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Tuesday 6 November 2012

NaNoWriMo - how are you doing?

I've never done NaNoWriMo before, mainly because I hate being tied to producing a certain thing at a certain time. That of course changes if there is a call for submissions and I'm aiming for publication. In those circumstances I can write like a demon and have very often been successful because I am pushing at an open door. NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month is a collective activity where a number of people sign up and basically pledge that they will try and complete a novel in a month. It's a very good discipline and one that many successful authors in the distant past have achieved way before NaNoWriMo came into being. Dickens springs to mind as an author who wrote many of his novels as monthly serials. I cannot imagine what it must have been like in an age before word processors to have to come up with writing as sparkling as his on an ongoing basis when you couldn't even revise substantially. Perhaps that is why some of his writing is as fresh today as when it was first written. NaNoWriMo started on 1 November and I am pleased to say that I have already completed over 6000+ words. It's not a huge amount it's true but it's a not too bad start which I hope to improve upon. Most of all I feel that the 6000 words are ones I'm happy with so far and most of all ones I can build upon. I believe the secret to making NaNoWriMo work is to have pre-planned as much as possible. The work in progress I have is my Singapore novel, a crime novel which has been in gestation since this time last year. I blogged about Singapore which I found a fascinating place when I went on holiday there. I'm not a great planner on paper, but bit by bit I have mentally been storing information. Not only that but I have been waiting eagerly for the new D C Thomson Easy Reads which contain a new crime genre. I have managed to read the first one and now have a better idea of what they're after. As a result I now have a feisty kick-arse heroine - a Scotland Yard detective. She has been partnered with a smooth, cool Singapore detective who cut his teeth in the narcotics section. I'm so hoping that when finished, the Editor likes my book. But if not, at least it's been fun writing it. Good luck with your NaNoWriMo manuscripts, let us know how you're doing!

9 comments:

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Tried to leave a comment and I think it disappeared somewhere! Your doing well with NaNo and your book sounds great, Cara!

Wendy's Writing said...

6000 words sounds good to me! I chickened out of this year's challenge - maybe next year.

Cara Cooper said...

Next year for definite Wendy, but I am convinced the only way to succeed with it is to plan beforehand. Then you hit the ground running. Rosemary, your comment made it, thank you!

Bluestocking Mum said...

You put me to shame, Cara! Well done to you. I'm afraid I'm with Wendy! Maybe next year.

And well done too for being short listed in the best short Romance category.

Hope to see you at the Festival and will check out the new shoes!

warm wishes
x

Cara Cooper said...

Looking forward to meeting you (in your blue stockings?!) Debbie.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I've taken part in NaNoWriMo a couple of times and apart from a bit of a dip in the middle of the month I've always enjoyed it. Mind you, I needed to do severe editing afterwards.

Monique DeVere said...

Hiya, Cara,

I signed up for NaNo, but hadn't taken the fact that the kids would've been still on half term into consideration. Which meant by the time I started, I'd have to write a LOT of words to catch up. So I didn't bother, BUT I'm still using the month to write my new Christian romance and have teamed up with some of my CPs in a sort of unofficial NaNo.

I'm around the 10K mark so not too bad, I don't think :)

Amy said...

Thanks for the inspiration, Cara! I've tweeted this article :D

Cara Cooper said...

Thanks Debs, I've reached that dip, lol! Well done Monique, I always think 10K means you're well in. Amy, thank you!! Inspiration's what we all need.