Monday, October 31, 2011

Decision!

Last Friday I was wrestling with the question, to NaNo or not to NaNo.  I offered up my quandry and asked for your advice.  My sincere thanks to all who responded.

As is so often the case, hearing opinions on both side helped me figure out what I really wanted and needed to do.  This is what I came up with:
  • I would like to do NaNo.  It would be fun just to be part of it and challenges are very helpful for me.
  • It's more important that I stay focused on my WIP until I finish the final polishing and start actively querying.
  • None of the projects I have pending are at the "start writing" point.
And a biggie I hadn't really considered:
  • November is a ridiculous month to devote to a major writing challenge. (Remember, I admitted last week that the other thing that always sneaks up on me is Christmas.)
So, I've decided not to do NaNo. 

BUT -

I don't seem to be the only one who isn't quite ready for NaNo and/or who can't give up a month in the middle of the holiday season for a writing challenge.  So here's what I propose:

In November, instead of donig NaNo, I'll figure out the details on setting up a writing challenge, which will take place in January - after the holidays, when we need a little spark.    If you're interested, you've got two months to pull that new project together so you're ready to go with the New Year.  We won't be quite as ambitious in our goals as NaNo and if you want to start writing your story before we start, that's fine, too.  This will just be a support and encouragement challenge.  With maybe a little added incentive thrown in (give me time to see what I can come up with).

I'll post the details of the New Year Challenge around the beginning of December and if you're interested, or know someone who might be, perhaps you would help spread the word.

What do you think?  Sound like a plan?



This picture has nothing whatsoever to do with today's post.  I just thought it was funny.

Groaner of the Day:  Two robins were sitting in a tree.

"I'm really hungry," said the first one. "Let's fly down and find some lunch."

They flew down to the ground and found a nice plot of newly plowed ground that was full of worms. They ate and ate and ate till they could eat no more.

"I'm so full, I don't think I can fly back up into the tree," said the first one.

"Let's just lay back here and bask in the warm sun," said the second.

So they plopped down, basking in the sun. No sooner than they had fallen asleep, when a big fat tomcat came by and gobbled them up.

As the cat sat washing his face after his meal, he thought...

"I JUST LOVE BASKIN ROBINS."

35 comments:

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

January is easier for me to handle than November, especially if it's not as aggressive as NaNo.
LOL I'm passing the carton to my mail-carrier friends on facebook. They will so get it.
I actually liked the groaner. Does that mean I'm slipping?

Unknown said...

I think writers spend too much time in the woodwork by themselves so they go a little "ape" and party in November and pound out words for the heck of it.

I'm doing NaNo, but probably won't "win". My goal is to break the 500-word-a-day habit.

Angela Brown said...

NaNoWriMo isn't for everyone. Hasn't been right for me for the last few years I've heard about it. Still pondering if it's right this time around but I guess I'll find out.

I love the pic with the kitty...too funny.

And the cat in the groaner got the last laugh. Looks like this is the blog for cats to rul.

Cate Masters said...

I've never understood the reasoning of NaNo'ing in November - Thanksgiving's a major undertaking in itself, lol. It's not going to stop me, though. I signed up, but expect to fall short. January would be better, when it's too cold to do much else!

Dru said...

Love the picture.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Eh, November's no biggie for me. Yeah, my mom's b-day is in there, along with the holiday, but i just try to get ahead early on so i don't have to worry about writing on those days where other things come up. It's no biggie for me.
Anyway, what's the worst that can happen? I don't hit 50k? *shrugs*. Better than the 0K i'd get without NaNo

Larri said...

Isn't it nice to have the process of making the decision behind you? ☺ Hmmm...maybe I should jump in with you in January. DH keeps telling me I should write a book. I'll think about it...and have to decide. ;) Happy Monday!

Isis Rushdan said...

Brave of you to realize Nov is not the right month for you to take on this kind of challenge. Jan is good time to start something like that.

I have a project I want to complete in Nov myself, only first draft, but better than nothing.

Lydia Kang said...

ha ha ha! That was one lucky cat.

I'm not doing Nano for almost the exact same reasons!

Maria Zannini said...

Whose bright idea was it to do it in November? Insanity!

Things are slow for me in January, but in November I can barely stay ahead of the game between company and shopping.

I think you came up with a very reasonable compromise.

LD Masterson said...

Mary - Well, I'd love to have you join me in January.

I saw that you posted the cartton on FB. Glad you enjoyed it.

And, yes...you may be becoming a groaner junkie. :-)

LD Masterson said...

Kay - Good luck with NaNo.

Stacy McKitrick said...

I love me some Baskin' Robins, too! I can honestly say I didn't see THAT one coming! :)

You can probably count me in for January. I hope to be done with my current WIP by then and will be itching to start a new one (while I let the current one sit).

LD Masterson said...

Angela - If November turns out not to be the right time, you can always try January.

Yes, it was a "cats rule" kind of day.

LD Masterson said...

Cate - Good luck with NaNo.

My thoughts exactly on doing a January challenge. What else is there to do then?

LD Masterson said...

Thanks, Dru. It cracked me up so I had to share it.

LD Masterson said...

Sarah - Good point. Nothing ventured and all that. Good luck.

LD Masterson said...

Larri - Well, if you decide to take the plunge on writing a book, I'll try to provide some support. I'm expecting this to be a nice low key challenge.

And Happy Monday to you too.

LD Masterson said...

Isis - Good luck on that project. Let us know how it's going.

LD Masterson said...

Wait a minute - did Isis just call me brave? Excuse me a minute while I enjoy that. Not something I get called a lot. (chicken little over here)

LD Masterson said...

Lydia - Which one, the one scaring the mailman or the only munching on the robins? I think they were both having a good day. *grin*

Come join us in January.

LD Masterson said...

Thanks, Maria. I think you said you're not big on doing challenges but if you're in the mood come January...

(Oh no, the dreaded elipsis!)

LD Masterson said...

Stacy - Great!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

If I'm done editing my current manuscript, I might be up for some fun writing in January!

And I LOVE that LOL Cat.

LD Masterson said...

Diane - We may have the making of a fun group in January.

Glad you liked the cat.

Sarah Tokeley said...

Well, by January I'll be hating the story I've (hopefully) written for NaNo and be ready for something new. All being well, I'll be there :-)

Jemi Fraser said...

Nano is just over 2 hours away and I still haven't decided what I'm doing!!!! I want to finish my current editing project ... but it could probably do with a few weeks to marinate... and I haven't really thought of an idea ... but I'm a pantster anyway ... but.... Yikes!!!

LD Masterson said...

Sarah - Or maybe you'll have something you like from NaNo and you can spend January turning it into something you love.

LD Masterson said...

Jemi - Good luck, whichever way you decide to go. I'll be rooting for you.

Maryannwrites said...

I like the idea of a January writing challenge. I'm in. I'm not doing NaNo for a lot of reasons similar to yours, and I want to really buckle down in January and finish this WIP. It will help to have support.

Love your jokes. Always fun to come and see what nonsense you've posted.

Anonymous said...

January is a great time to start a novel. Depending on where I'm at with my next book, I may join u! The reality is that every month is NaNo for me. I'm rarely ever NOT writing something.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'll be freaking because my next book comes out in February, but it just might take my mind off the freaking!

Arlee Bird said...

I'm going to try NaNo again this year even though my November looks like a potential quagmire of stuff to do. And I have a feeling that my January might be even worse so I'm not sure where I stand right now. With all I've got ahead of me I hope I emerge with something to show for my efforts.


Lee
Tossing It Out

Anonymous said...

I'm doing Nano for the third straight year. But I don't make a big thing of it. I wrote about 25,000 words the previous two years and that's good enough for me.

Jessica R. Patch said...

Groaner: I so groaned but then giggled. I love these! I think your new challenge sounds fun!