So, I am to some degree doing Nanowrimo this year. But let me come right out and admit this: I’m cheating. Yep, cheating. I’m a cheater, cheater, cheater. The FAQ clearly states, with no ambiguity:
Do I have to start my novel from scratch on November 1?
Yes.
This sounds like a dumb, arbitrary rule, we know. But bringing a half-finished manuscript into NaNoWriMo all but guarantees a miserable month. You’ll care about the characters and story too much to write with the gleeful, anything-goes approach that makes NaNoWriMo such a creative rush. Give yourself the gift of a clean slate, and you’ll tap into realms of imagination and intuition that are out-of-reach when working on pre-existing manuscripts.
I’m not starting from scratch. Not even close to scratch. The plain truth is I actually liked the novel I started last year, and I’m determined to finish it. I plan on writing 50,000 words–or really the completion–of this novel, however many words that takes. It goes against the rules. They’ll kick me out! They’ll publicly chastise me! They’ll, they’ll, they’ll… Okay, they won’t do a damn thing because it’s all on the honor system and there are no real prizes other than the satisfaction of writing. They don’t give a hoot what I do.
Just wanted to come clean with you guys. But I still need your help. I’ve got one line to work in tomorrow (and, Emily, I will be taking liberties with it, just because the action takes place pre-election), but I still need more props, lines, tidbits, etcetera to work in.
I’m a little behind. But I’ll catch up. That’s just the kind of slapdash, half-assed, writing-without-editing kind of person I am.
