Today is Halloween. Everybody else is writing a nice Halloween post. However, since its already 2:30, its a bit late for a Halloween post. Plus, I’d be a bit of an imposter if I wrote a Halloween post since:
a) I don’t have a pumpkin yet
b) there’s a slim to none chance I will be getting a pumpkin since trick or treating starts in 4 hrs.
c) my kids have abandoned me to teen-dom and either aren’t dressing up or have forbidden my husband to follow them (‘them’ being my 12 year old) around while ‘they’ trick our treat with ‘their’ friends (‘following’ being hiding behind bushes and generally stalking in a not-creepy however appearing extremely creepy sort of way)
This pumpkin-less situation brings me to the actual reason for my post.
I know it’s shocking news, but I’m a procrastinator. In other words, I’m a do-it-later-er. As in ‘why do it now, when you can do it later?’ Sometimes, when I can’t decide if I want to do it now, I let my car decide if its going to turn, and therefore do it now. For example, I guess my car didn’t want a pumpkin as it didn’t turn into a lot to buy one. Seriously, the pumpkin, or lack thereof is an inelegant segue/metaphor into my newest attempt to crush the procrastination demon and turn myself into a time maximizing whirlwind of activity. (Chances of that happening? Well, I’m not good at math, but I wouldn’t want to take the book on that wager…) Anyways, I’m totally into self-improvement, plus, I’ve also got another major character flaw, totally related to the procrastination beast, called the ‘start-stopper’. I have many great intentions, but large projects or new activities tend to beat me down, and then I just avoid them. For more on my failings, look here.
Which brings me to….the badge at the top of this blog. Maybe you know what it is, maybe you don’t. What it means is that I’m participating in NaNoWriMo. Its a Writing Festival. A Writing-a-Thon. A Writing Bonanza. In honour of National Writing Month, basically you write a 50,000 word ‘novel’ or chunk of one in 30 days. That’s approximately 1,700 words per day. That’s a lot of writing. Every day. And it’s public. My name is on their website, with a WORD COUNT. And now, I’ve written it here too. On my happy place. That means I have have to do it. Right?
Did I say that I’m taking on a HUGE commitment to write FIFTY THOUSAND WORDS IN THIRTY DAYS. What a way to tame the procrastinator start-stopper beast!
Its a known fact amongst those who know me that I’ve always wanted to be a writer. There’s a book stuck in my sternum. So far, pieces of 500-700 words have been just the right length for me. The shoebox full of Chapter Unos is a testament to that fact, as well as to the character flaws as clearly outlined above. NaNoWriMo is how I’m having a SLACKER / PROCRASTINATOR / START_STOPPER BEAT DOWN.
Apparently, a beat down that involves a lot of words. DID I SAY FIFTY THOUSAND WORDS?
Cuz, ya know what they say…GO BIG OR GO HOME.
Stay tuned for periodic whiny posts about my project. (If you want to stalk me on the NaNoWriMo website, my user name is ChickyMara)
ps, apparently it was advised that I write a outline and notes, as well as doing research to facilitate the 50,000 words to be written in 30 days. Do you think I did that?
This was way better than any Halloween post out there, fellow pro-fessional-crastinater! I wish you best of luck with the Nano- I’ll be joining you.
Also, you had me laughing out loud the whole way through. Thanks =D
Thanks for stopping by!! I’ll see you on the NaNO!!
OMG – right there with you. I have a mini pathetic outline, but am starting to go into full panic about tomorrow. Especially in light of having a trick or treat party tonight (in 5 minutes). Let’s hold hands and get through it together.
Hands holding. We can do this. For NaNo updates also go on my Books and brands Facebook page
Awhile back I had a fellow writer ask me if I was a pantser or a plotter. I assumed that pantser meant “writing by the seat of your pants” and I felt that it was somehow held as less professional to be one, than to be a plotter, but that’s what I am. Tried outlining. Didn’t work for me. AND I have just returned from the Surrey International Writers Conference where the renowned Diana Gabaldon admitted that she never outlines. (I rejoiced to hear that!) She felt that outlining would take all the excitement out of the story’s journey as she created it. (Takes her 3 years to do a novel though…)
So … don’t feel bad if you haven’t outlined. Should probably have some idea of your characters though, and um…. mebbe a climax point?? Ha ha! It will be so much fun for you either way! Good luck! Keep us informed of your progress, if you have any writing time left over at the end of the day!:-)
Hi Dianne,
I’m a total pantser. I don’t thrive on structure. Some authors map their stories out completely. I know two of my characters, but they haven’t decided what’s going to happen to themselves yet. I don’t feel bad. This is my first try at a long piece, so even if its crap I’ll be happy
I won’t tell you how I voted but I expect your outlined emailed to me before my morning coffee
Also you will be finishing this, and so will I, even if we have to move into the same room and boss each other into Decemeber. No blogger left behind. Or something.
You’ll be waiting a log time, Kristin!! We will finish. Let’s try to use the Facebook page, so that its very public!
Chicky, I have FULL faith!