I actually wasn’t planning on doing NaNo this year. I figured after three years it would be okay for me to take a break – besides, I had so much work to get done that I didn’t think I could even fit it in. But at the last minute I decided to do it anyway, because that writing bug bit me, just like it does every October. So I started a week ago, but was still worried that I would end up dropping out due to my schedule. The crazy thing, though, is that I think my schedule – which is more packed than any previous November – is actually helping me write more. I know, that doesn’t make any sense at all! For a week I’ve been ahead and have been doing better in my word count and quality than I ever have. And I think the reason for that is that being able to set aside my writing and work all day, and then get back to it at the end of the day is giving my mind the breaks it needs. I always have to set aside design at some point in order to not get burnt out, and in the same way I think I have to set writing aside.

The other thing that’s been helping me, to my surprise, is typing everything out on my laptop, instead of writing everything out by hand like I was doing. I prefer writing by hand, but I’ve noticed that when I do that I end up making dialogue and descriptions too short. When you write it out it takes a relatively long time, so after all that time I would think I had enough…but in reading it over again I would realize that it was barely half as long as it needed to be. So typing everything out – going at a faster pace and seeing it all in 12pt Times New Roman – is helping me make sure I really develop and round out everything I write.

Here’s a short excerpt from what I wrote yesterday…thoughts and comments are welcome! =)
How’s NaNo going for you? What’s helping you make your word count each day?

The wedding-morn dawned bright and fair, and the winds were warm and the air sweet. It seemed as though the City had remembered some of her old glory, and had put it on just for that day, in honor of the couple. The birds sang and the wind whispered sayings of old, and there was great joy in the shining cobblestone streets and among the newly-whitewashed houses.

So the time came, when all was in readiness, and there began the procession of the bride and those of her household and the maids which she had chosen to stand by her, from the very gate of the City through its streets and to the palace. Eagerly did the people which gathered on either side strain to catch a glimpse of the white-clad Lady and those of her company; in honor of her did they hush as she drew near and passed them by, and the hush was like the quiet awe that might come upon one who has seen what he has deemed to be the loveliest thing upon the Earth. Her face was wreathed in smiles, and I daresay it was that which lent to her most of her beauty, although the rich gown and flowers in her loose hair had their own effect upon her person. Happiness is that one ornament which money cannot buy, and which, when it is possessed, gives to its bearer such grace and beauty as cannot be made or got in any other way. It gave to Chavvah the glow upon her face, the redness in her lip, and the brightness in her eye; and as is so common when one has very much of a good thing, it could not help but overflow onto the people as she nodded to them and smiled upon them.