The fall quilt is out, the leaves are… okay, still green. It’s 90 degrees here in Sacramento, but at least I have the autumn spirit. Something about the shrinking amount of daylight makes me increasingly focused on finishing old projects. I am seriously ready for something new. In fact, I’m darn-near ecstatic for something new to write. So. Close.
My first queries go out this Thursday. Just wrote a bunch of personalized letters and tightened up my synopsis to one page, (Hallelujah!). As much as I really hope something comes of this effort, I am even more excited for what’s next. I just ordered Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, which I admittedly should have read earlier, but at least it will be a good, nerdy read before beginning my next novel.
Speaking of which– November 1, 2012, mark you calendars. Okay, really, only mark them if you’re also planning to participate in Nanowrimo, (National Novel Writing Month for the uninitiated). As much as I dislike some of the rubbish I had to wade through last time I spit out thousands of exhausted words after bossing around children all day, I still feel like this is the perfect place to get motivated and give yourself something warm and cozy to do through the cold winter months. So, seasoned writer or not, I invite you to join me as we cheer each other on with the hefty goal of writing a novel, (or the beginning of a novel), in one month.
Last year I only did 22,222 words… Which is nearly 30,000 shy of the goal, but it still encouraged me enough to feel like I could write an entire book, which shortly thereafter, I actually did. This year my goal is just to write well, in quantity, for the entire month, using November 1 as the launch for my new idea. We’ll see where I end up. I’m excited. Nanowrimo is like Burning Man to me, an annual celebration of intense artistic expression.
Will you join me?
Looks like I already have one writing buddy in my mess of papers today– could use some human ones as well… Add me as a writing buddy on the nanowrimo site!
oliviaobryon 
Christian Mihai posted about this today as well. I am so torn because I know, based on life demands and how I write, this is just such an incredibly difficult challenge. But, I like challenges. What’s your game plan? Got any ideas for how we writing bloggers can motivate each other?
Yes, I saw that too. My game plan is to use it as a starting date but not kill myself to keep up with the 1,600 words/day… Not sure how we can motivate each other, but I feel like there must be a way! Did you go to any of the Sac Nanowrimo events last year? Any motivation ideas?
It’s been a few years since I tried NaNoWriMo and the two times I did, I didn’t do any of the events. I have narrow windows of time to write and the last thing I needed to do was spend that time meeting with people. If I do NaNoWriMo, I may reconsider that this year. Maybe an occasional get-together wouldn’t be a bad idea. Don’t know. Don’t know if I’m gonna saddle up and try it again, either. It’s been a long time since I’ve written 1,600 words in one day, let alone that many day after day. But, maybe that’s why I need to try it again — to get into that serious writing frame of mind.
If nothing else, it’s a good chance for a fresh start on something! Like I said before, I know I won’t make 1,600 words per day on a regular basis, especially in a month with family holiday obligations, but I think it makes a good starting point and I like the camaraderie of knowing so many others are pushing themselves simultaneously. I like Jeffo’s comment about it forcing himself to turn the editor off… I’ll be curious to hear what you decide! 🙂
NaNo can be a perfect shot in the arm. I did it two years ago and, while that novel still sits, unfinished (I did reach the NaNo 50K goal, however), the process forced me to shut down the editor and just write.
Last year I was too busy doing revisions on my manuscript to participate. This year, we’ll see. I need to be clear of the first draft revision work on my current project, and I need to have the right idea ready to go (I have the barest hint of an idea; I don’t want to force it).
Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Even though I didn’t get quite as many words out, (and actually went stints of not writing because I had family staying at my house for Thanksgiving), it still forced me to stop rereading everything to death and just write, which is why I’ll do it again, even if for me, it doesn’t mean 50,000 words, but rather a fresh, focused start. Let me know if you decide to participate! 🙂
I just wanted to drop by and say good luck with the queries. A good mind set is key during this time and you seem to have that down. All you have to do is send your baby off into the world and let the chips fall where they may. Again, best of luck.
Thanks! Very much appreciated! Mostly I’m just happy to send it out into the universe and start something new. I’m excited to use what I learned from all this to write better… But, it would be nice if something came of it!