At least I discovered that I can keep writing for minutes on end. Handwritten. I don't exactly have the best handwriting in the world, but this was an excellent chance for practice. Trouble is that I didn't remember to keep to an idea that my dad suggested: not writing complete sentences to force myself to edit it later. That's the trouble with being a perfectionist.
But the website is well-designed. The counter telling how long until the program is done was a cute touch, but the emails providing encouragement were important. Now I'm preparing for next year's NaNoWriMo. I don't need an idea just yet, but I'm developing a plan so I'm ready for that round:
- Note what else will be on the schedule for that month. In my case, I'll be in the midst of the final seminar for my graduate program.
- Note what needs to be done - or at least have well in hand - by November 1, 2008.
- Read a few books on writing. My focus choices will include ways to write fast, and keeping up when the muse is drying out.
- Select an idea by mid-October. (There'll be no shortage of possibilities.)
- Outline the story, and play with the order of the scenes to see what to focus on. That way, if I get stuck on one scene, I can skip ahead to another.
- Block out some time on my schedule and reserve it for NaNo writing. Sure, I'll need time for school work, and perhaps for writing that might earn money.
- Write every day. What I have to figure out in the eleven months until then is when do I do my best writing streams. Morning, afternoon, evening - I'll know by October 31st.
- Remember that editing is for December and beyond.
Now, it's back to the grindstone of graduate school. Glad I'm getting to other projects as well.
