by Bill
Tagged as: NaNoWriMo

Twitter is the perfect medium for micro fiction. Each of these stories is only 140 characters long or less. On Truevoice, my twitter fiction page.

Stories I've written for Name Your Tale, each one exactly 100 words--no more, no less.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I think “Just Show Up” is a great motto for all writing, not just the NaNoWriMo competetion. I am in the editing stage and it is so easy to get distracted by life, but thanks to Bill! I have found the editing process not only interesting, challenging, but actually fun. And it was something I was completely dreading. How has this occurred? Because I showed up nearly every day even if for only a short period of time. I’ve truly been amazed at what comes out, and it is a “partially” controlled atmosphere…meaning at this point I have to control the story, but I let my mind go, let it explore unchartered waters to see what surfaces — as I go on, more and more of it is valuable (not the writing itself, but the content).
So whether you are plugging along under the NaNoWriMo umbrella or not…Just Show Up.
First of all, love the hat. It reminds me to take your advice to heart.
Secondly, great advice. I’m finding myself in this weird pattern of writing about 1,000 words at a time to “move things forward,” followed by a day or two of taking those words and blowing them out. Adding details between words and between sentences, I’m watching my 1,000 words become 2,000 then 3,000. However, this just works for me because I’m am terribly afraid that I will forget my brilliant ideas if I don’t write them down, and those are what become the details. I would really love to just type a 50,000 word skeleton like all of the NaNoWriMo authors seem to encourage.
I’m planning on showing up to the race today, tomorrow, and for the rest of the month.
This is not just a writing motto, folks, it’s a life motto. As Woody Allen said: “80% of life is showing up” (or 90 depending on who you ask). Another quote of his (that I heard was his) is something to the effect of: “someone who has written a play has the jump on a brillant playwright who has not yet put pen to paper.”
So, yea for all of us, that are doing it!
I agree with you Bill – it’s scary to think we are pushing ahead into something – and not knowing what it is the hardest part. Two of my characters are having the same conversation, just split up over three days.
Who knows what they will say next?