Behind but still going

I've been plugging along this month. My blogs have suffered, my camera ruined and my family, well they just laugh and roll their eyes.  'Oh another thing to do instead of your homework', their eyes tell me.  It would be all worth it (except for my camera being ruined but I'm manfully* holding back tears) if I can make my goal or even better smash through the 50,000 word count and beyond.

Sadly, unless I write 5,000 words a day for the rest of the month I won't see confetti, hear the cheering, have my characters breath a sigh of relief.

Are you nearing your goal?  I've seen so many hit their goal early and kept going.  I'm cheering for you and confetti throwing even if my characters are sighing wistfully.  I find it really inspiring to see others, many with much tighter schedules than mine really put their all into this challenge and win.

That is one thing that keeps me going when I'd otherwise put my notebook (yes, I'm still doing it mostly by hand-about 15,000 of the 20,000 so far) under my bed, in the closet or an empty vase.  Another one is the characters themselves.  They really want their story told even if it is full of errors, cliche's, improbable plot twists and larges gaps that only more research can fill.

If I don't make it to 50,000 I won't have a pity party but be proud at how far I've come... I'm beginning to sound like a Hallmark card aren't I?

So if you are down to the wire or way below it like me, don't give up but "just keep writing, writing, writing"...


*just in case I confused you, I am not a man.

Word Count: Hit 10,000 on NaNoWriMo

 

I hit 10,874 last night.  Woo-hoo.

I may be very behind but not panicking yet!  Translation:  Delusional.

I still have more from my notebook to add to that and next week will be able to spend more time on nano exclusively.

How are you doing?

Nano: Week One

I wrote a lovely post on my week and what I learned... it got erased.  Err.
So this will be my lesson for the week:  

Backup your story.  Back it up, back it up.

I'm fortuate that it wasn't my story and was a small post.  Otherwise I'd be very upset right now.  Okay here is my weekly NaNoWrimo review.


After 7 days I am behind schedule but not devastatingly.  I wrote every night at work and had a good start.  There were a few hiccups, I got real ones too, but I'm finishing the week with a smile on my face.


If I get stressed I'm looking at my fellow nanoers as inspiration.  Some hit the 50,000 mark on day three!  So if I get down to only a few days to go I'll ask myself what they would do.  Then I'd lock myself in my room and ignore the telephone.  Oh wait, I already do that!


I'm writing in a notebook at work and then recopying it into yWriter when I get home.  I'm noticing two things; I'm doing a teeny tiny but of self-editing and I'm using time when I could be writing NEW words. 


Things I learned from this week

• My characters are doing what they want and I'm learning more about them
• I'm getting more familiar with yWriter
• I like getting nano gifts (a Wonder Woman notebook-sweet)

Things I'll do differently next week

• I'll copy my notebook notes over once a week and spend the rest of the time on new words
• Participate in Word Wars.  With friends & maybe on Twitter
• Set aside time for research or fact finding.

What about you?  How are you surviving Nano?  Was there something you disliked/liked about the first week and are you planning on changing any strategy next week?

Cream Puffs & NaNoWriMo

Less than 12 hours to go and NaNoWriMo is looming on the horizon. While my sister prepares a feast I prepare to lose my mind.

This past week I've been sick, fighting with a blogger theme and trying to stay on top of my schoolwork. Do I feel ready for tonight? Not really, but there is no holding back time and I'm ready to embark on another adventure.

Oh yeah, my last adventure was trying to change a flat tire in Lynn Woods.

My biggest challenge of the moment is to find a way to smuggle a cream puff with no one the wiser.

NaNoWriMo Participants from Problogger Community

There are so many ways to make lists of insane people enthusiastic nanowrimo participants.  Writing Sya’s list from NaNoWriMo forums, InkyGirl's list of nano buddies, and Absolute Write's nano user names thread are just a few examples.

Since joining the Problogger Community I've been reading a host of new blogs and was excited to see a few who have done the contest in the past or are planning to do it next month. Links are to posts tagged nanowrimo and their nano profiles when available. 

Are you part of the Problogger Community and NaNoWriMo?  Drop your links in the comments and I'll add you.         

Signed up for 2009:

Future Conscience 

Marelisa Fábrega

Tracy O'Connor on NaNo

Santacruz on NaNo

Benjamin Solah

Zombie Skittles on NaNo

Oh, and me :)

Have you made a nano list?  Share it below.

NaNoWriMo New Site Open

Have you signed up for NaNoWriMo? Still plenty of time, check out the reopened site and sign up.  Do you live in the Boston area?  The regional group is planning on weekly write-ins on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

Here are two more sites for you to browse over the weekend:

Inkygirl: Looking for inspiration, motivation, relaxation?  Enjoy her comics.  She has NaNoWriMo themed ones as well as writing in general.

Paperback Writer: I talked about her outlining earlier now check out her NaNoWriMo tips, past and present.

Have a great weekend and start stretching your fingers!

Doubts

Photo Credit: liquidindian on Flickr

 
As I begin to delve into research for my NaNoWriMo project I find doubts quietly creeping up.

• Will I have enough time to write?
• Will I be able to craft a story or will it be just a jumble or words?
• Why did I have to pick a romance, can I really right a conceivable love story? 

These and many other nervous self-doubts are normal right? So what if I don't write a breakthrough story,no one else has to read it unless I want them too. I'm not doing this for any other reason but that I love meeting new characters and telling their tales. As long as I focus on that, I think I'll be okay.

I don't sound very convincing do I!

What about you? Are you nervous about making the deadline? I noticed on the forums a few days ago a list of links to similar challenges that take place throughout the year and while I don't want to use it as an excuse at least I know I can always try again in January.

Getting Started for NaNo 2009

Photo Credit: churl on Flickr

While I physically cannot begin to write my story until November 1st, there are many things I can do to get ready.
Rather than wing it, which is my natural inclination, I began browsing the forums at NaNoWriMo, read other blogs and their experiences and got quick ideas via twitter. 

I’m focusing on four areas to help my writing process.

Outlines
Characters
Research
Grammar

I’ll write about each topic and share tips & tricks I stumble across on this crazy challenge.  More than likely I’ll be asking more questions than answering!

How did you pick your story?

Photo Credit: Old Shoe Woman on Flickr

Since this is my first year attempting National Novel month I’m very curious how others have gone about picking what story to write. 

If you are like me I have an idea box (okay maybe two) that has scraps of paper with story ideas, pictures or anything that strikes my writing fancy.  I also have notebooks full of stories (mostly unfinished) that have accumulated over the years.  Lately, I’ve gravitated towards picture books, sans the pictures but writing a 50,000 word picture book seems inconceivable to me.
I found an old quest-like fairy tale, but again doubt it’ll make 50,000 words so I continued sifting through all my ideas but couldn’t decide.

Have you randomly hit upon an idea for NaNoWriMo or has it been simmering in a tiny section of your brain?
In my case, I had dreams three nights in a row.  Each night showed a little bit of potential and after much brainstorming (i.e.. daydreaming) I found a way to interconnect all of them, yes I am a sucker for series and I settled on one to work on.  Did I mention they were all regency romances?

”Oh la sir” may pop into your mind as well as mine.  We can talk about my chosen genre later, right now I’m curious about you.

So what’s your idea for this year?  Still looking though your idea box?  Leave a comment below or send a tweet to @cmckane.

Next:  Regency Romances!  What’s so special about them?

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Meet the Dabbler

Photo credit: Zen on Flickr

Hello! I'm C. This year I decided to test my sanity to the limit by signing up for NaNoWrimMo.

The Goal:
50,000 words in one month.

Conflicts:
Four college classes a week.
Four nights of work a week.
A disorganized mind and desk.

Pre-Nano:
Research my heart out.
Outline, Character sketches, and the like.

The Plan:
2,000 words a day.
Enjoy every second!

What can you expect in the coming months at Word Dabbler?
Since I am already playing catch up on my fictional character blog I'm only committing to posting here two days a week; Tuesday and Friday. That way I'll be able to spend more time on writing!

Just a warning to any who happen to stumble across my quest; I ramble, I rant and generally make no sense which I blame on lack of sleep.

What about after NaNoWriMo is over and sanity returns?
Naturally work on the mess that is my first draft of a novel!

In the NaNoWriMo off-season (sorry I just made myself giggle) I'll post reviews of book, mainly fiction (children's, fantasy & regencies) with a smattering of non-fiction.

Are you getting ready for the NaNoWriMo too?
Add your link to Twitter, your blog or profile on NaNoWriMo's website.

I'll be using @cmckane for writing updates but you can also find me @opinionatedant. My profile and this blog!

Check back soon or add the feed to your favorite reader.

Have you done the novel writing challenge before? What was your experience like? Any tips for new people (me) and seasoned challengers alike? Leave a comment below!

c

Next Post tomorrow: Picking my story. How did you pick yours?

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