I see a lot of people doing the nanowrimo, which is awesome. I wonder how many will keep it up after the month is out. I know I'm still writing on it but the new one I started this month seems to be tying in well with the one I had begun previously. Interesting how two dissimilar things suddenly became one. I think my brain just wants to get it out as fast as it can, so I can move on to other things.
Things to remember during Nanowrimo, and yeah, many have said similar things before, but it's all relevant:
If you don't write it it won't get written.
Eyestrain is not worth the pain, take breaks often. Use them as moments where you can envision the scenes and dialogue in your head, then go back with a fresh perspective.
If you get stuck, move past that spot and write part that happens later. If you didn't need a scene there might be a reason for that.
You have a goal, your characters have goals, so why not write that your characters have achieved it/failed to achieve it? Sometimes making that happen/not happen makes their steady progress toward the end that much easier.
Don't edit. That's for later. Nanowrimo is not NaEditingMo. Wait until the month is over. If you absolutely must edit, do so with intent to increase your wordcount. (I kick myself over this sometimes, but yet again, I sit down to smooth one chapter over into another and meet my word count accidentally. Hm. I'm weird like that but at least I admit it.)
Don't be afraid to throw it away. Or at least hit save, move it to another folder, and hold on to it for later perusal. What is bad for the story now might be good later when you change things in a later scene. IF it's not useable, at least you tried.
Starting over is not admitting defeat, it's just moving on with more purpose and experience.
Coffee is your friend.
Google is your friend.
Wikipedia is also your friend.
All of those friends have benefits. Use them wisely.
All of your friends will lie to you. Take it in stride.
Tumblr, twitter, facebook, and other things like that are not very friendly. They will waste your time. Don't talk to them, heck, don't look at them, not even in your peripheral vision, when you're in your writer-mode. zombie brain takes over when you do. Be forewarned.
If someone else is doing it too, that's fine. Do your own version, your own view, your own words. Your take is different from mine, and just as worthwhile.
If you're not having fun when writing it then who else will have fun reading it? Fun is mandatory, citizen. People read for fun, most often. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it. If you're in it to make money, well I say, good luck with that.
Don't give up, give in. Give in to what YOU want. Write what you want to, not what others say you should.
BTW: I find this guy highly amusing at times-
terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/…terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/…terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/…And this is just too funny not to share.
terribleminds.com/ramble/holy-…