National Novel Writing Month is here.
I signed up a few months ago thinking that it sounded like a great idea since I never seem to finish any of my writing projects. Everything sounds like a good idea four months from now. Sure, I can write 50,000 words in a month. No problem.
It’s a problem.
I started a book idea when I was unemployed. I created the framework for it. I have a synopsis, an outline, and even character sketches with names and everything. I did most of the research and never wrote a single word. I thought that would be a good thing to do this month since I already have the foundation. I suppose that’s sort of cheating, but since I hadn’t even written a “chapter 1” header, I think it counts.
I got a reminder email from NaNoWriMo this morning telling me that game is on. When I read it, my first thought was to just ignore it. Maybe I’ll do it next year instead. I got butterflies in my stomach thinking about how many words that is and that I’d never be able to do it.
I have a deadline at my job this week. I thought there’s no way I can write this week because of that. I busted my ass at work for eight hours today. I just wanted to come home and sleep. I’m sick of looking at a computer. I’m tired. I’m grumpy. Wolves are chasing me. I almost gave up.
But I didn’t.
I thought, maybe I should just read over the groundwork that I had already laid to see if there’s anything that can be done with it. No pressure, just read what you have. Then I started writing. I wrote 1,312 words on a book that I started from scratch. Thirteen hundred and twelve words. I was all impressed with myself. That number has a comma in it! Then, I updated my word count and saw this:
I’m below average. “At this rate, you will finish on December 8, 2011.” 48,688 words remaining. Harrumph. Well, that’s very discouraging.
I won’t be discouraged.
Maybe sometime this month, I will be able to write several thousand words on a given day to make up for it since I can’t write anymore on it right now. It’s a nice thought anyway. Considering how braindead I am at the moment, I don’t think that’s too bad, even if I am below average. Even if I don’t make it, even if I don’t finish until December 8th, even if all I manage to write is 1,312 words, at least I’m farther along on this book than I was yesterday.
Go Team Goldfish!
Are you participating? Why not?
Fish Of Gold 