This is why staying up late googling is not always the sanest choice.
I came across this writing challenge, National Novel Writing Month. You write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November.
JUST. FOR. FUN.
As first I laughed. Then, I thought. And then, I had an idea.
And then…I read that this writing challenge is all about quantity, not quality and that’s when I had my last four thoughts before my head exploded.
I’m so there!
Count me in!
Sign me up!
Shoot me now!
You’ve read some of my posts. You know I can pile up the words. Some days all I am is quantity. But, I’ll need your ongoing encouragement and words of support just so I don’t make an absolute fool of myself. Not that that really matters. As the folks at NaNoWriMo say,
“Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It’s all about quantity, not quality. This approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.
Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that’s a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.”
So, with that free pass, I better get slogging. I’ll post snippets to a new page (see above…no, higher. Above the cool specs.) If you have a good idea for plot development, character development or just a really good recipe for a martini (a writer’s best and worst friend) I want to hear about it.
And so it is.
—
The (Re)Incarnation of Me
Genre: Mainstream Fiction
Plot Summary: What would you do if you knew who your parents were going to be?
By the year 2011, more and more people are requesting their “end” date. Just so they know. You know? What they don’t know is that the end is not so final. Amy Ashton has a year to get used to the idea that reincarnation is real and as the seasons change, she falls in love with a family she has yet to meet.
becomingcliche
/ November 1, 2011Good luck. I am taking the plunge, too. Obviously. I am not reading other people’s blogs right now. I am not. I am writing. Comments count as writing, right?
Blogdramedy
/ November 1, 2011Do comments count as writing!?!? Do your fingers touch the keyboard and produce letters that — wonders of wonders — form words then complete sentences? OF COURSE comments count.
I, personally, can’t wait to read how all your comments turn into one pager-turner of a story.
madtante
/ November 1, 2011If I’ve done it 7 times and Script Frenzy however many (6?), anybody can do it. You’ll do grand.
Blogdramedy
/ November 1, 2011Then, just call me anybody. Because that’s what I’ll be by the end of this month. Just another any body…collapsed over my laptop.
trailblazer1
/ November 1, 2011Would you please FedEx me some of your brain fragments for analysis? Took me several years to finish my 70,000 word novel – go for it, we are all behind you, literally.
Blogdramedy
/ November 1, 2011I would send you fragments of my brain but I have very few pieces left and what is left, I think I’ll need over the next 30 days. Except, I don’t think I have enough to last me to the end of the month.
stevebetz
/ November 1, 2011Interesting premise. I like.
I participated in NaBloPoMo a couple of years ago (Blog Post) — it took a lot more discipline than I thought it would — sort of like Blogshorts…
Blogdramedy
/ November 1, 2011You like? Glad to hear it. I’m still debating if I LIKE.
I have so little discipline…now I’m scared.
Thanks for reminding me…BlogShorts. I’ve got a challenge set for December. Hope you’re in…it’s very seasonal. I’ll post about it soon.
Aussie Emjay
/ November 1, 2011Good luck. I find it hard to come up with 500 words once a week……
Blogdramedy
/ November 1, 2011Ha! Thanks…for the reminder that I must be completely insane.
GOM in Oklahoma
/ November 1, 2011Only an average of 1700 words a day.
Do not forget that you do not want to use contractions … do not > don’t, for example.
Blogdramedy
/ November 1, 2011Now that’s what I’m talking about. This is the kind of encouragement and creative thinking I’m looking for!!!
Jason
/ November 2, 2011I’m pretty sure this challenge would drive me insane. Well, maybe I’m already insane but that’s beside the point.
Blogdramedy
/ November 2, 2011I may not be insane when I start but when I finish…someone may be measuring me up for a snug white jacket.
Amy
/ November 2, 2011More power to ya, sister.
I’ve toyed with the idea of doing this every year, then I remember that for me writing a 500 word blog post is sometimes more painful than yanking yarn out of a cat and so I leave the 50,000 words in a month to braver souls.
I love the premise of your novel. Very intriguing. And your protagonist has a great name.
Blogdramedy
/ November 2, 2011The Mister is going to be away for 2 to 3 weeks and since I can only gaze in admiration at my own navel for so long, I needed something to fill the time. What really sold me was the sentence “most of what you write will be crap” and that, I can do!
Ha1 The name! It just came to me. See what influence you have over your readers?
shoutabyss
/ November 2, 2011You do enjoy abusing yourself, don’t you? 50,000 words? I can’t even imagine! I was born for Twitter. This is alien to me.
I have found that on some days 2,000 words for a blog post come easily. On others I can’t string two sentences together.
This should be very interesting! Of course I wish you the very best of luck.
Blogdramedy
/ November 2, 2011If I don’t abuse myself, who will? Other than you I mean.
The key word in this endeavor is “crap.” NaNoWriMo states we’re to expect crap and be happy. I can do crap.
shoutabyss
/ November 2, 2011Naval cam sounds like a great idea. Then we could all stare at it, too.
I followed your link and read the rules. It certainly sounds doable based on the “crap” clause. Perchance I shall endeavor to undertake as well. We shall see.
To make it official, you have to submit your work? What happens to it after that?
Blogdramedy
/ November 2, 2011I haven’t read all the fine print…who’s got time for that with 50,000 words to write? However, I think what happens is there is a place on the site for you to post sections at a time and it adds up all the words for you…when you post your final section, if you reach 50,000 you get some kind of congrats and a nifty badge for your blog site. You also have a profile page and you can post snippets of your novel to that page.
You don’t actually permanently post your novel to their site…you’re supposed to write it on your own computer and just post sections as written. Everything gets deleted sometime in December…I think. I have to go read that part over again.
Please, join in. MadTante is doing it again (she’s done quite a few) and I could use a writing buddy… we can email support and/or rude words to each other.
shoutabyss
/ November 3, 2011Okay, I’m in, buddy. I’m working on my snowflake right now. Damn, you went and did it again. Goodbye, life! Of course, that makes me happy.
Blogdramedy
/ November 4, 2011Excellent. I got another sucker signed up…I’m going to be moderately less poor! *raised eyebrow*
I’m gonna come find you at NaNoWriMo and NaYoAssBIC (nag your ass because I can.)
lgalaviz
/ November 3, 2011Awesome… are you doing it?
I heard about it in a writing class I took once. Now I spend the first part of November thinking I could still catch up if I really wanted to do it. I think about now is the point of no return.
Blogdramedy
/ November 4, 2011I am so doing this…yeah, doing this. What are we doing again?
Join in…you, me, Shouts. We can be writing buddies and sit around and bitchtweet about how many words we have not written yet.
lgalaviz
/ November 4, 2011Yes… because that is what everyone on Twitter absolutely needs… something else for me to bitchtweet about! Thank you for the word bitchtweet, by the way. I am totally stealing it.
Blogdramedy
/ November 4, 2011I give and give and give…
Kenya Johnson (@sporadictweets)
/ November 6, 2011What’s a blog me button? Just kidding. No seriously what’s a blog me button?
Enjoyed your post. So what is a blog me button again?
Blogdramedy
/ November 6, 2011Blog this.