I only have one more day to decide whether or not to participate in National Novel Writing Month this year. I don’t write well to prompts and generally make good progress on my own. Plus, I write in so many different genres and forms I’m not always ready to dig deep into a novel.
Last year was an exception. I wanted to finish Storm Watch, the third book in the Unfinished Business series, by summer 2016. I had three chapters written, I knew where I was going with the story, and the second book was about to be released. I was tied into the characters and the story. All of my marketing was focused on this series. I committed to write 50,000 words and made my goal. But I was wrecked. My marketing in advance of the holiday season was impaired.
While having a deadline helped me in that case, it is very hard to write that many words a day on one project. Like tonight, for example. I am just about done with Storm Watch (running a little behind) and have the final two chapters to finish. The hardest parts are done, but I’m feeling compelled to go back to work on those chapters instead of tying up the loose ends of both this novel and the series.
Here I am at Taos Toolbox, in a remote mountain cabin with wine, whiskey and eleven other fanatical writers. This is not the current reality.
Carole At Taos Toolbox with Jeff Dunteman and Fiona Lehn
Last night, I participated in a huge Facebook event, Magickal Samhain. It was fantastic and I gained a lot of new fans. Tonight, I’m sending out contest prizes. I’m writing this blog. I’ve promised a review to a friend with a new release coming out. I’ve only read the first chapter. My daughter is very concerned with Halloween plans. We’ve had work done in the house and I’m desperately trying to clean up the mess in at least one of the rooms. Since in addition to piles of my research notes and all my marketing to do lists, there are two kids, a cat, a dog and a husband so the mess keeps re-accumulating. It has gotten to the point where the clutter is disturbing me–so it’s really bad.
If I get any writing done on Storm Watch tonight, let alone a full chapter, which would leave one to be able to write “The End” tomorrow, it will be a miracle. Then the whole novel needs to be edited and sent to Debby. Sure, I could put it aside for a month and go back with renewed enthusiasm, but the NaNo project is an urban fantasy series in a different world. I fear I am too tied into a Cape Cod paranormal mindset to make the jump. And I have no deadline to meet with this series as the first book still is not sold.
So, to NaNo or not to NaNo? Should I sign up jump the track and start writing 500 words a day on a new project? What are other writers doing?
smpauthors.wordpress.com 
I’m doing Nano, mainly because I want to get a first draft of a completely new project onto paper. It’s science fiction with no romance thread, so I’d like to see how it works out. Trying to get an idea spun out within a month works for me, even if I don’t end up with a finished novel. I love deadlines. Nano allows me to keep writing and not to worry if it seems like rubbish as I write. When I’ve reread past work from nano, I’ve always had a good framework to work with later. Having said that, I don’t have children and only work part time. Good luck whatever you decide….
I am in the same dilemma, Carole. I am about 2/3 of the way through a novel that I REALLY need to finish soon. But a brand new story idea has derailed me, and I already have character sketches and a loose outline. So, Nano the New or do what I ought to do???? A conundrum, for sure. 😦
Reblogged this on CAROLE ANN MOLETI.
I think I’m going to jump in and draft in about a week. I just finished a round of edits and need time for my brain to unwind first. But I like trying to feed off everyone’s writing high 🙂