This Writer’s Life—NaNoWriMo Week Two Recap

by Melissa Corliss DeLorenzo

Ok, full disclosure: the other day, I freaked out. Sunk pretty deeply into my… ahem… novel, I suddenly came a little unglued. I had no idea where it was going or what I was doing. And, yes, I know just a few days ago I posted a little Manifesto Against Plot.

I emailed my NaNo writing buddies in a desperate state. I just couldn’t feel my protagonist. And, frankly, I started to panic a little. (A lot.) Herein lies some of the glory of NaNo—community! Your very own pep squad!

I think my email went something like this:
Title: “No plot—freaking out”
Message: “Talk me off the ledge. I can’t seem to get my head around a working plot. Tell me it’s all going to be ok. HELP!!!”

Amy said, It will be OK. Plot, schmot.

Sarah said, It’ll be fine. It will come together on its own as you write. The important thing is character development and descriptive text.

McCormick said, You’re only freaking out because that one lady once told you that you didn’t have enough plot in something you wrote. I read your last NaNo—you have plot galore. It just comes to you. An editor who rejected my first book called my plotting “infuriating.” I still don’t know what that means, but every time I sit down to write, I’m like, oh my god, am I being infuriating? Then I have to tell that guy to shut up, and leave me alone. Do that to the woman in your head who thinks you have plot problems. You don’t. Just let yourself write, see what happens, and it will be brilliant. Fluid process. Be kind to yourself. Trust yourself. I think you’re a brilliant writer. Just hear that in your head: “I am a brilliant writer!” And then get going! Yay!

I read what they had to say and was able to take a step back. Why was I worrying about plot? I never worry about plot. Then I was able to recognize the real problem.

I was not connecting with my main protagonist. I couldn’t feel her and it had nothing to do with either a perfect plot or no plot whatsoever. My main character felt one-dimensional and colorless. I couldn’t see her. So I switched from third person perspective to first so I could really get into her. And I changed it from past tense to present to make it feel more urgent, more “now.”

I am thrilled to say I am writing away happily and my protagonist and I are getting along wonderfully. (Thanks, NaNo buddies.)

By the way, look for guest posts by these brilliant women writers this month.

Keep NaNo-ing!

How’s your NaNo project coming along?

Melissa Corliss DeLorenzo is a writer, reader, yogini (when she can squeeze it in), mom, part-time Office Manager, a homemaker and the Coordinator and Writer for The Writer’s Life blog. She loves to cook and take long walks with her kids and is a woman who wants to meaningfully exchange and intersect with other women writers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Currently she works at a web development company (because part-time Office Manager buys more groceries than Struggling Writer). She is at work on a novel and a short story collection. Melissa lives in North Central Massachusetts with her family.

Want to write for The Writer’s Life blog? Drop us an email at thewriterslife@hercircleezine.com.

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