Not sure about this...

[ostarella]

I'm beginning to think I'm not "built" for NaNo's writing style. I have been trying to continue with my story, but I keep going back to the first part I wrote and wanting to toss it and start over. I can't just write and keep going. I'm a "fiddler". And I think I've just been writing that way for so long... it drives me nuts knowing that what I've already written isn't going to work with the rest of the story. And I know - it all gets edited afterwards, but I find myself thinking, well, what a waste of time to write it to begin with then. No offense to JFM or all the other writers who can do that - JFM obviously has got that "method" down pat. ;-) But I just don't function that way. I think part of it is the idea of looking at the 50K words as one big chunk of crap to be reworked, instead of doing that "rework" as I go. Already I've changed my mind as to what I want from the story at least four times - and the damn beginning only works with one of those, and then not that well.

So I guess I'm going to drop out - it's not as if I *can't* write a long story, after all.  ;-)  But I have too many other irons in the fire right now, not the least of which is "Covenant", and "Tess", and a shitload of "homefire" issues to attend to. Trying to write in a way that's completely foreign and frustrating to me just makes me not want to write at all - and I don't want to spoil the "fun".

I know the above just sounds like a load of excuses, but I feel much less frustrated and tense just having decided. That in itself tells me I'm making the right choice. "Hard" is one thing - "stress inducing" is another. ;-)

Comments

[beckyblack]

Aw, shame. Well, at least you gave it a go!

With me I feel more worried that I'll polish up an earlier part and then want to do something later that that contradicts that part I've done a load of work on. That could make me not go in a direction that would be good for the story. Not that I get a lot of that happening, since I work with an outline too, so will solve most plot problems before I start. It tends to be more character things that go that way.

Anyway, there's no right or wrong way to write a story, the end result is what matters, the reader sure doesn't care how it was done.

Anyway, at this rate, I think I'm going to write enough for both of us. ;-)

I'm going to un-buddy you on the site - but don't worry, that doesn't mean I don't like you any more! :D Just there's a limit on how many buddies can be seen on the writing buddies page and I've got too many already. Needs some culling. :D

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was a weird feeling, actually. I felt more pressure to put out the word count than I typically feel about putting out a chapter that I have to research and have ready for a beta! LOL I kept telling myself "just write something!" and nothing would come. But when I was writing that first part, I felt more enthused when I "slipped" and rewrote a paragraph that didn't sound right.

I'm hopeless... :D

But I'm going to keep the icon - the story will get written over time - and I may post it on MadBetas for anyone who wants to take a look at it. ;-)

[beckyblack]

Ah well, good to know you'll keep up with the story. Maybe you could make it a once a week thing (or whatever schedule you like) the way I do with my spin off. It's good to have that set time to work on it as it stops me thinking either I should be working on that at some other time, or when I'm working on that that I should be working on something else. It's Sunday, therefore I work on this!

Once a week is just frequent enough not to lose momemntum on it. I'll be thinking about it during the week and once I get to Sunday it'll be ready to come flowing out - hopefully! That thinking time has proved valuable to that project.

I can work on it other times of course, if feeling inspired, or I have some free days. Or the way I did at lunchtimes in October, getting a few hundred words here and there, along with my Sunday sessions. That really added up fast.

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I definitely need to keep at least one day a week open for this new one. Because I do like the ideas I've been coming up with (for the most part) and I think it's about time I got into something completely original anyway. It won't go out the window, I promise! LOL

[billy-shriner.livejournal.com]

It is a shame... but I suppose if you're used to doing something one way and it works for you.

I suppose I did Nano when I was very new at writing... so I wasn't set in my ways of how I liked to write... and it just taught me not to procrastinate over that first chapter. Because that's what I usually did. There's no rule in NaNo to say you still can't go back and change something ;o) or add notes... still word count :D

I'm still different to you and JFM... because I can't start posting a story until I've "finished" it - i.e. given it an ending. I know it will still need work and editing etc. But I have to have the story there before I can start posting for others to see.

The only time I kinda did do it was with Four Wishes... but I did have an ending, just needed help on the middle at the time.

So does this mean we'll be getting another instalment of Covenant then? No slacking girl!

[ostarella.livejournal.com]

So does this mean we'll be getting another instalment of Covenant then?

Oh yeah - have Murdock's first section pretty well figured out in my head. Just have to get that opening paragraph figured out and then - away we go! LOL

Well, at least until I get to Hannibal and Face discussing the robbery - have to do some DVD watching first... :p

[billy-shriner.livejournal.com]

oh goodie... right better catch up with TJ if I've got C to also start reading ;o)

[beckyblack]

I like the idea that the best time to do NaNoWriMo is when you're still too inexperienced at writing to know better than to try something so crazy! :D

[billy-shriner.livejournal.com]

yeah - I still can't believe you talked me into it!!!