Reader, Writer, & Writing Teacher
I guess, I’m doing it again. I’ve technically already started this project, but only in the last few weeks and I still have under 10,000 words in the new draft. So I’m committing to try and write 50,000 new words on book 2 in November. Wish me luck and feel free to leave me any encouragement or advice you have in the comments!
How are we almost halfway through November? I really don’t know where the time goes. I’m pretty behind in NaNoWriMo right now, like more than five thousand words behind. This is something I’m hopefully going to start to remedy at a coffee/pie shop this afternoon, but it’s also something I’m okay with. I’ve written over 60 pages so far this month. More importantly, it’s been the most lovely experience to turn off my inner editor and just write. Being in an MFA program is the most lovely way to get to spend my time and intellectual energy. At the same time, my writing faces constant critique and the voices (and differing opinions) of all my classmates and professors can be hard to silence. Writing a “shitty first draft” that I know no one is going to read, at least not in this form, feels really liberating. So even if I don’t “win” by hitting 50,000 words by the end of the month, I’m still glad I’m doing this because I’m enjoying writing in a way I haven’t been for a few months. And that’s pretty close to winning for me. Continue reading “NaNoWriMo Update”
As my friends know, I’ve been going back and forth about doing NaNoWriMo all month. In some ways, it probably doesn’t make much sense. I now know that I will workshopping my thesis next semester with the fabulous, fantastic Jill Santopolo. The rational part of my brain is like you should be putting all your effort into that project and you are still teaching and taking two classes (etc.) But the irrational part of my brain is saying it will be fun and you can do both. The irrational part of my brain won this morning (probably in part influenced by a pretty intense sugar hangover after last night’s Halloween festivities). While it might detract some focus from the main project, participating in NaNoWriMo in 2013 made my writing SO MUCH BETTER. Hopefully, it will have the same effect this time around. Plus my thesis is very very very loosely based on a subplot from my last NaNoWriMo attempt, so maybe this event is good luck for me! Continue reading “Let the NaNoWriMo Begin!”
Some people say, “when it rains it pours” and my grandfather always says, “time flies whether you’re having fun or not.” While both sayings are definitely true when things are going poorly, the last few months make me think they’re also true when things are going well. So many good things have happened to me this year, and my time here has gone by faster than I could have imagined. Hence the photograph of me dancing at the beach. I hate to go too much into it. I’ve been writing enough about my self recently that you could in fairness call this blog a brag instead (joke stolen from Rachel Cohn’s VERY LEFREAK). However, I did want to sum up my experience here and some of the things that have been going on in the last month. Continue reading “Reflections on NaNoWriMo, the Big Sur Writing Workshop, and my last week in California”
Finished my 400 words and made this video yesterday! Can’t believe it is over. Thanks to everyone who’s been watching the vlog posts and sending me supportive messages. Both the writing and the vlogging having been fun, but I’m glad I get a break!
Happy day after Thanksgiving! I hope everyone enjoyed a lovely holiday yesterday. Is anyone going Black Friday shopping? I already think stores are too crowded on regular days, so I avoid malls today like the plague. I am pretty into Cyber Monday though. Although what I should be thinking of now (actually what I should be doing write now) is finishing my NaNoWriMo challenge, because I only have 400 words left until I hit 50,000 words. It has been such a fun and crazy challenge, and I think this was exactly what I needed after months of editing to relearn the initial creative, less critical aspect of writing. I’m going to get back to writing, but just wanted to say a quick congratulations to everyone who’s participated (whether you hit 50K words or not I think everyone is a winner) and everyone who’s sent me words of encouragement this month. Writing can often seem like a very solitary endeavor, but the people I’ve found through this blog and this challenge make me feel like a part of a much larger community. I’m very thankful for all of you!
Happy Sunday! I’m a little groggy today, because instead of going to bed early like I planned so that I would feel fresh in the morning to put together the blog post, do my NaNoWriMo daily writing, and study for the GRE (which I’m taking in less than a week!) I stayed up past three in the morning reading Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen. In honor of this late night reading, I thought I’d share a post suggests other authors for fans of Dessen’s books. Here are some other great links from around the web:
We are at the halfway point in NaNoWriMo, and I’m still wondering how the last two weeks went by so quickly. I’m not halfway through the challenge, but now that I’m back from my trip to LA I’m developing a writing routine that will hopefully help me win the challenge by November 30th. I made another vlog post to talk more about my progress and my plan. I think it looks a little more natural and less rehearsed … although there are some really embarrassing moments. Like when I say that I’m on TV. Mortifying. Anyways, here it is!
If you are a writer or doing NaNoWriMo what’s your opinion on writing routines? I’d love any tips you have.
Happy Friday! I am eight days into NaNoWriMo and six days into my trip to Los Angeles to visit my sister. Last week, I made a vlog post about all the things I’m doing this month (vacations and visitors and standardized tests – oh my!), but this week, even though I’m behind where I should be to finish the challenge, I’m feeling pretty confident that despite my many other distractions I will win the challenge. Knock on wood. Continue reading “NaNoWriMo and Los Angeles Vacation”
Alison Doherty 