What did I learn from National Novel Writing Month? There are a lot of things that I learned, and I’m not sure I can come up with all of them this moment, but there are a few things that come to mind.
One thing that I’ve always known about myself - I need a deadline. If left to my own devices, I waste so much time doing other things. Even though I love writing, I tend to take my own sweet time when it comes to getting some things done. That’s why it’s nice when the muses visit me and I finish something in a flurry. If I don’t have that drive, I put things off. I need to push through those times when I’m not feeling the inspiration and get as much written as possible. Even if the things I write are not top literary quality, at least I have written and I am that much better off for having done something. Plus, when I write everyday, the story and characters stay fresh in my mind and it’s easier to move the story along and doesn’t seem so forced.
Secondly, when it comes down to it, I can make time in my busy schedule to get more written. There is a lot of time in the evening and pieces of time during the day that allows me to write. I need to seize the day and take advantage of the the time I’ve been given.
Thirdly, I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. This is something I’ve always known, but this experience brought that out. I enjoy learning about the characters and letting them take me to places I never thought of. The best writing for me is to sit and type what happens on the movie screen in my head. If I outline, then I feel the story is already written and there is no point to writing because I know what’s going to happen. I’d rather take the adventure and see what happens.
I could go on, but I don’t want to. I want to take the opportunity to write my fiction and not this blog. I plan on coming back next week with some information about Christmas symbols. You know, that is my two favorite things - Christmas and symbols, so when you put the two together, I could talk for hours.
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