It's been almost two weeks since NaNoWriMo and I wish I could say that I've been busy finishing off my story and editing and all that writerly goodness. Instead, here's the real deal: I HAVE DONE NOTHING.
Besides occasionally looking at the November timetable that Jessica from Thoughts At One In The Morning made for use during NaNoWriMo and feeling mildly motivated to send Cathy of Abnormally Paranormal Reviews some chapters to critique, I've been a bit slack. On the other hand, after the crazy month that was November, I think I deserved a break. It's just that said break is now turning into a very long and unproductive vacation and without the looming deadline to keep me on track I fear that my story is heading into oblivion. But it's Christmas! I hear you all saying....yeah I know! Which is why I've decided to set myself some easy goals to make me feel as if I'm being productive and then the rest of the time can be for me going crazy with Christmas decorating and cookie making.
I've done some simple math (the only kind I am capable of these days despite the Asian genes) and have decided that I'll probably have to write another 40,000 in order to finish the book properly. If I set a goal of 1000 words a day, I should be finished by the end of January 2012. This gives me a lot of leeway for additional writing because I have two weeks off over the Christmas period.
What about you guys? How are you going with your NaNo projects now that it's all over?
You're doing okay, Lan! You did all the hard stuff back in Nov., so maybe it's okay to wait until Jan. to get back into the swing of things. This time of year gets too crazy.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I'm not really writing since I still need to complete my outline. Who knows when that'll be done. Even so, I won't do any serious writing until January because of the crazy Christmas time of year. At least it's only once a year!
I'm the same as you. I've done nothing! And I feel so bad about it >.< I don't even know where or how to start writing again. I think I'm going to wait until after my MFA classes start. Maybe I can even pick it up as my semester project (its a Writing Popular Fiction Masters). For now I'm enjoying Christmas way too much ^__^
ReplyDeleteLOL!! That's okay -- you shouldn't feel bad about taking December off, Lan! You definitely DO deserve it after doing NaNoWriMo at all! I wish I could say the same! x)
ReplyDeleteI feel really bad about my lack of novel writing too. As soon as I started blogging more and school started and joined all my regular clubs plus more... I probably won't start writing again until after Christmas! But that's okay -- because even writers deserve a break sometime too, right? ;)
I hope you have the most amazing holidays, Lan! And I'm still going to read your book when it comes out, no matter how long it takes, okay? :) <3 So don't worry!
Well... I've done basically nothing still with my NaNo novel. I created a new file to revise in and kept the first few paragraphs as is. That's it.
ReplyDeleteRight now, I'm trying to focus on my reading and my blog (got some reviews written FINALLY). Once January hits, I'm going to focus part of my energies on writing again. I had an epiphany for a scene in another story and had to write it. It made me so excited because it was just SO PERFECT. Part of me wants to work on that one now... but I really should focus on the NaNo one. At the very least go through it once and make sure to get the right scenes in the right places (since it is currently in a VERY jumbled state). Maybe once I have it organized I'll be more interested in polishing it up and getting some beta readers. :)
I think it's a good idea for you (for a lot of us!) to set easy goals. That way you don't get yourself too overwhelmed and either give up or put it on the backburner for a long time.
Cathy: It'll be my first blogger Christmas so I'm not sure whether people will be around for that week. So I'm going to make sure I have a game plan outside of blogging. I know i'll be busy but there will be time to write for sure. Plus, I feel really motivated to finish off my book now that you have enlightened me on the self publishing thing!
ReplyDeleteAmy: I'm enjoying Christmas as well! But I feel the pressure from my unwritten book for sure.
Mimi: You're so sweet. I just hope I can live up to your expectations. I'd love to read something that you've written soon as well :)
Jessica: I'm trying to get ahead in my blogging as well as but it's just as difficult to prepare as it was in November! Great news that you thought of the perfect scene. I love when that happens! It's such a relief.
I haven't even opened the document since the end of November - like you I need around 40-50K more to finish the novel and then a mass amount of editing but so far have done nothing. I might follow your target, set the goal.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure if we work at it we will finish and end up with novels perfect for publishing. :D
How am I doing...? Well that is a serious Beth fail. It is good you are staying motivated! Give me some of that motivation juice!
ReplyDeleteBeth ^_^
http://sweetbooksnstuff.blogspot.com/
hey! i'm a new follower here! :)
ReplyDeletestop by my blog if you have time and follow me back! :)
http://www.lindsaycummingsblog.blogspot.com/
Becky: LOL. I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't really looked at their NaNo project. I haven't even reached my new goal because I've written nothing today. Oh well. No stress for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteBeth: The spirit is willing but the flesh is so weak. Every time I sit down to write, I start falling asleep. Maybe once things settle down a bit after the move, you'll be up for writing again.
Lindsay: Thanks for the follow. I'm following you back.
I made myself a promise I wouldn't so much as peek at my NaNo story until January - so I started another novel that I've been planning over the past couple months. No real deadline, just a goal of at least 5000 words a week.
ReplyDelete