Comments on: CONTEST FOR CREATIVE TYPES: WEEK TWO ROUND-UP

By: Bill Mulligan

Bill Mulligan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:13:06 +0000

I have no idea what my word count would b, since I’ve probably made more changes to the existing screenplay than doing what I OUGHT to be doing, which is figure out how to wrap up the third act.

I can still blame sickness to a degree, though the x-rays came back ok and they have me on something called avelox which is clering things up nicely. Now my cats are sick, sick enough t require a trip to the vet for some IV fluids.

So far this winter well and truly bites.

By: Colleen Doran

Colleen Doran — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:44:03 +0000

I’m running at about 27,000 words, slightly behind.

However, most of it is stream of consciousness and notes, very littel real writing going on.

I say it’s been good for me. I have been thinking about this book for two years and barely written anything, and now I am so into the story I am dreaming about it. I think this may actually be helping me as an artist: I have been more productive with drawing and painting, too, full of energy.

I have gone for several days at a time without writing, and the in one evening will blow out huge chunks of stuff, though I admit most of it is a rambling mess.

I took the Nanowrimo advice of not worrying about craft at all to heart. I will not finish my novel, but I will have a huge chunk of work completed and will easily beat the 50,000 word count.

I think when I get close to the end, I will just sit down and do a new outline and stop the stream of consciousness thing. I feel like I am just doing filler to make word count sometimes. But a lot of times, just banging away at the keyboard unblocks me, so I guess it works.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:52:33 +0000

I’m so far behind it isn’t funny, but between working 7 days a week and some other stuff going on, as much as I WANT to write, I haven’t had the time. Fortunately, my weekend job consists mainly of sitting around waiting for something to happen.

By: Laurie Sutton

Laurie Sutton — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:33:30 +0000

I must be psychic because I knew this was going to happen. I’m waaay behind on my word count. November/December are notoriously bad for me to try and devote a concentrated amount of time on any one thing, let alone something like NaNoWriMo (which is precisely why I’ve never participated).

As for our little challenge: I started off well, but after the first week the wheels came off the cart. I haven’t written anything in the week since. So, those of you who haven’t posted a comment with your progress, or lack thereof, don’t feel bad! I’ll be the leader of the not-gonna-make-it pack.

A part of my problem was that I had only a vague idea of where I wanted my initial story to go. Now I’ve done stuff like that before and been successful, but not with such a tight time restriction. I got frustrated very quickly. Most of the frustration came from not being allowed to “craft”. I am not very good at stream-of-consciousness. All my training has been exactly the opposite. I thought the NaNo paradigm would be freeing. Not so much. Instead, I’ve fought myself the whole way.

I’m going to try this again, on my own, when I can block out a range of time for myself that will support success. I have Volume Two of a trilogy that’s been waiting patiently for me, and this little foray has made me want to get started on it. That’s my silver lining.

But for now, I’m a charter member of Club Arrrgh!