Gone Writing.... (Word Count = 50,276)

 Each year is different...there were 11 days that I wrote no words this year.  My highest day was 8K words.  I had two 5K days.  I had two 4K days.  I had two 3K days.  The novel is far from over, I'm not sure if I will go back and finish it.  It is only 50,276 words. To be honest, all while I was writing I was thinking about how much I can't wait to get back to my NanoWrimo 2009 novel.  My goal is to get it in good enough shape to be read by a few of my friends before the end of the year.  After all of these years of writing, I want to know the feeling of actually finishing something.  I know that I can do it.  I'm going to give myself the rest of the day off.  Tomorrow...the reading/editing begins again.  It is good to have a deadline, I'm good with those.  A definitive endpoint to accomplish a certain set of work almost guarantees that I will accomplish said work.  I mean, if I can get 26 miles, there are really no excuses for not doing anything I set my mind too.

It was fun to get my 50K words surrounded by several of my NanoWrimo friends.  We wrote late into the night on Friday and then started up again in the morning.  After four hours of sleep, I am really looking forward to heading home for a nap.  November is always a fun month.  It is 30 days of writing crazy and enjoying spending lots of time with my writing friends.  I rarely see them throughout the year...but in November...they are constant support.  I readjust my schedule flipping my dates with Gym to the morning so that I can write in the evening.  I eat horrible (too many cookies to count at this point).  I find time each year to write my heart out and get at least 50K words.  No matter what is happening, I always find the time.  This was my 8th year...and it still feels just as good crossing that finishing line.

All my Bags...NanoWrimo All Night Write-In...

My Seventh Win... Word Count =50,358

And there you have it, I have barfed out another 50K word shitty first draft of a novel!! I have 10 chapters and I think I need a few more to finish. This is definitely a different attitude then what I had earlier today. I was so annoyed at my novel and how slow it was moving that I thought I was just going to get to 50K words and then have it sit on a shelf like so many others. After chatting through the plot with my Mom and Sister, their interest and excitement was just the fuel that I needed to power through today. I wrote 7,113 words!!

This past month was a good writing challenge for me. It was really hard for me to write and after analyzing my daily word count data (thanks to my writing buddy M) it was pretty clear that almost all of my writing was done on the weekends. The cool thing is, it doesn't matter when you write it. The key is that you get it done. It always feels good to validate your word count and get the winning badge. It is even better when you can do it surrounded by some of your NanoWrimo Buddies. I am glad that I am liking this novel again. I like it enough to consider continuing to write it. To see it through to the end so that I can write the best words you ever hope to type. The End.

Done!! Well...You Know the Deal...Word Count = 50,691

I have won my sixth National Novel Writing Month...checking in at 50,691 words. Is the novel done? No. Is it ready to be read? No. Do I love it as much as the one I wrote last year? No. Will I ever do something with it? Well...you never really know. This year was tough for me. I was so tired. I was so worried that I was not going to finish. I was not entirely in love with my story. But I did it. I got 50,000 words and have something that I can go back and fix should I ever want to. I know that I will at somepoint go back...this one was actually a series idea that I had that I carried over from my NanoWrimo 2008 Novel. Remember Lolly Friar? She was the star of this years too. I guess I should have mentioned that at the begining of the month. ;)

After writing this year, I am totally convinced that last year's novel was very different and I think that was because I had a realy story that hangs together. And truth be told, I can't wait to get my hands back on it again. I loved the story that much!!

Five Years in Row!!! (Word Count = 55,816)

And there you have it...I have done it again. I have won my fifth National Novel Writing Month!!! My first draft is done and I am going to print it out tonight because it has been two years since I have printed one of my novels out. I can't wait to feel the weight of the paper in my hands. The only strange thing is that I don't have a title for this novel yet. This is the first time ever...since when I started writing that I did not have a title to keep me focused. I'm not putting any meaning into it. I am just excited that I am done.

As always, I know that I don't really do it alone either. I appreciate how my family cheers me along...especially my sister. She is going to be my first reader!!! Hence my need to print it out ASAP!! To my coworkers who nicely check in on my word count and encouraged me to leave on time or a few minutes early so that I can write. To my fellow NanoWrimos who made Panera my favorite place to write this year and make it so much fun. To my writing friends who encourage me and motivate me to keep at it. To all my friends (especially those who really know that if I could...I would totally be a novelist when I grow up) for not laughing when I say that I am writer. ;)

What...Me Worry?? (Word Count = 77,162)

So I was freaking out earlier...but now all is well. I think the quiet helped as I caught a good wind and somehow managed to barf out 6K words today. About 4K of those were in the last couple of hours Pretty Cool!!! But the greatest thing is that my sister got to 50K tonight...and has won her very first NanoWrimo!!! I am so proud of her because as of this time last week she had just hussled to 20K. Isn't that awesome?? She is so freaking talented...and I'm glad that she stuck it out. And...since she validated, I validated too...even though my goal was 80K. I will hit that tomorrow for sure. But for now...check this out - -