NANOWRIMO: Pixar #5: Put your story on a diet?

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting 5 Nov 2013

I suspect this one really isn't much help for nanowrimo. Anyway, the advice is

"#5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You'll feel like you're losing valuable stuff but it sets you free."

Admittedly, you may need to remind yourself where you're going even during nanowrimo, but don't forget, keep those words coming! This is probably better advice for revision, trimming things down and making that second draft really shine.

During nanowrimo? If you want to complicate things, write a scene from three different directions, introduce extra characters, and take those long scenic detours... It certainly helps to add words to the word count. Remember, you can always clean it up later.

It's kind of an interesting question. Do you try to apply this advice during your initial writing, when you're still probably exploring ideas and trying to get the voice right? Or do you let yourself go during this first draft, introducing complications and characters and wandering here and there? As always, it's your choice, but the goal of nanowrimo – 50,000 words in 30 days – probably means it's better to hold off on this advice. Plan to take advantage of it for revision. But for now, just let the ideas and words tumble out. You really don't need to restrict yourself yet.