NaNoWriMo Day 6 News and A Revolutionary Change of Perpsective

NEWS

I am sorry for being a stranger on this blog since NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) began on 01 November. I've been writing as much as I can, as fast as I can.

As of this moment, I am sitting at 11,071 words of 50,000 for the NaNoWriMo goal. (My personal goal is more than that.) Yay!

I changed the title of the book one more time. But, this is it. I finally found the perfect title:

THE STORYKEEPER OF ROANOKE

THE FAMILY TREEZ OF THE USA SERIES, BOOK #1. 

A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA:

THROW OUT THE WORD COUNT IDEA

On Saturday, 03 November 2012, I about had a meltdown. The word count was not what I thought it should be. Sure, I met the NaNoWriMo count of 1667 words--no problem. But, I wanted triple that. I wanted to really push myself. I... I-I-I. Me-me-me. Me, myself, and I.

Do you see the problem?

I realized that I became the center of my focus--not the book.

Whoa. This stopped me in my tracks. I realized how:

~ The goal was the center--not the book.

~ A checklist became what was important, not the process of writing. 

This is WRONG. 

I fell into the trap.

I have stopped looking at word count. 

I have a good sense as to how much I am writing--or not writing. I can tell you if it's been a yucky day or a good day. But, the driving force should be the story--not the word count.

I think this new mindset, point-of-view, and perspective have changed my writing life entirely. 

I am actually getting more writing done than before because I have the proper attitude and perspective of the story -not the word count. It takes the stress off. There are great days and bad days with writing. But, they average out to at least a good day over the long-run. There's nothing wrong with that.

Why do I write? It's to tell a story. Period.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer

The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

NaNoWriMo: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/familytreezetc

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

NaNoWriMo Preparation and Peptalk

NaNoWriMo Writers,

How is everyone's preparation going? Is this a first for you and something you've always wanted to do? Are you starting a new novel? Or are you adding word count to a novel you are already writing? 

I've participated in NaNoWriMo three years before now and look forward to this year. I'm writing in a new genre to me and am looking forward to see what adding 50,000 words to my current writing project will bring me this year. 

There is nothing like writing at mach-10, with my hair on fire, not carinnngggg (Oops. I mean--caring) about editing. It's magical. It's definitely an adventure. I think NaNoWriMo separates those serious about their writing and those who are too serious. If we cannot have fun writing, why write? If we are too busy trying to do everything perfect, it makes our writing a labor and not really worth doing. 

Here is a hint for any newbies in NaNoWriMo. I do not have much of a plan at all. I have a minor outline of half a page for my entire book, which will be 210,000 words when I am finished. So, I am a pantser, but know where I need to go. The rest is--allowing the muse (or God) to lead me wherever it takes me--as long as it fits in the outline. I don't have to come to NaNoWriMo with a plan--other than 1667 words per day for November 2012. I can allow my muse to make one for me. And, I refuse to stress. How does that help?

It's the editing that will make the novel great.

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer

Roanoke 1584-1590: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book 1

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

NaNoWriMo: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/familytreezetc

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA