Friday, October 31, 2008

NanoWrimo

I've decided I have the time this year to pursue NanoWrimo--National Novel Writing Month for those unfamiliar with the anachronism.

I'm standing at 60,000 words with Willows Blood and have been circling the climax for too long, making a few hundred words of progress a week, editing, and otherwise puttering around. This is typical for me--a peculiar habit I can't seem to shake-- and I'm fast reaching the point of wanting to be done with this project. I've written far more, far faster, when I had a lot less time on my hands and while I don't want to write a rushed sloppy ending, I'd like to move on with this.

If you're interested in my progress you can look: Here where I'll be posting as I write it.

Maybe a cheering section will infuse me with speed and grace . . .

7 comments:

Pencil Writer said...

I know not "NanoWrimo" but I'll be more than happy to encourage a fellow writer. As a writer, I LONG for encouragement--the kind that actually comes with productive criticism. Wish for a writers group. Almost had one for about three sessions, which ended being only two of us.

My children/spouse encourage me to "get published" but I don't feel "finished" yet. Anyway, let me know what I can do to help you.

Scotty said...

She takes a sip of her coffee, circling around the climax of the story, puttering away, when an unusual sound breaks onto the scene...

*ribbit*

A chorus of frogs is cheering her on...

:-)

Mary O. Paddock said...

PW--Thank you for the encouragement. Nanowrimo is National Novel Writing Month. It can be a lot of fun to try and write 50,000 words in a month and is excellent "writing every day" training, if nothing else. Troubled_Waters, the one I'm looking for an agent for now, was largely written during NanoWrimo (Though I wrote 40,000 more words afterward and it took a year of edits before I was satisfied).

If you're waiting to feel "finished" before you try to publish something--give it up. You simply make the best copy you can and start looking for a market. I don't know of a single serious writer who sees their work as perfect enough for publication.

If you're serious about looking for a writer's group, check out Everyauthor.com. I'm a moderator there, if that helps you out. This is an online forum.

Mary O. Paddock said...

Scotty--LOL. Thank you. I'll be listening for the chorus. :)

Anonymous said...

I wish you lucka nd will be cheering from the sidelines too. Not that you need it, you underestimate your talent.

Bandersnatchi said...

*roar of the crowd*
*band strikes up*

I'm rooting for you, mary, as always.

November is a great month for writing, I always look forward to it.

Geoff

Stevyn Colgan said...

Go Mary go! I shall be writing along with you! x