Monday, December 06, 2010

Post-NaNo Slump

It's hard to imagine I finished NaNoWriMo only a week ago. I hate to say it, but I've written less than two thousand words since then. There are three reasons I can think of for my slump: NaNo pace is much faster than my usual one, Christmas prep (shopping, decorating, writing cards, wrapping presents, and baking), and pantsing my plot instead of following my outline. I think in the next few scenes, I can circle around back to the outline. Since this is first draft for this story, I'd rather forge ahead than rip out offending scenes. But I also need to challenge myself to write more when I have the opportunity instead of goofing off. I know I can write a thousand words an hour when I need to; I just need to need to do it, if you can follow that (grin).

How's your writing going post-NaNo?

9 comments:

Angela said...

I think writing can ebb and flow. No reason to get down on yourself for taking a small break, especially over the holidays.

Jen said...

You deserve a little down time after NaNo (at least, that's what I tell myself *grin*).

I haven't written a thing since NaNo, but I'm encouraged just knowing that my story is patiently waiting for me to come spice it up. When time permits!

Best of luck with the edits and continued writing!

~Jen

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Thanks, Angela and Jen!

Golden Eagle said...

Well, writing comes and goes in ups and downs. I'm sure you'll be writing against soon!

I've been writing a below my NaNo pace, but enough to be making a lot of progress in my novel.

LM Preston said...

Oh, you and me both. I did a post on nanowrimo doing me in. I'm so burnt out I can't even seem to write the last stinking chapter to my wip which I happen to have ever single scene outlined. I promise I will finish it before Christmas, then after that I'm taking a month off from new stuff and just do editing. I even put of working with on a co-author project.

The Happy Whisk said...

First, big congrats on your hard work on NaNo. Very cool. Second, I hope you get your writing back to regular speed. Maybe a little holiday break is in order.

Tim (hubby), and I took a Halloween Stay-cation awhile back and it was fantastic. Went back to writing and having fun since.

Just joined your blog as a new reader. I'll be back again soon, to read more about you.

Until then, Happy Writing :-)

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Thanks for joining my blog, Happy Whisk! I returned the compliment.

I think part of my problem is that I need to revise my plot, based on some ideas that came about during NaNoWriMo. It might be better to revisit my outline than to keep plodding without direction.

Cheyanne said...

Well I worked so hard during NaNo that I'm allowing myself a little break. I've added about 2k more words since December 1st, but I'm not letting it get to me. I agree with you about leaving in the bad parts because it's a first draft, but I still ended up deleting about 3k because it was so horrible I couldn't stand to see it! I think after the holidays when January rolls around, it'll be easier to get back on track with writing.

Arlee Bird said...

I'm pretty much the same. After the NaNo push I guess I feel like cooling off some, even though I had planned on keeping up the pace and finishing the novel. Instead I've been down to maybe one paragraph per night.

Congratulations on finishing the NaNo challenge.

Lee
Tossing It Out

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