Word Bytes and Dry Spells

Well, it's almost the end of the month. You know what that means? Not really? Well, this would commemorate the time of the month where I pictured myself toiled over a novel I would've loved to write up, feeling either anticipation or anxiousness if I completed the draft or not. This was my first year in attempting to write a draft novel for NaNoWriMo. But sadly, all I could say is:

I failed. Indefinitely. Am made of epic fail.

I never would've thought I had many commitments in November, and to top that off by attempting to write 50,000 words is a definite feat. For those who have bigger commitments but were able to pull this off, I commend you, but I guess it was something I had to learn from anyway. I thought it'd be a slow month for me when I signed up over two months ago in September. Unfortunately, much to my nonchalant disappointment in the matter, it wasn't a slow month. In fact, it's been a whirlwind, and a good one at that! A lot of things had been happening which had to keep me on my toes and my mind sharp for other commitments, such as the infamous scripting for 'Rumble High' of course and the freelancing I've got on the side. Not to mention waiting to hear from potential job applications (which I doubt I will anyway) and getting things straightening out for the business in general. So to answer my own question: Yep, it's been a busy month. I've been more focused on what's happening that I failed in NaNoWriMo. Still, lessons have been learnt anyway.

So what have I learnt from NaNoWriMo? Well, it wasn't a total loss. I did start my novel, having written a short prologue and started writing up the first chapter. If I completed the first chapter, I would've at the very least could've gotten up to 7000 words at least, but I remained at around 3000 words. Pretty feeble attempt when you have to reach 50,000 in a month no less. But sadly, three things had gotten in the way for continuing on with the book.

1. My Initial Decision in Novel Choice

That's right! I couldn't choose which type of story to write up. I was stuck between two completely different types of novel genres. Take into account that these stories have been developed for two-three years during my university years, and it's because of university I couldn't develop them onto paper or screen (depending where I am and if my laptop is with me at the time). For months before NaNoWriMo, I decided on the supernatural/action genre Baskerville, which revolved around werewolves. This was to oppress the vampire craze that is Twilight (insert shuddering thoughts here) and keep myself to a more epic proportion for the novel. Sadly, as soon as NaNoWriMo started, I couldn't grab the inspiration to write it up, which prompted me to start writing my other choice Beyond the Parallel Door - a more fantastical genre with an Alice in Wonderland element to it. Yes, I ended up writing this story... halfway through the month.

2. Constantly hitting Dry Spells every time

Ah, the illustrous writing block. Oh how every writer hates you. As soon as I got into some groove to write up the story, somehow I was met with block after block, which left me staring at the screen for five minutes at a time not knowing what to do. I guess to take into account for this would be my other commitments that are in need of my imagination more than this at the moment, so that's been putting me out of sync as well. Still, the blocks just kept coming. It left me without any inspiration to write at all.

3. My pedantic nature to edit as I write

That's what I do. I edit as I type, even though the purpose of NaNoWriMo is to flow write your entire draft without having to think about spelling, grammar, punctuation, and all that stuff. Unfortunately, I'm an English Nazi. I see a mistake, I need it fixed. Call it OCD on the typing scale, but that's how I write. My methods are a little unorthodoxed too. There are times I'll write out a prose, but other times seem to come out in spoken dialogue, so I document that instead. I write as if I'm scripting. It's something I've come to acquaint myself with, but soon enough the story comes together... much longer than it should.

In the end, I've learnt how much of a commitment a novel can be. It's not as easy as anyone thinks it to be. So instead of a drafty looking piece of text, I've only got a measly few words to start with. But hey! At least I started it, something that I wouldn't have done at all. These stories wouldn't be told otherwise. NaNoWriMo had given me the initiative to think through with these ideas, and one day, I'll get these done, be proud of my efforts, and see where that will take me.