NaNoKudos

Congratulations to all the NaNoWriMo writers who are finished or finishing up today. I laughed and laughed at Loriane’s 50,000 word giggles (see http://www.hoardedordinaries.com/ ) then laughed even harder at Gary’s editorial report from the NaNo front lines( http://inkmuse.com/imblog/ ). The reports of struggles around the world, wholly interior and fantastic, are—I am certain—not exaggerated. Can’t you just see shadowy figures fighting for domination of the hearts and minds of hapless authors?

The sensation of arguing with characters that have no physical existence outside one’s own brain is bizarre, to say the least. I would not have believed it if I hadn’t tried NaNo. I believed that the writer was always in control of the creation. How wrong I was! The ability, always tucked away in a comforting corner, to bring in packs of wolves or pirates to solve knotty plot problems is tempting even when not exactly artistically consistent. Just to restore order, you know.

I officially gave up some time age, having realized I didn’t have even one complete bad novel in me, at least not on a timetable. I may go back to it once I get more perspective on my main character’s issues, which curiously track my own. She has a better love life, though, and a worse work life. What I really look forward to is coming up with a more robust plot for next year, enough plot to carry 50,000 words. Girl moves to Vermont, lives happily ever after—just not enough plot.