Orange Wall Magic... (Word Count = 32,835)

All my noveling essentials...

An early Saturday morning with a marathon for some words.  So far I have written 5,244 words...it is only just after 12pm.  I was able to get the sacred space by the orange wall at Panera, which always helps.  I write more words here than I do at home now.  This has been the case for a few years now actually.  Writing is solitary for the most part, but in November I am always surprised about how productive I can be writing with all my NanoWrimo friends. I'm sure it is the word wars more than anything else...we turn the hour glass...and try to write as many words as we can in ~ 14.5 minutes.  On good days, I can make about 745 words.  Today has been slower...averaging about 450 words.  I'll take it. I'm also sure the productivity stems from all of us holding each other accountable to our word counts.  It really helps.  I always feel lucky.  I'm the one chick lit writer among a bunch of super smart science fiction/fantasy writers.  There are many conversations they have about things that I don't understand.  Lots of inside jokes I don't comprehend. It doesn't matter.  I'm getting words.  They are getting words.  I had all of my essentials this morning.  My laptop.  Coffee.  Headphones.  Music.  Notebook.  Pen.  Friends.  Words.  This is what November is all about...

How you know you are not feeling well...

My word count has not grown over the past few days...I'm holding steady at 26K....but I have a really good excuse.  I have been sick and this cold/cough/fever thing has knocked me out.  I haven't been sick like this in a long while.  I have still been at work...which I know is a mistake...but sometimes you just have to put how you are feeling aside.  I may have been quoted as saying the following, "It doesn't matter how I feel, there is work to be done."  I know.  I need to fix this attitude.  I was a train wreck yesterday...it was clear to all those around me.  So, while my novel sits waiting for me to return...I thought I would note a few of my observations over the past few days.   

How you know you are really not feeling well...

• You have insane dreams...for example...buying a $1700 Kate Spade bag to keep your cell phone in...only your cellphone.     

• You leave your diabetes bag (filled with life sustaining stuff like both of your insulin pens and glucose monitor) on your desk at work.  You realize this at 9:30pm at night and then have to drive all the way back to work to get it.

• Your boss refers to you as Typhoid Mary.

• Your partner in crime at work shields their face anytime they walk in your office or anytime you go theirs. 

• Your co-workers wonder if you are okay because your eyes are really "glassy".

• You walk up and down the hallways really slow.

• You can't wait to get home to your Vicks VapoRub.

• You don't even miss Gym or care if he misses you.

• You cancel Physical Therapy for the week, but you feel really, really bad about it.  You can barely carry your purse; you have to be realistic about your energy level.

• You wear a neon green sweatshirt at work over your outfit because you are shivering...all day long. 

• You fall asleep looking at twitter and accidentally favorite things you do not intend too. Upon waking up, you quickly unfavorite them...but does it even matter?

• You are home at 8pm which enables you to go to sleep at 8pm.

A close to 8K words kind of day... (Word Count = 25,652)

What November looks like...

Maybe I will get a few more words...the day is hardly over...but I'm almost caught up to where I should be to get 50K words by the end of the month.  Today was a good word getting day...so far I have written 7,642 words.  I took full advantage of the fact that there were no soccer matches on my agenda today.  My novel is moving along.  The good news is that I have a good rhythm going, every time I sit down to write, there is no struggle for words or ideas.  I know enough about my characters now so that I can move them through their days.  I'm feeling slightly lazy...all I have to do is write about 400 or so more words...then my total for the day will be 8K and my total word count will be at 26K.  I have been at Panera for way too long.  I need some fresh air.  We will see if more words happen...but in the meantime...I'm feeling much more confident that I will get at least 50K words.  Each year I always worry that perhaps I have lost the art and tenacity to produce many words in one day.  And then a day like today happens...and I am reminded that I can indeed get all the words I need.

What I know < What I don't know (Word Count = 15,042)

Yes...I know I should closing in on 21K words...but I have 15K...it could be worse.  I have decided to not stress so much about the word count.  I'll write when I feel like writing.  If there are others things I would rather be doing...I'll do them.  It just feels better all around.  My novel is taking shape.  As with every November, I'm learning lots of things that I was not expecting too.  This is my first attempt at Young Adult Fiction...so my characters are in high school at that perfect age of 17ish.  Well...perfect for some.  It was one of my favorite ages...I got a car...I got a real grown up job...I got an A on my term paper...and I was in a hurry to leave high school behind.  I have written young characters before...but this is very different.  It is good to stretch yourself in new and different ways.  It is a completely different perspective.  I am having fun with it.

What I know so far...

1. My girl hero is Agnes.
2. My boy hero is Shane.
3. Another boy named Jaren appeared in Agnes's Spanish class...who knows where this will go.  
4. Agnes has an Aunt Ellen who is part mother, part big sister, and part best friend.
5. Agnes's favorite teacher is Betty Torres...she teaches Economics and Business Law.
6. Agnes is about to embark on a Junior Achievement student company adventure.
7. Agnes may or may not be selected as the President of aforementioned student company.
8. Shane may or may not have a huge problem with this; he thinks he should be the President.
9. There may end up being two student company's - one "on the books" for school and one "off the books" because Agnes has big ideas and knows how to bring them to fruition.

 What I don't know so far... 

1. Where the novel takes place.
2. What time of year it is.
3. What the name of the High School is.
4. What Aunt Ellen does for a living.
5. What Agnes's parents names are.  What they look like.
6. What Agnes's style is.  What her favorite song is. What her favorite candy is.
7. What the duration of the story is - a week, a month, a season, a year.
8. What the name(s) of the student company's will be.
9. This list goes on...and on...

I never let the details hold me back...I just keep writing...it all sorts out in the end.