Snowflake Challenge #8: Your Creative Process

[brightly_lit]

Challenge #8

Talk about your creative process.

NaNoWriMo completely revolutionized the process of writing for me. I attempted to complete 50,000 words in November two years in succession, with much preparation the second time. Both times I wore out about five days in and couldn't complete it. But it taught me it's possible to write 2,000 words a day, and that even if I wasn't yet able to do it, lots of people were!

I loved both projects I started for NaNo (one became a full-length novel called X, which is probably my favorite thing I've ever written), and though I couldn't complete NaNo, I realized I could just apply that approach to writing the rest of the year (and finish that book!). That's what I've done ever since.

I usually write for about two hours a day, which generally results in around 2,000 words. Doing the writing makes way for more ideas, and I spend a lot more time the rest of the day planning more parts of the book or story, then rinse and repeat.

Comments

[abject_reptile]

I did NaNo once and finished it but real life intervened in a big way about a week before I was done and it was nip and tuck. After that, the incomplete and unedited story hung around my neck like an albatross for years. It was a good experience but I was reluctant to do it again because it felt...cursed. XD

[scribblemoose]

Nano is the basis of my writing habits, too - I used to completely get in my own way but editing what I wrote the day before over and over and never moving forwards - Nano taught me to just get words down and it was transformative!

The true power of any challenge is enabling you to find what works for you. I'm so glad nano helped you too. I miss it!