NaNoWriMo 2014

I must be nuts... novel #1, The American Dream is so nearly finished, I've signed up to scribble out the first draft of #2, The Darkness of the Heart in just 30 days. I've had about three attempts at NaNoWriMo and never won once. I am living proof that not winning at NaNo doesn't mean you'll never finish a book.

To make matters more embarrassing, those attempts were at times when my husband and daughter used to repair to America for Thanksgiving in the last two weeks of November, leaving me at home for my annual holiday. Trouble was, I used to spend the two weeks catching up on a whole year's exercise, sleep, R&R, miscellaneous projects, larger household maintenance and DIY.

This year, all I have to deal with is the rear end of a half term holiday and four weeks of the usual chaos of home life in London. Or, I could skive off to France just like old times. I haven't decided yet.

At least this year I have a plan even if it's not a very good one. I have a vague idea what is happening in Book #2, especially at the beginning and the end. I also know I run about 1000-2000 words to a writing session. So, I opened Scrivener, created files for 30 key scenes and that's it! What will happen in them, and how they'll eventually connect together is anyone's guess.

The other part of my plan involves finding time to write one of them every day. Even with total stream of consciousness stuff, I don't see this taking less than two hours. I also know that once I've finished a scene, I'll be drained for the day as far as that kind of creative work is concerned, so my plan is actually quite vulnerable. I'd be better off aiming for 25 scenes at 2000 words each, wouldn't I?

Okay, now I'm off to write a synopsis for a story that doesn't exist yet. Anyone else writing a novel next month?