DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE.
Simple rule everyone should be following. Texting isn't limited to sending messages either. Creating text-based messages of any sort while in operation of a motor vehicle is dangerous. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Instagram, searching digital maps or reading anything on any device must be avoided.
Avoided? No. Not just avoided - prohibited. Staying connected through a phone is tempting. We must all be committed to be safe and leave the phone alone.
That being said... I find myself being tempted more than ever this month.
I have been trying to participate in this year's NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Simply put: writers from around the world attempt to rough draft a 50,000+ word novel in 30 days. So far, I've managed to write 29,262 words. Reaching 50k shouldn't be a problem, yet it does present an interesting observation in the area of writing process.
What can you expect to achieve in 30 days? Is 50,000 words realistic? Is it worth the effort?
Well, let's start with some simple math. The goal of 50,000 words in one month equals 1,667/day. Now, you take a someone who is slow at typing like myself (25/words per minute average) and that works out to just over 1hr of writing time each day. Surely, anyone can find a single hour in which they can dedicate to writing.
Thus, time isn't an issue... if you have something to write about.
If it was a simple matter of typing an hour each day, this challenge wouldn't be hard at all. Of course, it isn't so simple when we want to have something worth reading in the end.
I am in day 9 of this challenge and have spent just over 20 hours of actual typing to achieve 29,000 words. What I have created so far is a good beginning to a story that establishes a few key characters and sets a foundation for the story's world.
Honestly, it needs a lot of work. Spelling, grammar, plot transitions and overall flow will require major rewrites before out can be considered a novel. Right now, it is a notion - an idea requiring nurturing.
When I reach the end of this month, I will have 50,000+ words that hint at something more. As it should be.
A draft isn't supposed to be pretty. True, there are writer's who will turn out a beautiful tale on the first try. This is rare and never consistent. When you first write a story, you must ignore perfection and just focus on putting the tale in writing. If you spend all your time worrying about the details, the story will never get written.
Just write. You will have plenty of time to edit and mold the story. In fact, you may find that much of your story needs reworked in the end. As your story grows, so do you. You will find new ideas to add earlier in your tale or realize that other ideas must be removed. This is normal. Let the tale evolve and watch yourself grow through the process.
Now, I am going to trying writing another chapter in my story without stressing about my horrid grammar. Happy Creating!
