Momentum of the Muse

I think what’s happening here is I feel guilty for not keeping up my posting frequency. So, instead of not posting at all anymore, I am making completely unnecessary posts. The thing is, I hate those “I’m sorry I haven’t been posting” posts because I think it’s your right, and half the time I never noticed anyways. I have a bit over 100 blogs in my reader, so I would only ever notice if it was one of my absolute favorite-favorite-favorites. I suppose some others follow maybe only five or two, or one blog, and if it’s one, it should be this one. Because then you won’t have to be bogged down following it – there’s plenty of breathing room in between each post, because I know you’re busy.

But I do feel guilty for not being accountable to myself. That’s the reason I started this blog in the first place. So, I am in the middle of re-structuring and re-focusing exactly what I’m going to talk about. I wanted to talk about writing, but I found myself falling into a rut of writing the same kinds of posts as what I was reading. It wasn’t as fresh or as personally interesting as I would like it. And a lot of it was about a type/way of writing that isn’t what I had initially set out to do.

So, I am likely to move over to more creative topics, but we’ll have to see. I’ve had a talk with a screenwriter who might want to guest post once a week. He’s never had a blog before and he wants to put his toes in the water without actually getting wet. But, I’m not 100% sure of what I want, so in the meantime, I think actually making posts, even if they are about rabbit mittens, is the key to accountability. To myself. Rambling into the abyss. Although, that was a useful post if you happen to have been considering installing google analytics, and wanted to be swayed by that little tidbit, knowing you can figure out what keywords lead people to your blog.

Being accountable to others isn’t something you can control all aspects of. Who knows what people want from you? How do you decide what they want, how to cater to them? You can change it only by targetting those others you surround yourself with, you aim to intrigue. Being accountable to yourself is more fluid.

1. The experience so far …

When I told my man and my friend AT that the novel was essentially the worst novel of all time, they tried to disagree, saying “No, you’re a great writer. I’m sure it’s good.”

Well, no, it really is a terrible novel. But, the funny thing about this NaNo business is that isn’t disheartening. They tell you to expect it to be bad. Expect it to be very, very bad. But don’t let that get you down, and whatever you do, don’t stop. Fostering that type of mentality for writing is incredibly healthy, IMHO. This whole process has been exhilarating. At the end, I’ll be able to say that I’ve written a novel – that I’m a novelist. Nobody needs to know that it’s the worst novel ever written.

I’m so pleased that I decided to do it.

2. My current plan of attack and how I’m executing it…

And by executions, I mean any semblance of respectable literature.

My tactic was to develop a character and then let the story evolve through that main character. No outline. Having never written a novel before, this was a lofty ambition, but having succumbed to the idea that it’s a blasphemy to all novels ever written before and after, I’m moving along merrily. I might even try doing Chapter Two in the second person. Why not, right? The first few thousand words are solid, prosaic and poetically written, but they’re kind of dramatic in a way that’s like, who are you kidding? I think at this point I was still under the notion that I’d be able to write a bestseller in a month, on my first try. Once I tried dialog my word count exploded in a very encouraging way. Since then, the novel’s read a little more like one of my scripts. So, I’ll use the second person in Chapter Two to steer away from my fast forming addiction to rapid-fire dialog and also to have some fun. Another thing I’ve been thinking of trying: a peppering of shorter chapters, filled with lists, letters, maybe even a poem or a flash back into the past type of scene. Right now I’m dragging out the set-up and I need things to move a little more quickly, less plodding.

Any suggestions? I’m exceptionally green and open to anything.

3. Word count …

Dividing the required word of 50 000 words by the number of days suggests 1666 words per day. If misery loves company, then I suspect any NaNo participants who are also behind the suggested word count will be happy once they read my current word count. They’ll go “Oh, thank God, someone worse off than me! Phew, I feel better.” Well, that’s what I’d do if someone had less words than me.

November 1 = 2 words written (”Chapter One” Oh yeah. I’m that good.)

November 2 = 1, 284 words written

November 3 = 2, 620 words written

November 4 = 0 (Can’t even remember what I did instead, strangely.)

November 5 = 0 (Went shopping instead. Found fab shoes, totally worth it.)

November 6 = 1, 577 words written

November 7 = 1, 886 words written

Bringing the total word count up to 7, 369

If the suggested word count for each day is 1, 666, then I am behind by 4, 293 words. But, I’m not worried. I am going to catch up over the remaining days and I will prevail. I feel very confident, and almost giddy. This has reminded me how important it is to put time aside to focus on fiction. So much time goes into other writing endeavors that are less risky, more certain to be profitable. But NaNoWriMo has reminded me why I love writing in the first place.

So, I must reiterate; any suggestions or words of encouragement for a very green novelist?

Two things:

1. I am going to be posting in a series over the next week. It’s tentatively poised to be a five part series – so far – about creative writing exercises to help when you’re “stuck”. I’ve had the blahs in blogging lately and I figure it will shake me up, make me more regular in posting. Put some fiber in my posting consistency – (Ew) – and maybe help out a fellow NaNoWriMo participant. Which brings me to my next point.
2. I am going to humiliate myself and post my NaNoWriMo progress. It’s my first time participating and my first time writing a novel. At first, I was all “Wow, this could magically be the best novel of all time! Like that one time I wrote my anthropology paper worth 25% 3 hours before it was due. Then I ended up getting a hundred percent even though I had made the entire thing rhyme as a joke, because I had already succumbed to the realization that I was going to fail. And the next day I changed my major to Anthropology because the teachers are all whacked-out hippies and I love it. Except then my prof drew the line when I brewed a tea full of hallucinogenic drugs that are generally used for shaman to get high out of their skulls and fight demons and invited class members to participate.” But now, I’m all “Wow. This is the worst novel in human existence.”

So, yes. I figure if I post my progress up here, I’ll be more accountable.

Any other NaNo veterans or virgins?