NaNoWriMo: Week 2

As week two draws to a close, I thought you might like to see how I've been getting on. With the aid of NaNoWriMo's stats tab, I can do exactly that...

So, as you can see, I won't hit the 50K words by the end of the month on current form. Do you know what though? That's okay. Honestly...

Thanks to NaNo though, I now have over 16K words that are being lapped up by my beta-readers and getting really good feedback. That's the most productive fortnight I can recall, and the story is actually rather good even if I do say so myself. If the first draft is written by the middle of December, as projected, I'll be a very happy writer indeed.

I haven't ruled out catching up with NaNo and being a 'winner' but... assuming I don't... if I can still get Bye Bye, Black Sheep finished before the end of the year, I'd count that as winning too.

How is everybody else doing? Still going?

NaNoWriMo: Lessons Learned #1

So we're already over a week into November, and therefore over a week into NaNoWriMo - you know, write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days - and already, I'm learning more about my writing style.

I already knew I was combination of plotter and pantser (as in, writing by the seat of my pants) but now I also know that....

I HAVE TO EDIT AS I GO!!!!

Er... yeah. Whoops. Sorry for shouting.

For the first few days, I tried to ignore my inner editor - I really did - but it nigh on killed me.

Akin to chewing off my own arm (even though that would be cannibalistic, and not only that, I've also been vegetarian for over twenty years), the prospect of having to come back to it filled me with dread. I couldn't move on until I'd got the words right, until the sentences flowed the way I wanted them to.

My muse abandoned me, throwing a tantrum until I agreed to let my editor play. It transpires they are a tag team, they need each other, and who am I to argue? I'm just the medium that types the words into the laptop.

Signing up to NaNo was always a last minute decision, almost a whim, a tool to get me back into my writing. Whilst I am still striving to reach the 50,000 word target, I'm not going to be too disappointed if I don't get there. I'd much rather have 30,000 quality words, than 50,000 words of drivel that needs completely re-writing come December.

December for me is all about promoting and celebrating my new release, and of course, getting ready for Christmas. Woo hoo!

Speaking of my new release, get ready for the announcement of my release date... coming soon!

If you are also taking part in NaNo, how is it going for you?

NaNoWriMo: Let the Madness Commence

National Novel Writing Month - or NaNoWriMo as it is commonly referred to - started today, the aim to write an entire 50,000 word novel over the course of November. Yes, that's right. 50,000 words in just ONE month.

AureliaBRowl

For weeks, I have been rejecting suggestions about joining up for NaNoWriMo. I had an entire armoury of excuses and reasons about why I shouldn't do it. And it was fine, I wasn't pushed. Nobody tried to coerce me. But then the big day arrived and one of the stories in my head has been getting louder and more disruptive these past few day and my finger "slipped" and...

WHOOPS!

If my blog and social network pages go quiet, at least you'll know why.

So who else is in it this year?