To NaNo or not to NaNo…that is the question…for today’s post…
Questions about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) always hit me with bouts of indecision at this time of year. And it’s usually the same two questions: 1) Should I participate? and, 2) If I do, what should I focus on?
This year, these two questions are giving me a lot to think about, though I hasten to add, the first question has always been answered in the past with a “yes”. That being said, I’m going to bore you anyway with this year’s deliberations…
Today’s random photos are all inspired by the element of water…
Should I Participate in NaNoWriMo 2018?
As I’ve already mentioned, in the past I have always answered this question with a “yes”. I’ve joined in the yearly writing challenge for the last six years and learned a lot about how I write and what works for me. Last year’s lesson was tailored writing sprints, but I digress.
This year, I’m suffering from exhaustion. It’s been an issue I’ve had all year long, but instead of resting like any sane person would, I pushed myself harder in an attempt to work through it / ignore it. I’ve now got to the point where that is no longer an option, and I’ve started to close down many of the projects I’ve been working on to create the time and space I need to recuperate. This in itself, would be a sensible reason not to do NaNo this year.
However, even if everything stopped tomorrow, I would still be writing. I, like most writers, write every single day. So whether or not I sign up to NaNo, I will be writing.
NaNo has become an important part of my writing year, and I think I would be quite disappointed if I skipped it, even once. This means I think I will be participating again this year, unless I find closer to November 1st, I’m really not up to it. For now, I’m full of positive thoughts – always look on the bright side of life, and all that…so to the next question…
What should I focus on for NaNoWriMo 2018?
This is the question that stumps me every year; I think hard about it for two weeks, pick a project, plan it for a week and then change my mind the following week, only to pick something else on the 1st November. I’m so very indecisive. I have so many ideas for stories that I want to write them all right now. But, I hope to avoid these shenanigans this year with a little prep and planning. Whatever I pick, I’m going to stick with it, because an over-active, over-anxious mind equals exhaustion.
Last month I completed my latest novel, Oathbreaker (if you didn’t already know!). 75,000 words over 38 writing days produced the best first draft I have ever written. It helped, I think, that I completed it from start to finish – hell, it helped that I actually completed it at all. I have dozens of novels on my computer, in various stages, but only a handful can be described as complete – and it’s not just novels, but novellas and short stories too!
Anyway, back to Oathbreaker. When I sat down and started writing it, it was supposed to be a standalone short novel, but as the story unfolded, it became clear that was never going to happen. Now it’s a novel trilogy, and I’ve already had people interested enough in it to ask when will they be able to start reading book 2! Not a bad result from a first draft!
It makes sense then that my next project should be book 2. The problem is, I’m just about to make a start on it but NaNo doesn’t begin for another 27 days. My project could be the Oathbreaker trilogy; I start book 2 now and finish what’s left of it in November, and should I need more words, I could start book 3.
But there is part of me that says pick a different project for NaNo and let Oathbreaker take care of itself (book 1 will also need editing at some point…). Surely it will be simpler that way. So what else could I work on for NaNo? Earlier in the year I was working on two unfinished novels. They each need 20-30,000 words to complete the first draft. There are also a load of half-finished short stories awaiting some attention.
So I guess my options are:
- 50,000 words on the Oathbreaker trilogy
- 50,000 words split between the Oathbreaker trilogy and a few smaller writing projects
- 50,000 words split between unfinished novels
- 50,000 words split between unfinished novels and short writing projects
- Or start a completely new project
It looks like I’ve got a lot to think about.
Wow. That was a long post. If you’re still reading, I’m both surprised and thankful 🙂
So what are your thoughts? Any wise words or suggestions to impart to this indecisive writer? Are you joining in with NaNo this year? Do you know what you are focusing on? Let me know in the comments.
And, should you wish to add me as a NaNo writing buddy, you can find me over on the NaNoWriMo website by searching “Sammi Cox”…
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I was dreaming. Of a time before. Of a time of after. I couldn’t yet tell…
Let’s Look At The Numbers
And, in the spirit of trying to finish unfinished stories, I also came across a novella I had started writing a few years ago. It’s not the sort of story I typically write, but I’m having fun with it and I think it’s sometimes worth writing outside of your comfort zone, just to see what happens. Anyway, for those interested, it’s called “One Christmas” and is a contemporary romance, with a bit of humour and (hopefully) suspense thrown in for good measure, and you can read it 
