Well, it’s July, which means that I am back at Camp NaNoWriMo for another thirty days of writing with abandon. Or thirty-one days, I mean, because I totally know and definitely didn’t forget that July has thirty-one days.
Anyway, I’ll be writing with abandon this month, for however long it lasts. Or at least pretending to write with abandon. It’ll depend on the day. And the time of day. And how much caffeine I’ve had. And how many belly rubs my puppies require (That’s very important). And, you know, if I can figure out what the hell to write in the first place.
Details.
This mostly means that this month will be a month of experimentation, primarily revolving around three unfinished projects in my epic-ish fantasy series, The Coileáin Chronicles: Full Circle, Adventures In Babysitting (probably a working title, but I suppose there’s no telling with me) and what is currently being called Threnody.
In timeline order, they would be considered Books 3, 3.5, and 4. These three projects fit together somehow. I’m pretty sure, anyway. I just don’t know how exactly that’s supposed to happen. I keep feeling like if I can figure out how they relate to one another that everything will drop into place. But maybe I’m totally wrong about that. Maybe they don’t fit together at all. Maybe they’re all doomed projects that need to go live at that farm upstate where all fundamentally flawed WIPs go to frolic freely in the grassy meadows or whatever happens at the farm upstate. I honestly don’t know anymore. (About the projects, I mean. Not the farm.) Hence the experimentation.
This month, I shall attempt to solve this puzzle. Emphasis on ‘attempt’.
Here’s where each of the three WIPs currently stand:
Full Circle: Has gone through the first draft stage and one round of edits/revisions. Went out to the betas a while ago, and the response has been…underwhelming, let’s say. I clearly missed the mark there. Which sucks, sure, but it happens, so now I need to see if I can come up with something better. Or, at the very least, something different.
Adventures In Babysitting: Intended to be a companion novella to Full Circle, this project is best described as a few non-POV characters on a side quest. I’m intrigued by the more specific premise, but I don’t know how to write it yet. Or even if I can. Or should.
Threnody: While it’s currently set up as a fourth book, I’m not sure it actually would work as a fourth book. Like, there’s maybe not enough to it (at least not at this moment) to justify another entire novel. Maybe it’s another companion novella. Maybe it’s supposed to be part of Full Circle. (I really don’t think that’s the case, but I can’t take anything off the table at this point.) Maybe it’s supposed to be nothing at all.
So what all of this boils down to is a big, heaping helping of I don’t know and a side of Well, what else can I try?
Which leads to my Camp NaNoWriMo theme for this month: What if…
As in ‘What if I tried this?” or “What if that happened?” or “What if I wrote a novel people actually wanted to read?”
(I know, dare to dream…)
My word count goal is set at 20,000 words. I chose the number pretty arbitrarily, because, again, I am so very large with not knowing. I could write a lot more (Look at that! Another ‘dare to dream’ moment!). I could write a lot less. I suspect it will be the latter because of all of the not knowing. But, win or lose, it’s really fine. This month is all about the experiment.
Either way, this goal comes out to approximately 666 words per day, except that’s not right because, once again, I totally remember that July is thirty-one days long, so really, the daily goal is slightly less than that.
(Please hold while I consult a calculator).
645 words per day. Which has the added bonus of not only being a smaller number but also being slightly less omnious-sounding.
Here where the numbers are as of the writing of this post (which is late on July 4th, though it won’t go live until the 5th):
Camp Stats
Word Count Goal: 20,000
Where the WC should be: 3,266
Where the WC actually is: 4,134
Number of words to go: 15,866
WIP getting the most WC love: Full Circle (The Experiment Edition)
So, that’s gonna do it for me today. Sorry for the length and the excessive rambling. (Yes, I know I could have easily edited it out, but what fun would that be?) If you made it all the way through this post, I salute you.
Tune in next week when I will provide another scintillating Camp update. Unless I forget. Which I probably will. If that’s the case, then maybe I’ll remember to post next month.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by. Be safe and well.
I think a few of my WIPs have gone to that farm upstate.
I think it’s a good idea to give yourself the freedom to work on whatever inspires you the most, while still committing to a word count. Hopefully you can figure some things out this month!
I’ve done the multi-project approach a few times during NaNo sessions, and I’ve been really happy with the results. It helps me feel like I’m still moving forward, even if I’m stuck on one particular project.
Good job for getting ahead on your word count. I believe you can do it! And wow, do I relate to your struggles with getting everything to work out. My book 4 plot is vague at best. It’s themed “Recovery”, but beyond my guy threatening the world (again), I don’t have much to go on. At least you’re past book 2, which is where I’m stuck.
Hope you have fun with camp! May the words flow freely!
I’m honestly surprised every damn day that I made it past book 2. 🙂
May we both find the solutions we’re looking for! (And may they be really easy to implement!)
Good luck with camp.
Thank you!
Following your gut in what to write/rewrite/edit… always works for me too. I bet you’re going to figure out exactly what you want those satires to look like 🙂 Have fun!
I do try to listen to my gut, but there’s always a voice in my head saying things like, “Yeah, well, your gut also thought eating cookies for breakfast was a good idea, so what does it know?”
It’s a process.
I always forget about Camp NaNo until I see that you’re doing it. Maybe I’ll remember for next summer, but then again, I’m getting older so who knows?
Wishing you good writing mojo and yummy s’mores!
I tend to take it easy (easier, anyway) during Camp, but I’m the only ML for my region, so I try to make an effort each session. 🙂
Best of luck figuring out which way to go with these projects! @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Thank you!
Focus on Full Circle and see what else falls into place. If it doesn’t, don’t worry about it.
Pretty sure I’ll worry about it regardless of whether anything actually falls into place…but I’ll try not to. 🙂
Hopefully you figure it out. And wasn’t Adventures In Babysitting an 80’s film?
It was, indeed, an 80’s film. That film may have been the inspiration for the title, even though it’s a vastly different story. (At least I hope it will be…)
I think once you get started on one project you’ll find it takes off on you and you’ll know what you’re supposed to be doing. Starting is sometimes the hardest part.
I suppose the only thing you can do is keep writing until you figure out the answers to your questions!
*glares* Yes, July has 31 days… *doesn’t mention birthday is on 31st*
Hey, at least you’re still writing. And have goals. And stories that kind of are story-ish. So, win. You’ll figure it out. I do wonder if perhaps you might just randomly write scenes for Adventures in Babysitting with the characters doing their thing. You might not hit the story there, but then again, you might find where that story is hiding.
Good luck.
Please let me know of the name of that farm upstate. I think I’d enjoy working there as a shepherd, watching over flocks of flawed WIPS as they graze on tangled plotlines and wander off on long, winding tangents, day after day. I’d feel very at home there.
Good luck, and may the words be with you.