October will be here next week and with it will come ocean-deep skies to get lost in, crisp cool mornings, and the skittering of dry leaves across the ground. The birds and animals know what to do--they're preparing for winter. Squirrels hide innumerable nuts, the butterflies are sucking in nectar and laying eggs, and the birds are eating us out of house and home at the feeders. All of them know they have to be ready for the change that is coming.
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| copyright Zan Marie Steadham 2013 |
Writing is no different. A lot of us are preparing for the annual marathon of
NaNoWriMo. Not me. I know my limits and how slowly I write, but I do try to ride on the coattails of my buddies who do push to put up as many words as possible every year. I find that if I've prepared, I can add a lot of words to my manuscript. October is the perfect prep month. I'm going to try to get my soggy middle to stop darting all over the place like a bucket of minnows. If I'm really lucky, one of those darting ideas will pan out to be a tasty way to go to tighten the story and fill in the holes my summer reread found.
Wish me luck! And good luck to all of you who are planning to attempt 50,000 words during November.
On nano is upon us again! I can't wait to see what people are working on, and I shall encourage from the sidelines!
ReplyDeleteYou and I will be together on the sidelines, Michael. I'm a good cheerleader. ;-)
DeleteI can't even think of Nano. Too many other things to stress over. Good luck with your soggy middle (I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit here) and with word count in November.
ReplyDeleteHa! Sara, you haven't read this mush. ;-)
DeleteI have never considered NaNo before for many reasons, health being the top on the list. But I have great admiration for all those who fight through the month and gain 50,000 words!
ReplyDeleteI don't try it either. My wrists would rebel. ;-) I think they are word warriors of excellent powers when they reach the 50K.
DeleteGreat timing, Zan Marie - I just got my first email from my local NaNo chapter leader! I must type faster to have last year's story in Scrivener before I start my Luddite drafting for this year's NaNo!
ReplyDeleteLove the new-beginning feeling of autumn and all the list making :-)
Yikes, Deniz! I don't know how you do all that you do and still draft new WIPs. Good luck!
DeleteAs long as it's pen and paper I'm fine... it's all this computer stuff that slows me down, ha ha!
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteYou read my mind, I was just thinking about Nanowrimo this morning. I really want to finish a draft of my novel by year's end, and what better way to do it then take part in Nanowrimo? Autumn is such a great time to write.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, Charlotte! I know I can't do NaNo, but I can cheer others along.
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