Getting psyched up

So, yes. I’m getting myself psyched for this year’s Nano. I have a few items that are in my to-do list that should help me prep for Nano, and I’m putting it up here for posterity’s sake:

  • Make a new layout for Seasonal Plume. Why is making a new layout supposed to help me psyche up for Nano? Simple. It’s something new and creative and will urge me to, well, write in this blog. Which means I have to have something to write about, right? Only I’m not entirely sure how I’d like the design. Keep this general layout? Return to a more traditional blog-type layout? I have no idea.
  • Choose a wiki for story notes et al. I’d always been so interested in wikis that I just know I must use one. A number of people at the Nano forums have recommended TiddlyWiki which sounds really good, but I’m wondering if the AJAXy component of it is a bit too “liquid” for me. I’ll have to play around with it first. The drawback of having a “traditional” wiki like MediaWiki (which I’m more used to, user-wise) or PmWiki (which I’ve installed before but have not been able to extensively use as much as the former).
  • Decide on a story. Yes, you heard that right. I have not decided. One of my ongoing projects (which never seem to be near completion) is writing in novel-format about certain events in my life. Think The Notebook. :p Yes, I am a sap like that. Only, obviously it is very personal, and how the hell am I supposed to write it? I’ve heard Nano tips that one shouldn’t write something very personal for Nano because it will make you very emotional and bog you down, and I have a feeling it’s true. But if not that, what? I will probably ramble about possible story ideas soon. (It should be soon, because it’s the middle of October already!)
  • Choose a software to write in. I’ve decided I won’t use Word. I’ve written short stories and poetry on Notepad, which serves my needs well (and being a web developer/designer, I’m more used to it). But I’m not sure if I’m ready to default to Notepad with a 50k-word novel, plus it’s such an elementary application that I don’t think it will serve my noval needs that well. Suggestions are welcome!
  • Figure out a physical battle plan. Meaning, when will I write? How will I write when I have a full-time job, I leave home at 6am and I get home at 9pm due to my horrendous travelling time? I can bring my darling Mr Darcy (my Toshiba Satellite M100) with me, but it’s not small enough to be working on while you’re on a bus (and neither do I want it on my lap while I’m working). It’s just not conducive to working. I think I should get my Palm Tungsten fixed, but that might take a few weeks yet, and I haven’t ever tried writing a story on it. I’d get annoyed at my slow-ness. Besides, I don’t work well creatively when there are many people about. So, when will I write? Will I be able to stick to writing a few thousand words everyday, even when I’m so tired I’d probably snap everyone’s head off?

Lists, lists.

This NaNoWriMo, Rebooting writer post was published on Sunday October 15, 2006, and tagged under , , , .

About the author

Me

Hello, I'm Angela. I cycle through a bunch of obsessions: web, reading, writing, gaming, and traveling. My first love is writing, though--I've never stopped writing, though the form and content have changed over the years. I want to get back to my creative fiction roots and get through that inner editor and pessimistic perfectionist who has plagued me for such. a. long. time. I love meeting interesting people and have excellent conversation, so leave me a comment or find me on any of the places below:

One comment

  • Sarah said:
    October 18, 2006 13:14

    A good software to write in is “Final Draft 7″… even the big stars use it. It is for screenwriters in the first place, but also it includes a novel-function and many others. Great thing, really!

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