For those who have absolutely no clue what yesterday’s declaration was about, let me give you a sort-of rundown on NaNoWriMo from a seven-year veteran Wrimo (even if I can’t explain why we’re called “Wrimo”s).
Generally, NaNoWriMo runs in four cycles for participants. In Week One, you’re filled with this exhilaration. You know you have this idea that could conceivably pass itself off as a book, and you’re ready to put it to paper. So you do, with great energy and enthusiasm. If you’re smart, you write as many words as you humanly can. The padding comes in handy.
Week Two is filled with ennui. Lots and lots of ennui. You might have the file open. You might have it highlighted in a folder with your finger inching dangerously closer to the Delete button. You hate the story. In fact, every single book, television show, and movie seems to be telling your exact story, only a thousand times better.
Week Three either involves you hating yourself for ever thinking you could write a novel, or you find enough of a second wind to let you build on your success from Week One, pushing you through the middle of the novel.
Week Four has a major hindrance right out the gate (at least if you’re an American)- Thanksgiving. You find your second wind. You’re ready to brag about your work-in-progress to any aunt trying to pinch your cheek (or in my case, any adorable preschooler dragging me off to search out candy. Except she’s a darling kindergarten student now. Yikes!). You manage to emerge from a turkey-induced stupor, still ready to cross the finish line right in front of you.
It’s kind a fun way to spend a month, really.
Unfortunately, because of how I came to NaNoWriMo this year, I’m actually starting out in Week Two. I’m still staring at my 282 words. The file is permanently open on, along with EverNote. I actually have AbiWord and EverNote open together side by side in a weird attempt to recreate RoughDraft. I have some lovely notes. Amazingly, a plot is slowly coalescing.
But…if I’m starting off in Week Two, where am I going to go from here, and how is this all going to turn out?
I could definitely use some motivation.
