fbpx

How I was forced into doing NaNoWriMo

10477469_768365109895488_1366994345542136501_o

The ink on my blog post detailing why I wouldn’t be participating in National Novel Writing Month hadn’t dried. My writing friend and I met at the library, and she insisted I participate in the insanity. I said no. She cajoled.

I signed up the next day. *sighs*

I thought I was stronger than this. My calendar for November is flooded with rewrite obligations. There are beta readers expecting that novel in December. Wouldn’t want to disappoint them.

“But you’re writing short stories anyway,” my friend argues.

True. I have scheduled seven days in the first three weeks of the month to work on some new stories. I’m trying to improve my market reach. A few publishing credits can only make my queries stronger.

I figured the creation process would be a nice way to give my brain a break during the grueling work of rewriting (which is minor compared to the brain strain of editing). I’m wondering if I can work on two or more different projects at a time – and do them both justice.

“I don’t have time. I’m doing a rewrite.”

“You should still sign up.” (Is someone paying her for all the people she convinces to participate? Is that what being a Municipal Liaison means?)

I have no one to blame but myself. Who clicked on the NaNo website? *raises hand* Who typed in a description of a short story collection for their 2014 project? *looks away*

The voice of reason (my husband), “I thought you weren’t doing that this year.”

Yeah, I thought so too. Why did I want to be friends with writers again? Why did I go with this woman to a writer’s conference? Why do we have regular lunch meetings?

We’re “helping” each other. I’m not feeling especially encouraged at the moment. The stress of writing 50,000 words in 30 days is making my head pound.

What are writing friends for? Apparently, to push me out of my comfort zone. And in front of a speeding NaNoWriMo truck.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? What crazy things have your friends convinced you to do? Were you later appreciative of their interference? (Please say yes. I really like this person.)

6 thoughts on “How I was forced into doing NaNoWriMo”

  1. You didn’t know about the secret ML swag? For every person we push through to 50,000, they give us a 3% discount off of the amount of words we have to write to “win” this thing….

    Of course, if we’re pointing fingers, you’re the one who popped my bubble and reminded me I actually needed a plot to go with my cool concept I shared with you. Hater. 🙂

    1. You win. Your sarcasm and humor top mine.
      As to the issue of winning and words written, when are you updating your word count?
      Now…to get back to my edits so I can write 3,000 words on my first short story. And did you see the awesome cover I created for it? Yeah, I’m not getting into the spirit of NaNo at all.

  2. A bit late, and a mile past the finish, but can I claim “I just found this” as my excuse? I had heard about NaNo, and thought it would be “interesting for the future.” That is until my story decided to ambush me.

    Blame the school’s writing lab front desk person for me. They are the ones who planted the seed. I’m just the fool who watered it as a full time student, part time employee with no set schedule, and a wet-behind-the-ears author. Had every intention of keeping to a steady pace, but my story said otherwise. Rocketed out of the gate, got through the validation, and now has gone on vacation. That’s why I’m out perusing WANA blogs – trying to find a hint of where this thing has ambled off to. Kind of want to finish it, now that it’s dragged me this far in such a fun rodeo.

    1. Sometimes giving it a rest is just the thing that helps me figure out where the story needs to go next. Don’t give up on it. My manuscript from last year’s NaNo still sits on my hard drive. I’ve never even read through it. I have too many other irons in the fire at the moment.

  3. Something tells me my next character is sitting in the wings wondering why I haven’t called them out yet. But, I was hoping not to change the order of appearance. ::Sighs:: I just love it when the buck isn’t the heels going up, but a 180 turn in the plot. That’s when I have to climb back on before it runs off on me… again.

  4. Pingback: I’m a published author – Almost | Sharon Lee Hughson, Author

What do you think? Add to the discussion here.