The last several days have been spent thinking about potential stories, plots, searching through the Adoptables Forums on the website, thinking about my old ideas. All the while new things keep popping in my head, to which I am trying to jot down these ideas whenever possible. Or I think about how I might be able to some how fuse old ideas and attempts together to make something workable.
Lately I can’t stop thinking about writing. This seems to be typical for October for me. NaNo looms for November, I dream of writing a winning story. October my brain gets consumed with thoughts of writing, characters, how do I develop my world and plot into something readable, so on and so on. This October it’s the same, but it feels different, too.
I’ve been attempting NaNo every year since 2005, this year will be no different. No, wait, I take that back. I want this year to be different. I want to win, damn it!! I think my best attempt was logged at 5000 words total. Every year I try and every year I fail. Once November 1st hits, it’s like every “OH SHINY!” in the Universe comes out of the woodwork to distract me. And that just sucks, because I let myself fall into it’s trap. Then I wander off the path and the next thing I know is it’s now December and have nothing to show for the whole month.
So, what can I do differently? What can I do to win this year? Besides, not give up. Besides, not letting myself be distracted. One thing I have been thinking about is perhaps trying to get to the library for a few hours a couple of times during November. A place where I can be alone with my thoughts and write. But it won’t be without distraction or temptations thanks to my weakness and obsession with books. It would be great for any immediate book research I might need, but bad too. I have to purchase a Library Card since I don’t live in city limits. No income means no money for a card. But that’s a whole different story.
But seriously…what can I do to win? How do I write 50,000 words when I don’t even know if my idea(s) can go that far? These are like legit questions. I want to grow up and be a “real write” like J.K. Rowling and Tolkien and George R. R. Martin, like Marion Zimmer Bradley and James Patterson. I don’t mean in the sense of being published though that would be fantastic, but in the sense of getting my stories written and finished.
The Forgotten Muse 
Oct 28, 2013 @ 09:56:57
I would highly recommend getting out of the house to write. The library is the best place for me, but my main branch doesn’t require a card to use the facility. If this is a barrier, try a coffeeshop or your local bookstore! I’ve had good success at Panera and at Barnes and Noble. The free wifi is great for when you need to hop onto wikipedia for quick research, and access to coffee and snacks is a major comfort.
Everyone is different – but for me, my place of living is just too distracting. I’ve always been able to focus best in a quiet corner of a public establishment.
Oct 28, 2013 @ 13:36:05
Hi Aine,
Thank you for the suggestions. I was thinking a bit along those lines. Perhaps going to the library. I can’t check anything out but I can at least use the resources while I am there. If I can get to the library at least once a week, that is what I am thinking right now…it would be good. I wish I had a Barnes and Nobles or some place like that or even a Starbucks close enough. But if I can get to the library that will be about as good as it gets. I’ve never tried writing in a public place before so this would be an experiment too, to see if I work better with distractions at home or out in public.