Some of you might have suspected as much since I've become so quiet about it recently, but today I made my final decision to step out of the NaNoWriMo race.
I still love my draft. Passionately. It's just that I have never been a fast drafter. Doorways took 3 years. WiP2 took more than a year. The reason for this is in the way my mind works when I write. I don't know if I'm the only person who writes like this, but when I start writing, it's almost as if I write from my subconscious. So when something in the story isn't working, my words will stop completely until I figure out what's wrong. Sadly, because my writing isn't really cerebral as much as intuitive, figuring out the problem requires a considerable amount of waiting until the answer occurs to me.
And that is exactly what happened with Don't Look Back.
I used to be worried about my "writers blocks" all the time, until I realized how vital they were to my creative methods. Now I don't mind them at all. I just forgot how bad they can be on an incredibly tight schedule. Like... say... giving myself a month deadline.
In the mean time I will be working on the WiP2 rewrite for the time being, since I'm still craving some more neutrality on Doorways before I can edit again.
So what about my NaNo buddies? Who's done? Who fell down by the wayside like me? And the non-NaNoers? How are your writing travails going?
I cheer those on who can jump into NaNoWriMo project but could never write under that sort of pressure.
ReplyDeleteI say, write what you love and in the way you love. Blocks can be time to reflect. JF
I just knew that I wouldn't be able to write under pressure, so I didn't join in. I write when I am in the mood - that's the best way, right?
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and good luck with your book!
Different people have different ways of writing that works best for them, so you have to do what you have to do. After all there is no right or wrong way to write. :)
ReplyDeleteI've learned through NaNo that I'm a plotter all the way and a fast drafter. I have to get the story out now or it might never be written.
I'm usually a slow writer, but so far I'm only 3K words behind. Not sure how I've done that. But hey, just keep working on the draft at your own pace. It's given you a great starting place, right?
ReplyDeleteEven though you didn't finish you have accomplished something, you have a start and that is a good thing! So be...thankful.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot to be said for slow writing, and even more for trusting your own methods. I'm a few days behind in NaNo, and life is getting busier. Still, I've written more this month than I have in a long time, so I'm proud of that even if I don't get 50,000 words.
ReplyDeleteYour process sounds a lot like mine, actually. NaNo has never worked out for me either. I'm about 2/3 of the way through my first draft of my first MS. We'll see how it turns out :) I would love to get it finished by the end of the year, but I don't know...we'll see.
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
This was my first NaNoWriMo that I knew people actually participating. Unlike the previous times I felt weird for not participating. I think next year I'll dive in.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a NaNo-er. I just can't write that way--my creativity takes a lot of "feeding."
ReplyDeleteI'm working on an edit/revision of my current WIP, but I can't find much time. Too much to do...
I'm not fast either, Misha. That's why I never tried a NaNo. Well, one of the reasons. I give you a bow for getting as far as it took you. That's something.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying NaNo for the first time this year, and I'm actually liking it. I like having something to push me to write everyday, even when I don't feel like it. But at the same time I'm feeling the pressure. I'll never get done! Gah!! :-p Thanks for the follow, I'm liking your blog! Good luck with all of your WIPs!
ReplyDeleteI'm at 63,929 words and 6,260 behind what I should be at to write 100k in 30 days.
ReplyDeleteThough, I have calculated and if I write 3,626 words for the next days I will still finish on time. Which works out great since I get five of those days free. ^^
mo nano for me. I'm busy enough with revisions and a new project.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad Misha, the same thing happened to me. I was off to a great start at the beginning of the month, but my other WiP's were calling me. I just couldn't write for the life of me and finally just gave up on it. Maybe next year though! Best of luck with your other works! :)
ReplyDeleteI am not a fast drafter, either. I always WANT to be, and a lot of times I am convinced I CAN be if I just try hard enough, but it's just not the way I work, I guess.
ReplyDeleteAnd as a side note-- I love the graphics on the sides of your blog! Every time I come here, I just stare for a while. I love it!
Good luck with your story and the rewrites! :)
ReplyDeleteI crossed the 50k line yesterday; taking a break and not writing anything today. Now my goal is to finish the novel sometime in December.
you're not the only person :) as much as I try to keep writing after my intuition has told me something's wrong, it doesn't usually work and I end up tangling myself into a big mess. it takes me anywhere from a day to a few weeks, sometimes a few months, to figure out the problem--it just depends on how hard I try to find a solution. the more brains I pick, the more I talk about it to other people, the fast I seem to fix my problems :)
ReplyDeleteThis is why I've never tried Nano. I have friends who've nano-ed the hell out of their lives for the last 4 years but have zero finished/ polished product to show for it. Not to pull Nano-ers down, I'm sure lots of people benefit from it or it wouldn't be such a movement.
ReplyDeleteMy writing process is quite like yours, and there's nothing wrong with that, I don't think :)
I really appreciate your decision. It's totally rational because writing is all about enjoying and savouring every bit of the process. I'm a non-Nano-er because every November, unfortunately, work gets the better of me.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your decision. It's totally rational because writing is all about enjoying and savouring every bit of the process. I'm a non-Nano-er because every November, unfortunately, work gets the better of me.
ReplyDeletegreat Decision by you Misha,
ReplyDeleteI really Like your decision.