Drunk on Writing

It's been two whole months since finishing NaNoWriMo and I have spent that entire time struggling through a novel I've been writing for many, many, years. The difference in this endeavor, however, is that I've learned a few things from NaNoWriMo and have been writing fairly consistently. I wanted to share certain tricks I've learned from that month of hell that have helped not only put words on paper (so to speak) but have kept me motivated.

1. Ignore the Editor

Always easier said than done. While I do allow myself to go through what I've written and fix a few things here and there, I do not allow myself to focus on grammatical issues or wording. Instead, I change certain plot issues in order to make the story flow and seem more cohesive. Nit-picking can wait until I go through the first draft.

2. Set a Goal

This tip I only began to adhere to recently. For the past couple of months I've been fretting over how much of the story I was actually writing and felt as if I had accomplished nothing by the end of the day. Starting this week I decided to allot myself a daily word goal of 350 from Monday to Friday (thanks to Chuck Wendig and his great blog for this advice). It may not seem like a lot, but it's really easy to do and I feel like I've accomplished something each day. Can't write on a Tuesday? No problem, just write 700 words on Wednesday. Wendig's reasoning behind this goal is that within a year of following that pace you can finish a novel. Since I started this regime at 50 000+ words, I know it won't take that long. I also know that I will write more on some days and also contribute to my word count on the weekends.

3. Just Write

Stuck in your plot? Not sure where to turn next? Just write! Whether you continue on at your stopping point or work on something that happens later on in the novel, keep writing. Eventually it will all come together and instead of wasting time banging your head against a wall you will be even closer to achieving your goal.

This is all I have to say:

I'd love to say that I haven't posted in this blog because I have been diligently working on my novel and keeping up with my daily word count. But I can't. Two weeks ago I couldn't wait until the month of November was over but now I wish I had two more weeks. After wasting about five whole days throughout the month not writing (partly due to a lung infection) I found myself facing this past weekend with a large undertaking: to catch up on almost 10 000 missed words.

Fortunately, due to the sheer will to succeed, I am only 4291 words behind today's daily word goal. But I am looking at 10 949 words to go until the end and, despite the encouraging words of fellow WriMos, this is seeming like a large undertaking. Luckily I have finally created a plot twist that will ensure a few more words to add to the count. Otherwise I spent the last week merely picking at already written scenes, trying to add more bulk to the story.

It's easy to say at this point that I have succeeded in surpassing all previous word counts from all previous attempts, but I find myself under more pressure due to this circumstance. If I make it so close and fail, it will feel more bitter than failing miserably.

So I strive on, adding what I can to a story I feel is doomed anyway. I guess at this point I'm writing for my own entertainment, somewhat curious how the characters end up where they are going (having already determined the conclusion of the story).

To any WriMos who are reading this blog, my advice to you is this: just keep going. Your story may suck and you may be bored out of your mind with it, but we are down to the final days. Now it's a matter of successfully submitting a word count as opposed to successfully creating a story. After the end of the month we have two options: re-work our drafts or shove it in a dark corner to be forgotten. Either way, if nothing comes of what we are writing, we can claim that we achieved something great. Something most of us probably never thought was possible.

Because even if it's shit, we wrote a novel in 30 days.

I'm sitting here only 1800 words away from my daily word count and I find myself continuously slumping into a rut of "What's the point?" Unfortunately this has been a common theme not on in my writing but also my life. Both are trodding along with no excitement or purpose. Both are a humdrum recount of useless events.

I thought when I began this journey that writing a romance would be easy. What could be hard about it? It's simply storytelling about two people and love.

Wrong!

As I mentioned in my previous post, there is a lot involved when writing a romance. But beside from all the intricate details of the genre you have to have a story, and once you have a story you have to write it. I know my story, I just don't know how to get from point A to point B. I feel like I'm rambling and wasting time.

Once I get going on an idea for a scene, I run with it. Then the scene ends and I'm left slack-jawed, staring at my computer going, "A-buuuuhhhh."

Then I re-discovered Twitter and found another avenue of procrastination.

I was honoured, though, to be featured in a fellow Wrimo-Tweeter's article about inspiration during National Novel Writing Month.

Click Hither

Check out my Tweet. It's the first one!

Forgive me fellow writers, for I have sinned.
This is my first confession.

While behind on my word count I went back and edited some of my story. Before you condemn me to writer's hell please hear my explanation and justification.

I was struggling to catch up to today's word count and realized that I was becoming bored with my own story. There was no action, no foreseeable conflict, no plot. What I had was over 11 000 words of dialogue and miscellaneous rambling. I felt I had no choice but to rework some previous plot points.

It felt bad but in the end it felt so right. You see, I was dragging out a character's doomed relationship when I came to the realization that if already doomed I should doom it earlier than later. I have to say that the feeling of satisfaction and the renewal of hope for my novel was well worth breaking a cardinal NaNo rule.

If I may present an analogy, I shall liken this decision to underwear. Up until this lapse in editing judgment, I felt as if I was confined to wearing a pair of old, prickly, uncomfortable under-garments. I was constantly shifting and tugging and this distraction was hindering my writing efforts. By going back and rewriting, I felt as if I had slipped into a pair of luxurious silken briefs. No longer was I pulling and fighting with a plot-wedgie, if you will, but basking in the glorious relief of a decent pair of panties. And the rest is smooth sailing.

I hope all can be forgiven and, if you feel it necessary, I will ask Tolkien for forgiveness and recite three Love Songs of J. Alfred Prufrock.

Amen.

Nine days in and I've only just now fallen behind in my word count. That's not so bad, considering it's Friday and I have all weekend to catch up. Seeing as evenings after work are not prime writing time, I decided to take a moment to research what makes a good Romance novel. I figure if I can determine what makes one good then I can work on moving my story forward.

Right now it's boring. I'm bored just writing it. This is not a good sign. Sure, I can push through to 50 000 words and struggle past the inane, but I can't see that happening if I'm not interested in the plot. So I'm going to find out what I'm missing in my narrative and use that knowledge to drive the plot and reignite inspiration.

The problem is that this method makes me want to scrap my story and start over. Thankfully my NaNo angel is bitch-slapping the shit out of my inner editor at this point. I'm 9 days in, it's too late, so my editor can fuck off. I have to focus on using what I learn to move forward and I'll fix the crap I've written later on...after November.

This bit of introspection has led me to establish these basic NaNoWriMo rules:

1. No going-backsies. What is written cannot be touched.
2. Keep on truckin'. If life gets you down, Hakuna Matata the shit out of this thing.
3. Ignore the editor and it will go away.
4. Let go of the little failures, look at the big win.

And that's all I've got. Now I'm going to go back to researching, listening to romantic music and playing solitaire.

What's your word count at now, Mommy?

I thought I would take a brief break from researching bottled water and food labels. Yes, this research is directly related to my writing efforts. My advice to anyone who loves researching stuff is this: Write a novel about someone with Asperger's. I also learned that having a character with Asperger's is a great way to up your word count by including lengthy, long-winded monologues on varying subjects.

When I first decided to include Asperger's as a large part of my narrative I assumed it would be a piece o' cake. By day I am an Autism support worker and I work with preschool aged children on the Autism spectrum so I figured I was in a perfect position to write about an adult with Asperger's (which closely resembles Autism and falls on the spectrum as well). What I didn't immediately realize was that everyday I work with CHILDREN. These tiny, fascinating, intelligent little creatures are vastly different from their grown-up counterparts. I teach kids how to ask to use the toilet and how to share and respond to their peers. It can be easily presumed that the vast majority of adults with Asperger's have acquired these skills to a functioning degree. I have NO idea what Asperger's and Autism looks like in adults.

Then there was research. I have found some great blogs written by adults with Asperger's. I even watched a movie called "Adam" which deals with the subject (I highly recommend it).

So I'm just going to muddle through and try to make it look like I know what I'm talking about. If you can't make it, fake it.

Besides, I can always go back and fix it up. Yay NaNoWriMo!

Hurrah! Hurray! It's Day 1 of NaNoWriMo!

I was reading through blog posts of previous years I had attempted NaNoWriMo, and for the record I made it to about 11000 words one year and 400 the next. I'm a trooper for believing I could do it this year, but I came to battle with a plan. Starting in late September I began preparing by writing outline, character profiles, etc. and I have so far exceeded the daily word goal. Woot!

I really don't want to talk alot about the plot of my story while I'm writing it, but I will say it's a romance (gasp!) between a man with Asperger's and a girl with a somewhat screwy life. I think the most interesting part about this process will be learning about Asperger's and writing it realistic as I can.

The above video is a card my best friend left for me outside my door in a box of goodies referred to as a "Survival Kit" for NaNoWriMo.

Alrighty...so nanowrimo was a huuuge flop this year. I made it to an impressive 400 word count, but this is because I gave up almost as soon as I had begun. Life took a detour this fall that I was not expecting, so writing (or forcing myself to do anything creative) has become difficult...if not impossible.

But I strive on. I've been dabbling in a new story called The Darkmoon Prophecies based on a series of stories that Lint and I used to write as kids. Of course now they take on a more mature undertone, but just reliving those tales is extremely nostalgic and a little bit fun. Deeva&Evalita is not forgotten...I've been reverting to my old method of writing different portions of the story as they come to me and then hoping they will tie in together at a later juncture. Currently I am working on a parody of Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" music video featuring Christopher Walkin (this is a must see! youtube it!). I'm not sure how to write dance moves, but we'll see what happens.

I wish I could use my writing as an escape...

So I've began to write...about 400 words on day four. Look at me go! Wheeee! Oh well, I'm giving it a try, despite the current state of my mind. Alot happening up in there that I don't feel like expressing through the art of blog, but needless to say perhaps nanowrimo is exactly the type of distraction I need whenever I feel hopeless.

I've decided on a story: The Freaks. It originated as an idea for a comic, but seeing as I can't draw comics I thought perhaps I could communicate the plot through written word. It began as a joke amongst a couple of friends and I, whereas I expressed a desire to be able to spew bufoten from my pores whenever threatened, much like a toad. From there Lisa decided her superpower would be to knit things very fast (she was going through a mitten-knitting stage at this time). Kim would possess the power of a flame-throwing flick, which is not far from the actual truth (Kim is known for her spring-loaded flicking abilities). Thus was born Toadie, Flicker and The Knitwit.

But we needed a name. Luckily, I had this conversation with Mel:

"Here's my new story idea."
"You're a freak."
"Why yes I am, I think I shall call them 'The Freakies'."
"Whatever."

Actually, I can't find the conversations verbatim in my archived messages, but it went something like that. I just spent half an hour searching said archives instead of writing. Anywho, I decided to shorten the title to "The Freaks" and such is how legends are born.

So basically they are crime-fighting super-heros with really weird and obscure powers.

And on the note of procrastination, here are some funny convos I found on MSN between Mel and I...Enjoy.

Noirness: i want to write a romantic fanfic about pyramid head
Melanie: haha wtg
Melanie: i mean to say wtf
Noirness: ph needs love too
Melanie: make it a short story
Noirness: maybe i should base it on frankenstein
Noirness: and he falls in love with the little girl when she grows up and gets stuck in silent hill
Noirness: and then he kills her
Noirness: cause that's what he do
Melanie: strange
Melanie: and disturbing
Noirness: yet somehow sweet and tender

Melanie: im just saying your pyramid head obsession is weird =P
Noirness: he's my booooiiiyyyy
Melanie: imagine if you drew pyramidhead all the time
Noirness: i'm going to start. just for you.
Melanie: send them all to me in the mail
Noirness: you'll have to put them on your wall
Melanie: okay
Noirness: dealio
Melanie: i put them on my desk at work
Melanie: people would think im a freak
Noirness: if they don't already
Melanie: "i promised my mentally unstable friend i would put up her drawings, she's obsessed with pyramid head you see"
Melanie: "no no i swear these arent mine"
Noirness: i'm going to sign them with your name

Okay, so it's Day One of nanowrimo and I'm terribly hung-over. They should never have started this event the day after Halloween and I should never have had that many shooters. Irregardless, t'is day one of the competition and despite a previous urge to sit this one out, I'm going to give it the good ol' college try.

But I have no plot. :( Poo.

Well, I have several plots but none seem to resonate in my mind. They're all "meh" in comparison to the stuff I've already started.

Cue the abrupt blog conclusion...

Another year, another nanowrimo. I've been thinking about nanowrimo all year, pondering my next attempt and assuring myself that come October I will begin preparations to ensure a more successful nanowrimo than last year. And, yes, I totally forgot about it.

But it's only the 11th and that gives me a couple of weeks to figure out what I want to write and organize my thoughts and such. I believe I shall return to my list of possibilities from last year and narrow down from that. I've actually been dabbling in "The Adventures of Deeva and Evalita" (last year's attempt) since then so I know that just by forcing myself to start something this November is slightly beneficial.

Anywho, blogging and watching Family Guy is nearly impossible. I shall post my preps as they occur.