Triple-Dog Dares and the Secret of NaNoWriMo

Has NaNoWriMo got you feeling intimidated? Overwhelmed? Ready to watch old episodes of 'Seinfeld' for 'research' rather than write? Well, here's a question I just got last night from an author friend who's hit that proverbial NaNoWall. 
 
Question:

Well, I've taken the triple dog dare, NaNoWriMo style! Saturday I topped out at just over 1000 words, and that took me most of the day. So not a real auspicious start. I'm a very slow writer, big surprise there. As you know, I'm taking a crack at retooling the Ryssaverse in a non-Trek context. Lots of cool ideas for fun character moments and vignettes, no real idea for an engaging and original overall plot or where the characters are going. Kind of a disadvantage in writing fiction, yes?

Thing is, I actually really like the little bit I have so far. I'm also finding that as I write, new bits and connections occur to me. It's like I don't really see the forest or the whole path through it, but I can see a few more trees with every few steps I take.

Still, I wonder if it's folly to write a novel without having some rough outline, some sort of overarching plan, some sense of going from A to B to Z. Not to mention having some sort of cool, compelling, non-cliched, knock-yer-socks-off plot figured out.

I'm also sensing the secret to NaNoWriMo is to write like a maniac, instinctively, without fixing or editing anything. But that is so not my jam. I type, pace, wordsmith in my head, pace, type a bit more, repeat ad nauseam.

Something tells me I need to either radically change my process or radically reduce my word count target, and just make sure I write every day. *Sigh*

My Answer:

I think that maybe the problem is your expectations. If you're liking what you're writing, then keep it up because all too often, you start off going in one direction and the characters take you somewhere else entirely. So go with it for now. You haven't really written like this for a very long time so you're going to be rusty so use NaNoWriMo as an excuse to brush off those cobwebs and polish up the skills. Nano is perfect for that 'cause no one's gonna see it.

And, the beauty is the fact that, once you write it, you can totally edit it later. You can't edit something you haven't written. I still edit as I go, even in Nano, but I'm not competing against anyone. I'm writing a frickin' book and it's MY frickin' book and I can write how I want. But I have to write. Writing is the secret of NaNoWriMo.

So don't stop because you'll be defeated before you start. Just write little vignettes or introduction scenes or snippets of conversation or action and stick them in a folder. It's like money in the bank. Don't bury it, dude. Just play. Besides, I triple-dog-dared you, and I have 3 dogs. Just sayin'… ;)


So, good advice? I think so. Just write. Edit if you want. Stop and smell the roses and the coffee and the triple dogs but get back to your laptop and write about said roses and coffee and dogs. It's only one month so you can be as crazy as you want and the world will roll their eyes and shake their heads but admire you for all your crazy passion and flying fingers. It's an excuse to do it and who cares what comes out of it at the end. It's your book and it will be done when it gets done. End of story. 

And blog, for that matter. ;)

And just for good measure, here's some photos of the triple dog dare...