Saturday October 29, 2005, 3:06 am 68 hours and 54 minutes until fingers in motion.
With just over two days to go before the gun sounds to kick of NaNoWriMo it's time to take stock of the situation and make sure that all systems are go. Just like astronauts, scuba divers, and airline pilots I'm running through my pre-trip checklist. Are my fuel tanks fully loaded; my dials spinning in the right direction, and do I have enough oxygen in case things get rough?
The problem of course is all the intangibles that I can't just check off on a list of things. Those guys sit in their cockpits or on their boats and they have the dials to look and the buttons to push. They have their clipboards in front of them listing what everything is supposed to look like, and they have somebody with them double-checking everything.
On the other hand I have my keyboard and me. The laptop seems to be working in tiptop shape, all the keys still move and the memory is fine. There's plenty of room on the hard drive for 50,000 words and even in the eventuality that I need to create more I can just hook up the external floppy disc and start dumping stuff. (This is a very old laptop that I picked up on e-bay for $100.00 but it's the best investment I've ever made)
But what about what's sitting in front of the laptop? How's it doing? The only person that's going to run a checklist on me is me so I'd better start doing it. The cat sitting on my lap is a nice guy, but he doesn't have the greatest insight into my ability to finish this project, he's just grateful for food and treats. My wife, who probably knows me better than I do on occasion, will most likely, and wisely, just try and stay out of my way for the duration.
Physically I have no doubts that I'll be able to squeeze out an extra 1700 or more words a day. I'm not going to stop if I'm on a roll so there's even the chance of finishing early. What I really need to worry about is any emotional and psychological barriers that I am going to need to overcome.
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Gypsyman,
Good luck with your efforts. I have written four novels (two published). A book of 9/11 short stories is coming out sometime soon. I am at work on another book now.
I always work with the "page a day" philosophy. If I can write one good page a day, then I'll have 365 of them in year. There is room for variation. Sometimes I get ten pages in one day; other times I get nada. It's part of the process.
Do you do story boards? I like them because I'm a visual learner, so I profit from planning out the chapters and being able to look up at the board on the wall as I type. If character X did something in chapter 7, well I need to see it again while I'm writing chapter 12 for clarity.
It works for me but I'm sure not everyone.
Well, good luck and happy writing!
2 - Phillip Winn
I'm starting NaNoWriMo this year, too, and I haven't gotten around to doing any of the prep work I'd planned. Rough outlines, character cards, etc. Sigh.
3 - Warren
I've had a novel rattling around in the back of my head for a year or so -- main character is pretty developed, minor characters are there, setting is rough -- so that's what I'm going to build on this year in my first NaNoWriMo. My wife's in it, too, so I'll have some encouragement (as well as some competition).
4 - Sam Jack
I signed up, but I haven't got much. Hopefully inspiration will strike soon.
5 - Natalie Bennett
Gypsyman - are you posting the results as you go; or when you finish?
6 - gypsyman
I'm not sure what you mean by results Natalie, word count? sure I'll keep a weekly tally running for everyone so you can revel in the suspence. But if you mean the actual story, no I won't be using this space for that.
What I might do about that is two things, I know over at the NaNoWriMo web site they have facilaties for such a thing so that's one possiblity. The only problem with that is that it will make it difficult for people looking for only my thing.
The other option I'm considering is that I have a second un used blog account over at blogspot that I could set up for that purpose. If that's the case what, and I'll let you know in the next installment what I've decided, I'll do is in each subsequent Notes i'll include the URL of where you can find a piece of the story.
I might try and make it so that you can only read it and not download it, in case I decide that it's something I'm going to continue with publication in mind.
One way or another though, those who want to read what I've come up with will be most welcome to, I'd even appreciate a critique of the finished product, if anybody wanted to make the attempt.
I will tell you now that I won't be reading any critiques on the work while I'm writing it, I don't know if my ego could take a bashing while I'm still trying to create...Don't let that stop you from talking amongst yourselves about it...just don't expect me to join in until it's over and done with.
7 - Natalie Bennett
Well I'd be interested in reading it - and good luck and congrats for taking it on. I've got too much on this year, but maybe next ....