Metatext. (1704)
As a corollary to NaNoWriMo, I am also participating in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). The easy way for me to do this is to write a blog post every day on my progress with NaNoWriMo. So, midnight has come and gone. Here I am, 1 hour and 30 minutes later with 1,704 words under my belt. My goal for each day is 1,666 so I’m pretty happy with myself at the moment. I set a goal and followed through. Sure, it’s not the best writing I’ve ever done but it’s not the worst either. Already, though, I am thinking of revisions.
For one thing, it feels a little too close to real life for me and I will end up changing some details. I used real names without thinking, and I want to change those names. I think it’ll be easier for me to take the novel out of my comfort zone if I distance the characters from people I know in real life.
A pattern has started to take shape in the novel, naturally. I found myself going back and forth in time, from the present to the past. I didn’t intend for this happen but I’m glad it did because it gives me structure and focus. I find myself going back and making sure that things pick up where I left them when I switch between time periods, as well as making sure there is a obvious segue between time periods.
I found it hard to focus at first but once I gave myself permission to look up from my writing and take a brain break, I found it easier to stay focused on the task at hand, and figure out which direction I wanted the writing to go.
Though technically I have already met my goal for the day, at 1:30am, I am going to try to find time during the day to write some more.
Bonnie K wrote:
Seems like we have lots of similarities to our starts, even though I cheated and started just a tad early. So far I'm telling a very personal story in a place I've come to feel and know well. So like Falkner advises, write where you know.
I did begin with new names and as I write I try to change the character names and that's helping me separate a bit from my characters and let them be themselves.
So far it's fun and I am also going to try and write as much as I can today.
Great to chat with you Nancy just before the start and Lynn on the other end.
Posted on 01-Nov-09 at 8:24 am | Permalink
erika wrote:
Glad you're doing this! I took one look at it and said "no thanks."
Good luck to you!
Posted on 01-Nov-09 at 2:05 pm | Permalink