Real Lessons Learned While Writing Fiction

I wrote a novel this month. Wow! Do you know how much fun that is to write? I'll do it again... I wrote a novel this month! Before the tingle wears off and I invite my inner critic and editor to step back in (btw - I sent them on vacation for the month of November and highly recommend it), I wanted to share the delight of accomplishment with you. Yes, YOU! It's really awesome energy... that place of being excited and proud of myself. It's not puffed up or egotistical. It's more like a child at the beach who's built a lopsided sand castle and says, "Look what I did!" While I know my novel is lopsided, it's still mine and I can wholeheartedly say, "I did it!"

I'll also share a little secret... my inner critic is just dying to jump in right now and tell me all the things I've done wrong in only these first few sentences. She's ready to pounce and tell me I didn't really write a novel, because it can't be done until it's perfect. P.E.R.F.E.C.T. to which I shall respond with only the kindest of sentiments, "Get lost, Ernie! I wrote a novel!"

While I may not have written the great American novel, I realize that I enjoyed myself immensely. At times it was intense and at some points it felt ridiculous, futile even. But I did notice a few things along the way that I'd love to share in hopes of keeping the "tingle" going just a bit longer (and perhaps encourage you to set your own outrageous goal). So.... What did I learn (and reaffirm) during this month of whirlwind and whacky writing?

1. It's fun to have a goal—something to motivate and move me forward. (I forget that sometimes.)
2. Inspired work feels like play. Fiction is exhilarating to write! I had no idea. I've always loved reading fiction and seeing the places that transport me, but little did I know that I had so many places and kooky characters residing right here inside me just waiting to come out and play.
3. Only make up stuff that is delightfully beneficial. There is amazing freedom in giving my brain a safe space to make stuff up. Neurotic characters are way more fun in fiction than they are as real life personas. 
4. Don't take things so seriously. They can always be changed or refined later. Whenever I got stuck, I chose to either go with the most audacious thing I could imagine or hang with the familiar. Both worked toward my goal... getting words on the page.
5. Small steps pay big dividends. Little snippets of time turn into substantial volumes of production. One of my favorite practices was to write for 30 minutes, take a 10 minute break and then get back to it.  On a roll, I could compose 1000 words in 30 minutes. At that rate I could theoretically produce 50,000 words in only 25 hours. Hmmmm. Not likely, but still it's fun to imagine.
6. Fill your life with supportive people. People love to support people who are having fun achieving their goals (at least that was my experience this month). I had more people tell me how much fun they had just watching me have fun. How cool is that?
7. We can do anything we set our minds to... when we stick with it. I never would have imagined I could start with a vague concept on November 1 and 50,000 words later have an entire story! (Shush, critic. I know there are some holes. See #4.)
8. Watch out for self-defeating expectations. The more real I made "successful" expectations in my mind, the scarier it was. (Refer back to #3).  For example, by pretending no one would ever read what I'd written and that absolutely anything was possible in the story, I felt free as a bird flying through those pages. On the other hand, when I started to think of editors and critics, I clipped my own wings. How to cope? I envisioned burning the manuscript before anyone else ever sees it AND I imagined that I was writing the next New York Times Best Seller! It's a tricky balance, but very fun to explore!
9. To feed your soul, play and be present to the loveliness of the world. I love to play, get silly, go deep, and observe detail. Relationships are important and we are all interconnected... usually in ways we may not initially consider.
10. Change scenery to change perspective. The corner coffee shop provides different stimulus than my home office and it's important to change scenery sometimes in order to bring fresh light into situations.
11. Imagination is essential for creativity. When I let my imagination flow, the most interesting characters and situations show up. (My inner editor is guffawing here and reminds me that I may be the only one who thinks they're interesting. My response? That's okay! I had fun doing it anyway which leads to #12.)
12. Enjoy your own company. If I'm the only one that ever reads this, it was worth the effort. I had a blast and I learned a lot.
13. How we do one thing informs how we do everything... I shall choose to remember this experiment with fondness... especially when I invite the inner editor back in and we begin phase 2... novel re-writes!

Thanks to NaNoWriMo for the inspiration and support to dream (and do) the seemingly impossible!!!

Comments

[hmmbrd]

wonderful!!!