{"id":626,"date":"2009-09-23T17:34:46","date_gmt":"2009-09-23T21:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maryrajotte.com\/blog\/?p=626"},"modified":"2009-09-24T10:28:57","modified_gmt":"2009-09-24T14:28:57","slug":"wip-wednesday-what-was-i-thinking-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maryrajotte.com\/blog\/2009\/09\/23\/wip-wednesday-what-was-i-thinking-2\/","title":{"rendered":"WIP Wednesday: What Was I Thinking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we last saw our heroine, she was whipping a wayward plot into shape while realizing the importance of having a few good writerly friends to steer her in the right direction. In this week’s episode of WIP Wednesday, watch as the writer celebrates her progress…but will her jubilation be short-lived?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

WIP #1:<\/strong>
\nOnly Our Blood<\/em> is finished! After taking my buddy Ben’s<\/a> advice, I tackled the lazy opening scene by looking for the place where the trouble really starts. After tweaking things a bit, and fixing up the passive writing throughout, I am confident it is a much better, more horrifying read. I’m giving this one a few days to rest on the shelf before reading it once more and submitting it.<\/p>\n

WIP#2: NaNoWriMo<\/strong> (brace yourselves…this is going to be a long one)<\/p>\n

I let the cat out of the bag already on Twitter<\/a>. My NaNo 09 Project is going to be a collection of short stories.<\/p>\n

After going through my Idea File and realizing my list of proposed shorts was more intriguing than my novel ideas, I figured the best way to succeed was to do what piqued my interest (because nothing says #NanoFail more than a story that does not excite you).<\/p>\n

So, great! Topic picked! All systems are a go. At least that’s what I thought.<\/p>\n

Now that I’m getting into the actual outlining of the project, I realize that, with NaNo already being a crazy ride on its own, trying to come up with say 10 plots (on the presumption that each story will be around 5000 words) and a possible character roster numbering anywhere from 20 to 30+ – maybe those novel ideas aren’t looking quite so bad.<\/p>\n

So the question I need to ask myself is this: when faced with what seem an insurmountable task (of my own doing), do I turn and run? Or put on my shit-kickers and kick some shit?<\/p>\n

Let’s look at the task, shall we?<\/p>\n

Assuming, as I said above, that each story is around 5000 words. Here’s what I need to accomplish:<\/p>\n

NaNoWriMo = 50,000 in 30 days
\n= 1,666 words\/day<\/p>\n

Or in my case:
\n= 50,000 words\/30 days
\n= 3 days\/story<\/p>\n

I’ve proven to myself that I can absolutely do 5000 words in a single day. I did it multiple times in both years of NaNo that I’ve participated.<\/p>\n

So, I’m starting to think that is isn’t the actual writing of so many stories that is leaving me feeling less-than prepared; it’s the fact that I need to come up with so many different pieces (and thus settings, characters, plots, etc.). No wonder I feel like I’m setting myself up, not necessarily for failure, but for a tough road ahead, to say the least.<\/p>\n

Regardless, I’m forging ahead. I’m stubborn. I’m not one to quit and certainly not one to shy away from a challenge. That doesn’t mean I won’t continue to whine about it. But secretly, doesn’t the challenge make anything that much more exciting (and rewarding)?<\/p>\n

If you’re a NaNo’er, have you ever toyed with the idea of doing a collection as your WIP? Any tips?<\/p>\n

If you’re a writer participating in WIP Wednesday, post a link to your blog in the comments!<\/p>\n

Fellow WIP Wednesday participants:<\/strong><\/p>\n