NANOSTRESS-OH!


NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) is killing me. Someone send help. It is 8:23 p.m. and I should be writing because I have 2200 words to still write today. But I turn to blogging like it is some sort of medicine. Like it will take my pain away. I am counting down the days until November 30 midnight. Only 315 and a half hours left. I love a good challenge. I am made for stuff like this. But I am dying here. I get interrupted with wifely and motherly duties. I work. I go to church. I lead cub scouts. I exercise. I have book club. I have a midnight showing of Twilight I have been invited to. I. Can't. Breathe. But each time I have entertained the thought of quitting not only does guilt set in, but the characters I am writing about call out to me. Really, they do. OK, Liliana, I won't give up on you. Just toss me some chocolate or something, will ya?

10 comments

Heidi | November 17, 2008 at 8:30 PM

Virtual chocolate coming your way. I'm afraid it won't be much help, though. One reason why blogging is so much easier than novel writing is that it is so much shorter (duh!) but it is far less painful to be interrupted when blogging then when novel writing. I wrote Miss D when everyone else was out of the house. I just couldn't do it otherwise. I am getting better at it but IT IS HARD. I love that pic of you--so retro cool!

Heather of the EO | November 17, 2008 at 8:37 PM

Yes! The pic is way cool.

And if I could send chocolate (or anything else to help) I WOULD. Hang in there. I'm sure what you're writing is certainly worth the while!

Heather | November 17, 2008 at 8:38 PM

I read some good writing advice recently--"write the easy stuff first, then fill in the rest." That advice might be fitting when you are trying to meet a word count goal. I have never written a novel but I could imagine that one would get ideas for characters that don't fit in chronologically, but just go ahead and write them even if you end up leaving it out of the final book, just to get the ideas flowing.
I just made a chocolate run to the grocery store and got a large Special Dark and a Large Symphony with English toffee. They were on sale for a dollar. I'd love to share them with you if I could.

Kazzy | November 17, 2008 at 8:58 PM

Heidi, are you working on another novel right now? I am getting excited for Sunday, when I am going to church and then coming home to read all afternoon. :) Heather and Heather... I feel your chocolate. Thanks!

LisAway | November 17, 2008 at 11:11 PM

I think only crazy people commit to writing jillions of words a day. I'm convinced that you're crazy so I'm sure you can do it!! :)

And once NaBloPoMo ends I'm going to try and do what you're doing now. Except without a certain number of words per day. So actually, not really like what you're doing at all. . .

Luann | November 18, 2008 at 6:18 AM

You are my hero for even having the guts to try this. I have no doubt that you can muscle your way through the month and finish on time with words to spare.

Now, since you have secured permanent hero status, I can tell you that you've kind of got me worried. Therefore, you are hereby released of your obligation and I officially declare that you are now free to set it aside and work on it at your leisure. I am sure that Liliana will be patient for you. :)

Since you are free to quit, when you get to the end of the month with all 50k words written, it will be because you wanted to and not because guilt pushed you there.

I love what the NaNoWriMo site says. "Writing a novel in a month is both exhilarating and stupid, and we would all do well to invite a little more spontaneous stupidity into our lives."

You really are my hero. *hug*

Kazzy | November 18, 2008 at 6:54 AM

Awwwww. Thanks, Lu.

Sabine Berlin | November 18, 2008 at 7:16 PM

I finally had to give up on Nano. I am just trying to write a bit each day, but I think with everything else going on I just can't stress about word count. My advice is to ask yourself why you write. For me it is a release. When I write it takes me to a happy place. If I am stressing about it, then I am not happy. Why do you write? THink about it and then write for that reason and not for wordcount (unless that is our reason) :)

Little GrumpyAngel | November 19, 2008 at 2:14 AM

Hang in there! And I hope you share the finished product. I bet it will be brilliant because you are.

Hey, you post the most artisitc photos of yourself. That photo captured your post exactly.

Debbie | November 19, 2008 at 12:04 PM

I keep reading posts about this writing thing driving people crazy. Is it worth it? Gosh, just getting dinner ready is enough pressure for me.