I learned that....

1. ... I can write fast, and my body doesn't shake to pieces at speed. I managed 3000 words in about two hours on a good day.

2. ... when I write fast, most of what I write is of quite acceptable quality - no worse than my usual first drafts.

3. ... when I get very tired mentally from creating, it's best to take a day or more off, because although I don't need to be 'inspired' to write reasonably well, I do need to be mentally fresh. I took four days off in the middle of the month since I got so tired.

4. ... that most subject matter can be written on the fly, with perhaps the occasional web search for a quick detail, but for things which require in-depth research (such as theoretical physics) it's necessary to do that before it can flow.

5. ... that writing a first draft quickly stops me losing the thread and momentum of what I'm creating, which is important when you're reading a book, but absolutely crucial when you're trying to WRITE one!

6. ... that it helps having friends supporting me when I write, as during NaNoWriMo, but that I must learn to do without that.

7. ... that the old chestnut is true (which I'd always disbelieved)... that if you don't feel very inspired but you just begin, your writing often improves as you enter the zone. But that that won't happen for me if I am too tired.

8. ... that creating can be fun if I let myself go and don't agonise!

9. ... that during NaNoWriMo my internal editor behaved itself and stayed well away. I'm therefore confident I can persuade him to holiday during other first drafts too.

10. ... that the first draft is to tell yourself the story. The second draft is when you (attempt to) turn it into something which others will enjoy.

Deb

I hope no-one thinks me presumptuous for posting my own notes of what I learned. I actually wrote it for Facebook after a friend (who's not on this site) who also took part in NaNo this year wrote his own note on what he learned from it.

I just thought there might be something in there which someone might find useful....

Deb

<Added>

Oh, so apologies to anyone who's already seen this on Facebook.

I think this is fascinating, and well worth having on the forum.

Emma

Thanks Emma...

Deb

Not in the slightest bit presumptuous, Deb. In fact, really interesting. Well done, it sounds like a real achievement.

Thanks for sharing this - I may just have to bookmark it so I can come back and read it again when it all feels like a bit of a slog.

<Added>

Er, not sure that's entirely clear so, what I mean was '...when writing feels like a bit of a slog'.

Would endorse what you say Debs. For me, I can write when I'm tired, and I sort of wake up. Anything was better than not writing.

My inner critic has come back in force since finishing - seems to have collected gusto from its long sleep. After disciplined writing I find that I am now scared rigid at the thought of rewriting. A massive heap of probs.

Anyone any advice? I've not read the stuff. Can't face it.

Glad you found it interesting, Saturday. Longhand, I knew exactly what you meant...

Issy, do you think the difference is between writing when sleepy and writing when tired? Or how tired? Or whether mentally tired or physically tired? Or perhaps just different people being different? Not disagreeing with you at all - just interested! <g>

As for rewriting and inner critic making a comeback... I know what you mean. However, I've decided that I'm going to give myself a week off writing anyway, before I even think about continuing. Everything looks sunnier and shinier to me when I'm not tired, and atm I am (there are different ways of being tired, definitely, but I am mentally tired and drained).

In my case I need to continue writing the first draft cos it ain't long enough, and also I left out the tricky sci fi plot basis cos I needed to do more research before I could write it. So I am slightly wondering what will happen when I try to continue the first draft.

I have made myself a plan, and forgive me Emma (and perhaps others) if they've seen me say this before, but I plan to write between 1000 and 2000 words, four days a week, or more if it's flowing well. So I'll get between 4000 and 8000 a week, which isn't too bad, but I'll let myself run on as much as I like on a good day, so may get 10,000 a week if it's flying. I plan to finish the first draft like that, and will aim for 85,000 to 90,000 words total.

Then I will have to think what plan will work for the rewriting/second draft. I've turned first drafts of short stories into polished finished versions, but I've never done it with a novel, so am not sure how easy or hard it will seem. I think I'll ask advice here when I start that, but basically my plan is to just read it through and, as I go, I'll improve the bits which need improving. Then I'll do the same with the structure. Or the other way round...

Hope I'm not being boring.

Deb

Yes that's a good question Deb. When I was just sleepy would take a short nap, but when I was tired, mentally or physically I wouldn't really let up on the words. I found I was doing sessions between 500 and 2600 words generally then having a break to make tea, when I came to the end of a "scene" and then starting again.

Once I'd started I seemed to wake up again. The max in one day was probably about 4,500, or should I say night, because that seemed to be when I was writing most. I knew it was time to stop when the words started to come slower and I was looking at the word count rather than getting on with it. I didn't write every day though because of social commitments, big birthday events, visiting my daughter for a couple of days.

Yes, I can totally relate to what you are saying about the scifi - mine was as well and that is my problem. I need to good hard work to get the logic worked out, as its all over the place.

And I have more than a sneaking feeling I could make it much more interesting and exciting than it is at present.

Good luck for the continuation of your novel.

Fascinating.
And such a positive experience.
HB x

Fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting.

Very far from boring. Thanks for posting - and now I'm going over to your Fast First Draft thread to see if I can join in!
Susiex

Yay Susie!

Deb