Pause for thought
Trying to NaNo while dealing with a family crisis last week was like juggling soot, then a stealth attack relapse hit me on Friday. Hey, shit happens.
So, no nanowords since last Thursday, which is a week tomorrow. I’m at 10.5k: a good foundation for when I can get back to work on it. That’ll be sometime this week if at all possible. I plan to dictate some this afternoon if I can (and it’s looking good right now – I’m still sitting upright after posting this) but I won’t jump the gun. There be dragons in that direction, and they ain’t friendly ones like my Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation software. They be nasty snarly dragons that’ll chew me up and sink my nano if I try to beat the storm instead of waiting it out.
However, I will complete this first draft with a minimum of 50k words by 30th November. Relapses are as much a part of my life as writing. The trick is balancing the buggers and finishing up with a well-written piece of work despite everything.
Or even because of everything. Ah, now, there’s a thought. I’ll inject feelings from this real life experience into my fiction. Yes.
virtual hippe said,
November 12, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Hi David, By the power of the ancients, I believe you will get it done. Balance, patience and acceptance. Thank you for inspiring me in more ways than one.
anniegirl1138 said,
November 12, 2008 at 7:25 pm
The weekend NaNo started I had the flu and was making the 1500 mile road trip back to Canada from my folks. My father, who had lung cancer, had died. Still managed a pittance of words a day and so all is good. Even in the midst of chaos or crisis, I find I have to sneak in a bit of writing. It makes me feel like myself in spite of everything else.
jamiemollart said,
November 12, 2008 at 10:36 pm
You can do it!
Keep going. Willing you on
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome said,
November 13, 2008 at 8:05 am
The last time I did NaNo, I didn’t “win” but I did get the first draft of the novel done within four months, so don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. NaNo is just a way to get us writing – it’s not meant to be a written-in-stone deadline…
Be gentle with yourself – the book is started. You’ll finish it.
Shelley (aka Soulcreates) said,
November 13, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Where there is a will there is a way as they say
uppington said,
November 13, 2008 at 7:06 pm
@ anniegirl – wow, tough stuff! No better time to write than when you’re grieving, though, if you can bring yourself to it. Awesome therapy.
@David – didn’t Stevenson do most of his writing in bed while ill, or something like that? You are brave and tenacious – I believe you can still do the November thing, and as Alex said, writing goes on after November. I, for one, will still be here writing away, because 50K is not going to end the story, it never does. So – soldier on, I say, and we’ll all still be here writing in December. And January. And February….
Brendan Cody said,
November 14, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Rooting for you David! Keep it going.
David Bridger said,
November 15, 2008 at 11:21 am
Thanks, everyone. I’m still sliding down Relapse Hill with nothing in sight to grab hold of, but your kind support is cheering.
Annie, I’m sorry for your loss. My love to you and your father.