Posts tagged ‘National Novel Writing Month’

Nov 4

November, the Month of Creative Abandon

So how are you doing on the fourth day of the ’thirty days and nights of literary abandon’– National Novel Writing Month?

And so what if it is not a novel. Maybe it is the story of your life, or an article on tea, or one hundred ways to cook chicken (not me). Maybe it is carving a giant turkey to grace the family table. Whatever it is, give yourself permission to go at it with abandonment this month of November.

Just to give you an example, my first three days have largely been taken up with a difficult eye appointment for my mother (remember Tim Conway and the little old man?), chiropractor appointment for myself, Halloween stuff, a grumpy cold (mine), and all the regular everyday that does get daily. I’ve still written each day, and oh, the fun I’ve had! And today, day four, I feel energy coming at an encouraging rate. It’s accumulating. Ideas are gelling.

For me this month is about focus on creative abandon. It is learning to focus on process, not product. All the interruptions are no more noise than I allow them to be.

I received this message from friend and fellow writer, Carolyn M:

“I just had to share an update with you and let you know what a spark your challenge created. This is only day 3 of the month, I have cleaned up, fixed, edited and putzed with the first five chapters to the point that I can honestly set them aside and call therm finished! The only thing missing is the decorative parapraph seperators that I will insert later, all at one time. (when I take the time to find them!) I have 42 pages and 12,424 words. Ready to move on to the next 5 chapters. Thank you friend, for that little extra nudge!

What could this month be for you? You make your own rules. I’d love to hear how everyone is doing. Your sparks kindle my own flames of abandon.

Blessings,
CurtissAnn

Oct 30

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National Novel Writing Month Coming in November

I saw it just yesterday– November is National Novel Writing Month 2012. I haven’t missed it! Did I want to do it? Really?

Go over and take a look at the NaNoWriMo website. It is encouragement to write a novel in a month. The first (second, third, etc.) time I learned of this organization, I was overwhelmed. I had written over 30 novels, and none in less than 7 – 8 months. I’m just not a fast writer. I have to think, I have to mull, I have to dream, and procrastinate and fret and fume and fuss in the manner of every good perfectionist. One cannot do all that in a month.

Then look at my life. It is no wonder I’m not writing a novel. There is daily care of my grandson, dental visits, field trips (just did one–fabulous!), caring for my elderly mother and her doctor visits, refinishing the front door, running the household and keeping up with family and friends, and Thanksgiving, for mercy’s sake (whose idea to put NaNoWriMo in November, smack him/her!). All that in addition to getting my backlist Christmas book online (what fun!) and working on several more, and trying to blog. My word, that is only a partial listing, I make myself tired with it. I also see the need of a few changes.

Then my eye lit on the slogan for NaNoWriMo: “thirty days and nights of literary abandon.”

Literary abandon. Setting free-to-be comes to mind, and produces an attitude shift. The gift of a month to write daily on a novel–that story that keeps shimmering across my mind–each day, and in a spirit of fun. I can focus on process not product.

I do not have to write an entire novel in one month. I do not have to follow NaNoWriMo rules. I can make up my own. No pushing and shoving myself, but giving myself over to experimenting and enjoying writing with abandon. That is my one particular need– to be set free from perfectionism and thinking too much.

For a month let me practice enjoyment of writing and see what happens. For one month let me find for a few minutes each day the writer that I long to be. (She is a cute curly-haired female version of Ray Bradbury mixed with P.G. Wodehouse– hey, it’s a dream.)

Thirty days of writing with abandon. Worth exploring. Want to join me? Start your project, and see where you go. I think we’ll go further than we imagine.

blessings,
CurtissAnn

PS: I am now rushing off to check my mother, feed the chickens, and see the dentist. I will be able to dream of writing during all of that.

Nov 3

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Still Here, Still Writing

“How long before you will have something of your novel ready to submit?” a fellow writer asked me a couple of weeks ago. A fall day with strong sun. My friend’s eyes were intense.

“Six months, I think.” And suddenly I knew: “I could not have answered that question a month ago. I really am ready to press on.”

In order to get to where I am now, which is with even moderate focus, I have had to withdraw from my blog and much of the internet. Okay, fine, I said to self as fall pressed on. Take a full month hiatus from the blog. First things first, and the novel is first. I’ve been dithering around with it for far too long. I also wanted to putter in the garden during the glorious fall weather. Sit on the porch, put my feet up, and watch the leaves fall.

As these things often do, the month hiatus has stretched into six weeks. With each passing day, it has become harder to return here. I have formed different habits. My mind is thoroughly on the novel each morning, and the rest of the day flies with tending grandson and the household, crochet, which I’ve now taken up, and reading all manner of things.

“Being a good writer is 3% talent, 97% not being distracted by the internet.”~ Anonymous

I’ve discovered something. I am not a blogger.

I blog, but I am not a blogger, in the same manner that I very often rode a horse but certainly was not a cowgirl. I have done both, but I have also laid down both.

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” ~Louis L’Amour

I cannot lay down novel writing. I am a novelist. I can write a short-story, or an article, or essay, or even a bit of memoir, and heaven knows I intend to pursue all of those. But here and now my heart and soul is in the novel. And in order to write a novel, I must give my heart and soul to it.

Blessings,
CurtissAnn