Editing Officially Begins Today

Yesterday I finished read-through of my NaNo 2010 novel, so today Editing officially begins. This is an important event for me. Up until now, I have edited books to various level, but I have never yet finished complete edits and revisions to get a book to submission level. This book is going to be the first one to achieve that. 

So as I begin editing, I am also going to be paying attention to my process, what works for me and what doesn't. I don't expect to get it right in the first instance, but I am determined to try, and more importantly, I am determined to FINISH this book. 

So wish me luck...and let the editing begin!!!

NaNo2010 Draft Finished

I have surprised myself by having completed NaNo novel tonight. I was expecting to finish it by end of next week, but today, even after I had finished my target of 1000 words, I felt that the end was closer, so kept writing. 2352 words later, the novel is finished. 

Final word count is 89603 words. 

It will need a lot of editing, I have no doubt of that. There will be cuts, and quite a bit of setting details need to be added. But I am going to leave it for at least two weeks to give myself some distance before starting the next draft. For now, I am just happy that it's finished. 

What Happened to Your NaNo Words?

Remember last November? The clock hand announced midnight and many of us - after a quick squal of excitement - began to pound the keys. It was a great month. I love NaNo, with accumulation of crazy writerly spirit that seems to spread around the world. Whether you officially won NaNo or not, doesn't matter. Though if you did win, congratulations. What matters is that at the end of it, you had something.

What was it? Short stories, partial book, a script? Where is it now? Have you finished it? Abandoned it? Are you finishing it? Whatever happened to all those words?

I am currently working on my NaNo novel. After unproductive December (barely 2000 words in total), January is going to be better. (YES IT IS). I wrote over 80K during November, so I don't have long to go. There are 4 scenes left. I don't know how many words it will take exactly, but no more than 10K - and even that's probably pushing it. So I hope to fnish my NaNo draft by end of January.

What about you? What are you going to do with your NaNo words?

Thoughts at the End of NaNoWriMo 2010

Another NaNo finished. This was my second NaNo, slightly less successful than the first one, but more productive.

Now to explain that contradictory statement - doing my first NaNo in 2009, I was super-excited, and determined to finish an entire first draft. I obsessed over it entire month. I took my netbook with me to work, so I could write in the mornings and evenings during bus journeys. I made NaNo the prime focus of my life. So I did finish the whole first draft - around 87K, I believe - on 28th of November.

This year, I did not succeed in that goal - to finish the entire draft. I have gotten to about 81500, or somewhere there abouts, and there are still several scenes to go, so looking at probably another 10K. Yet, this year's NaNo was more productive, because this month, it wasn't possible for me to obsess only over NaNo. I wrote almost every day - though granted, large chunk of this word count is due to complete obsession in the first week when I wrote a lot - but I didn't write during the bus rides, and didn't spend entire evenings writing either. Since I am going abroad next week, I had far too many things to do for that, and for Christmas, so basically, I did NaNo while continuing with other priorities in my life. I think that's more productive, because it is also more realistic look at writer's life.

If I am fortunate enough to be a full-time writer one day, I won't be able to simply chuck away all other responsibilities to just write obsessively - or if I do, then I will be spending next couple of months, not writing, and catching up on everything I didn't do. I think it's far more useful to be able to write, while living your life, to make writing a part of regular life rather than temporary obsession.

I still love NaNo, and I would still participate, because November certainly gets me going, and I do like to win the official NaNo - which I will admit, I have no problems with, that's why I set myself higher goal to finish the whole draft. But it does make me write, and it does make me focus, and it does make me want to push myself more to see what I can do better while I knock out a lot of words.

So YAY NaNoWriMo!! And now - I have decided very unrealistically to keep working on my draft while I am on my hoilday in Tenerife (and if you know me at all, you may know that my vacations are never about sitting by the pool and relaxing - so when actually I will accomplish that, I have no idea). I am sure you will hear all about the progress or lack-of-it of this new scheme upon my return. ;)

How was your NaNoWriMo? And if you didn't do NaNo, how was your November? Did you accomplish what you set out to accomplish?

Official NaNo Winner

Current word count 78362. Not sure if I'll finish the book in November, but hopefully soon.

NaNoWriMo 2010 - WINNING WORD COUNT

Word count is now 50210 - so officially I have won NaNo :-) Of course I am happy about that. 


Overall, I am behind my goal. I should have really finished the whole draft by now, but you know things happened, and I haven't been in very obsessive mood, so on some days it's been hard to get into writing a lot. However, I found that forcing the word count isn't very productive, so I gave myself permission to relax a little. 


I am still hoping to complete the whole draft by end of November, so we shall see how it goes. 


How is your NaNo going? And if you are not doing NaNo, how are your projects going? 

NaNoWriMo 2010 - End of the First Week

I can't believe it's been only a week. Feels like ages. So at the end of this week, word count is 25323. 

I know it's very good, but it's still lower than what I had planned, because frankly the working week has been completely rubbish in terms of writing, because on most days I was too tired to manage much. This weekend wasn't very high in terms of word count either because I spent all day Saturday at BristolCon (which was different kind of productive, and a post about that soon), and today just felt bit blah, so didn't do 10K I had planned. 

However, now that little moan is over, I am actually quite happy with 25323. And determined to make the second week more productive. 

Outline is certainly has been extremely useful, though it doesn't mean I rigidly follow it. I've already cut out two scenes from outline, and changed sequence of few events, however even then outline helps considerably, because when I decide to change something, I can go through rest of the outline and make sure that everything else will still make sense despite that change. 

Again, first person POV for this novel is definitely the right way to go. MCs voice comes out much more clearly. I am aware that during revisions, I will certainly need to add more setting details, but that's how I write, so I have given up on doing otherwise now. But no doubt there will be lots of places to cut words, so overall things should balance out. 

Still hoping to attend at least one write-in this year, if only to make my local NaNo group, which I have been told is very friendly. 

So that's my progress for first week of NaNoWriMo. How are things going for you?

NaNoWriMo 2010 - Update on 1st Day

I am just starting my second day of NaNoWriMo. It's my last day off, so determined to make the best of it, but whether or not I make it to another 10K remains to be seen.

Yesterday, I managed to do 10004 words precisely by 11:58 pm, so that was close :P 

Here are a few things I have noticed so far:

1. Still love NaNo
   
2. First person was definitely the right choice for this novel. I like the voice much better.
   
3. 10K in a day is A LOT if you have to think. When I am writing scenes where I know exactly what has to happen, it's easy. Words flow, and I can do at least 1000 words in 30 minutes. But when I have to stop and think, decide what might make it better, or consider word choices, or in my case, also consider the outline, it takes longer. Then, 10K feels a lot, because I am sitting at my computer for about 10 hours a day.
   
4. Another thing I have to do is make sure that anything good that I liked from the previous version is included in this one. Unfortunately, due to the nature of complete POV change and all the scenes places, it's a nightmare, so I have decided not to worry about it for this draft, and go through it during revision, otherwise I would end up spending half-a-day just trying to read the old draft, which would not be following NaNo spirit. So more revisions ahead.
   
5. One of my 10K day (next Saturday) is gone, because I've realised I am attending my first ever Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention. We have it local in Bristol. It's only the second year, so it's affordable and easy to get to, but there are some exciting people coming, including Joe Abercrombie, so looking forward to that. But losing that Saturday means I am less confident of finishing my 90K by 15th. So I'll have to see if I can squeeze more words into week days.
   
6. But, I still love NaNoWriMo, and achieving 10K has been a new success for me, since my previous highest about about 7 or 8K. 

How are you folks getting on with your NaNoWriMo projects, or your writing projects, or with other goals? 

NaNoWriMo 2010 - How to Make It To the End Line?

Here is a list of my tips to survive NaNoWriMo when you still have life beside writing. I do NaNoWriMo alongside my day job, so believe me, it's not all sitting at home writing while my butler gives me fresh cup of coffee every hour (Hey, if I am dreaming, I am having a butler.)

These tips may work for you or may not, and if they don't, rest assured there are techniques for you that you just haven't found yet. So let's get cracking...

You have to start. No, I am not being sarcastic. You need to start on November 1st, or if you are as excited and crazy about this as many of us - precisely at 12:01 am. While many people do NaNoWriMo by writing in weekends, or few days a week, or BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS is by writing every day, even if only a few hundred words. It will also give you confidence to know that you can do it outside November too.

Personally, I set word goals for everyday, but not the same word count. For example, I set highest goal for myself during the weekend, slightly less on Friday because I finish work early, and much much lower on Monday to Thursday because I don't have much time left after work. So set your goals according to your schedule. Even in your busiest day, you have time for 100 words. Yes you do.

Have a plan. If you are not an outliner - that's fine. You don't need to have a detailed outline, but at least spend time thinking about your project, doodling, making a big word cloud - whatever. Have some sort of idea of what you are going to write. I am assuming here that at the end of the month you want to have at least a rough draft of a novel - not just a jumble of 50K words. If you know what you want to write about - even if it's something as basic idea as: Jerry goes on a quest to find the most precious cheese in the world, and Tom is determined to stop him and tries to set up all kinds of ways to kill him on the way. Jerry succeeds, gets the cheese, and Tom goes to the Cat Prison where his punishment is to watch Mouse TV all day, every day. There you go - even for a complete pantser - this is not an outline. It is a brief idea of your story. But it gives you direction. So you are not just sitting there on November 1st, wondering whether you should write about Donald Duck or Jerry - because you know that Donald doesn't belong in Jerry' story.

Play to Your Strengths. Make sure your goal suits your temperament. We are all different people. Some people thrive under pressures and deadlines, and others have a nervous breakdown. Know your strengths and use them. If you write good quality 500 words every day, but will have a writer's block for a year if you cranked out 10K in a day - don't do it. It's more important to enjoy the process than to follow the crowd. Just because some crazy woman decides to do 90K in two weeks, doesn't mean you have to. On the same principle, if you write better while with other people, then join a writing group in your area. If other people are distraction, stay clear of them, lock yourself in your room, and get on with typing.

Regulate your Forum Trolling. Okay, let's face it - one of the great things about NaNoWriMo is that it is a group effort. It's fabulous to go into this madness with all the other mad people across the globe. It's fun to see who is writing what, who is doing how many words, and what crazy things people are doing to get through. Forums on NaNo (whether official or any other boards you frequent) are a great temptation, because we also want to keep boasting or complaining about our own progress. This is what I do - and it works for me. Pick 2 or 3 threads that you like the most. Last year, I picked one or two on AW, and Regional Thread on NaNoWriMo board. Do regular posts only on them. This is when you are writing, and need a few moments of distraction or just social contact - use them. But DO NOT browse on any others. The best way to regulate that is to keep your threads open, not the main Forum Index. When you are done with your word count, then you may browse the whole thing through your heart's content. But otherwise, stick to your couple of threads.

Make your priority known. If you have family or social life or whatever obligations - learn to say no to things you don't have to do. And plan in advance for things you do have to do. For example, I placed a large grocery order yesterday online so that at least for next three weeks, I won't need to do more than minimal shopping for basics. That saves me time and hassle. That allows me to come straight home from work and get on with writing. Do your chores in advance, delegate them, or just leave them. The world is not going to end just because you didn't scrub the floors this month. You need to relax where it doesn't matter, so you can focus on meeting your word count.

Have Fun. Yes - this is a MUST. This is an amazing experience. Whether or not you do 50K, you can take a lot out of this process. So enjoy it. If it seems like a constant stress that has you in tears, then perhaps it is not for you. Little bit of stress is fine. After all, we have to push ourselves to broaden our capability, but you should know when it's too much for you. So Have Fun. Enjoy the process. Share your triumphs and your woes, and know that there are thousands of people right alongside you, going through the same thing.

And if you are on NaNoWriMo - find me and say hi :-) My username is Lost Wanderer

NaNo 2010 - Bending The Rules AND all about WIP

As most of you are probably aware (at least those on facebook) I've been wondering whether to do NaNo or not, since I was also wondering what direction revisions in my current WIP were going to take.

Well, now all decisions have been made, and you are the first to know :-)

This year, I'll be bending the rules of NaNo. Instead of writing a new project, I'm going to rewrite my current one. It requires a complete rewrite, and here is why:

1. Change of POV - instead of multiple third person, now it will be first person. That not only means a complete rewrite just because of that - but also because any essential information that was given to the reader during other people's POV while MC was absent, now need to be delivered through MC.
2. Plot - while main plot remains the same, due to POV change, and just few other ideas, several things change
3. Character Cutting - I've gotten rid of few of the minor characters, and reassigned new roles to some of the existing characters. As a result, their scenes change.

Of course I haven't come to this decision lightly, since I was actually planning to complete this book by end of October, and start a brand new project for NaNo. I have spent enough time going through my WIP, and I actually did a completely revised outline. But now, I am convinced that this is much better, far closer vision of my book that is in my mind. First person narrative focuses more attention on MC, and as a result makes him more active. Other characters were stealing too much attention through multiple POV and it wasn't suitable for the scope of this book.

There are a few things I still have to sort through in the new outline - again, result of all these changes, so I've decided to make this my NaNo 2010 project.

Because this is not a brand new project, I will be aiming higher than just first draft. So this is my goal:

• Complete rewrite of the whole draft (current version which is multiple POV stands at just over 98K words. This one should be at least 90K)
• Clean rewrite. Not just superfast mad race, but as good draft as possible
• Finish the rewrite by/before 15/11 and start revision
• Second half of NaNo month should be spent on revision

I love the challenge of NaNo, and participating with so many other writers, so I absolutely did not want to miss that opportunity. And there are times when we just have to do things our way, so I am skipping the rule book, and doing it my way. Goal after all is to accomplish something, and that's what I hope to do.

Looking forward to sharing NaNo experience with many of you again.