NaNoWriMo is weeks away and participants are making preparations for a month of writing and more writing. After giving it a try again in 2018, I’m sitting it out for 2019.
Last year’s effort made clear my approach to writing doesn’t fit the NaNoWriMo mold. I didn’t do as much pre-writing outlining as I usually do. Thought I’d give it a more seat-of-the-pants (“Pantser”) approach. Turns out, I’m a “Plantser.” I like to plan ahead for significant plot points so I know what I’m writing toward and so I can insert facts or foreshadowing for later use. But I’m open to veering off the original plan as the story develops. I’m definitely not one to begin with a blank page and no idea of what I’m going to write.
But the most obvious reason that I’m not a good candidate for NaNoWriMo is my tendency to loop back through previous writing before settling in to create new pages.
I’m a loopy writer.
I generally go back through the previous scene to get back into the story as well as edit before I continue with the first draft. However, sometimes I loop back even further if I’ve had a story idea that requires changes to set it up. Inspiration often comes while walking the dog or at the barn with the horse. These moments away from pen & paper or the computer allow the brain to chug away in the background. Suddenly I know how to get a character where I need her to be, or realize what special skill will get the character out of a predicament, and so forth.
NaNoWriMo is all about spewing forth words to reach the 50,000 goal. Repeatedly going back through the previous day’s work won’t get me there. I’m just too loopy.
Mary S. Potter 