My ROW80 goals for this round are to prepare for NaNoWriMo in October, win NaNoWriMo in November, then recover from NaNoWriMo in December.
Last year I failed NaNoWriMo. Part of this was because I had a submission deadline for something else I wanted to work on (I made the deadline but was rejected,) but mainly it was that I didn’t do enough preparation. Too many other things encroached on my writing time, things that I could have taken care of ahead of time.
This year, I’m trying to do as much ahead of time as I possibly can. I’d like to even do an outline, but I’m running out of time. There are a couple of shorts I’d like to finish and get sent off soon; they both have deadlines in November. If I don’t get them done before NaNoWriMo, I won’t get them done at all. Then there are things like my daughter’s birthday party that must be planned…
I did get my writing nook set up. I have a place in what we call the workroom, which serves as a sewing room, guest room, laundry sorting area, and once again my writing nook. I’ve moved my laptop (which is on its last legs, but still my best writing machine) up here and left my notebook computer down in the living room. I’m happy to finally have a place to put my “extra” writing stuff like my moon globe, another globe I crafted as an imaginary planet and had the Phase II cast & crew sign, a stuffed X-Wing fighter, and hopefully soon many of my other mementos such as books by writer friends will fill the shelves.
Just because I’ve created a writing nook away from family activity doesn’t mean the family won’t follow me… the workroom for a while had a couple of computers my daughters used to play Webkinz and Minecraft, but we’ve rearranged their playroom to reflect the fact that they’re now doing more computer stuff and fewer tea parties. Although there’s nothing in particular for them here other than a television (which, honestly, bores them both) they gravitate to me even when they know they’re supposed to ask Daddy the million questions they want to ask.
Is it irony that once upon a time her baby crib was in this very spot?
AmyBeth Inverness 
AmyBeth,
Every time I visit you, it’s almost like I’m at home! I, too, have offspring who follow me around (I’m thrilled that they like me enough to do it, but the rapid-fire questions and commentary can make it hard to focus (which may be why I often write all night long!).
Substitute Creatures of Olympus and Skylanders for Webkinz, and fashion shows for tea parties, ( and make the kids a boy and a girl) and that’s us, all over – except that they do enjoy television. too.
A while back, they agreed to be beta-listeners for one of my rough drafts. They loved it, and are clamoring for the rewrite I won’t be be starting till next year. It’s helped them to see what it is I’m doing during my writing time, and they’ve been more accommodating, since.
I don’t know if that’s feasible for you (my kids are 9 and 12,and, although all my writing isn’t, this WIP was mostly appropriate to their tastes and developmental stages, and I could skip the couple of places that weren’t without sacrificing the story.)
Still, it’s an idea, and it might help.
I’m right with you on the NaNo planning. I’m doing character sketches, now, and then I can begin my scene -by-scene outlining – hopefully by Sunday, but I also have a few other things I want to wrap up before November.
Best of luck – and I love your December goal! =)
My kids are definitely NOT going to be beta-listeners anytime soon lol!
Today I had parent-teacher conferences for my Kindergartner, and her teacher said she was a born writer. Of course this led me to tell about my own writing (I have a short coming out in an antho next week) but…most of my stuff is NOT kid friendly. Then I realized I have my lunar shorts, and all of those are family-rated.
All the ROWers doing NaNo have me feeling lazy (for not doing it). Wishing you the best of luck! My “writing nook” is in my dining room, so I get lots of visits from my kids too (if I dare write when they’re home). I’m envious that you have a more private space for it (though, I think I’d end up with the same result as you). 😉 Wishing you the best in setting up your space and on your NaNo endeavors.
OMG do NOT feel lazy for not doing NaNo lol! It is definitely a different kind of writing, one that does NOT work for a lot of writers.
You think NaNo’s nuts, though… you should see me during the #3DayNovel weekend every Labor Day!
I’ve heard of people doing 1 draft in 3 days and I always thought it was insane. However, I didn’t know there was a special weekend for it!
I had considered it for this year during summer (despite having failed the 2 times I tried to do it before). However, I have a bit of writing mess going on over here, so there is no way I can be on track and do it with a clear conscious.
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