October 14, 2015

The Truth About NaNoWriMo ~ Expectation vs. Reality

the truth about #nanowrimo #write31days
NaNoWriMo is all about unlocking the story inside you. It's heralded as a 'Write A Novel In A Month' month but that's not really true. Because it's not about writing a novel - not really. It's about finding a story, spilling it out for thirty days after which you hopefully want to clean up the mess and make something worthy of it.

NaNoWriMo is about self-discovery: Can you do it? Do you love writing enough? Do you really want it? Do you actually have anything to say under the gun?

Expectation: You think your life will continue in a normal fashion. 1667 daily words will only take an hour or two and you think you can bang those out without interfering in your family's daily routine.

Reality: Ha! Fool! Sure, some days you might speed through your word-count BUT other days your words will come ssslllooowwwlllyyy. Almost everything else will become less of a priority - the dishes, the laundry, dinner, bathing your children...

Expectation: You think it won't be that hard.

Reality: Ha! Fool! It will be excruciating and you'll want to quit at least once every day.

Expectation: You think people will care.

Reality: Ha! Fool! People won't care. They might be mildly curious. They might tip their head to the side like they're talking to a widow and say, "Aw...good for you!" They'll only really care when your obsessive writing interferes with their regular life.

Expectation: On November 30, you will submit your words to the NaNoWriMo official word-counter, receive your celebratory email and certificate from the NaNoWriMo offices and have a shiny new novel ready to send to a publisher.

Reality: Ha! Fool! On November 30, you will submit your words to the NaNoWriMo official word-counter, receive your celebratory email and certificate from the NaNoWriMo offices and have a stinking pile of goodness-knows-what to wade through and mine for goods. {Ten months from the end of last NaNo and I am just now almost ready to put my novel into the hands of my first beta readers.}

NaNoWriMo is about the beginning. It is not about the end. It's about the journey, not the destination. It's the tool that will put you on the road towards a novel and it's a journey worth taking if you've got the guts.


http://nanowrimo.org/participants/alanna-rusnak/novels/black-bird-829447

So, what do you say? Are you up for it? Want to join me? {Click here to sign up.}

Not a writer but want to support me in this challenge? You can sponsor me! Monies raised go towards the good work the NaNo offices are doing in promoting creative writing across the globe. {Click here to make a donation.}

https://www.classy.org/fundraise?fcid=515126Black Bird is a novel project that died a few years ago. I had a rough start and no guts. I'm going to revisit it this November - strip it back to the bones and start again - and hope the pressure will resurrect it into the story I'm confident it can become!

http://selfbindingretrospect.alannarusnak.com/2015/09/challenge-accepted-write-31-days.html {click the image above to see all the #write31days posts}
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9 comments:

  1. Okay. Yesterday it was all about #NODELETE

    Today. #GOTTABEAWEIRDO

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    1. Bahaha! Yup - you got it :) #weirdosruletheworld

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    2. #TeamNoDelete I'm in. NOOOOOO idea what I'll write about but I'm in. Oh and @Alanna, you should see how I transformed the table I bought from the resale store...Completely different piece of furniture.

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    3. Yeah???!!! That's so exciting - both that you're going to do NaNo and that you've transformed a table. Can't wait to see both of your projects!

      Add me as a buddy on the NaNoWriMo site once you've signed up and we'll be able to cheer each other on :)

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  2. Haha! Your "Ha Fool" cracked me up every time. I am so interested and want to but I don't know what the story in me is..... I've had a few ideas but to make those into more than a short story... it's been a dream for as long as I can remember though.

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    Replies
    1. Not knowing the story is part of the fun!!! BUT, if you feel better about having a plan let the idea percolate through this year and you'll be ready to dive in next November! It'd be so fun to do this with you though!!! (no pressure but squeeeee!)

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    2. My comment deleted again. I need to start copying them before I hit publish just in case.

      I *may* have done the typical me thing and signed up.the other night with just a few tidbits of idea that have been perking for a month or two. I am mildly freaked out, I have a midwife assistant class the first weekend so being away for 3 days will make it interesting. I figured if I fail, at least I tried.

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    3. There. It worked on the 5th try but only as a Google comment. Odd.

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    4. Oooo, I'm so excited for you - no matter what it'll still helps you get started right?! Can't wait to hear what you'll be working on!

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