Reflections on NaNoWriMo

I told myself last year that I would join the program, but I was chest-deep in a seminar and a writing course at the time. So it was impossible. This year, I tried it. Unfortunately, I was also in a seminar and struggling with work. Didn't make it, but I did make it to 15,000 words. So my story is well on its way to a complete first draft.

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:

1. 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.
2. Note what needs to be done - or at least have well in hand - by November 1, 2008.
3. Read a few books on writing. My focus choices will include ways to write fast, and keeping up when the muse is drying out.
4. Select an idea by mid-October. (There'll be no shortage of possibilities.)
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.