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. ;)

New Name...Winston!!!

In perfect writing style (after over 50K words) I realized that the name of my main boy character just didn't quite work. In chatting with my sister about it...she suggested changing it to Winston. Which...sounded really good. Winston Nixx. Who may or may not be a punk rocker. ;) I know right??? I keep saying that I was inspired for this book while my sister and I were at the Ulalume Festival which MTV filmed...so I can go back and watch the moment when my novel was born. It may or may not have been during a performance of Dead By Sunrise.

The crowning moment of when my girl hero character (Ruby) meets her guy (Winston) was sort of based loosely on one of those pivotal life moments that happened to me at that show. And the rest as they say, is creative writing history. At the time, getting a phone call from work during a rock show was maddening. But in reality, it helped to create and fuel my NanoWrimo 09 novel. So I am thankful I guess, it is a process, and everything does happen for a reason.

My two loves combined this month....writing and music. As I get ready to write the last chapter, I will be looping one song: Kid Cudi - Pursuit of Happinesss. Funny thing is I am pretty sure that was the song he was performing when I got the call from work. I didn't figure it out until yesterday...and I think...in many ways...it is kind of what my novel is about.

One More Chapter to Go... Word Count = 53,136

I sat down to write a bit tonight and ended up finishing Chapter 19...2K words came out of me and now I am ready for some sleep. I am really looking forward to getting this first draft done so that I can see what happens after. Every year I always say that I want to go back and edit and then have people read it. I'm not thinking that I this year will be any different than previous years...but it feels good regardless really.

Another November is coming to a close and I will have earned my purple winner bar for the fifth year in a row. I'm sending happy writing forces to my NanoWrimo Buddies who are pulling an all nighter tonight. I am so proud of them!!! It has been a great year for my writing friends...and it inspires me.

PS - Once Nano is over...I will get back on Diavista track too. I have been on hiatus...but that will change. December is all about balance for me...I am declaring it...so it shall be!!

I am so Thankful.... Word Count = 50,269

I love November...because I love to write...and for me...November is all about writing. Each year when National Novel Writing Month starts I have a goal. The first few years were really focused on just being able to finish. Last year was getting well beyond 50K...which I did. I got to 80K. This year is to finish my novel by the end of the month and I really think I can do it. I am on Chapter 18 (I just started it actually) and things are starting to wrap up nicely. I hit 50K today...so now...I have four more days to finish my novel. I think I can, I think I can, I think can....

I am thankful for the fact that my family totally gets how much this month means to me...like tonight...as the left overs from our earlier meal at my Grandma's favorite restaurant were warmed and improved upon...I was off in another room writing away participating in a NanoWrimo Twitter Sprint. At one point I was at the kitchen table blazing through scenes and everyone was hanging out around me. This is what they do in November...follow me on my journey...and cheer away. Some Novembers have been easier than the others. This one was not the hardest...but every year I am stretched to figure out how to balance the writing and working and life. Today both life and writing won...and I am starting to think that they should probably always win.

Novel Happy... Word Count = 44,045

Thanks to my Panera NanoWrimo Pals...I got 2K words. I was so excited to learn that on Twitter they have NanoWrimo Sprints and that really helped...in 20 and 25 minutes I got about 670 words each time. That really helped...and I will definitely have to do that more over the next few days. I was feeling a bit scattered in my writing tonight...it was the first time where I felt unfocused. Hopefully tomorrow I can get some go again and pick up the pace a bit. I need to think about how to start wrapping this story up. I need my Big Black Moment (which I think I just discovered tonight) and then need to figure out all the stuff that gets resolved. I have the ending scene in my mind...but need to figure out in this last stretch how the heck to get there.

Okay...enough about that. I need to reveal something. I have a new celebrity crush I think. Dane Cook. I love him!! He is so freaking funny...I was listening to him on the way home. It was totally what I needed.

Has anyone heard his bit called "Haters"? Freaking awesome...hate cancer??? It will make you laugh...sometimes you should take the low road. Genius!! Seriously...so so good.

DMB Moves Me.... Word Count = 41,038

There are just some songs that get me writing...tonight it was Dave Matthews Band - Warehouse. It is one of my favorites because it has a mix of emotions mashed together. It switches directions...like a story. And then you add some sax action...and it is perfection. I could spin thousands of stories off of this one song. It is that good. Between this song and Stay or Leave...I could live on repeat forever.

Merrily We Roll Along..... Word Count = 40,172

Considering that I only wrote on Sunday, I did very well this weekend. I am trying not to think about how many words I would have now if I had written on Saturday too. I am hoping to get a lot of words in over the next week...the holiday will really help. I am tired and will probably head to sleep soon. I have a long day tomorrow and am hoping that I will still have some energy tomorrow night to write. November always flies by and I know that I will miss it when it is over. I have lots to do, so much so that I am feeling anxious, but I am trying to just push those thoughts aside.

Random Thought Insert - I am totally loving my net book by the way. It is so handy to just throw into my bag or walk around the house connected and able to write any time I feel the urge.

Another Less Random Thought Insert - I must admit that my obsession with the New Moon soundtrack has resulted in some unexpected turns in my novel. I love the wallowly hallow sounds of several of the songs. My current favorites are Rosyln, Possibility, and Hearing Damage. Have a feeling they will all be in my head tomorrow even though I am at work. After getting the soundtrack, I am so wanting to see the movie again. Isn't that silly?

Joy Things...

I can tell that this year is going to be a very fruitful "Joy Things" year. I am lucky in that during this time of year there is an overwhelming amount of things that I (or others) can purchase with my name on it. It is not even Thanksgiving yet and I have purchased quite a few items. Starbucks has cups with Joy on them too...but it would be silly for me to go there everyday and get a drink just so that I can I have a mass marketed cup with my name on it. I mean really...you need to draw a line somewhere.

In other news, my novel seems to be moving right along. This one is different in that I am not writing everyday. But when I do I write, I seem to barf out a bit all at once. I am kind of excited about this one, because I am writing it in the way I love best. A blank page at a time that gets added to the master document. I am writing it Chapter by Chapter. I don't know if that means anything, but it just feels so good. I don't even have a title for it...and this is a first.

My goal is to finish the story by the end of November...the 50K words is easy peasy at this point really. I know I can do that. The goal this year is to finish my story. I have to becuase my sister has agreed to read it on December 1 and let me know what she thinks. That is a first...so I need to go with it!!

Panera Magic... Word Count = 35,202

I hit a great stride at Panera tonight and got about 4K words in 3 hours...that may be a personal best. I am excited about the journey my main character is taking. Lots of surprises tonight which makes it fun. This story feels so different and I am wondering what that means. I would love to finish this novel by the end of the month.

Too Much To Do = No Increase in Word Count

I have been working long hours and then bringing work home too. This makes it impossible to increase my word count. Feeling ver guilty...but am hoping I can get to Panera after work so that I can NanoWrimo with others...for some reason the 30Ks always suck!!!

Week Three...Get it going!!! Word Count = 31,205

I reached my goal for the weekend which was to get beyond 30K...31K is beyond 30 so I am okay with that. I have to start by saying how much I am in love with my new cell phone. I decided on a Palm Pre and it is the coolest thing ever. I can keep several applications open at once and toggle between them. It was well worth the wait of yesterday and for a bit of today. I am so excited!! I finally have a phone tht I am totally in love with. It is the first time really. I'm a sucker for a touch screen. :)

So Tired.... Word Count = 27,147

I must break into the 30K's before the end of the weekend...I just need to push through to do it. I think I can, I think I can....screw that...I know I can, I know I can. I did not get very far today...but managed to get in 2K. It is a Saturday...I should have done way more that that. If I wasn't so tired I would write about my fantabulous new cell phone. Maybe tomorrow...my sister thinks I should work in my ridiculously long wait in the Sprint store today into my novel. She says there could be atleast 5K words in that. Clever...perhaps I should give it a try. ;)

First Reward...

Well...I hadn't planned on rewarding myself with something for reaching 25K...but after some research...I hit 25K on November 11 last year too...so I guess it was not really a big deal. Oh well...let's see if I can ramp it up a bit and get to 50K sooner than I did last year (November 22). Not sure I can beat that...but I guess you never know till you try.


Okay...now back to my reward. I got an email from Crocs about some of their fun new winter items. When I saw how cute these were...I had to get them. I mean...my old winter crocs broke last year...I had never replaced them...so really...I have a bona fide need for them. Hmm...now...what should my reward be if I get to 50K before November 22???

Halfway Already... Word Count = 25,052

I am in noveldom heaven...I am at 25K words and it is not the halfway point in the month. I had a word dare to get 1500 before I head to sleep and I got there in my standard time. When I just write along...I do about 1K words an hour. Tonight...within an hour and a half I was there. I am about halfway through Chapter 9.

Hopefully on my way into work tomorrow I can think about some really big complications that will be coming soon. I have one in my brain right now and a few others I am still honing a bit. I also think I know how it will end. So that is very exciting. Each novel I attempt to write is so different. Each has its own personality and rhythm. At the end of the month I would like to actually be done with this draft.

I am hopeful that no matter how hard tomorrow is or long...I will be able to pop by Panera for a bit. Other NanoWrimos should be there and it will do me some good to clock some time on a weeknight. Even if I have an early day the next morning...I have to take time to write. In november and always...

Yeti Cuteness...

Obvioulsy I am stalling and not adding to my word count...because why would I ever do a blog on Bigfoot? Why would I be watching "The Mummy" only to be surprised at how cute the Yetis were in the movie. They are aren't they?

Somehow I don't think I can count this distraction as research for my novel. It is just a random thing that I didn't think I would ever blog about. Maybe I am just tired. Okay...punchy and tired.

I love November... Word Count = 21,128

After a stressful day, I escaped to Panera and was able to get about 1K words in. I really need to figure out how to just make time to do this on a regular basis. Sit and write. Perhaps if I came up with a daily schedule...to fit in all the things I need to do. Something like this:

5:30 am Wake-up, Insulin, Get Ready for Work

6:30 am Arrive at Work, Get Coffee, Settle In

7:00 am Chaos of the Day

6:00pm Leave the Office

7:00pm Write at Panera

8:00pm Head Home

8:30pm TV Time and Rest

9:00pm Exercise/Shower/TV

11:00pm Sleep Time


How hard could this be?? I mean really??

Hit the Wall...

I hit the wall yesterday...438 lousy words. GAH!!! But today will feel better and therefore I will write more. You have to be in "that place" to churn out the words...and I just wasn't there. I think part of it was that I ended my writing on Friday with the scene that first appeared in my head for this novel. I think I was kind of sad that it was over. I know, that is crazy isn't it?

I have been purchasing some music off of iTunes and I know that will help. Music is the juice for me. Curious as to what will stir me today as I get lost in noveldom? Here is a short list -

* UB40 - Rat in Mi Kitchen

* Passion Pit - The Reeling

* Beck - Cellphone's Dead

* Train - Hey, Soul Sister

I have been kind of worried about all of the stuff I have to do for work, but I have decided to put it aside. I can do it at the office tomorrow and Tuesday. All weekend I have been having these work related nightmares during sleep and naps, which has jarred me a bit. Maybe I should build that feeling of dread into my novel or something. I think the thought of work is crushing my writing life...and I need to just push it away. I need to be writing. I have to be writing.

Out work thoughts...out I say!!

A Perfect Day Off!!! Word Count = 15,080

Another productive writing day and I am looking forward to celebrating with a really fun Friday night!! Today was an absolute perfect day. I slept in. Did a bit of office work...because...it seems impossible to completely shut off from the office...and then spent the rest of the day writing.

It was great to see my writing friends Ellen and Lisa today...time to write...time to eat...time to catch up. I hate that I have been so busy that I haven't been able to write with them more. They are so inspiring!! And then I headed to Panera...which is fast becoming my home away from home. I love how productive I am here. I just hit 15K and the weekend hasn't even started yet. I am so freaking excited to see how much more I can get done over the next two days. It was great that I could meet up with MolliB...who doubles as both a Vera Girl and a NanoWrimo buddy. ;)

I'm getting ready to bid farewell to the coziest little corner table which has served me quite well this afternoon/evening. What a perfect day!!!

Thursday 13 - NOT!!!! Word Count = 11,191

I had a another busy day at work and did not have time last night to write up my Thursday 13. I collapsed into bed at 8:45pm....and slept right through the night. Well except for the few minutes that I got up around 10:30pm to take some insulin. You know...as my sister says...I don't want to perish overnight or anything. ;)

I was hoping to get in some words to take me to 10K...but sleep won. I have been at Panera for about two hours and have hit 11K. I told myself that I could not leave until I got that far along...so I guess I am free now to leave. But I don't want to. Being here is like the perfect vacation for me. I have my cute new netbook, my ipod, and yummy foods around should I want to partake. Oh yes...and fellow nanowrimos. Althought, it is just MolliB and I now.

With my love of lists overflowing...I thought I would note some of the things I am really looking forward to this weekend -

* A day off tomorrow

* Time to write with Ellen and Lisa

* Time to write at Panera

* The boss being 13 hours away

* Hearing all about the fun my Mom and Sister are going to have the Metropolitan Cooking Show this weekend.

* Taking my Grandma out for drinks and a late lunch on Saturday

* Writing and Writing and Writing

* Seeing how many words I have by Sunday PM

* Catching up on some work writing...maybe....

* Downloading NanoWrimo inspiring music from iTunes

* Drinking a cocktail or two and seeing what kinds of wild and crazy things that causes me to do to my main character - Ruby St. Claire.

* Taking a walk in the crisp November air

* Writing about how Ruby meets Jason Nixx...this was the scene that first appeared in my mind

Well what do you know...I ended up with a Thursday 13 afterall!!! :)

Best Start Ever??? Word Count = 8,496

So it is only Day 2 of NanoWrimo and I am at 8,496 words. I really think this is my best start ever. I managed to get out about 2K tonight and if I can do the same tomorrow I will be at 10,000. I wonder if this pacing will get me to 100K by the end of the month. That would really be amazing if I can pull it off. For now, I need to sleep. Well...maybe I will see if I can get my web gadget to work on my blog. I love to track my progess!!!

Bands Who Helped Me Today... [Word Count = 6,054]

I am live from Panera Bread where the NanoWrimos of the 270 Corridor gather to write...hitting hour number four and I am feeling quite accomplished. My goal was 10K today and I am sure I will not hit it, but it was fun to have something to shoot for. I am in love with my new laptop...it is so lite and cute!! Perfect timing as I embark upon this new adventure. I was reminded how much I love the music on my old ipod nano that has seen me through 3 or 4 NanoWrimos...I can't really remember. Thought I would take a few minutes to jot down the bands/artists that really got me going today - -

* Coldplay (of course!!!)

* Interpol (forgot how much I love them...especially when writing about cute boys)

* Paco

* Heavy D and the Boyz

* INXS

* Kelly Osbourne (One Word Remix is an anthem for me....)

* The Bravery

There were countless others...but these sparked the most memorable moments of writing today. You never know...I may get in another 1K or so tonight when I get home. But mostly...I need to rest up. Early day tomorrow and Board Meetings!!