Actually it's more of a idiotic rebel's plan for NaNoWriMo.
There are only a few rules for National Novel Writing Month. Excerpted from the official site:
- Write a 50,000-word (or longer!) novel, between November 1 and November 30.
- Start from scratch. None of your own previously written prose can be included in your NaNoWriMo draft (though outlines, character sketches, and research are all fine, as are citations from other people’s works).
- Write a novel. We define a novel as a lengthy work of fiction. If you consider the book you’re writing a novel, we consider it a novel too!
- Be the sole author of your novel. Apart from those citations mentioned two bullet-points up
That's the rule I'm breaking. I'm re-writing my book from last year.
Yes, I confess I plan to cut and paste words from the previous version and all the faithful and true followers of NaNoWriMo howl, "that's not fair!" or "that's totally cheating on your word count!"
But it takes me TWICE as long to re-write as it does to first draft. Consistently. I swear. I've been re-writing for months now and it's the slowest, most painful process, like pulling hair and teeth and toenails and brain cells all at the same time.
I would actually much rather be first-drafting my idea for a new novel.
First drafting, you can throw your inner-editor out the door, and that is what makes November Writing Madness so much fun. Here's a great example of what you normally do to your inner-editor during November:
If I attempt my
These animations are from the wonderful Tumblr Life During NaNo. Go check it out. It will get you psyched for November. Even me got me rarin' to go, even knowing my dread inner editor will be on the loose.
I'd much rather be drafting my new idea but I'm idiotically hoping that I can use the great motivation that is 300,000 crazy writers and creeping word count bars to make at least 50,000 words of last year's novel shinier (Star Tripped) so it can be that much closer to publication.
I just discovered that if I proceed with my plan, I will officially be known as a NaNoWriMo Rebel and they even have their own forum. So there are other disreputable folks like me out there.
And, I have a backup plan. If re-writing for NaNo turns out to be a disaster, I still have my notes on that brand-new idea for a 5th novel...
Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year?
Posts
Absolutely! Are we buddies? My NaNo name is Sunshine21
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good plan to me! And I think that NaNo rule should not exist. Writing 50,000 words of ANYTHING should be the only rule. Good luck!!! I'm not doing NaNo next month (did a version of it this summer) but I'll be rooting for everyone!
ReplyDeleteI've never done NaNo but I so admire all the people that do! I also think you're all crazy, but in an admirable way :) haha
ReplyDeleteOMZ, those animations are funny. I'm doing NaNo for the 2nd year in a row (but my first year with a day job -yikes!, with a shiny new WIP that I started a couple of months ago before I started my new job. Since the new job stalled the writing, I'm using NaNo to get me going again, and to make up for 2 missed months of drafting. I won't count any of the previous 4500 words in my NaNo totals, so I don't think I count as a Rebel.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
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ReplyDeleteNano Rebels!!haha I did not know that an official forum existed for the rebellious.
ReplyDeleteIf I do Nano--still deciding--I'd like to work on a story that I've written a handful of scenes for, but they aren't connected to a larger story yet. Technically, I could forget those scenes and just start fresh to be legit, but I wanted to do an outline and work that stuff in. Then again, that's more like editing than writing.
I guess I figured if I wrote 50k NEW words, beyond the scenes I already wrote (I can't imagine it's more than 5k words put together) then that counts.
Go with it! Revising totally takes more time than drafting.
ReplyDeleteWell if you're doing that, then I'm going to do it too. I just added you as a writing buddy. Should we get capes?
ReplyDeleteIt's more important to reach your goals. I've never done Nano but it's never fallen when I'm writing a first draft, and I'm not willing to stop everything and start something else. I like being a rebel.
ReplyDeleteI won't be participating because I'm still editing my one WIP, and I haven't finished planning my next one. I plan to do both in November.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people who are participating but who are bending the rules. lol
Sounds like a good plan!
ReplyDeleteBTW, You just won the giveaway. Hop on over to my blog to claim your prize :)
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I pity you. Having to endure your Inner Editor for a full month when you could stuff said editor in a closet...I hope she doesn't torture you too much. If so you could always throw an apple at her head.
ReplyDeleteI decided to attempt NaNo this year. I wasn't going to, since I have so much going on with my book coming out, but I've not missed a year yet and it would be a pity to break a record. So, I'm attempting it. And I'm attempting a book with HUGE plot holes. But, it has a dragon in it, with a sense of humor, so maybe I will make it.
That NaNo Tumblr is fantastic! I love the "I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working" one. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm all for breaking the rules. Go you!
I think it's awesome that the rebels have their own forum! And now I'm off to steal some of those awesome gifs...
ReplyDelete:)
Good luck!
Rewriting works - last year I used NaNo to finish a novel!
ReplyDeleteThis year, I really am starting from scratch. Well, except for the three or four scenes I've scribbled down in a notebook.
The most cunning plan since...
I've been know to do a re-write for NaNo a few times now. (Though for this year of writing, I've promised myself that I am only writing things I have not done before.)
ReplyDeleteI guess I never was bothered by the idea of rewriting because I believe we don't know what story we are telling until the end, so it only makes sense to want to turn around and do it all again, make it more of itself at the next opportunity.
Happy last day of NaNo Eve. Tomorrow night we can all soak our fingers in bath salts and sigh.
ReplyDelete