A question about this goal: how do you fit NaNoWriMo into your extremely busy schedule? October 24th, 2005 23:03
Answers:
Use what bits and pieces of time you have. See “fortythree’s” numbers 5, 6, and 7! ;)
I am writing (by hand) while I pedal my stationary bike; typing one-handed at the computer while I feed the baby; got a several hundred words written when a student didn’t show up tonight; and did a little more in the five minutes I let the car warm up before heading for home. I’ll stay up for an hour or so after the baby goes to sleep to do more.
This is how I did it as well. It sounds chaotic, but when you know that you only have 15 minutes instead of an hour or two, it causes your brain to work overtime to fill that 15 minutes with creativity (at least for me).
I would not have been able to do it if I had slept my full 6 – 8 hours per night, either. I know health is important, but there are times that I would not be able to sleep if there was something that needed to be added to the story and I did not add it before bed.
Also, and this may sound strange, but I have a mobile phone that records sound clips (up to three minutes, I think) and when I was making dinner or sitting next to my son’s bed as he fell asleep, I would record ideas into my phone to write down later. This was especially useful when I’d hit a wall and stare at the screen while crickets chirped in my head. =)
