I actually passed the 50K mark late Thursday night, so I’ve really been a Nano winner for a couple of days now. :-)
Yesterday I started plugging up some of the plot holes and added another 1500 words, and I’ve got more holes to fill. Not sure how long this novel is going to be, but I’m going to keep at it until it’s done. Then, while I’m in the process of editing it, I’ll start working on something else.
Today I logged onto the NaNoWriMo site and validated my word count, which entitled me to download a couple of spiffy icons and print off a certificate which I will hang on my office wall as soon as I get a frame for it.
I’m actually sorry Nano’s done, but I’ve learned a lot about myself and my writing habits and I’d like to think I’ll keep going. They say it only takes 14 days for something to become a habit, so that means the habit must be doubly set in after 30 days. Which means, I have no excuse for not writing 2,000 words a day.
Maybe I’ll just have to pretend that every day is a Nano day.
Nov 29, 2008
Nov 27, 2008
Nano, Day 27
I’m driving myself crazy.
Yesterday I had a really hard time buckling down to the writing. Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was the weather, maybe it was just the cosmic alignment, I don’t know. All I know is I couldn’t seem to concentrate.
I’d plug away for awhile and then check my progress and be appalled at how little I’d done. Then I’d go back and read some of what I’d written and think “Ew, how could I ever write such drivel?” *sigh*
Then I’d plug away some more and thought I was finally making progress, but when I checked at about 1 a.m. I was shocked to see that I hadn’t even passed the 1,000 mark for the day. Finally I skipped ahead to the scene where my female main character’s ship is dead in space and the male main character has to rescue her. It started out as just a filler, but now it’s become important ‘cause it’s given them both time apart to get their priorities straight. Well, his priorities anyway. She still has issues.
In the peaks of my creativity I write entire scenes, in the lulls I try and go back and fill out the stuff that comes in between. Actually, the lulls are sometimes caused by trying to backfill the holes in the story.
Some of what I was reading tonight was pretty good, a lot of it wasn’t. But I still like the story and I can almost say I’m looking forward to editing it into something readable.
Yesterday I had a really hard time buckling down to the writing. Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was the weather, maybe it was just the cosmic alignment, I don’t know. All I know is I couldn’t seem to concentrate.
I’d plug away for awhile and then check my progress and be appalled at how little I’d done. Then I’d go back and read some of what I’d written and think “Ew, how could I ever write such drivel?” *sigh*
Then I’d plug away some more and thought I was finally making progress, but when I checked at about 1 a.m. I was shocked to see that I hadn’t even passed the 1,000 mark for the day. Finally I skipped ahead to the scene where my female main character’s ship is dead in space and the male main character has to rescue her. It started out as just a filler, but now it’s become important ‘cause it’s given them both time apart to get their priorities straight. Well, his priorities anyway. She still has issues.
In the peaks of my creativity I write entire scenes, in the lulls I try and go back and fill out the stuff that comes in between. Actually, the lulls are sometimes caused by trying to backfill the holes in the story.
Some of what I was reading tonight was pretty good, a lot of it wasn’t. But I still like the story and I can almost say I’m looking forward to editing it into something readable.
Nov 26, 2008
Nano, Day 26
I remember my first Nano. I had a good idea, I knew where the story was going, I had my characters more or less figured out (well, they had names anyway). I had a well thought out outline and though I tended to jump ahead to the more interesting parts, I still pretty much stuck to the outline. I ran out of story before I ran out of words, and I’m still trying to edit that sucker. I may just start over from scratch. I still like the basic idea, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Recently I came across the original prologue and it’s a much better fit than the new one. In fact, it’s long enough that I might dispense with the prologue altogether and just use it as chapter one.
Last year I attempted Nano. I had what I thought was a good idea and I booked a week’s vacation in the middle of November. I wrote 2,000 words and then stopped. In retrospect, what I had was a good beginning for an idea. It needed a lot more developing before it was going to go anywhere.
This year, I almost didn’t sign up for Nano. My writing was floundering and I didn't think the extra pressure from Nano was what I needed to pull me out of my slump. I was working on three different projects simultaneously and my progress just seemed really slow. The two weeks before Nano I was hard-pressed to even update my blogs, let alone get any other writing done. There was this story that was stuck in my head. Every time I tried to write something this story would rear its ugly head in my mind and demand my attention.
I tried to ignore it but the problem was it was a good idea. It kept revolving in my head, refining itself until I knew the whole story from start to finish. I knew the characters and their motivations, I knew their flaws, I knew exactly where the story was going and how it was going to get there including the obstacles my characters were going to encounter.
After two weeks of not writing, I was leaning more towards not signing up for Nano. I just couldn’t face more failure. And then I read a post on Absolute Write that changed my way of thinking. The thread asked the question, “Is Nano a good idea for beginning writers?” The answer was illuminating (at least for me). I wish I could find the original post, but in a nutshell it basically said that writers often have to work under tight deadlines and Nano is a good way of testing yourself.
I want to be a writer. Nano is making me feel like one.
Last year I attempted Nano. I had what I thought was a good idea and I booked a week’s vacation in the middle of November. I wrote 2,000 words and then stopped. In retrospect, what I had was a good beginning for an idea. It needed a lot more developing before it was going to go anywhere.
This year, I almost didn’t sign up for Nano. My writing was floundering and I didn't think the extra pressure from Nano was what I needed to pull me out of my slump. I was working on three different projects simultaneously and my progress just seemed really slow. The two weeks before Nano I was hard-pressed to even update my blogs, let alone get any other writing done. There was this story that was stuck in my head. Every time I tried to write something this story would rear its ugly head in my mind and demand my attention.
I tried to ignore it but the problem was it was a good idea. It kept revolving in my head, refining itself until I knew the whole story from start to finish. I knew the characters and their motivations, I knew their flaws, I knew exactly where the story was going and how it was going to get there including the obstacles my characters were going to encounter.
After two weeks of not writing, I was leaning more towards not signing up for Nano. I just couldn’t face more failure. And then I read a post on Absolute Write that changed my way of thinking. The thread asked the question, “Is Nano a good idea for beginning writers?” The answer was illuminating (at least for me). I wish I could find the original post, but in a nutshell it basically said that writers often have to work under tight deadlines and Nano is a good way of testing yourself.
I want to be a writer. Nano is making me feel like one.
Nov 25, 2008
Nano, Day 25
I must admit today's wordage wasn't as good as it's been lately.
In the morning I did a thorough house cleaning and in the afternoon my daughter was home for a job interview. I didn't even crack my lap top open until late in the afternoon, and then didn't start any writing until the evening when my daughter went to a friend's house to watch NCIS. Truthfully, I didn't really get going until she went to bed at 11.
So, I only did about 1,000 words today, but that's okay. I'm still ahead of the game and any words are better than no words.
Now that I'm so close I don't think I'm going to update my Nano counter again until I'm ready to use the Nano validation to become a winner. I've seen the little web badges and I wants one!
In the morning I did a thorough house cleaning and in the afternoon my daughter was home for a job interview. I didn't even crack my lap top open until late in the afternoon, and then didn't start any writing until the evening when my daughter went to a friend's house to watch NCIS. Truthfully, I didn't really get going until she went to bed at 11.
So, I only did about 1,000 words today, but that's okay. I'm still ahead of the game and any words are better than no words.
Now that I'm so close I don't think I'm going to update my Nano counter again until I'm ready to use the Nano validation to become a winner. I've seen the little web badges and I wants one!
Nov 24, 2008
Nano, Day 24
Okay, I can definitely say I’m not going to run out of story. In fact, if I have the time once I reach the 50K that makes me a winner, I have a section at the beginning I need to add.
I started today as I normally do, checking my e-mails and my blog list, and then I sat at my desk staring at my document, fingers poised over the keyboard and . . . nothing. I reread the last section I wrote yesterday and . . . nada. I stared into space for a while and . . . zip, zilch, nil.
So then I logged into Absolute Write and started checking out the forum and after checking out the new posts I participated in a word war with some fellow Nanoers. This is where we pick a mutually agreeable time to start and then write as fast as we can for 30 minutes. Afterwards, we post our word counts.
The idea behind this is to give ourselves (and our writing) a little boost and for me it worked well. I wrote just under 900 words in my thirty minutes. Not only did it give me a jump start, I kept going and reached the 45K mark just before supper.
I’m turning into a regular writing machine, go me!
I started today as I normally do, checking my e-mails and my blog list, and then I sat at my desk staring at my document, fingers poised over the keyboard and . . . nothing. I reread the last section I wrote yesterday and . . . nada. I stared into space for a while and . . . zip, zilch, nil.
So then I logged into Absolute Write and started checking out the forum and after checking out the new posts I participated in a word war with some fellow Nanoers. This is where we pick a mutually agreeable time to start and then write as fast as we can for 30 minutes. Afterwards, we post our word counts.
The idea behind this is to give ourselves (and our writing) a little boost and for me it worked well. I wrote just under 900 words in my thirty minutes. Not only did it give me a jump start, I kept going and reached the 45K mark just before supper.
I’m turning into a regular writing machine, go me!
Nov 23, 2008
Nano, Day 23
Well, in spite of grocery shopping and girl’s night yesterday, and Christmas shopping today, I made my 43K. And before midnight too!
Let’s see, my female main character has recovered from her illness and my male main character has developed a real stubborn streak, especially when it comes to recovering his memory (he doesn’t appear to want to remember).
He’s lured my poor FMC to a barn, of all places, for nefarious purposes, and just when they thought it was safe to relax in the afterglow, someone sets fire to the barn. They escape, but there’s still the question of who set the fire and why.
I managed about 500 words before shopping this morning, and the rest this evening. Despite the volume of the television, I was able to focus and just get it done. I think this deserves coffee cake and ice cream!
Let’s see, my female main character has recovered from her illness and my male main character has developed a real stubborn streak, especially when it comes to recovering his memory (he doesn’t appear to want to remember).
He’s lured my poor FMC to a barn, of all places, for nefarious purposes, and just when they thought it was safe to relax in the afterglow, someone sets fire to the barn. They escape, but there’s still the question of who set the fire and why.
I managed about 500 words before shopping this morning, and the rest this evening. Despite the volume of the television, I was able to focus and just get it done. I think this deserves coffee cake and ice cream!
Nov 22, 2008
Nano, Day 22
Yipee! I passed the 40K mark! The goal for this weekend is 43K by the end of Sunday. A little less progress than I’ve been making but I’m factoring in the grocery shopping today, a girl’s night out tonight, and Christmas shopping tomorrow.
Wow, I’ve got a lot on the go this weekend. It will be interesting to see if I’m able to reach my wordage goal and how late I have to stay up to make it :-)
My characters have reached his planet, which still doesn’t have a name. She’s been sprung from prison and is recovering nicely from her life-threatening illness. They’ve been reunited in his former home, and he’s beginning to show his stubborn streak regarding his memory loss. They've met what's left of his family and she's just given them a run-down on how they met.
I am no longer worried about running out of story before I hit the 50K mark. I think I’ll still be adding words even after Nano ends. If that’s the case then even when the pressure’s off, I'd like to stay focused until I get this finished.
I owe it to myself to see where it takes me.
Wow, I’ve got a lot on the go this weekend. It will be interesting to see if I’m able to reach my wordage goal and how late I have to stay up to make it :-)
My characters have reached his planet, which still doesn’t have a name. She’s been sprung from prison and is recovering nicely from her life-threatening illness. They’ve been reunited in his former home, and he’s beginning to show his stubborn streak regarding his memory loss. They've met what's left of his family and she's just given them a run-down on how they met.
I am no longer worried about running out of story before I hit the 50K mark. I think I’ll still be adding words even after Nano ends. If that’s the case then even when the pressure’s off, I'd like to stay focused until I get this finished.
I owe it to myself to see where it takes me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)