The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

UhOhNaNo

            I'm doing NaNoWriMo. My students are flying along. All of them met their first goal (1,250 by the first week). They're finding things that work for them. They're going back and weaving in bits of storyline as they create it. They're listening to really loud music on their headphones. They're using name generators.

          I suggested cutting and pasting in bits of research so they can draw from it... and then they can delete it. I'm not sure anybody has tried it out yet, but it's working for me.

         My word count goal, at the end of today, is supposed to be 12,800 and some change (maybe a lot of change). What I have right now is only 6,014 words... which makes me a loser.



       However, after reading Pat Wahler's post, I feel muuuuch better about my pathetic word count.

       Has NaNoWriMo gotten me to begin a writing piece I might not otherwise take on?

       Check.

       Has NaNoWriMo prodded me forward, pushing me to write puddles and small ponds of words?

       Check.

       Has NaoNaWriMo energized me about what--for me--is a challenging project?

       Check.

       So, at the end of November, I hope both Pat and I are losers. By the time we have eaten too much on Thanksgiving and are recovering from a carb-overload, I hope we will be able to look back at the daily writing we did and be happy... happy we kept plodding forward. Happy that we didn't give up. Happy that we have more words down on paper than if we had said "NoNoNaNo."

       'Cause if we were willing to take the risk and write, we're winners...


18 comments:

  1. Sure don't see you as a Loser! You hang in there.

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    Replies
    1. Claudia--Right back at ya. You're no loser (or quitter) either.

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  2. Did you know that Sara Gruen's wonderful novel "Water for Elephants" was written as a NaNo project? So was "Wool" by Hugh Howey. Proof positive that NaNo is worthy of any writer's time. Even if you don't hit the 50,000 mark, you'll have the beginnings of a---possibly hit---novel!

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    Replies
    1. Lisa--I love Gruen's novel, so that gives me a glimmer of hope. Thank you.

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  3. Well, you need SOMETHING to keep you out of backyards looking for dogs to steal...

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  4. Good start. Six-thousand-and-change is nothing to give up over. I've never begun this project, but perhaps at 82-83-84 I will. Bravo to you for getting students involved.

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    Replies
    1. Patricia--Is 82 next year?

      I admire you for considering it in the future. It can be both fun and frustrating.

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  5. Loved Pat's post and yours, too, Sioux. It's not the word count; it's the keeping at it because sooner or later, you WILL get there.

    (And really, it's the revising that makes the story. Some day I'm going to put a writing challenge out there called Revise That Novel Now! Or ReThNoNo :-) )

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    Replies
    1. Cathy--That challenge would get lots of takers, I think. (I love the NoNo at the end.)

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  6. You will return to it when the feeling strikes, and when it does, you will write fearlessly.

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    Replies
    1. Linda--I'm actually writing a historical piece for children, and I like it (so far).

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  7. Thanks for the shout-out, Sioux! You're way ahead of me on word count, but I'm putting something on paper every day on my new "NaNo" project. I won't have 50,000 words by November 30, but at least I'll have a good start!

    Pat
    www.patwahler.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat--When November 30 hits, perhaps we should make a bet... and the winner is the one who has the least amount of words?

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  8. You are a winner in my book! I'm impressed that you are trying and that makes you my hero!

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  9. I admire your productivity. Hope you got lots done on the retreat. Wish I could've gone.

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