It’s the start of March but Camp NaNoWriMo is just a month away and I’m debating whether or not to participate. While I’m still revising and editing Phantom Blade, my NaNoWriMo project, I can’t help but feel like I should write as many stories as I can this year. It’s not exactly a New Year’s resolution but I always promise myself that I need to write more and not to quit.
For those of you who don’t know, I have a lot of ideas swarming in my head. All of them have be jotted down in my idea notebook. A handful of them have almost everything planned out to write the novel. So it begs the question, should I put revising aside and write a new novel ( and start on my writing goal) or should I continue revising and finish up Phantom Blade?
A part of me thinks this is one way that I’m subconsciously trying to put off revising and editing. It’s a fine line that I’m navigating here. It’s not like I’m going to just keep writing and never get any editing done but I also want to keep my goal. If I do plan to participate in Camp NaNoWriMo this year then, I need to start organizing the story now. During that time, I can still revise and edit so that won’t be an issue.
So what’s stopping me? The usual. Doubt. Afraid that I’ll quit midway. Or that I won’t like how the story will turn out. Every fear that I have when starting a new story. I also feel like I’m somehow abandoning my other stories. In part, its true but on the other hand, I always go back and work on them.
Another goal of mine is to become a published author. At this point it feels like I won’t ever become one because I keep wanting to write other stories. Sure, I’m getting a novel ready to send out to agents. I’m just waiting for my last beta reader to finish with the feedback before seeing what I need to change and sending it out (This kind of feels like I’m making excuses).
I’m torn.
Dabbling in the Art of Writing 
It’s a hard choice you face. Sometimes it is hard to switch between creative and editing mode, especially when you have a new story trying to take over. There is nothing wrong with wanting to write another novel, even if it is an excuse. However, there comes a point when you’ll have to finish one completely. For me, fear is the issue. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of something in between.
I have four complete first drafts and many more in various stages of completion.If I keep going like this then I will end up publishing fifteen novels at once instead of putting them out in stages. Then I’ll have nothing left and be burned out. I know I need to buckle down and revise/edit and it sounds like you might be in the same place.
Still, the idea of stepping out of the creative zone is not appealing. What we as writers have to remember is we can always write more. Finishing is part of the job.
So, my advice to you is to remember Camp Nanowrimo comes twice a year. Maybe you could participate in July and work on revisions until then. By that time you’ll probably either be finished with the previous book or more than ready for a break. You said you write down all your ideas so they will be waiting for you until then.
Now, I just need to listen to this advice myself! Whatever you decide, you’re making the right choice since it’s all part of the process. Good luck either way.
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Thank you for the advice. It gave me something to think about. I definitely don’t want to burn myself out and have nothing to publish in the long run. Participating in July is starting to look like the better option. It’s not like I can’t continue to plan out the new idea in my free time.
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I think these are normal fears and doubts for any writer. You could always give yourself a lower word count target. Or perhaps half an edit/revise target and half for writing something new for Camp? 🙂
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That’s something to think about.
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