First Time NaNoWriMo Participant - The End

Well, what do you know? I did it!

50,317 Words - WINNER!

That's right!  I actually did it!  If you've read the progress reports in past posts, then you know that there were quite a few days that I had struggled through.  I didn't think I was going to make it and I wasn't alone.  I saw that there were a large number of people having the same trials I was.

My biggest obstacle was my own mind.  I doubted the path that my characters were leading me down.  I doubted my own ability in steering them through the challenges they faced.

I'm sure other writers can relate.  I've seen a few of my favorites give interviews or blog about similar issues.  I can keep telling myself to let go of the fear and doubt, but it has a way of sneaking in through the nooks and crannies and planting seeds that can take root and feed.

Thanks to a great amount of poking and prodding by some very key people, I surpassed the goal with hours to spare.  Six of them to be a bit more precise.

Here's the rub.

I'm not done!

I have 50,000+ words on a book that I need to add to in order to complete it.  I have a strong foundation to work from and characters that I have come to know and actually enjoy!  Well, except for one.  There is one secondary in particular that I'd love to kill off, but I think I'll just lock him up in a cell for a long while.  He might even have a limp.   Oh! Maybe he'll learn a lesson in basic human kindness from his cellmate.  Or he'll be fully schooled on obsessive possessive behaviors by an unwelcome stalker.

I had already decided that if I didn't get my 50k, I was going to continue on no matter what.  It was more about setting the goal, and making sure that I achieved it - right along with the other hundreds of thousands of participants.  I had only myself to blame if it didn't work out.

I could blame any number of things for not attacking the goal every single day, but the truth would have been that I didn't really apply myself.  I would have known that I hadn't from the numerous times I'd procrastinated on various sites.  I need only look at my Facebook feed, Pinterest boards, Tumblr, or Twitter.  They had all aided me in ignoring my writing altogether.  It wasn't their fault exactly, they didn't know.  I used them to hide away from the very people I'd promised that I would write about.  Shame on me.

So, now what?

Now, I finish what I had begun on November 1, 2013 and make sure that my character's story is ready to go out for review.  I also have the draft I wrote in August/September that I need to go over just once more before deciding whom to send it to.

If anything happens with either of these works, I will be sure to let you know here, and on Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter.

NaNoWriMo Progress Report - Week Three

Week three, I mastered the art of procrastination.

I did everything in my power to avoid my MC story because he I was talking me myself into a circle.  Rather than combat him the issue - because I hate confrontation, don't ya know - I ignored everything that had anything to do with writing.

I was extra diligent in my cleaning, I gave my dog the extra cuddles he wanted, took a nap or two or four, watched some extra shows, and even recorded some things I probably never would have watched if I hadn't recorded them.  And yes, I took to Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, and even Ebay to get away from writing my NaNoWriMo Novel.

And now how do I feel?  Panicked!  Because at the end of week three, I was 5k words behind goal and am extremely busy week ahead.

Let's hope that the final week, sees me through to getting to that 50k mark!

I apologize for keeping this short and sweet, but, well, I should be writing a novel!

SIDE NOTE

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you that are celebrating on the 28th! Eat lots of good food and then diet on Monday to get ready for the next big holiday!

NaNoWriMo Progress Report - Week Two

Didn't I just post about week one?

This last week went by rather quickly, but I can proudly say that as of this posting, I broke through the halfway mark for NaNoWriMo!  That's right (or is that, write?)! I have passed the 25,000 word mark!

The way the first week went, I thought for sure that there would be no catching up.  Thanks to the encouragement of my writing sprint people at Coffee & a Good Book, my pre-reader, and a friend that wants to see me in print, I've made the first major milestone.

So, now what do I want to do?  Double it up!  I actually want to hit 50,000 by the end of week three.  I know, it's not necessary to have the 50,000 until the end of the month, but I figure that if I can do it early, I may have a full length story to tighten and begin editing by the end of the month.  Then, I will have two books to shop around with.

Honestly, I'm anxious to get back to book one and make sure that it is as clean as it could possibly be.  Alas, I have a goal.  I need to focus, get this second book out of my system, and then go back and see what I can do.  Or write another book.  I do have plot bunnies frantically hopping about.

Oh!  I began using Scrivener, and although I thought myself to be more of a lineal writer, I have to admit that being able to return to certain scenes without actually having to search for them, is an awesome feature.  Having everything easily accessible because it is on a "cork board" and ready for viewing, makes things even better.  I haven't even begun to learn all that the program has to offer, so I do look forward to it.

If you're a writer and are writing for NaNoWriMo, Scrivener is offering a free trial and 50% off when you hit the 50,000 word goal in time! It's a great offer.

No matter what your word count, just keep at it!  You can't succeed unless you try.  Nothing ever gets done, without effort.  Even if you only get a few thousand words by the end of the month, it is a start and you can write beyond November!

Good luck to you!  To all of us!

NaNoWriMo Progress Report - Week One

I wish I could say that the story flowed for me the entire week.  Truth is, I had to drag every word out of the deepest recesses of my brain.  I couldn't figure out what was holding it all back.  Then, a few nights ago, it clicked.  I was so focused on word count, that I wasn't creating anything.

I couldn't picture my characters.  I couldn't imagine them doing anything that they should have been doing.  They weren't doing their part in speaking with me either.  It was so frustrating.

The week started out alright.  The first 1800 words came out easily enough, but by the third day, I was more than 3000 words behind schedule.  I got to the point on day five, where I started avoiding the computer.  I tucked away my notepads, put the flash-drive away, and did everything I could to avoid the stinkin' keyboard.

Luckily, I have a friend that I've been writing with for years, who is very good at kicking my butt.  I also got into a group with a few other writers, and we're holding each other accountable.  It's been a great help.

Day five, I went to my NaNo page and found this little gem...

"At This Rate You Will Finish On December 16, 2013"

First thought was, "What?!?"

Then it was, "Oh, hell no!"

In the next two hours, I wrote over 1200 words.  Not quite at the speed of writing I was accustomed to, but it was coming out.

So where did I end up at the end of the week?  I was three full days behind schedule.  Am I worried?  I'm really not anymore.  I know what was holding me back and I'd also done a lot of research in that first week.

If I'm smart, I'll keep reminding myself of my own rules.

Where do I go from here?  Get in on those writing sprints, talk through my plot points that are sticking, and look at the picture of my dream cast and tell them that I need their help.  I'm looking forward to week two and can't wait to see how everyone else's stories are coming along.


If you're writing for NaNoWriMo, you may be feeling some of the same frustrations.  Feel free to voice them and get a conversation going.  Good luck to us all!

National Novel Writing Month

Here it is!  November 1, 2013 and for the first time ever, I am participating in NaNoWriMo.

What is NaNoWriMo?  It's a writing challenge.  Each participant is given the objective to write 50,000 words within thirty days.  I know, most people ask why in the heck anyone would want to do that if they didn't have to, but you see that's where my kind of people come in.

You know that book that you just couldn't put down?  Or that movie you thought was written so well?  What about that play you saw and thought was so hilarious?  Well, it took a writer to create those moments for you.

50,000 words seems like a lot doesn't it?  It really isn't for me.  This won't be my first attempt at writing a novel, but it will be the first time that a community of writers will be going through the same thing I am, right along with me.

So, what am I going to do?  I'm going to have some fun and write about a guy.  There will be a girl involved, and there will be some banter.  How do I know this?  Because it's what I love writing and a few close confidants love me for it.

As the days pass in November, I'll have my coffee by my side as I type away on the keyboard.  I'll have a notepad and pens tucked away in any purse or bag I carry, just in case inspiration strikes.

If you want more information about the month ahead of me, just follow along.  You can also keep tabs on my progress at my author info page.  If you want to learn more about NaNoWriMo then visit them!

November 1-30 • The world needs your novel.