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This month's optional question is: November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?
I've made a few half-hearted attempts at NaNoWriMo over the years, but only really pushed through with it once in 2019, and I won! The book I was writing wasn't nearly complete, but I did get to the 50k word goal. I haven't really gone back to it since, though, even though I want to. I've struggled between wanting to just push through and get the first draft done with what I already have, or to start it over with some of the changes I know I need to make.
My creativity level has been pretty low for quite some time now, so that's just one of the many things I haven't wanted to work on. But I think it's a cute, easy romance story and I would definitely be able to finish it one day if I can get that drive back.
This past weekend I tried to at least think about Uneven Lines again. I just got in the mood to read it for a little bit. I didn't get too far, but that was because I started working on the Ultimate Playlist again, where I want to find as many songs for as many moments in the book, so I can basically have one long playlist that tells the whole story. I also edited a bit while I was reading because I can't help myself. So while I wasn't actually writing, I was at least doing something!
I want to go back and finish the character arc workbook I started a while ago. I was also thinking about finding some books or workbooks on finding your story's theme. I think if I really figured out what I was trying to say with this book (and with the whole series if I choose to keep going with it), maybe I wouldn't feel so stuck figuring out the final third.
Baby steps!
Knowing what you want to say helps a lot to move a writing project forward. I'd have a hard time being motivated if I didn't know where my story was going. Maybe you should work on something else while you figure out this one. And editing is productive too.
ReplyDeleteMy NaNo projects are never complete after 50k. I always need at least 40k more. :)
ReplyDeleteI think working on a WIP's playlist is a great way to think through things in your story. Maybe striving to find those songs will help you find your theme.
With so many projects waiting, one of them will excite you and prompt you to action.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I find I get stuck when I don't know where I want to go with a story or what my goals are.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice you're getting back into your story through playlists. Songs are often inspirational to me. I hope they work well for you!
I have 2 NaNo novels that might hold some possibility if I took the time to revise and edit...
ReplyDeletePlaylists often help me.
ReplyDeleteBaby steps will get you there. While I didn't use to write to playlists, I've found some that really work for me, like Jesse Cook guitar instrumentals. Don't ask me why, when I don't think they make sense with my stories, but the rhythm keeps me moving forward and happy.
ReplyDeleteI often feel like that too. I start a story and then I get stuck when I'm not sure where it is going. You don't need NaNo for that. Any month works. Alas!
ReplyDeleteIce Cream. Ice cream is the secret formula for creativity. Just kidding. I have no idea what the secret to creativity is. If I had that, I'd have a million projects running all at once.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
I think sometimes just doing it helps. In other words, flip a coin, choose one project to work on and make yourself get to it. Or if that doesn't work, plan one day for one project and one day for another. It's very easy to to let ourselves be distracted by competing things. It's up to us to choose the priority! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteEven if you don't think that you'll be able to manage the 50K words, keep in mind that Nano is also a good way to connect with the writing community. It's also completely acceptable to just make up your own personal writing goals for the month! Whatever you do, good luck to you on your writing journey.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the character arc could help you with the theme? That's usually how I determine my plot- what will my character learn? Mine are all romances with HEAs, so they need that theme to make the story feel properly fleshed out.
ReplyDelete