane side of the fence – I’m realising already that this is impossible!
Yum! Thanks, I’m completely motivated again….erm, there not vomit flavoured are they? x
It’s every year hon – 2011 is but a whisper away 😀
I suspect you will ace this. Very annoying of course but good luck! xx
I think you’re crazy for trying this but very impressed none the less
Good luck and let me know if you need someone to come around carrying gin and a cold flannel for your fevered brow
Good luck with it! 🙂