The above title may have led you down the garden path just a little, especially considering my absence of late. So let me set the record straight. I have not completed NaNoWriMo. The Write your novel in a month challenge. And as someone rightly pointed out to me, this does not make me a failure.
As I started it I was quite happy that I knew what my story was about and the characters were starting to talk to me. The problem was, my first manuscript still hadn’t been finalised. The crime fiction novel. And I was trying desperately to do both and get the crime one back out on query and do NaNo, but it was an impossibility. I was driving myself into the ground.
I had to make a decision and decide what my priorities were at this point in time and I chose to finish one project before starting another and to be honest as writers I think it’s important. It’s so easy to get sucked into another one when a new story is buzzing around in your head, but after so much work has gone into one, it’s just not fair on yourself or your manuscript, to leave it so close to finished and go off and leave it.
So, the past few weeks, I’ve not been doing NaNo, I’ve been working really hard on the crime fiction novel and it’s about ready to spread it’s wings and go out into the world on query again.
I didn’t fail NaNo. I decided, maybe a little too late, not to compete in it this year. The story is still there and it’s still going to be written, but it will work better if I focus on one thing at a time.
I did miss the great camaraderie that was about with NaNo once I stopped. It really does have a fantastic feel about it. So encouraging. Hopefully next year I will finish everything I’m doing in time and get myself in the right place to do it. I’m so proud of everyone who gave it a good go. 50,000 words or not.
Rebecca – I couldn’t agree more. You most definitely did not fail NaNo. You put your priorities in order – good on you for that! What matters is your development as a writer.
Thank you Margot. It’s not an easy decision when you initially set out to do one thing, then realise you actually have to do something else entirely. But it was the right decision.
But you accomplished something else during that time, and that’s just as good!
It was better! 🙂
I absolutely agree. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t do NaNo – 75% through this novel, and part-way through a structural edit, it was not right to start another! And as we’re writing a trilogy and I don’t know what happens next, how could I veer off and start the 3rd book of the trilogy? 😉
Good for you for honouring your instincts and doing what felt right for you. That in itself is worth heaps. 🙂
I think we have more idea’s and motivation than we actually have time and energy don’t we! We just need those elusive extra hours in the days and the energy levels to match. 🙂
I think it’s so exciting that your crime fiction novel is nearly to the point where you will query it, yay! It’s obvious you made the right decision for you and that’s definitely not a failure in any sense. I had fun doing NaNo this year but I don’t know if I will do it again, the timing was right this year but next year, who knows? I think you are exactly right that it all depends on our priorities at that time. Congrats on getting so much done on your crime fiction story! 🙂
Thank you Julie. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed NaNo. I think if I do it next year, I definitely need to plan well in advance and clear the decks as they say.
NaNo fills a good gap when you’ve got nothing else on – which is why I took part – but when you’ve got other goals and deadlines it’s not worth adding the pressure. Good luck with your querying.
Thanks Annalisa and congratulations on finishing!
Listen, I didn’t even DO Nanomiwhatever. Didn’t start it, didn’t continue it, didn’t finish it. Compared to me, you are a STAR!!!
Thank you Carol! I didn’t feel like a star, but you have added a different perspective 🙂
Hi Rebecca! For what it’s worth, I think finishing your novel was the best move. There’ll be more Nanos… Now go out there and get that book deal, girl:))
Thanks Jane. I’m definitely trying now! 🙂
You are definitely a winner for even attempting Nano! The whole idea behind it is to learn about writing and scheduling, and you learned a lot, I think, about how you work.
It’s so great that you’re at the querying stage for your first novel. Good luck!