MIGHTY PEN: Teresa Morse
So happy to welcome to the Mighty Pen family one Teresa Morse! AHHHH awesome job. Congratulations on winning NaNoWriMo. We hope you enjoyed working with the Mighty Pens–because it was excellent to have you on the team. If you missed reading a snippet of her NaNo project, Poet of the Void, be sure to check it out and let her know what you think. Then share in the joy of her win by checking out her interview below.
Interview with a Mighty Pen: Teresa Morse
What’s one thing that changed in your expectations for your project from November 1 to now?
I started out working on an entirely different project! So I expected to have finished a draft of a sci-fi project and instead have a near-completed draft zero of a fantasy.
What moment in NaNoWriMo18 stands out the most to you?
I had a 4,500 word day, and it’s been a looooong time since I cranked out that many words. It was over two sessions, and it all just came so easily. It’s that magic of writing that keeps me going, when the story just flies from my hands. It makes days where the words don’t come (somewhat) easier because it highlights that each day is different. I won’t get as down on myself when I can just compartmentalize a slow/bad/every-word-is-like-pulling-a-tooth days and remember the easy ones.
What’s something you’ve learned, or that you’re proud of, from this year’s NaNo?
I let this draft be as weird as it wanted to be. I didn’t self-edit (okay, I BARELY self-edited). The world, especially its history, expanded into this huge thing with its own myths and histories and controversies. I learned that by not restricting myself, or feeling like I couldn’t handle it, I actually ended up pushing myself into something larger than I might have otherwise taken on.
Any advice for yourself or others for next year’s NaNo, if you’re able to participate again?
OWN YOUR PROCESS. Whatever it is. During NaNo, we get completely inundated with writing advice, and not all of it is bad! But the thing about advice is you can take it or leave it. You should always open yourself to new techniques or tools or hints or whatever, especially if you’re struggling. But if you hear a mandate of something you shouldn’t ever do (or should always do) and it doesn’t jive with your process, it’s okay to ignore it. (Except for BACKING UP YOUR WORK. That is non-negotiable!) Every writer is different and every process is different, and that’s one reason the whole thing is so beautiful. So own the process that works for YOU.