The Writing Geek

For the last week, I have been doing everything possible to prepare myself for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I have been spent my time planning, scheming, studying, outlining, developing my characters, and getting to know them and what they would do. I have been reading every piece of inspiration that I can get my hands on, off- and online. All while anxiously anticipating the moment - 12:01 a.m., November 1st - when I could begin Project NaNoWriMo.

It is my first real attempt at book length fiction. Up until now, the majority of what I have done has been non-fiction. I signed up for the project almost a month ago, and have been chomping at the bit to get started. As the time got closer, I prepared to write. I brewed a pot of coffee to keep me awake. I smoked several cigarettes to avoid the need to get up mid-writing for my nicotine fix. I spent the final minutes before trying to calm my nerves with a couple beers and a rerun of “The Family Guy”.

Finally, the moment arrived. And I froze. No sooner had I sat down with a fresh cup of coffee and a week’s worth of research and character sketches and other material when the internal editor kicked in.

He was screaming at me: “What are you doing? You can’t write anything like this. Who do you think you are?” I struggled with him for a moment, and then started. He was relentless. “You spelled that wrong. That line won’t fit. That sounds stupid. How do you plan on finishing when all you are writing is shit?”

My goal for the day was 1,700 words. More if I could muster. Less if that is what the story called for. I just finished the first 1,374 words. The only way I did it was by convincing myself , and the internal editor, that I didn’t have to write a perfect story at this point. All I had to do was write. December is for editing.

 For now, I simply need to get the words out on (virtual) paper. I can flesh the rest out and change the parts that don’t work later. It’s my story. I can do whatever I want with it, but I have to get it out first.

You can read the first part here: Project NaNoWriMo

I plan on using that page to post the entire story, for better or worse. Now that I think of it, it’s kind of cool. My own online serial.

To the rest of the thousands of brave folx out there who are facing the same as I am, I wish you nothing but the best. Here’s to getting to December, when we can unleash the internal editor.

Stumble it!