This is my third year participating in NaNoWriMo. Above was the award for my first attempt to write 50,000 words of a novel in November, which I completed by Nov. 29.
What is NaNoWriMo? According to their website: “National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.”
A funny thing happened a few months after my first try. My computer randomly began deleting files (not really funny!) I worked with Apple for three full days, but never got my manuscript “The Playgroup” back. It was gone along with many other things including my HOA newsletters. I thought I had a backup automatically scheduled every week. But I was wrong about that. Nothing hurt more than losing losing that one file of 50,000 words.
One day when my son was four or five, he deleted all my writing files from our Apple computer. I don’t know why he did it, or if he knew what he did. I literally started screaming and crying all at once. I must have terrified him.
That’s how I felt when my laptop randomly did the same thing. Apple knew what caused it, but didn’t admit to me that it was a known issue. They did say it wasn’t a software issue, but was due to hardware.
My second year of NaNoWriMo was 2023.
I had recovered mentally enough to recreate my manuscript. Then a few months later, I signed up for an online writing class on plots. I view my writing as more character driven and I wanted to improve my plotting. LA from Waking up on the Wrong Side of 50 was taking classes with Gotham Writers. I decided to sign up, too. For my final assignment, which was creating a complex plot, I used my Playgroup manuscript for the outline. I got good feedback from the instructor on how to improve and make the plot stronger.
Fast forward to November 2024
I’m using the notes the instructor from Gotham Writers Workshop gave me to revise my manuscript. I had tinkered with it earlier this year, but got bogged down. I tend to revise only a few words here or there. Big changes eluded me.
But with NaNoWriMo and writing every day with accountability, I am getting to the meat of revising. I’m making big changes. I’m adding chapters and deleting a character. If it doesn’t move the story forward, it’s gone. It’s not really a matter of writing so many words each day as in previous years. It’s more sitting down every day and working on it for an hour or two and letting the drama unfold.
If you have participated in NaNoWriMo, what was your experience like?
When you edit or revise, do you tend to tinker around the edges or take a chain saw to your projects?
What does the name mean ?
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The objective is to write 50,000 words of a novel in November. It’s a fun exercise.
I tend to tinker around the edges. That is an interesting story. I can imagine how upset you were at the lost files.
I found myself tinkering too and not improving the story. It helped to take a class and get feedback on how to improve my plot. I think you have a good plot to begin with. Yes, I was so upset losing files, especially the manuscript.
Thanks. I agree. My friend, Denise, has suggested a writer’s group but it meets in the evening and I have been a little tired. Maybe over the summer. The follow up book will intrigue you even more. Mike is doing some editing and confessed to me that he is interested in the plot and gave me a 7.5 out of a 10. That is good in his book! He is picky.
You definitely have a plot that moves. I get more focused on characters and my plots are more like a Seinfeld episode, a show about nothing! You’re lucky to have Mike’s help.
Ohh I didn’t catch that!
I had heard the term for years before I learned what it was.
I thought it meant something about write more 😂
It does make you write more! I had never before written 1500 words a day for a month straight.
Wow, that is a lot!
It is. I’m proud I’ve done it twice, 2022 and 2023.
Oh, good for you EA! Can’t wait to hear more. I think the good thing about the NaNoWriMo is the accountability. I stray a little. I haven’t hit 1500 every day … but I like that it’s keeping my interest, keeping me going. Good luck
I sometimes break my NaNoWriMo sessions into morning and evening, because I don’t hit 1500 every day. But I look at the running total and I’m not too far behind. Like I said, this is different because I’m revising and adding, so the word count isn’t as accurate as starting with a blank page.
How horrifying to lose your manuscript! O know people who just gave up when that happened, so good for you staring over. I have not written fiction, but I’m considering trying a couple short stories.
You should give fiction a try. I did give up on it for months after losing the file. But I liked my story premise and when NaNoWriMo came around it was an opportunity to make a second draft.
Oh, I love this, Elizabeth! I can’t believe your first effort was deleted — but am so glad you are taking another swing at it. So awesome!
Thanks! In an odd way, I’m glad the first draft was deleted. It gave me a chance to rewrite without being married to the first version. My biggest problem with editing and revising is sticking too close to my original draft.
Oh that must’ve hurt badly- losing all your work. I hope you get the editing done this year.
Awesome!! You got this!!
Look at how you helped out by posting a few blogs about your writing class! Thanks!
💕💕
😊
That’s awesome!!! You’ve got this, E.A.!
I participated in NaNoWriMo six times in my late teens to early twenties, and it was a lot of fun! However, I posted to an old blog as I went one year and someone stole and published the work, which was not so fun. It’s really something I think any writer should try just once.
Thanks! Wow. I cannot believe that someone stole and published your work. I’ve posted a couple children’s stories I’ve written on this blog, but I can’t imagine anyone would steal it. Good for you for participating in NaNoWriMo six times!!
It’s a neat challenge! It was a very rough draft when posted, so I was surprised to see it out in the wild, but would never have published myself, so I figured oh well…
Isn’t that something? People are unbelievable.
I’m not a novel writer, Elizabeth, so for you to persevere and stay accountable, especially after what happened first, that’s inspiring. Wishing you lots of good luck! 😁
Thank you, Lauren. It was more than discouraging to lose the entire manuscript. But the next November, I was motivated again.
I can’t even imagine! I would’ve been pulling my hair out! But I’m glad you are doing it again! Maybe someday, I’ll get to read your book. 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement 💕
I can’t imagine losing a manuscript like that! Good for you for breathing new life into it. Best of luck to you in your latest NaNoWriMo adventure… and, back-up, back-up, back-up!
Thanks! No kidding, back-up, backup ! I did this week, after realizing I hadn’t since before vacation! Working on the manuscript reminded me again. Now it’s going to be at least weekly!