Introducing....My July NaNo Project!
1:40 PM
*Upon walking into a dark lecture hall, the audience takes their seats*
*lights go on*
*Catherine turns on her mic and walks out onto the stage*
When life circumstances change, other things have this funny way of changing too.
I'll tell you, my dear friends.....adjusting to this new job, it's been a rough road. Cramming your normal life into 4 hours a day is not an easy thing to accomplish. Never mind trying to work ongoing and future projects into the mix.
Originally, I was going to work on one of the WIPs that's on my WIP page - it was a tossup between The White Rose (which I started in April and am now 15k in), "Shattered Chandelier" or "Rose of Culmore".
But I know realize that this isn't going to work.
And so....
I have decided to work on.....
ALL 6 OF THE WIPS!!
*Dropping the mic, Catherine dramatically leaves and the stage darkens*
*audience is stunned*
*Catherine hides in wings*
*mutterings start*
A sane person: She's crazy! Crackers! Round the bend!
Another sane person: Well, she is a writer, guys. She was bound to develop a small strain of insanity eventually....
(gee thanks, Sane Person 2. That's comforting....)
Sane Person 1: Come on! We know she can't work on ONE WIP for more than a month or so. How is she going to handle 6????
(oh peanuts. I'm doomed.)
*nerdy girl scrolls through her phone*
Nerdy Girl: Hey! Didn't Catherine say in her last post that she was in bad need of spring cleaning?
(yes, yes, go on.....)
Sane Person 1: But it's almost summer!
(*glares at SP 1*)
Nerdy Girl: Do you think she was trying to tell us something?
(maybe.....*pulls down projector screen*)
*words appear as voice booms out of speakers*
Project Blueprint: All WIPS
This is not a story. This is not editing.
This is me trying to get my scrambled story notes in one spot.
I've been plotting/writing several WIPs over the past few years. In that time, I've created skads of notes, and other media, that NEED to be collected and documented so that I can use it for actual writing. I've been putting this off for years and it's high time I actually did something about it. After the notes are transposed, I'll start world-building and potentially doing some plotting for selected WIPs (first priority being the Epic of Verden series!)
*Catherine reappears*
Gotcha, didn't I?
Yes, I really am working on all six of my current WIPs. Even with my 50 hours a week work schedule, potential room renovations (Operation Vintage Makeover is being accelerated!!!), and other crazy stuff that is happening in my life....
There is a method to my madness though.
I know that several readers have been waiting for news and development on different WIPs - and are probably frustrated at my constant jumping around. The only excuse I can give is that things come up and tickle the muse's world-jumping machine - which apparently is supersonic.
Those who have known me for a while know that I'm a plantster - a combination of a plotter and pantser writer. Oftentimes what happens is that a scene or a characterization will pants itself out and I will make a note of it...somewhere.
So, this month is going to be dedicated to writing up all the handwritten story notes, creating character sheets and some outlining. I'd like to get my note/planning style more consistent so I don't have to spend days refamiliarizing myself with the story should I decide to work on it again after months of inactivity.
Obviously, this is not a project that I can do with a word count - so I've decided to try an hourly goal. I set it rather low - only 30 hours, which would be an hour every day. Considering my schedule, I don't think I can do more than that.
Soooooo....what do you think of my crazy idea? Think it will work or am I doomed to spend Camp flailing around like a dead fish?
Scribblingly yours,
Catherine
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19 comments
LOVE the format of this post, Catherine. So funny. :) (Cramming normal life into four hours a day, though--what a way to put it.) I think your camp plan sounds wonderful! It's so satisfying to pull notes and outlines and scenes together.
ReplyDeleteI think working on all 6 projects is quite awesome sounding, Catherine!:) *jumps up from seats and claps loudly*
ReplyDeleteJust remember to take a lot of notes (so you don't get the stories confused.)
BRAVA
-Quinley
Wooohooo that's an epic goal!! That's so cool. *applause* SO EXCITED.
ReplyDelete(by the way, I plan to send out cabin invitations on the 15th-ish, so keep your eyes open then. *fingerguns*)
I get new snippets...right?
ReplyDelete(And *gasp!* Look! It's MK! She's...actually remembering to comment on a post!)
I like the idea of setting the hour goal! *Thinks I need to do the same* ;)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an awesome goal! (Likely tedious, but awesome. And worth it in the end. XD) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSounds like great goals, Catherine!! I’m sure you can do it. And hour goals sound like a great idea too. Good luck on camp!
ReplyDelete~ riley aline
Great goals, Catherine! Good luck this Camp NaNo! And the format for this post was both great and hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI like that idea. Neat post too. I'm actually revising a story I promised my sister for Christmas. Oops. I'm a little late. :D
ReplyDeleteAgreed! :D
DeleteCrazy? Nah you got this in the bag....just hope that fish don't flop out of it XD
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!! I hope you meet all your goals, that's amazing!!!!!! :DD
ReplyDeleteThis post was hilarious!! I LOVED IT!! XD XD I especially loved "Well she is a writer guys. She's bound to develop some small strain of insanity eventually" XD To True!! You have to be careful with us writers ;)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see how it goes for you! Good luck!!
Kinda know what you mean. I'm wrapping up a few odds and ends this month in hopes I can get back to tackling my trilogy edits for Camp. But there's just so much chaos at the moment...
ReplyDeleteEditing notes everywhere. A short story to finish and edit. Posts to prepare so I don't have to worry about camp. Caring for a new rescue horse I just picked up Tuesday. Training with Bree and Bunker. And I've been on a reading frenzy...
Here's to getting everything caught up!! *raises mug of tea*
Sounds awesome... and busy! Can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteThis was so fun to read! I think you can do it! It’s definitely hard to keep all the notes in one place and I think that is a great place to start.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on all of your goals! So how many times have you done Camp Nano? I'm thinking about doing it and wanted to know if it is good for beginner writers like me?? :)
ReplyDelete-Brooklyne
IT WILL WORK. IT WILL BE AMAZING. YOU CAN DO IT. AND I WILL CHEER YOU ON. *gives you motivational tea and cakes* I can't wait to start Nano with you and everyone in our cabin! It's going to be so much fun!!! Are you going to share snippets with us? :-)
ReplyDeleteI actually cackled really loud during the entire post-- it is madness to take on ALL six of your WIPs, but it's a genius route. xD I hope it goes well, Catherine!
ReplyDeletexoxo Abigail Lennah | Story-Eyed