tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post5287069098019256707..comments2024-03-29T04:15:38.341-07:00Comments on Writing About Writing (And Occasionally Some Writing): The Mailbox: NaNoWriMo (Again)Chris Brecheenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07819138776404280633noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-12454523258226765572017-06-19T09:18:19.554-07:002017-06-19T09:18:19.554-07:00NaNo gave me the courage to write, but I thrive on...NaNo gave me the courage to write, but I thrive on deadlines because apparently I'm fucked up. I did NaNo last year and was able to finish it without having written before. I dedicated hours every day to the process of writing – including research (and I have two small children, so this was not a simple task). I then spent six weeks editing, which no one told me I'd do. And then, over 3 more months, I did massive revisions, which I was unaware would be needed. Since November, I have overhauled my writing style twice, and have written half a dozen short stories.<br /><br />I found an awesome, intimate group of international writers that encourage and help me as needed. My husband is incredibly supportive and (as a lover of languages) helps me troubleshoot my plots and is my very picky proofreader, so that was a huge help.<br /><br />But as a "winner" of NaNo, I see exactly what you are saying. NaNo neglects to show you the copious amount of time and effort that goes into editing. Editing should always take longer than writing, but this is rarely explained. <br /><br />Now that I've had the chance to explore how I like to write, I've realize that I'd rather write, edit, read, rewrite, reread, and pace myself rather than gorge like a cow à la NaNoWriMo. The amount of time I spent editing (or rewriting) my NaNo piece was mind boggling versus what I can churn out over a couple week of intense writing/editing at the same time. <br /><br />NaNo doesn't afford you the time to court your words ... you just fuck them and move on. As a lover of intimacy, this bothered me after the fact, thought it seemed nice at the time. I'd do NaNo again for fun, but not with any seriousness. I lost my writing virginity on NaNo, so it will always have a special place in my heart, but I didn't develop a love of writing until I started my long term relationship with words – and that didn't come until months later.<br /><br />Those that expect to love and marry someone they fuck once is barking up the wrong tree. That's not how you develop a personal relationship and it's certainly not how you establish a healthy love of writing.<br /><br />Joaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213877913440982783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660089177097719300.post-75028738964829946862014-05-08T15:48:06.497-07:002014-05-08T15:48:06.497-07:00I guess I'm writing a "lightning draft,&q...I guess I'm writing a "lightning draft," given that I started writing in January and I'm already on Book 2. I have a LOT of thoughts about this process, but I don't have my own blog so they'll just stay in my head for now. :) However, you're right about a lot of the problems. I am having to rewrite both of my books completely - not just revise, but rewrite. Fortunately, I'm having a great time doing it.<br /><br />When I sit down to write the first thing I do is reread everything I wrote the night before and edit it for punctuation and spelling. I make notes like "circular!" for later revisions. This helps me figure out what I was intending to do. Then I start writing. If I don't reread what I wrote the day before, I get lost pretty quickly - and I absolutely can't read something without editing it. I have way too much OCD to let that extra quotation mark go. (Apparently I'm really sloppy with quote marks.)<br /><br />It works for me, so it's what I'm doing. Even if I never sell this series, I'm still having fun. The goal is to sell, though; this is a lot of work and I have student loans to pay. :)Terranoreply@blogger.com