November 1st is a big day for those who have signed up for NaNo Writers Month. What is NaNo? Itโs where many writers sign up on the NaNo website committing to write at least 50,000 words of a book in a fast draft form. Impressive isnโt it?
For the last two years Iโve unofficially joined in and Iโve dished out a stack of words in doing so. Even with November being one of my busiest months, Iโve always been able to write more just feeding off of the excitement and motivation of other writers out there pounding away at their keyboards.
And I was planning on doing it all over again by starting my next book set in Indonesia.
But Iโm not going to. Instead Iโm tackling a major revision of my latest book set in Korea. I knew my bookโs opening chapters could be stronger so I emailed my critique buddy the whole book and said, โHELP! What is wrong with this baby of mine?โ
Thatโs the amazing thing about great critique partners. They see the problems you just canโt see when youโre too close to a project. And they tell you whatโs wrong instead of sending you a happy gram back with smiles and โI love it!โ (Well, they might say โI love it!โ but with lots of other insights too!)
When I got her email with her comments, I got so excited. She was right! She had some great ideas on how to fix my problems, too. So Iโve been brainstorming, making lists on the problems and how Iโm going to solve those. Itโs a great feeling.
So this month, Iโm hacking out a pretty intensive revision. It wonโt be a major rewrite but many of the chapters will be getting whole new looks and the first few chapters will be seeing lots of cuts and rewrites. Exciting isnโt it?
My goal? Get this baby finished by December 1st!
Bring on the chocolate!
Great goal, Christy! I’m revising too – I want to finish my first pass of revisions for novel #4 (cooking story). We can cheer each other on.
It IS exciting! Go you! I love that feeling of starting a revision, even a big one, when I know what needs to be done. How great to have such a wise critique partner, too!
I’m doing the same thing Christina! Revise/rewrite. Lots of work to do.
You go girl!!!!! I know you’re going to do a phenomenal job!
Thanks guys! Because I took a long break from the project I really don’t feel like I must have something in there.
You are right Bish! Lots of work to do. Hope yours goes well too!
that sounds like a great goal! And as long as your writing, I think it counts!
I love revision. Have a great November!
Good luck with NaNo! Sounds like you have a great critique buddy! Lucky duck!
I can’t manage to do NaNo this year, but my goal is to finish my novel. There’s about 5 chapters left, but that’s about all I can manage these days.
I’ll be cheering you on!