Hmm... well, I just reckon if I can do 15k in a week... casually, I'm a bit scared of what might rush out of me if I have a target. Knowing me and my wordiness... It'll be 150k and I'll still be wondering if it should have another chapter or two.
~laughs~ I talk too much, but I write even more. Editting would just be a necessity!
Oh, BUT, especially for a first time: probably wise not to use an idea that you care a lot about (like the Kenya one).
The idea is to have fun, to get silly, to DARE to write CRAP if you have to - as long as you keep writing (and it's hard to write crap if the story is really important to you). Whatever you do, keep your fingers moving. Write: 'I don't know what to write, I don't know what to write, this stinks and I just want to do something else, blablabla,' etc if you have to; eventually (usually rather quickly), something will come up.
For me, it's a very different experience from my other writing.
Oh, and it doesn't take that long: I usually aim for 2000 words per day, which usually takes about 2 hours but I can do it in 1 if I really want to.
It's very much about Letting Go, not about Writing Well; about getting out rough (very very rough) material to perhaps work with or not (later!) and in any case learn from.
Do you have the book 'No Plot, No Problem'? It's written by the guy who started it, it's very helpful.
Oh wow, thanks for all of that! I saw the book, but haven't bought it yet. I wasn't sure if it was worth it. I really don't think writing the quantity will be the problem. As I said, I tend to write too much rather than the other way around, I also go on massive tangents. So... it may be worth my while doing one of my other ideas for this November's writing. Hmm... thank you for that. I would like to get the Kenya stuff out though. And I think I do work better with deadlines. It could be that I write it and clean it up later, but at least have a starting point.
My internal editor will likely be giving me massive issues if I do go ahead. I think it would be very good practice indeed. Thanks for the encouragement. Hmm...now to go off and stew over the idea I think would work best for this. I still think I may end up doing my Kenya stuff... but I will consider my other option as well.
Thanks again for your advice, it's been invaluable! ~hug~
I haven't attempted it myself, but a few of my flist have. think you should have a go at it - it sounds like a really useful exercise for getting past the perfectionist, edit-till-it's-perfect thing and getting into a way of writing that allows your ideas to flow. It sounds as if it should free up the writing process - you can always go back afterwards and tidy up any bits you like and want to keep or expand on.
Do eeeeet!!!
Not that I'll be doing it myself, mind - way too much on my plate atm *g* I might consider it in future years ...
I may change my subject matter after bummble's advice, but hmm... not sure. That one has been cooking in the back of my brain for at least 5 years. So it may be worth it to just purge it out and leave room for new stuff in the grey matter?
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~laughs~ I talk too much, but I write even more. Editting would just be a necessity!
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The idea is to have fun, to get silly, to DARE to write CRAP if you have to - as long as you keep writing (and it's hard to write crap if the story is really important to you).
Whatever you do, keep your fingers moving.
Write: 'I don't know what to write, I don't know what to write, this stinks and I just want to do something else, blablabla,' etc if you have to; eventually (usually rather quickly), something will come up.
For me, it's a very different experience from my other writing.
Oh, and it doesn't take that long: I usually aim for 2000 words per day, which usually takes about 2 hours but I can do it in 1 if I really want to.
It's very much about Letting Go, not about Writing Well; about getting out rough (very very rough) material to perhaps work with or not (later!) and in any case learn from.
Do you have the book 'No Plot, No Problem'? It's written by the guy who started it, it's very helpful.
Reply
My internal editor will likely be giving me massive issues if I do go ahead. I think it would be very good practice indeed. Thanks for the encouragement. Hmm...now to go off and stew over the idea I think would work best for this. I still think I may end up doing my Kenya stuff... but I will consider my other option as well.
Thanks again for your advice, it's been invaluable! ~hug~
Reply
think you should have a go at it - it sounds like a really useful exercise for getting past the perfectionist, edit-till-it's-perfect thing and getting into a way of writing that allows your ideas to flow. It sounds as if it should free up the writing process - you can always go back afterwards and tidy up any bits you like and want to keep or expand on.
Do eeeeet!!!
Not that I'll be doing it myself, mind - way too much on my plate atm *g*
I might consider it in future years ...
Reply
I may change my subject matter after bummble's advice, but hmm... not sure. That one has been cooking in the back of my brain for at least 5 years. So it may be worth it to just purge it out and leave room for new stuff in the grey matter?
Thanks for the input! :)
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