NanoNano. . .?

[celtfiddler]

So, November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo, for short). I'm thinking about trying it again this year. For once, I don't *seem* to have anything majorly time-consuming on my plate that month, for the first time in three years, I'm only working one job, and a lot of the self-destructive/distractive behaviors that have kept me from

Comments

[celtfiddler]

The only writing habit that's even remotely important is *writing*. All the rest is technique, which anyone with half a grain of diligence and self-awareness can gain through *writing*.

And, while I may *technically* be a published novelist, by dint of the one collaboration, anyone whose completed NaNoWriMo in the last, oh, decade or so has, in that time, been twice the writer that I am. I may be more of an *author* than them (if they've not yet achieved publication), but being a writer is about who you are and what you do, not what you've *done*.

I'd never call *anyone* who's completed 50,000 or more words of fiction a wannabe writer (especially if they did so in a month), even if they're 50,000 terrible words. The true wannabe writer is the person who talks endlessly about the great ideas that they have and the novels and stories they're "working" on, but never has actual pages to show for it. Writing is the hard part of writing, and anyone who's actually doing that work, published or not, is a writer, as far as I'm concerned. Lately, I'd classify *myself* as a wannabe writer far quicker than anyone who'd completed a NaNoWriMo.

[mary_mayhem]

Are you more likely to be published by doing the NaNoWriMo exercise, then? Will it inspire you to the diligence that is needed?

[celtfiddler]

The biggest thing standing in my way is just getting words on the page, which is what NaNo is all about. In fact, the point of NaNo is just *exactly* that, the concept that producing work, even if it's not your best work, is better than not. Anything completed can be edited, but getting the story, raw and steaming, out of your head, is the most important step.

In other words, yes. I already know I *can* write at a publishable level. I already know that the ideas that I have are publishable ideas. I just need to kick the procrastination, fear of failure/success thing in the ass and get words on the page, and that's exactly what NaNo is all about.

(It will, however, greatly limit my availability the month of November.)

[mary_mayhem]

Then use one of the ideas you already have percolating and get on it.

I'll be cheering you on. :-)

[celtfiddler]

I know how important it is (to tie up my internal editor and shove the bastard in a closet); but I've not exercised the will power necessary to do it. Which is the bit that I'm hoping NaNoWriMo can help me with. If I can just get the scenes blocked out and roughed in, all the way to the end, I can come back and rework details and transitions, later. Both of the ideas that I could work on have beginning, middle, and end, both are quite marketable, and both excite me during the brief interludes when I actually *think* about writing in general, and writing these two novels, in particular. And I'm *good* at insane, so that oughtta help. :P

[mary_mayhem]

And are you likely to join us for suchi this Wednesday?

[celtfiddler]

I may very well do so. For one thing, you and I haven't had a chance to talk in a while (sorry you weren't able to make RPG the other night), and for another, I've not seen Carolyn in, literally, forever. In fact, I think she was still working at Evil Corporate Books, Inc. the last time I saw her.

And *damn*, you're fast on the reply, today. :)

[mary_mayhem]

I am not at work. I have taken a day off to get some necessary personal crap done. It is a teacher workday so Christopher and I are getting our eyes checked, our teeth cleaned and our cat taken to the vet.

I was sorry to miss the RPG (particularly because I know that you are most likely to be at theones in Cary), but I had a date to see a friend's improv group with my son and it was a different good time.

I look forward to seeing you Wednesday. We meet in front of the comic book store, btw. They know us there.