Saturday, October 26, 2013

To NaNoWriMo or Not To NaNoWriMo?


I was reading a book this morning (I know, it's hard to believe) and it said something about the conflict between our right and left brains. This is EXACTLY what I've been experiencing the past couple of days.

So what does that conversation between my brain halves look like? Take a peek:

RIGHT BRAIN: You know, you really should try this NaNoWriMo thing. I think you'd love it.

LEFT BRAIN: Are you KIDDING me? Where in the heck would you find time for THAT right now?

RB: Um well, I could do it. I could. I mean, there are moments all through the day that I waste. So I could fill them up with writing.

LB: Yeah, right. Something will have to give. Are you ready to give something? And besides, what makes you think you can write a book. That's like, HARD!

RB: Well, I, you know, write every single FREAKING day! (Almost.) I have tons... thousands... of blog posts you know....

LB: A blog post is different than a book. There's this thing called PLOT. What do you know about plot? Nothing!

RB: Well... what better way to learn then to try. You know, I can TRY at least!

LB: Well, I guess so, but still, it's going to be hard to write something if you have no idea of the direction it's going.

RB: I sort of have a direction. I wrote those four chapters years ago, remember? Back when I thought I could do this? And I just re-read them and, guess what? They aren't half bad!!

LB: They're pretty bad.

RB: It's got some awesome dialogue, you have to admit.

LB: Dialogue is no plot.

RB: You have to start somewhere. Seriously, you KNOW it would be fun to try. You know it! Who cares if we don't know how. And it's not like I'll try to get published or anything. Sheesh.

LB: Well then, why waste all that time if you don't have a goal like that? How can you even justify the amount of time this will take?

RB: It's on my bucket lists... that's how! Those lists (both the bookish one and the whole life one!) justify ANYTHING!

LB: You can't do it.

RB: Yes, I can.

LB: Seriously, you can't.

RB: Oh yes, I so can.

LB: Nope.

RB: Yep

LB: You are not going to do this.

RB: I am. I am so going to.

....and on and on and on it goes.

I'm not kidding this is totally what's been going on in my head for the past few days. One morning I was totally excited about the idea. By the evening, I was thinking, no way. Can anyone relate? How do you overcome this conflict?

And... you ARE doing NaNoWriMo this year? Please, if I do this I need lots and lots of cheering friends, as you can see. We need to fight that dumb left brain!

EDITED TO ADD:

I've just signed up! Now, help me find all you other writers there! :)

15 comments:

  1. This is the same conversation that goes on in my head every year. Obviously, my left brain has won every time.

    I hope you do it and have fun while doing it!

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  2. I can SO relate. Now is the 'perfect' time for me to do it because I'm unemployed and moving to a new city at the beginning of December, but because I'm unemployed and moving to a new city in December, I have a lot of things to do...

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  3. I had always wanted to do nanowrimo but there always seemed to be a reason to not do it. I totally had the same conversation. Finally last year when I was buying a house and in the midst of chaos I decided to go for it. It was actually a great thing because it kept me busy during Thanksgiving when I couldn't be with my family. The thing that surprised me was how much fun it was. I had a blast. I found myself eagerly waiting for time to work on my book. I figure give it a shot and then if you don't finish the 50,000 what have you lost? I'm doing it if you want a writing buddy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rachel: Okay, I'm going to try. Now, how do I find you as a buddy? Or is that later once it starts? So confused.

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  4. I've been thinking about going for it this November, too. I'll do it if you do it! :)

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    Replies
    1. Kathy: I've just signed up! Your turn!!! :)

      Delete
  5. I really wish I had the time to do nanowrimo and an idea to start my novel. I did it last year and had so much fun and I won a few days early. It was an awesome experience and I would love to do it again.

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  6. I am thinking about doing NaNoWriMo as well. I don't have a plot or anything. I keep thinking that it will just come to me on November 1st.

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  7. I'm totally doing NaNoWriMo this year - and you should too. I'll cheer for you :)

    Cheers, Kat :)

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  8. Tell your left brain to pipe down :-) LOL - NaNo is all about the right brain - no excuses (not even the lack of plot or experience) allowed! :-) NaNo is fun and there's no downside - even if you don't get a whole novel written you at least wrote *something*. In writing, that is always a win :-)

    Good luck! You'll do great!

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  9. I haven't decided this year. My cousin and I did our own NaNo in the spring because I was way too pregnant to do it last November. (Seriously, I wrote a grand total of 65 words in November. It was sad.) This year SHE'S pregnant, and since we write a letter game together we have to both want to do it....

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  10. Yay! I'm glad you've signed up. I'll try and find you. I haven't "won" a NaNo yet, but I always have fun!

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  11. YAY!!! Good for you!!! I've signed up as well, downloaded a trial of Scrivener for outlining, plotting, etc. and ready to get started tomorrow! Sounds as though you've got dialogue in the bag :-D

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  12. Wow! This sounds exactly like me!! As you know, I'm in. My current word count is abysmal, but I am writing.

    (I know I am way behind on reading your blog and I see you have another update on NaNo, so I'm off to read that!)

    ReplyDelete

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