National Novel Writing Month: RESOLUTION!

"Thirty days and nights of literary abandon!"

I first encountered National novel writing month ( or as first timers lovingly abbreviate- nanowrimo- and seasoned vets coolly type " nano") three years ago on a hot november day.  I had just moved in the spring from my beloved Montana to Northern California to be near my fiancee.  I was jobless, living with my future in-laws, and a touch homesick for my friends and family in the mountains.  Nano became a welcome relief! Anglebird and I encouraged eachother from afar. My novel was a miserable mess of sloppy plot points but I had fun!
Another year rolled by.  I got married. By the time November rolled around I was in my second trimester and working full time.  I signed up for Nano with good intentions which quickly went down the drain because the baby overtook the organizational part of my brain.  In short, I forgot it was November and what I was supposed to be doing.

This year: I will be a professional JUGGLER:  I'll be working full time, chasing after a 6 month old, and writing on the fly. I fully resolve that I WILL write during nano!!!

And now to end with a poignant and inspiring quote:

" Time is a' wasting
the Turkey is a' basting
And we all want to eat
but what a stink!
What a smell!
could it be hell?
no, it's our feet.
what a neat feat
to ruin our trick or treat.


Lackscroft and Roe

NaNoWriMo - It's coming. Are you ready?

NaNoWriMo again. The insanity starts in 20 days.

I'm definitely participating again. I was a winner last year, I wrote over 50,000 words. Months later I even managed to somehow finish the story I began November 2010. I make no promises for this year, but I do have a simply goal. I'm going to have fun! I'd also like to finish the story within the month of November.

You see today I decided to review the rules and remember just what Nano is all about? I found this: "It's important to note that this is not a "write 50k" challenge... it's a "write a novel" challenge." Oh, does that mean I didn't win last year? No way, I won. I claimed my win. But  it is good to try and finish the story. To finish what you start is an excellent goal for a writer. That's a real challenge. Who knows how many words I'm going to have to write to reach that goal. 80k? 100k? But writing is just one part of Nano.

Progress, I think

I'm here today with a progress report. When I put together the first draft of the Goosey Manuscript I split it into two parts. Part one ended with my last letter, which I always felt was the half way point in the story. (Perhaps now, with the new developments in Mirth's story, the next letter is the half way point.)

But then I discovered this niffy progress meter.

Nano Wrap-up. Entering the Winner Circle. Welcome

Hey, it's finally December. Nano is over, but the writing will continue. I'm happy to post that we both won Nano. We both made the 50,000 word count. I got 51,263 and Terrwyn got 50,145. It's so exciting.

Earlier in the month I was all wishy washy about claiming a win, since I'm still writing the story, but now I feel like shouting it out to everyone.

I won Nano 2010!

Last month flew by for me, with all that writing-frenzy, and the year is almost over. 2011 is upon us already. The end of the world is a year away, (according to the Mayans anyway.) So let's get busy with fixing up Goosey. I've neglected this blog long enough, now I'll get back on task. I'll start to post regularly again on Mondays and Thursday. Yeah!

Nano Week 4 : Is it over yet?

"So convenient thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do." -- Benjamin Franklin

I'm chiming in on my Nano project. Its almost over now. We have . . . seven days left. After a hugely enthusiastic first week I've been ahead of my word count. Last week I spent most of the time telling people that I'm ahead, so its okay that I haven't written anything today. Of course the guilt started to wear me down and then every day I didn't write I wasn't so far head.

I'm definitely on task to "win" Nano this year. I've written 44,000 words so far. I don't think I'll have any problems reaching 50,000, since I'm only a little over half way through my story. I'm on chapter 13. I have plenty more ideas. I've even got a general idea of the climax and how the story will end.

That's great, but is it really winning when my story isn't finished?

NaNoWrMo Woes, Woo-hoos!, and Wows!

Well-- We Did it! We joined National Novel Writing Month. And now, to write those glorious novels. So far, I have described...a lot of things. A submarine, a room from a four year old perspective, and snow. I thought we could start a post on our "woes, woo-hoos, and wows" in little bits and pieces when the website is way to over run with Nanoers to function properly!

I am really enjoying the process of writing so far. Although it's only day one, I'm finding the deadline freeing. I feel less guilty about spelling, grammar, and typing mistakes. The deadline spurs the novel onward, whether it wants to go or not.... Here's to good endings!

Torture? ( am I seriously considering this? Yes, yes I am)

NaNoWriMo--- November is National Novel Writing Month. The Official Link.

The goal is to write 50,000 word novel, about 176 pages in 30 days.

That's 1667 words per day. That's 12,500 words per week. In a good week I can write 10,000 words no sweat. (Mind you that's a good week)