Just a note for those of you venturing into this 72 hour madness… to wish you the very best! Whether you start at midnight sharp, or when you wake up, or whatever works best with your imagination. Surprise yourself! I have ended up being in town after all for this weekend. As we were driving to the mountains, we looked up the “smoke map” and realized there are too many active fires, and far too much smoke. We ended up walking around some trails on Whidbey Island, which was quite lovely. And I had some thoughts about “loop” trails, and “back-and-forth” trails—thoughts which I plan to share soon.
Sep 3, 2022·edited Sep 3, 2022Liked by Alison Acheson
Because of your series on this, I'm giving the 3 Day Novel contest a try. Winging it, totally, but that should make it fun (and not like work, at least not at the start!). Thank you for your cogent and inspirational Substack articles.
It's unfortunate that you had to cut your explorations short because of smoke, but I'm glad that you returned safely and I look forward to your loop trail musings.
My best wishes to all. One of my attempts became a first draft for a published novel. Go for it! Glad you are out in nature Alison. I’m finding that I just stop now, in nature, no next moment, just a whole lot of being there.
I think I actually started it in an old hotel in Port Townsend, speaking of Whidbey Island! There was a desk in the room. I had a notebook and a pen. The good old days.
A notebook and pen, yes--sometimes that just feels right. Sometimes, if I'm stuck, I'll go back. Other times, it's just pleasurable. We do think differently...
Thank you for this! I have been trying this as an experiment, even though I did not end up officially signing up for it as I was too late, plus what I am doing probably doesn't fit the rules, exactly, but I like the experiment of trying to finish something in three days. Now I am trying to see how fast I can take this blob of story ideas/"outline"/characters arguing about stuff/frighteningly confusing document/explosion I started last year for that Nanorimo and see if it can be utterly rewritten become a story with a middle and an end before the end of today. In a way, it is most helpful to have a different way of thinking about it, as with Nanorimo the point seemed to be about writing a certain number of words, and here the point is to finish a novel in three days, which is a rather helpful way of seeing things. And then after this it might be a good idea to write shorter things! :)
Because of your series on this, I'm giving the 3 Day Novel contest a try. Winging it, totally, but that should make it fun (and not like work, at least not at the start!). Thank you for your cogent and inspirational Substack articles.
It's unfortunate that you had to cut your explorations short because of smoke, but I'm glad that you returned safely and I look forward to your loop trail musings.
You are so welcome--I'm so glad you are here. Do post if you run into a wall--we can take a mental sledgehammer, or whisper our way through.
Yes, loop trail musings rising out of the mist... to follow the piece on "voice." Much to look forward to in September.
My best wishes to all. One of my attempts became a first draft for a published novel. Go for it! Glad you are out in nature Alison. I’m finding that I just stop now, in nature, no next moment, just a whole lot of being there.
Actually we had to come home--too much smoke. But we'll head out again--North, this time--on Tuesday. YES, to stopping and savouring.
SO encouraging to hear your experience, Andrew, with a 3 Day becoming published work. Thank you for sharing that!
I think I actually started it in an old hotel in Port Townsend, speaking of Whidbey Island! There was a desk in the room. I had a notebook and a pen. The good old days.
Oh, that is good!
A notebook and pen, yes--sometimes that just feels right. Sometimes, if I'm stuck, I'll go back. Other times, it's just pleasurable. We do think differently...
Andrew, it's very encouraging that your 3 day novel became the first draft for your published one. Wow! Those were three days wisely spent.
Thank you for this! I have been trying this as an experiment, even though I did not end up officially signing up for it as I was too late, plus what I am doing probably doesn't fit the rules, exactly, but I like the experiment of trying to finish something in three days. Now I am trying to see how fast I can take this blob of story ideas/"outline"/characters arguing about stuff/frighteningly confusing document/explosion I started last year for that Nanorimo and see if it can be utterly rewritten become a story with a middle and an end before the end of today. In a way, it is most helpful to have a different way of thinking about it, as with Nanorimo the point seemed to be about writing a certain number of words, and here the point is to finish a novel in three days, which is a rather helpful way of seeing things. And then after this it might be a good idea to write shorter things! :)
I look forward to hearing about the adventure...