Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

Several years ago Chris Baty decided to write a novel, and the only way he could think of to make it happen was to sit down and do it in a month. Several of his friends played along, and each year it’s grown and grown. This event is called NaNoWriMo and it rocks. His book about how to survive, No Plot, No Problem, is a hoot.

I did it last year, writing a story that began as a vampire tale and ended up as a karmic romp. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to not feel an urge to write to be “good.” The idea is to get the words out there and then to edit later, if you feel you must edit at all. Just because you write something doesn’t mean that it has to be read. It’s the ultimate mind dump, a place where you can write anything you please and it doesn’t matter whether it has a plot. In fact, I’m hoping to tackle a fantasy novel this year because a) I do have this half-baked fantasy series that should be finished sometime and b) in fantasy nothing has to make sense (you’ll note that I don’t say good fantasy) :: grin ::

Don and I are heading back to the Bay Area tomorrow so that we can attend to some business and so that I can go ahead and attend the write-in launch event. Last year everyone showed up in costume, though I’m not sure how I’m going to manage that this year. I remember how hyped up and happy everyone was, and then at midnight a silence settled on the land as everyone hunkered down and wrote. I had just that day heard the news that we were to lose our home, and immediately my main character was having a very, very bad day. One hour and three thousand words later I felt oddly better about things.

My story actually finished around the 47,000 work mark, so I had my work cut out to add the extra words. Part of NaNoWriMo is that cheating is encouraged so I gave all my characters double names (Mary Ann instead of Mary) and spelled out numbers and quoted the entire lyrics of songs at gratuitious points. I did it, with a couple hundred to spare. What awesomeness it was.

The best part was checking in with other writing friends and offering mutual encouragement and teasing. The forums offer plot elements which can be incorporated and our local group’s piece was that someone (with a set name that I forget just now) needed to die. I managed it.

I think this year’s NaNo will be harder for me than last year. I really don’t like the fantasy genre any more, but nor do I like unfinished projects. I’m going to just start writing and see what happens. It’s cathartic, fun, and I’ll post progress reports throughout the month. If you’re going to be doing NaNoWriMo and haven’t already told me, please tell me and I’ll give you some linky love on the first of November.

Just a few random posts

• Black Butte Dam (0)
• Forgetfulness (0)
• Brits ride in the rain (2)
• Rancho Tehama and Orland Buttes campground (0)
• Beastie and I (0)

Comments