I have finally decided to take part in National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo as we word nerds call it.
This is a challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days. This is something I’ve wanted to try but 1.) haven’t been in a place with novel projects to stop for a month and take part, and 2.) I have a steroid-crazed, muscle-bound inner editor who I fear won’t let me write non-stop without stopping to spend obscene amounts of time tweaking and editing.
But this is one of the beauties of NaNoWriMo. They help you (I’m told) learn to turn off the inner editor and just write glorious garbage like the wind. Something I’ve not done since Jr. High, and something, I suspect, could be very freeing and possibly even diamond-in-the-rough producing. (All bets are off as this remains to be seen.) And since I’ve taken all of 2012 off of novel writing (the wedding was lovely!), I would love to end the year with at least the bones of a book in hand.
That inner editor can be helpful when the proper time comes to perfect all the nuances of grammar, style, rhythm, research facts, plausibility, plot holes, etc… the list is endless. The inner editor is an anal left-brain, shoulder-pinching, whispering detail-freak (at least mine is) who shuts down the right brain and stops the blood flow of creativity. There is a proper time and place for detail work. Unfortunately, some people, like me, can NOT figure out how to keep that thing from butting in when the Right Brain is trying to do its thing and get the story bones down.
Then of course there’s the problem of hearing voices in the first place, something that was probably nagging at the back of your mind, right? Oh, if you didn’t already know this about novelists, sorry.
There are voices you can listen to, and then there’s that other voice. The evil one. I get the inner editor’s voice confused with a very similar sounding voice, one that tells me what I just wrote was dripping dumpster slime. The one that whispers, “You thought you were a writer?” while hopping from one shoulder to the other, giggling. (Yes, this IS as disturbing as it sounds, be glad you don’t live near me.)
As a Christian, I understand the problem of listening to that lying enemy of our souls. Why is it that it takes no more than a tiny doubt-casting whisper to send us screeching to a halt in our walk of faith? It began in the garden with Eve, poor girl. “Did God really say…” It only takes one subtle seed to plant doubt, discontent and divisiveness that undermine and destroy. It takes going back repeatedly to the Voice of Truth, to God and his word, to tune out that crafty voice bent on complete destruction.
So as I prepare to block and tackle (holy moly, that sounds like defense and offense at the same time…) my inner editor, evil or otherwise, I will remember that I have a powerful weapon at my disposal: Truth. All I have to do is keep my eyes and heart trained on what’s true. And I have to trust God to keep me straight on that.
Just a little FYI: If during the month of November you see me plugging my ears and yelling “Shut up!” to no one at all, do not be alarmed, I’m totally fine.
And since I’m now preparing for this story and will then bear down like a rabid dog to get 50,000 words written in 30 days, you probably won’t see much from me in the way of blog posts, unless inspiration burns straight through my fingers. So your prayers and patience over the next several weeks are gratefully appreciated!
Q: How do you respond & deal with the devil’s critical lies?
Camille Eide
When it comes to writing I am a SOTP – so I start NaNoWrimo with my main characters (I do character interviews now – but didn’t my first time round) and my first scene in my head – only the basics. I dream I pray but I don’t do an outline (it is permitted to do one if that’s the way you roll!). Then just write and have fun. If you get stuck – keep writing – even if it is awful – you can always delete it later! I sometimes have to go back and re-read a few pages the next day to get myself back into things – and yes – sometimes I do some minor editing at that point – but I’m usually in such a rush to get my numbers up and it’s fun to watch your little bar graph go higher and higher – especially if you can get ahead of your goal off the bat. Seriously – if you can put in a few 3K or 5K days (I’ve had a 10K day once – brutal but wonderful!) you can have a day or two off once in awhile too. Have fun – be wild and crazy if you want to and engage with others (we will have to “friend” each other!) And encourage other along the way. It is really so much fun and such a rush! I can write without this – but this will be my fourth time hammering out a rough draft for a novel and i look forward to it. Also – my first time doing this – I ended up reconnecting with an old high school friend and the end result is she has now become a follower of Jesus Christ. So God had another motive behind my participation. Cool, huh?
3k & 5k days?? Okay, I can do this…
Thanks for the advice & pep talk. I’ll look for you there!
You can do it, Camille! NaNo was what got me to quell my ADD with writing and actually write a full rough draft. Both of my novels were NaNos. It worked great for Reaching Sky and I had a usable draft at the end. Voices wasn’t quite as usable, but I was sick and moving during that.
Anyone reading this is welcome to join my FaceBook group, Writing Fun and Support: http://www.facebook.com/groups/255947661117611/ We do word wars (set a timer for fifteen minutes and write like crazy and then see who wrote the most words) and advice and encouragement there year-round. I found word wars to be a great way to boost my word count, force away the inner editor, and keep the ADD at arm’s length.
(note, I don’t think I actually have ADD as a disorder–it’s mostly limited to my writing. I get excited about some other idea before I finished the first, or get distracted by other things)
ADD is not a writer’s friend.
Thanks for the tips & encouragement, and the link!
Like you I’ve never been in a place project wise to do NaNoWriMo. But I’m going to give it a try. Thank you for posting about it.
Glad you’re giving it a try, Terri. Maybe we’ll see each other there. God bless your mountain of words!
Going to try the nano thing myself. Thanks for the inspiring words…
Awesome! Here’s to 50k and tons of inspiration for us all!
You go, girl, with the NaNo and the struggle against the inner critic!
How do I respond? I have pet verses and phrases that remind me (and him) that he is a defeated foe. I repeat them over and over in my mind as often as I need to until the truth gets re-settled in my brain.
Thanks, Ginny. Good advice!
I am so excited for your first NaNo! You are in for an amazing and frightening month.
That bit about “glorious garbage” is right! I’ve been doing a year of NaNoWriMo, and those evil voices have finally given in to a single voice that says “seriously, write more”. It’s fantastic!
I’m preparing to be frightened and amazed. Glad to hear there’s life after.