Freeeeedoooom!!!!

It is now midnight in Paris, the bell at the top of the Eiffel tower* has just rang for the last day of NaNoWriMo. Lilie has finally completed the 30 day long trial; what did I learn from this experience: writing is hard, really, really hard on the writer's companion.
First, everyday I have to pick up the writer from the bed and get her on her way to her MacBook.
Second, now I have to do all the chores and spoonfeed the writer cakes and mandarines.
Third, I have suddenly become celibate as writing is all-consuming and anything else is too distracting.

But all in all, all of this is pretty insignificant, my Lilie has finally proven that I was right all along (a feeling that I cherish the most) and successfully completed a first draft novel of 50,000 words in just 30 days! Even if I dread the thousand phases of editing and the gazillion plot adjustments ahead, I am proud of her and look forward to the final bound book.

You have to believe it to make it real.

Believe me!

-- Benjamin

PS: I am giving Lilie back her access to the blog, maybe I will see you again sometime.

*editor's note: Ben is messing with you; there is no bell.

Not a Marathon, but a Sprint!

I am very sorry for my lack of posting but sadly I had to absent myself because of a death in the family.

We are now 22 days in NaNoWriMo; while I was gone, Lilie kept going hard but without her cuddly support, it seems that she gradually lost her mojo. But I am back now and I fully intend to have my 50,000 word novel at the end of the month. So we are changing from marathon to sprint, with half the amount of words left with only a third of the time.

So how do you motivate a writer? what do you do when even french pastry is not enough? well, I have a few options:

• make time, a lot of time, remove all other chores
• not so subtle pressure and a reminder of the work to be done
• massages and other niceties that only a boyfriend can provide

Still I realize now that deep inside, there is nothing I can do, it is frustating but I am not the one writing. The words can only come from Lilie and it must come at the pace of her inspiration. Nevertheless, we are not giving up and we are still on for the finish line.

Hopeful Beginning

Lilie has started NaNoWriMo for good and is already in advance of a few hundred words on her 1,600 word/day schedule. I have now witnessed the pain and suffering of the writer. Giving birth to a child is surely hard and painful but at least it only lasts a few days before a few hours of suffering. Giving birth to a novel seems to be quite terrible with a mental stress that can last weeks if not years, when each and every word is painstakingly extracted from the unwilling muse and beaten down on a white page.

But so far, so good, my Lilie is writing following her outline and inspiration seems to be somewhat flowing. I have discover some key motivational items to "help" her write her daily quota of 1,667 words:

• The Daily Quota is the Golden Rule! it must be met, no excuse, no choice, no sleep...
• Cheer for each small Victory! every word count, so congratulate yourself every time you write a few hundred words.
• A Little Something goes a Long Way! treat yourself at the end of each day that you have met your quota (which is everyday of course): a piece of cake, your favorite TV show, whatever rock your boat. Better even, if you have a better half have him/her treat you.
•  Death to the Unbelievers! whatever happen you have to believe it is possible, your text might not be Shakespeare but you will have a month to refine it, so keep going because there is no editing wihtout a first draft.
• Breaks are Good, Resting is Not! you can take break every few paragraph for sure, stretch your legs, but do not relax too much: no sleeping on the job, and no Twittering either!
•  Keep Watch, Stay Focused! do not let your guard down and do not hesitate to scold yourself if you go astray, and if you don't have the self-discipline find somebody to do it for you.

Voila! my day job is managerial as I am sure is pretty apparent, but it is working for us so far, I hope it willl be helpful to you too.

-- Benjamin

Temporarily Indisposed

For reasons that you can easily guess from the NaNoWriMo logo on the right, Lilie will not be blogging this month. She is in full writing/panic mode, which feels like a part-time job for me, Benjamin, her French boyfriend.

So, as the supporting companion that I am, I will write post on her blog in order to inform you, her fond reader, about ebb and flow of her writing inspiration. As she is pointing out right now, my english is a bit off but I have no claim of being a writer so I do not care that much (and I secretly hope that it will come off as charming).

I have all my gear ready:

• The fridge is stocked with french soft cheese and fluffy yogurt.
• The coffee jar has been filled to last until next year's the end of the world.
• The emergency swiss chocolate and fresh pastry are close at hand.

Like an adventurer going into a mysterious jungle of a lost continent, I am to step in the wild world of Lilie's month of writing. I have no doubt I will not get out of it unscarred but I am persuaded the treasure will be worth the risk.

You will hear from me in a few days ... I hope ...

-- Benjamin