Wednesday, November 1, 2017

As Nano kicks off the IWSG ponders a deep and meaningful publishing question for all the writers out there

Today is November 1st. There's a lot of things that happen in November. For one, we've officially entered the holiday season. This year is the first one in which I'm putting up my own tree and decorating (a little bit) for Christmas. For Halloween, I just put a bunch of pumpkins on my porch, so it'll be a little more effort than that to dress the house up for the holidays. Second, it's the start of Nanowrimo for many people out there, and this event also has to do with the Insecure Writer's Support Group monthly question which is talked about below. Third, it's the first full month in which the iPhone X is going to be available. It's been a few years since I upgraded, so I think it's the one I'm going to jump to once its widely available (there's currently a production bottleneck). My current iPhone is barely useable. It's battery lasts about an hour if I don't use it at all and fifteen minutes otherwise. And the lag it experiences is significant. When I type a text message, there's usually a one second delay now before the letters appear on the screen. Yeah...it's pretty awful.

So this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group question is: "Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? Have any of them gone on to be published?"

I actually have never participated in the NaNo project, so I guess that's easy. However, if you dig into what the question is really asking it's this: have you ever just binge typed a novel into completion in thirty days. The answer is still no, although I did type out one novel in about sixty days once. And no, that book was never published.

Right now, I'm collaborating on a fun project with my friend Jake. It's been really interesting, as he's come up with a fascinating story and loaded it into google docs, and I take on the persona of one or two characters that he doesn't want to deal with and respond in character to situations that he's put them into. The fun thing is, he can actually see my words appear on the screen in the google docs program as I type them. I never realized writing could be a shared experience, and it's a lot of fun. As for the story it's kinda meh. It currently has no plot really, but we are certainly getting to know the characters rather well. I guess that's something. I imagine we are cranking out enough words to qualify for NaNo. But I've got enough publishing experience under my belt to know that this is a thing that should never be published because it's kinda bad lol. Bad can still be fun though. It's true. And in the least, it's showing me that it's actually quite easy for two people to work on a project at the same time (and weave together their writing styles). I think it'd be fun to take this experience and apply it to a more serious context in the future.

8 comments:

  1. I didn't realize Google Doc was real time either. That's cool.
    I've written an entire book in six weeks before.
    Decorating takes on a whole new meaning when you own a house, doesn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  2. So are you ever releasing your 3rd book? I edited it like 2 years ago. And are you and Brad seeing Thor tomorrow night? I hear it's good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I plan on releasing it at some point. I got distracted from the task last year with the death of my mom. Then after I got over that, it was the whole purchasing a house thing. Then after that I just lost any momentum I had going. So, at some point, it'll be coming out. I figure a good long break is great either way because it'll allow me to read it one final time with fresh eyes. Then I'll be able to edit it much better and see issues I had with the writing. As for Thor, yes Brad and I are seeing it tomorrow. Hopefully I can have a review up by Friday.

      Delete
  3. I've used Google Docs, but I didn't realize it had that capability. I agree with Alex, that's cool.

    And I love participating in NaNoWriMo, and I've managed to "win" a few times, but I have yet to actually complete one of those stories.

    Good for you for making the effort to decorate. I'm the one house in our neighborhood that does absolutely nothing ever. Which is probably a topic of discussion at the association meetings...that I do not attend. At least we're quiet neighbors (except for when football's on, maybe...), right?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Give it time. It might work into something you'd publish. Not this draft, obviously...

    I'm with you in the bleachers. I don't do NaNo. But I wish all the luck to those that do.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't imagine working on a writing project with someone else, but it could provide an interesting change of perspective on characters and plots.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The project sounds fun. It can be motivating when you're working with another writer, so this might get you going on other books or publishing that third one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm so glad you're having fun writing -- that's the most important element. Me, I've long since given up on any Christmas decorating, but with you in a new home it's important you start your own traditions.

    ReplyDelete