NaNoWriMo Update: A.D.D. Brain

5

NaNoWriMo 2014-11-15

As most of you know, we are pretty much past the halfway point of National Novel Writing Month and must keep on typing. It’s rather interesting for me, writing this novel that I’m not in love with, to be continually pushing myself to keep clunking out those words. I really don’t have a problem with length (unless you look at it from the other direction, where I can’t keep things short to save my life), but since I’m testing myself to write from a male POV and pushing myself to write every day, it’s turning into a really neat learning experience.

Okay, so I haven’t been perfect about writing every day. We’ve got three days here where I didn’t write:

NaNoWriMo Word timeline 2014-11-15

… but I’ve stayed ahead of the curve (or on top of the line, har de har har) so far, so it’s okay.

But it’s been really neat to see what I do under pressure. I thought my creativity was going to wilt, but I seem to be decently balancing pushing myself and knowing when it’s time to quit or break.

The problem that is arising, at least for week two of this adventure, is my jokingly-called ADD brain. Instead of being focused on my current project, I’m having random vivid moments to write on other stories (particularly the one that I almost-finished right before I started this). The advice emails from the NaNoWriMo website are about how the starting excitement fades out by week two and it becomes more of a struggle to push through. That might be part of it, since I deliberately chose an old story I hadn’t done much with and don’t “love.”

Though, I do like what’s happening with this story so far. It’s interesting to write just for getting words out and completion, instead of because the “passion-hot” drive has seized hold. It’s a little more clinically written, and I have minor worry that it isn’t very exciting. But that might be because I’m writing it from more of a distance than my other stories. It’ll be interesting to see how it looks when the editing process comes around, after this is all done.

Anyway. Good luck to everyone out there, keep up the good work, and have fun!

5 responses to “NaNoWriMo Update: A.D.D. Brain”

Latest Posts from AwakeDragon

  • Nicole Evans on Her First Self-Publishing Experience

    Nicole Evans on Her First Self-Publishing Experience

    My dear friend Nicole Evans has just launched her debut novel: BLOOD PRICE. As someone who has had the privilege to read initial drafts and hear brainstorming sessions, I am so excited that this hauntingly beautiful and real book is coming out into the world.

  • My First Book Convention

    My First Book Convention

    I attended my first convention with my book this previous weekend! It’s called OryCon, and it’s the premier fantasy and sci-fi convention in Oregon (according to them, anyway). It’s been held since 1979, so it’s…

  • Why does publishing your first book ruin your life?

    Okay so this title is a little click-bait-y. But stay with me, because I’ve got a point, an interesting story—and it’s actually positive. This is also going to get personal. Context: if you’ve been following…