In case you missed it, this is the fifth (and final) part in a series about my journey winning NaNoWriMo 2023; you can find the other parts here:
In this short post we’ll take a look at what’s left in Wildwood, and how I rewarded myself for finishing NaNo.
What’s left in Wildwood?
So, now that NaNo is finished, I should have a completed novel right? I mean, that’s the goal: finish a novel in a month.
Yeah… no.
If you’ve been reading along you already know that I’ve got about 2/3 of the Wildwood first draft completed. What I need to do next is additional outlining for the final act of the story. The story is in a really interesting place, and things have happened through the first two acts that will help inform my final act tremendously. There’s one major event that happens in Act 3 that I already know will happen, but I don’t think writing without additional outlining would be a good idea.
Spoken like a truly reformed pantser.
I’m itching to get back to writing that draft, as difficult as it may be. These NaNo posts have given me a great amount of time to reflect on November ‘23, but they’ve also distracted me (along with video games - I’m looking at you, Diablo 4). I want to know what happens in the story, and I want to see it come to fruition. I’m really looking forward to the day I can call the first draft done, and maybe even print it out as a reminder of all the work I’ve done - though, I realize I have some large structural work to do in the draft, and I don’t think I’ll do that by hand.
Winner Rewards
When NaNo finished I wasn’t really sure how to reward myself. I could pick up a coffee from my local Starbucks, but that seemed relatively insignificant considering I already occasionally find myself with a grande dark roast or seasonal sugar bomb in hand. Another thought was picking up a copy of a newly released video game I really wanted (Alan Wake 2), but because the holiday season was fast approaching, that seemed like a bad idea, especially since I had gaming-related items on my Christmas list.
Then one day after my weekly therapy appointment I decided to take a trip to my local Barnes & Noble. Listen, I love browsing Barnes & Noble, and occasionally I’ll treat myself to a brand new book from their shelves. However, I generally prefer scouring local booksellers or used bookstores for various reasons (price, availability of older books, etc.). But this was a reward, so I went to B&N with the idea of picking up one or two books on writing - what a better way to reward my time spent writing than with something to help improve my craft.
I’ve seen a lot of writers read John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story, so that was a book I knew I wanted to get a copy of (though, honestly, it’s so popular I’m sure I could have found a nice used copy, but remember: treat yourself!).
Wired for Story by Lisa Cron sounded interesting just from the byline on the cover, but I’m also not really a person who gets into the whole ‘hack your brain/life’ sort of content that has begun flooding our feeds and lives. This seemed like a good way to dive into the neuroscience aspects of ‘hacking writing/story’.
Finally, The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones is a book I’ve been wanting to read for quite some time. It isn’t meant to be a book to improve my craft (even though I think everything we read as writers we absorb pieces of and analyze), it’s just a horror book I looked forward to finding. Not only does the description of that book sound interesting, but the cover always stood out to me. It reminds me of other horror imagery utilizing that ‘short-range lighting’ style that invokes thoughts of The Blair Witch Project. Another cover that does this for me is I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid.
Additionally, at the influence of my wife (who is wonderful when it comes to encouraging me to treat myself), I picked up a NaNoWriMo 2023 Winner shirt. I like this years NaNo design, and my wife was happy to get it for me as an early Christmas present.
The End.
Last, but not least, I want to thank you, dear reader(s). Whether this is the first thing of mine you’re reading, or if you’ve been along for the entire ride that was this series, I’m grateful you’ve taken some time out of your day to read something I wrote.
NaNo is traditionally a relatively personal and independent month spent within the brain of a writer. Sharing that journey with you has been a way for me to take a metaphorical can opener to my writer-brain and show you the way it worked for a month.
Remember: You’re awesome, and you matter.
See you in the pages of the next one,
- Matt
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