One of the reasons I started blogging was to focus on my writing. I’m not much of a fiction writer, although sometimes I think I could do a better job than some published authors. My biggest problem is that I just don’t write enough – either often enough, or just enough words per task.
Sometimes I think that’s good thing. I like concise work. Why use three words when one will work? Unfortunately, I can get lazy, and think that my reader can see what is in my head, when all they can actually see is what I’ve written down.
Which brings me to NaNoWriMo.
I’ve toyed with the idea of doing this in the past, just to see if I could push out 50,000 words in a month, or 1667 words per day. Of course, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is about more than just 50,000 words, it’s about writing one coherent novel. I do not have that story in me. I have no earthly idea how to write a novel.
But I do know how to write. If you’re reading this, chances are good you know how to write, too.
So I’m going to write. Here. On my blog. Every day in the month of November I will post something. It will have words. I cannot promise how many. I doubt it will be 1667 every day, or even 1667 on any one day. I will allow myself to schedule posts ahead of time, but of substantive writing will have to be done during the month of November. I won’t write a bunch of stuff in the next week or so as to have content to start with. I admit, I have a couple posts barely started, and I might finish those during November and post them. Currently, they consist of no more than a few sentences each, so I don’t think that’s really cheating.
Have you done something like this before? Have you thought about it? Want to join me?
Please make sure to stop by next month. I’m sure I’ll need all the encouragement I can get!
5 comments:
I feel exactly the same way you do - I'd love to write more, but I just can't!
I've tried NaNoWriMo before, and failed miserably, mainly because I just din't know what to write about! The storyline's never quite there!
This year I don't think I'll be trying as I have uni work to do (though, I just might anyway!) but good luck!
I've done NanoWriMo twice -- both times it was great. I also opens up a blog once where I checked in daily about the struggles (or successes) I was having in writing. (Without, of course, discussing the story itself.)
It was really fun and successful! I've sort of moved into a reading phase since then, so I won't be joining this year. What NanoWriMo does is get people into the HABIT of writing. I don't think it matters what you produce, so much as that you show up daily. :-)
Anyway, have fun! :-)
@Tea: Yeah, my biggest problem with a novel is that I don't have a story. Maybe one day I'll think of an idea worth devoting a bunch of time to, but I'm not holding my breath.
@Jillian: I do think the habit is crucial. That's why I'm doing my blogging version. Discipline is key!
MJ, I don't know if you know this but there's the blogging equivalent of NaNoWriMo. It's called NaBloPoMo and it's hosted by blogher.com Good luck on your goal!
@Vasilly Vasilly, I think I saw something about that. I'll have to look into it a bit more. Thanks for the tip!
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