This is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), and many people are participating.
As anyone who knows me knows, I live NaNo all the time. I work full-time, I volunteer A LOT, and in order for me to accomplish any writing, I have to be disciplined and schedule in my writing time. I wrote 3 books this year and I'm almost done with the 4th. So yeah, I know NaNo.
What I did this year was really beneficial. I set publishing goals for NaNo month -- things like "take time to think about next year and promotions" and "decide on that mystery series you wrote and where to publish it" and "what about your back list and how to manage it."
So in between writing, I'm thinking and drawing up plans, the same way other NaNoites are doing with their novels. It's been so useful for me -- I gave myself permission to step away from the creative keyboard and focus on the business keyboard, so to speak. Sure, I could have done this any other time, but being in NaNo with other writers, stating my goals to them, and tracking our progress, has really helped.
Now I just have to follow through on some of the ideas I'm formulating -- the hard part, really. But it's nice to know that I do have a plan of sorts. And the month isn't over yet. Who knows what else I'll cook up in the remaining time?
J L
(jayellwilson.com)
5 comments:
Keep up your light speed performance schedule, JL. It's always good to have a plan too. With my wip I'm deep, deep, deep in editing mode. Not as many new words, but the ones I have certainly do read better. Best of luck on your goals.
I'm with you, JL, as far as using NaNo for your own purposes. Like you, I work a full-time job and have other commitments, but three books this year?! That's amazing. I'm actually going for word count this NaNo, and so far am (as usual) abysmally short of goal. But I'm not worrying about it. I'm using NaNo this year as an exercise to re-focus on writing instead of promo and other writing activities. For me, even my low word count has been encouraging, letting me know that I can do it when I want to. Wishing you much success with all your projects!
I'm doing NaNo whether I want to or not. I have a book due on Monday. I didn't think I'd ever reach the minimum word count specified in my contract, but I have and then some. So now I'm in editing mode before I email it in. I've had to step away from promo and social media to get the job done. Good for you for using the month to your advantage. We all need to learn the value of doing what our careers needs at this particular moment. Truthfully, for me, it would be a week of sleep, but we know that's not happening.
Good for you, JL, but those ideas won't help much if you don't follow through. That's where I have issues, thinking about what I should do but not getting it done. I'm sticking to my 5000 words a week pace, but those 5000 words are clean and well edited and not going anywhere. The idea of putting down 50,000 unedited words in a month and then dealing with them afterward makes me shudder.
So far, so good -- I'm mid-point in my current WIP and have re-read my plans for the upcoming year. I think they're good so will start to schedule some things.
Mid-month!
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