Well despite me not being ready for it July has arrived. This year seems to be whizzing by faster than ever and the lack of summery weather isn't helping. However, today is July 1st and the start of another Camp NaNoWriMo, another chance for me to get into a good writing habit and write 15,000 words during the month.
I thought perhaps if I documented my experiences with Camp NaNoWriMo I'd find it easier to keep on track. I've had a go at NaNoWriMo before but I've never managed to 'win'. This time I've been more realistic about the word count. I'm aiming to write 500 words every day and I think this is achievable. In previous attempts I've set a high word count, fallen behind early on and lost faith in the whole experience. So a lower word count may mean that I can stay on track and manage those 15,000 words.
I've decided to use the time to keep writing the first draft of my novel. It seems to be taking a different direction to the one I had planned but I'm letting it have it's head and I'll worry about it when I come to editing - gosh that sounds like proper writerly stuff, doesn't it?
So here we go with Day 1 and the first 500 words towards the 15,000 and a NaNo win!
Friday, 1 July 2016
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
July CampNaNo
So there's another CampNaNo happening and I'm willing to give it a go. Now I don't have the best record with NaNo - I've tried several times but I've yet to win. I always seem to start well but lose momentum. I also think that with CampNaNo I've chosen a word count that is too high and I've set myself up to fail before I write a single word. This time I intend to set a smaller word count and try to base it on what I think I can write each day. I think 500 words a day is achievable so my total count will be 15,500. That still sounds daunting but if I focus on the 500 per day it doesn't sound so bad.
The one thing I haven't decided is if I'm going to use the time to continue with the novel or start something new. I don't have a specific idea to work on if I go down the new writing route but sometimes it's just good to write and see what happens. Whichever I decide I do need to crack on with the novel. The first draft is a long way off but I'm newly committed to getting it written sooner rather than later.
So there we are, another NaNo adventure about to begin. Check back to see how I get on!
The one thing I haven't decided is if I'm going to use the time to continue with the novel or start something new. I don't have a specific idea to work on if I go down the new writing route but sometimes it's just good to write and see what happens. Whichever I decide I do need to crack on with the novel. The first draft is a long way off but I'm newly committed to getting it written sooner rather than later.
So there we are, another NaNo adventure about to begin. Check back to see how I get on!
Tuesday, 28 June 2016
It's a starting point ...
So I've spent far too much time this week trying to motivate myself to return to my fledgling novel. The poor thing has been badly neglected and I'd totally understand if it refused to speak to me ever again. But something has stopped me from opening the file and getting on with writing it.
It's not that I've been unable to write anything. I've managed a few poems and some notes and observations in my notebook. So it's not the dreaded writers block that has stopped me.
The issue has been one of confidence again. I was scared to open the file in case what I saw there was rubbish, in case it was bad writing, in case I had written a load of crap with no merit. So I backed away from it, ran away from it and pretended I was going to get round to it tomorrow. Ah, tomorrow, my favourite word. 'I'll do it tomorrow' is a phrase I could have engraved on my tombstone, I'm the Queen of Procrastinators!
But yesterday I decided to grasp the nettle. I dug out my plan and opened the file. All I intended to do was read the last paragraph I'd written and see where I'd got to before attempting a few more paragraphs. At least then I could say I'd done some work on the novel and not put it off until tomorrow.
Guess what? I started to read the first few sections and some of it was good! I mean, it was actually good! Maybe not Booker prize winning good but I was impressed with what I'd written. Sure, there were bits that I know need some work - OK, lots of work - but some of it was good. Wind was officially taken out of my sails and I closed the file with a smile on my face. OK, I didn't write anything to add to it but that will change today. For now it is enough to know that I wrote something that I'm proud of, that I can do it and will do it. This novel is very embryonic but with some commitment and hard work it will become a first draft.
Then I'll start to panic about editing and my lovely, supportive writing friends will kick me into shape again!
It's not that I've been unable to write anything. I've managed a few poems and some notes and observations in my notebook. So it's not the dreaded writers block that has stopped me.
The issue has been one of confidence again. I was scared to open the file in case what I saw there was rubbish, in case it was bad writing, in case I had written a load of crap with no merit. So I backed away from it, ran away from it and pretended I was going to get round to it tomorrow. Ah, tomorrow, my favourite word. 'I'll do it tomorrow' is a phrase I could have engraved on my tombstone, I'm the Queen of Procrastinators!
But yesterday I decided to grasp the nettle. I dug out my plan and opened the file. All I intended to do was read the last paragraph I'd written and see where I'd got to before attempting a few more paragraphs. At least then I could say I'd done some work on the novel and not put it off until tomorrow.
Guess what? I started to read the first few sections and some of it was good! I mean, it was actually good! Maybe not Booker prize winning good but I was impressed with what I'd written. Sure, there were bits that I know need some work - OK, lots of work - but some of it was good. Wind was officially taken out of my sails and I closed the file with a smile on my face. OK, I didn't write anything to add to it but that will change today. For now it is enough to know that I wrote something that I'm proud of, that I can do it and will do it. This novel is very embryonic but with some commitment and hard work it will become a first draft.
Then I'll start to panic about editing and my lovely, supportive writing friends will kick me into shape again!
Sunday, 19 June 2016
The Prompt - Dance
Dance like nobody's watching,
Dance like you just don't care.
Shake and shimmy and boogie,
Pretend there are flowers in your hair.
Dance til your feet are aching,
Dance as the beat goes on.
Wiggle and wriggle and jiggle,
Feel every pulse and note til it's gone.
Dance with gay abandon,
Dance with joy in your heart.
Swirl and twirl and sway,
Dance like you've mastered the art.
Dance when your heart is singing,
Dance when your heart is sad.
Bounce and leap and pirouette,
Dancing drives out all that's bad.
Dance like you are the joker,
Dance like you're holding the ace.
Rock and rattle and roll,
For the world can be a sad place.
Dance like you just don't care.
Shake and shimmy and boogie,
Pretend there are flowers in your hair.
Dance til your feet are aching,
Dance as the beat goes on.
Wiggle and wriggle and jiggle,
Feel every pulse and note til it's gone.
Dance with gay abandon,
Dance with joy in your heart.
Swirl and twirl and sway,
Dance like you've mastered the art.
Dance when your heart is singing,
Dance when your heart is sad.
Bounce and leap and pirouette,
Dancing drives out all that's bad.
Dance like you are the joker,
Dance like you're holding the ace.
Rock and rattle and roll,
For the world can be a sad place.
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