Howdy,
Only recently have I been aware of #NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), but it’s intriguing.
Like in an impossible way.
Seems that way to me.
I’ve written a novel. But in a month?!
Yet when I consider #NaNoWriMo it is with intrigue and fatigue. Just thinking about it.
I mean, come on …
Really, I’ve always thought, no way. No way.
No way can I write a novel (even just a draft) in a month. Not at this stage in my life. Too many children; too young.
But without using them as excuse no way with my plodding writing, planning, and working style. It just isn’t instinctive to composing a novel in a month. And a month that doesn’t even have 31 days!
I mean, writing almost 1,700 guided words a day consistently for 30 days is a little much.
Here’s the idea of National Novel Writing Month from nanowrimo.org:
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.
On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.
Phew! I get a little shiver reaction simply rereading the above description involving “seat-of-your-pants” and 50K and “enthusiasm” driving toward a “deadline” for a “novel.”
It’s too much for me to commit to in good faith.
However, I realized this year I already have a commitment shooting for 550 words a day in November and every other month in the calendar. Thus, I should try my hand at a day-by-day enthusiastic and determined construction of a new story.
Don’t think I’ll make I won’t make a technical novel because reaching enough words is out of reach, beyond my goal. 550 x 30 is 16,500. As opposed to 1667 a day to make 50K. But 500 x 30 is 16,500, and 16,500 is 16,500.
16,500 isn’t too bad. In fact, the plan works out to almost exactly a third of what’s in #NaNoWriMo. I can work with that.
I can create something. I really don’t know what.
For National Novel Writing Month the crazy writer attempting it is supposed to, or is better served to, have a plan, a strategy of attack going in. At least a notion, with an outline. Parts in motion. Maybe a scheduled time and place to write like mad, with a burning story idea. Gather in October to go.
I thought of embarking on this today. October 31.
What I have is my commitment to write daily an average of 550 words. It’s already serving me well — though it feels more like the master. It’s making me write when I’d rather do something else. It’s making me more sharply think like a writer, always looking around, ready to spot an experience or angle for the next post to compose, to complete. To keep my word, and my words.
It has me primed to walk the plank on October 31. To stand on the end with curled toes overhanging into November, set to take that plank and go full on diving board. Bounce and fly into the insane with a smile, energy, and expectation …
I may not be able to write a novel in a month, not really going to try, but I’m going to push myself with story. Results could be that I’ll have something of bulk to work with, to mold and shape, when we hit December, ahem, excuse me, 11:59 PM on November 30. Maybe that will become a novel.
Maybe a movie. (You know, since this whole idea of #NaNoWriMo is crazy. ‘Course I’ve never done it, so maybe I’m speaking too soon … )
Whatever it is, it’ll certainly be great for relaunching me into book two in the Baseball Boys series I’m continuing to write. A trilogy in mind currently.
I won’t guarantee — unless it’s against it — that each day’s story segment will end up chronological to the final piece. But it’ll be “fun” to craft the core of a story that could become a novel. Or, yes, maybe a movie.
In a month. Next month. November. Tomorrow.
Keyboards across the world in earlier timezones are already clicking and clacking in craziness.
I’m thinking a basketball story. Check in tomorrow to meet Gym Rat.
I think …
Maybe our main character — as of yet unnamed — will make a basket from the seat of his pants.
Maybe …
—Billy
Reading. Writing. Living.
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