It’s almost time for the most anticipated writing event. Midnight is less than 20 minutes away for me, and I’m getting a liiiitle bit antsy here. I’ve done everything I need to do, finished all my chores, drank my coffee, got my chocolate ready, got my blank Word document open, my fingers poised, thinking about my first line… waitaminute. Do I have a first line? Oh god I do NOT have a first line.
I suppose that’s what I get for being a pantser. Unlike many people I know, I’ve done very little planning. This is not out of laziness or procrastination on my part; I simply can’t write according to a definite plan, and I can’t plot in advance because I end up feeling bored with the story before even write it. I just have my title (Penny For Your Dreams), my basic plot, my main character… ack, I just realised my main character doesn’t have a last name yet. Okay, so I may be a little under-prepared, haha.
This is basically me! With the addition of chocolate, of course. (Source: http://comixtalk.com)
I’m excited about this. Last year’s NaNo was awful because I couldn’t juggle between work and writing, but I’ve got the hang of it now and I have a plot that I’ve been itching to write. So this should be good, right? I’ve got work tomorrow, but I figured I could write a bit and get myself a head start. The weekend’s coming soon, so I can catch up on any lost sleep then!
(Yay! I now have a last name. My character is called Penny Leighton. Any resemblance to actual names, events… well, you know the drill.)
I’ve promised myself that I won’t allow NaNo to be a source of stress this year. I just want to have a good time, and even though I will obviously try my best to get to the finish line, I won’t be upset if I lose. Well. I won’t be too upset. I hope. I also figure it’ll be more fun since this is the first year I’ve done NaNo while also blogging at the same time. I look forward to seeing how everyone else progresses! 
Are you prepared for NaNo? When do you start? Do you have a first line? On that note, I have now figured out mine!
“Penny Leighton knew she had to destroy everything.”
I have decided to look on and live vicariously through you brave ones as you embark on this journery and I shall try it next year. Good luck to you and Penny
!!!
Aww, there’s still time to change your mind you know.
But thank you! =D
Sounds great! Good luck! And congrats on getting the first sentence and the surname of your main character!
Thank you! =D I’m definitely pleased with it.
You’re welcome! It’s always great to come up with a key part of your novel!
I agree. =D It makes the writing process all the more enjoyable.
Yep! More fun!
Thanks for commenting and liking my blog post too! I shall let you know when day 2 is up!
Day Two is up if you’re interested!
http://thelifeofathinker.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/nanowrimo-project-2012-day-2/
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Here’s today’s NaNo update if you’re interested!
http://wp.me/p2EVWK-8c
Hmmmmm that reminds me. I don’t have a surname yet!! ackkk!!
Better hop to it!
Wishing you great success with your November challenges!
Thank you, Lisa!
Great first line, Zen! And I like your character’s surname. Susan Hunter is still with me, and she better not disappoint me this month. I am not ready. I have a few notes and some of the research done, so I don’t have to do it in the middle of the book, but I don’t have the house cleaned up as much as I wanted. I definitely don’t have enough chocolate yet. I have to work out the music, too – high energy or Christmas to go with my Christmas theme? Still two hours to go for me, but I’m not starting until tomorrow around noon.
Thanks, Maddie! =D I’m sure Susan will not disappoint you, and I wish you luck too. And if you’re starting around noon, then you still have time to get all these things done and stock up on chocolate.
LOVE the first line! Now I’m on tenterhooks to know what it’s all about. I started at two minutes past midnight (I know, I know, two minutes wasted, what was I thinking?) and now it’s the morning of the 1st and I’m already more than a 1000 words up… What a great feeling!
I started without a first line as well and just typed the first thing that came into my mind, but I think it’s going to turn out quite a good entry point. That’s what panic does for you.
Yay, I’m glad you like it. =D And 1000 is a good start. I managed to write 640 words before suddenly sleep hit me, but I’m going to make up for it after work.
And I know what you mean. I always seem to get better results when I’m feeling panicky.
Oh yeah. You’re off and running.
Well actually, I’m currently on hold due to work. Bummer. =[
Work. That four-letter word.
The most hateful four-letter word there is. =[
I work very much like you ha! I generally don’t have outlines, just vague ideas of what I would like to happen at points throughout the story. Sometimes the characters stick to it.
And that’s an awesome first line! Very grabbing.
I was still doing research on lunch today at work for mine, but hoping everything just comes together in the end!
Good luck to you!! And have fun! ^^
Same here! =D I only have scenes, but no chronological events. I think it makes writing more exciting, don’t you?
And I’m glad you think so! I did some research yesterday as well. My story is about dreams and I needn’t to get my facts straight.
Good luck to you too! I hope you did well on your first day. =]
I am in there with you!
Great first line!
Thank you, Karin.
And good luck with NaNo!
Writers should have our own reality show, like Big Brother. Lock all of us in a big house together, give us a deadline and watch us go nuts!
That actually sounds like an awesome show. I would love to watch it!
Great first line – a BIG best of luck that this year goes well for you
Thanks, Dianne! It’s going really well this year. =D
Even thought I signed up, I don’t feel as stressed about it as I thought I should. I already had the idea for what I wanted to write about and have one chapter down. I figure as long as I make progress on my idea, then I’ve achieved my goal. Now I just need to start logging into the nano site to update my word count.
You know, same here! I thought I’d be stressed about it, but so far so good. I guess it helps that I really like this plot.
And you should! Updating word counts is half the fun.
I finally did last night. Took me a few minutes to figure it out. I’m actually doing alright!
Awesome! I’m glad to hear that. =D