The point of Nanowrimo is to write a lot, then come back and edit it later. Lots of people have trouble with this because they want to edit now. Editing as you go is fine if it doesn't stop you writing but as soon as I get into editing mode my productivity drops. I need to get the story out there first, then tidy it up later!
The secret is to deal with your inner editor. Some people send him or her on a virtual holiday but I've got a better plan: I pit my inner procrastinator against my inner editor. My inner procrastinator is strong and wins every time!
It looks like this:
Inner Editor (IE): That's terrible grammar.
Inner Procrastinator (IP): I'll deal with it later.
IE: This story isn't making sense.
IP: I'll deal with it later.
IE: Didn't she have green hair in the last section?
IP: I'll deal with it later.
You get the picture. The hardest part for me is going to be shutting up my inner procrastinator when November is over and I need to edit!
15 COMMENTS:
My inner editor is really more of an outer editor, always leaning over my shoulder. I can't write an email, a comment on a blog or a tweet without tweaking, much less a chapter of a novel. Just one reason why Nanowrimo is not for me...
Lexi, I edit slightly; I pick up any obvious spelling errors if it's a quick backspace job to change them, and when I reread a bit to remind myself what's going on I make the odd tiny tweak to make it more readable. But if it's more than a few words, it gets left.
My inner muse would love to marry your inner procrastinator! :-)
Take care
x
Kitty, a match made in heaven! (I could do with a muse about now.)
Haha, nicely done. I think I'd have the opposite problem and my procrastinator would put off writing large chunks throughout the month by letting my editor win. "I'll just edit some now and write twice as much tomorrow...." :P
Jessi, I can see how that would be a problem! Luckily, my inner procrastinator is strong!
There's always the bag full of Scrabble letters and the trampoline. You get LOADS that way...
My inner editor is fine. It's dictating my novel to me. Just don't have enough hour to do it.
Whirl, thanks for the tip; I must try it out.
Debbie, I wish someone would dictate my novel to me!
I _am_ my inner editor. I need to find my inner writer.
batgirl, ah. Could be a problem there!
Lol, I feel much the same. I am about 10,000 words behind with NaNo but I am still writing every day and telling myself that that is what counts.
DJK, well if it gets you writing every day it has to be good!
tell em both to 'take a pill!' ;) lol
laughingwolf, ;)
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