I've found my companion for NaNoWriMo: What It Is, by Lynda Barry. Do you know Barry, author of Ernie Pooks Comeeks (unofficially the story of Marlys)? What It Is is a book about creativity and how the big bad critic in us tries to kill it. It's Barry's plea to everybody to keep that playful part of themselves alive. And, by the way, Barry reminds us that when kids play it's not all joy. There's a lot of anxiety involved. When children play they are very focused and concentrated.
But what made me buy the book is this exchange in one of the comics in the book:
Worried about your book?
Oh there's my book, the war, the laundry, things I said 15 years ago, the environment, my double chin, unanswered mail, what an ass I am, what a dirty house we have -- and I've had "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" playing in my head for days.
Sound familiar? In a funny aside, when I first discovered Barry I thought she was black. (She grew up tossing bologna to the mean dog in the alley too!)
Go here for an excerpt from What it Is.
Who else is doing NaNoWriMo? What will you be reading/doing to make it through?
8 comments:
Well, I've been meaning to do Nano... to catch up on a manuscript I'm working on. I know that may be the wrong reason, but we will see.
How 'bout I let you convince me, Botanical Chick!
I'm doing it. I intend to be at the finish line with all of my writing buddies. I have one specific life-line that I speak to every day. She keeps me motivated and I her. But truthfully I have a bunch of individuals who will help me not to give up. I like the feeling of winning.
I forgot to tell you I'm JC Martin over there. You can add me as a buddy if you would like. What's your name?
Oh man, that totally sounds familiar!
Is it NaNoWriMo time again?! I've never played before, but with an April deadline looming, this year might be the time to try it...
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!! I was thrilled and honored to see a comment from you!
Alida
I don't even have time for NaNoWriMo. I have never participated in it. Ah, maybe next year...
November is the busiest month of the year for me, so once again I won't be doing Nano. BUT I do plan to spend December (with the exception of a visit with my sister) writing furiously on a book, and I hope to get a first draft done.
It would be nice one year to go through the experience with everyone else.
I love Lynda Barry. Here's my favorite quote from Common Scents: "Some smells were mysteriously wonderful, like at the Palinkis', where it was a combination of mint, tangerines, and library books."
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