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.