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Our Nano Brigade Checks In

Unfortunately, it seems we've lost almost half of our participants already. That is about how the whole of NaNo goes. Let's check in with our remaining crew and see how everyone is doing as the first week draws to a close.

April Schmidt

1. Has the week seen you keeping up your enthusiasm?

I'm still pretty enthused . But I am getting worried on opposite sides. I am worried I am to behind in my word count . also worried I am focusing on catching up with the amount of words and not really focusing enough on the words that I want to come out. (this make sense?)

2. What methods have you used to keep up with your writing?

I guess I am simply determined to write a certain time every day come hell or high water.

3. If you've fallen a bit behind, has this discouraged you or made you more determined to keep going?


Nano has actually gave me the incentive to get this 'story' out.


4. How co-operative have other household members been so far?

My husband has been very co-operative . My oldest daughter is great for a pat on the back . My youngest to however are a little perturbed that I am hogging the PC

5. Have you devised any shortcuts in other areas to allow you time to write this month?

LOL Well I have a Mt. of laundry and since the time during the week that I have set aside to write is just prior to supper time the meals have been pretty skimpy or thrown together haphazardly.

6. Any words of encouragement for our readers??

Keep on truckin !

***

Donna "Kai" Wilson

1. Has the week seen you keeping up your enthusiasm?


I dunno if it's because the whole house is sick, or if I'm really trying to challenge myself this year (neither 'main' story is anything like my usual type of story) or a mix of that and the fact that we're in the middle of dealing with several huge issues here, plus Uni, plus I'm applying for jobs etc, but my enthusiasm isn't as high as I've had every year previously. But it's getting better.


2. What methods have you used to keep up with your writing?


I'm behind, so the methods haven't worked much, but I'm making sure that I do work hard to catch up on the ground I lost. I'm also making sure that I'm focused on my Nano - I'm ignoring other story concepts for the moment, and doing a brain dump every morning - when I'm out I always make sure I've got access to a way to email my ideas, and I take my note taking systems with me everywhere.

3. If you've fallen a bit behind, has this discouraged you or made you more determined to keep going?


It's made me more determined to be honest - I've only ever 'lost' one Nano, and only because I ended up in hospital, so I'm picking up my pace next month.


4. How co-operative have other household members been so far?


My household are great - the kids brag that their mom is a writer and are always asking how my stories are going - my partner has bought my favorite treats, and is always offering to talk to me if I need to brainstorm.

5. Have you devised any shortcuts in other areas to allow you time to write this month?


I'm using some of my Nano as my assignment that I'm handing in for my assignments, and most of the rest of it is my dissertation this year, which is taking about 12k off my count this month, and has freed up my time to focus on the Nanowrimo. other than that, I'm double dutying *everything* - when I'm doing the washing, I'm doing the dishes and thinking about my nano - when I'm running the meets, I've got my laptop with me. WHen I'm in the bath, I'm writing on my ipod (and the wonderful evernote app).


6. Any words of encouragement for our readers??


Just keep going. There's absolutely NO point that you could be at, that would need you to give in. And if you're struggling to find time to write, remember that you get the choice to procrastinate, you get the choice to write - you get the choice to watch TV. Choose your Nano!

***

Katie-Anne Gustaffson


1. Has the week seen you keeping up your enthusiasm?


Enthusiasm remains high, as does expectation to complete.


2. What methods have you used to keep up with your writing?


Go with the flow! Exerting pressure on myself is counterproductive to my productivity.


3. If you've fallen a bit behind, has this discouraged you or made you more determined to keep going?


No. At this stage I know I have plenty of wriggle room.


4. How co-operative have other household members been so far?


Oh, are they supposed to be co-operative? Hmmmm, I'll have to work on that next week.


5. Have you devised any shortcuts in other areas to allow you time to write this month?


Nothing other than keeping NaNo firmly in my mind when booking my schedule this month.


6. Any words of encouragement for our readers??


Don't stress yourself out if you're behind. This is only week 1. The main thing here is to get back on track.

***

Linda Dupie

1. Has the week seen you keeping up your enthusiasm?


The first week I 've never had a problem with enthusiasm. I start having problems toward the end of the second week.


2. What methods have you used to keep up with your writing?


I have to share my writing time with the before and after school program I run, so I use a schedule. I write from 4 am to 5 am and then again from about 9 am to Noon. I also try to meet a daily word count goal of 3K but no less than 1667.


3. If you've fallen a bit behind, has this discouraged you or made you more determined to keep going?


Falling behind makes me more determined to catch up and exceed my goal for the day.


4. How co-operative have other household members been so far?


My family is great during NaNo, though I've tried to keep their sacrifice to a minimum by not writing when they're home during the week and on the weekends. Though I will write on a Sunday If I am behind.


5. Have you devised any shortcuts in other areas to allow you time to write this month?


I cook meals ahead and freeze them, it makes it so much easier after a long day of working and writing.

6. Any words of encouragement for our readers??

Write as fast as you can and turn off that internal editor. And if you must change something don't rewrite use a Post It to mark the spot and jot down your notes and when it's time to rewrite you'll have what you need.

***

Megan Schwartz

1. Has the week seen you keeping up your enthusiasm?


Not so much. I’m realizing suddenly what a daunting task this all is. As a freelance and essay writer, I focus a lot on being concise. So having to spread out scenes for 50,000 words is surprisingly hard. It feels sort of wrong to say more than I normally would.


2. What methods have you used to keep up with your writing?


It’s been pretty easy to wake up early for some reason, so I use that time to write. My justification is that I’m not going to give up sleep just to surf Facebook, I might as well get something done!


3. If you've fallen a bit behind, has this discouraged you or made you more determined to keep going?


I am behind and it is discouraging. We had some family matters come up this week, too, which has been a real distraction. I am determined to muscle through, even though I know being behind is going to mean some seriously hard days in this next week.



4. How co-operative have other household members been so far?



Totally cooperative. Well, as cooperative as a 2 and 5 year old can be, I guess. J My husband has been enormously supportive, he’s waiting for me to support us on my writerly laurels.



5. Have you devised any shortcuts in other areas to allow you time to write this month?


I’m letting household stuff slide, I’ve cancelled some activities and playdates, but mostly I’m just trying to squeeze it in where I can. The past few days I haven’t written at all, so tonight after the kids go to bed is going to be a marathon for sure.


6. Any words of encouragement for our readers??


It’s hard, it really, actually, is hard. But there’s something so gratifying about seeing that number count. I realized it’s not about, at all, writing a perfect or cohesive of even comprehensible novel at this point. It’s about writing something, anything, and then looking for the good bits later on. Maybe it’ll only be a paragraph out of 50,000 words but that paragraph could just be the perfect start to something even better.

***
Maria Connor

1. Has the week seen you keeping up your enthusiasm?

Enthusiasm has not waned, but frustrations with interruptions has.


2. What methods have you used to keep up with your writing?

Even if I can't work on my manuscript, I jot plot notes, think about characterization, outline, etc.


3. If you've fallen a bit behind, has this discouraged you or made you more determined to keep going?

It's still early in the month. Plenty of time to catch up.


4. How co-operative have other household members been so far?

My family members and friends have been cooperative; I think I'm my own worst enemy. I can't seem to say no to anything, even though I'm already crazy-busy.


5. Have you devised any shortcuts in other areas to allow you time to write this month?

Getting up early isn't working. Sticking around work for an extra hour is one option, as is working off-site (like the library, coffee shop, etc.) There are too many distractions (aka excuses) at home!


6. Any words of encouragement for our readers??

I recently read a suggestion from another NaNo-er. She said when she sits down to write, she tells herself she only has to do 100 words. Usually it's enough to get the ball rolling. I'm going to try that!

***
Ron Berry

1. Has the week seen you keeping up your enthusiasm?

So far, so good. Now if I’d finish shopping…


2. What methods have you used to keep up with your writing?

I’ll let you know when I find one…

3. If you've fallen a bit behind, has this discouraged you or made you more determined to keep going?

I’m not discouraged a bit. I’ll go as far as I can.

4. How co-operative have other household members been so far?

Well, the only other household members here, for the most part, are the furkids and they haven’t said much.

5. Have you devised any shortcuts in other areas to allow you time to write this month?

I hope so. I now have the laptop.

6. Any words of encouragement for our readers??

Keep writing

***

Kim Francis

1. Has the week seen you keeping up your enthusiasm?

This week has been a roller coaster. I started out excited, but then lost steam when both my Nano ideas fell flat. But then I found a manuscript that I thought was lost forever, so now I’m excited to be working on it again. Sure it’s cheating, but it’s cheating of the best kind!


2. What methods have you used to keep up with your writing?


Butt in chair, fingers on keys, Babylon 5 or music on in the background and Facebook as a reward for lots of words written.


3. If you've fallen a bit behind, has this discouraged you or made you more determined to keep going?

I am behind since I changed stories three times, but I don’t think it’s anything I can’t overcome.


4. How co-operative have other household members been so far?

I live with teens…so long as there is food in the fridge or a twenty dollar bill clipped to the pizza coupons, they leave me alone. Sometimes they even leave me a slice of pizza. Ha ha



5. Have you devised any shortcuts in other areas to allow you time to write this month?

It was the impetus to set up my office…finally. Before this, I was working wherever the mood struck. But now, my office is setup in my bedroom so I can roll into bed exhausted and get up, stumble back to my desk and go back to work. I even moved my small coffee maker into the room. If I had a dorm refrigerator and a microwave, I’d never have to leave the room!



6. Any words of encouragement for our readers??

If you’re doing Nano…keep going! Even if you’re stuck…even if you don’t like the story…write around the part you don’t like and write through the block. You never know what you might come up with if you stop writing. Don’t Think…WRITE!

***

There they are, folks--How about some encouraging words!! Check back next Sunday to see how all is going by the halfway point.




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2 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Unknown said...

To all my writing buddies on this list. We CAN do this!!

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