Stuck in Slumpland? Tips for my fellow NaNos.
NaNoWriMo participants around the world, congratulations on making it to the precipice of the halfway mark. By now, your protagonist(s) should have survived many painful obstacles you’ve thrown their way, your antagonist(s) has/have emerged, even if your protagonist(s) have no idea who their true enemies are yet. Notorious for tripping up budding and seasoned writers alike, the middle of your manuscript is prime real estate for Slumpland writing (if you’re managing any at all).
Slumpland writing covers everything from poor dialogue to excessive flashbacks to the dreaded cliche dream sequence. Cliches often plague the middle, as do worn-out tropes and the sensation that your protagonist(s) is/are treading water. You know where they’re supposed to be going but they seem not to get anywhere over page after page. Other common mistakes here: detailing every action a character does or slowing the action down to tune in on every random thought they have and each time they change emotions.
The good news is, if you keep putting your butt in the chair and your hands on the keyboard, your stay in Slumpland won’t last forever! If you need some inspiration for how to escape, I have some ideas:
Watch YouTube videos on how to improve your craft. Warning: You should give yourself a time limit for this activity and stick with it, or else a rabbit hole will open and your fellow Nano participants may never see you again. A few personal favorite YouTubers to learn from include: Abbie Emmons, Merphy Napier, Alexa Donne, and Brandon Sanderson.
Even if you’re a hardcore Pantser (been there) or a Nano Rebel, consider writing an outline or adding to the one that exists. When I’m dancing around the Slumpland border, adding to my outline helps me keep my protagonists on the paths to their destinies.
Avoid falling into the yawning abyss which dominates the center of Slumpland: The Pit of Premature Editing. Its appeal is undeniable, but you can resist its charms. The best way to do so, in my opinion, is by finding a buddy or many, and by meandering over to the Nano forums at least once per day to mingle with your fellow Nano writers. Buddies and groups are great for asking the questions, offering the prompts and feedback, and giving you the support you need to stay out of Slumpland, or to help you escape if you’re already there. You can find me on the Nano site under the username GeekMamacita, if you want to connect. I’m always happy to help. We are in this together!
Happy writing, and if you like my emerging blog, please give me a clap or a follow. I’ll post again soon.
