Nanowrimo 2012? Maybe, with conditions.
I didn't do National Novel Writing Month last year. I had done it the previous three years and won each time. My first year's novel started off fairly well. But after receiving some negative feedback on it (something along the lines of "What's the point? Nothing's happening."), I started second guessing myself, became discouraged and left it. Thinking back on it, I probably shouldn't have taken it to heart. Other feedback was pretty good, so I should probably just take it for what it is and pick it up again. Someday.
The second year, I started a new novel then wrote it over completely the year after that. After two incomplete drafts, I decided I needed to do it over again, but by then, I had burnt out on it. I'm not saying I'll never finish it, but I need to put more thought into the plot to make it work. And I've kind of lost interest in the story over time.
Then I have another novel that I had started many years ago, left it, picked it up again maybe a year or so ago, and then left it again. I'm interested in finishing this one. I'm not sure why I haven't, but it's sitting on my to-do list. That's three novels, unfinished and collecting dust. Why would I want to start a fourth one when I can't finish the ones I have? So I didn't participate last year.
Then recently, I came up with another idea for a novel. But with all of the previous false starts, I made a deal with myself that I wouldn't start it without a complete outline first. So I sat down, outlined three chapters in detail, then...forgot about it. I stumbled across it a few nights ago and reread the outline. It might be pretty good if I would just finish the thing, but that's always the difficult part. It's also on my to-do list.
The same night that I stumbled across the outline (and, in fact, this was the cause of it), I thought of another interesting idea that I became kind of excited about. I even asked hubby and my daughter if they would watch a movie about it (I have to put it in those terms for them), and they agreed they would. Great! Same deal, though. I have to have a complete outline before I will allow myself to start.
Now here's the thing: I have one month to Nanowrimo. If I get cracking, I should be able to outline one of those recent novel ideas before November and have something I can sink my teeth into. And *gasp* I might even finish it because I'll have a clear idea of where it's going. If can finish the outline, then I will join the festivities again this year. If not, well, maybe next year. We'll see how this goes.
The second year, I started a new novel then wrote it over completely the year after that. After two incomplete drafts, I decided I needed to do it over again, but by then, I had burnt out on it. I'm not saying I'll never finish it, but I need to put more thought into the plot to make it work. And I've kind of lost interest in the story over time.
Then I have another novel that I had started many years ago, left it, picked it up again maybe a year or so ago, and then left it again. I'm interested in finishing this one. I'm not sure why I haven't, but it's sitting on my to-do list. That's three novels, unfinished and collecting dust. Why would I want to start a fourth one when I can't finish the ones I have? So I didn't participate last year.
Then recently, I came up with another idea for a novel. But with all of the previous false starts, I made a deal with myself that I wouldn't start it without a complete outline first. So I sat down, outlined three chapters in detail, then...forgot about it. I stumbled across it a few nights ago and reread the outline. It might be pretty good if I would just finish the thing, but that's always the difficult part. It's also on my to-do list.
The same night that I stumbled across the outline (and, in fact, this was the cause of it), I thought of another interesting idea that I became kind of excited about. I even asked hubby and my daughter if they would watch a movie about it (I have to put it in those terms for them), and they agreed they would. Great! Same deal, though. I have to have a complete outline before I will allow myself to start.
Now here's the thing: I have one month to Nanowrimo. If I get cracking, I should be able to outline one of those recent novel ideas before November and have something I can sink my teeth into. And *gasp* I might even finish it because I'll have a clear idea of where it's going. If can finish the outline, then I will join the festivities again this year. If not, well, maybe next year. We'll see how this goes.