You have probably seen a million and one things about it on social media already, but November means NaNoWriMo! I’m doing it again this year, for the 3rd time, although I do NaNo a little differently to many people I think… But that’s kind of what I’ll be sharing in this post, I guess. I’m linking up with the lovely Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In for Beautiful Books. 🙂
Overall, how is your mental state, and how is your novel going?
This is going to be a bit of a roundabout answer — so, this is my 3rd time doing NaNo, as well as more Camps. In the past I’ve written 30k, and that’s manageable. I can normalyl write 1k in around half an hour. But each time I’ve done this and had to abandon whatever I’d written, because it was basically just crap. I never produced anything good or worthwhile because I was always trying to get SOMETHING down. That whole approach just didn’t really work for me.
This year I’m aiming for 15k, which is 500 words a day. Although it isn’t much, it’s still loads more than I normally write. And I’m actually enjoying NaNo a lot more this time. I don’t want writing to be a chore for me! So I think it’s going pretty okay so far. My writing itself is kind of terrible but the basic framework is wayyy better, in my opinion. (Probably because I’ve been sitting on this idea for about a year.)
What’s your first sentence (or paragraph)?
NOOOO. Starting is the worst. Also, any actual writing style has basically just died for this month in favour of, like, a kind of framework. But anyway, here’s my first paragraph:
Lots of angst. That is Junjie. *nods*
Who’s your current favourite character in your novel?
I’m gonna be real — I’ve only introduced two of the four mostly-main characters so far. Junjie’s narrating so, like, probably him? But also JEM IS REALLY SMOL AND CUTE. Even though they have spoken approximately three lines so far, but who cares.
What do you love about your novel so far?
*winces* THERE’S FUN STUFF COMING IN THE FUTURE, I PROMISE. I am currently enjoying my characters and the general internal dialogue, because I always give my characters stupid angsty internal dialogue. Otherwise, the cool technology is also pretty fun.
Have you made any hilarious typos or other mistakes?
I mean, I haven’t been doing any crazy word wars so far so not as many as usual! Although I have picked up a habit of writing little notes to myself in square brackets as I go. So here are two of them. The second one just made me laugh as I scrolled through my document.
What is your favourite to write: beginning, middle, or end — and why?
HAHAHAHA. Well. I’ve never actually reached the end, and my middles always have no plot, so probably the beginning? But not the very beginning. Just after that.
What are your writing habits? Is there a specific snack you eat? Do you listen to music? What time of day do you write best? Feel free to show us a picture of your writing space!
I sometimes to listen to music, and I do actually have a playlist for this WIP! But if I find it too distracting I put on some kind of background noises through my headphones. Or I just put my headphones on and don’t listen to anything, because I kind of like the weight and the way they block stuff out? Otherwise, I guess I normally just write after homework haha. And I’m also partial to a cup of tea. 😉
How private are you about your novel while you’re writing? Do you need a cheer squad or do you work alone (like, ahem, Batman)?
Eh, I’m pretty private. I don’t talk about my writing to anyone in real life and not even that much online! But what I do love is the whole atmosphere of writers writing together — like, that’s basically the reason I do NaNoWriMo. It makes a very solitary thing slightly less solitary. It’s really cool to cheer people on (or commiserate) on social media. 😀
What keeps you writing even when it’s hard?
The knowledge that it’s supposed to be hard. Like, writing is hard. I know this. The people who write the books I love say that writing is hard, and sometimes I don’t enjoy it that much. But my story is one that I want to read, and if I want to grow as a writer I have to write it.
What are your top 3 pieces of writing advice?
Okay: me, writing advice?! Yeah, no, I don’t really have that much. *scratches head* LOTS OF FOOD. Or another reward. Something to motivate you. (Even if it’s just writing an extremely gratuitous scene which is basically what I do.) I’m trying to think of things other people have told me, but quite frankly all pretense of good writing is abandoned for NaNo. JUST GO FOR IT, MY FRIENDS.