NaNoWriMo: August!

Just dropping a line here to let everyone know I’m going to be doing NaNoWriMo this August.  Like the traditional National Novel Writing Month that takes place every November, the plan is to write a novel, no less than 50,000 words, in the month of August. 

While I have completed this challenge twice (ironically, neither time in November), facing the starting line this time is as terrifying for me as the first time, and much for the same reasons.   I first attempted Novel in a Month in May of 2006,  two years after I had written my first novel–an appalling year and a half vomit of prose that included such brilliant concepts as a 35,000 word martial arts battle–and I was terrified to attempt writing another novel.   What if I spent another year and a half pounding out something equally as bad, or possibly even worse?  I knew novels were the way to go for success, but I wasn’t sure if I had the emotional fortitude to write another one.   As a consequence, I didn’t know if I had it in me to be a writer.  I was fortunate enough to stumble across Chris Baty’s book, ‘No Plot, No Problem’, which introduced to me to the novel in one month process. I decided that I was willing to take a chance on writing another terrible novel, provided I didn’t have to spend two years doing it.  For me, Novel in a Month was a make or break process: either I’d come out of it with a novel, or I’d come out of it knowing I didn’t have what it took to be a writer. 

That month was a pendulum of emotional highs and lows, but I made it.  At the end of the month I finished three thousand words over the minimum.   It was one of the most affirming things I’ve ever done.  At the end of the month, I knew I had what it took in character, determination, and creativity to achieve my dream of being a writer.  (check out the blog here: http://bookmonth.wordpress.com/ )

Now, two years later, I face my fourth novel in a month (I missed the goal the one time I tried in November–still, I love that 1/2 a novel) and I am filled with the same fears.  Again, I’m not sure I have what it takes.  Not in regards to talent or training, (the first is out of my control, and the second I’ve been blessed with in astonishing abundance) but in regards to the most important factor that determines success: character.  This past year, I’ve made only one of my writing goals.  Barely.  My overall writing productivity has been less than 1/8th of my previous year, I’ve written only one new story (again barely), revised only one story, and my confidence as a result is at a true low.  I keep setting goals and I keep falling short.  I start stories and scrap them three paragraphs in, or after a page or so, all for reasons that appear to be different, but they are likely the same: I’ve lost my center. 

I’m not sure if Novel in a Month will be the solution this time, but either way, I’m hoping it will be a hell of a ride.  I’m hoping the sheer call to produce great quantities of writing will kick start my muse and force me out of this writing rut.  One thing I can say, every time I’ve made the attempt at novel in a month, I’ve done it with sincerity, and at the end of the month, the process has made me a better writer. 

But writing a novel is always much more fun with friends.  If you’re interested in jumping in for NaNoWriMo with me (and writing your own 50,000 word or more novel in August),  check out the yahoo group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nanowrimoaug/ .  There is still time to join the rank of champions!

Love and Hugs 🙂