If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.", |
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I'm writing a novel this month.
What??
I'm writing a novel. It will be 50,000 words long, maybe longer. (Probably longer.) It will be done* by midnight, November 30, 2010.
Excuse me?
I'm doing NANOWRIMO.
Say what?!?
Nanowrimo: National Novel Writing Month.
And despite the fact that I have a zillion other things calling my attention--a scriptwriting workshop this weekend, a performance of my play, Dracula and The Writing Coach, coming up on December 8, the NAI conference in just over a week (not to mention preparing for the presentation I'll be doing the last day of the conference), a Thanksgiving feast, a new play I've agreed to co-author and produce in time for our town's First Night celebration on New Year's Eve, marketing my freelance writing and coaching services, putting the finishing touches on the new edition of the workbook for my interp writing workshops, meeting client deadlines and helping my coaching clients stay on track--yikes! Did I really agree to write a novel? What was I thinking???
I was thinking, I really need to write a novel, even if I don't have time, even if I don't know what to write, even if I think I can't do it. Especially if I think I can't do it.
Nanowrimo is an outrageous writing adventure begun by Chris Baty and a few friends back in 1999. It's grown into an international phenomenon-over 167,000 people participated in 2009, and more than 32,000 of them made it to 50,000 words by the deadline. The statistics are amazing: in 2009, 2,427,190,537 words were officially logged by participants. That's almost two-and-a-half BILLION WORDS. What's even more inspiring is that a decent number of nanonovels have gone on to become published novels--Water for Elephants by Sandra Gruen, among others (for a list,look here). Another amazing tidbit: the entire shebang is supported by volunteers and donors. Yeah, I donate, too, even when I think I'm too broke to give away anything.
I wrote my first nanonovel in 2005. I picked a totally ridiculous premise with an entirely unbelievable main character and plunged in with absolutely no thought beforehand. Two weeks in, typing furiously on a borrowed laptop in the public library study room with my writing buddies, I sat back in shock: despite my best (or worst) intentions, the entire mess was turning itself into a "real story." I had a protagonist, an antagonist, conflict, a plot, subplot--no, two subplots!--characters who spoke to each other in believable dialogue, and a story arc that was clearly building toward a climax, though I had no idea what that climax was until November 29. Wow! Story happens!
Some years, I've gone into Nanowrimo with deliberate intent. Other years, signing up was more like an impulse purchase.
I've learned something different every year. My second year, I decided to write a creation myth, just for the fun of it. A character I'd never heard of showed up on the first page, complete with her own unique dialect, a complete backstory, and a delightfully weird take on How the World Began. To this day, I'm convinced she told the story; I didn't write it so much as take dictation.
Another year, I plunged in solely for the purpose of writing without stopping. I'd had a rough year, months of difficulty writing anything for anybody, the kind of writer's block where I'd write a line or two, maybe a paragraph, then stall out, unable to continue, and toss my meager offerings into the trash can. That November, I set a timer every day and wrote nonstop until the timer beeped to teach myself--again--that I could write, that I didn't have to be perfect (that first drafts aren't SUPPOSED to be perfect), that if I kept at it, the story would reveal itself, whether I was writing a 50,000 word nanonovel or a 50-word exhibit label.
In 2008, I wrote as many bloated sentences as I could, because I was worried that I wouldn't make the word count. Then I started to worry that I was teaching myself to write poorly. I made the count with words to spare--and discovered that the word play and silliness I used to write those ridiculously long sentences had pushed my creative envelope in unexpected ways. My writing after that year's Nano was stronger and richer.
This year, I knew I was too busy to do Nano. I wasn't going to do it, I really wasn't. But then a friend mentioned that her muse had abandoned her lately, so she'd been putting out flowers and chocolate to entice her back, and by the way, was I going to do Nano this year...and without bidding, an entire story fell into my brain.
So I had to do it; I didn't really have a choice.
Wonder what I'll learn this year?
Oh, and after Nano? Next April, I'm going to adapt my nanonovel into a screenplay during Script Frenzy, the Nanowrimo equivalent for graphic novels and screen- and play-writing!
(For the record, I have about 48,000 words to go...and YES, I will be working on my nanonovel while I'm at the NAI conference in Las Vegas. If you're doing Nano, too, let me know and we'll do a write-in sometime during the week!)
* "Done" means I will have a rough draft of at least 50,000 words. It does NOT mean that I will have a completed manuscript ready for publication!
Comments? Questions?
Tell us!
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Attending the NAI conference in Las Vegas?
Me, too!
I'll be presenting a one-hour session on the last day called "Ten Ways to Tell a Story." We'll be looking at how we create and present all kinds of stories, but especially interpretive stories. It's a short session, but there WILL be writing! Hope you'll join me!
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INTERP WRITING INTENSIVE
NEXT SUMMER
in Taos, NM
SPECIAL CONFERENCE DISCOUNT
Register during the NAI conference
(whether or not you're attending the conference)
and save $250.00!
The details will be posted on our web site by next weekend, just in time for the preconference sessions. The conference week discount will be open ONLY for that week. When I get home on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, the $250 discount ends. After that, you can sign up at the early registration rate ($150 discount) before March 30, 2011, or at the regular registration rate after March 30 (assuming there's still space available).
Remember, you have both all-inclusive and commuter options. Many agencies consider the all-inclusive fee to be training (not travel) expense, which makes all-inclusive a great option if your travel budget is tight this year.
Register between Nov. 15 and Nov 21, 2010 to take advantage of the conference discount--$250.00 off the regular registration!
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we help you tell the story
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