But it’s not all bad :).
I’ve kept the panic at bay through week three and even more importantly (and possibly because I haven’t been panicking) I haven’t got morose about not finding a flow to my words.
Some books are a gift to write.
Other’s are not.
Sod’s law that the book you choose to write for #NaNoWriMo isn’t one of those ones where the words line up to halo dive onto the page, arriving whole, and with such gusto that it’s all you can do to try and keep up.
I did plotting for this book.
I did character bio’s.
I figured out the GMC—internal and external!
And even with knowing I wouldn’t be able to reach 50k by the end of the month, I was READY to start writing November 1st.
And then I got fourteen days in and my word count was low and Hubby’s advice was to write a sex scene to get my word count up, so to speak! And, while this is definitely one way of getting to know your characters and upping the word count at the same time, in this story the attraction is much more slow-burn and so it just didn’t feel right.
I had two choices. I could either swap projects and start writing my next suspense instead and risk that turning out the same way in two weeks time, or I could stick with this one and write forward.
A quick look at my writing schedule for the next twelve months and I knew I needed to stick with this one, so write forward it was.
Filed away in my head are scenes from every story I think up. They’re usually the scenes that won’t let go. They're the ones that tell me I want to write this story—I have to write this story. They’re the scenes that I play with and perfect in my dreams, or standing in line at the bank, or when I’m supposed to be doing my taxes!
So, day fifteen of #NaNoWriMo, I sat down and wrote one of these scenes down. This scene wasn’t what was supposed to happen next in the book. In fact, there’ll probably be at least another 15 000 words inserted before it but it got me writing again. Writing fast and writing the story.
The words weren’t perfect. And by the time I finish the book the scene might have grown, or shrunk, or maybe even have changed POV, but the essence of it will stay.
Sometimes you have to write out of order, because what’s important is getting so into your book that it gets written. It’s too easy otherwise to give up when it gets hard. Too easy to begin project after project and never actually finish one. It’s up to you to find the key to unlocking your inspiration room and then it’s up to you to either prop the door open or lock yourself in until the story is done.
#NaNoWriMo is a fabulous way of keeping the momentum going. Embrace the support of fellow writers and try new ways of writing if you have to.
Do it your way and don’t give up!
Week four, bring it on…