Writing Update

I am pleased with my progress with NaNoWriMo so far.  I have never written this much ever, not in any attempt at writing or NaNo.  The last chapter I wrote, ended up as total shit.  It wasn't what I was expecting for it.  I'm a panster, I don't have outlines and stuff like that.  I have a general idea of where I want things to go, but I have just been letting the words pour out and where ever it ends up is where it stays for now.  I have tried to redeem it somewhat, so we will see.  Right now it's all about the word count and not how good or bad it is.

Today is day 14, which means the should have written 23,333 words so far.  My current word count is at 20,913.  I am coming up a bit short at the moment, but that's okay because I know I can still meet the goal.  I also feel like I need to make up for the day I decided to rebel instead of stick with the story I am working on.  I was already upset that the chapter turned into a shit-fest, but then I got pissed off at other things and I figured being a rebel for a day was better than not writing at all.  So that's like another almost 1600 words I need or want to make up for.  To make up for everything, I need right around 4,000 words today.  I know I can do it.  I just find I procrastinate until the last minute.  I can't help it, part of me is amazed at how many words I can put out in the last hour or two of the day.  It's a bad habit I'm forming if I let myself keep doing it.

I know I can write close to 5,000 words in about 3 hours.  That was what I needed to catch up last week when I pulled a muscle in my lower back.  I went to YouTube and found a LotR Trilogy soundtrack to listen to and just wrote and wrote and wrote.  There was about 10 minutes left on the play time when I finished.  That was probably one of my proudest days so far.

You know I see a lot of people that are participating that are posting stuff about how stressful it is and how they have no life for the month, among other things.  I used to stress...A LOT...about NaNo.  This year though, I decided to take a different approach mentally.  I really don't know what "clicked" and made the difference.  I know I am not letting myself stress over.  And I do have a life.  I still can watch my shows and play my games, I can still raid 3 nights a week with my guild in World of Warcraft.  I have been able to go out, too.  This isn't an editors deadline or word count here people, relax and have fun.  Big difference in my "omg doom and gloom" attitude of NaNos past I can tell you. 

Like I said, I don't know what changed for me or in me.  But something has.  It's almost like a light bulb went off or a switch got flipped.  I truly cannot explain it.  Do I think what I have is publishable?  Hell no!  Do I think it's any good?  Right now, another HELL NO!  Is it going to be worth editing and then perhaps sending out to query?  Um, I don't know.  The goal right now it just to get it out of my head.  Then I will see about getting a hard copy printed off and red penning it.  After that, I dunno.  But for now, I am just going to enjoy myself and the fact that I am finally writing.

And We're Off!

Let the writing frenzy commence.  Well it did for many at the stroke of midnight local time all around the world as WriMo-ers attempt to write 50,000 words in this month of November.  I have joined the pack as I have done every year for the last eight years.

In between writing spurts, I have been marveling at how well some others have been doing.  One gal...she challenged herself to write all 50k in 24 hours and DID IT!  She was just over the 50k and still had about 4 hours to spare.  That my friends is some insane writing right there!  My friend Wendy...made it to 15,000 on her first day!  Her personal goal was 9k.  (I'm jealous, but happy for her too!!)  I have seen some many varying degrees of first day success, it's amazing!

Before I headed to bed, shortly after midnight on the first, I wrote the first few lines of what will my NaNo novel.  I just couldn't go to be without writing something.  I got some sleep and hit the computer shortly after 10 AM.  Did a quick email and facebook check, and then dove into writing out the beginnings of the chapter that I had sketched out days earlier.  I ended the day with just over 2,000 words!  The goal for the day was only 1667.  I was...am pleased to say the least.  I wrote on and off through out the day so as not to stress my shoulder too much. 

When I went to bed last night, it was all I could do not to come back out to my computer and write some more.  If it wasn't for my protesting shoulder, I might have done so.  But I got back up this morning, and after the usual check of email and facebook again.  It's habit, I just make sure I don't let myself get sucked in by the games right now.  They will be there.  I worked some more on writing.  It seems so right to be writing.  I don't know what it is.  Before I knew it, I was over 4,000 total and set a goal to reach at least 5,000 for the day.  I passed that now too.  I am a full day a head of the daily mark.  I am so proud of myself right now.  I just hope the momentum keeps up and that all the characters just keep throwing things out at me.  It has been a good two days for me writing wise. 

Here's to hoping the next 45,000 words come just as easily.