NaNoWriMo season is upon us, and that means lots of caffeinated beverages, all nighters and a whole lot of awful, terrible writing.
The point of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is quantity over quality. How many people have said that they would write a novel, if only they had the time or the talent? Well, the time is now, and the talent is not needed just yet.
Veteran WriMos know the struggle of balancing a busy life with writing a novel in the space of a month, but for newcomers, these are the five stages of NaNoWriMo to watch out for.
1. Excitement
Yes! I am ready to write. I have Ideas and I am going to put them down on paper and at the end I'll have a Real Actual Book in my hands.
2. Uncertainty
This isn't going as well as I hoped. The daily word count goal is way too high. The total goal is too high. Who thought this was a good idea?? I'm three thousand words behind and my characters might as well be made of cardboard and this dialogue is terrible and where did this flock of chickens come from?? Who told me I was a good writer oh god.
3. Despair
This is it. End of the road. I am a Failure. I will never produce anything worthwhile in my life. Why do I even try.
4. Acceptance of your imminent defeat
I’m crying under my desk cradling a bottle of wine but at least I have half a first draft?
5. Relief tinged with satisfaction (or maybe satisfaction tinged with relief)
It's over. Whether I failed epically or I have a completed manuscript in my hands, I attempted something few people would and I did my best. Plus there's always camp in April and July.
Until next year.
