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| Nanowrimo |
So, I
accepted the challenge to do nanowrimo. Janice was the one who
suggested it to me because her good friend wanted to do it too. I
also convinced my buddy Dave to do it with me. And at about this
time, Freesia, my penpal of over 30 years announced she was doing it
too. So, I now had my own group of four people doing this with me.
accepted the challenge to do nanowrimo. Janice was the one who
suggested it to me because her good friend wanted to do it too. I
also convinced my buddy Dave to do it with me. And at about this
time, Freesia, my penpal of over 30 years announced she was doing it
too. So, I now had my own group of four people doing this with me.
My
insecurities were very high. I did not think I could do it. I
considered the daily target of 1,667 words and the overall goal of
50K. I know myself, I know that I can write way more than 1,667 words
in a single session, but I also work in fits: 5,000 today and then
nothing for days. I also had no ideas of a story which needed
writing.
insecurities were very high. I did not think I could do it. I
considered the daily target of 1,667 words and the overall goal of
50K. I know myself, I know that I can write way more than 1,667 words
in a single session, but I also work in fits: 5,000 today and then
nothing for days. I also had no ideas of a story which needed
writing.
I
write a good many short stories. I try to write about fifteen of them
a year. I had figured on writing three more by the end of the year at
the time I signed up for nanowrimo.
write a good many short stories. I try to write about fifteen of them
a year. I had figured on writing three more by the end of the year at
the time I signed up for nanowrimo.
In a
small way, those last couple of weeks of October I knew needed
practice. I used my short stories as a study of how I might work. On
the nanowrimo site, they have a “word sprint” function. This is a
great function. Just type in the amount of time from one minute
upwards (I did 45 and 60 minutes) and start sprinting. I wrote two
short stories like this and all five of the November blog posts. This
word sprint was a great confidence booster for me.
small way, those last couple of weeks of October I knew needed
practice. I used my short stories as a study of how I might work. On
the nanowrimo site, they have a “word sprint” function. This is a
great function. Just type in the amount of time from one minute
upwards (I did 45 and 60 minutes) and start sprinting. I wrote two
short stories like this and all five of the November blog posts. This
word sprint was a great confidence booster for me.
I
read though forums, watched Youtube videos and listened to the
podcasts. People suggested all sorts of advice from playlists to
chocolate. I listened, read or watched intently. Good advice, but
ultimately, not good for me. What I needed was a story, lots of
conflict, a few characters and a locale.
read though forums, watched Youtube videos and listened to the
podcasts. People suggested all sorts of advice from playlists to
chocolate. I listened, read or watched intently. Good advice, but
ultimately, not good for me. What I needed was a story, lots of
conflict, a few characters and a locale.
For
those of you who know me, either personally or from my writing and
films, location is very important to me. I have written Denver,
Tucson, Mexico City, Ansbach and Portland. All these places I know
intimately, emotionally or geographically because I have lived there
and still do on some levels.
those of you who know me, either personally or from my writing and
films, location is very important to me. I have written Denver,
Tucson, Mexico City, Ansbach and Portland. All these places I know
intimately, emotionally or geographically because I have lived there
and still do on some levels.
In
the final days leading up to November 1st,
I chose three things: place, character and initial conflict. Over the
next few days, I developed a dozen other conflicts and a few scenes
that I wanted t o write.
the final days leading up to November 1st,
I chose three things: place, character and initial conflict. Over the
next few days, I developed a dozen other conflicts and a few scenes
that I wanted t o write.
The
most important thing was that I put my story in place and time. I
chose the onset of winter, Portland, Oregon, present day. When it
comes to Portland, I have set three of my former novels there and at
least a dozen short stories. I regret the day I left Portland, both
times. As close as I can be to heaven is in the stories I write.
All
of those elements and exercises really made me excited for the
project. I worked on a few thoughts. I thought and thought and
thought. These where the things that really got me ready to work.
of those elements and exercises really made me excited for the
project. I worked on a few thoughts. I thought and thought and
thought. These where the things that really got me ready to work.
In
the time before November 1st,
I went to a local kickoff party. This was a real interesting group of
people. Even Janice thought so, and she is not as quick to judge as I
am. This group of nanowrimo people was the sort of group you’d
expect. I would say oddballs and weirdos or benevolent saints, but
the truth is, it was a room full of writers. Writers, especially when
you corral more than two in a room are fucking weird.
the time before November 1st,
I went to a local kickoff party. This was a real interesting group of
people. Even Janice thought so, and she is not as quick to judge as I
am. This group of nanowrimo people was the sort of group you’d
expect. I would say oddballs and weirdos or benevolent saints, but
the truth is, it was a room full of writers. Writers, especially when
you corral more than two in a room are fucking weird.
The
group meeting and the “Write ins” I think are helpful to some
people. I’m a very introverted person and I’m forced into mixing with
others and even being nice to people in my daily life. Being a part
of a group is very difficult for me.
group meeting and the “Write ins” I think are helpful to some
people. I’m a very introverted person and I’m forced into mixing with
others and even being nice to people in my daily life. Being a part
of a group is very difficult for me.
I
must admit, on Sunday October 29th,
the group kickoff did make me ready to write. I felt prepared and
capable when I left the meeting.
must admit, on Sunday October 29th,
the group kickoff did make me ready to write. I felt prepared and
capable when I left the meeting.