One Last NaNoWriMo Attempt with Pants(ing)

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. Well, here I go again, down the same path of insanity, but this time I’m hoping for a different outcome than the last by changing up one little thing. Kind of.

What is this path, you ask?

Well, today is the first day of NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to squeeze out the first draft of your novel – 50,000 words worth of it, at least – in the month of November. That works out to about 1,667 words a day, give or take. I’ve tried this before, but have never managed to last the month.

Mostly because I’m what is known as a “pantser” – in other words, I fly by the seat of my pants. I’ve finally realized that I’m a pantser because plotting would force me to acknowledge that I don’t have a plot.

Which, go figure, means at some point, you either have to figure it out or you don’t, and if you don’t, that story gets tossed in the drawer with the other forgotten stories.

So what am I changing from last year?

Unlike last year, I’ve decided to plot. I’ve read a few books on outlining. I’ve dug in to try to work out my plot, swearing this will be the last NaNo that I devote this idea to. I promised myself NO MORE PANTS(ING).

Instead, I have five other story ideas and half of an outline completed for this book. As in, I kind of/not really have an outline. It’s a VERY loosely drawn outline. And there are now a lot of plot bunnies hopping around, clamoring for attention.

Welp.

Needless to say, my word count for November first is (checks word count on this post) about 412 words.

Not the most industrious start to the month. It likely won’t be the last time I struggle with hitting my word goal, either.

Later tonight I’ll tackle the outline again and see if I can get some clarity, and tomorrow the writing can start. And maybe I’ll loosely outline a plot for one of my other ideas as a backup.

Hopefully, the words will start flowing, and at the end of the month, I’ll have a book baby.

Wish me luck and send snacks.

While I haven’t finished writing my own book yet, I am in A book.
An anthology, actually. You can read more about it here.