NanoWriMo! Ready… Set… Write!

 

It’s November! In the writing community November has taken on a whole new meaning. No longer does it mean the awkward middle child between Halloween and Christmas. For writers November means: NanoWriMo!

The basis of NanoWriMo is to write a novel totalling 50 000 words in thirty days. It was founded in 1999 by Chris Baty and has exploded from the initial 21 participants to hundreds of thousands over the world! The concept is really amazing as it gives to writers things which are extremely motivating: a goal and a deadline. Also, there is a community where you can meet, track and race against fellow writers.

I’ve tried NanoWrimo twice and I’ve failed on both occasions – having to stop because school tended to take up too much of my time and energy. In retrospect, trying to compete in NanoWrimo during my two years of law school seems like a foolhardy decision. I’m not sure trying to compete during my LLM is a much better idea… I’m doing it anyway!

For the past couple of days I’ve been doing the only type of Mathematics I’m comfortable with – word count calculations. I’ve basically figured out that if starting on the 1^st of November I manage to write 2000 words per day, I should finish the novel in 25 days with 5 days to account for writers’ block or whatever tricks my Muse has up her sleeve.

I’ve already got an idea thrashing around in my head and to be honest, I’m quite excited to start working on it.

Most of my worries surround whether or not I will be able to finish it this time or if it will be a repeat of last year (and the year before that).

I’ve come up with the top seven things I will need for NanoWrimo 2013:

1. Small Manageable Goals
   To that end, I’ve decided to have two hour and a half sessions each day where I will try to write 1000 words per session giving me a total of 2000 words per day. I must treat these sessions like I would a job… show up even when I don’t want to.
2. Coffee, Chocolate and Sushi
   Need I say more?
3. Do a mock outline
   I am notorious for writing seat of the pants and I think this might not be in my best interest this year.
4. Under no circumstances will I read it over as I write
   This has in the past freaked me out to the point of a major writing block. So, I will leave the nit-picking for editing and focus on writing.
5. Shake it up
   Even though I set up a writing space in my room, I won’t be afraid of taking the writing elsewhere… cafés, parks (well… not parks as it is autumn in London), restaurants and my special spot in the Main Library. Inspiration strikes anywhere!
6. Find a friend
   NanoWrimo is so much more fun and motivating when you do it alongside someone else. So, I will make use of the buddy feature on the website.
7. Created a playlist
   Music is amazing. So I’ve spent the week leading up to NanoWrimo creating two playlists. The first fit the overall mood and essence of the plot I plan to explore and the second is filled with songs I just love writing to.

Fingers crossed that this year will be the year! Good luck! And, happy writing!

 

Tschuss,

Rilzy

Day 11 … My World Burns Around Me – I Dance In The Flames

“sometimes life can be unpredictable. it throws you unexpected curve balls. sometimes they hurt, sometimes they are disappointing – but then, there are times when they are sweet; times when they are magickal… and these are the times worth living for.”

             Rilzy – April, 2011 (during an uncharacteristic period of wisdom 😉 )

 

I stumbled across this a couple minutes ago after signing into my Tumblr account after heaven knows how long.

It is amazing how there are times you stumble across something that becomes an unexpected elixir. I needed to stumble across this quote today like I need the two cups of coffee I’m about to have. In case you were wondering, that’s pretty damn much!

My week has had so many highs and lows it is a wonder that I am not sporting a full neck brace from whiplash.

Remember how I’ve determined to take the advice from that Crest commercial and be open to new experiences because ‘Life Opens Up When You Do‘? Well I tried out for a mooting team at my school. Just getting me to the first round happened to be a task… two of my friends literally had to strong arm me into not giving up even before I started. You see, I have this crippling fear of failure and I decided a while ago that the best way to deal with it was to never try at all. You can see where my misguided logic makes some sense right? If you never try, then you can’t fail. I’ve spent so many years thinking like this that I failed to realize that if you don’t try you also never gain. To make what could be an entire blog post short – I made the team. It took three rounds – three times of me having to tell myself… just do it, don’t back down, do not quit. I was almost delirious with being proud of myself.

There were also the lows. Monday would have been my Uncle’s birthday and my family had to spend that day wishing desperately that he was still here.

I’ve also learned that at 22 I’m apparently not too old for crushes. And it still hurt and is just as disappointing when the guy in question isn’t interested as it was when I was 15. So much for things getting better with age right? But I am thinking my bouncing back capabilities must be a lot stronger now. 😉

Then of course there were the down right crazy moments (read: NaNoWriMo)!

I did it guys. I went ahead and dived into Lake Chaos and I’m stuck with the consequences. I’m currently working on the new plot (it’s a Contemporary Romance) and I get that heady, excited, ‘can’t wait to steal a few minutes alone with you’, ‘think of you all day’, ‘dream of you all night’ feeling that can only ever describe the beginning stages of a new relationship novel :). It’s an intoxicating feeling and the novel has been going excellently … when I find time to write. And, this, has turned out to be a task of mammoth proportions. Case in point – in order to write this blog I’m precariously position over my laptop with a bowl of University student food (read: Ramen). I’ve not even signed into the NaNoWriMo website since Wednesday. I think we’ve got a situation. I’m not sure I’m going to finish 50 000 words by the end of November.

Weirdly, I don’t feel as completely torn as I thought I would. You see, I’ve learned two very important lessons thus far. Firstly, it is important to just let go and let life guide you and I can easily write 5000 – 6000 words per day if my Muse cooperates. I’d previously thought that the 6000 mark was something I could do only if I really pushed myself but now I know better. It makes proud. Also, I’ve met a really lovely friend during this process and I think that even if I never complete the 50 000 words that in itself made this all worth it. If you are reading right now! You are ahmazing!!! 🙂

My mind is screaming at me that I need to close off this blog and get out the door. I’m late for my date with the library. I’ve packed a bottle of coffee and a bottle of green tea. I’m going to need the caffeine boost as I’m determined to finish my to-do-list for today and write at least 200 words. It might not be enough to push me over the threshold but I am determined to write every day for this month!

I’ve learned this week that even when we don’t see the magick in life it is there lurking under the murky surface. And, that is why life is such a beautifully sweet thing!

 

Sometimes you got to dance until the music starts.
Photo Credit: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
Photographer Credit: photostock

Tschuss.

Rilzy

 

 

 

 

Day 5… The Cookie Begins To Crumble

Help!

I’m standing at the edge of Lake Chaos and I don’t seem to be as concerned for my toes as I should be. I have a feeling my Muse has shown up… fangs baring and all. Yes, my Muse and I get on just as well as venom and blood cells. Hint – I am not the venom.

My weekend was vaguely productive. I finished (as best as I can right now) an assignment, prepared for my tutorials and I wrote. Okay, I admit that I was about two activities off on my to do list but I was proud of myself. I pressed backspace on my measly 300  words for NanoWrimo, started with a blank slate and managed to rack up 9000 words in two days. Needless to say, I was a happy camper. That, of course, was until panic started raining down in heavy, scalding drops.

I don’t like my plot. Not the ‘I want to delete three thousand words and pick door number 2 instead of door number 3’ but rather, the ‘I want to chuck this potential book into my mental trash and start afresh’ variety of panic. Suddenly it feels like I would set myself up for failure if I try to work with this plot. But dare I (especially with my schedule) delete all my words and start  afresh with a new plot on Day 5? 9000 words are quite a bit of words to go to waste. Just considering it seems insane doesn’t it? My self preservation, in the very least, should prevent me from making such a decision. So why does it seem like I’m about to dive headfirst into Lake Chaos?

Methinks I might be going down the wrong street.
Photo Credit: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
Artist Credit: Stuart Miles

Tschuss!

Rilzy

Day 3 … My Mind Has Yet To Realize That I’ve Gone Crazy

My word count is so abysmal I’m afraid to mention it. Remember my goal of 2000 words per day? Well… it has been three days and I’ve not made 2000 words yet. In fact, I’m about as far away from 2000 words as a herbivore is from a carnivore by way of ideology.

Needless to say I’m going to have to kick writing’s butt this weekend if I hope to catch up.

The only problem is that I’m busy. I mean, really busy. This is why I’ve doubted my sanity for even taking this on. I have to prepare for the tutorials I conduct next week, an assignment to finish and another to begin… and I need to find someone who can teach me accounting pronto (I won’t be an easy student). I still don’t know why I’m taking a compulsory accounting class in law school but no matter how many times I twitch my nose the course work won’t disappear. I’m also applying for a scholarship because *whispers* I want to do a Masters. I know this doesn’t sound rational for someone who complains about school as much as I  do… but I’ve never pretended to be rational. Lastly but definitely not least important, I have an amazingly overdue blog post to add to the ‘Adventures of a Caribbean Girl’ section of this blog.

Despite the fact I should be cowering like an ant from the large boot which is my ‘to-do’ list… I’m weirdly upbeat about it (I swear, it must be my new Green Tea addiction… all those antioxidants ;). ) So, I’m about to go plug in my headphones and brew me another cup. Then, I’ll commence kicking writing’s butt! Wish me luck!

 

 

Feeling very upbeat… I got this!
Photo Credit: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
Artist Credit: imagerymajestic

 

Tschuss

 

Rilzy