Case Study: Amber West Talking to Herself (AGAIN)

(source: lost in the recesses of patient's brain)

So, a few months ago, I took the plunge and signed up for NaNoWriMo –

Wait, what?  You signed up for what?

NaNoWriMo.

Is that some sort of experimental medication?  I mean, we could use the money.  And the side effects might be fun…

No, no, NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month.  In November, thousands of people commit to writing 50,000 words in 30 days.  In the matter of a month, you have a completed first draft or you are at least well on your way with one.

50,000 words.  Seriously?  Are you sure you didn’t already start taking some experimental meds?

C’mon, it’s not that bad.

Alright, obviously, we are going to have to sit down and discuss the finer points of math again.  You write maybe 5 days a week.  In a good week.  So, 50,000 words divided by 5 days is 10,000 words, divided by 4 weeks is *counts on fingers* 2500 words.  Monday through Friday.  Every weekday.

Ummm.  *consults calculator* Yes.  That seems right.

You committed us to that many words without even consulting me?

You are me.  I assumed we would be on the same page.

Apparently, a page with 2500 words on it.

Don’t be such a baby.  And it’s actually 2272 words a day.  November has 22 weekdays in it.  Not 20.  And if I did write on the weekends, it’s only 1667 words.  Give or take a word. 

I’m not writing on the weekend.

Fine.  2272.  We’ll round up and say 2300.  It’s totally doable.  That’s only like 7 dialogue heavy pages.  Less for descriptive narrative stuff.

You’ve obviously already made your decision.  That’s going to be 50,000 worthless words.  You can’t possibly expect to practically write a publishable novel in a month.

I don’t expect that.  I expect to flush out a story.  I expect to get into the groove of writing a substantial amount of words every day.  In the process, I do expect to write some killer scenes that could become a book later.  By the way, The Night Circus was a NaNoWriMo project.  Now it’s a New York Times Best Seller.

Keep dreaming.

I’m not saying that will be me.  Just saying that it can be done.

2272 words a day might sound ok when you aren’t spending two hours staring blankly at the wall trying to come up with a story idea.  Bet you didn’t factor that in, Smarty McSmarterson.

I did, actually.  I already have a story idea.  Remember that one dream with the nuns –

Oh! Oh! That was like a movie!  You’re writing that??

Yup.

When do we start?!

Uh, November.

But I want to write it now!

Well, we can do some research now.  We could even outline or plot a little.

*raises eyebrow* Do you even know me?  I’m a pantser.  Strike that.  I’m not even that.  I’m pantsless.  I will not be fenced in by stacks of paper filled with charts and notes and Venn diagrams  --

Venn diagrams?  Why would I be making those?

I dunno.  I don’t plot.  Seems like something plotters do.

Look, think of it as…an adventure.  We are trying something new and exciting.

Plotting is exciting?

Maybe.

It does get us closer to writing that story.

Yes it does.

And 2300 words a day really doesn’t seem that bad.

Nope.  We’ve done more.

True.  That’s ‘cause I’m awesome.

You’re awesome?  Don’t you mean we’re awesome?

Meh, six of one…

So you’re on board then?

Uh, yeah.  It was totally my idea in the first place.

Yikes.

WRIMOS FTW!  DRATW!  I’M TOTALLY GOING TO PWN NANO!

Oh no.  Caps lock and acronyms.  It’s going to be a long November.

*

Notes by site-owner/psychoanalyst-wannabe: You see kids, when you examine the two handwriting styles, you'll see that not only is the color different, but also the print and attitude. It's a typical case of Dissociative Writing Identity Disorder (DWID), where the Writer's *muse/inner critic* as it were has taken over a facet of their personality. As the *switching* between alter personalities is rapid, we have to concentrate hard on the exchange so as not to miss anything. Most importantly... there will be a test on this!!! *glares* 

Oh and... Happy NaNoWriMo Relaunch Day, WRIMO'S! </Lyn out.>

Amber (Medina) West is currently Director of Dog, Toddler, and General Household duties.  After an abrupt end to her last paying job, she finds herself knee deep in showtunes, first drafts and poop.  Not literally, of course.  She is currently in the midst of making the fifth grade version of her very proud by being a writer.  You can find her here at A Day Without Sushi waxing quixotic about everything and nothing.