In my last post, Life After NaNoWriMo, I wrote of my grandiose plans to pretty much finish the first draft of my NaNo novel in the month of December. I had finished NaNo on a high. The sky was the limit. Anything was possible, and all I had to do was seize the day!
Ho, ho, ho.
As far as writing my NaNo novel is concerned, I’ve done very little. You see, I had been lazy. I always knew I didn’t like my story all that much, but to me the NaNo project was always more of an exercise in writing a book from start to finish than the creation of a masterpiece. I was aware it’s almost unheard of for a first novel to see the light of day, so it didn’t really matter to me whether or not this particular one would. The problem was that I was so uninterested in it I struggled to drag myself back to it, struggled to get stuck into the really hard yakka that needed to be done. I had lots of things to change and research, and when I saw the immensity of the task ahead I simply didn’t care enough to force myself to do it. And if I’m not that interested in writing it, I would be willing to wager no one else would be interested in reading it.
My initial nonchalance backfired spectacularly.
As a result, my manuscript and I have spent considerable time apart, “taking a break from each other”, as you do. It sat banished in its figurative drawer, i.e. open in Scrivener, its imploring, puppy-dog eyes a constant and irritating reminder of my neglect every time I set eyes on it, which was at least daily. But I recently relented and we had a little chat, and a quite fruitful one at that. We have agreed that out of the kindness of my heart (yes, I’m good like that) I will give it a second chance. I will find that interesting twist for the plot. I will flesh out my main character, I will give her faults, I will compel her to make both fortuitous and terrible mistakes, and I will throw at her every obstacle I possibly can. Additionally, I will endeavour to fix whatever else appears to be fixable. Then, in return, the manuscript (a not altogether unreasonable soul itself, I’m pleased to report) will reward me with a finished and hopefully readable novel.*
Sound fair?
Now I “just” need to deliver. I’ll let you know how it goes!
* Yes I know it’s not that simple, but hey — never let the truth get in the way of a good story!
This post first appeared at www.vmtaylor.com.au/a-second-chance/.
