NaNoWriMo @ MML: the Dreaded Week 2
After the optimistic glow of the first full week of National Novel Writing Month fades away, writers are met with a mammoth challenge: staying on task! Writing 1,667 words per day is no easy feat. What’s even harder is making those 1,667 words work well with the overarching story and theme of the 50,000 word project. The second week in November is when things get real for writers taking the novel-in-a-month challenge.
All good novelists must master the art of setting the scene for the action in their books. After all, what good is a plot without an engaging atmosphere for readers to become lost in? One of the most challenging parts of putting together a novel is being able to find a balance between setting and story. This is why week 2 of NaNoWriMo is so difficult. It’s so easy to get lost in the scramble for setting details, and to forget all about keeping the plot moving. On the other hand, some writers may find themselves in a situation where their plot is fully fleshed out, but lacking in supporting details to keep it exciting and fresh.
So how are our MML novelists faring, half-way through the month? Read below to find out:
Novelist: Carol Z.
Working Book Title: Infiltrations
What’s your novel about?
Fresh out of college in 1978, Jane Pardy and her friend, Renee Frank, embark on a cross-Canada trip. Mistaken for lovers, they’re welcomed by women’s organizations in cities across the continent during a time when being lesbian is still quite taboo. Once on the west coast, Jane finds herself in the midst of a cult and again pretends to be something she’s not, using what she’s learned to get people out.
Current word count: 25,756
How was week two?
Harder than week one! I’m behind, by one day’s worth of writing.
What is the most challenging part of the writing process so far?
Finding time to write, saying “no” to pressing life missions, and making dialogue sound authentic.
Is your novel still true to the way you originally imagined it?
Yes!
Novelist: Rhonda E.
Working Book Title: Untitled
What’s your novel about? My novel is historical fiction, a bildungsroman set during World War I.
Current word count: 5,390
How was week two?
Although my word count is not incredibly high, I am very happy with the writing I have accomplished. My story is moving along nicely and at a good pace.
What is the most challenging part of the writing process so far?
Making time to write. My weeks are incredibly busy, so I do most of my writing on the weekend.
Is your novel still true to the way you originally imagined it?
Yes, since I am a planner, much of my story was plotted out beforehand, and I am sticking to that plan.
Novelist: Alexis C.
Working Book Title: Woman In White
What’s your novel about?
Vengeful ghost returns to seek out boyfriend that drove her to suicide. Creating strange disturbances all over Brooklyn as she searches him out.
Current word count: 23,774
How was week two?
A lot harder than week one. I started losing steam and worried that my idea was never really suited to novel length.
What is the most challenging part of the writing process so far?
Sticking with writing daily, especially when I wasn't sure where to go next with the story.
Is your novel still true to the way you originally imagined it?
No, in some ways the story itself has changed in addition to the amount of backstory and action I wanted to include. Originally it was mostly all action.
Novelist: Nancy A.
Working Book Title: Blue Magic
What’s your novel about? A remote island in the South Pacific that’s under the spell of an ancient curse.
Current word count: 18,851
How was week two?
So hard! I fell way behind thanks in part to a nasty cold, and a hefty dose of writer’s block.
What is the most challenging part of the writing process so far?
For me, it’s the sheer ambition of my project. My novel spans a huge swath of time, and includes scenes as varied as a colonial encounter in the 1700’s, a WWII battle scene, and the murder of a wealthy yachting couple in the present day. I’m having a hard time convincing myself that the connective thread between these scenes is strong enough to hold it all together.
Is your novel still true to the way you originally imagined it?
More or less, yes. It’s evolved since I started it but not much. I’m trying to stay true to my original idea.
Novelist: Alethea B.
Working Book Title: Dreaming Havana
What’s your novel about? The life and family of a Cuban American Jazz singer from 1950s-70s Cuba to present day NY.
Current word count: 2,306
How was week two?
Not very productive due to demands from other areas of life. My progress more or less ground to a halt, but I tried to keep working even if only I could get page or two done per day.
What is the most challenging part of the writing process so far?
Finding dedicated space and time for solely working on this project has been difficult.
Is your novel still true to the way you originally imagined it?
No, I have reworked the original structure and made the main character a young adult, the granddaughter of a Cuban American Jazz singer. The main plot has transformer into her response to a last request of her grandmother. All of my research on Cuba in the 1950s-1970s is still useful, but the structure will appear less stiff and textbookish. I think it now flows with ease.
Novelist: Genee B.
Working Book Title: The Amethyst
What’s your novel about?
A sci-fi fantasy novel about a distant planet that is ruled by a tyrannical king who has cemented his rule by eliminating the entirety of the royal bloodline...but there has long been whispers of a prophecy of an off-worlder who would end the mad king's rule.
Current word count: 1,167
How was week two?
Actually better than week 1, but still a struggle.
What is the most challenging part of the writing process so far?
The most challenging part of writing is planning how to move the story along while remembering what you had previously written. I know where I want to go, but not how to get there. What direction my characters should take, and how to articulate it creatively so that my readers really understand is more difficult than I thought it would be. Don't even get me started on character names!
Is your novel still true to the way you originally imagined it?
Yes it is, I was having issues the first week because I was unsure about the sequence of events in the first chapter, but now that I've solved that issue the first chapter is coming along nicely.
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