Week 2: Avoiding the Doldrums

[purelovesong]

Welcome to Week 2 of NaNoWrimo! I hope all of you are going strong as all of us head into the second week of this crazy writing venture.

In No Plot, No Problem! by Chris Baty, week two of noveling comes with a set of problems that can cast any writer into a pit of despair. He likens week two to a storm, churning, chaotic, and dismal. To avoid this Gorge of Eternal Peril (Did anyone get that reference? Anyone? Okay, just checking.) he gives helpful and and hopeful advice, summarized by yours truly:

Conquering Week Two Issues:

• Don't start over. There may come a time when the characters, the story, the setting have all become so bad you're ready to chuck all of it in the garbage and start fresh. The issue here is that it's so easy to see your novel's flaws that you become blind to its strong points. Leave all of it for now, and instead of starting from scratch, try changing things up.
• Change something. Your characters may be stalling by now, so shake up their world by introducing something. Discover something, kill someone, have someone burst through the door with a gun. This will force your characters to act in new and unexpected ways.
• Character coup. It's possible you've become bored with your MCs. Why not try shoving them off to the side and letting someone else take the stage? If one of your side characters has peaked your interest, let that character take a turn at the mike.
• Take a (Mini) Break. If you're feeling burned out from noveling, take a night off to let yourself get recharged. Spend some time with those neglected loved ones, friends, or pets. Pick up a book, or watch a favorite movie. Chances are high that one night spent away will be enough to get new ideas flowing.

Week Two Tips:

• Get It Written. Remember Team: Perfection is out the window. If that Inner Editor is knocking or the delete key is calling, shove them both into the closet and keep going. Remember Team: Perfection is out the window.
• Avoid Pathogens. When's the last time you washed those sticky fingers? Seriously, take a few moments now to wash your hands and run a clean cloth or disinfecting cloth over your keyboard. Getting the flu isn't going to help your writing!
• The Check-In. On those nights when meeting quota seems impossible, it's advisable to "check-in" with your novel. Add on about 500 words or so, just enough to keep your story fresh in your mind and remind it that you're still here and that you're not going to leave it behind.

Week Two Exercises:

• Word Count Padding. These are those cheap tricks utilized to increase word count goodness. Changing all of your contractions to two words, giving one character a terrible stutter, dream sequences, and ridiculously long names. Go ahead, use them without shame!
• Friends and Family. If you're stuck on a scene, ask someone a hypothetical question. "Say, Bob, let's say, hypothetically speaking, that you were suddenly stranded on an island with a blood sucking alien octopus. What would you do?" Then incorporate Bob's answer in your novel. Thanks, Bob.
• Inciting Plot Flashes. "I don't wait for my muse to wander by; I go out and drag her home by the hair." - Rise Sheridan-Peters, three-time NaNoWriMo winner. Moral of the story: Sometimes inspiration doesn't come to you. You have to go out and find it.

This is a brief overview of all the book's guidance regarding Week 2. Are you feeling prepared? Have any tips you'd like to share with your team mates? Let's head into this week strong!