Thirty days, 50,000 words, one first draft. That’s a sure-fire way to jump-start a novel.
In a few weeks, writers from every walk of life will crack their knuckles and punch out that dreamy first line of a story that will carry them through a mass, online write-in. Coffee shops will break out the extension cords. Families will go ignored. Stories will get written, dammit, no matter what.
National Novel Writing Month.
I’m not participating this year. Several other projects demand my attention, one of those being the rewrite of a novel draft born during my first NaNo experience. Though, I won’t be a slave to the purple word-count bar this November, you will find me hunched over my laptop – crazy – this October.
That’s right. I’m doing all my mad writing this month.
I joined up with a group of authors on an anthology project, and I have it easy. I just have to write a 10,000 word story.
Just.
I’ve been sweating over this story.
So, in an effort to accentuate the “fun” part of this project, one of the authors spearheading the anthology suggested our own mini-NaNo: 10,000 words in thirty-one days. And, in true NaNo form, someone sent out a rally cry from the discussion board. I’m holding fast to that cry each time I sit down and open my file: No looking back.
. . .
Okay, that’s not entirely true. I’m sort of looking back. But only to recall the spirit of my first NaNoWriMo experience, in which I made it all the way to the 50,000 mark. If I could do that then, I can do this now. Here’s my plan (tips that apply, really, to any first-draft writing spree):
1. Start once, and stick with that beginning.
I’ve restarted this short story three times, and each restart kills my confidence. Restructuring the beginning can come later. When I get to that point, I know exactly what resource I’ll turn to: the October 2011 issue of Writer’s Digest, page 52, where Les Edgerton, Nancy Kress, and James Scott Bell talk about the first 50 pages. Their articles mainly address the novel writing process, but successful short stories and novels have a lot in common, one being powerful beginnings.
2. Write a scene at a time.
If the scene I know should come next absolutely won’t come forth, from my mind to the screen, I’ll write whatever scene is formulated in my mind. Reordering can also come later. . . . I’ll be honest here. Practicing this tip is more difficult than it sounds; I want desperately to write in a linear way. But, I also want to reach the end of the story.
3. Don’t worry about where the story is going.
Not yet. There’s plenty that must be written in order to discover the roots in a story, which keep all the characters bound together. Will Boast said it in his essay for Glimmer Train (the link to which I found on Jane Friedman’s site):
Give yourself a good deal of raw material to work with before you begin to edit.
My friend, E. Victoria Flynn, spoke of a similar idea in her comment on my most recent post, where we talked about the amount of writing we put down on paper in relation to the writing we send out into the world:
My stories wouldn’t exist…if it weren’t for [all] the chaff.
Write the chaff. Trust the process. No looking back.
I’m not kidding.
Scroll down, not up.
Forge ahead. Whether you’re about to embark on a 50,000 word journey, or are in the middle of a 700 word blog post that’s choking your muse, remember a first draft isn’t the be-all-end-all of your writing career (…this I will repeat to myself in the mirror tomorrow morning, you know).
If it’s the 50,000 journey you’re on, leave your Twitter handle. I’ll cheer for you. I have pom-poms.
Now, get moving. Get to writing.
Sounds like you have a solid plan. Good luck. 🙂
Thanks, Linda. Luck and persistence, that’s what I need! 🙂
Sorry to hear you’re not participating this year! Thanks for sharing your experiences though. 🙂 I believe it is difficult for most writers to throw caution and planning to the wind and pants away in their pajamas until their fingers twitch and their souls soar. 😀 It’s a unique experience, it is. I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!
Lyn, Thanks for stopping by! I agree, it’s a fun experience, that total rush of throwing caution to the wind. I hope to participate again. Maybe next year!
Great tips. I’ve been focusing on outlining as my ticket to success, but it’s useful to hear some words of wisdom for when things don’t go as planned. If that happens with my story (psh, I’m practically counting on it :P), I’ll be sure to forge ahead regardless!
Lauren, I say start with whatever you can — an outline, a first line, an image. And yeah, be prepared for those unplanned moments, which aren’t always bad. Just today, as I wrote a bit on the short story, I realized I’d been ignoring the character with the most potential. I didn’t start over (god help me), but I did change the direction if the perspective to hers. Unplanned, but a great “new” energy. Good luck to you, and have fun!
Great post, Christi … the full force of our passions can only be released by allowing them to lead us and not the other way around. I don’t participate in NaNo month, although I have several friends who do. For me each month is a challenge, not only November. Give youself a challenge of writing so much a day, add it up at the end of the week, and do it every month. Two writers come to mind. Stephen King who believes we should write at least 1,000 words per day, every day. Nora Roberts who writes every day and produced more than 140 books in thirty-five years. Both of them write on birthdays, Christmas, Harbor Day … every day. Our craft is what we make of it … and as John Lennon once said … life is what happens while we’re planning … thanks 🙂
Thanks for your comment (and encouragement), Florence. “Our craft is what we make of it” — so true!
These are great writing tips. It’s my first year doing NaNoWriMo. I’m a bit nervous. Especially since I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen in my novel. Either way, thank you for sharing. 🙂 And good luck with your story!
Yay for first timers! I had no idea where my first NaNo story would go either, but I had a solid first line. That was all I needed. And, in some ways, not knowing can be the fun part 🙂
Great news about the anthology. 10,000 is definitely a longer story so I can why you need a good game plan. I know it’s not a 50,000 novel draft, but for a story that’s meaty! Can’t wait to hear how it goes, Christi!
Meaty, yes. The longer pieces tend to stump me. But I think, if some if the strategies I use for this piece work, I’ll be able to tackle more of the novel draft, as well. I’ll let you know! 🙂
He he ha! I’m loving the process now that I spent a few months swearing I couldn’t do it. Thanks to you, Christi, I’m not giving up, not on this 10,000 and not on the next 50,000. When next I see you, a true toast will be in order. To us and our 10,000 darlings!
p.s. Thanks for the mention up there 🙂
Yay! To not giving up and to toasting later 🙂
I only participated once, but it generated the great first half+ of a novel, so each fall I think, should I? But it never seems to fit with where I am in my schedule.
There’s nothing like a little pressure to make your writing go where you never expected! Enjoy the anthology project and the 10,000 words — I’m looking forward to reading the results. 🙂
Well, when you are so busy writing I’m very honoured that you took the time to swing by my blog! Great to have ‘found’ you and please do spread the word about the book giveaway!
Pig x