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Tuesday, December 01, 2009

After National Novel Writing Month

I have done National Novel Writing Month for seven years now. Every year it seems to be a different experience. I think this happens for two reasons. The first is that doing it once a year is not enough so you really have a predictable experience. You are not doing it often enough to learn efficiencies that make it that much easier.

I also think it happens because I am a different person every year. For example this is the first year I am doing NaNoWriMo as a married man. Yes being married makes it different then last year being engaged. This is the first year Kate did it with me. Yes she did complete 50,000 words also.

I made a tweet this year when I wrote "For me nanowrimo Kinda like a rowing machine gets you in shape but does not actually take you anywhere." I still feel that it was true for me this year. I know the idea of NaNoWriMo is to finish and have a first draft of a novel. That was not my case this year. I realized this about two weeks into NaNoWriMo, but I still finished. I have not written any fiction since NaNoWriMo last year and any fiction writing I can do Is helpful. Some times you just need to write.

Over the last week of so I thought about what I learned this year. I came up with a couple thinks I think I need to work on, after being on the rowing machine for a month.

I Need to Write More Fiction. In the past year I have not taken much time to write. It seems like there is always something more important to do. I need to find the right way to carve out time to write. When I find that time I need to write and not spend my time messing around on the internet. It is just too easy to waste time.

I Need to Write More Blog Entries. I have been lazy like lots of bloggers and let Twitter say everything for me. I know that writing blog entries really makes me think about my ideas and how to construct them on the page. I find that even helps when I am working on fiction.

I Need to Read More Novels. I know I do not read enough. Lately I have not read much at all. Some of the problems I am having writing comes because I spend all my time reading websites. I know that I can get better at expressing my story ideas if I read more. I just need to make myself do it

I Need to Read More Short Fiction. There is some short fiction, but I have to put a lot more effort into finding it. To become a better writer I think I need to work on writing shorter fiction. If I want to write it, I need to read it. It is a simple idea.

I Need to Watch Lets TV. I love Television, but it is easy to let it suck away too much time. It is easy to watch television mindlessly. I need to turn off the TV if I want to spend time writing. I cannot write and keep the TV on. It just does not work.

I Need to Manage My Internet Time Better. The internet is the greatest distraction in the world. I can sit down to write and find myself watching YouTube two hours later. This is a really easy thing to do. I know this is where a lot of my time goes.

I Need to Set Creative Goals. I know the only way to measure myself is to set goals. Setting Goals includes thinking of creative projects, being clear about what I want to do, and setting aside to accomplishing the goal.

Labels: goal, nanowrimo, self, writing

- Rich, 9:22 PM

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Nano Idea for 2009

IMGP3187
Originally uploaded by imagonnablastyou.

I have an idea of how to change the National Novel Writing challenge for next year. It took me about 70 hours to write 50000 words. I am thinking next year to try to take the first few days off from work. The idea would me to spend every waking hour working on my novel until it is finished. I think this would be a wild challenge. I am not sure it would make for a good novel. It would be something interesting to do.

Labels: flickr, nanowrimo, self

- Rich, 5:43 PM

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Another year, another "Novel" and I do mean "Novel"

This is the sixth year I have completed the challenge that is National Novel Writing Month. I have a hard time saying what I wrote is a novel. I am not sure there is enough conflict or dynamic characters for this to be a novel. I know that I did not finish the story. I wrote 50,000 words, but I would not inflict it on another human being. I know that Kate wants to read it, but I am not sure I want to be that mean to her.



I love doing National Novel Writing Month. In the past six year I have written some interesting scenes, but nothing that could really be the foundation of a novel. From writing I can see how far away from actually being able to write a novel. To become a better writer I would need to read more and to write on a more consistent basis. Both of those things end up being low on my priority list.

Writing a novel becomes something different for me. My goal is not to write something other people can read, but to explore my own imagination. As an adult is is hard to run around the play yard pretending you are a superhero. It is much more socially acceptable to write about having super power.

I am going to keep doing NaNoWriMo as long as I can. This time next year I will be married. Who knows if I will have time to do NaNoWriMo or not. I do want to do it. Some where in my head I tell myself I am going to pre-plan my novel and write something good. That is less likely.

Labels: nanowrimo, self, writing

- Rich, 5:06 PM

Friday, October 31, 2008

Time to start writing

National Novel Writing Month starts November 1. It is also known as Nanowrimo, or nano for even shorter. I will be taking part for the sixth time in the last six years. I enjoy doing nanowrimo. None of my books have been worth reading. It is about the writing and the adventure.

Labels: nanowrimo

- Rich, 9:00 PM

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Nano Tips

Before November
Originally uploaded by earthdog.

Doing Nano

For the fifth year in a row I have done National Novel Writing Month. That is the challenge where people write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. For all five years I have completed the challenge. That means that in all five years I have written 50,000 words. If I had to testify in court, I would not say that every year my 50,000 words would add up to a novel. Only one year has the story come to a nice neat conclusion in close to 50,000. Most years the novel is no where near being complete. It is usually a mess of text that would take major work before it could be as a novel.

Every year I track to see how long it takes me to write. I track to see how many hours the novel takes me and how many words per hour I write. This year it took me 57.75 hours to write a total of 50200 words. That means I averaged over 850 words an hour. Some of those hours were total clunkers that I wrote a total of 77 hours. I also know that I rounded down some of the time. For Argument sake, lets say it took me 60 hours to write 50000 words or 830 words an hour.

When I go to a write in I try to write 1000 words an hour. I can do this with minimal distraction. Back in college I was told that 1000 words an hour is what the average person can compose and write. That is a good 50 minute hour of writing. I have noticed that I can usually keep this pace up for about 4 hours at most. More things creep in that really pull me away from writing. Simple things like eating and using the bathroom can really put me away from working on my novel.

I think that if it takes someone more than 80 hours to write the novel they will never do it. That means you need to write for 3.2 hours a day. I will admit that I have never written from 30 days in month. I have never written for more than 25 days in a month. Between work and having to interact with other human beings, writing 25 days in a month is really hard. At writing 15 days, that is writing 3.2 hours a day. That is where it starts to get hard. If you set the goal of 2000 words a day, that give you five days free during the month.

I have always found write-ins key to getting nano done. It is hard to explain why this is. Most people see writing as a solitary experience that you have to do for yourself. Somehow write-ins change that expense. I find that there is something special about writing around other people. It inspires me to get past blocks. If I need help with something other people are right around me. It gets me past all the the distractions of life.

In some ways write-ins help me compete with people. I am not really interested things like word wars and the kind of on line things people have come up with. Being around people who are either in front or behind me helps me. I want to catch the people in front of me and I look down my nose at people who are behind me.

One of the keys it to use your time well. It can take me 10-20 minutes to get to a write in. I have been asked in the past if it would be better for me to stay home and have that extra 20-40 minutes of round trip minutes to write. For me I have to say no. There are ways t use that time well. If I am leaving from work to go to a write in, that time is useful for me to switch from a work context to a writing context. If I bring all the ideas from work to writing I will be distracted.

If I do not have to come down from work, I can use this time to think about my novel. The key to writing quickly is to have already thought about where you want to go. Have some ideas in your mind. be ready to hit the keys once you are in front of your computer. I do not totally know what is going to happen until I sit down to write, but it is good to think about what might happen.

*Be careful of days where you get nothing done. If you are writing very slowly, it might server you better to close up for the day and put things aside.

*Keep your per hour average writing high. It does not work to write a lot of hours and get little done. If you are not getting things done, stop, and plan for the next time you can write.

*Set up what you are going to write before getting to write ins. If I have a little time watching TV before or after a write in, I plan for the next write in. I jut down some notes setting up what I will write next.

*Have more than one plot line going at the same time. This structure makes it easier to get the writing done. I find when I hit a block with one plot line, I can switch to the other plotline. I will admit that sometimes I have to write something to make the story work, but I am not interested in writing it. This is when having another storyline comes in helpful.

*Don't be afraid where the story might take you. I know that everyone might think they know where they want the story to go, but it is good to go with it sometimes.

Labels: 2007, flickrpost, list, nanowrimo, tip, writing

- Rich, 8:17 PM

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Writing Away

Writing Away
Originally uploaded by earthdog.

National Novel Writing Month is coming. It is only a few weeks away. I know I will be very busy this November, but I am still excited to try it again this year. It is always a challenge, but a different challenge from the year before. I do not think I will finish this year, but it will still be worth it.

If you enjoy writing at all you should try National Novel Writing Month. It is something you will never forget.

Labels: challange, nanowrimo, writing

- Rich, 9:09 PM

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Nano is coming

Over the shoulder
Originally uploaded by earthdog.

I am looking forward to doing national novel writing month this year. I have not clue what I will write. I am working at a start up and will have little time to write. I have just started a relationship and will have to pay some attention to someone other than myself. It should still be fun. I am looking forward to taking on the challenge.

Labels: flickrpost, nanowrimo, self

- Rich, 10:30 PM

Sunday, December 03, 2006

What A November

I have been asked by a couple of people why I still do National Novel Writing Month. I just finished my fourth year of participating. A few of my friends have done it once and say that they never need to do it again. Since I know I can do it, should I be moving onto another challenge?

What I have learned is that the challenge is different every year. Since I only do it once a year, it do not develop a great number of efficiencies. Every year I have to make a new plan and start over again. I know that I have to hunker down and write, but I do not know what that means in terms of coming up with a story.

I feel like I have to learn how to write fiction all over again every year. I know there are some big reasons for this. Over the last four years NaNoWriMo is the only place I have been writing fiction. In that 11 months my life usually changes a lot. I have a whole year of new thoughts and feelings to carry into my novel with me. As my life goes on I am in a much different place from year to year.

I do not feel like I wrote a novel that is worth reading. It was not really much of a novel at all. It was really just a pre-novel. It is a bunch of short stories with the same characters. I am not sure I will be able to turn this novel into anything.

If I can I will National Novel Writing Month again next year. What I need is to find a way to write during the rest of the year.

Labels: nanowrimo, november

- Rich, 4:07 PM

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

I did it.

Labels: graphic november, nanowrimo

- Rich, 8:21 PM

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Oh Crap

Oh Crap
Originally uploaded by earthdog.

Oh Crap I only have 25 minutes left to post a blog entry. I do not want to run out of time. I know that NaBloPoMo is getting me a lot of attention. I should be doing better posts. The problem is my novel is using all of my mental real estate right now.

Labels: blog, flickrpost, nablopomo, nanowrimo

- Rich, 11:37 PM

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Greatest Hits

February 11: Nerd is the New Black
Originally uploaded by earthdog.

Today is the start of National Novel Writing Month. It is also the start of National Blog Posting Month. That means that I will not be posting in Sad Salvation very much. I will be trying to post everyday. The easiest way to get that is for me to just post photos from my flickr account. I know it is kind of cheesy, but it is within the rules.

I will try to post my best photos, but that might be too much effort going forward.

Labels: flickrpost, nablopomo, nanowrimo

- Rich, 11:43 AM

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Canned Thoughts

National Novel Writing Month is starting in November. We are only a few weeks away from the point there I will be nose down in my computer writing all the time. I am not sure I really have a novel in my this year, but that will not keep me from trying. When I do not know what I am doing I am often pleasantly surprised by the results.

I am trying to figure out what I will be doing with Sad Salvation while I am writing my novel. I am wondering if I should write some entries and not publish them yet. There are a few timeless subjects that I could write about. I could put them in the can and pull the out when I need them. I am not sure if that is what Sad Salvation should be about or not.

Labels: nanowrimo, writing

- Rich, 4:14 PM

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Another Year, another almost novel

We less than a month away from National Novel Writing Month. I am planning on doing it again this year. I always enjoy National Novel Writing Month. I enjoy the south bay community of nano writers more than anything else. I do it over and over again because it is my chance to hang out with friends I only see one month a year.

As I see it, I have no reason not to try. It is not like I have someone to spend my time with. Trying in not a really big commitment. If it gets away from me I can always stop.

This will be my fourth year. I want I know is that it will be different than the past. I know that because it has never been the same any two years. Doing it once a year means that I do not learn efficent habits. I have very little trial and error.

I also feel like a different person that I did before. I guess that I have felt like a different person every year. Some years it is more evident that others. This year it is very plain to see.

I am not really sure what I am going to be writing this year. I have a coule of ideas, but it is like waiting for a waiter to come take my order. The longer I wait the more I change my mind. I haved a few ideas, but there are always more ideas to be had. I am not sure I can make a novel out of any of them.

I am not sure if I should try to be funny or try to be dramatic. Writing any kind of comedy is very hard for me. It is much easier for me to be dark. The problem is I am not sure anything wants to read anything that I write that is dark. I am not sure what I need to do.

Labels: nanowrimo, novel, writing

- Rich, 7:06 PM

Friday, October 29, 2004

Why Do NaNoWriMo?

People might as me why I am willing to do Nation Novel Writing Month. I think I have two reasons why I think NaNoWriMo is really important. The first has to do with an idea that Jeremy put into my head. It seems that we have left almost all art up to professionals. I think that is dangerous. In the end it will make all art entertainment. I think that art is more then just entertainment.

Amateur

I know there are pros and would be pros out there doing this. I have nothing against them. I feel honored to be in a writing group with them. I want to stick up for us amateurs. For me it is the amateurs that make NaNoWriMo special. There are other reasons people do Nano then wanting to be a professional writer.

I feel that if we leave art to professionals then it becomes entertainment. I want common people to take back art. We should be encouraging amateurism. The root of amateur comes from "lover of" . It is us amateur writers who want to read the stuff pros want to get paid for.

It does not matter if it is not any good or not. I am doing this for truly selfish reasons. I am doing it because I get to meet cool people, sit around in coffee shops and write, push myself to do something I would otherwise never do.

I write so my head does not explode. I write because if I did not, I would drown in my own thoughts. I write because it makes me who I am. For these reasons and any others they can come up with, people should do Nano.

He might be right, many good writers might never be able to turn a Nano novel into a publishable novel. I do not agree that they should not do it at all. The more you write the better writer you become. Even if you write things that will never see the light of day, it still adds to your experiences writing. I do not see that as a bad thing.

Labels: Amateur, nanowrimo, self, writers, writing

- Rich, 10:10 PM

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