NaNoWriMo Week 1…kind of
1st November came and went and yes I got myself typing straight away. My goal for NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 towards a novel that I had the outline in my head. I planned out some but not too much in the hope that I’ll be able to just enjoy the process rather than panic about what I’m doing! However, as I started typing those first few paragraphs and painstakingly drafting out the first chapter, I realised that I was writing something different. Yes, you hear me, different.
Originally the storyline was outlined as a historical gothic horror story with queer main characters and lots of gorgeous scenes set in a historical and stylistic Victorian era. This is not how I began typing. I began typing with a more modern time frame in mind and then that birthed a new idea on how to plot the overarching story across not one, not two but at least three different timelines. Because who doesn’t like to give themselves a challenge for their first real attempt at novel writing in over a decade! Oh Kat…
Daily Word Counts
Wednesday I clocked in a solid 1,801 words, and although the writing was half decent, I could definitely feel more of a groove on Thursday, I split 1,825 words across two sessions. Friday was definitely a slower day with only 738 words logged, I was really tired and uninspired that night so just gave into the procrastination and watched films instead. Saturday and Sunday were a lot better though bringing the total up to 7,942 words for the week. So it’s definitely an understatement that I feel pretty good right now!
Character Names
One of the biggest issues, other than changing the timelines and adding in an entirely new story arc, is not an unexpected one. Finding the right names for the characters I’m introducing has been a struggle. I’m conscious of the time periods but also that I don’t want to potentially lift from already well known and loved characters who may share similar traits by other authors. As an avid overthinker I know this is probably me making a mountain out of a molehill, but for now a lot of them have just been assigned initials.
This is why more planning could’ve helped, but we’re here now and initials will just have to do.
One thing I’m telling myself every time I have a little panic is that this is only a draft, and outline, a beginners idea. It’s not going to be the finished article in any shape or form, so actually ironing out these issues isn’t going to really affect the challenge, but it will of course just move the headaches further down the line.
Conclusion
Overall I’m pleased with my averaging 1,700 words a session, and hope that I can at least punch out some more solid 2k days this week while the amount of work I’m committing to in my stationery hand art shop slows down. This week I’m playing catch up in the evenings but I know that Thursday will be a great day to really sit down and crunch out those chapters.
Onwards we go!