What Just Happened? An Incomplete Journey of a NaNoWriMo Newbie – Part 1
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 38 Days: The Decision
The National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting creative writing. Its main program is an annual event in which crazy people attempt to write a 50,000-word manuscript during November.
My math skills tell me that comes to 1,667 words per day. That sounds simple, but if I look back, maybe not. The last novel I completed as part of a series I have been working on (super-secret information here) was 128,896 words. (It’s sci-fi, so I’m allowed to blab on a bit.) It took me roughly 4 months to complete it, which averages 1,074-ish words per day. Some days I wrote more. Some days I wrote two words.
Nevertheless, I believe I can hit that 1,667-word mark.
My decision to “enter” NaNoWriMo this year was driven by years of thinking “I should do this.” Therapists around the world are probably screaming that you can’t “should” your way through life. And so, as I’m married to a therapist, I have opted to omit the word “should” from that sentence.
I do this.
Okay. I’m off to a good start.
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 30 Days: The Outline
I have an idea and cursory outline. The humans are ambivalent about my success, however. They do not seem inclined to bake me a cake for just my outline. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with what I have put together from just an initial glance at a brainstorming app (found on the Google Play Store). For the record, the app spit back at me the following: Conflict = Coming-of-Age; Style = A Hero’s Journey; Setting = Greek Islands.
From that I came up with the following hastily written summary:
A timid farm boy yearns for adventure and a new life away from his family farm on the Greek island of Anafi. At the prompting of his friend and the gift of a stranger, the boy flees to discover a new life in the big city of Thera on the neighboring island of Santorini. Forced to choose between the new love he finds in Thera and the family he left behind on Anafi, it seems sacrifice is the only option. But which?
I entered that summary and some project details into the NaNoWriMo website and noticed the following procrastination tools right away: upload a cover image and a little spot to put in “What is the project’s playlist?” (There is also a spot for “What is the project’s Pinterest?” but I gotta draw the line somewhere.)
Off to play with cover tools and Spotify, because, you know, the writing site says I need this to be successful. As I have never participated in NaNoWriMo, who am I to argue?
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 29 Days: A Self-Imposed Deadline
NaNoWriMo has its own deadline, of course: between November 1st and the 30th, write a first draft. However, as I have been working on another novel, I am inclined to finished it before November comes. That gives me 29 days to write another 30,000 words on something that is both philosophical and 180° different than the aforementioned project. The two stories are also set thousands of years apart and they both require completely different mindsets.
Apparently, I’m a glutton for self-punishment.
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 26 Days: Flesh It Out
I probably need to flesh out the cursory outline and add some details. The NaNoWriMo website says:
We welcome all writers at any stage. Outlines, character sketches, and other planning steps are encouraged, and you’re welcome to continue an old project.
This is definitely not an old project, but I will feel better if I have an outline. I’m not a pantser. Really. In fact, I may be a little OCD about the process.
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 23 Days: Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater
Researching, outlining, and thinking hard about the flow of a book prior to NaNoWriMo feels like cheating, but I know it’s not (see previous). Still, I feel like doing my research under the covers to make sure no one is watching.
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 21 Days: Should Have Set This in My House
I really do like research, but I’m beginning to think I bit off more than I can chew for this one. However, I have a plan: the story is what matters most, not the details of the location. So, if I write my setting more generically and worry about the details in my first rewrite (after November), I might not get so bogged down in the little things that the writing suffers.
It’s a nice thought. Again, I really do like research. Did you know how olive oil was made in the old days?
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 18 Days: To Pain or Not to Pain
So, I’ve opted to have oral surgery a few days before this all begins. Why would I do such a thing? I mean, this is challenging enough already, is it not?
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 17 Days: Really? Success now?!?
Of all the things to happen just prior to this attempt to do the impossible, I may have a second contract opportunity lined up that will add an additional 20 hours per week of “work” work.
That’s okay.
Breathe. It’s a good thing.
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 15 Days: Let Me Start Already
It’s hard to wait when another idea has infected your brain and keeps pushing out competing ideas or a new project like some bully. But! I have put together a cheap cover because the NaNoWriMo website says it is imperative.
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 10 Days: More Ready Than Ready
I had a novella I was working on that I did not know if I could complete before the beginning of NaNoWriMo. It appears my estimation of time was off. With that project done, I can run it through one edit then let it sit through November. Things are looking up and I feel more ready than I did when I first decided to attempt this.
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 7 Days: Outline? Check. Schedule? Check. Anxiety? Yep.
So I have my outline, my cover, and yes, even a Spotify playlist with one to two songs that set the mood for each chapter. I know that I need to write an average of 1,667 words per day, which means I need to schedule my writing time a little better. With a day job that starts at 7 AM (on the East Coast), and because I am a writer who does his best early in the morning, I need about 2 hours of uninterrupted time each day. Add in coffee for that wake up half hour, a bit of breakfast and 5 minutes to get ready for work (remote workers have a super-convenient commute), I estimate I need to get up 4 AM each morning.
That’s not a problem, really. I’ve been getting up at 4:30 AM Monday through Friday for years.
I must say, however, with one week to go, I am extremely anxious. Success for me would mean meeting the word count goal, if not completing the novel entirely.
But, as my therapist wife would ask: “What would it mean if you didn’t complete your goal?”
In the words of Bill the Cat: “Aack! Thbtttt!”
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 3 Days: The Website Goes Deep
With three days left until I start this adventure, I am just now noticing that the NaNoWriMo website is FULL of content, from tips and advice to linking up with buddies to motivate you through the writing process, to joining in forums and more. Notice I said “with three days left until…”
And here I was thinking this was going to be a lonely adventure.
Journal Entry: NaNoWriMo 2021 T-Minus 1 Day: Are You Sure?
At this point, without having actually started the novel that I have outlined extensively, I could withdraw myself from the competition. After all, I cannot expect to spit out genius hastily over 30 days.
And yet there is a part of me that wants to try. If you do not try, you will not succeed. You may trip, fall, scrape a knee, and fail miserably. Conversely, you may surprise yourself with your commitment. Perhaps just the attempt is a success. Perhaps pledging to give up 30 days under the guise of a “competition” like NaNoWriMo is just different enough from writing for 30 days without the self-imposed pressures that what you have written will be memorable even with the flaws that are certainly going to be there.
Perhaps.
Why not? We’ll just see what happens.
Check out Part 2 next and see…what just happened.
