To NaNo Or Not To NaNo?

I’d basically decided not to do NaNoWriMo this year, but after several unproductive weeks I’m questioning that decision.  For those of you who don’t know (heathens!) NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it’s essentially a competition to see who can write a 50,000+ word novel in one month.  The prize is a feeling of self-worth.

I entered for the past two years, and “won” both times with The Long Road Home (2010) and Cobault (2009).  Neither were finished to my exacting standards, and I’ve spent a lot of time trying to edit Cobault and failing to complete it, since it required heavy rewriting, but at least I could say I had two new novels under my belt which taught me a lot about the process.

Because I’ve been so unmotivated to write, but then guilty and upset with myself for not doing so, I think that, while I don’t believe my current project itself is fit to be written in a month, it would kickstart me back into writing regularly again.  My only decision will be what to write.

I’m nervous about trying to write my new project in this way because, as I’ve stated, I don’t think this is a story which can be rushed.  Writing a novel in a month is the very definition of rushing.  But that’s the story I currently have in my head, so the question is: should I put it aside, or just go for it anyway?

You might say, “just try it, and edit it later if its crap”, but I got stuck with Cobault in that later editing stage and got so frustrated with it that I never properly finished.  When huge chunks need rewriting completely and other chunks need to be reintegrated it makes my mind hurt trying to put them all together!  But maybe this is something I just need practice with as well?

Whatever the case, in 3 days time I will be embarking upon the hectic, frantic, repetitive-stress-injury-laden task of writing a novel once more, because my lazy mind needs some kicking up the arse.

Confessions of an Absent Blogger

I would like to tell you that the reason I’ve not written an entry in months is due to some significantly productive venture on my part.  I’d even be happy to use the excuse of being so hectically busy in my day-to-day life that I didn’t have a moment to spare for writing, blogging or being generally interesting.  But sadly this isn’t the case.  I’m just a lazy, absent blogger who has lost all her creative discipline.

I used to at least be able to boast that I wrote something, be it blog post, prose or poetry, every day no matter what.  But for some reason this summer has brought out the worst of my procrastinatory nature (is “procrastinatory” a word? If not, it should be).  I feel like I have a tiny voice in my head who, whenever I settle down in front of a word document, says, “Oh just leave it for a little bit and toodle about on the internet, go on!  Go on, go on, go on, go on!”

Yes, I have Mrs. Doyle from Father Ted speaking from my subconscious.  And just like Mrs. Doyle, this voice has become so insistent that I just can’t ignore her.

So it’s time to give Mrs. Doyle the boot.

Hopefully this signals the return to regular service, and please do give me virtual pokes, stern glances and lectures if I appear to have gone absent again for any length of time.  Writing well takes time, effort and discipline like a regular workout for the mind.  And I’ve gone creatively flabby in the last few months!  I need to get back into mental shape!

In other news, since I last posted here I’ve moved house and got some fancy chickens.  Don’t believe how fancy?

These ain't your grandmama's chickens - unless she lived in China and liked blue chicken meat.

That’s some damned fancy chicken action right there.  Just look at those feathery toes!