This time around, I'm a NaNo Rebel. I will write 50,000 words of fresh fiction, but it will not be a novel. At least, I don't think so. I have Plan A and Plan B, which means I'll probably end up with Plan W, but I'm okay with that.
See, somewhere along the line, my writing stopped being fun. This happened for more reasons than I can count or even define. And I really, really miss that energy, that joy. Then I came across this quote by R. L. Stine:
"The writers who go into a school, do an assembly and say to write from the heart, write your passion, write what you know . . . the kids who listen to them will never write a word . . . I've written 350 books, and not one has come from my heart, not a single one. It's true! They're all written to entertain people, for people to enjoy and have fun. But you don't have to write from the heart."
So, this November, I will have fun with my writing again! And if I have to take down every pumpkin in the vicinity to do it, I will! (Drama! Suspense! A Possible Serial Killer of Pumpkins!) I have no idea what will happen, but since the month will go by anyway, why not have something creative - brilliant? stinky? both? - to show at the end of it?
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Are you NaNo-ing this November? Excited about your current project? Still having fun with your writing? Are you pro-pumpkin?
I absolutely agree with Stine. The purpose of a storyteller is to entertain. If it happens to include your personal passion, that's a bonus.
ReplyDeleteI think some of what was happening for me was that I was taking everything too seriously - the story, the process, etc. It all had to be deep and thought-provoking, blah blah blah. It's exhausting!
DeleteNo pumpkin will be safe...
ReplyDeleteI won't officially do NaNo but I am taking time off to work on my current story.
Sounds kind of like your own version of NaNo. :)
DeleteI know what you're saying. I hit that spot too where it just wasn't as much fun as when I was just writing to please myself. The solution? I make time to write whatever I want.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Elizabeth, for figuring out what works for you. I'm going to have fun this NaNo. Not sure what it looks like yet, but I will be smiling at the end of it. Fingers crossed! :)
DeleteNaNoWriMo re-energizes me in a way no conference or retreat has ever done. I haven't decided yet what genre I'll be writing, but it will definitely be fiction.
ReplyDeleteI hear you! Good luck with your project! Maybe I'll see you around the NaNo site. :)
DeleteI've been feeling the same about writing and have been trying to recaputure the fun again.
ReplyDeleteChase that fun! Get a big giant net and catch it like it's a giant butterfly whose gorgeous wings will color your writing with joy! :)
DeleteI'm doing NaNo!
ReplyDeleteDude, if I wrote from my heart, then there would be some pretty scary horror stories out there...
Yeh for another NaNoWriMo 2018 writer!
DeleteHmm, what if we wrote from our stomachs? Or our toes?
I'm going to attempt to revise a novel AND write a new one for NaNo. Not sure if that will be successful or not. I'm notoriously bad at working on more than one project at a time.
ReplyDeleteI like pumpkins. But I've yet to try pumpkin-spice anything.
Now that's ambitious! But if anyone can do it, you can. :)
DeleteThanks, Madeline. Revisions were done early, and I'm almost done the new one. Fingers crossed!
DeleteWhoo hoo! Go for it! :)
DeleteHi Madeline, I'm pro pumpkin :)
ReplyDeleteNot too sure about doing NaNo. Some books are written from my mind ;)
If you decide to do NaNo, I wish you good luck and happy writing! :)
DeleteI have never wanted to do Nano. It seemed it would take the joy of writing away from me. Not to mention I'm a slow writer and the stress would get to me. That said, I admire those who do it and reach the goal. I especially admire those who do it and end up with something with potential. Wishing you writing joy, NaNo or not!
ReplyDeleteSome years I end up with a project with potential. Other years? Not so much. :o
DeleteThank you for the writing joy wishes! Same to you! :)
I like some things pumpkin, but not drinks of any kind. Give me pie, cookies, and bread. I don't write from my heart either and never have. I've never seen that quote and I really like it. Have some November fun.
ReplyDeleteI believe the quote was from an interview with Mr. Stine. It really shook something loose inside of me! We'll see what November brings.... :)
DeleteGood luck with NaNo! I had done it for years until Novembers just became too busy for me. Definitely have fun with it! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine! I'll do my best to have fun. :)
DeleteI love that quote! I think I need to paste that one somewhere - along with a "don't write what you know! Write what you can imagine!" - my personal advice to myself.
ReplyDeleteHave fun! Kill pumpkins! (Mwahaha. Or create a serial killer who uses pumpkins?)
Happy NaNo! I'll be sweating in the trenches, too.
I love the idea of writing what we can imagine. And I've got a doozy or two for NaNo! :)
DeleteGood luck to you this November!