"Writing a novel is outcome focused objective, becoming a writer is a habit and identy focust objective. It's like the difference between training and running a 5k versus being a runner." Very profound. Man, I needed to hear that!
...actually doesn't make sense. he's basically saying "i want to say i'm a writer without holding myself accountable, whereas actually writing a tangible piece of text doesn't make me a writer per se" ... fucking poser also it's setting up this elitist mentality that is basically "if you haven't already set up your lifestyle and habits to write every day/regularly then you are not a writer and this challenge won't change that. you are not a writer. you will never be" ...but in essence a 'challenge' like this may be enough to cultivate these habits and get the ball rolling. this dude is just mad overthinking it. writing began befoer NaNoWriMo. I say this as a major critic behind the NFP structure of the bs organisation. but that quote you found so profound makes no sense.
Here's what I'm trying this time around: I am nearly done with a rough draft of my novel, but the draft is scattered, with each chapter (and in fact most scenes) in separate google docs. So my plan for NaNoWriMo is to re-write the novel start to finish, copying-and-pasting large sections that are working fine, while re-writing from scratch anything that just doesn't fit anymore. In other words, I'm taking what I view as a scattered, incoherent "Draft Zero" into a somewhat cohesive (but still flawed) first draft that I can put down for most of December. After the holidays, I can read through that draft get started on a real revision.
Agree 100% that it’s the habit and lifestyle that makes the writer, not a label, an event or a single project. I will say NaNoWriMo was the genesis of the first two books I finished, and that the month-long challenge took me from weekly want-to-dos that I rarely achieved to solid daily writing habits that I’ve stuck with for years, so for a goal-oriented person like me it was a positive and life-changing experience.
I recommend NaNoWriMo. Years back I was floundering on my first novel: It was long and complicated. Overwhelming. So I started fresh one November with a simpler story in my series. It came out at almost exactly 50K, and it was a streamlined fast-paced story that I'm very happy with.
I've always preferred to let stories stew. I write when I write, and I like to take my time. I'm not a full-time writer, probably never will be, but I am a part-time writer. So these challenges aren't for me.
My own writing typically comes in bursts, and I have written several 50000 word stories in less than a month, but I never started writing without a feeling that the time was ripe. I always wait for the unconscious writer inside me to let me know that there is something coming, and then it plops out like an egg from a duck.
What I did do was use the "spirit of NaNo" to push through completion of the whole first draft instead of fiddling back with the words I'd already written. I now have a 102k first draft, took time off for Thanksgiving, and now I'm working on editing into the second draft and then I'm sending it to a few friends for the first "eyes other than mine" read.
My first time doing NaNoWriMo was in 2017, I did it just to see if I could do it, and have done it every year since then, so I guess I've proven that I can do the goal. That's why I'm waffling on whether to do it this year. And yes, I've kept up the consistent writing habit. Did NaNo to start on something new
My nanorimo book took longer to edit than to write. I don't think I want to write a novel this November, but maybe edit a novella or novel I have already written over time, or maybe work on flash fiction.
It's easy to get words down on a page. I could do 1600 a day. Anything over 500 words though, for me would be garbage. I think writers who focus on word counts fail to write with intention. Which is focusing on the areas you know you are weaker at and trying to improve over time. They just remain a mediocre writer that can write a lot of mediocre prose.
Im trying to write my first draft for a story, its been 1yr and a half, but I stopped working on it for awhile and did some other writing. Im back on it again but its slow. Im not sure it will be long enough for a novel though...
Good for you, that you will have told your story to the conclusion you are happy with!!.. that’s an achievement to be proud of.. no matter how long that takes! And how long it is, is irrelevant really.. I don’t remember which writing channel it was, but recently a video I listened to, reminded us of the point that writing isn’t just novels, it’s screenplays, essays, novellas and short stories.. some stories don’t require 50k words to be told.. ..and I’m not sure exactly, but it was at least 20 years ago that an instructor was discussing the same topic, and said that short stories were usually the best source for a movie, rather than a novel.. because it fits the time constraints better and you don’t have to cut so much out.. that’s always stuck with me.. movies really are short stories 🤔 You can tell a very compelling story in just a few pages.. ATB 😊 Ps.. the fact that you can come back to the same piece of work and keep plugging away at it, is something admirable.. I’m more impressed with someone who has that tenacity and the perseverance to keep working on something over a long time. Don’t knock yourself for taking a long time.. the time doesn’t matter.. the story does..
Deeply appreciate hearing your expanded thoughts related to my comment on the last video. I'm glad I found this channel, you seem like a really good dude and someone who I'd be friends with. I had to leave a lot of friends behind because we never figured out how to support each other.
Such gimmicks are for dreamers looking for a short cut. It comes down to consistent daily grind and a constant effort to improve. There! I saved you a lot of time and money on courses and coaches.
Writing is something I do because I enjoy it and I want to see my stories actually set down. A "challenge" actually makes me feel less inclined to write. The time pressure is just annoying rather than stimulating. I'm more of a craftsman than a competitor.
"Writing a novel is outcome focused objective, becoming a writer is a habit and identy focust objective. It's like the difference between training and running a 5k versus being a runner." Very profound. Man, I needed to hear that!
...actually doesn't make sense. he's basically saying "i want to say i'm a writer without holding myself accountable, whereas actually writing a tangible piece of text doesn't make me a writer per se" ... fucking poser
also it's setting up this elitist mentality that is basically "if you haven't already set up your lifestyle and habits to write every day/regularly then you are not a writer and this challenge won't change that. you are not a writer. you will never be" ...but in essence a 'challenge' like this may be enough to cultivate these habits and get the ball rolling.
this dude is just mad overthinking it. writing began befoer NaNoWriMo. I say this as a major critic behind the NFP structure of the bs organisation. but that quote you found so profound makes no sense.
Here's what I'm trying this time around:
I am nearly done with a rough draft of my novel, but the draft is scattered, with each chapter (and in fact most scenes) in separate google docs. So my plan for NaNoWriMo is to re-write the novel start to finish, copying-and-pasting large sections that are working fine, while re-writing from scratch anything that just doesn't fit anymore. In other words, I'm taking what I view as a scattered, incoherent "Draft Zero" into a somewhat cohesive (but still flawed) first draft that I can put down for most of December. After the holidays, I can read through that draft get started on a real revision.
Sounds like a great plan.
Thank you man! You've alleviated a lot of anxiety and guilt that comes from not finishing my first novel in over 1.5 years... Thanks!!
Agree 100% that it’s the habit and lifestyle that makes the writer, not a label, an event or a single project. I will say NaNoWriMo was the genesis of the first two books I finished, and that the month-long challenge took me from weekly want-to-dos that I rarely achieved to solid daily writing habits that I’ve stuck with for years, so for a goal-oriented person like me it was a positive and life-changing experience.
I recommend NaNoWriMo.
Years back I was floundering on my first novel: It was long and complicated. Overwhelming.
So I started fresh one November with a simpler story in my series. It came out at almost exactly 50K, and it was a streamlined fast-paced story that I'm very happy with.
Wise words, sir.
I've always preferred to let stories stew. I write when I write, and I like to take my time. I'm not a full-time writer, probably never will be, but I am a part-time writer. So these challenges aren't for me.
My own writing typically comes in bursts, and I have written several 50000 word stories in less than a month, but I never started writing without a feeling that the time was ripe. I always wait for the unconscious writer inside me to let me know that there is something coming, and then it plops out like an egg from a duck.
Well that's a helluva simile.
Glad to help.
So ture,. It's no quick fix. I love how you said if you're still working on a novel after 5 years, you're still a writer.
What I did do was use the "spirit of NaNo" to push through completion of the whole first draft instead of fiddling back with the words I'd already written. I now have a 102k first draft, took time off for Thanksgiving, and now I'm working on editing into the second draft and then I'm sending it to a few friends for the first "eyes other than mine" read.
My first time doing NaNoWriMo was in 2017, I did it just to see if I could do it, and have done it every year since then, so I guess I've proven that I can do the goal. That's why I'm waffling on whether to do it this year. And yes, I've kept up the consistent writing habit. Did NaNo to start on something new
My nanorimo book took longer to edit than to write. I don't think I want to write a novel this November, but maybe edit a novella or novel I have already written over time, or maybe work on flash fiction.
It's easy to get words down on a page. I could do 1600 a day. Anything over 500 words though, for me would be garbage.
I think writers who focus on word counts fail to write with intention. Which is focusing on the areas you know you are weaker at and trying to improve over time.
They just remain a mediocre writer that can write a lot of mediocre prose.
Im trying to write my first draft for a story, its been 1yr and a half, but I stopped working on it for awhile and did some other writing. Im back on it again but its slow.
Im not sure it will be long enough for a novel though...
Good for you, that you will have told your story to the conclusion you are happy with!!.. that’s an achievement to be proud of.. no matter how long that takes!
And
how long it is, is irrelevant really..
I don’t remember which writing channel it was, but recently a video I listened to, reminded us of the point that writing isn’t just novels, it’s screenplays, essays, novellas and short stories.. some stories don’t require 50k words to be told..
..and I’m not sure exactly, but it was at least 20 years ago that an instructor was discussing the same topic, and said that short stories were usually the best source for a movie, rather than a novel.. because it fits the time constraints better and you don’t have to cut so much out..
that’s always stuck with me.. movies really are short stories 🤔
You can tell a very compelling story in just a few pages..
ATB 😊
Ps.. the fact that you can come back to the same piece of work and keep plugging away at it, is something admirable..
I’m more impressed with someone who has that tenacity and the perseverance to keep working on something over a long time. Don’t knock yourself for taking a long time.. the time doesn’t matter.. the story does..
I never did NaNoWriMo, but I can see its utility for busy people.
Yeah, previous years, I just continued existing projects. This year, I’m doing a new one, but I’ll take as long as I need.
Deeply appreciate hearing your expanded thoughts related to my comment on the last video. I'm glad I found this channel, you seem like a really good dude and someone who I'd be friends with. I had to leave a lot of friends behind because we never figured out how to support each other.
Would you accept a novel from an author to critique? I've looked for your contact info and haven't found it anywhere.
Canadian here... I thought it was in November?
I agree with everything said here.
Such gimmicks are for dreamers looking for a short cut. It comes down to consistent daily grind and a constant effort to improve. There! I saved you a lot of time and money on courses and coaches.
Many people are looking for a short cut these days. Some even believe that they won't get lost.
Writing is something I do because I enjoy it and I want to see my stories actually set down. A "challenge" actually makes me feel less inclined to write. The time pressure is just annoying rather than stimulating. I'm more of a craftsman than a competitor.