Yes, I too have fallen victim to the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge. Blogs far and wide will spout news of the event, so I will save my words for my novel.
Or equivalent.
Let me explain.
I initially intended to write a light psychological thriller based on an outline from some time ago. Exciting stuff.
But then yesterday, I finished a short story that had been unfinished for too long. All it needed was an ending, and so I ended it. I knew what was going to happen, most of it was dialogue, and besides the catch-up reading and some minor tweaking, I wrote freely. A thousand words. That was all. I looked at my watch and was astounded to learn it had taken me two hours to reach The End.
1000 words in 2 hours? Seriously? It took that long?
500 words an hour. That's probably right now I think about it.
Okay, so my 50,000 word novel requires 100 hours.
Divided by 30 days. That's 3 hours 20 minutes per day, at least, to write the required 1666 words.
Now I'm not a terrible typist. Not great, but not terrible. And just for kicks, I took a typing speed test and found that I type at about 50 words a minute (with 99 per cent accuracy thanks to my pesky inner critic). So, theoretically, I could type my required 1666 words a day in about 33 minutes. Wouldn't that be awesome?
Typing speed: 3000 words an hour. Writing speed: 500 words an hour. Quite a difference.
And so I realised that my chance of writing in 30 days 50,000 words based on my psych thriller outline was slim at best. This story requires more thinking than writing than typing. I was kidding myself.
So now, I have decided to write a 'creative memoir.' (Just 'memoir' makes me sound like I think my life is interesting enough to write about - this remains unproven.)
I am writing about a roadtrip through Namibia with my sister: hippos threatening to tip our canoe in a storm; the lion three feet away from us; the sibling tiffs; all good stuff. Okay, so we were in a car when we came across the lion, but still....
My theory is that memory will get me through - the facts, the details, the feelings. I don't have to imagine a journey, because it has happened. I don't have to dream up characters, because I have met them. I have dot points about the trip's twists and turns as mini-cliffhangers and a map (literally) to guide me. Unfortunately, my photos and travel journals are a world away (except for the lion photo), but a part of my brain is alive with images of Africa, and I want to know if I can draw those images in words.
So that's my plan. Is a memoir a novel? Not according to NaNoWriMo.org's genre selection. Am I cheating myself of the creative process? I suspect I will be incorporating a healthy dose of exaggeration into my story, so fiction or not, count me in.
For those embarking on the journey, may you have the time of your life, and may the speed be with you. Good luck.
Exercise 87. Check or do your story outline for NaNoWriMo. Set your schedule. On 1 Nov, write like a cheetah runs.
Exercise 88. Get some fresh air. Go for a walk. Pull your shoulders back. Raise your head high.
I'm not participating but what a wonderful goal and incentive. I love your idea. Creative non-fiction is a hot-seller. I think you're on to a great idea. I will be cheering you on and will look forward to your updates.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie. You inspire me with your positive words. I eagerly await an update on your editing efforts, too.
DeleteWrite! Write like the wind! So glad you're doing this, Egg...you'll have to give me your link so I can add you. When I write my memoir, believe you me, there's going to be so many embellishments...embellishment #1: Mike becomes Seeker on the Quiddich team. It will progress (or digress) from there.
ReplyDeleteWith your travels, it sounds like your life won't need any exaggerations. :o)
Ha. I like your imaginative memoir already.
DeleteI've added you as a buddy (despite technical problems - argghh). I'm registered as EMHudson in an attempt to sound half serious... and because Eureka and Egg were both taken. Only three days to go.
Hey Egg,
ReplyDeleteI wanted to give you a heads up. Ever since I started writing for The Alzheimer's Reading Room, my blog (Treading Water) is getting scads of traffic from that demographic (health care workers and caregivers). Since I originally started that blog for that purpose and was planning on writing thoughts on that subject anyway, I'm just turning that blog into a Caregivers blog. I was only really offering things for writers, and I'd rather have a different blog for that.
My new blog for writing is http://www.mlswift.blogspot.com
It's called ML Swift, Chasing Windmills. Come on over and sign in. If you would, could you change it on your blogroll? Although I'll still be posting at least once a week on Treading, it's going to be for caregivers.
Haven't got much done on the NaNo today. I revamped the blogs last night and today's my mom's birthday, so it's been an afternoon with her.
Hope you're doing well!
No worries. Done. The revamp looks good.
DeleteEgg,
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the memoir, it sounds like the trip to Namibia was a great success. A friend of mine asked me if I would be willing to write his resume for him. Of course I said yes and I told him that as a fiction writer my job was to tell the truth until it was boring and then I would embellish, fabricate and flat out lie until the words came alive with excitement. He hasn’t called back yet.
I can’t wait for the new and improved version of the trip to be produced.
Ha ha. I thought 'Creative Memoir' was a made-up genre, but so far nobody's been surprised. I've certainly seen some 'Creative Resumes' in my time, too. Your friend would be crazy not to employ your creative skills. After your embellishments, I have no doubt he would definitely be in the running for that astronaut job.
Delete