NaNo -- The quagmire
Monday NaNo word count = 1330
Total NaNo word count = 40,996
Life (actually day-job work) got in the way yesterday. So I didn't get to write anything until 7:00 last night. But between then and 9:00 I wrote 1330, not bad.
What is bad, though is that I'm on Chapter 9 and am smack dab in the middle of a quagmire. I'm following the plot synopsis that I wrote, but the storylines are starting to blur. And my brain has been going non-stop (literally 24 hours a day) tormenting me until I work out the solution. My sub-conscious must seriously be on something it hasn't told me about (and let me enjoy) because I've also been dreaming non-stop -- funky, bizarre, wacky, and usually not fun kind of dreams. To the point, dreams that are not in the least bit helpful to writing myself out of the mess I'm in.
But, when I'm writing at my old speed (aka a chapter a week. Man, that seems SO SLOW now), the same thing happens. So regardless of how much I LOVE my little Netbook, it's not coming out of its case until I figure this thing out. Yep, it's Mr. Notepad to the rescue. It takes the pressure off to write on a notepad. If any of what I write today is decent -- and I'm determined that it will be -- I'll count it toward my word count. If not, it's just musings on paper.
So to get myself out of this, I'm going to print out two things I've written over the past two weeks: a list of characters that I have to include in this book and my proposed scenes/storylines for them (and I HAVE TO work these characters in, I said so in Bewitched & Betrayed), and I'll also print my short 2-sentence synop of each chapter that I've written so far. These two things will show me where I've been and where I need to go. They've been really useful tools for me in writing past books, and I highly recommend doing them if you tend to lose your way while writing.
Hopefully between the printout and Mr. Notepad, I'll get back on course again.
What problems are you having? Share if you have time; other readers may be having the same problem and will be encouraged that someone else is in the muck with them.
Lisa
Total NaNo word count = 40,996
Life (actually day-job work) got in the way yesterday. So I didn't get to write anything until 7:00 last night. But between then and 9:00 I wrote 1330, not bad.
What is bad, though is that I'm on Chapter 9 and am smack dab in the middle of a quagmire. I'm following the plot synopsis that I wrote, but the storylines are starting to blur. And my brain has been going non-stop (literally 24 hours a day) tormenting me until I work out the solution. My sub-conscious must seriously be on something it hasn't told me about (and let me enjoy) because I've also been dreaming non-stop -- funky, bizarre, wacky, and usually not fun kind of dreams. To the point, dreams that are not in the least bit helpful to writing myself out of the mess I'm in.
But, when I'm writing at my old speed (aka a chapter a week. Man, that seems SO SLOW now), the same thing happens. So regardless of how much I LOVE my little Netbook, it's not coming out of its case until I figure this thing out. Yep, it's Mr. Notepad to the rescue. It takes the pressure off to write on a notepad. If any of what I write today is decent -- and I'm determined that it will be -- I'll count it toward my word count. If not, it's just musings on paper.
So to get myself out of this, I'm going to print out two things I've written over the past two weeks: a list of characters that I have to include in this book and my proposed scenes/storylines for them (and I HAVE TO work these characters in, I said so in Bewitched & Betrayed), and I'll also print my short 2-sentence synop of each chapter that I've written so far. These two things will show me where I've been and where I need to go. They've been really useful tools for me in writing past books, and I highly recommend doing them if you tend to lose your way while writing.
Hopefully between the printout and Mr. Notepad, I'll get back on course again.
What problems are you having? Share if you have time; other readers may be having the same problem and will be encouraged that someone else is in the muck with them.
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:41 AM
10 Comments:
I am in the midst of a first draft of a time travel historical. I've already written in these chapters, but I'm working in a character who I designed to increase the conflict and to give my protags trouble. And they're stuck with him.
In my previous books, my characters all tended to get along to well. I knew I didn't want any serious squabbles between my main characters at this point (that comes later) but I really needed to bring in some conflict. So in comes Brad, the annoying semi-friend, who grows more and more dangerous as time goes on.
My 'this is only one novel' story got out of hand, and developed into a series. Probably it was a series all along but I tried to write it as one book...
Let's say I had some problems with the flow and focus of the story and now I know at least why I have them. Breaking the story down into episodes would make it possible to shift the focus to where I want it to be. But that requires some serious rewriting and I'll save that for december...
I'm trying to work through Donald Maast's Breakout Novel workbook, so my current work will have well developed characters. My trouble is convincing myself that I'm actually WORKING when all I see are bits and pieces of assignments. I know it's helping me plan, and I know the book will be better for all this pre-writing, but I keep thinking `but when will I GET anywhere.'
Thank you for chiming in, ladies!
One of the biggest problems with my current project, for me, anyway, is that, well, five chapters in I'm still not sure where it's going--and I'm not sure I like where it *seems* to be going, to boot. So I'm not sure if this NANO thing is going to be a boon or a bust, but I'm trying for boon. It's just that the not quite knowing is insanity inducing sometimes.
One of my characters dumped me in the quagmire, once: he was the bad guy, and REALLY didn't want me to know what he was doing. I really had to coax the monologue out of him; smart bad guys aren't all they're cracked up to be.
Good luck slogging!
My draft just swirled around and around in the same setting for about 5 chapters, which I suspect was me writing for myself (since much of it won't end up in the finished MS). Now, finally,I'm moving forward. (yay!) Like Lisa, I plan to continue writing through December or until I finish this draft
My problem? I didn't plan this project like I did my other one, so I am LOST. I literally do not know what I will write next until I write it. I do, however, have plenty ideas for the end. I have found that I hate middles. Really, really hate them.
Also...because it is getting close to Thanksgiving I have had no time to write, so I am 3k words behind. How the heck am I supposed to reach 40k tonight? The computer I use is one that belongs to everyone, so when someone comes home that needs it...I won't be able to finish my words. Guess that means notebook time for me.
Oh, and my characters are not listening to me! One thing I did know before I started was where I wanted to end up, what I wanted my characters to do...and that just has not been happening! It looks like I have worked myself into a corner. I am not pleased.
Maybe I am just starting to burn out? I have never finished a project before...so participating in Nano might have been slightly crazy.
Tori,
You're NOT burning out. Every writer -- and published author -- has your exact problems. I don't know of any author who likes middles, we all pretty much hate them. The beginning and endings are exciting all by themselves, the middles take work to make them that way.
I'm at around 40K too. And I've started using my notebook to work my way out of some "middle of the book quagmire" that I'm in. It's working wonders.
And I've found that when I say "my characters aren't listening to me and doing what I want them to" this means I should be listening to THEM and letting them tell me what I SHOULD be writing.
Relax and listen, and it will come. And, if you find yourself really in a "word block" bind, write the ending. NaNo is all about getting the story down and making word count -- you don't have to write the book in chapter order. ; )
Hope this helps!
Lisa
It helps a lot Lisa, thank you! I think I should take some time with my notebook and see what I get. And I agree with you, Nano is about getting down the words, so maybe focusing on the end will help me. And sometimes I tend to forget that I should be listening to my characters. I guess it is a little scary since I didn't outline this story. I always feel a little lost even when things are doing well. But I would probably feel better if I would just take the time to hear my characters.
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