Quantum Storytelling

The Probabilities of Storytelling

Just Write Already!

November 06th, 2006 | Category: Creative Process, NaNoWriMo

Therese has a Tinker-Free post up over at Writer Unboxed, talking about the painful beauty of NaNoWriMo. I’m with her 100%. I love to plot. I love to arrange my scenes. I love to think up the big ideas, and jot down notes about them. The reason NaNo is so painful is because it strips all that away. During November, there is only writing. Forget about plotting, outlining, note-taking, and daydreaming.

The true point of NaNoWriMo shows its ugly face; Just write. Ugly or not, painful or not, fun or not. Write. All the subtleties and variety of storycraft gets reduced to that simple mechanical action. Throw words at the wall and hope they stick. And even if they don’t, throw them at the wall anyway.

Just write already.

 

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  1. S William Shaw

    November 6th, 2006 at 5:47 pm

    There is such a find balance (for me) between over-writing and loving slow, and throwing words and cleaning up the mess later.

  2. Eric

    November 6th, 2006 at 6:27 pm

    One thing I always forget to mention… been working towards this all year. I knew I was going to participate again this year, and so I had been shuffling lots of plot and notes all year long. So it’s definitely not a big random writing push without prep…

    But since I tend to over-prep rather than under-prep, I still find myself caught off guard a little. But that’s good. Can’t plot & plan indefinitely.

  3. Nienke

    November 7th, 2006 at 12:56 pm

    I feel your pain.
    And, despite plenty of plotting, outlining and story thread planning, I’m freaked out at the keyboard wondering,’what the hell am I going to write?’
    What’s the saying? Some writers just want to have written? Hmmmm.

  4. Roland Hulme

    November 9th, 2006 at 2:51 pm

    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

  5. Eric

    November 9th, 2006 at 4:08 pm

    Hah! For sure. Been playing a bit of Resident Evil 4 on the GameCube… waiting for Xmas for my 360. Gotta take a break from writing sometimes.

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